Page 29 of Kiss of Ice

“So soon? Do you not wish us to get to know each other a little first?”

He shrugged.

“We’ll have plenty of time after the wedding.”

“But there are things we still need to decide!”

“Such as?”

“Well…” Ren cast around. “For instance, what should I call you? I can’t very well call you ‘Majesty’ once we’re married.”

“Fair point. You can call me Kamran. Or I suppose Kam, since that’s what my friends call me.”

“Kam.”

It felt strange to her, calling the Emperor by a nickname. She repeated it and he found he liked the way she said it. He let his voice sharpen.

“But just remember, we’renotfriends. As we’ve just discussed, this is a marriage of convenience, nothing more.”

“Of course, your Maj… Kam.”

“Anything else?”

“Um…” Ren hesitated. “Can I ask… what do you expect of me in this marriage?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you called it a marriage of convenience, so can I assume you’re not going to make me… you’re not expecting me to… to perform all the duties of a wife?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Are you asking if we’ll be sharing a conjugal bed?”

Gods, her face felt so hot she could probably fry eggs on her cheeks.

“I just want to confirm the details of our arrangement,” she said stiffly. “It’s a marriage in name only, isn’t it?”

Kam cocked his head to one side.

“The problem is, my advisors tell me I need heirs.”

“Heirs?”

“Lots and lots of heirs. As many as you can pop out.”

“As many as I…?”

She felt faint. It took her a moment to see he was trying not to laugh. Her mouth dropped incredulously.

“Was that ajoke?”

“Apologies. I couldn’t resist. Your face was a picture.”

She couldn’t help noticing how his eyes crinkled when he smiled.

“So youdon’twant heirs?”

“Apparently I have no choice in the matter. However, as I’m sure you’re aware, I can take any number of wives so that particular duty needn’t fall on you.”

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