Page 33 of The Sword & the Stone

His fingers curled inside me, finding that secret spot that made stars burst behind my eyelids. I came apart with a choked cry, my body shaking as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over me. Gawain held me through it, his touch gentling as he coaxed me down from the peak.

I sagged back against him, my limbs feeling deliciously heavy and languid. Gawain pressed a kiss to my temple, his hand slipping out of my trousers to rest on my hip.

"Better?" he asked, a note of smug satisfaction in his tone.

"Mmm," I hummed, not quite able to form words yet.

As the aftershocks of pleasure slowly faded, reality began to seep back in, bringing with it a sinking feeling of guilt and unease.What had I just done?

I sat up abruptly, pulling away from Gawain's embrace and tugging my clothing back into place with shaking hands. I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes, afraid of what I might see there: smugness, pity, maybe even regret.

"Arthur," Gawain said softly, reaching for me. I flinched away from his touch, wrapping my arms around myself as if I could physically hold together the pieces of my composure.

"I just need a moment," I said, my voice sounding hollow to my own ears.

"Arthur, wait?—"

But I was already pushing myself to my feet, ignoring the twinge of protest from my stiff muscles. I needed space, needed to clear my head of the lingering haze of need. I couldn't afford to be weak, not now, not with so much at stake.

Stalking away from our little camp, my boots crunched on the dry leaves and twigs littering the forest floor. I didn't have a destination in mind. I just needed to put some distance between myself and what had just happened.

What the hell was I thinking, letting Gawain touch me like that? Letting him make me fall apart with his skilled fingers? I was supposed to be their leader, the one they looked to for strength and guidance.

I paused at the edge of a small stream, the burbling water providing a soothing balm to my chaotic thoughts. Sinking down onto a fallen log, I buried my face in my hands, trying to calm the roiling emotions churning in my gut.

Everything was such a mess. I couldn't deny the attraction between us, the spark that had been simmering under the surface since the moment we met. But acting on it? Letting it distract me? That was a luxury I couldn't afford. And what aboutMerlin? What about this thing that was finally out in the open between us?

As I sat there, lost in my swirling thoughts, I didn't notice the soft footfalls approaching until a familiar figure settled onto the log beside me. I glanced up to see Galahad, his fiery red hair glinting in the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves.

He didn't say anything at first, just sat there with me, his presence a quiet comfort. I found myself studying his profile, tracing the strong lines of his jaw, the regal slope of his nose that had a very slight bump on the bridge. He really was unfairly handsome, with those deep brown eyes that seemed to see straight into the heart of a person.

After a moment, he turned to me, a gentle smile curving his lips. "You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders."

I let out a humorless chuckle. "That's because I do. Or at least, it feels that way." I sighed, running a hand through my tangled hair. “You, um, didn’t happen to…” My cheeks flamed, and suddenly my entire body felt hot.

Galahad grinned at me, lighting up his entire face. “Did I happen to see Gawain make you come on his fingers?”

“Gods…” I groaned, throwing my face in my hands.

Galahad chuckled softly, the sound warm and rich. "Don't be embarrassed. It's a natural thing to seek comfort and pleasure in times of stress. Gods know we could all use a little of that right now."

I peeked at him through my fingers, my blush still burning hot. "It's not just that. I'm supposed to be leading this quest, keeping my head on straight. Not getting distracted by...by whatever that was with Gawain."

Galahad reached out, gently prying my hands away from my face. He clasped them in his own, his skin warm and slightly calloused against mine. "Arthur, listen to me. You are not just aleader, and not just a queen in waiting. You are a woman with needs and desires like any other."

His thumb brushed over my knuckles, the touch sending a flood of warmth through my body. "Denying yourself, punishing yourself for being human, well, half human, will only make this quest harder in the end. You need to allow yourself these moments of respite. It's what will keep you strong when the true trials come."

I stared at him, my lips parted in surprise. Of all the reactions I had expected, this calm acceptance and encouragement was not one of them. "You really believe that?"

Galahad smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I do. Besides, we’re your knights. We’re here to serve you.”

“Not in that way, I’m sure…”

His gaze dropped to my lips, a smoldering heat flickering in those deep brown eyes. "In any way you desire," he murmured, his voice low and full of promise.

My breath caught in my throat, pulse racing as I processed the weight of his words.Surely he couldn't mean?But the intensity of his stare left little room for doubt.

Galahad's hand released mine, only to trail slowly up my arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. "You carry such a heavy burden," he whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear with a tenderness that made my heart ache. "Let us help lighten it, in whatever manner we can."

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