"Stay here," I commanded softly, but this time there was a new edge to my voice.
I walked into the opulent bathroom and started the water in the deep, freestanding tub, making sure it was warm, not hot. As it filled, I returned to the bedroom. She was watching me, her eyes tracking my every move, a new kind of hunger and confidence in her gaze. She wasn't hiding anymore.
She was just... there.
Beautifully, unashamedly, and ready.
I knelt by the bed. "Come with me," I said, holding out a hand.
She took it without hesitation, her trust in me absolute. I led her to the bathroom, helping her into the steaming water. She sank into the tub with a deep, grateful sigh, the warm water closing over her.
But this time, it wasn't about soothing. It was about preparation.
I knelt beside the tub, taking a soft washcloth and a bar of expensive, fragrant soap. I washed her slowly, tenderly. But my intent was no longer just comfort.
