“Lady Remi,” Reggie gently interrupted her. “You really need to begin getting ready. The seamstress will be here in a little bit to get you a few outfits to wear until we can get you a complete wardrobe.”
Remi laughed. “You will find that when I’m concentrating on something I tend to lose track of time. When I’m trying to focus on several things at once, I tend to go in circles.” Remi pushed back from the table and handed Reggie several lists as she stood. Reggie and Lorann stood with her. “Reggie, the list of herbs and components, as well as the medical equipment, I’ll need as soon as possible. The other things can wait until we see how things go.” Remi hugged a shocked Lorann, then turned and hugged Reggie, as well. Remi turned and followed Jeanae to the bathing chambers.
Remi stopped when she stepped inside the chambers. She had never seen a bathing room like this. It was bigger than her entire cottage! Off to her right was a long, white marble counter with inlaid sinks and some type of fixtures. Beyond that was a wall with shelves full of bathing linens, bath salts, beads, oils, soaps, and items she didn’t even know. To her left was a set of shelves holding more items but also a door. Along the back wall was large glass doors and windows, all with billowing white curtains. The tub was the predominant feature, as it took up most of the center floor space. Four pillars bracketed the tub…pool, actually. Matching white curtains were tied back around the pillars. One side of the tub had the same type of fixtures, with glass containers of more bath additives, linens draped over a marble bench near the tub where the steps led into the tub. Steam gently drifted across the top of the water.
“Jeanae, please tell me you didn’t pack all this water yourself!” Remi could barely speak.
Jeanae hid a giggle behind her hand. “My lady, we don’t carry water here. The king’s ancestors set up what is called plumbing.” She walked to the sinks and turned one of the fixtures and water came pouring out. Remi gasped. “The left handle brings hot water, the right brings cold. It is the same for the tub.” Indicating a middle fixture that she pulled up and pushed down, Jeanae continued. “This is the drain plug. Pull it up, and the sink or tub will fill with water. Push it down, and the water will drain.”
“Isn’t that a waste of a lot of water, though?”
Jeanae stared at Remi appearing shocked, but her face quickly cleared. “Oh no, my lady. We have a purification system that cleanses the water. Once the water is clean, the gardeners use it on the plants.” Jeanae walked around to the doorway on the left wall. She beckoned Remi to follow, and as she opened the door, Remi peered over her shoulder. This was a smaller room that contained what should have been an outhouse seat with a fixture on the back similar to the sinks. Looking closer, the seat contained water in it. “This is for…” Jeanae stammered and blushed before looking away. “For your personal business, like you would use a chamber pot. There on the rack is paper to…uhmm…well, when you get done, you place the paper in the bowl and push down on the handle.” Jeanae reached over and pushed down on the fixture and the water emptied out of the bowl and then refilled.”
“Please tell me they don’t recycle this water onto the plants?”
“Oh no, my lady. I’m not exactly sure what happens, but they have a sanitation system that deals with all that.” Jeanae waved her hand and hurriedly exited the small room. “We call it a personals room. All this was set up centuries ago by the ancestors of the king. I’m not sure, but somewhere along the way, magic was used to do…whatever it is they do.”
Jeanae stopped by the marble bench and stared expectantly at Remi.
Remi stared back. “What?”
“If you would give me your clothing, I’ll make sure they get cleaned and will be back to assist you with your bath. I’m to be your personal maid, my lady. That is…if I meet with your approval.” Jeanae looked as if, had Remi said she wouldn’t meet with approval, she would jump out the window.
Remi stepped closer and touched Jeanae’s arm. “How old are you, Jeanae?”
“Fifteen, ma’am. I mean, my lady. I’ve been raised in the Keep.”
“And how many times have you been someone’s maid?”
“Well, I’ve assisted several times with females of visiting noble houses. I was too young when the queen…” Jeanae stopped and blushed.
“Jeanae, I’m only ten years older than you, and I’ve never had anyone to wait on me. At least not since my mother took care of me as a toddler.” Remi reached out and raised the young lady’s chin, so they were face to face. “You know more about life in the Keep than I do. You know more about how I should act than I do. I won’t know if you make mistakes, and I won’t know if I’m making mistakes. I want you as a friend first and my maid second.” Remi sighed. “I know in front of everyone there are certain ways we need to act, but in private I want you to be honest with me. If I’m doing something wrong, or there’s something I should know about, tell me. I know I’m going to make mistakes, and I hope you’ll help me learn how to be a good wife to the prince.” Remi pulled Jeanae into a tight hug. She returned it tentatively at first, but then hugged Remi just as tight. As they broke apart, Remi wiped a tear from her cheek, and Jeanae blushed and straightened her tunic.
“Lady Remi, if you’ll go ahead and begin bathing, I’ll take your clothes to the laundress and return to wash your hair.” Jeanae stood there expectantly, and it was Remi’s turn to blush.
“Uhm, I’ll wait until…”
“Oh! I’m sorry, my lady!” Jeanae turned around, presenting her back to Remi and began straightening the linens on the shelves. Remi hurried to the bench near the tub, tugged off the cloak and shirt and stepped down into the tub. As she stood on the bottom, the water reached to her breasts.
“I’m in, Jeanae.” Remi sank into the heated water, sighing as her weary muscles soaked up the heat. The water was a faint bluish color and smelled of lilacs. Jeanae hurried over, keeping her eyes averted from the tub, placing two towels on the bench along with a stack of washcloths on the edge of the tub. Picking up the discarded clothes, she murmured she would be back and left.
Remi was left alone for the first time since arriving at the Keep. Was it only yesterday morning the soldiers had thrown her into the cave? It seemed like a year had passed since then. Remi unbraided her hair and ducked beneath the water. Coming back up, she pushed her hair back and walked toward the selection of cleaning products. Sniffing the shampoo, she realized it also smelled like lilacs and smiled. Yesterday morning she’d been nothing more than a simple healer that was being tossed to an insane dragon. Today she was the True One of the crown prince and future queen. She pulled the mass of her hair over her shoulders and began to wash it. As she lathered her hair, she contemplated all that was going to transpire.
She’d have to meet the Royal Family. She hoped Xan’s parents wouldn’t object and kill her on sight. She paused as she realized that was a very real possibility. They were royalty, they could do pretty much anything. She finger-combed some tangles from the ends of her hair as she thought about all that Xan had told her. Only one True One? Would his family ruin his chance at survival by killing her? She seriously doubted they would want to kill the heir apparent just because his True One was a commoner.
Her thoughts still running in circles, Remi ducked under the water to rinse the soap out of her hair. Remi moved under water toward the side of the tub where the supplies were sitting. Coming up, she brushed her hair back and wiped the water from her eyes. She jerked around when a voice sounded behind her.
“My lady, there is a conditioner in the round jar. If you apply it, let it set for approximately five minutes. It will make combing your hair easier. It will also make it soft and silky.” Jeanae was laying a robe on the bench and straightening the towels. “I will await you in your chambers unless you need assistance?” Jeanae was looking everywhere but at the tub.
“No, Jeanae, I’m fine. But I thank you for the offer. Any suggestions for the bathing soap?”
“The shorter blue glass s
quare contains a moisturizing soap that also smells of the night lilacs, like the bath beads I used when drawing your bath. If these fragrances aren’t to your liking, we can try some others.”
“I’ve always loved lilacs. They were my grandmother’s favorite. I would like to see what all is available though. We can go shopping in a few days and see what all I need.” Remi sighed, reminding herself it would have to be after she arranged to get her things shipped here. “Jeanae, is there any way I can arrange to get some clothes? The only things I had were…”
“Oh, Lady Remi! I forgot to tell you, but the seamstress is here already. She brought a few things along with her for your current needs, but she can make anything you might need. The prince has ordered a full wardrobe made for you. The seamstress is actually my aunt Beb. She is a wizard with a needle.” Jeanae giggled. “And that is an unbiased opinion.”
Remi laughed and opened the conditioner jar. “I will hurry then. I don’t want the Wizard of Seamstresses to be waiting for me.” Jeanae bobbed a quick curtsy and left while Remi struggled to pull her hair up out of the water and spread the conditioner. She piled it on top of her head and quickly scrubbed her body. She was never so glad to have a hot bath and be clean. Once again, Remi went under water to rinse both her body and her hair. She stayed under, working the conditioner from her hair and moving toward the steps.
As she rose from the water, once again wiping her face clear, she saw leather boots standing on the top step. Following the line of boots up over strong calves and even bigger thighs encased in black leather, her gaze stopped momentarily on the crotch of the pants. An extremely large bulge was straining the laces tied at the fly. Her gaze continued the journey up over thick hips and waist, widening out into a strong chest peeking out through the open shirt hanging from an impressive set of shoulders. Remi met Xan’s eyes and saw both the dragon and man staring at her in hunger.
“I was beginning to think I would have to jump in and save you. I didn’t realize my True One was also part mermaid.” Maintaining eye contact, Xan reached down and grabbed a towel and held it open. “Come to me, mermaid. I would see what you look like on dry land.” His eyes contained laughter, lust, and a dare. Dare her, would he?
Raising an eyebrow, Remi started up the stairs. Water cascaded from her hair and plastered the wet strands to her curves. As she came closer, the look in Xan’s eyes became hotter, the lust more pronounced. When she stepped into his arms, he wrapped the towel around her body and pulled her tight against him. “If I thought I could have controlled myself, I would have joined you in your bath, m’lady. Alas, the dragon is hungry for his mate and not being very amenable to control.” His hands ran down to her ass, kneading and squeezing before pulling her tighter to his groin. “I must admit, the man isn’t far behind. I’m holding on to my control by a thread, little one.”
Xan’s lips lowered to hers, brushing gently across the lower curve before sucking her lower lip into his mouth and nibbling on it. His hands massaged the towel over her abundant curves, meticulously drying every inch. With a groan, he released her lip and turned her in his arms. Without releasing her, he tucked the towel around her and pulled her hair from beneath it.
He squeezed the excess water from her hair and wrapped it in another towel. Xan pulled her back against him and began drying her front the same as he had her back. Gently, he massaged every inch of her chest, rib cage, and stomach. As his hand reached to dry between her legs, Remi laid her head back against his chest. Xan used his chin to nudge her head to the side and began to nuzzle on her neck and ear. His firm lips kissed the shell of her ear until he reached the lobe, where he pulled it into his mouth and suckled at it.
A delicious shiver went from Remi’s ear to her clit. Xan’s hands were busy, as well, one was pulling her thigh up and placing her foot on the bench while the other was strumming across her labia. Even as she thought about his fingers, one large digit ran from her opening to her clit, spreading her honey gently around that throbbing nub, teasing her relentlessly. She moved her hips trying to get his finger into a position to rub her clit, but he chuckled against her neck and nipped a line along her throat. “Naughty, naughty, little one. I know you aren’t wanting me to lose control. I would be taking you on this tile with no care of your comfort or safety. Let me play just a little before you must go.” His voice was husky and sent even more shivers down her spine.
His teeth latched onto the tendon running up her neck as he drove his thick finger into her. She cried out and arched into his hand, shocked at the sudden invasion and the feelings it aroused in her. If she didn’t move her hips, she felt like she would explode. With what little sanity left in her brain, she also wondered that if his finger felt this huge, how would she ever be able to take his huge cock? Then all thought fled as his finger began to pump in and out of her pussy and his other hand pulled the towel from her breasts. His free hand engulfed a breast, squeezing and massaging before pinching her nipples into tight peaks alternately. Remi struggled to contain her moans, afraid he would be upset if she became vocal. Reaching up and behind her, she threaded her fingers into his hair, arching into both of his touches. As he added a second finger and began pumping into her harder and faster, she gyrated her hips in time with his actions. Something was right out of her reach, her entire being winding tighter, struggling to reach that unknown point that Xan had shared with her in his cave.
“That’s it, little one. Let yourself go, I’ll catch you,” Xan murmured against her throat, his fingers pinching her nipples harder, his thumb coming up to rub against her clit. His fingers, stretching her inner walls, pumped in a faster rhythm. He bit down just a bit harder on her throat, captured a nipple between his fingers, pinched it hard, and Remi exploded. She screamed out as the universe once again created a light show behind her eyelids.
“My lord, I…”
“Get out!” Xan snarled over his shoulder at whoever had entered the bath.
“My lord, I apologize! I…”
Xan snarled and roared. “Get. Out!”
Chapter 11
Remi heard it all through a haze of pleasure, tensing in Xan’s arms even as the feelings inside her still rocked her to her core. She reached down and shoved at Xan’s hand, still cupping her pussy possessively. His grip remained as the door shut and he turned his head back to her. “Mine.” Xan’s voice was the deep, gravelly sound it obtained when his dragon was close to the surface. “Mine.” His hands squeezed even more, not quite to the point of pain.
Remi knew she had to act or Xan would do something they might both regret. “Yours,” she agreed, petting his arms. She felt the rumbling vibrations on her back from Xan growling. Suddenly his mouth struck her neck, his teeth latching on to the point of blood pooling under her skin. He began sucking on the flesh between his lips as his arms locked her tight to him and he began thrusting his hips against her ample bottom. His hands clamped down on whatever flesh he was holding and kept Remi from moving. His hips were thrusting in an unsteady rhythm, grinding and rocking before continuing the thrusting motion.
“Mine!” He lost contact long enough to mutter again before moving his mouth a couple of inches and once again clamping down on her neck.
“Yours, Anaxandros. Yours.”
Xan growled against her shoulder before lowering her to her knees. He never broke contact and bent her over the bench, mouth still locked to her neck. He settled behind her, his knees forcing their way between hers, his hands moving to lock onto her hips. His thrusting grew stronger, grinding into her hips and making her desire renew.
His hand moved between their bodies, and he stilled long enough to release his shaft. She felt him shift slightly away, but when she tried to turn to look, Xan growled again and muttered, “Mine” and tightened his grip to keep her still. She felt him dribble something wet between her butt cheeks and Remi started to ask what he was doing but he began thrusting again. Only this time, she felt his engorged cock riding the valley between her butt cheeks, s
liding in the slickness produced by the liquid. His hands once more locked on her hips and held her still as he moved against her, locking his teeth at her shoulder again. His cock rode her ass, catching occasionally on her rear opening. He groaned against her neck as he swiveled his hips at those moments.
Remi felt a dark desire rise inside her as he panted around his mouthful of her shoulder. Remi had never been one to submit to any male, to the extent of often causing problems with the local council with her refusal to back down. But Xan’s dominance of her body in this moment caused her to want to submit. She wanted to please him in whatever way he needed. Her heart beat quickened even more as Xan once again stopped as the head of his cock caught on her back entrance, but this time he pulled back far enough to grab his cock and stroke it against the hole. He released it and started a slow thrust again as he reached around and began playing with her clit. His thumb rubbed the sensitive flesh next to her clit as his fingers played with her, teasing her pussy before running back up to her clit and pinching lightly.
Remi moaned and arched her back. Nothing had ever prepared her for the exquisite feelings of dark pleasure shooting through her. His other thumb slid under his cock and teased her ass again. His hips continued thrusting at an increasing pace while his thumb pushed all the way into her ass, wiggling and twisting, attempting to go deeper. Remi let out a short scream and lowered her head to the towels, panting as desire overrode every nerve ending she had. She pushed back against his thumb, trying to force it deeper, her hips trying to move.
Xan settled more of his weight on her back, his mouth releasing her shoulder. “No. Mine. Don’t move. I take care.” His panting caused his words to be choppy. Or was it the dragon forcing his way to the front? Their lovemaking was taking on a primal need of its own. She could tell Xan wanted to dominate her, and she was more than willing to let him. He created a feeling inside her that was basic, primal, and almost feral. She was his, yes. But he was hers! No one could take him from her, and she’d fight to keep him. His thumb pushed even deeper, wiggling and making nerve endings she was only now discovering she had tingle with need.
The Dragon's Soul: Xan (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 8
