Page 4 of The Champion
I opened my mouth to speak but was so baffled by the situation that nothing came out.
“Don’t pretend you don’t want this. The sexual spark between us is undeniable.”
With my brow lowered, I protested. “What are you talking about? We fight all the time.”
“Fighting is a sign of passion,non?”
Pulling my hand back I brushed at my hair with confusion and took a step to the side. “Victor, I don’t know what gave you the impression that I was interested in marrying you, but I assure you that it wasn’t on my mind. I thought you French didn’t want relationships.”
He chuckled. “Marry you?Non non non, you’ve got it wrong. What I’m offering you is a night of extreme pleasure and passion.”
Taking eight steps to my desk, I kept my back to him. “For a genius you haven’t understood much. We Northlanders don’t have casual sex.”
“Ah, but I’m giving you this opportunity to explore a part of yourself that is currently suppressed by your so-called protectors. You’re turning eighteen tomorrow. If you had been French, you would have been sexually active for at least three years. Let me teach you about sensuality.”
With an arched brow, I met his gaze over my shoulder. “Thank you, but I’ll have to decline your kind offer.”
Victor held up his hands. “Why? Don’t tell me you were serious tonight at dinner when you said that you’re saving yourself for marriage.”
“I was.”
“But that could be years.” His eyes ran up and down my body as he mumbled something in French.
“What did you say?”
“That it would be a waste of youth and beauty to keep a body as fine as yours to yourself. Greedy, really.”
I closed my eyes and reminded myself that Victor was a product of his environment. He couldn’t help his callous relationship with sex. “You need to leave, Victor. If anyone sees you in here, you’ll be in physical danger. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Victor stood looking stunned for a long moment before he asked, “Is that your final answer? You’re rejecting me?”
I turned to stare into his eyes and used a firm tone. “Yes. Now go!”
On his way out, Victor cursed in French and shot me a scowl before he closed the door. He wasn’t used to rejections and apparently French men’s egos were as fragile as those of many of the Nmen I knew.
Walking to my bed, I sat down and saw that my hands were shaking. Victor Xavier was no doubt handsome and one of the most interesting people I knew, but his interest in me came as a surprise.
These past three summits, he and I had butted heads nonstop, and I was confused over why he would say that we had a sexual spark.
Sliding my hand over the indentation on the bed where Victor had been sitting, I smiled. Whenever Nmen fought for my attention, a part of me always suspected that it was because of the prestige and admiration that marrying the Ruler’s daughter would bring them among their peers.
Victor’s motive however had been different. With him I had no doubt that my title, money, and fame hadn’t brought him here tonight. The fact that one of the biggest geniuses in the world found me attractive and wanted to have sex with me boosted my confidence until a horrible thought hit me.
What if Victor’s suggestion of our having sex had been a failed prank?
I closed my eyes and inhaled sharply. It was sad that his pranking me sounded more plausible than his genuinely liking me. Either way, I was happy that I had rejected him.
Northlands July 2467
Linea’s sudden movement on the bed brought me back to the present. My rejection of Victor all those years ago had caused him to be curt with me for the following five years. Scrolling fast, I moved through formal communications relating to summit meetings until I reached a sudden change in tone in 2461 after our third visit to France. With a smile I read the first message from Victor to me that Holly hadn’t been copied on.
July 17th, 2461
Did you make it home safely?
Victor
There had been no formality in his message and yet it had spoken volumes of his caring enough about me to ask if I was safe.
