Page 21 of Taken to the Shadow Realm

“Thank you,” she murmured and stepped fully into the bath.

I could have let go of her, but instead I continued to help her in, even so far as submerging my hand along with her.

I was now kneeling behind her, leaning over the tub and her as I assisted her. I had the perfect view of her entire naked body, my hand so close to her pussy.

With one wrong move, my hand could slip between her legs.

I want that so bad.

I wanted to play with her right there while she was lying in the water. Have her come apart in front of me as I watched.

Swallowing thickly, I gathered what I needed. One soap for her hair, another for her body. I also had oils for her hair that would be applied after.

“What did I do to deserve this treatment?” she asked as I lathered the soap in water with the washcloth.

“You’re my companion,” I reminded her as I started to use the washcloth against her chest. Droplets fell from it, rolling down and off her erect nipples.

Her slight gasp as I ran the cloth down her breasts only caused the heat burning inside me to blaze hotter.

Helping her bathe. That’s all this is.

But my mind knew it wasn’t. Not when she arched into my touch. Not when her head fell back against me as I ran the cloth down her side, dipping so close to where I wanted to be.

And definitely not when her legs opened, inviting me to touch.

My fangs pulsed. My body itched. My mouth watered. Her neck so close I could bend down and place hot kisses against her heated skin.

“Does this feel good?” I asked, not able to hide the huskiness from my voice.

I hadn’t noticed the way my shadows had come to play. They now filled the space around us and brushed across her skin, some even daring to touch her nipples even though I didn’t. I knew she noticed it, but she didn’t seem to mind.

“Yes,” she breathed. “Is this how every bath time is going to be? Finally getting what you paid for?”

That’s right. I paid for her to be here. To be like this.

I am forcing her.

Her body was telling me yes, but her mouth had just reminded me that I had bought her. That maybe she expected that to be the reason why she was here—that she owes me something.

And until she realized I would never make her do anything she didn’t want to just because I got her at an auction, there was no moving forward.

My shadows pulled back, and I placed the cloth on the side of the tub.

“No,” I said. “Just showing you how it’s done. You got it from here.”

I got up, willing my gaze to dart away before her wet body was bared to me again.

“Yien—”

“I’ll wait for you outside,” I rushed to say, turning on my heels and walking to the door. “Take your time. The water will stay warm.”

Slamming the door behind me might have been too harsh, but it was the reality check I needed to keep me sane.

Iris

I walked the length of the fog once again, my hand brushing across the souls gathering at the edge of the property.

I had lost count of the days that I had been here. It was possibly day three, or five, since I first ventured out of the castle without Yien.

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