Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Confident the guests were under control, I strode away, trying to squish that bullshit from my brain with each stride. Just the idea of Roman and I hooking up was ridiculous. He was much younger, in a whole different league, and hadn’t once flirted with me.
Not that I’d want him to. That’d be weird; we were co-workers. Besides, there was no such thing as love—at least not the unconditional kind. Seven years with William had proven that. And a lifetime with my mother. I didn’t know which of them had been worse. Grrrr.
Upon entering a side door marked as a ‘staff only’ entrance, I made my way along an ancient stone corridor and climbed the curved stairwell to the third floor. Walking along the narrow passage, I peeked out each open stone window and admired the spectacular alpine views. It was no wonder The Sound of Music had been filmed near here.
I pushed the giant skeleton key Nina had handed to me into my lock, twisted it until the bolt clunked into place, and heaved open the door. The room, as always, had a musty smell befitting that of a thousand-year-old castle. Two minutes later, I headed out again with a bathing costume in hand and a bath towel over my shoulder.
At the end of the hall, I stepped through a doorway, into an area that very few people had permission to enter, and onto a stairway that rounded in a very tight curve. One slip and I’d likely end up at the very bottom. Around and around, I went, descending deeper into the castle keep.
Arriving at another ancient wooden door, I crossed into the dimly lit room and shut the door behind me. I waited a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the minimal light. A small arched window high on the wall provided the only natural light, however Nina had also lit several candles around the room. A couple of intricately carved pillars adorned the entrance, and lovely scents of citrus and vanilla confirmed Nina had prepared my hot tub for me.
It was a little ritual we’d started last year, and the calming aromas already had my body relaxing. The bath was nestled into a far corner. Steam rose up from the water, confirming it was nice and hot. The bath itself resembled a giant copper cauldron and was big enough to fit at least four people.
But I had it all to myself. The only way I’d have it.
I eased around to the back of the tub, stripped out of my jeans and blouse and wrestled my tits into a bikini top that’d been battling to contain my mammoth mounds for a few years. I only wore it once a month, and each time, I prayed the molded cups would last just a little longer; the thought of shopping for new swimmers was as horrifying as rectum waxing.
My one and only bikini was actually a combination of two sets. The bottoms were probably designed with an underdeveloped teenager in mind; the top, however, may well have been designed for Dolly Parton.
Using the band I’d put on my wrist, I wrangled my hair up into a bun on top of my head and then climbed into the tub.
With a deep sigh, I lowered myself into pure bliss. I wriggled around to get comfortable on the seat positioned in the water and then rolled my head back to rest on the outer rim.
Closing my eyes, I inhaled the floral aromas in long, slow breaths. My boobs bobbed to the surface and the rest of my body ebbed into relaxation. After the hum of the wheels on the road for days and the constant drone from the passengers, the peace was exquisite.
Normally, this was about the time I’d reach for my book, ready to spend the next two hours reading. But I’d left my book at Chateau de Vin et d'antiquités. Computers and gadgets were not my thing, but maybe one day I’d figure out how to put electronic books onto my phone—one day.
I inhaled long and deep. Taking in the lovely aroma and sighing with contentment, I sunk deeper into the bath. Pierre and his amazing hands on my breasts drifted into my mind. The way he’d curled his fingers beneath my breasts and across my nipples had been tender and glorious.
I never knew I had so much sensation in my tits.
My nipples alone, when teased to rock-hard and throbbing, could drive glorious shivers right through me. That tight-fitting black dress that caressed my figure like a velvet glove and revealed just enough of my cleavage to keep it sensual had made me feel very, very sexy.
And the way Pierre looked at my breasts, like he was seeing something truly spectacular, had triggered something deep inside me—something that had been tethered down, restrained. My sexuality.
Previously, I’d only thought of sex in a negative way. It was boring and downright unsatisfying. I never knew why society put so much emphasis on it.
Now I knew. Sex was amazing .
It took me to another world, a world where my body knew no bounds.
A world I wanted to visit over and?—
A shuffling sound had me snapping my eyes open and sitting forward. “Who’s there?” Despite being clothed, I shoved my hands over my breasts.
I felt rather than saw a presence. “I know you’re there. Who is it?”
I twisted in my seat, peering into the darkness. “Roman, is that you?”
Movement out of the corner of my eye made me spin to face a stranger who’d emerged from the shadows. “Who are you?” The low light made it impossible to see his face.
He spoke in German and I had no idea what he’d said. “Do you speak English?”
He stepped forward into the golden candlelight. His high cheekbones and goatee beard were prominent, but his eyes were still difficult to see.
“I said, who are you?” He spoke softly, whispering.
“I asked you first.”
He shuffled closer, scrubbing a hand over his beard and squeezing the goatee below his chin. “My name is Frederik.”
“What’re you doing here?” I flicked my hand, then quickly re-covered my chest, splashing water onto my cheek.
“I could ask you the same thing.” His accent was strong.
I’d never seen him before. “Are you new here?”
His deep chuckle bounced off the stone walls. “Quite the contrary.”
“Do you work here?”
Again, he chuckled.
“Look, Frederik, I don’t know who you are, but?—”
“I’m the owner of this castle.”
It was my turn to chuckle. “You seem to be a little confused. How about you head off and leave me to my bath? ”
He tilted his head and stepped forward, allowing me to see his face more clearly. His eyes were an interesting shade of green, like freshly podded peas. He looked older than he sounded. His scruffy goatee was tinged with gray hair and the lines around his eyes made me estimate his age as early fifties.
“It seems we have an issue.” His deep voice was amplified in the tiny room.
Adjusting my hand over my chest, I wrestled my irritation to a simmer and offered a pleading smile. “Please. Could you come back later?” I fluttered my eyes like I’d seen some of the ladies do to Roman.
The muscles along Frederik’s chin bulged, confirming he was clamping his jaw.
The guy seemed confused, torn between pissing off and staying to ruin my bath. He still hadn’t explained why he was there. “Are you with another tour group?”
He fiddled with the bottom button of his shirt. “No.”
It annoyed me that he didn’t elaborate. “Why are you here then?”
“I told you. I own the castle.”
He was lying, but he seemed so sure of himself that I didn’t know what to say.
He didn’t look at me; he looked at the water instead, like he was longing to get into the hot tub. The silence between us was excruciating.
Biting my tongue to avoid unleashing a nasty rant, I waited for his next move, ready to scoop a giant wave of my precious, scented bathwater over him if he took another step forward.
It seemed an eternity before he heaved a sigh. “I go this time. But not next.”
He turned and disappeared into the shadows.
I leaned forward, staring at the darkness as the door creaked open and thudded closed.
I spent ten minutes peering into the blackness, searching for the mysterious stranger, before I was confident enough to slip my shoulders below the water and close my eyes. My body pulsed like I’d run a marathon.
Not that I’d ever done that. Running and mammoth boobs were as compatible as anchovies and ice cream.
I inhaled all the lovely aromas and willed my mind and body to relax.
Behind my eyes, I saw Luca and Pierre and Roman.
I saw glorious muscles and tight butts. And stunning eyes that could ignite delicious sparks that pulsed through me like dancing butterflies.
The shrill pitch of a bell rang through the halls, and I bolted upright, casting a wave of water over the side.
Shit!
I’d fallen asleep.