Page 48 of The White Enchantress

“Guinevere,” I whisper, my lip quivering with desire and fear. Though I make no move toward her, I am not hesitating. I need to be certain that what she is asking for is what she truly wants. “You have just been through a trauma. I do not wish to take advantage of you. Though I will not lie to you, I do want you, Guinevere. Iwant all of you. I will mend your damaged parts and make them mine. I only need your word that this is truly what you want as well.”

“You have my word. I give you my body. I give you my heart. I give you my soul. I give you everything that is me.”

At these words, I take Guinevere in my arms, smothering her with a thousand kisses. She tastes the same as when I first kissed her an eternity ago, though slightly charred. I do not mind. Kissing her, being so near to her is intoxicating. I only hope that Guinevere does not have a change of heart because I do not think I can stop myself at this point. She kisses me back with a passion I did not know a woman could have, sending waves of heat through my body.

I walk her backward, propping her up against a tree. Breathless, I ask her where the bruises are. She guides my hand to her cheek, shoulder, and the ribs underneath her breasts. In each spot, I press down hard with my hands and lips, erasing the bruises Melwas left on her delicate skin. Making the bruises mine as Guinevere had asked me to. Gathering up her gown, she places my hand on the inside of her thigh. I feel a clotted cut. Guinevere pushes my fingers harder against the wound, making the blood flow once more.

“Lance. Take me, take me now, please. Before I lose my courage.”

Without hesitating further, I untie my pants and slowly sink my entire length inside her. Giving her what she wants and taking what I need from her. Guinevere’s eyes are open, bearing intomine. We soon are lost in each other’s desire, seeking more of the affection we desperately crave.

I want to end our love-making my way though. Lifting Guinevere up, I gently lay her down on the ground, never once releasing myself from her depths. She offers no resistance, only a moan of delight as I continue plowing into her.

I touch each of her bruises one last time, kissing them gently. “Oh, Lance.” At these words, I know the memory of Melwas is gone. For now.

Chapter 24

Lancelot

“What is the matterwith you, Lancelot?” Gawain shouts in a whisper, pulling me aside as I walk back to camp, groggy from the few hours of sleep I have gotten in the past couple of days.

“What are you speaking of?” I ask, feeling guilty, for I know exactly what he is about to say.

“You and Guinevere have been gone for hours. I went to check on you and found the pair of you lying in a heap of blankets. Have you been taking to bed with her this whole time? I had thought it unrequited love.”

“It was. Until two nights ago. Perhaps Melwas saw us kiss and that is why he took her. Out of jealousy. But kiss is all we had done.”

“What were you doing alone for hours in the woods?”

“Sleeping, as you saw.”

“Lancelot, I know you love her, and perhaps King Arthur has allowed you to court her. Do you honestly think he will let you have her?”

“I know he would never take a woman who does not want him.”

“And you are certain that Guinevere does not want him? Does not want to be queen?”

“Yes. She has given herself to me. I will marry her, Gawain. I cannot live with anything less than that.”

“The lady has agreed to your proposal then,” Gawain says as a statement, concluding the interrogation.

“She will when I ask. She has been through too much. First, I want to take her to Avalon. I will ask her there.”

“That should give you more time to clear your mind and see reason. Gaheris and I will accompany you. We are close enough to the west shore and will likely be able to hire a boat to take us north. It will be much faster than going by horseback. And King Arthur will want to know what has happened here. I will leave word with Sir Bedivere. He and Sir Kei will stay behind to take care of the bodies here, then return to Camelot.”

“You do not have to come with us. Guinevere and I have taken the journey on our own before.”

Gawain ignores me, turning to prepare for the journey ahead. I need to gain control of the anger I feel seething under my skin. Gawain is like a brother to me. The closest friend I have. He knows how I feel for Guinevere and he knows that Arthur has given his blessing for us to be together. Yes, that does not give me the right to take her body the way I did, though she had asked me to. I could not refuse her. I will never deny her anything.

By the time we arrive at Avalon, Guinevere is suffering from a severe fever. The cut on her thigh festered, becoming an angry red. I am mad with worry thinking we would not make it to my mother in time. The fever has consumed her for two whole days now.

As I expected, Vivienne knew we were coming. Not because I wrote to her; there was no time for that. She always knows when I am on my way back home and always greets me on the shores of Avalon.

This time, she offers no words of welcome, only concern for Guinevere, escorting us quickly to the small building where my mother and the other priestesses practice their healing arts. My mother does not look worried though. This must mean she is confident that she can heal Guinevere.

Vivienne’s skill as a healer is renowned throughout the entire realm. Even those afraid of her come to Avalon for her aid. I know Guinevere is in good hands. Still, I feel consumed with grief, afraid I might never know her touch again.

That night when she asked me to give her doubt, moving inside her body, soul, and mind, I knew then that she is meant for me, not for Arthur. The lust I feel toward her is powerful, but the love I hold in my heart for this woman will never be anything less than pure.

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