Chapter 4

ith her in his arms, he proceeded down the hallway. He was not a pretty man, but his beard was softer then any down she had felt against her skin. He looked down at her and smiled. His rough cut features were enhanced by little laugh wrinkles at the corners of his eyes she noticed as he looked at her. She melted in his arms, never wanting him to leave her.

He kicked open the door at the end of the hall. How he knew it was her room, she never knew, but it was as if they were connected by some unseen power. He carried her over the threshold. Her room was well kept, everything in it's proper place. With her in his arms, he grabbed a towel from the wash stand and placed it on the bed. He set her gently upon it.

She sat there motionless, unable to speak and lost completely in the moment. She watched silently as he drew her a bath. She watched him unmovingly, as he filled a large basin with warm water. She felt her heart beating wildly in her chest, she hasn't felt this way about any man. Not knowing what he will do, she felt helpless, and completely under his control. It excited her in ways she had never known. She was covered in blood from head to toe, but none of that mattered. All she knew was that she could barely breath as she watched him move closer to her.

"Now, let's get you out of those rags, and clean you up a bit," he said in a very soothing voice that touched her very soul. It was meant to calm her, she knew, but his voice made her blood burn in her veins. He took her by the hand and stood her up. His touch, gentle as it was, burned her skin as if wherever he touched her set her skin aflame. Her breath became heavier as he moved behind her to help her out of the soaked rags she was wearing.

Her clothes fell into a pile on the floor at her feet. She felt his breath moving down her naked skin as he bent to retrieve them. She closed her eyes, letting a soft shiver flow over her body as she swore to herself that she could feel the exhale of his hot breath upon her. She felt her nipples become erect and immediately covered them with her hands, feeling a bit embarrassed.

She opened her eyes and watched as he placed the clothes into the basin, soaking them. Her heart pounded harder in her chest, just as his soft hand touched her bare skin on her back. He led her gently to the large porcelain tub she used for bathing.

The water was warm and inviting as she slipped into it. She closed her eyes as she sat there, quietly, hoping, longing to feel his touch once more. She burned the moment into her brain, wishing that time would stand still, frozen, so the moment would last forever. She relaxed and leaned back a bit, her eyes remained closed, as she felt the hot drip of water falling onto her chest.

She opened her eyes, filling her vision with his image. A slight smile crossed her lips as she watched him dip the sponge into the water. He ran the sponge along her skin and her whole body quivered. His calming voice like music in her ears, "Tis alright mi'lady. No further harm will come to you this eve."