On the days that followed Henry glanced my way while Anne was at his side, a move he had done while Katherine was queen and Anne was his new interest. Henry requested my company on hunting rides and started to ask me to dinner. Most nights I refused the dinner while going out to ride. I wanted him to swell with desire.

In all honesty even though I knew the pain it caused Anne, I enjoyed his affections. I missed being desired. I had many suitors since Charles but none sparked the same passion, the same need I felt for him. For some reason I believe Henry could reignite the fire that I had let die out. Since I made this decision I might as well enjoy some of its riches.

Henry sent gifts, each grander than the last, but I only accepted the smallest most insignificant gift. He sent brooches, necklaces laid in red rubies and a small emerald ring. I only accepted the ring and sent back the rest.

"Constance, why do you deny my affections?" Henry asked when we ate dinner that night. He took my hand in his.

"Henry, I am your wife's best friend. I am her confidant; I have known her as long as I have been at court. Now you are openly pursuing me. How exactly do you expect to me to react?" I did not mean to be harsh with him. I was being everything I should not be.

"So you would let your friendship and loyalty to the queen stand in the way of your loyalty to your king?" Henry let go of my hand and ate a bite of his fish.

"I, of course, am loyal to your majesty. But I love her dearly and I had not known you would ever show much interest in me. You never have before." I replied. I took a long drink from my cup hoping to change the subject. I did not know if he would force me to show my hand this night, or if I could keep these games up for a little longer.

"Come with me." He stood and took my hand. I put down my cup and stood. I followed him to his chambers. I had never seen the inside of his rooms, and although Anne was queen Henry's room were still a good bit grander.

"I will have you." Henry made it clear. I would no longer be able to derail his affections. It would happen tonight. I would have to give myself up to him and somehow keep his interests after he has me.

"Charles Brandon used to be very fond of you, I had thought he would ask your hand in marriage. I'm going to be very open with you. I want to know if he ever touched you, in any way." Henry was still the jealous man he always had been. He assumed every woman he desired was his. And if he was truly interested he wanted her to be pure and innocent.

It sickened me a little bit, to have him caress my arms. I barely could stomach the thought of Anne crying while her husband made love to me. But yet I would give in.

I turned to face Henry, standing close enough that my breasts pressed against his chest. I put my forehead on his.

"Henry, I swear I have never been known by any man. Charles and I had no relations, intimate or otherwise. He was infatuated but I suspect I was not his type and he shortly lost his interest in me." I replied kissing him deeply and as passionate as I could manage. He responded quickly pushing his tongue into my mouth, I hesitated then massaged his tongue with mine.

"I must have you Constance. Forget Anne; forget that I am the King. Let yourself go with me, be who you really are. I am just Henry here, no one's husband, no one's father. I just want to show you the pleasures of intimacy. Please, allow me that privilege." He whispered into my ear. I pulled away and laid on the bed. I closed my eyes trying to remember that day with Charles, not like I ever forgot it.

I remembered the way he felt on top of me, loosening my bodice. His gentle kisses all over my body; I remember exactly how he felt when he pushed himself inside of me. I couldn't help the tears that stung my eyes as Henry began the same tasks that I had only experienced once before.

Henry was different. He was smoother, slower, like he truly believed this was my first time. He moved as thought fast movements would scare me away. Once he loosened my bodice he began sucking on breasts just as Charles had done. But Henry moved slowly down my now naked body kissing my ribs, my stomach, all the way down. Once he was all the way down he spread my legs apart as far as I could stretch them.

"Stay just like this no matter what." Henry demanded. He moved his finger up my thigh then slowly to my folds. I couldn't help but shudder at his touch. I was highly sensitive; he slid just the tip of his finger inside of me. He slowly lowered his tongue and flicked my nub. His movements, both his tongue and finger, increased causing me to buck in pleasure. I never experienced this before.

"Oh Henry!" I cried out. I placed my fingers in his hair bucking my hips into his sucking mouth. It was so intense I felt my stomach tighten and release in such a way that I had never experienced before. I moaned in pleasure. This was the passion I had missed these last few years. He stopped his onslaught on my senses and crawled beside me. He wrapped his arms over my stomach and sighed.

"Was that all?" I knew it was not the same as I had experienced with Charles. He never fulfilled his side of desired. All he did was please me in ways I never thought imaginable. But I do not imagine it was very satisfying to him.

"Was that not enough?" He laughed a low almost growl sound. In this moment everything was perfect nothing had value, nothing was at risk. I felt safe in his arms and my aftershock of the pleasure he gave me was still trembling thru my body.

"It was the most pleasure I have ever received, but I am not sure how much you could have enjoyed it, Henry." I felt comfortable calling him Henry in a way that I never would have dared before.

"Oh I enjoyed it, trust me. Watching your face consumed by the pleasure I was giving you was fantastic. I have never been with a woman so uncontrolled and so fresh." Henry said. His voice was still low and thick. I was unsure if we would complete the act, as I knew this was not everything. I also knew that Henry knows I am not as completely innocent as I appear. But neither one of us would mention it. I was not sure how aware he was of my past deeds but I do not believe he knew it all.

"So you will not relieve yourself? Isn't that why I am here?" My confusion was taking advantage of me. I did not understand this.

"Why are you in such a hurry to lose the one thing you have held dear all these years? You are here to indulge in passion, and in pleasure. To learn things you may never had dreamed of. I like your company, I love your smile. You are more open and free with your feelings. You have no ulterior motives. You are the purest I have met. No one controls your actions." Henry turned onto his back and I curled up to his side.

"I do have ulterior motives. While I might be free with my actions, you know that everyone uses their position at court to further their family's names. I am no different Henry. I seek to be placed high but I was asked to your bed. How high can I rise when these affections become rumor in court? I would rather be alone my whole life than be stuck in a loveless, uneasy marriage with a man who hated me for sleeping with the King." I said while rubbing Henry's chest.

"So you wish to never finish what we have started?" I could hear his heartbeat. I never thought I would be actually having a conversation with the King of England that I was open to voice my opinions.

"I cannot say. I have never felt this passion before. I never experience what you just did to me. A part of me cries for you even now in your arms. But my moral part dies when we are together. If I honor one part of me the other will vanish. I will lose this passion, or I will lose my morality. I will never deny you, but I may not always enjoy this path I am forced to follow." I replied.

Henry did not say another word to me that night, but he would not allow me to leave until just before dawn. I stayed snuggled in his arms all night. If Charles Brandon thought Anne was a whore so many years ago, what would he think of me now? But why did I care?