Page 49 of Blood Day: Part One

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.