by Leilani Love
With him asleep Guinevere was able to fully look him over. The fire burned bright enough that she could see him. Even as her cheeks heated up, she couldn’t tear her eyes from his body. Tracing the contours of the muscles on his chest downward, she itched to touch him. Fascinated by the muscle that curved around his hip, her gaze went to his cock. As she studied it, she couldn’t help but notice how it seemed to grow. Her eyes widened, and she looked up to see Arthur’s eyes open.
Arthur chuckled, and his fingers traced down her cheek as he gave her a flirty grin. The twinkle in his eye let her know he knew exactly what she had been looking at. He leaned over and kissed her gently. “As much as I would love to repeat what we just did, your body needs to heal first.”
She nodded, biting her lip.
He pulled her into his arms. “I should send you back to your room.”
“You should,” she agreed as she snuggled closer to him.
He traced lazy circles on her back. “If you get found here, your reputation would be in ruins.”
“True, but Elizabeth and Bors would stop the rumors before they got started if I told them to,” she said with a yawn. “Arthur, I meant it last night when I came in here and said I chose you.” His hand paused on her back. He didn’t say anything and instead kissed the top of her head. It wasn’t that much longer before she fell asleep, comfortable in his arms.
When she woke up again, the light from the sun had started to stream through the windows. The staff would be waking and moving about soon.
“I haven’t heard anyone in the halls yet,” Arthur said, as he stretched under her.
Guinevere smiled, arching her back, pressing her breasts into his chest as she stretched, she heard Arthur growl.
“If you keep that up…”
She bit her lip and rubbed her body on his. He growled and rolled her on her back, she laughed. Her legs parted, and he settled between her spread thighs. When he rocked his hips, his cock slid against her sensitive skin, and she let out a whimper.
He moaned and dipped his head to kiss and nibble along her neck. “Guinevere, if you keep doing that…”
“What, this?” she asked, rocking her hips.
He slid his cock between her folds. “God Guinevere, I’ve never wanted anyone or anything as much as I’ve wanted you.”
His words sent a small shiver of pleasure down her spine. She bit his shoulder before finally replying, “Is it bad if I admit that I hope you never do?”
He began to nip and lick the sensitive column along her neck as one hand slid between her thighs and teased her core. Her hips rolled against his hand and she let out a sigh of pleasure. When Arthur’s fingers found the sensitive nub, he rolled it between his fingers, sending a streak of pleasure through her that made her cry out in need.
Feeling bold, she slid her hands down and traced the muscles that caught her attention earlier. Her hips moved against his fingers on their own and she parted her legs, trying to deepen the contact. Curious if her touch would feel as good to him as his did to her, she traced that line on his hip down to his hard length and wrapped her fingers around his cock.
Arthur’s lips skinned the side of her neck and he bit her earlobe gently as his fingers teased her core. “Your fingers feel almost as good as this part of you does wrapped around me.”
Her cheeks heated, and she reached out and wrapped her fingers around him. He flexed his hips and she stroked him. His throaty growl encouraged her, and she stroked him in time with the movement of his fingers inside her.
She enjoyed the feel of him in her hand. There was something powerful in knowing she was able to please him. When she started to get bolder, he pulled back and moved her hands over her head.
She gasped. “Did I do something wrong?”
Arthur’s chest rumbled against hers and he nuzzled her cheek. “No Princess, you were doing everything right.” He rubbed his cock against her. “But if I let you continue, I am afraid this would be over before we even started.”
Her eyes widened as she realized what he meant, and she cried out as he thrust into her, this time not in pain, but in pleasure. He didn’t pause like he did last night. Instead, he kept a nice slow rhythm.
Arthur’s breath on her neck caused a shiver to run down her spine and she wrapped her arms around him. His touch was feather light as it slid along her thigh and down to her knee. She wrapped her legs around him, hooking them around his back.
As her pleasure increased, her fingers curled and dug into his back. When her release hit, she turned her head into his neck and screamed. Her body shook under his. With one last thrust, she heard his loud grunt as he joined her in his release.
As her body slowly came down, his lips brushed against her cheek. He pulled back and his gaze found hers. He stared at her as if she were some kind of treasure and her heart fluttered.
When he slipped from her core she whimpered at the loss of him. Arthur gave her a light kiss before getting up to grab a cloth from the dresser. She looked away, her cheeks heating as he brought the cloth between her legs and gently cleaned between her thighs.
“Soon someone will be coming down the hall to let us know breakfast is ready,” Arthur pointed out as he cleaned himself.
“True,” she said as she sat up, letting the blanket fall away.
He picked up her robe and gestured to the door. “Come you should get back to your room.”
“Technically, I am already yours Arthur. No one will...”
He shook his head and gently kissed her. “Guinevere, you realize that I will be forced to fight anyone who says you were forced to marry me because you were caught in my bed, right?”
Guinevere was shocked by his words. She was used to being a pawn in the world of men. A bargaining chip to secure her lands and people. She came to Arthur last night because she wanted at least one night where she got to choose who she was with. “Arthur, I’m here with you because I already chose you.”
An array of emotions crossed his face before he finally kissed her again. “Get dressed, Princess. This is a discussion between me and you, not me, you, Bors, Elizabeth, my father, and probably Merlin. I don’t want them telling you what to do.”
It was silly, but she felt a small sting of rejection. She nodded her head and put on her robe, doing only a few of the buttons. When she got to the door, he placed his hand on the door, holding it closed and forcing her to look up at him.
“Guinevere, telling you to get dressed was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Don’t think I don’t want you. Even right now, every part of me wants you. I just always want to be your choice. Someone finding you in my room takes away that choice.”
His words made her heart skip a beat and she understood exactly what he meant. Guinevere gave him a soft smile before nodding. She opened the door and peeked into the hall, not seeing anyone, she quickly slipped from his room to hers.
She opened her door and slipped into her room, quietly closing the door behind her. The sound of someone clearing their throat made her jump and she whipped around to see Elizabeth sitting on her bed.
“Elizabeth, what are you doing here?”
The squeak in her voice made Elizabeth’s eyebrows raise. She slowly stood up. “I should ask you the very same question. I wanted to talk to my friend and when I got to her room, she was gone. I waited for her, but…”
Guinevere bit her lip and her cheeks warmed as her friend’s words trailed off. She looked down at her hands. Despite Arthur trying to keep what they’d done between the two of them, it seemed as though her friend already knew.
“Does your father know?” Guinevere finally asked.
“Do you really think that if I told him that he wouldn’t have been pounding on the door last night?”
Guinevere blushed. Just because her father gave his blessing on the union, didn’t mean Bors would approve.
Elizabeth opened her mouth to say something when there was a knock on the door. Bors yelled, “you two are both expected do
wnstairs for breakfast,” through the door.
“We will be right down, Bors,” Guinevere called back.
“Here, let me help you dress, but this conversation is not done.” Elizabeth went to one of the chests and pulled out a dress. The two of them quickly got her dressed and pinned up her hair.
After shaking off her fears that everyone knew how she’d spent last night, she took a deep breath and went downstairs.
Chapter 26
Once downstairs, Arthur smiled at the maid who poured him a glass of juice. Bors came down shortly after him and had been talking to one of the knights who was camped outside. Arthur knew Bors was close to Guinevere and knew that if he knew about last night, he would most likely be in for the beating of his life.
Guinevere came downstairs and blushed beautifully before walking over to Bors and giving the knight a big smile. Arthur couldn’t help but narrow his eyes. From the way they spoke, it was clear they had known each other a while.
Elizabeth was next, and the superior look on her face along with her perfectly raised eyebrow almost made him swear out loud. Merlin magically appeared behind him. “That one is full of fire and if your cousin Lancelot is not careful she is going to burn him alive.”
Arthur chuckled, and they all began to take their places as Lancelot walked in, winking at one of the dark-haired maids. As Lancelot took his place next to him, he gave his friend a look. “Tell me you didn’t.”
“Okay, I won’t,” he replied way too quickly, his eyes dancing with mischief. He darted his gaze at Elizabeth, who was seated between Guinevere and another knight. This one was younger, closer to her age, with light brown hair and dark eyes. He was giving Elizabeth his complete attention.
When Lancelot narrowed his eyes, Arthur smacked him on the back. “Looks like you won’t have to worry about her bothering you anymore my friend.”
Lancelot muttered something about women being fickle, but Arthur ignored him and started to help himself to the food that was placed around the table by the servants. As he loaded his plate, he realized how hungry he was.
As he ate, he kept glancing at Guinevere. Whenever she looked in his direction she blushed and then went back to talking to Bors, who kept giving him dirty looks. Last night Arthur was surprised when she’d showed up in his room. Even now he realized he should have made her leave, but he was weak and his need for her was strong.
Arthur meant what he’d said this morning, if they married, he wanted it to be because she chose him. He always wanted her to feel like she was with him because she wanted to be, not because her father gave her away.
Between the King and Morgana’s army, there was a good chance he wouldn’t survive, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to leave her a widow. There was a part of him that was scared that if she did marry him, they would kill her. If they didn’t, then maybe being a widow would give her the freedom to get out from under her father’s thumb.
With those thoughts swirling in his head, he almost jumped when the front door slammed opened and men in chain mail ran down the hall. Arthur started to rise, his hand on his new sword, when the guard barged in and looked around.
“Morgana’s armies have started to attack the farmers. Come. Come quick,” he said as his gaze darted around the room.
Everyone rose quickly. The knight turned around and ran back down the hall with everyone on his heels. Arthur looked around to see that a woman and child were being taken care of by one of the knights.
They were still dressed in their night clothes and the woman was shaking as she held her daughter close. “My husband was coming home from hunting when he saw them. He got home and put us on the horse, telling us to come here as he went to go warn the others.” Her voice quivered.
The crowd looked around, they could see smoke coming from the trees. Merlin stood next to him and narrowed his eyes, scanning the woods. “There will be more people coming soon. We need to get clothes and food ready for them. Once they cross into the field they will be safe. Your husband is a hero milady.”
Arthur grabbed Merlin’s arms as he started to pass them. “Shouldn’t we go out there and help them?”
Merlin looked down at the hand on his arm before raising his gaze to him. His blue eyes glowing when he finally spoke. “Your wolves are running around keeping Morgana’s army. If you really want to help them, take up your father’s sword and prepare yourself to lead these men into battle.”
“There has to be another way,” Arthur said, his voice barely a whisper.
A look of sadness crossed Merlin’s face. “I’m sorry, Arthur. I didn’t realize how powerful she was becoming. Unfortunately, your parents paid for my arrogance. Now the burden falls to you.”
With that, Merlin walked away and started giving orders to the maids. People started arriving almost immediately afterwards. All of them were scared, a few were injured. One man hobbled in with an arrow in his shoulder. Some were rescued by the knights that were arriving to take up arms with Arthur, while others spoke of a pack of wolves that came out of nowhere and attacked the demonic army.
Guinevere helped with the wounded. He saw her helping those with the deadlier injuries, while Elizabeth took the children inside to feed them. Arthur felt out of place, not sure what to do to help. To make it worse, as soon as anyone saw the sword on his hip, they went to a knee and bowed to him.
Needing to step away, Arthur went back inside the keep and headed upstairs. Once there, he trudged to the edge of the battle wall and eyed the black smoke rising from the trees. Morgana’s army was everywhere, forcing people from their homes.
There were people coming out of the woods from almost every direction. In the distance he could see two wolves walking with two small children. Before he could say anything, he noticed a knight riding out to them.
Arthur watched as the wolves stayed with the children until the knight rode and picked them up to ride on his horse. Despite everything Morgana had done, everyone seemed happy to see him. A few had thanked the gods for his safe return. The men that arrived told him they were ready to take up arms and take back Camelot.
As he thought about all they’d lost, a hand slipped into his. When he looked down, he wasn’t surprised to see Guinevere had come up and joined him.
“I saw you from below and wanted to check on you,” Guinevere said, looking at him.
Arthur looked down, noticing that a few of the maids had taken her place. “People just keep coming. You’d think they would be mad that I am the reason most of their homes are being burnt to the ground. Instead, they bow and said they prayed to the gods that I was safe and would one day return.”
Guinevere looked over the edge at the people below. “They know you are not to blame for this, Morgana’s jealousy and your uncle’s greed are. Your pulling the sword from the stone lit the light of hope in a very dark time.”
Arthur sighed and looked up to the sky. “I don’t think I can do this alone.”
Guinevere stepped closer to him and he looked down into her eyes. Her small hand traced his cheek and she smiled at him. “You will not be doing this alone. I will be fighting by your side and those people down there…those people will fight for you.”
“If anything happens to you...”
She rose to her tiptoes, pulled him into a kiss, effectively cutting off the last of his words..
When she pulled back he couldn’t remember what he was about to say.
She smiled. “Come, the people are excited to meet their King.”
With that Guinevere led him to the edge and looked down. She waved down at Bors who picked up a shield and banged on it, getting everyone’s attention. Once everyone was looking at him, Bors loudly announced, “Behold, King Arthur, the one true King of Camelot.”
With that he pointed his sword up to them and everyone looked up. Arthur stood silent, all eyes on him, and felt his chest tighten. Not sure what to do, Guinevere took his hand and raised it up.
That motion seemed to set off a chain reaction. The
crowd erupted in cheers. Guinevere removed her hand from his. Not knowing what to do, he waved. Even his father and brothers clapped. Upon seeing the pride on his father’s face, Arthur stood taller.
These people needed him, and he would not fail them.
About the Author
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this advanced copy of The Lost King. It is getting reviewed one more time to see if there are any editing mistakes that have been missed. If you do find something please feel free to message in the comment sections or email me at [email protected]
