Page 28 of Fit for a King

It was exactly what Nicholas smelled like when he was close, when I was knotting his tie or when he passed me and the scent carried after him—expensive and regal and seductive. I wanted to bathe in it just so I could smell him on my skin.

I almost groaned as I whisked the brush a little faster.

God, get it together. I wasn’t going to have a job if I kept this up.

Once I had the lather where I wanted it, I set the bowl on the tray and took it over to the rolling cart beside his chair. Then I pressed the towel once more against his skin and slowly removed it, and this time he didn’t look at me, but handed me the tablet to set aside. He closed his eyes and arched his neck up just a fraction, and damn.

Being this close, able to look at him without him catching me… He was just so attractive—and, with his eyes closed, looked a lot more peaceful than usual.

I must’ve stared too long, because Nicholas cracked an eye open.

“I’m ready.”

“Yes, sir.” I quickly grabbed the bowl and dabbed the thick brush into the cream. As he closed his eyes again, I began to work the lather onto his face in circular motions, careful to avoid the facial hair I knew he preferred to keep.

Then I picked up the straight-blade razor and moved in to begin the shave. I tilted his head first to the left and worked around his sideburns, being careful to keep the length he liked, each stroke slow and steady, as I stretched the skin tight to make sure I didn’t nick him.

I continued my way across his cheeks, and as I went to rinse the blade, I reminded myself not to linger. The longer this took, the more inappropriate the thoughts swirling in my head became.

Like, what would he do if I leaned down and kissed his lips? Would he respond? Would he scold me? I wasn’t sure which I’d rather. No, that was a lie. I was almost positive I’d want him to scold me and then kiss me.

“Bennett?”

Damn it. I needed to focus. “Sorry, sir. I was just cleaning the blade.”

I turned back to find his eyes locked on me in that assessing way he had about him, and I could swear it was like he somehow knew I was lying.

But that was impossible, thank God, otherwise I wouldn’t be allowed anywhere near him with a blade—or in general.

“Lift your chin, Your Majesty.” He did as he was told, and the act of submission from this man nearly made my knees buckle, though I knew it had nothing to do with my asking.

I applied a fresh lather and then began the close shave, the one that required I get as close to the king as any one person might, without a wedding ring.

The thought immediately had me thinking about his soon-to-be betrothed, and I wondered if this would become a task his husband would perform. The idea made me pause for a moment before I shoved it aside. The last thing I needed to do was think about that while I was up close and personal with the king.

The thought made something dark wash over me.

I moved in front of Nicholas, gripped his chin in my hand, and angled his head back so I could reach the vulnerable skin at his throat. It was an intimate stance, one that had me practically between the king’s legs as I slowly stroked the blade up his neck. I bit into my lip to concentrate as I dragged the blade along his jawline, under his chin, and finally around his mouth. I was careful not to touch the full lower lip as I delicately outlined the curve of it, and up to the top.

He didn’t always get such a close shave, but today he’d requested it. As I stared down at his smooth face, it took everything I had not to lean down and brush my mouth over the top of his.

My cock ached at the thought. The very idea was a fantasy so far out of reach that the forbidden nature made it impossibly hotter.

What if he reached for my hips?

What if he pulled me into his lap?

What if the door opened…?

Every illicit thought was sexier than the last, and when I finally straightened and dropped my hands—and Nicholas raised his head—I found myself frozen in place.

Move, my brain told me. Move away from him before you’re ordered to. Or before security is called and his bodyguards physically remove you.

But I didn’t do any of that. Instead, I stood where I was between his spread thighs with a blade in my hand.

“Are you finished?” Nicholas asked, his voice rougher than usual, and it scratched something inside me that had my dick jerking.

“Yes, sir.”