“Avery.”
The voice floats from the bath. I should slip out now while I can, allow Kassandra to think she imagined I was here.
“Come here, Avery.”
I swallow, my skin prickling.
In the glittering silver-tiled bathroom, a sparkling inlaid pool stretches out before me, steam rising from the surface. The space is quiet, heady. From the fog emerges a naked figure. Kassandra.
As she wades through the water, it swirls around her hips. Droplets roll off her curves and splatter into the bath. Her hair falls in plaits around her shoulders, cheeks pink with heat, lashes dewy with condensation. I say nothing, only wipe damp palms on my thighs as she glides toward me.
“You said Briar and I saw you naked,” she says. “Need I remind you how many times you’ve seen me unclothed?”
“That’s different. It’s my job to dress you.”
“And undress me, no?”
“Yes,” I say.
Little raindrops roll off every part of her. I tear my eyes away to find hers again. Heavy-lidded and glinting, she smiles, and I know I am caught.
“Briar’s off for the evening,” she says, rising onto the first step that leads out of the pool. Her thigh emerges from the water. Another step, and the surface flickers just below her center. Another step, and it’s fallen to her knees. Again, I drag my eyes up to her smirking face.
“What’s changed?” I ask, not for the first time. “Between this morning and now.”
“I needed a bath and Briar is gone.”
“So I guess I’ll just have to bathe you myself.”
Kassandra wrinkles her nose. “Not smelling like that, you won’t. You’ll get me more dirty than clean.”
“Is that your desire?”
My mistress blinks. Then she’s stepping back down, the pool swallowing up her thighs, her hips, her waist. She sinks lower, her breasts cupped by the water.
“You’re bold,” she chides, voice smooth. Pink blushes across her chest, from heat or words, I do not know. I do not care.
“Am I?”
“Are you attempting to be mysterious?” The ends of her hair float around her like a siren’s. As she moves deeper into the pool, I take it for what it is, what I have been denying since I entered the bathing chamber: an invitation.
She wants to play?Let’s play.
Gripping my damp nightgown, I pull it over my head, dropping it to the tiles beside me.
Kassandra straightens. “Avery, what are you doing?”
“Being bold.”
“What if someone comes in?”
What if someone comes in?NotNo, don’t. Stop that. What is wrong with you? You’re disgusting. Get out.No, she asked,What if someone comes in?
My blood sings.
“Briar’s off, like you said. And anyone else will see a faerie bathing her mistress.”
“Naked!” she yelps.
