Page 56 of The Royal Throne
Sabine hoped everything was all right.
Feeling gross from trekking up that mountain in this heat, she stripped and stepped into her sunken bathtub. After washing, she leaned her head back against the edge of the tub, letting the hot water soothe her muscles. Closing her eyes, she remembered jumping from the cliff with Evander. They’d jumped countless times today. She hadn’t had that much fun in a long time. Whenever he’d had the chance, he’d touch her hand, tickle her side, or twist a strand of her hair.
Warm hands touched Sabine’s cheeks. Her eyes flew open—and her pulse spiked when she saw Rainer kneeling behind her.
“You look so peaceful,” he said.
She tried not to shake—he could twist and snap her neck so easily from his position.
He leaned down, placing a kiss on her forehead. “Where have you been all day?” he murmured against her skin.
“I went shopping in town.” It surprised her that he’d noticed she was gone. She slid under the water, forcing him to release her. She surfaced in the middle of the round tub, where Rainer couldn’t reach her. She kept her legs bent so her chest remained under the water. “What are you doing here?” Given that he’d asked to see Drew and now he was here in her personal space, she feared he’d discovered she’d spent the day with Evander. She needed to tread carefully.
Rainer stood, reaching his hand out to her. “We need to talk.”
As if she’d let him pull her out of the tub naked. “My towel is behind you.” She pointed to the bench against the wall.
He turned and grabbed the towel, holding it open for her. She noticed he was wearing casual clothing—loose cream colored pants and a v-neck top, the sleeves rolled up. His hair was wet. Like Sabine, he must have just bathed.
“Your Majesty!” Harper called out from the other room, followed by the sound of a door slamming.
Harta came barreling into the bathing room. The dog stuck her paws on the first step in the tub, trying to get to Sabine. Sabine laughed and went to Harta, keeping her body under the water so Rainer wouldn’t see anything. Harta started licking her face.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” Harper said as she came into the bathing room. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Harta was out on a walk, so I brought her back for you.” She glanced between Sabine and Rainer. “Do you need anything? Should I take Harta on another walk?” She began fidgeting with her hands.
Sabine looked at her lady’s maid then darted her eyes toward the towel. It took several times before Harper caught on.
“Oh.” Harper jumped then grabbed the towel from Rainer. Turning her back to the king, she blocked him from view as she hovered at the top of the steps to the tub.
Sabine quickly stood, wrapping the towel around her. “Thank you, Harper. Please get my robe.”
Harper left the bathing room.
Rainer stood there with his hands on his hips, his lips pursed. “She’s rather informal,” he muttered. “She didn’t address me once.”
Sabine didn’t care—all she cared about was that Harper had arrived just in time to help her out of the tub. As far as she was concerned, Harper was the perfect lady’s maid.
Harper returned, placing the robe on Sabine’s shoulders. Sabine tied it before removing the towel.
“Leave us,” Rainer said, waving Harper away.
Harper looked at Sabine. “Do you need anything else, Your High—Majesty?”
“No, that will be all. Thank you.” She reached out and squeezed Harper’s hand in thanks.
Harper nodded before leaving.
The king rubbed his face and headed into Sabine’s bedchamber.
After towel drying her hair, she followed him. “You said you wanted to talk?” Going over to her vanity, she sat and began combing her hair, trying to act as calm and casual as possible. She kept her focus on the mirror while carefully watching Rainer’s reflection as he meandered around her room. He examined her packages before turning his attention to her.
The robe slid off her shoulder. She quickly pulled it up, covering herself.
“Sometimes I forget how young you are,” Rainer mumbled. “How inexperienced.” He came up behind her, looking at her in the mirror. His eyes darkened as he slid his hands over her shoulders, gently rubbing them.
Sabine froze, not knowing what to expect from him.
“Did you have a good day?”
