Page 36

N aomi

Before I was ready to wake, the room was awash in light. Beams of sunlight broke through the window, and I snuggled deeper into the bed to escape them. Someone grabbed the covers and tugged them off me and I blinked blearily, not really wanting to get up yet.

“Not yet, Ryker. Would you please close the drapes?” I groaned.

“I’m not Ryker,” a woman answered.

A sudden panic jolted through me. I scrambled to cover myself, suddenly remembering that I was entirely naked and my wrists were still bound to the bed.

I turned my head to see an older woman watching me closely and I felt my face heat with embarrassment.

I couldn’t think of anything to say that might explain how I’d ended up this way, so I didn’t even try.

“My name is Denise. It is my job to prepare you for your wedding,” she offered politely.

She didn’t comment on my current state. In fact, she didn’t even seem remotely surprised.

I tried not to think too much about what that meant, even as she reached for me and unbuckled the belt from my wrists. I curled my knees up into my chest.

“I’m Naomi,” I offered. She smiled as if she already knew.

“Come now. I am to accompany you to an appointment at the bathhouse, then I am to prepare you for your wedding this afternoon,” she stated.

When I didn’t move right away, she leveled a stern glare at me.

“I’ve also been told that if you’re uncooperative, then I am to inform your husband so that he can deal with you himself tonight. ”

That was enough to make me sit up straight. She lifted a bag up onto the bed.

“Go freshen up in the restroom. No more than five minutes. We’re on a schedule,” she said as she rustled through it.

I hopped off the bed and rushed into the bathroom, mortified to be completely naked around a perfect stranger.

I shut the door, relieved myself, brushed my teeth and hair, and splashed a bit of water on my face.

When I was finished, I opened the door tentatively and walked back into the room.

She had a silky white robe lying on the bed. On the floor was a matching pair of ballet flats.

“Put these on,” she directed.

“No underwear?” I asked, looking pointedly over to the box of lingerie Ryan had left me yesterday.

“After your scheduled bath,” she answered curtly. Seeing no room for negotiation, I took the opportunity to at least hide my body from her gaze as much as I was allowed. Wrapping the robe around myself, I cinched the belt around my waist as tightly as I could before slipping my feet into the flats.

“Come now. It’s time to go,” she commanded, gesturing for me to leave the room.

She guided me out of the house to a waiting car.

Ryker was nowhere to be seen as I was shuttled into the backseat.

We drove off moments later and I was left to study the natural landscape that surrounded us.

It was beautiful, but the ride was short.

We pulled up to a pristine white marble building and the backdoor was immediately opened by a man in a suit.

Embarrassed to be seen in such a state by this meticulously dressed stranger, I followed Denise through an arched entryway.

As we walked along an elegant hallway, I glimpsed other women in private rooms, naked and bathing.

There wasn’t enough time for me to stop and really see what was happening, not that it would have been appropriate for me to just stick my head in their open doorways and ask.

Before I knew it, I was shuttled into a room of my own.

Denise knelt down and removed my shoes. Then she untied the sash at my waist and pulled the robe from my body. I protested, but she paid me no heed.

In the center of the room was an enormous copper tub already full of steaming water.

Her hand landed on my bare lower back, pushing me forward.

The water was milky white, and I hesitantly lifted a foot and dipped my toe in.

I sucked in a breath at the heat, but slowly climbed in, forcing myself to get used to it.

The luxurious scents of jasmine, ginger, vanilla, and citrus enveloped me.

Denise said nothing as she stepped to the side of the tub.

She washed my hair and instructed me to rinse.

Then she rubbed something all over my face, telling me to let it sit so that it could condition my skin as she coated my hair in thick, richly scented conditioner.

When she deemed sufficient time had passed, she had me stand up.

Clean, cool water poured over my head, face, and hair, rinsing off all her concoctions.

When she soaped up a sponge, I reached to take it, but she shook her head.

Instead, she started to wash my body herself.

I could not bear to meet her eyes as she thoroughly washed every inch of me.

My nipples pebbled when she soaped up my breasts and I turned my head, feeling my cheeks pinken.

A silent cry escaped me when she washed between my legs, my flesh still tender from the punishment I’d endured the night before.

My eyes closed with shame when she washed my backside.

The most embarrassing part of the whole ordeal was when she slipped the sponge in between my bum cheeks.

When I protested, she cleared her throat expectantly.

“We need to make sure this tight little hole is very clean, especially if your husband decides to use it tonight,” she murmured.

My eyes opened wide in aroused horror. I remembered the brutal sensations of his fingers inside me there. Would he really put his cock there too?

I shoved the thought away quickly. I was grateful when Denise told me I could dip beneath the safety of the water’s surface once more. My mind was a rush of uncertain fantasies as she finished up. After a very thorough exfoliation, she rinsed me once more with clean, clear water.

“Out now. Time to get you dressed,” she smiled, offering her hand so that I could climb out of the bathtub safely. Much to my chagrin, she toweled me off and I did my best not to fight her.

She had brought everything with her that I needed.

After buffing me completely dry, she proceeded to smooth an oil over my pinkened skin.

The fragrance was the same as the scent in my bath, lush and decadent, and she left not an inch of me untouched.

When she was finished, I looked down to see that my skin fairly glowed.

She finally handed me the new lingerie set.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I was allowed to pull the panties into place.

They were fairly revealing, but it felt good to have a piece of fabric covering what used to be my private places once more.

She helped me into the bustier in no time flat.

I expected to put on the dress next, but she sat me down and started doing my hair and makeup.

She didn’t use a lot of products, simply choosing to highlight my cheekbones and my eyes, and slicking a clear gloss over my lips.

She brushed and dried my hair, styling it in a half up-do with thick waves down my back.

Only then did she decide that it was time to get me into my gown.

It was strange to be dressed by someone else like this, but after it was all over, I felt like the most spoiled girl in the world. She led me to the one free-standing mirror in the room, showing me her work at the end.

“I… Wow! Is that me? I look incredible!” I gasped. “You do good work, Denise!”

“Good. Now let’s bring you to your husband. He is waiting for you,” she smiled.

Behind the bathhouse was a breathtaking garden that seemed to go on for miles.

There were flowers of every color everywhere.

Several huge wild hydrangea bushes were in full bloom, their gorgeous blue and purple blooms lending their beauty to the scene.

Sweet pink and vibrant red roses dotted the space, along with so many more I didn’t recognize, none of them serving any sort of food or medicinal purpose that I could discern.

They were there simply because they were beautiful.

There was nothing like this in New Englandia.

The tiny heels on my feet clicked against white stepping stones as I made my way along the winding path deeper into the gardens.

After a short walk, I turned the corner to find a flower-laden archway in the center of a clearing. Tall trees surrounded the grove, but suddenly all I could see was the tall man standing there waiting for me.

Ryker’s gaze seized me as soon as I appeared under the arch, and I thought I saw his chest expand with a quick intake of breath.

I sucked in my own heated breath. He was dressed in an impeccable black suit, the material luxuriously matte. It looked like it would be soft, maybe like velvet. His tie was blue and grey, and I couldn’t help but notice how much it brought out the turbulent waters of his eyes.

I had to will my legs to stop shaking as I walked to him, and when he took my hands in his, I felt a surge of emotion.

“You look so beautiful, Naomi,” he murmured.

“And you are so handsome, Ryker,” I responded, blushing.

An officiant stood with us and began to speak, but I didn’t really listen, not completely.

I was too taken by the man who held my hands.

At points, I heard the officiator talk about marriage, commitment, and everlasting love, but I just gazed at Ryker instead.

He stared back at me with adoration and my heart swelled with happiness.

Only when Ryker began to speak did I really listen.

“As your husband, I vow to protect you, always. I vow to take care of you, to love you, and to give you all the happiness you deserve,” he stated with warm sincerity.

His vow to protect me surged through me, a sudden warmth cascading through my limbs.

“Repeat after me, Dr. Vaughn,” the officiant said. I glanced back at him, nodding that I understood.