“I have.” And considering Tahira’s recent actions, he seriously doubted his ex-fiancée could say the same.
Aaliyah gave him a probing look. “Are you telling me the truth?”
“Why would I lie?” he asked with more genuine curiosity than offense, though he was unused to having his words questioned.
“Because you’re hoping to talk me into bed?”
“I do not need to go for the sympathy vote to get a woman into my bed.”
“No, you probably don’t.” She looked him over in a manner that was both innocent and lascivious.
He flexed his chest muscles for her and groaned when her beautiful green eyes grew dark and bottomless with desire as she inhaled sharply. “You probably have loads of women panting after you.”
“I would not know. I spend very little time with single women these days.” His own honor mocked him in ways he’d never share with another.
“Why?”
“I was a betrothed man.”
“Oh.” She smiled, appearing very happy with some thought she was having. “You really are one of those guys.”
“What guys?”
“The ones who know how to be faithful, even before marriage.”
“I am not perfect, but once Tahira came of age and our engagement was made official, it would have been wrong to continue having lovers.”
“You never considered having sex with her...in three years? She never offered?”
“No.”
“That’s, um...”
“Proper.”
Her full lips turned down in a frown. “Not what I was thinking.”
“Pathetic?” Deluded of him? Sad?
He did not think that anything could cool his ardor, but the prospect that she pitied him proved extremely effective. He did not need pity sex, nor would his pride allow him to accept it, no matter how much he wanted her.
“I’m pretty sure pathetic is never a word anyone would use to describe you. I was going to say maybe you should have taken that as a warning.”
Just like that, the craving was back, his sex pressing against the confinement of his trousers.
“Warning?” he asked, not understanding.
“Presumably, she was just as happy to remain celibate.”
“At least with me, yes.”
“So, neither of you were sexually attracted to each other?”
“It would appear not.”
“You didn’t think that was a problem?”
“Marriages among those in position are not made for the same reasons as in your world.”
“Elitist much?”