Seducing Anne by Lynch Marti, Chanse Lowell, Shenani Whatagans

gripped her chin and lifted her face to his. “Or perhaps before if I cannot contain myself.”
    “Well, try. I have a king to appease.”
    “And I have a king to piss off.”
    “What does that mean? I have never heard that phrase before.” She cast him a curious look.
    Goddammit. He’d slipped. She was disarming him again, and he was starting to sound like a modern man, not a Tudor man. “Nothing worth explaining.” He patted her thigh. “Shoo, my lady. Find him and woo him. Do not idle away your time with a game of bowls. Thomas Wyatt is not worth it.”
    She dropped her head into a cursory nod, then left.
    He opened his chamber door and stopped breathing.
    His room was filled with lavender, and a bar of soap sat on the bed.
    “Little lady is asking for a spanking— several ,” he muttered and stepped all the way inside.

Chapter 4
     
    Instead of bathing in the sprigs of fresh lavender Anne had provided, Guy scattered them under his bed linens.
    Better his bed should smell of her at night when he was resting, instead of him smelling like her all day. It would serve as a reminder to him of what his ultimate goal was—making love to her.
    Somehow he didn’t even care anymore if he got her pregnant or not. She made the bet, and he’d accepted the challenge.
    Rap, rap, rap.
    He grinned and opened his chamber door.
    “Excuse me, Lord Moore, but Mistress Boleyn has instructed us to carry this bath to your private chambers,” the servant said.
    “By all means—enter,” Guy said, sweeping out of his way.
    Four yeoman carried in the heavy brass tub and set it before his fireplace that was currently empty of wood and fire.
    “If you will give us some time, we can attend to your bathing and—”
    “That won’t be necessary.” Guy held his palm up to the yeoman facing him. “I can see to these things myself.”
    “But, sir!” The servant gawked.
    “I’m quite capable of scrubbing my body myself. Been doing it for many years, lad.”
    “Nobility do not bathe themselves!”
    “Well, then it’s quite lucky I am no gentleman. I am here for other reasons than nobility. Go see to someone else that requires your assistance, sir . . .” Guy held his hand out now, motioning for the man to tell him his name.
    “Norris, my lord. Henry Norris here to assist you. I am one of the king’s most trusted men. Groom of the Stool and gentleman of the bedchamber, so I know how to make you presentable for His Majesty when you join him at dinner.” He bowed.
    “Stand up, my good man. We already established I’m not worth scrubbing down, so that would exclude dinner as well.” Guy went back over to the door and opened it. “Enjoy your afternoon. Read a book, flirt with the minstrels or take a nap. I don’t care which, just leave my chambers.”
    The five men departed, looking disgruntled and shocked.
    Oh, yes—Guy knew exactly what he was doing.
    He pulled his shirt off, and with the basin of water one of them had carried in during his conversation with Norris, he cleaned with the soap Anne had provided, careful to wash his armpits twice so she’d maybe consider being near him.
    When he was done with that, he stripped down and gave himself a sponge bath.
    He didn’t have any fresh linens or a change of clothes, so he air dried and then put the same shirt back on, even if it was still a little damp.
    This was the outfit Nick had given to him.
    Right as he was pulling his breeches back on . . .
    Rap, rap, rap, rap.
    He secured his trousers in place, moved over to the door and paused, gloating inwardly at how the pounding on the door seemed to escalate to a panicked knocking.
    He opened the door to find a rather flushed, doe-eyed Anne, standing there in a crimson velvet dress.
    “My lord, why are you not attending dinner?”
    “I lack the proper attire, but I am certain by supper, the servants will be so tired, they’ll allow me into their kitchen to eat.”
    She reached her hand out. “We can find you some