by Leilani Love
The kitchen staff made a meal for them and one for the men outside. When one of the captains mentioned the wolves, Guinevere perked up. “When the men saw the wolves ride up to the keep behind you guys I had to remind them what the message said. The arrival of the wolves meant that the true king was on his way. Now the men are worried with such a large group of wolves near, most the animals will stay far away and give us nothing to hunt.”
Merlin shook his head. “Tell your men not to worry, there will be enough food. The wolves won’t hunt near the keep and will keep the area outside of my wards safer for your men. Morgana’s army is close.”
All the men sobered up at the mention of Morgana. Guinevere stayed near Arthur. Every time the knights came in they made it a point to bow, to Arthur first, before doing the same to her. Arthur, she noticed, shifted and adjusted his clothes. His gaze constantly scanned the room. Even at dinner she noticed how tense his muscles were. He listened to the conversations around him, speaking only when someone asked him a direct question.
When dinner was finished the men got up. Before Arthur could join them in the study, she stopped him. “Would you mind walking with me?”
Arthur glanced at the door of the study and then back at her before gesturing for her to lead.
When she led him upstairs he frowned, and she could tell he had questions. They walked down the long hall that led to both of their rooms and he cleared his throat as he glanced down at her. Realizing he was nervous, she gave him her best reassuring smile. “Merlin told me your room was next to mine, but that there was also a set of stairs that would lead to the top of the keep and give us privacy to talk.”
“Oh,” Arthur said quietly.
She thought she detected a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Arthur grabbed the torch on the wall and led her up the stairs. When they got to the door, he gave her the torch to hold and pushed the door open.
Once outside, there was a walkway for keeping patrol. As she glanced down, she noticed more tents had been set up.
“Lancelot told me that men have been coming in steadily. He said in a day or two he expects that field to be covered in tents,” Arthur said as he looked down.
“They are here to fight with you,” Guinevere whispered, watching the side of his face closely.
Arthur took the torch from her and put it on the hook next to the door, freeing up her hands before they started to walk.
“Then they are fools. I am no king, I’m just a hunter whose father was a king.”
“It’s interesting that your uncle wants nothing more than power, your cousin Greggory as well. They love it. Easily striking someone for any minor offense, like it’s their right, and everyone around them is simply there for their amusement. Yet youwho, by birthright, the people are willing to lay down their lives for, wants nothing to do with that power.”
“People shouldn’t die so I can become king. I have no idea how to lead them. I can’t promise them a better life or that I can fix their problems. I would probably just make them worse,” Arthur said, finally turning to look at her.
Guinevere smiled and closed the distance between them. “You would be a good king because you would take the advice of counsel. You know your limitations as a man, and even now are trying to find a way of saving these people from war. You know every life is precious.”
“Yet you would encourage me to have them fight? You who sacrifices everything for your people at your father’s command?” Arthur asked, his voice rising with each question.
Guinevere poked him in the chest as she leveled him with a glare. “I was willing to marry Greggory because my kingdom could not win against Camelot. It would’ve been a slaughter and the quality of life for my people would have been stripped from them. You can change all that. People aren’t sacrificing themselves for no reason. They are willing to sacrifice themselves in hopes that you are as good a man as your father was.”
She was standing toe to toe with him by the time she finished speaking. Before she could turn and stomp off, he grabbed her by the arms and pulled her back. Then, he kissed her.
Her anger melted away, giving way to passion, as she wrapped her arms around him. Her fingers threaded into his hair, holding him to her as his tongue thrust into her mouth and stroked against hers.
Guinevere’s body arched against his. Her nipples tightened as they pressed against his chest. Arthur released his hold on her arms and his feather light touch made her ache as he slid his hands down her sides. She moaned, giving in to her instinct and gently rubbing on him.
The intensity of the kiss eased, and he pulled back, resting his forehead against hers. “You make me want to…”
His words cut off and she went to her tip toes to kiss him gently. “Arthur just be you. You are an amazing man. You are heroic, sweet, and very, very charming.” She brushed her lips against his. “You are also very stubborn. Refusing to leave no matter how many times I insisted.”
He chuckled. “You were pretty insistent that I leave.”
“And you were very stubborn and stayed.”
“What did your father say about what has happened?” Arthur asked, tightening his hold on her.
“My father is sending some of his best men here to fight by your side. He knows the king will be arriving soon, so he won’t be able to send them all.”
“What else did he say?” he asked.
Guinevere knew what he was asking. He wanted to know what he said about their marriage contract. “I won’t be the reason you fight.”
Arthur looked deep into her eyes and waited patiently for her to speak. Letting out a big sigh, she finally continued. “Our marriage contract was drawn up before either of us were born and as far as my father is concerned, I am yours. With me by your side, enough of the kingdoms will join you and we will be able to take back Camelot.”
“If I don’t fight for you, then who?”
“For anyone but me. For the people that are struggling, to heal the land that seems to be dying with each year that your uncle sits on the throne, for the women and children who are subjected to the cruel knights the king has given his blessing to use as they see fit…”
Arthur’s lips quirked into a smile.
She frowned. “This is not funny, every day that he sits on that throne, the people suffer.”
“I’m not smiling because there are people suffering, I’m smiling because you, who were willing to give up your life for them, don’t think you are worth fighting for.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips.
Guinevere frowned, and he stepped toward her until she was pressed against the wall. “If you are thinking you want to marry me, I will probably make your life hell. I’m stubborn. I never listen, and according to Bors, I am constantly finding my way into trouble.”
“You are worth fighting for,” he whispered before his lips claimed hers.
She pulled her hand out of his and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, giving herself over to the kiss. Every stroke of his tongue against hers sent a shiver of pleasure through her. Her nipples pebbled as she arched against him.
When he broke the kiss, she smiled to herself. His breath coming in hard pants as he put a little distance between them. “Guinevere, you are more than a pawn to be used. We should go inside it’s been a long night.”
Guinevere missed the warmth of him as she took a deep breath and gave him a small nod, not trusting herself to speak. He grabbed the torch as they went to the door to guide them back down the stairs. When they got to their floor, Guinevere excused herself and went to her room to find Elizbeth there waiting for her.
The door barely closed before her friend asked, “What happened?”
Guinevere shrugged. “He knows my father is basically giving me to him with his blessings as long as he agrees to fight.”
“If the people had a choice I believe they would pick you with or without Greggory or Arthur. The kingdoms and landowners would have already rallied behind you. Instead, because
most men are stupid, you are considered a prize because of your father and his lands.”
Guinevere smiled. “Get some rest. I feel like tomorrow is going to be an interesting day.”
Elizabeth helped her undress and put her in a night-rail before braiding her hair.
“My room is the first one near the stairs, if you need me for anything,” Elizabeth told her before finally leaving.
Putting out the candle, she lay in her bed thinking about what Arthur had said.
Guinevere thought about how, before she was born, there was a contract for her to marry the next prince of Camelot and how easily that contract shifted to the next prince. How, even now, her father was willing to give her away to a man he had never met. She wondered if Arthur would have been the spoiled prince Greggory was if he’d grown up raised in the same manner.
As she lay in her bed, one thought kept popping up. Did she want to be her fathers to give away, or would she be brave enough to offer herself to the man she wanted?
Chapter 24
Arthur went and talked to Lancelot before heading to his own bed chamber. He wondered what Merlin was thinking putting Guinevere’s room so close to his. His hand itched to open her door as he walked past it. All he wanted to do was kiss her again. When he got to his room, he sat and thought about how he would feel if he were in Guinevere’s shoes. Her father had approved of her marrying him without them ever meeting. Her father had no idea what kind of man he was.
A knock on the door drew his attention. Thinking Lancelot must have decided he wanted to complain more about Elizabeth, he sat up in bed. His eyes widened as Guinevere stepped inside wearing her robe.
“Guinevere is everything all right?” Arthur asked, sitting up straighter, ready to jump from the bed if need be.
Guinevere gave a small nod as she closed the door to his bedroom. She squared her shoulders and turned to look at him. She clasped her hands in front of her and shifted from one foot to the other.
Arthur swung his legs over the bed, making sure to cover himself as he reached out and grabbed her hands and pulled her close to him. “Guinevere, what’s wrong?
“Since before I was born, I was promised to you. My father said he signed the contract because it would be a smart match. A part of me hated him for making that decision for me.”
“That contract was made before either of us was born. I would no more expect you to honor it than I would expect the king to step down…”
Guinevere put her fingers on his lips. “Every day I have put my people first. Tonight, for the first time, there is something I want so much I am willing to…” She closed her mouth and leaned down, brushing her lips against his softly. A moan slipped from his lips and her hands slid into his hair as her lips parted.
Arthur groaned in approval and pulled her onto his lap. He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“You, are what I want.”
Before Arthur could respond she stood up and untied her robe. With a shrug of her shoulders it fell to the floor and he moaned. Her nightgown had lace along her midsection, showing every creamy inch of her stomach.
She was a mixture of innocent and temptation and he couldn’t resist her.
He managed to look away from her exposed skin and meet her gaze. With a gentle tug, he pulled her onto his lap. She squeaked.
With a chuckle he said, “That’s adorable,” as his hand slid up her back.
Arthur knew he should do the honorable thing and send her back to her room. Before he could open his mouth to tell her to leave, she turned her head and captured his lips with a soft, tempting kiss. When her tongue met his, all thoughts left him, and he slowly lay back.
He broke the kiss and traced her jaw with his fingers. As he studied her he loved how her lips were swollen from their kiss, the way her cheeks pinkened when she was embarrassed and how her chest rose and fell quickly with each breath. She stiffened and lowered her gaze.
“Guinevere are you sure?” Arthur asked.
She brought her hand up to his cheek. “I’m where I want to be. Please, Arthur. “
Those words were his undoing and a sound of need escaped him as he brought his lips up to hers. The kiss was sweet and soft, her soft sounds of pleasure encouraging him to continue as he slid his hand up the outside of her thigh.
His hand glided up her side and found its way to her full breast. The material was so thin he was able to cup and squeeze the firm globe in his hand and feel her nipples harden. Breaking the kiss, her soft moan of pleasure made his chest swell with pride as he kissed and licked his way down her neck.
Guinevere tilted her head, exposing her neck and giving him better access. He gently sucked on that spot where he felt her pulse beating rapidly. Her fingers tightened in his hair and her throaty little moan made his cock throb.
Her body pressed against his and her hips bucked up to meet his cock. Kissing his way farther down, he closed his lips over the hardened nub that was poking through the night-rail.
When he twirled his tongue around the sensitive tip her grip in his hair tightened. He continued to tease the flesh, his free hand caught the material above her knee and slid it up slowly.
Arthur turned his head and captured her other breast, teasing it the same way he had the first. When it was standing and begging for attention, he pulled back and blew gently on her breast as his hand cupped her core and one of his fingers teased the soft curls that covered her.
His fingers teased her and she parted her legs and wiggled under him. A whimper escaped her. “Arthur.”
There was a hint of need and awe in her voice that moved him. Arthur knew this would be her first time and wanted to make sure he did everything he could to make sure it was pleasurable.
Guinevere’s night-rail had a row of buttons that went down the front. He brought his hand to the highest one on her chest and looked down, giving her one more chance to say no.
“Please,” Guinevere said with a breathy sigh.
Between the look of desire in her eyes and the need in her voice Arthur would never be able to tell her no. He distracted her with light kisses as his fingers started to undo the row of buttons.
She gasped in obvious surprise at the feel of his skin against hers. Arching her back, she moaned and then he smiled against her lips. Arthur nibbled on her lips as he continued to massage her breast, slowly making his way down and taking her breast into his mouth.
As she wiggled and squirmed under his mouth, Arthur’s fingers undid a few more buttons so he could continue to ready her body for his. Arthur slid his fingers down her stomach, loving how her muscles quivered under his touch.
His fingers parted her folds. Arthur teased her sensitive skin, brushing his fingers back and forth, his touch light waiting until her hips slowly started to move with him, rocking against his hand. Kissing his way back up to her mouth, he captured her lips with a kiss before inserting a finger into her.
Lost in his own pleasure he barely heard the soft gasp as her hands came up and rested on his shoulders. Arthur thought she was going to push him away, but instead her fingers curled, and her nails held him in place. Moving his finger in and out of her, he waited until her hips were moving with his before he slowly inserted a second finger, stretching her to accommodate him.
The soft sounds coming from her lips made his cock kick in anticipation. Moving his hand from her core, her whimper of protest as her hips came up told him she was ready for him. Arthur positioned himself between her welcome thighs. His gaze scanned her face, his cock at her entrance he paused, holding back, despite his need to be buried deep inside her.
He brushed her hair back from her face and waited for her to look up at him. A dreamy expression graced her face. “I need you. Please don’t make me wait any longer.”
Arthur let out a moan and captured her lip as he thrust inside her. Guinevere’s body tensed under his, her nails digging deeper into his shoulder. He paused inside her, brushing his lips back
and forth against hers, waiting for Guinevere to let him know she was ready for him to move.
When her hips bucked against his, and she whimpered, he knew it was time. Arthur slowly pulled back leaving just the tip of him inside her, loving how her hips came up to welcome him as he thrust inside her again, she cried out, “Arthur.”
As the two of them moved in time, Guinevere’s hands slid down his back. She grabbed his ass, her nails digging in.
Arthur’s pleasure rose as her walls began to ripple around his cock. Every whimper, every moan from her, let him know she was close. He looked down at Guinevere, her swollen lips parted, her eyes closed tight, her beautiful dark hair framing her face, and he moaned.
Her eyes fluttered open and her eyes met his as she panted, “Arthur, I...”
Lowering his head to hers, he whispered. “I’m right there with you my princess, just let go.”
Her fingers curled as she held him tighter, and he thought for sure he wouldn’t be able to hold off any longer, when she turned her head toward his and screamed against his neck as her release finally hit. Her body spasmed and rippled so tight, all he could do was thrust into her and grunt as his own release hit.
Chapter 25
Guinevere woke to hear the steady beat of Arthur’s heart under her and sighed contentedly as she stretched. Her inner thigh muscles were tender from last night.
She grinned, remembering the look on his face when she’d entered his room the night before. He had kept himself covered as he sat up and had been a gentleman the entire night. Even when it looked like he was in pain, he still put her before himself. No man had ever done that before.
When he told her to let go, she didn’t know what he meant, but could feel him holding her. She trusted him and what happened next was sinful and amazing. When she finally came down, he kissed her sweetly and got up from the bed, using a piece of cloth and water from the basin to clean her up.
