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This chapter continues from the puppy incident, where Arthur asked Gwen for a back rub. It's a little heated at first, so beware.
Standard disclaimer.
Arthur was becoming aroused.
So was Gwen.
She skimmed her hand down to his belt and stole a glance at him.
Lower and lower, she trailed her fingers, stopping at the top of his slacks.
Emboldened by the desire she saw in his eyes, she unfastened his belt and slowly unzipped.
If she didn't know better, she would've sworn Arthur was holding his breath.
Part of her wanted to make love to him. Another part wanted to tease.
"Oops," she said, lifting her hand away. "I'm not following instructions."
"Y-yes, you are," he stammered, and his gaze melted her.
He looked at her breasts again, and his gaze felt like a seductive stroke.
She lowered her mouth to his throat and kissed him, her breasts meshing with his rib cage, and he gave a sigh of pleasure.
She pressed open mouthed kisses all over his chest, sliding her tongue over his nipples, then French kissing his abdomen.
Not being able to take her torture, Arthur removed his slacks and underwear, revealing his full arousal. He reached for her, but she dodged him.
"Guinevere," he said, and the dark sexual need in his voice, mirrored what she was feeling.
Gwen shook her head and lowered her mouth, to kiss the inside of his thigh.
"I'm following your instructions."
"I haven't given you any," he said, plunging his hands through her hair.
"Your body has," she said, and rubbed her thumb from the base of his shaft to the tip.
"Guinevere," he said again, this time his voice ragged around the edges.
Following a forbidden instinct, she replaced her thumb with her mouth and drew her lips up the length of him.
He swore and tangled his fingers more deeply into her mess of curls.
Reveling in the sensation of his silky sheets against her bare breasts, she moved her head from side to side, rubbing her cheek over him, taking her time.
Then, she took him into her mouth, and he made the sexiest masculine sound, she'd ever heard.
She felt herself grow moist between her thighs, as she stroked him with her lips and tongue.
The tip of his manhood turned shiny with the honey of his arousal.
Meshing her gaze with his, she lowered her head once more and swirled her tongue over him.
Arthur swore, as if the sight was too much for him.
It must have been.
Before she knew it, he flipped her over onto her back and attached his mouth to hers.
"I can taste myself on you," he said, as if it were an unbearable arousing experience, and then, he kissed her again.
He played with the aching tips of her breasts and skimmed his hand down between her legs, to find her wet and wanting.
"You feel so good," he told her. "So good," he said and lowered his mouth to her nipples.
The sensation was excruciatingly wonderful.
Unable to hide her arousal, she arched against his mouth and he continued to touch her femininity, as if he were stroking the petals of a rose.
"I always want to take you too fast," he muttered, and took a deep breath.
Turning her on her side, he stroked her, so that, she felt his hardness rubbing against her bottom.
With one hand, he stroked one nipple, then the other. Then, he slid his finger inside her, making her moan his name.
Gwen felt the strength of Arthur's chest at her back and the combination was oddly erotic.
She started to undulate against him, and he groaned.
"I can't go slow if you're not still," he told her and Gwen felt the heat inside her grow. Her body felt like a flower, ready to bloom. She wanted him in every way.
"I don't want you to go slow," she said, and undulated again.
He groaned, and with one smooth, slick movement, he entered her femininity from behind.
Gwen caught her breath, at the exquisite pleasure she was receiving. She wiggled and Arthur slowly pumped, still touching her most sensitive spot.
They went on like that, their sighs and sounds of pleasure, echoing throughout the quiet room.
Arthur made a slight shift, worming one hand under soft body, until she was fully embraced by him.
The combination of his movements and the way in which she was held, proved too much for her after a while.
She clenched tightly around him and soared, uttering his name, over and over again.
Arthur continued plowing into her, right through her release, until he too, felt that familiar rush.
After a while, Gwen felt him thrust once more, deep inside her, and felt his body shudder with pleasure, whilst whispering her name.
Several moments later, after trying to catch her breath, Gwen rolled over to face him.
His gaze was so intently possessive it took her breath again.
"I like the way you give a back rub," he said, his voice rife with every intimate implication. "I like the way your hands and mouth feel. I like the way your breasts feel."
He slid his hand over her waist.
"I like the way you feel, when you take me inside you," he said, and kissed her.
Gwen went silent.
She felt as if she was completely under his spell.
Whatever he asked of her, she wanted to do.
She has never felt this way about a man and feared it could be a dangerous situation.
Her brain was too full of him at the moment, to contemplate a way out, though.
Right now, she was compelled to find a way, to show Arthur the depth of her emotion for him.
"I keep trying to find the perfect way to show you how I feel," she confessed, as she lifted her hand to his cheek.
"You're on the right track," he said, his eyes full of seduction. "Keep trying."
Before Gwen had left Arthur last night, he'd instructed her to stay out of trouble for the next two days.
He'd said it, as if he'd thought, that might be setting a new record.
In her attempt to adhere, Gwen joined Andrew, as he brought the puppy up from the basement, to take for a walk outdoors.
As they turned down a hallway, she and Andrew stopped, at the sound of two women, having a heated conversation.
"You're not old enough to go out with a man un-chaperoned," a woman said.
"As far as you're concerned, I'll be eighty before you think I'm old enough," a younger woman retorted.
"It may well take you that long to mature," the other woman said. "I thought you would be pleased, to join me on this diplomatic tour to America."
"I was," said the younger woman. "Thank you very much. Now, I would like to return without an entourage."
Andrew's eyes rounded.
"It's my grandmother, Queen Igraine Catherine," he whispered. "And Princess Morganna. They're always arguing."
Panic sliced through Gwen.
"But she wasn't supposed to return until tomorrow," she said.
Andrew shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
The voices drew nearer and Gwen glanced around, desperately seeking an escape.
Spotting a closet, she hustled Andrew and the puppy inside and pulled the door shut behind them.
"Please be quiet, she said to the puppy. "Please be quiet." But it was dark, and the dog began to whine.
"I'll hold his mouth together," the little prince whispered, as the queen and her daughter drew nearer.
The dog let out a yelp, then another, and Gwen cringed.
"Is that a dog I hear?" the queen asked in disbelief. The puppy barked again. Gwen glared at him.
"You must have a death wish," she whispered, but the puppy just wagged his tail and barked again.
The door flew open, and Gwen found herself, staring into two pairs of the trademark Pendragon blue eyes.
The older woman was the epitome of poise and Gwen suspected the woman's spine, knew no other position, than stick straight.
She was beautiful in an intimidating way.
The princess, equally beautiful, and wore an expression of mild amusement. But the man standing behind the women, was fully disapproving.
The beagle dashed out of the closet and immediately puddled on the marble floor, and Gwen knew she was toast.
"What is a dog doing in the palace, Mr. Fortenbury?" the queen asked the man behind her. "The palace does not allow pets."
Gwen's heart stopped, at the man's name. This was the advisor, who had been a royal pain to Arthur.
Mr. Fortenbury continued to look on with disapproval.
"Several events outside palace protocol, have taken place during your absence. I feel it is my responsibility to inform you."
Gwen fought the urge to kick the man's leg. She shot to her feet, then quickly bowed.
"Your Majesty, I'm responsible for the dog. I gave it to Prince Andrew, as a reward for his preparation, for Wales' Citizenship Day. Prince Arthur did not approve. In fact, he fired me," she lied, determined to protect Arthur. She searched for the appropriate word.
"For..."
"Insubordination. No surprise there," Morganna said, and Gwen internally blessed the woman, a thousand times over, for filling in her blank.
The princess bent down to pet the puppy.
"Cute dog. I've always wanted one, but my mother wouldn't allow it."
"Your Highness, about the other violations of protocol," Fortenbury began.
'Violations.' Gwen gulped. 'What a strong word to describe a frog, a turtle and a photo op,' she thought.
"Your Majesty, I'm certain your son is eager, to be the first to greet you and meet with you. He is, after all, your heir," she said with an edge directed at Fortenbury.
"Wales' heir," she ended. The queen gave Gwen a hard look.
"Your name and position," she demanded, more than asked, but Gwen was growing accustomed to the routine.
"Guinevere James. I am...I was Prince Andrew's summer tutor.''
"From America," the queen said.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Why am I not surprised," she murmured with a sigh.
"I can read now," Andrew said in a still, small voice. The queen's eyes softened, just a shade.
"You can?" He nodded and bowed.
"Yes, ma'am. I can read now. I couldn't before," he confessed.
Gwen bit her lip at his courage. She was so proud of him, she couldn't speak.
"If you've done such a good job with Andrew, why is my son firing you?" she demanded of Gwen.
"The puppy," Gwen reminded the woman. "But it's time for me to go back to America."
"I want her to stay," Andrew said. The queen raised her eyebrows.
"That is for your father to decide. Now, you and your tutor must clean up the dog's mess, while I talk to Prince Arthur."
"Your Majesty," Fortenbury began.
"Later," the queen said, and left the rest of them in her wake.
Prince Arthur answered the queen's summons and dipped his head, as he entered her office.
"Welcome home, Your Majesty," he said.
"Thank you. Fortenbury met me at the door and was eager to give me a report, but Morganna and I happened upon a dog, on the way to our quarters."
Arthur tensed.
"A dog who puddled on the floor, along with your son and a dark-haired woman, with the worst curtsy I've ever witnessed. She said you fired her for insubordination, and when Fortenbury said he wanted to give me a report, she had the cheek to advise me, the proper course would be to meet with my son."
The queen gave an indignant huff.
"This had better be good," she ended.
Arthur couldn't stop the rush of warm feelings towards Gwen. She would sacrifice herself to protect him. That knowledge gave him strength.
"Which would you like me to address first?"
"The palace does not permit dogs," she said with implacable firmness. "The dog must go."
'Round one, here goes.'
"Elvis sleeps in the basement, and Andrew will be responsible for his care." The queen blinked.
"Elvis?" she echoed in disbelief. Arthur bit the inside of his cheek, to keep from smiling.
"Andrew named the dog."
"Elvis," she repeated. "You must not have heard me. The dog must go."
"The dog will stay," Arthur said calmly. The queen turned deadly silent.
"Are you defying my authority?"
"I'm merely exercising my authority, as a father...as any father in Wales has the right to do," he said, meeting her gaze head-on.
He watched his mother digest his words.
"Arthur, may I speak frankly?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'm getting too old for this. I don't want to rule anymore. I want to be a grandmother. I want to step down, but I want you to be married first. How was the visit with Isabella?"
'Round two.'
"Isabella is a lovely woman, but we aren't well suited."
"But I thought..." The queen broke off and frowned. "Didn't you find her attractive?"
"She's beautiful," he said.
"Did she offend you in some way?"
"Not at all," he said, thinking of how many times Gwen had disagreed with him. "We simply are not well-suited. I'm not a twenty-year-old anymore. I've grown more opinionated about this matter."
"Picky," she said and sighed, her weariness and age suddenly shown to Arthur. "I'll have to think on this. In the meantime, is Andrew prepared for Citizenship Day?"
"Yes."
"Good. If this tutor has been so successful with him, perhaps you should reconsider firing her. It would appear that she has good intentions, if not always sound judgment. Anything else I should know?"
"There was a rock slide on the road to the north," he said. The queen tensed.
"Injuries?"
"Yes, but no fatalities." She eased slightly.
"Good."
"Henry helped attend to the injuries. He used an assumed name." She closed her eyes for a moment.
"He's home?"
"Temporarily," Arthur said. "And he got a hair cut." The queen opened her eyes and smiled slightly.
"Crumbs from heaven," she said.
"Prince Andrew paid a brief visit, to the clinic housing some of the victims and gave away a few books. A photograph was taken and published in the news. The palace PR department was chaotic."
"But you weren't," she said. "Anything else?"
'Round three.'
"I'd like to offer Fortenbury an ambassadorship to Switzerland," he said.
Actually he preferred sending Fortenbury to Antarctica, but, was trying to honor the man's years of service.
The queen did a double take.
"I'll take that under advisement. You should remember though, a thorn in one's side, keeps one humble," she said, and narrowed her eyes. "I suspect there's more."
'Round four.'
"Prince Andrew will begin swimming lessons next week, after Citizenship Day." The queen's face hardened.
"Absolutely not!"
"Again," he said, as gently as he could, "As a father, I must make wise choices for my son."
"I cannot permit this," she said, her eyes full of fear.
"You must." She took a breath.
"As a leader, how can you make this choice? How can you allow your son to be placed in danger?"
"As a leader, I cannot allow my heir, to be ruled by fear, or ignorance." She took another breath.
"Tell me there's nothing else."
'Final round.'
"There is a woman I am considering marrying." The queen's eyes rounded.
"Oh really. Who is she? Have I met her? Tell me she's European."
"You've met her, but she's not European. She is Madam Guinevere James," he said, and felt a flood of freedom flow through his veins, at the announcement.
The queen gaped at him.
"God save me. The tutor? The fired tutor, responsible for the dog in the palace. The American tutor with the terrible curtsy?"
She sucked in a breath of shocked disbelief.
"Absolutely not. Over my dead body."
Arthur swallowed a smile.
"You have time to think about it. Perhaps, after you've had an opportunity to rest."
He hadn't seen his mother this rattled in a very long time. He felt a wave of pity for her.
"How is Morganna?" The queen pressed her lips together, as if to stifle a sigh.
"Hell, as usual," she started. "Your sister is impossible. When you take the throne, you must also take control of her."
'In your dreams,' Arthur thought, and felt an impulse he hadn't had in years.
He could almost hear Gwen telling him, to follow his instincts.
"Mother," he said, and she glanced back at him. "Welcome back."
And he kissed her cheek.
The surprise on her face was comical, but Arthur didn't laugh, because, the smile on her face afterwards, was full of love.
Stay safe, stay home and stay blessed.