“Your Highness? The reporter has arrived.”

Jasmina looked up from her laptop. It seemed she had been staring at it almost nonstop since her reign began. At least, when she wasn’t dodging the not-so-subtle advances of her fake fiancé.

Thinking of Jenson brought out a turbulent clash of emotions within her. Sometimes when she was with him the tiniest of flashes of kindness would filter through. He would hold open a door for her, or pour her a cup of tea, or say something she couldn’t understand. She barely knew the man, but it was clear that there was another, more complicated person beneath the surface. She often wondered if she would ever crack through his shell to see the man beneath.

Did she even want to?

Jasmina nodded to Asha, saving her place on the document she was reading before she followed her loyal lady-in-waiting back to her quarters, where she was dressed in an elaborate gown suitable for a public interview. There had been questions swirling around her and Jenson over the past month or so since their engagement announcement, and she had successfully averted them as best she could. Still, her people deserved information, even if it was all a lie.

Dressed in a golden gown, her dark tresses twisted up into a small crown around her head, Jasmina took one last look at herself in the mirror. Before she could turn away, she paused, looking deeply into her own eyes.

She had never remembered looking so sad.

Jasmina gave herself a gentle reminder that she would have to work better at masking that emotion, especially as she was about to step in front of cameras. There was a gentle knock at the door.

“Come in,” Jasmina said, dabbing at the corner of her eye to remove any excess moisture that might have popped up in her reverie.

“Wow.”

She turned to see Jenson, dressed in a well-cut suit and tie, frozen in the doorway as he stared at her. A little tingle in her belly told her that she enjoyed the admiring stare, and it annoyed her no end.

“Mr. Black. I wasn’t expecting to meet you in here.”

Jenson glanced around. It was the first time he had entered her bedroom, and she tried not to think of the massive canopy bed just steps away. It seemed wildly inappropriate, even if she had spent her college years in liberal New York. He took a few steps forward until he was facing her, his usual cocky grin in place.

“It took me a while to find it, but as our nuptials get closer it just seems right that I should have access to this room, doesn’t it?”

His tone was deeply suggestive, his eyes darting toward the bed. Jasmina stepped around him, not looking back.

“We are not married yet, Mr. Black. I expect you to have better decorum in the future.”

She stood facing away from him, trying to get her bearings. His presence filled the entire room, and she was losing her breath with every second he stood near her. She gasped when she felt him step up behind her, pressing his chest against her back and whispering in her ear.

“Aren’t you even a little bit curious?” he breathed, planting a whisper-soft kiss just behind her earlobe.

Jasmina began to shake, her body reacting to his lips against her skin. She turned to face him, not sure which position was more dangerous.

“No,” she said, though the shake in her voice gave her away.

Jenson’s grin broadened as he took another step toward her, his face only inches from hers.

“For a monarch, you are a terrible liar.”

“And yet somehow I’ve managed to lie to my entire country about having any sort of affection for you.”

She glared up into his green eyes, willing herself not to betray her desires by kissing him. Jenson Black was a manipulative cad, not worth of the dirt on her shoe. Giving in to her desires for him would only make him think he had more power over her, and perhaps even over her nation. It was not something she could risk.

Fortunately, Asha chose that moment to walk into the room, ready to escort them to the library, where they would be interviewed by one of El Jayiah’s premier cable networks. When Asha saw Jenson, she beamed.

“Mr. Black, it’s good to see you! Are you ready for your close-up?”

Her eyes were bright with admiration, and Jasmina found herself perplexed that her most trusted confidant would be so amiable to the man she so despised. It was maddening! Jenson’s smile was bright as he took Asha’s hand and pressed a delicate kiss to the back of it.

Ah, but he was the charmer, wasn’t he?

“My dear Asha, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Jenson?”

“At least a few more, sir. It’s not our way to call people by their first names without knowing them well enough.”

“Someday you will know me quite well, I imagine.”

“Yes, sir. If you’ll both follow me, it’s time to head to the library.”

Asha opened the bedroom door, and Jasmina glanced from her servant to her fiancé. Jenson stepped to her side and held out his elbow for her to take.

“My lady?” he said.

It was more of a challenge than a question, and Jasmina narrowed her eyes at him before placing her palm in the crook of his elbow, trying hard not to breathe in the delectable scent of his cologne.

“I sincerely hope that you went over our origin story once more before today,” Jasmina whispered.

“You mean that trite document you sent over that’s filled with plot holes? Yes, I did, though I imagine our story might come out a bit differently on camera.”

A wave of panic washed over her.

“You can’t stray from the story, Jenson. We have to be credible if any of this is going to work.”

“I’ll make it work, don’t you worry.”

Jasmina was prepared to berate him for the millionth time when Asha reached the library door and pressed it open. The room was filled with cameras and production staff dashing around, making sure everything was functioning correctly. Jasmina instantly plastered a smile on her face, hoping it was believable.

“The show must go on,” she muttered to herself.

Jenson reached his hand over and squeezed hers.

“It’s going to be fine Jasmina. Trust me.”

She would have scoffed if there weren’t so many people watching them. Jasmina had grown used to every eye in every room landing on her whenever she walked anywhere. It was part of her life that she had only escaped when she was in New York. In that moment, she missed being anonymous, even for just a moment.

“Your Highness,” Jericho al-Hawni, El Jayiah’s top news anchor stepped forward with a respectful bow. “It’s an honor to see you again.”

Jasmina smiled benevolently, holding out a hand for Jericho to take, which he did for a moment before letting it drop, as was proper.

“Jericho. It’s always a pleasure to see you.”

He beamed at her words, turning to face Jenson.

“And Jenson Black, the luckiest man in the world. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope you’re both in good spirits for our interview today? I can’t thank you enough for taking the time.”

Jenson held out his hand for Jericho to shake, his gaze steady.

“Always ready for any challenge that comes our way, aren’t we, Jasmina?”

“That’s what El Jayiah is all about,” she said with a small smile, and Jericho nodded approvingly.

“If you would please take a seat, we’ll be ready to start broadcasting in just a few minutes. Just get comfortable.”

Jasmina nodded, and Jericho was off, his forehead getting a little more powder on it before they began. She sat down, Jenson sitting very close beside her, still holding her hand. She wondered if it was as clammy as it felt. She would be committing a terrible act by lying on camera again, and of course Jenson couldn’t possibly understand. He seemed to have no moral code whatsoever.

Jericho returned, sitting in a chair across from them.

“You know the drill, Your Highness. Once the green light appears, I’ll start the interview. Ready?”

As I’ll ever be, she thought.

“Of course,” she said, the picture of dignity.

The green light flashed on, and Jericho began his interview.

“It is my great honor today to be speaking with Sheikha Jasmina Bel Hasnawi and her betrothed, Mr. Jenson Black. Your Highness, Mr. Black, thank you both for sitting down with us today.”

“It’s our pleasure, Jericho,” Jenson said. He looked dashing and comfortable, confident and handsome all at once, and Jasmina found herself wishing that he was a little more like the man he portrayed himself to be.

“Let’s start with the question on everyone’s lips. How did you two meet? Was it love at first sight?”

Jasmina blushed, just she had intended to. She glanced coyly up at Jenson, who met her gaze with adoration in his eyes. For a moment, even she felt fooled by the act.

“It wasn’t, actually,” she said. “I found him entirely repulsive at first.”

Jenson’s eyes widened. That wasn’t part of the script, and he knew it. Jasmina gave a tiny shrug, silently communicating with him—if you’re not sticking to the script, neither will I.

Jericho laughed at her blunt honesty, waiting for her to go on.

“The truth is, Jericho, that Jenson was crude and bossy, and absolutely the last person on Earth I wanted anything to do with.”

Jericho chuckled again, gesturing to their entwined arms.

“Clearly that didn’t last, though.”

“No, it didn’t,” she said, gazing up at Jenson with affection. “Over time he showed me that he was so much more than the hard-shelled CEO he pretends to be.”

“Hey now, I’ve got a reputation to protect here!” Jenson said, and they all laughed together.

They answered a few more of Jericho’s questions, winging it as they went. Jasmina could only hope that they would remember the things they’d said so they wouldn’t contradict themselves later. She made a mental note to get a recording of this interview so she could go over their answers and memorize them.

“Well it sounds like even in the face of a rocky beginning, you two have found your way toward true love. My last question, which I think everyone is asking, is how soon can we expect a new heir after the nuptials have taken place?”

Jenson laughed, and Jasmina blushed, unable to stop herself thinking of his body pressed against hers. Would she be able to resist him once they were married? Did she want to?

“We’ll keep you posted, Jericho. For now, we’re really just focused on the getting married part,” Jenson answered.

Jericho accepted that response, addressing the camera as he closed out the interview.

“There you have it, folks. A royal romance for the ages. If there’s one thing I can say for certain, it’s that these two are very deeply in love with one another.” He turned to face them both. “Thank you again for taking the time to sit down with me.”

“It was our pleasure, Jericho,” Jasmina said, glad it was over.

The light on the camera flicked off, and just like that, the interview was over.