Read Online Demon Lover by Bonnie Dee - Free Book Online

change that?
    The king said, “I’m of a mind to watch you.”
    Memories of the dark man watching her naked flooded her mind and moistened her drawers. She shifted in her padded chair. “I beg your pardon?”
    “I’d like to see you work. I want to see how you do it.”
    “Oh, no,” she blurted. If he did, her demon wouldn’t come, and there would be no gold. More than that, if her demon didn’t come, she’d have no more opportunity to taste the delicious thrills of his caresses. Stupidly, it was the latter fear that drove the words into her mouth. “It is dull work, and in any case, I have this feeling in my bones that it wouldn’t happen if anyone else were to see. More than that, Your Majesty must not be contaminated by such magic. I don’t know where it comes from…”
    For the first time, a flash of fear crossed the king’s smug face. Was that her escape? His fear of her magic contaminating him?
    He stood abruptly, and Gwyneth, too, stumbled to her feet. “You are right,” he said grandly. “It is not fitting that I attend you at such work. You shall come to me in the morning with your task complete.”
    He held out one commanding hand, and there was nothing for Gwyneth to do but cross the floor and take it, sinking into a deep curtsy.
    He smiled. “Don’t be afraid, little Buttercup,” he said softly. “I’ll treat you well, and you shall have wealth such as you never dreamed of.”
    “And my father?” she managed in a strangled voice.
    “Will be taken care of, naturally. Perhaps he can run the royal mills. While you run the royal nursery.”
    He laughed at his own joke as he raised her to her full height once more. Putting one finger under her chin, he bent his head toward her and pressed a wet kiss on her lips.
    It seemed she didn’t like kissing anymore. Her hand itched to slap the king’s face. Fortunately, before she could lose control, His Majesty drew back.
    “Well,” he said softly. “I think it will be a good deal. You have sweet lips, and I can tell you exactly what to do with them…when we’re married. Now go and make me some gold.”
    As if he’d been lurking at the door for his cue, Wallace materialized, bowing for her to precede him.
    Gwyneth walked through the door without looking back.
    Wallace said to her, “You’ve done well, very well, for both of us. One more night, and we’ll all be rich, you and me as well as the king.”
    “And the rest of the country?” Gwyneth said with sudden despair. If nothing else, her stay in the palace had shown her that people didn’t need to live in the poverty of those she’d known all her life.
    “Prosperity spreads,” Wallace said vaguely. “The whole country will benefit from the king’s wealth.”
    Was that true? Was she really doing some good? Or did she just want to calm her raging guilt? She wasn’t even sure what she was guilty of any more. She just knew it had all gotten out of hand. And what she really wanted was to tell her demon so.
    Soon she would have the opportunity. As she and Wallace descended the stone steps to the underground passage, her heart beat faster and faster. He hadn’t kissed her mouth last night, despite the other greater pleasures he’d shown her, and now, suddenly, she was desperate that he should. After tonight, there was no guarantee she would ever see him again. After tonight, there was no guarantee she would ever know such pleasures again. She would be lost to a life of duty. A life of unimaginable luxury and wealth for which she should be prostrate with gratitude.
    I’ll do it. I will. I’ll marry the king, and as queen I’ll try my very best to look after the people. Surely there are many ways I can help, make a difference… But first, oh, first, can’t I, please…?
    Her desperate, incoherent plea trailed off as the door of the familiar room creaked open once more. There was barely space for the door. She had to edge into the room, so packed with straw was it. Even the spinning