Read Online The Prince's Pet by Alexia Wiles - Free Book Online

be easier if he didn't think of me as a potential enemy,
or the tool of his enemy.
    The matter over, he turned and
went to stand in the doorway. “I will bathe now.” He said. “Ring the bell and
call for water. I will give you a few minutes to collect yourself, then I'll
expect you in the bathing room.”
    I glanced at him briefly,
gritting my teeth and feeling my face flush. “Yes, Lord.” I murmured, and he
strode out of the room.
    The
girls came quickly, bringing steaming water in huge jugs and heavy pails. This
time, I tried to stay out of their way.
    I went to the large mirror in
the prince's bedchamber as I waited for the slaves to be done. I looked a mess.
Truth be told, I didn’t much care, but I put a cursory effort into
straightening my hair, combing through it with my fingers.
    I breathed deeply several times,
trying to find any semblance of inner calm, and prepare myself for what was to
come. What new humiliation would he have in store for me? It would be bad
enough, having to bathe him. To see him, naked – to touch him.
    Still, I must please him .
I didn't want to be punished again.
    My face must have been bright
red as I entered the bathing room, my hands fumbling as I closed the door
behind me.
    Issander stood facing me, on the
other side of the room, near a pair of long wooden benches. "Well," he
said, "I admit it will be nice to have someone to bathe me after a long
day." His tone was light, as though he was making an effort to be friendly
or casual.
    The last thing I felt was
casual. I struggled to keep my composure despite the fluttering in my breast.
"Aye, my Lord."
    "Are you familiar with our
bathing customs?" He asked.
    I swallowed hard, trying to keep
my focus on the immediate moment and not the thought of undressing him and
looking at his naked body. "No, my Prince.” At home, a bath was a bucket
of cold water poured over your head - or if you were lucky, a lukewarm tub
rolled in from outside and set by the fire. “If you will instruct me only once,
I am a fast learner."
    He waved a hand dismissively.
"I know the methods are different in your country.” He began tugging off
his leather gloves, leaving them on the bench. “Well... there's something to be
said for a blank slate."
    I smoothed the skirt of my shift
to busy my hands, remembering the way he’d touched my naked skin. Thinking
about the way I would soon be touching his skin - and seeing him even
more exposed than he had seen me. Would he seem less intimidating? Somehow, I
doubted it.
    He sat down on the closest bench
and beckoned me over. "The boots." He said, pointing.
    I moved to obey, sinking to my
knees before his bench, and hesitantly started to untie the laces of his right
boot. The leather was soft and supple, but heavy when I lifted his foot to
remove it. Or perhaps that was just the weight of his leg. Carefully, I eased
the boots from his feet, taking care not to pull roughly.
    I finished my task without
another word from him, and put the shoes aside, sitting back on my haunches and
waiting for instructions.
    He stood and gestured for me to
rise. "Now the rest." He said, standing still and waiting for me.
    Again I swallowed hard, and had
to force my leaden feet to obey as I moved close to him. I was standing so
close I imagined I could feel the heat radiating off his body - and again it
reminded me of my punishment - of laying across his lap with his hands on me.
    I had to reach up to loosen the
laces, and made a conscious effort to breathe as I worked. I was very aware of
him looking down at me, watching. I slipped my fingers under the hem of his
shirt, biting my lip as I inadvertently brushed his skin.
    I raised the shirt, noticing the
slight pain as my shift rose up and the cloth slid against the tender skin of
my buttocks. I tried to be graceful, but he was so tall I couldn't reach to
pull the shirt over his head. I was standing on the tip of my toes with the
shirt in my hands, at the point where his face was covered,