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Standard disclaimer.
Hours later, Gwen was curled against Arthur, her head on his chest and one hand on his taut tummy, both of them replete with lovemaking.
He felt her nuzzle his throat, and he smiled. An exquisite contentment seeped through him.
"Tell me the story of Wales," she said.
"Which story?" he asked and she groaned.
"The story of how your family became the rulers."
Arthur leaned forward, kissed her forehead, took her hand and started playing with her fingers. He cleared his throat and began the story.
"Hundreds of years ago, the Pendragons didn't rule. They were cousins of the ruling family of Dumonts. To make a long story short, the Dumonts were not good money managers, and they often squabbled among themselves. Somebody was always trying to steal someone else's wife. There was a duel between the heirs to the throne and both were killed. The Pendragons protested the chaos the Dumonts had created and threatened a takeover. The Dumonts didn't want to lose everything, so they made a deal...Pendragons would take Wales, and the Dumonts would take the Pembrokeshire Islands."
Gwen rose up on her elbow and looked at him in confusion.
"But I thought the Pembrokeshire Islands belonged to someone else ."
"They do, now. The National Trust. The Dumonts took the Islands, but they still had money problems, so after a time, they ended up being forced out for a chest of gold coins, that has never be accounted for."
Gwen widened her eyes.
"Whew! Missing gold coins, wife stealing, political plots." She shook her head. "And I thought my family was dysfunctional."
Arthur chuckled, thinking, he loved the sight of her naked in his bed, with her wild hair spilling over her shoulders.
"Yes, but the Pendragons prevailed. What about your family?" She made a face.
"We don't have any gold or political plots. I had a perfect brother, who was the apple of my father's eye. My parents have been separated for some time, but they haven't divorced. I think they can't give up torturing each other. Even though I had problems in school, as I grew older, they turned to me to mediate and fix things. Not a fun job."
"I can see that," he said, glimpsing a trace of pain and frustration in her eyes. "You're not close to them now," he concluded.
"No. I keep in touch and visit on holidays and birthdays."
"So it wouldn't be that difficult for you to be away from them, if you decided to stay in Wales," he said, planting the thought, the same way a farmer would plant a vegetable crop.
He had observed that Gwen responded well to planting.
She looked at him sideways.
"Yes, but I have other reasons for going back to the States," she said. "I like being an American."
"You can have dual citizenship. We're very liberal in that way." Her lips turned upward in a slow, but brilliant smile.
"If you keep this up, I'm going to start thinking, you really want me to stay."
"Of course I do...you could have a wonderful life in Wales," he said. "I can make it happen."
Gwen shivered, and he became distracted with the slight jiggle of her breasts.
He loved the way they felt in his mouth.
He felt his body respond. It didn't matter that he'd just made love to her. He wanted her again.
"You're tempting," she said in a low voice. "But what happens, when you decide you're in the mood for something different, than a wild-haired American woman, who is not into jewelry?"
"That would take a damn long time," he said.
"And in the meantime, I would have fallen desperately in love with you. And you would have to find a discreet way to ditch me. Then I would return to America and try to put my career and myself back together."
She skimmed her hand over his jaw.
"I think it would be very foolish to count on a relationship with you and...I might have." Irritation nicked through Arthur.
"It would be foolish for you, to underestimate my power in this."
"Your Highness, you have my utmost admiration and respect, and I know you have all kinds of power, but I have to continue to count on me, not you. In the end, it's going to be just me."
Arthur's chest grew tight at her words.
He wanted her to count on him.
He wanted to be her protector.
He wanted...and as much as she was giving herself to him...he wanted more. He ran his thumb over her kiss-swollen lower lips.
"You have a lot to learn about me...but we have time." She darted her tongue over his thumb, surprising him with her sexual mischief.
"Tell me what else I have to learn about the mighty Arthur."
"That I'm not fickle," he said, meeting her gaze dead-on. "And I like to win."
"Drew must have gotten that from you. He's not fickle. He wanted a dog when I first met him, and he still wants one now. He likes to win, and whenever I play chess with him, he does."
"The desire to win, will help him with some of his royal duties. In just a few weeks, he'll be expected, to address the people on National Citizenship Day."
Gwen did a double take.
"Address the people, how?"
"It's tradition," he said, still distracted by her breasts. "All seven-year-old heirs to the throne, make an address on National Citizenship Day. He will read a brief speech, which will be recorded for radio and television."
"Wait! Wait just a minute. Andrew is making terrific progress, but I wouldn't want to put him in front of a TV camera and tell him to read."
"You won't. You will just prepare him for it." Gwen pulled back and frowned.
"Do you have any idea, how difficult it can be, for a dyslexic to read in front of a large group?"
"You do it all the time."
"Yes, but I know the tricks."
"You can teach them to Andrew."
"I think you should reschedule this for next year." Arthur laughed.
"Even I, can't reschedule Citizenship Day." Clearly distressed, Gwen made a sound of frustration.
"But you don't have to make him do this."
"The people expect it. Andrew's appearance is not an option," Arthur said, gently, but firmly.
A part of him was deeply touched by her protectiveness of his son, but he also knew she would need to bend this time.
"He will be fine with your help. It's part of the reason I hired you." As if, Gwen knew she was batting against a stone wall, she sighed and said,
"It's one of those royal-appearance duty things, isn't it?"
"More," he said. "Seeing Andrew say his brief words, gives the citizens of Wales, a sense of pride and assurance, in the future. I don't agree with everything the advisors say, but my son will have many opportunities, because of his position. He will also be required to perform duties, because of his position."
"To whom much is given, much is required," Gwen quoted and turned silent for a long moment.
She eased back down to the crook of his arm, as if she were mulling over her thoughts.
"I don't think I would be a very good mother," she said and Arthur stared at her.
"Why in heaven's name would you say that?"
"Because, I think, I would do just about anything, to keep my child from hurting, although, sometimes, we all have to hurt a little in order to grow."
"You're very tenderhearted, my darling, but you're also very strong. Your child would have your strength, too." She gave a heavy sigh.
"I should probably leave," she said, but didn't move. Arthur vehemently disagreed.
"No," he said.
"Unlike you, I'm likely to fall asleep and you'll have to kick me out of bed, and I'll end up getting my feelings hurt." Realization dawned on Arthur.
"You were hurt when I left last night," he said.
"Not really," she lied and read the disbelief on his face. "Well, maybe just a little bit. A very little bit."
"I didn't want you, to have to face the gossip, from the palace employees," he told her.
Her gaze softened, and she swallowed hard, as if she were fighting a knot of emotion.
"I hate to feed your ego, but you're right," she said, with a lightness, at odds with the intensity in her eyes. "There's a lot I don't know about you."
He pulled her face to his.
"Then, stay and learn."
At that, he claimed her lips in a passionate kiss, leading to much more intimate activities between them.
Stay safe!