She didn’t like to think about him being attracted to anyone else but reminded herself that she also had a past. Besides, those other women were literally dust at this time.
“I noticed the lord of our area dressed his wife like a princess. She wasn’t snobbish and never looked down on the people who lived on his land. Her wistful glances at the children playing in our village with literally nothing but sticks and rocks or corn husk dollies struck me as different from the demeanor of the lord’s unmarried sisters or his mother.”
Fascinated by his story, Carina split her attention between his tender massages of her hand and fingers and his words. Both were delicious. She offered her other arm when he was done with one.
“Thank you, Carina. I was a big lad. The lord stopped one day to request my father to send me to work at his stables. Of course, my father agreed. You couldn’t tell the lord no. But serving the nobility was an enormous honor and earned my family a steady allotment of supplies that would make their survival easier.”
“How old were you?” Carina asked.
“Ten.”
“And you had to leave your family? Could you go stay with them at night?” Carina imagined herself at ten. She would have been petrified to leave her parents and brother.
“No, Carina. I never visited my family again. I rode on the back of the lord’s cart to my new home.”
“Was it awful? You had to miss your mom and dad.”
“I worried about them most. Would my siblings survive the winter without my strength to chop wood or till the field? But my lord treated me well for those times. He gave me a safe and warm place to sleep in the stable and food to fill my belly.”
He washed her tummy. When she sucked it in, he admonished her, “You are perfect, Little girl. I love all your curves. Relax.”
Slowly, she let out her breath, watching his face for any sign of displeasure. His expression was tender. Carina was learning that Marcus said nothing he didn’t mean. He didn’t care that she wasn’t model-thin. She studied him, marveling at how different he was from other men. Marcus always treated her like she was perfect. She crossed her fingers under the water, hoping he would never change his mind.
“Go on, Daddy.”
“One of the cats that patrolled the shed for mice had kittens. She’d drop them off with me as I slept to search for prey. I’d never had a pet. I think I loved those creatures more than my own siblings,” he told her with a laugh. “You are so beautiful, Little girl,” he complimented her as he smoothed the cloth over her breasts.
To distract herself from getting aroused, Carina asked. “Did you name them?”
“The kittens? Of course. I don’t remember what I called them,” he said and shook his head. “Too many years havepassed. Unfortunately, the lord’s dogs killed the entire litter except for one kitten, who raced up the rough wall to take shelter in the rafters.”
“Oh, that’s awful.” Tears prickled her eyelids as he moved on to wash her toes.
“I buried the scraps of fur that were left and swore never to get attached to another creature. Staying distant was too hard. The surviving kitten didn’t put up with that. He was back curled up against me that night. The odds of his survival were low, so when the lord put out the word that he was seeking a special gift for his lady, I gathered my courage and took the kitten to his house.”
“She didn’t have a pet?”
“No, sweetheart. Back then, animals were not companions. They were hunters, guards, attackers, or herders. Their temperaments were not sweet and yielding. They were wild creatures, not used to being handled.”
“But your kitten was different.”
“Yes. It was gentle and loving. The lord looked at me like I was crazy, but he saw the kitten curled up in my arms and called his wife. She knelt on the ground next to me, and the kitten nestled in her skirts. I had taken a long piece of straw and showed the lady how the purring ball loved to play. I’ll never forget the lady’s joyful laughter. She scooped up the kitten and ran to thank her husband for the gift. In her excitement, she sat down on his lap to show off her prize and called him ‘Father’.”
“How did the lord react?”
“His eyes sought mine and warned against any gossip while asking me to leave.”
“And you did?”
“Definitely. Anyway, I had to carry the cat back to the house several times over the years. The furry creature loved the mice in the shed too much to stay away. Each time, the lady would thankme and bestow some favor on me. A meal, a new hat, a clean shirt or trousers.”
“She was so nice.”
“She was. But more importantly, on each visit, I got a glimpse of her life. Small snapshots of her being cared for like a daughter rather than a wife. That’s when I knew I also was a Daddy. Up on your knees, Carina. I need to wash your bottom and your sweet pussy.”
Carina blushed at his words but allowed him to help her shift in the tub. He cleaned her mound and inner thighs with the washcloth before dropping it into the water to then lather her with his fingers. Struggling to stay still, Carina responded to his intimate care. Never had any man challenged her submission to this extent. While she struggled to admit how she craved his control, Carina wouldn’t permit herself to run from her desires.
As if he understood her internal turmoil, Marcus kissed the curve of her shoulder. “Bravery comes with the best rewards, Little girl.”
