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you asking me this as a friend or as my boss?”
    Matt’s smile deepened. “As your friend, of course, spill.”
    Thea sat back in her chair. “He was surprisingly nice. Despite the fact that every woman in the place, and a few of the guys, tried to flirt with him, he kept his attention on me. It was quite refreshing.”
    “Well, Valhallan men are supposed to be attentive to their women. Remember, they can’t afford to lose them too easily.”
    “Not like the guys on Earth then who think its okay to hit and run.”
    “And it’s not just the guys.”
    Thea frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “You’re not exactly renowned for your ability to stick around either.”
    She fixed him with an accusatory stare. “I learned from a master—you.”
    Matt retreated toward the door. “I didn’t expect you to take my lessons quite so much to heart. You haven’t had a proper relationship for five years.”
    “And you have?”
    He sighed. “At least I’m looking. You never give a guy a chance.”
    “That’s not fair, Matt. Since Mark humiliated me so publicly, it’s been hard to trust anyone again.”
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    “I know that, sweetheart, but you’re twenty-eight now and Mark’s been married for four years. Don’t you think it’s time you gave yourself a break?”
    A familiar burning sensation rolled around in her stomach. “So what are you saying? I should get it on with Sven? That would work out great for you wouldn’t it?”
    He paused in the doorway, one hand braced on the frame. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “I get close to Sven and you get kudos from the higher-ups.”
    All traces of humor disappeared from his face. “You really think I’d use you like that?”
    She shrugged. “Why not?”
    He grabbed the door handle. “Sometimes, Thea, you are such a bitch.”
    She winced as he slammed the door behind him. With a groan, she buried her head in her hands. Why had she reacted so defensively? Matt hadn’t really told her anything she hadn’t worked out painfully for herself. So she liked rejecting men before they rejected her first. What was wrong with that? It was all Sven’s fault for muddling her senses last night. Everything had seemed perfectly clear right up until she’d let him lick and suck her to a climax.
    She wiggled in her seat as memories of his head between her thighs surfaced to taunt her. How was she going to face him today? She closed her eyes and kept her head down. Perhaps by the end of the day she would’ve have figured out how to apologize to both men.

    “So how was it then?”
    Sven scowled at Harlan who sat behind him in the queen’s bathroom. He continued to shave, his attention on the dangerous curve of his chin and the sharpness of his blade.
    “It was none of your business.”
    Harlan grinned. “Sven, you spent half an Earth hour in the shower when you came back from dining with Ms. Cooper. Either you were cleaning off her scent or relieving your frustrations.” His deft fingers returned to braiding the black hair at his temple.
    “From the sour look on your face, I assume it was the latter.”
    Sven glanced at the queen’s bedroom door which remained closed. He put down his shaving blade.
    “Last night I was sorely tempted to lie with another woman.”
    Harlan followed his gaze. “But the queen said it was acceptable for you to do that.”
    Sven shrugged. “She suggested I get a date. Not leap into bed with the first woman I go out with. And I gave my vow to the queen and the king. How do I tell the king that I have found a woman more desirable than his wife?”
    “The king will understand.”
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    “The king is within his rights to kill me.” Sven lowered his voice. “But what if I wish to keep my vows as well? I am fond of the queen.”
    “We all are.” Harlan finished the first thin braid and started on the second. “In truth, the king offered you a position as his consort’s server, not his queen’s. And I