Tease

"My friends and I at university used to play a version of it which invo-... ah, now I think of it, talk of dice isn't suitable for... for someone of our rank," he added hastily, suddenly realising who he was speaking to and, more importantly, how very much she might blackmail him if she wished.

Kalasin scowled and adjusted her glass of juice. "This game didn't happen to involve any women, did it? Or copious amounts of drink?"

"Yes, it did, actually," he said wryly. "I hadn't expected you to-"

"I guessed from your tone. Kaddar, for Mithros's sake. I wasn't born yesterday, and I have three brothers who've finished knight training. Liam and Jasson each danced round it for a month before they realised I'd already badgered stories about kissing games and drinking games out of Roald years ago. Explain the game, then? This isn't the one where a boy and a girl are locked in a cupboard for six minutes, is it?" she asked with interest.

Kaddar nearly choked on his wine, and she chuckled to see his normally composed expression disappear. "Kally! It's not proper to talk about... about such things when we're married, and rulers of the country besides."

"Yes, " she said in a low voice, smiling shyly at him and lowering her eyes, "but I'd rather like to play a more intimate version of it, if that's possible."

"Um. Well, that sounds... that can be arranged," he croaked. "Here's how it works, then."