Free How to Seduce a Queen: A Medieval Romance Novel by Stella Marie Alden Page A

you promise to allow me entrance without the terrors? If not, let us distract ourselves, by speaking of things more heavenly. Then we should go into the village. Talk to the priest. Ready you for his inquisition.”
    Beyond, in the grasses dotted with clover, bleating sheep ran in circles. She couldn’t help but feel some comradery. A lesson in religion? Now?
    With thumb and forefinger, he grabbed a wayward strand of hair. “What causes it to blow about?” he asked.
    Surely he would kiss her again. She licked her lips and said, “’Tis naught but the wind.”
    He tucked her into his chest, and with hand over mouth, he pinched her nose closed.
    “Mmmph.” In her struggle to breathe, she elbowed him, and he let go. What the hell?
    With a chuckle he said, “Ether exists as well, and yet you cannot see it.”
    Oh. More lessons. For a moment she wondered if he meant to kill her. Now breathing freely, she turned, and reached arms around his strong back. She inhaled his manly scent, reminding her of leather.
    Maybe now they could think of things less holy. “I concede there are things that are real that cannot be seen. Like my ache for you.”
    He groaned, lifted her, and lay her upon the grass. Eyes black with want, he pulled her kirtle up to her waist.
    His hand slipped up her inner thigh and his brows furrowed, as if in pain. “You are so sweet. Too good for the likes of me. You should stop me.”
    Stop him? She prayed to the ancients that this would never end. Closing her eyes, she opened her legs to give him more access. The small cloth that covered her womanly folds fell away and she shivered as cool air met her damp need. A lady would’ve been embarrassed. Instead, she arched up and met his clever fingers.
    His breath grew uneven as her nub grew harder. Surely this could not go on forever or she would die.
    He slipped a finger into her and her taut bow let go, quivering and shaking. Never had she felt such wonder. Lights of heaven flashed in her mind’s eye as she throbbed repeatedly in bliss. Without knowing it, her monk had helped her to find God.
    “Are you ready for me, lass?”
    She nodded, as a new stronger ache grew.
    “I will go very slowly. Stop me if the nightmares come.” Throwing off his robe, he pushed down his braies, and spread her wide with his knees. His rock hard cock pushed slowly at her want.
    Blood spurted everywhere. Fay screamed and screamed but Gofraid loomed over her, and pushed her down onto the floor. He laughed with crazed eyes. He held her arms down . . .
    “Fay. Fay. Stop.”
    Her monk called from far away and the evil dream-clouds faded. Oh God, nay. Not again.
    He held her hands clamped together against the ground and peered nose to nose with brows creased in concern. “Are you back?”
    She nodded. “You can let go now.”
    The world spun, he placed her upon her feet, and brushed straw from her kirtle. “Did I hurt you, lass?”
    Her face burned with embarrassment, as she grabbed her undercloth and shook her head nay . Her hopes of leaving the island dashed upon the black cliffs and broke, like the never-ending surf.
    He moaned when he pulled his braies up. He asked hoarsely, “Where do you go?”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Talk about it. I believe it may help. Look at me.” His eyes went kind and soft. “I am not vexed with you. This time, I expected it.”
    He must be a monk, for certainly no normal man could have stopped. Twice. She put her hands in his, and stared at the wide-open fields, laced with sheep and an occasional thatch-covered hut.
    She took a deep breath, and relived that awful night. “I’m young, not yet to my monthly courses. My stepbrother, Gofraid, hungry for power, defies Alexander and takes the keep. He, he, he takes me by force. My mother, lies nearby with dead eyes wide. He would not let me close them.”
    Giant tears wet her cheeks and she whispered, “And she and I had only just become reacquainted.”
    Her monk pulled her into his chest, his