The King and the Coquette

by Tilly Hart

  'Yes.' Ava showed no fear at her mother's rage, holding her own on the step of the carriage. 'I found every single one of the king's letters too. Stacks of them in a chest beneath your bed. I told father and showed them to him.'

  'I want her to be happy, Maria. The king loves her, why would we deny them a chance at happiness?'

  'She doesn't deserve it.' Maria's voice was a bitter whisper.

  'I'm so sorry, Dante, for everything. Do you think we could begin again?'

  He scooped me up in his thick arms and kissed me hard once more. Tingles shot throughout my body and goosebumps stood on end. He felt like home.

  'I have something I need to do.'

  He placed my lightly back on the floor and walked over to Ava and Flora. 'Girls, I have opened a place in the royal nursery for you both, should your father be willing to send you to court. We have no children, yet, so the tutors and nurse maids would be keen to have two new additions to the household. Thank you both for your bravery, and your hand in helping get Simone's letter to me. I will ever be in your debt.'

  'Oh Papa, can we go? can we please?' The girls chorused behind him.

  'We shall speak of it, my dears, later.'

  'And to you Sir, I shall be forever indebted. Thank you for sending me the letter when you did. There will be rooms for you and your wife at court also, should you wish to join the girls, if you accept my offer of their schooling.' My father nodded gruffly, and he stared up at the imposing figure Dante cast. ‘I also wish to ask for your permission to seek your daughter's hand in marriage.'

  My pulse quickened in my throat at his words. Marriage? His wife?

  'Will you make endeavour to make her happy?'

  'With every fibre of my being.'

  'Then you have my blessing.' I ran over and hugged my father, throwing my arms about his neck.

  'Thank you, Papa! For everything, I love you.'

  'I love you too, Simone, now I must see to your bridegroom.'

  'Please tell him I'm sorry.'

  'I'm sure he'll understand why you'd choose King Dante, given the choice. He's a wealthy man who needs an heir, I'm sure there will be another woman ready to take your place in time.'

  I pulled my sisters into a tight squeeze. 'I'm sorry that I am leaving you both once more, I vowed I would stay. Do I have your permission to go back to court?'

  The girls nodded vigorously. 'We spoke about it before we showed Papa the letter. Marring Lord Dèssè made you sad, and we want you to be happy. Please try to convince Papa to let us come with you. We don't want to stay here either.'

  'I will, I promise.'

  The carriage set off once my family returned to its shaded depths; I waved until they disappear out of view. Dante's hands slid up my arms as his lips met my neck, a soft kiss making my sigh happily.

  'That leaves just one thing left to do.' He turned me to face him before planting a gentle kiss upon my lips.

  'Simone de Beauchamp, I have spent years terrified of falling in love, terrified of having my heart broken, but you came sweeping into my life and shattered those fears. I do not wish to spend another moment without you by my side. I love you, every single part of you. I'd move mountains for a single kiss from you and travel leagues just to hold your hand. Please, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife, my queen, my love?'

  He clasped my hands in his as he spoke, and happy tears welled in my eyes. 'Yes. With all that I am I accept.'

  He swung me up into his arms and spun us around to rapt applause from his king's guard. I kissed him fervently, tasting him, touching his, loving him.

  'I love you, Dante.'

  'I love you too, Simone.'

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  The inn we stopped at to refresh the horses was small but charming, colourful flowers surrounding the old wooden door. The proprietors were shocked to find the king at their door, and rushed to ready a room, food and a hot basin of water for each of our party.

  'Will the lady be requiring her own room?' The woman asked, raising an eyebrow at us.

  'No.' Dante's voice was a barely concealed growl of desire, and it sent a quiver straight between my thighs.

  He took my hand and led me up the stairs, waiting as maids brought ewers of steaming water up to fill a basin which we could use to wash off the dirt of the journey. A maid left a small bottle of richly scented oil by the basin and curtsied to the king as she backed out of the room.

  We were alone, at last.

  I threw my arms about Dante's neck and kissed him hungrily; it had been many months since we'd been together, and I'd barely hoped I'd get the chance to be in his arms once more. After indulging me in my kiss, he set me down and laughed.

  'Patience, my love, first, I desperately need to wash.'

  I wrinkled my nose and nodded. 'I'm not arguing there. Do you wish my to step out for a few moments?'

  'No. I want you to sit there and wait.'

  I sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Dante stripped off his jacket and shirt, revealing a tight-knit set of abs, bulging from the ride. I wasn't sure if it was the steam from the basin, or my core temperature rising, but gosh it was hot suddenly. He dipped a linen cloth into the basin and worked it into his flesh, scrubbing and wetting every ridge. I should have averted my eyes, but I couldn't. He looked like a god stood there with the late afternoon sun streaming through the window, the soft red light glinted along each curved muscle in his arms and stomach. Water dripped down his face and over the powerful lines of his jaw, those dark eyes never shying away as I stared.

  And then he was pulling down his breeches.

  And then he stood, stark naked, in front of me.

  I swallowed hard, propriety warring with desire. I didn't just want to look at him; I wanted to touch his, to taste him, to kiss every single one of those undulating muscles. Yet it was different being naked, or seeing someone naked in the throes of passion. Like this, as a spectator, it brought a fierce blush to my cheeks. He ran the washcloth over his legs, around his back and buttocks, cleaning every inch of him. Well, notevery inch...

  He caught my eyes with his as he dipped the cloth in the basin until it dripped heavily with water. I bit my lip as he rang the sodden cloth over his manhood, and it thickened before my eyes.

  I could wait no longer. I had to feel him against my skin.

  He didn't object when I placed my hands on his chest and slid them over every peak and trough of his defined abs. He didn't object when I claimed the wash cloth and covered my hand with it, sliding the rough material up the length of his hardening member. He positively moaned when I swirled it about the tip and I kissed his neck. Every part of him would be mine forever, and I would claim him fully as mine.

  I dropped to my knees before him and gripped him in my hand. He pulsed between my fingers and I moaned as I licked around the sensitive ridge that had brought so much pleasure to me all those weeks ago. I'd never gotten the chance to thank it properly. I caught his eyes as I took him into my mouth, and he groaned heartily, much to my satisfaction. I worked my tongue and lips over the now solid flesh, teasing every morsel of his throbbing hardness. His fingers cinched in my hair, holding me firmly to him as he rocked his hips, claiming my mouth with each stroke. I watched his face as I sucked and licked at him, enjoying every tense twitch of his jaw and the well of expressions filling his eyes. I would have happily stayed on my knees worshiping him forever, but he had other plans.

  He pulled me roughly to him and kissed me, his hands roving my body and his tongue in my mouth. He was heat and expectation, lust and passion, all rolled into one well-built package.

  He spun my roughly away from him and all but tore my clothes from my body, leaving me as naked as he. His eyes greedily took in my body from head to toe before he grabbed the washcloth, dipped it in the steaming water and drew my against him. His stiffness wedged against my buttocks as he held my back against his belly and washed my body. The linen was rough but invigorating against my skin, scrubbing away the dirt a
nd sweat of the day, but also riling me into a writhing pile of need. When his linen covered hand dashed between my thighs, my legs buckled and I leaned heavily against him. His mouth found my neck as he continued to rouse me with his rough manhandling.

  I had known sex to be sweet, and satisfying, but this, this was something new. Every harsh movement brought another moan from me, and wetness gathered between my thighs almost as quickly as he washed it away with that maddening cloth.

  He spun me back to face him before pushing me to the bed, grabbing the bottle of oil as he stalked toward me. His eyes flashed fiercely as he closed in on me. The bed hit the back of my knees as he caught up to me. He pushed me backwards and situated himself between my thighs, throwing them wide open as I wriggled beneath him.

  'I will touch every part of you, inside and out, until you beg me to take you, beg me for your release. I have waited three months to have you here and I don't intend to let you get off lightly.'

  He growled as he nipped and licked at my neck, kissing his way down my body until he reached the apex of my need.

  'So wet,' he groaned as his fingers gathered the waiting honey between my folds.

  'So needy.' I blushed as he thrust two fingers deep inside me and curled them upwards, extracting a wanton moan from my throat.

  I ached with loss as he withdrew his fingers and opened the bottle of spiced oil, rich with the scents of orange and cinnamon. Drops hit my stomach and thighs, and he used his hands to slather the oil over my torso, working my nipples to hard tips beneath his fingers. He pinched them roughly, and I arched my back off of the bed, the pain sending jolts down my stomach and right to the centre of my need.

  My whole torso began to tingle and warm and I writhed beneath his hands. My eyes widened as he dripped a copious amount of oil over my sex and Ifelt it dripping down the crack of my buttocks. The cinnamon! That's what was flushing me with heat.

  Dante grinned when he saw the realisation hit me.

  'Don't worry my love, it will do nothing but drive you all the more desperately into begging for release. And I do so want to see you beg for it.'

  Oh gods.

  He massaged the oil into me, his hands sliding up the length of my heat and swirling around the swollen nub at the top, before delving right down and thrusting fingers into me. I moaned and lifted my pelvis to meet his hand, each stroke only driving me to need more of him. I abandoned all dignity as I arched and groaned and writhed and whimpered beneath his touch. Whenever I neared the height of desire, he'd work to avoid touching the delicate nub until he brought me back down once again.

  I needed it.

  God, I needed him to send me over the edge.

  'Please?' My voice was a pathetically needy whisper, and he grinned and kissed me hungrily, his fingers never stopping at their work.

  'Not yet.'

  He pulled me to my knees and settled back on the bed, his stiff rod slick with the same oil. 'If you want it, take it.'

  I blushed as he waited, but any shyness I felt paled compared to the urge to have him inside me, stretching and filling me. Straddling his hips, I knelt above him and felt the tip of his rigid flesh brush against my heat. Slowly, I savoured the sensation, and I settled myself over him, my flesh parting to welcome him as I sighed. The pain as he stretched me had me quivering in anticipation.

  I rose and thrust myself back down, my thighs trembling as he filled me. His hands caressed my thighs, my stomach and my breasts as he watched me take my pleasure.

  'Touch yourself.'

  It was a command from my king, who would I be to refuse?

  My fingers flew to the swollen flesh between my thighs and I lost myself in the sensation of his hardness filling me, and my fingers gliding over my cinnamon tingling flesh.

  'Come for me, on me. Ride me until you slake that thirst Simone.'

  His words drove me all the harder, and I writhed and bucked upon his hips until the first waves of orgasm washed over me. As I sank into the sensation and lost all control of my body, he flipped me backwards on to the bed without losing a stride and rode me hard, each thrust of his hips drawing the pulsating climax out.

  My breath came in ragged spurts as the word spun around me, Dante smiled at me like the cat who got the cream.‘I will never tire of seeing you in the throes of passion, your skin flushed red and the wild pulsing of you around me.’

  With each word he continued long, slow thrusts from the tip of his hard member to the very base. Each wrought a shuddering gasp stuttering from my mouth.He stretched my arms up above my head and captured my mouth with his, giving me a long lingering kiss that ended with more steam than I thought possible.I squirmed beneath the muscles of his chest and arched my back to take in more of his slow, delicious strokes. He made me wait, refused to hurry until I was quivering with need once more.

  ‘Please, Dante.’

  ‘Please, what?’

  ‘Take me, please, fuck me.’ I groaned as the words sighed over my lips and buried my face in his chest.

  Dante let out a low growl and thrust into me hard, making me squeal with surprise. He chuckled lustily and repeated the action as I raked my fingers down his back. He withdrew from me and I grasped to pull him back, but he flipped me roughly to my stomach and splayed me on my knees and hands. His fingers delved inside me, his thumb swirling up over my swollen button and I wriggled before him.

  ‘I want to see you writhe like this every night, every morning, forever.’

  With a grunt he seized my hips and slammed into me, taking my breath away. All the months of waiting, and the teasing and taunting had caught up with him. There was no holding back as he let claimed my body. His throbbing rod slid into me repeatedly, driving me ever more wild beneath him. In his control he was exquisite, yet in his abandon he completed me.

  The air was full of cinnamon and orange as he growled and slid his hands up over my hips. Tension built deep inside of me and I moaned lustily as his hands splayed me wide for yet another barrage of thrusts.I tumbled over the abyss, stars shooting around my mind and ricocheting throughout my body. Dante let out a deep grunt as he landed three more firm thrusts and stilled, his rod throbbing between my thighs as he came. We collapsed in a pile of of wild hair and exhaustion; I curled up in his arms and rested my head on his chest.

  This was the beginning of our forever, and as I fell into a drowsy sleep, my world was complete.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  A great cheer arose from the hordes of people on either side of the great hall and Dante placed a delicate kiss upon my lips.

  Husband and wife.

  Married.

  At last.

  The air filled with the scent of early summer, hundreds of floral arrangements adorned the room where the courtiers gathers to watch us wed. The priest had a wicked glint in his eye as he bowed to Dante and myself. Dante had chosen him as the holy man who would marry us despite him being the one who wed his sister Alessandra in secret. I'm not surprised, the effervescent old man didn't hold the lofty mentality of many of the holy men. He was as spritely in spirit as he was wrinkled with age.

  I'd had to get used to being bowed and curtsied to. As Dante's wife, I was Queen of Latania, a position with still filled my stomach with dread. Though many rumours had claimed that I coveted such a position with my courting history, it hadn't been true. All I'd ever wanted was love. Dante entwined his fingers in mine, giving me a reassuring squeeze as we walked back down the aisle and out to the rose gardens. Summer was just beginning and a warm breeze shifted through my hair, tickling it gently over my shoulders. Princess's Aurora and Giorgia walked toward me and I smiled. They had reservations about our marriage because of my trying to assassinate their brother, but over the past two months since our reunion, they accepted his choice. In time I thought we could become close, even.

  'Congratulations, your highness.' They curtsied in unison and heat rose to my cheeks. I may be newly royal by marriage, but they'd been royal their whole lives.

  'Pl
ease, stand. You need not do that.' I shifted awkwardly before their grace.

  'You must get used to it, but I'm sure in time you will.' Aurora spoke with that soft, serene voice she always had. I'd never witnessed her as anything but a sea of propriety.

  A group of courtiers passed, and I recognised one as the Lady who’d spooked my horse, way back when Dante and I first ended up in one another’s arms. They bowed as they passed, but there was hatred in some of their eyes and twisted smirks on their faces.

  'I'm not sure I'll ever get used to that.' I sighed.

  'Court is a wondrous place, yet with every pleasure, there will always be an undercurrent of discontent. The courtiers by definition are always aspiring, the best marriage, the best deal, the best lands. They will clamour for your attention soon, just try to remember who was kind before you were in the position of power. Dante will advise you well.' Aurora reached over and took my hand.

  I glanced at Dante, who'd been engaged in conversation with a group of finely dressed men who laughed and shook his hands. Still, after these months, even the sight of him set my heart racing.

  'I'd put up with the hatred of a thousand courtiers to be with Dante, he is everything to me.' And he was, I finally felt like I belonged, if not in the wider position of the court, amongst Dante's closer group of friends and family. We filled the days with royal duties, and the evenings with food and games and laughter. The nights and early mornings belonged to Dante and I alone, and those were the very best moments. Whether he slept beside me while I studied every inch of his peaceful face, or ready by the fire with my feet in his lap, I’d never tired of his company. And best of all was when he wrapped my up in those powerful arms and showed me his love in a hundred different ways, connecting with me in sweat and heat and lust.

  Dante broke off from the group of men and walked toward me, the sun shining in his dark locks and his intense eyes burning beneath the ring of thick lashes.

  'My darling, I have a wedding gift for you.'