Page 39 of Falling for the Queen Mother

As though he overheard her and wanted to prove her right, a member of the crew walked onto the deck with their meal. A moment later, they were alone again.

"Told you." Alaina couldn't contain her smirk. "They just know."

Nathaniel looked around. "Are there cameras?"

She picked up her fork. "Probably. I've never asked. I also don't know who would have access to them. I can't imagine they're just available for anyone to watch."

He gave a nod and picked up his own utensil. "Good point."

The dinner continued in a comfortable way that Alaina almost found a bit unsettling. She barely knew this man, but here they sat talking like they'd known each other for years.

Once they'd both finished eating, Nathaniel stood and held out a hand. "May I have this dance?" He bowed toward her as she placed her hand in his.

Alaina stood and looked around. "There's no music."

With a light chuckle, he pulled his phone out of his pocket with his free hand and, in just a few seconds, light jazz music came spilling out. "How about now?"

For the first time in a very, very long time, Alaina found herself dancing in the arms of a man who held her close. She'd danced since she'd been widowed, but never with anyone she wanted to know better on a personal basis. None had ever crossed any boundaries of propriety, or even come close to trying.

But Nathaniel was different.

Not only was he willing to hold her closer, she was happy he decided to. Her heart rate increased, but more than she would have expected from the physical exertion.

Could it be because she was dancing with a man she found herself attracted to? One she wondered if she could truly fall for?

One she was married to?

Did they need an actual ceremony? One that would allow them to commit publicly to each other? Rather than just being pressured by someone or someones who had a photo and an ancient law?

It would bear some consideration. Maybe just family.

If they decided this was going to work. If this marriage would be one that lasted until the end.

Would he kiss her at the end of the night? Or would it be awkward?

Maybe they could just dance until the sun came up. Or fall asleep sitting on one of the lounges.

Even though that was what got them into this situation in the first place.

Still, it had been a very nice evening and a nice way to fall asleep. She wouldn't be opposed to it happening again, especially since they couldn't get any more married than they already were.

"What are thinking about?" Nathaniel's breath played with her hair as he spoke. That was how close he was to her.

"Just... us. What this is. What it could be. Where we go from here." Not exactly right, but close enough. Or rather a more broad view of what she'd been thinking about.

"I've been thinking about the same things."

"Have you reached any conclusions? Because if you have, I'd love to hear what they are." She rubbed her thumb along his shoulder.

"Not really any conclusions. Just that I like you a lot and I'm glad I'm going to have the chance to get to know you better." He slid his hand a bit further around her waist and pulled her even closer to him.

"I'm glad, too."

Her hand slid up until her fingers could play with the hair at the nape of his neck as he tucked the their joined hands close to his chest.

She didn't know how long they danced, just that it was through several songs. By the last one, they were barely moving.

They were close enough to the table where he'd set his phone that he was able to easily reach out and turn it off. With her hand still in his, he moved toward the other side of the deck - where the chairs and couches were, but also where the door was that led to the stairs that led to their suite.