You have to kiss me

Alexander took Francis to a private room to have a chance to talk. He sat opposite to Francis and sipped his tea with elegance. Malcolm stood at the corner curious about Francis's identity and why the prince reacted the way he did when he heard he was in the palace. He watched there interactions very keenly.

"So what made you change your mind?"

"I am in need of money and you looked like you can afford to spare a few gold coins," he replied feeling nervous. Francis had never been in the palace before and it made him uncomfortable and the man watching him like a hawk from the corner wasn't helping his situation.

"I see, you are only here for money. Then tell me how much do you cost?"

"I don't really know, I just want enough to get the royal physician to take a look at someone for me."

"Is someone you know sick?" he asked and Francis nodded.

"My mother," he said.

"Okay. I will send the royal physician with you when you leave and now tell me how much do you want as dowry?"

"Anything that you are willing to give me. I don't want much," he stated in a shy voice. He found it hard to believe that he had accepted to get married to a man. It was even more unbelievable to him that they were discussing his dowry. It was unbelievable to him how calm the other man seemed to be about discussing everything.

"Don't be shy to tell me what you want. I can give you anything that your heart might desire. Even the whole of Arimelari if it is what you wish."

Francis stared in shock at the man after the statement that he just made. His jaw dropped and he was unable to reply to the man. He looked over to the man at the corner worried they might get reported to the king for treason. He sat nervously on the chair worried that he might get in trouble.

"Tell me Francis. What do you want? And if you have yet to decide then I can put forth my condition," he said and Francis swallowed hard. He had no idea that the man would ask for anything from him and he had nothing to offer.

"Condition? What condition?"

"I want you to prove to me that you are able to fulfill the responsibilities of a good partner once we are married. You have to take the initiative to kiss me right now."

Francis froze upon hearing the condition that Alexander put forth. He felt speechless and helpless at the same time. He didn't move at all from where he sat and continued to gaze at Alexander. He looked around nervously to ease himself and his eyes happen to meet with Malcolm's. Malcolm looked at him unmoved by Alexander's request. He was shocked at what was happening in front of him but he didn't dare say a thing.

"Do you have a problem with my request. If so then I don't think that my proposal still stands."

Francis got up from his seat and walked over to Alexander's side, his body was sweating out of fear of what he was about to do. "Can you ask him to leave?" he asked looking at Malcolm.

"He is my personal bodyguard and my right hand man. He will always be around me so you shouldn't mind him. Just concentrate on me. Look at me and kiss me already," he said getting impatient of waiting for his kiss.

Francis moved an inch closer to Alexander and looked into his green eyes that had a sense of familiarity in them. He looked at his honey coloured hair, his face flushed at thought of kissing Alexander but deep down he felt excited to have those soft lips in his.

"How long will it take for you to give me a simple kiss?" asked Alexander. Alexander helped him by putting Francis's hand on his neck. Francis felt his heart beat against his rib cage. "Just imagine that I am a girl if it helps. And kiss me as you would kiss your female lover. I assume you have had female lovers right?" he asked and Francis looked down in shame. He was so busy taking care of his family and working all the time that he didn't have any time for love.

He had never been with anyone before and the kiss he shared with Alexander was his very first kiss. Alexander pulled his face gently and made look at him. He ran his thumb over Francis's cheek. "What is wrong?" he asked in a soft voice.

"I.... I have never had a lover before," he confessed in a weak voice and looked away from Alexander.

"Do you mean to say that you have never been in a relationship before?" he asked and Francis nodded. "With your beauty I expected a long list of ex lovers," he said and Francis blushed at being called beautiful. He kept his eyes on the ground to hide his face from Alexander. "I am happy about that but you still have to kiss me."

Francis looked up and looked at him with pleading eyes. He didn't feel comfortable kissing him especially in front of the man who was still watching them. "On one condition," he whispered.

"You are giving me conditions,"

"You said you could give me whatever I asked for. Can't you fulfill a single wish of mine."

"Tell me, what is this condition you speak of?" he asked intrigued by Francis.

"Tell the man to leave the room."

Alexander signaled Malcolm to leave the room and they were left alone. "He is gone."

Francis gathered all the courage he could master and took a deep breath. He has to kiss Alexander for the sake of his mother. He would have to get used to the thought of being close to him or even intimate since they were going to be married soon. He looked up to Alexander and leaned in until there lips brushed and he blushed. He didn't back down and kissed him, he nipped on Alexander's lips and deepen the kiss exactly the way Alexander had done before.

"You are a quick leaner," Alexander said in between breaths.