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feeling
somehow decadent eating in nothing but a towel. She gulped the food down, aware
the textures and flavors were unbelievably good, if she’d allowed any time to
appreciate them. Instead, she gave into the demands of her ravenous body to
refuel.
    Judas chuckled, looking less like a king and more like an
indulgent lover every moment she spent with him. “I take it you like?”
    She flushed. “Sorry. I guess I’m hungrier than I realized.”
    “Don’t apologize. It’s…refreshing.”
    A knock sounded. “Your Majesty, may I enter.”
    Judas and Akeisha turned to see the captain of the guards in
the doorway. The king sighed, then gestured him inside, “Yes, Raffia. Come in.”
    The captain strode into the room and bowed. “Do you wish me
to inform the people you will be late in your duties today?
    Judas frowned. “That won’t be necessary, Raffia.”
    The captain nodded with a relieved smile—until Judas added,
“You will be delegated the role of judge, jury and diplomat in my absence.”
    Raffia’s eyes rounded, mouth pulling into a taut line. “Your
absence?”
    “Yes. The next few days are mine to enjoy.” Judas reached
for Akeisha’s hand. “Ours.”
    The captain’s eyes hardened a little as they brushed over
her. When he faced the king once more he didn’t bother to conceal his
disappointment as he said reluctantly, “As you wish.” Then bowing once more, he
pivoted and stalked to the door.
    Akeisha turned to Judas with an arched brow. “Is having time
out against protocol?”
    Judas shook his head. “No. My people are just used to me
being available at all times.” He shrugged. “I’ve never seen a need to have it
any other way…until now.”
    Akeisha stared, heart thumping. Could the greatest king of
all time truly have such feelings for her? Feelings he didn’t even try to
disguise.
    Elation was doused with a good measure of remorse. Saving
her people was her only objective, but deceiving Judas didn’t sit right with
her. Not when he’d been nothing but up front and considerate with her.
    Honesty. Integrity. Sincerity. They were all qualities the larakytes lived by—the same qualities Judas had in spades.
    Though she hated that to save her people she was the one who
had to neglect their most fundamental behavior, she knew that sometimes those
qualities weren’t enough. Sometimes guile and a need to atone was all one had
left.
    “Eat,” he said, indicating the spread of food, “before it
grows cold.”
    When she was replete and all but glowing within, Judas
pushed back his chair and, acting more like a gentleman than any king she knew,
he pulled her chair out too. “I have another little surprise for you,” he said.
    Her pulse fluttered, but it was less to do with whatever he
wanted to show her and everything to do with him being so close. He was so very
tall and vital, a fact emphasized by him standing behind her. So very aware of
him now, she’d probably pick him out in a crowd, blindfolded.
    Back in his mandeolo, the garments lying on his bed
of cushions immediately drew her eye. She put a hand to her mouth, eyes growing
wide.
    “What do you think?” he chuckled beside her.
    The almost sheer black pants and bra top glittered with a
fine sweep of jewels as though stars in a midnight sky. Black calfskin
ankle-boots with a throw of tiny jewels at the instep, completed the ensemble.
    “They’re beautiful,” she whispered.
    As a larakyte princess she’d worn amazing royal
garments on occasion, but nothing like the extravagance before her. Not by a
long shot.
    Then again, her father and his people had had to leave
behind all but their most essential items. The famous larakyte jewels,
the exquisite royal furnishings. Even the once beautiful palace itself had been
pillaged. Rumor had it not even a stone had been left standing.
    His pleasure at seeing her pleasure was obvious. “I’ll have
one of my servants help you dress while I attend to my own attire.”
    “No, that’s