Page 15 of Blood Day (Blood Alliance #7)

I caught her chin, pulling her focus back to me. “I don’t expect formalities here, Lily. Now take off your clothes.”

I was aware of the conflict of my statements—telling her not to bow in one sentence while demanding her obedience in the next—but I suspected she needed that to help ground her a bit.

Given how quickly she reacted, it seemed I was right.

She didn’t hesitate in undressing, even going as far as to fold her garments on the marble counter. Then she moved them to the floor as though they were too dirty for the pristine surface.

I almost corrected her.

But she really wasn’t wrong.

I’d have to find her new clothes to wear here.

Assuming I keep her .

The notion appealed to me more and more with each passing second. It’d be easy to negotiate. And I maintained the status to request it, too.

Although, it would potentially pique Silvano’s interest.

And that would end very badly for Lily.

Decisions, decisions .

I returned to the bath to add the salts and check the temperature. It was warm without being too hot, at least to my sensitive touch.

“Can you test the heat and tell me if it’s too much for you?” I asked, glancing at Lily.

Her brow furrowed as though she didn’t understand the request, but she stepped forward to dip her hand in like I’d just done.

She didn’t yank it back or hiss, telling me it was suitable.

“It’s warm,” she confirmed.

“Too warm or comfortably warm?” I pressed.

She blinked at me, then looked back down at the water. “It’s… it’s comforting.”

“Good. Use the steps there to get in.” I pointed to the stone stairs leading to the bath’s entrance. I supposed it was more like a large pool than a tub, the benches inside providing enough space for five or six people.

There were jets, too. I’d turn those on once she was settled, as well as the purifier that would cycle the liquid and add fresh water periodically via the overhanging faucets on each side.

I grabbed some shampoo and body wash from the walk-in shower and set it on the side of the tub and noted Lily’s stiff movements as she slowly moved to the stairs.

She swallowed, her pulse thrumming to life.

“Afraid of a little water?” I asked, amused.

But that amusement died when she started to shake.

Her spine straightened in the next instant, the brave part of her seeming to flicker into action. She climbed the steps to the top, her expression determined.

Then she moved to step down into the pool like she would on a normal stair and jolted as her foot touched the liquid. I jumped forward and caught her hips, holding her in place when she would have fallen.

She clearly had no idea what to do here.

“You’ve never been swimming or had a bath,” I realized out loud. “Of course you haven’t. Why would they indulge future slaves?”

I rolled my eyes at my own words, not at her, and gently helped her into the pool of water. She froze beneath my hands as her feet hit the bottom, obviously terrified of what would happen next.

Which completely defeated the purpose of the bath.

“Try not to move,” I said as I released her. Her body locked in place when I stepped backward.

She didn’t even appear to be breathing, her pulse beating wildly.

This wouldn’t do at all .

I shucked off my pants, but left my boxers on, and moved up the steps to join her in the water.

She trembled as I grabbed her again, my body sliding in against hers. Which was precisely why I didn’t lose my boxers. She was a temptation, and I needed the barrier between us.

Especially with how frightened she appeared to be.

I pulled her backward with me to one of the benches and sat down. She moved with me, not fighting me at all as I placed her in my lap. But her breathing remained shallow, her racing pulse a beacon that called to my prey drive.

“Baths are meant for relaxation, Lily,” I said against her ear. “They’re an indulgence meant to relax stiff muscles and clear your mind, but I should have realized it would have an opposite effect on you.”

She remained silent, her heartbeat starting to slow. I gave her a few minutes, allowing her to acclimate while holding her back to my chest.

It wasn’t the most comfortable position, so I shifted us longways on the bench with our legs stretched out, and relaxed against the wall behind me. When I pulled her back to my chest again, she stiffened.

“Are you worried I may drown you?” I wondered out loud as I pulled her long blonde hair over one shoulder. “You should be more concerned about my mouth being near your alluring neck.”

I pressed a kiss to her throbbing pulse, the blood beneath singing to my instincts.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Lily,” I promised against her throat. “Not today, anyway.”

Or anytime soon, if I could help it.

“Why do you keep calling me that?” she asked, her voice lacking the fear I sensed in her scent .

“I’ve called you many things, darling. Be specific.” I knew what she meant, but I wanted her to speak more.

“Lily,” she replied. “Why do you call me Lily?”

“Because that’s what you remind me of.” I wrapped my arm around her waist and used my opposite hand to grasp her chin to angle her head back toward me over her shoulder. “You have light hair, pale skin, long, stem-like legs, and you’re beautifully delicate. Just like a lily flower.”

She blinked long lashes at me. “A lily flower.”

I nodded. “Lily for short.”

“Like a name.”

“Your name,” I corrected. “It’s sweeter than Prospect Four Hundred and Seven, Year One Hundred Seventeen, isn’t it?” I understood the purpose of giving humans numbers instead of identities. But they were so fucking long.

“I like it,” she whispered, her eyes holding mine. “Thank you.”

I cupped her face and drew my thumb across her lips. “Just don’t share it with anyone else. It’ll be our little secret.”

She swallowed. “Like your blood.”

“Like my blood,” I echoed in agreement. “We have a few secrets between us now.”

Secrets that would inevitably lead to her death.

But that was a problem for another day.

Blood Day.