Page 81 of Modern Romance June 2025 1-4

‘I’m not asking for much. A couple of hours every day. Perhaps in the morning, when we wake up, or at night before bed?’

‘Like I said—’

‘It has to be you, Tiberius,’ she said insistently. ‘You’re so passionate about Kasimir and none of your aides could teach me about being a queen better than you could. We have to rule together, remember? So wouldn’t it be best for you to show me how you do it, so I can match you?’

His gaze narrowed, clearly looking for reasons to disagree, but she knew he couldn’t argue with her last statement. After all, therewasno one more passionate about Kasimir than he was, and if there was one thing she knew about him, it was that he was a control freak.

Perhaps he just doesn’t want to spend time with you.

The thought made a sharp sliver of glass slide under her skin, cutting her in a way she hadn’t been expecting, but she ignored it. If he didn’t, he didn’t—but she was going to make him give her this despite that. This wasn’t about her and her needs. It was about him.

‘A couple of hours…’ he murmured, still eyeing her narrowly. ‘That’s not nearly enough time to learn how to be a queen. It took me many years before I fully grasped what being King meant.’

‘Yes, it might take time,’ she allowed. ‘But I’ll learn more directly from you than anyone else. Also, I could get further instruction from your aides when you’re busy.’ She gave him a sunny smile. ‘I’m a quick study. I’ve been reading all I can about Kasimir—all the things that my father didn’t tell me—so I’m familiar with its difficulties.’

He said nothing, still looking at her as if he was debating.

Guinevere moved over to him and placed her hands on his broad chest, loving the feel of him beneath her palms. He really was the most eminently touchable man… ‘If you like,’ she murmured, ‘we could do it bed in the mornings. Or, if you’d prefer, before we retire at night.’ She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. ‘There must be more I need to learn about how to show proper respect for my king.’

As she’d hoped, the silver flames she’d become addicted to ignited, burned suddenly and intensely in his eyes. She really was getting the hang of flirting with him.

‘Perhaps,’ he said, his voice hot and rough. ‘Perhaps there are…certain things I can teach you.’

Guinevere rose up on her toes and pressed her mouth gently to his. A soft, butterfly kiss. ‘I’m sure you can, Your Majesty,’ she whispered. ‘I can hardly wait.’

His hands settled on her hips, holding her close. ‘How about I give you a few tips now? Here?’

A shiver ran through her. He was never physically demanding outside of the bedroom. He would be absent all day and only at night would her take her, often in a wild rush, as if his desire was a river he kept behind a dam and only at night would he open the floodgates.

It felt intoxicating to ignite his passion this way…to make him forget his never-ending workload with only a kiss.

‘I thought you had more important things to do?’ she said, teasing just a little. ‘Taxation, I think you mentioned.’

He frowned, his gaze dipping to her mouth and back up again. She could feel him hardening against her, and the hot press of his body made her feel dizzy, as if she’d had too much champagne far too quickly.

‘That can wait for a few minutes.’

A few minutes…

At night, when finally the day was done and they came together in bed, it was a flash fire. But they never indulged in any lazy aftermath, any idle conversation. Never simply enjoyed being together. He would take what he wanted, give her what she wanted, and then, inevitably, he would fall asleep. Because he was exhausted.

It would be like that now, she knew. They would take their pleasure, and it would be quick, hurried and intense, and then he would leave for yet another meeting, likely not coming back to bed until much later that night.

You are giving him everything he wants and he is giving you nothing in return.

That wasn’t quite true. He gave her as much pleasure as she could handle, and then some. He wasn’t a selfish lover by any stretch of the imagination. But she was starting to realise she wanted more than mere physical release. She wanted his time too.

Her own body was starting to wake, her hunger for him building, but she forced it away. He’d always been demanding about his own needs, but now it was time to give him a taste of his own medicine.

Guinevere reached down to where his hands gripped her hips and gently but firmly removed them. Then she forced herself to step back, her heart beating uncomfortably fast. ‘No,’ she said. ‘I want more than just a few minutes.’

She had never denied him before, and it was gratifying to see his temper flare, a bright burst of silver. It made her aware of her own power to affect him, and that was satisfying too.

‘What do you mean, more than a few minutes?’ His voice was calm, but a muscle jumped in the side of his strong jaw.

‘I mean exactly that.’ She stepped back again. ‘I don’t want a few hurried minutes of pleasure.’

The muscle at the side of his jaw leapt again, the lines of his face growing tight with annoyance. ‘We will have tonight also.’

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