Thank you kind people. I appreciate your continued support.
Standard disclaimer.
'You have a lot to learn about royals, a lot more than protocol.'
Prince Arthur's words vibrated inside Gwen's head, every other moment, and a steamy image of him permeated her mind.
She mentally scowled at herself.
What Mr. High-and-Mighty didn't understand was, understanding princes, was not required course work for her.
It was completely optional, and if she had half a brain, which she did, then she would opt out.
And forget all about the sensual way he'd kissed her last night. 'Uh-huh,' her contrary mind said, in disbelief.
She scowled again, and returned her attention to Andrew.
Gwen and Prince Andrew had just completed a lesson and as a treat, she read a book by Dr. Seuss to him. After that, he seemed restless and a little bored.
He gave a heavy sigh and looked longingly, at the rain-splattered window, then the television.
"I want to watch a movie," he said.
"Another time," Gwen said, standing and looking around the room. "Let's play a board game. What do you like?"
"Chess," he said, surprising her.
"Chess?" she echoed. He nodded.
"All the Pendragon men play chess. It's tradition."
"What about the Pendragon women?" He shrugged.
"I don't know. My cousins are girls, and they don't play." His attitude ruffled her feminist side.
"If it's a family tradition, then, there's no reason the Pendragon women can't learn," she challenged.
"Do you know how to play?" he asked, with a crafty expression on his face.
"No," she said. "But..."
"Then, we can watch television."
"...but...I can learn. You can teach me." His eyes widened in surprise.
"Me?"
"Why not?"
"But you're the teacher."
"Yes, and I'm here to help you with your reading. But you're a very smart boy, and there are things I can learn from you, too," she said.
"Like chess?" She clapped her hands.
"Yes, so let's get started." A hint of pride showed on his face, as he rose from the table.
"I'll get my set."
After a few moments, Andrew returned and set up the board.
"These are the pawns," he said, pointing to the smallest playing pieces. "You can only move them forward, one space at a time, except the first time, when you can move them two spaces. And you can move them diagonally, to take out another piece. The rooks look like castle towers and they move forward, backward and sideways, any number of spaces. But they can't move diagonally.
The knights look like horses and they move in an 'L' shape only. Like, two spaces up and one space over. The bishops look like pawns, only they're taller and they move only diagonally any number of spaces..."
Gwen's head began to swim.
"Wait a minute. Why did I think this game was just a glorified form of checkers? Are there anymore?"
"Just the queen and the king," Andrew said, and lifted his lips in a smile, reminiscent of his father's. "Don't worry. I'll let you go first."
Prince Arthur checked his watch and frowned.
Andrew was late for his fencing lesson, and he was never late.
He could have sent a palace assistant to collect his son, but he thought better of it.
He would check Andrew's room himself.
Who knows? He might run into his bewitching, beguiling teacher.
Arthur checked his son's bedroom first, then walked towards his classroom.
A shriek cut through the air, as he neared.
"My queen! You thief! You took my queen!"
Confused, Arthur threw open the door, to see Gwen pounding the table, while Andrew gleefully held a chess piece in his hand.
Arthur couldn't remember seeing his son so animated.
A warm feeling suffused him, invading his chest and he locked the moment in his mind, wanting more happy moments for his son.
Just then, Prince Andrew glanced up, and his smile fell.
His eyes widened and he gasped. He stood quickly.
"Oh, Father, I forgot my fencing lesson," he said, clearly appalled.
Arthur took in the sight of two half-eaten sandwiches and the expression on Gwen's face, as she also stood.
"It's my fault, Your Highness. I asked Andrew to teach me to play chess, and it appears, I'm a slow learner," she said dryly.
"Oh, no," Andrew said. "You lasted much longer, during this game. Besides, just because I got your queen, doesn't mean I've won. You still have your king."
"I appreciate your kindness, Drew, but you and I both know, the king isn't worth squat, without the queen." She turned back to Arthur. "Your son cleaned my clock."
A huge smile blossomed on Prince Andrew's face, he'd enjoy playing and teaching Gwen how to play the game.
Arthur watched his son beam and felt a rush of gratitude towards Gwen. She may be unconventional, but she was doing wonders with his son.
His gaze dipped to her mouth and he remembered how she'd tasted.
Before his thoughts got him into trouble, he decided to rein himself in.
"It looks like you two have been at it for a while. Just curious...how many games have you played?"
"Four," Andrew started. "She was terrible during the first two, but she really was getting better during this last one."
"He's being kind again. Look, he's taken all my pieces." Arthur's lips twitched with humor and his blue orbs shone with masculine pride.
"Good job, Andrew," he said and then, "We still have time for a short lesson. Get changed and meet me in the gym."
Andrew zoomed out of the room, and Arthur turned to Gwen.
"Thank you," he said. She lifted her shoulders, as if she didn't understand.
"For what?"
"For playing chess with Andrew." She smiled.
"Your son is cool...a little sexist at times, but I imagine that's not his fault." Arthur raised his eyebrows.
"Sexist?" She nodded.
"Oh, yes. He told me the Pendragon men learn to play chess and he also said the Pendragon men fence. I guess I'll have to ask him for fencing lessons next."
"Absolutely not," Arthur said, feeling the slightest twinge of envy towards his son. God help him, that was ridiculous.
"Why not?" she challenged.
"Andrew isn't experienced enough, to teach you to fence. If you learn to fence, you'll learn from me."
"Why does that sound like a royal decree?"
"Because, you're an American and you're not accustomed, to being around a man, who speaks with authority."
"Are you sure it doesn't have more, to do with being bossy?"
"The only other person, who has come close to suggesting I was bossy, was my sister, Morganna."
"Isn't that interesting?" she murmured, with a mock-innocent expression. "And she's not American, is she? She's just female. I wonder what that says."
Her defiance aroused the hell out of him.
He wondered if she had any clue.
He moved closer her.
"I find your mouth exasperating," he said, in a low rumble.
Gwen pressed her lips together tightly, an unsuccessful attempt at looking prim.
Arthur smiled internally.
'She couldn't be prim in a million years. That generous mouth of hers, was made for pleasure.'
Her brown gaze grew wary, as if she was remembering the hot kiss they'd shared.
"Are you sure, you don't mean my opinions are exasperating?" she asked.
"Those too...but your mouth is also..." He slowly lifted his gaze from her lips to her eyes. "...distracting."
"Really? Most people say that about my hair." She glanced at her watch.
"Don't let me keep you from your fencing lesson." A tinge of irritation, scraped through him.
"Andrew will need to put on additional equipment, in the gym. Are you dismissing me?" Her eyes widened, and she licked her lips nervously.
"Oh, no," she said in an unconvincing voice. "I just know you're a busy man and your schedule is probably crammed."
"But...you've told me, I should make time for my own enjoyment."
"Yes," she agreed with a nod. "But not with me."
He dipped his head for further explanation and slowly backed her against the wall.
She winced, realizing she was being backed against the wall, both verbally, and physically.
"I...I mean...I'm sure there are lots of other people, you could enjoy more than me." He wrapped his finger around one of her springy curls.
"Are you saying, you didn't like the way I kissed you last night?" She bit her lip, and her gaze skittered away from his.
"I...uh..." She cleared her throat "I think I prefer to plead the fifth."
"We don't have the fifth in Wales."
"We've already discussed this last night. "I don't see why..."
"Exactly," he said in agreement, and claimed her lips with his.
He tasted her gasp and dipped his tongue across the seam of her lips.
Two seconds passed, before she opened her mouth to his and tasted his tongue with hers.
Arthur felt the dark rush of arousal, at her response to him.
Her smooth, curious stroke made his blood rush through his veins, pooling in his crotch.
It was so easy to imagine her sensual mouth, on his naked skin, skimming over his abdomen and lower, where he grew hard with wanting.
He felt more alive, more human, than he could ever remember. And he made a decision.
"Come to my room tonight," he softly said. Gwen gave a soft panicked moan.
"Oh, no. That's not a good idea."
"Why not?"
"Because, we don't know each other, well enough."
"I know enough. I can take care of you." Her eyes were dark with arousal, and she shivered slightly.
"I don't know enough about you," she said, and pulled back.
She laced her fingers together, then unlaced them, as she began to pace.
"I didn't come to Wales to become your mistress. I'm really not mistress material," she told him.
"You'd rather be married," he said, knowing that prospect was impossible. She looked at him in alarm.
"Oh, Lord, no. There are too many things I want to do, and a husband would really cramp my style."
"Then, you would be happy being my mistress," he said. She wrinkled her brow.
"I'm happy being single and pursuing my interests."
"And...I am your interest," he said. She shot him a look of consternation.
"Your ego is bigger than this palace."
"Am I incorrect? Aren't you interested in me?" he challenged. She turned silent.
"No. You're not incorrect. You are interesting to me...but...that doesn't mean I should do anything about it."
"But you will." She lifted her chin.
"Another order?"
"No," he said, because, he felt a sense of fate about this woman.
It told him...he would know her and he would take her.
"It's a fact. I must leave for Andrew's lesson. I'll speak to you later." She gaped after him.
"I'll speak to you later," she mocked, not unlike one of her students, from back home.
Gwen gave a heavy sigh, blowing her hair out of her face.
What was she getting herself into?
'Nothing,' she told herself firmly.
She could handle Andrew. He was the real reason she was here in Wales, not his fascinating, surprisingly sexy father.
She wandered around Andrew's classroom, trailing her fingers over the solid wood furniture.
She couldn't deny that she was drawn to Arthur, but as far as she was concerned, the man had danger signs flashing all around him.
Although, she was more adventurous than the average bear, she believed in being sensible.
For example, even she knew and accepted the fact, that there were some neighborhoods in Washington, to avoid at night.
But when Arthur looked at her, with undivided attention, when he kissed her, her heart jumped.
It sounded corny, but when they spoke, something happened in the air between them and around them.
Gwen nibbled her index fingernail.
Arthur had suggested, she become his mistress.
She wrinkled her nose.
The notion assaulted every independent fiber of her being. Besides that, it felt, well, offensive.
She'd never taken much time for romance.
There'd always been more important things to do, and she'd fought so hard to come out, from behind the shadow of her brother and dominating father, that she'd never wanted to put herself in such a position again.
And she didn't want to get involved now, she told herself firmly.
At the same moment, she couldn't help thinking, what a powerful combination of a man, Prince Arthur was.
She wondered, if she would ever meet a man like him again.
And then she wondered, if she truly wanted to let the opportunity to know this extraordinary man, his heart, mind and body slip through her fingers.
Stay safe, stay blessed.