“Recover from loving me?”
“No, from the bruised ribs. The king throws aterriblepunch.”
She swatted at him, but he caught her wrist and kissed it like he was accepting a holy relic. “All worth it,” he said solemnly. “For my wayward, sharp-tongued, button-laden lady.”
“I willendyou,” she said sweetly.
“You’ve tried,” he murmured, eyes gleaming. “Frankly, it’s half the appeal.”
She made a sound of protest, but he only grinned wider, entirely too pleased with himself. “You’re lucky I love you.”
He leaned in close, their noses brushing. “I know.”
“Smug bastard.”
“Your smug bastard,” he corrected. “Who was unjustly attacked, stripped, and forced to carry his queen to the hearth.”
“Youoffered!”
“Semantics.”
She couldn’t help it — she laughed, full and bright. He softened instantly at the sound, like her joy lit something in him that nothing else could reach.
Then she looked at him slyly. “Didn’t you say you were going tosing?”
His face fell. “No.”
“Youabsolutelydid.”
“I did not.”
“I remember it vividly. Something about betrayal. And horses.”
He sighed, already regretting everything. “I take it back. I wantthe tunic-tearing attack again. It was quieter.”
“Oh, you’re going to sing,” she grinned, already shifting to sit upright, playful and gleaming. “And it better be loud.”
“I willleave.”
“You’re on the floor. Wrapped up in me. You’retrapped.”
Lancelot looked down at her curled beside him and groaned, dramatically draping an arm over his eyes. “This is how I die.”
“Serenaded to death,” she agreed, smug. “Go on, brave knight. Woo me.”
Lancelot let out the most tragic sigh known to man. “Very well. If it pleases Her Majesty.”
“Itwill,” Guinevere said, barely containing her grin as she tucked herself against his side, chin on his chest. “Go on.”
He cleared his throat with grand ceremony. Paused. Then, in a voicejustoff-key enough to be terrible, he began, “Oh,”
Guinevere slapped a hand over her mouth, already wheezing. “Nevermind, nevermind, nevermind. I’ve changed my mind.”
She collapsed into full laughter, face buried in his chest as he dramatically gestured to the rafters like he was on a stage. “You want me to stop?” He frowned. He pointed at her, deadly serious. “You wanted a serenade.This was destined to be bardic excellence.”
“You’re ruining music,” she wheezed, and he grinned like a man victorious in battle.
He pressed a kiss to her temple, still humming under his breath as he gathered her close again. “It was a single note, my queen.”
