Tiny_Psalm

'Gwen pushed him back, trying to create enough space between them. "I do not love you."
Alexander smirked. "You do. You just don't know that you do."
Gwen moved back. "Do you know the ways of my heart."
"Yes, I do. And it tells the truth. You are only too stubborn to acknowledge it." He moved closer, pressing her against the wall. "When you decide to tell yourself the truth, I will be waiting." He kissed her forehead. "But don't make me wait long. I am not as patient as people think." This time he kissed her lips and staked off, leaving Gwen in a complete daze.'

Marriage and a family is all life is to Gwen and she would see to it that she is not humiliated before then. A wife, and not a mistress is what she plans to be, but what can be done when the king of her country makes a proposal to put her by his side?

Alexander is used to getting what he wants and getting his way, after all, he is King. But when he sets his eyes on the young and beautiful Guinevere who is just as stubborn as he is, will making her stay at the castle earn him her love, or will it be the beginning of his undoing?

(Hating Her King is the sequel to Loving Her Duke and is also the second book of the British Blood Trilogy.)

HATING HER KING

Gwen nodded. "I watched your tournament once. You won."

Alexander remembered. It was when she had first visited Mainecroft Castle. "I saw you standing, with your cousin, by the wall." He recalled the moment vividly. "You saw me too." Guinevere blushed at the memory and looked away. He let it go. Then, "Are you familiar with any other weapons?"

She shrugged her shoulders and shyly said, "I am familiar with the knife, if it matters. The kitchen knife."

"Tell me about it." He urged. When she brought her eyes back to him, he nodded and repeated. "Tell me."

"Back at Westside Manor, there's only Mrs. Grace. She is the butler, helper, and cook. She is all the household staff we can afford. So Beth and I would assist, of course, with the chores in the kitchen and around the house." She explained, and licked her lips. Alexander clenched his teeth. "I can handle a knife to cut vegetables, but I'm not quite sure it's the same thing as fighting off a person."

A Mutual Bargain