I went through my own room to enter Guinevere’s. I didn’t want her father to know that my intentions included sleeping in Guinevere’s bed again, despite Leo’s presence. I’d set Leo DeGrance up in a guest room down the opposite wing where Kaye had a room and Tristan as well.

She’d left a light on and I was hopeful it was for me, but the book laying on the bed might have been more truthful of her purpose while I was in the study with her father and Kaye. I looked at her for a long moment while she slept. Her chestnut-colored hair draped over the buttery yellow pillow, her lashes fluttering softly as they were closed in her slumber. I noted how tan her skin had grown compared to the creamy sheets laid under her arm. Her skin almost glowed and I wanted to lick her. I knew she tasted as sweet as she looked.

I thought about our stay at Camlann so far and knew that we would be returning back to New York in almost a week. I wanted everything to stay as it was. I wanted to be able to find her in a bed that I would share with her every night. She calmed me. She inspired me. I’d been on a high these weeks upstate as I began to write the songs for a new album. This would be our third and I was hopeful it would be our best yet.

I thought for a moment about Kaye’s proposal for Camelot Records. I wanted that business as well. The idea of growing bands from the start and seeing them rise to success would be another inspiration for me: a reminder of what we had gone through and why we were doing what we did. I knew The Nights were dedicated to making music and that would always be our mission, but I wasn’t sure the fame was all we originally planned. I felt we needed more focus than women and booze and parties.

I was still lost in my inner thinking when Guinie turned toward me and opened her eyes.

“Arturo?” she said softly, as she blinked in her sleepy state.

“Hey,” I whispered back.

“Everything all right?”

“It will be once I’m next to you,” I said in return.

She smiled sleepily and reached out her hand for me. I stripped off my clothes to my boxer briefs and climbed over her to envelop her in my arms.

I awoke in the night to soft muttering and anguished moans from Guinevere. She tossed her head from one side to the other as I gently tried to wake her. I knew she’d had a bad dream a few weeks ago when we first arrived at the house. I hoped I’d been enough of a protector each night to chase those nightmares away. I stroked her arm and shook her shoulder again, softly calling her name. She moaned deeper, as if in pain, and spoke my name in her sleep. I kissed her shoulder now and said her name louder this time, turning her toward me.

“Guinie, wake up, baby.”

I nudged her rougher.

“Arturo,” she said, as she sucked in air like she had been drowning. Her eyes blinked as she tried to focus on me.

“Look at me. That’s it, baby. It’s okay. I’m here,” I said, kissing her quickly. When I pulled back, she reached for me, plastering her lips to mine.

“Guin…” I tried to calm her frenzy, but she kept her lips to mine, forcing her tongue into my mouth when I spoke.

I returned her kiss just as aggressively before trying to slow her lips and sooth her. Her kisses slowed on me and I took the lead. I caressed her softly, sucking her bottom lip into my mouth and swiping her tongue gently before pulling back only a breath to whisper to her.

“Guinie Girl, what happened?”

She shook her head, closing her eyes and placing her forehead against mine. She was on top of me, her legs straddled over my waist with my raging hard-on tickling her ass.

“Tell me.”

“I had a bad dream. You were with someone else. Then something happened and I couldn’t get to you.”

“Shhh.” I kissed her nose. “I’m not going to be with anyone else. Just you.”

She pulled back to see me better, her hands slipping to my chest. “Why?”

“What?”

“Why would you be with just me?”

I pulled my head back, as if it could go anywhere but deeper into the pillow.

“Guinie, you’re beautiful, but more than that you’re amazing inside. You’re great with Morte, you understand my situation with Ana, you like the band and maybe my music.” Here I smirked at her and raised an eyebrow. “You don’t complain about the band. You get it.”

She was silent for a moment.

“Those are all things outside of you, but what do I do for you?” she said softly, looking at her hands splayed on my chest.

“Guinevere,” I said on a sigh, forcing her to look up at me. “You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. You make me smile and laugh and write songs. You inspire me with your desire to be yourself and you motivate me to be a better man. You make me feel special, and not just because I’m a member of a band. I feel … I feel cherished. That’s what you do for me.”

I thought I might have said too much until she leaned forward to kiss me again, softer this time, but with no less intention. Her lips caressed mine, taking her time to memorize each bow and curve as she traced them with her tongue. She slipped it into my mouth briefly before allowing mine to enter hers. I groaned as I rolled her over, spreading her legs to allow me to line up between her thighs. I pressed into her center as I had done many times this past week. I would please her before she relieved me with her hand or mouth, spreading the wealth of her limited experience.

The tip of me applied pressure to her moist center and she moaned, wrapping a leg over my hip. I gripped her thigh to raise it higher as I nudged her harder.

“Arturo,” she said in that breathy call I knew meant that she was getting close.

“Arturo, stop,” she said, placing her hands gently on my chest.

I froze. She never stopped me. I pulled back immediately, but she kept her leg around my hip, tightening her hold. I was confused.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she said shyly. She searched my face, opening her mouth once then closing it and biting her lower lip.

“What? Tell me,” I demanded gently.

“Arturo? Make love to me? Please?”

I would not deny her.

“Are you sure?”

“I just asked you. I think I’m pretty sure.”

“Think you’re pretty sure?” I repeated, kissing her quickly with a laugh.

“Definitely sure,” she said breathlessly into my ear.

I pulled her boy shorts down immediately and worked her with my fingers, but I knew she was ready for me. We were exciting each other just moments before, yet the surprise of her wetness took me off-guard.

“Guinie, you’re practically dripping.”

She turned her head away from me, but I nudged her with my nose.

“Look at me,” I whispered in her ear before I kissed below it down to that place where her neck met her shoulder. I bit gently and she arched her back, pressing herself into my hand.

“Arturo. I want to feel it happen around you.”

“You will, beautiful. You will.”

I knew she would come twice, if not more. My fingers ran over her and slid into her repeatedly until she cried out my name in a plea.

“Arturo, please,” her voice struggled.

I played her until she was finished and then I removed my boxers quickly. I’d placed condoms in her nightstand earlier in the week, joking with her that it was wishful thinking, and then showering her with kisses to assure her I would wait. I would have continued waiting, but she was practically begging me. I rolled on the condom, which she watched in fascination. I knew I would have to teach her how to do it, but not tonight. Tonight she wanted me and I needed her now.

“Guinie, you’re su…” I couldn’t finish before her lips were on mine again. I positioned myself to meet her center and I pressed forward as we kissed. I felt her still and pulled back to watch her. Despite the darkness of the room, I could see her wide blue eyes looking back at me with concern, but also something more. She trusted me, but I sensed it was even more than that.

“It’s going to hurt.” She nodded as if to say she knew.

“But I’ll go slow. Or fast. Whatever you want.” She nodded again.

I pushed forward and she flinched a little. My eyes questioned hers, hoping she wouldn’t stop me, but knowing if she said the word I would. Immediately.

“Guinevere,” I started. I was about to tell her I loved her, knowing that this would have been the most inopportune time. She would have never known that I was saying it because I suddenly felt it. Not because I wanted to complete this act, but because I could feel it coming off my body and entering her. She surrounded me, but I wanted to complete her. Fill her with me to make us.

She stared at me with longing as I pushed forward farther, and she bit her lip.

“You’re tight, but it will get easier,” I said instead of what I was thinking in my heart. “You’re so fucking tight, but it’s sweet and it feels amazing, Guinie. You are amazing.”

On those words, I pushed all the way into her and she gasped. I stilled, letting her take in the sensation. I needed a moment as well. I was overwhelmed with the emotion that came with the feeling of being inside her. I needed to clear my mind.

“Arturo,” she said softly. “You can … you can move.”

I slipped back and I felt her clench around me to hold me inside. She let out a breath of air as I pushed forward and slowly we developed a rhythm. A rhythm I had never known. In all my experience, it had always been equal parts get off and quick satisfaction, but this was something else. This was tender, and like everything I’d done within the past week with her, it was a discovery. A discovery of her. A discovery of me. I enjoyed sex, but I relished making love to Guinevere.

I was getting close, but I wanted to feel her collapse around me.

“Guinie. I can’t hold on much longer. You feel too good.”

Our breathing was ragged and we slipped a little against one another with the sweet sweat of sex on our skin.

“Arturo,” she groaned. Her legs were raised and wrapped around my waist. I was holding one thigh higher in order to fill her farther, and as I pressed forward, hiking her leg upward, she let out a muffled scream into my shoulder and bit me. I released on a thrust that brought spots to my eyes.

I grunted her name as I spilled into her, knowing I would never be the same.

When I woke, a naked Guinevere cradled in my arms was almost as glorious as being inside her. Almost. She was still sound asleep, pressed into my chest, and I realized I could not be without her. I made a plan for the day.

I left her sleeping, but not wanting to feel like a thief in the night I left her a note that included the lyrics to one of my new songs.

My love for you can only grow

One day I want to make you mine

Keep loving you despite the cold

Stay the night to still the time

Make love to you to show

How I feel about you inside

Feel you against me

Stay the night to still the time

My love for you will explode

One day you will be mine

Freeing me despite the cold

Stay the night to still the time

I added my own private words to the end.

Last night was wonderful and you are beautiful.

Come find me in the barn when you wake.