Chapter 11 Kasimir
KASIMIR
Well, that didn’t go as planned. Why is it that no matter how I intend things to be, I always find myself here, my hands hooked around a dead man’s ankles as I haul yet another body through the woods.
It’s funny. I’m a murderer – a cold-blooded killer.
I’ve spent years hunting down the men who make it their life’s mission to bother women, and yet here I am, rushing to clean up the mess I made so I can go and bother the one woman I can’t stop thinking about.
Some people might say I’m a hypocrite. Or a bad person. Or both. But I know they’re wrong – I’m worse than that. Because I kill men for having the thoughts I’m having, but that still doesn’t stop me as I climb the stone bricks and push open the window of her bedchamber once again.
Slipping through, I press my back to the wall to stay hidden.
My stomach dips when I see her.
She’s completely nude. Or at least, I’m assuming she is beneath the huge bubbles sitting atop of her petal-sprinkled bath water.
Eyes closed, she breathes softly as her head rests on the rim of the tin bath.
She looks content. Peaceful. Nothing like how she trembled in the garden.
But what I wouldn’t give to strip off this doublet and breeches set that I stole from that knight’s quarters and climb into the bath with her – smothering her with enough kisses to wash away the harsh memories of less than an hour ago.
I made a mistake by not killing Hugo in his chambers. I won’t risk Amaryllis’s safety again.
Behind me, the open window creaks in the wind.
“Who’s there?” Ruby gasps. She’s still in the bath, but now her knees are tucked up to her chest and her head whips around the room. “Who is it? I know someone’s there.”
As much as I’d love to stay hidden and play with her for a bit, she’s had enough torture for one night.
“It’s just me,” I tell her, stepping out from the shadows.
“Kaz?” she squeaks. A blush blooms across her cheeks and she sinks further into the bath. “What are you doing here? You need to leave! If anyone were to see you in here with me like this…”
Her voice trails off as I step closer. When I reach the edge of the bath, I drop to a crouch and skim my fingers over the bubbles.
“I came to check you were alright after everything that happened in the garden,” I say, letting the warm, rose-scented foam fizz against my skin. “He didn’t hurt you, did he? Hugo?” Just the feel of his name on my tongue makes my gaze darken.
Ruby shakes her head. “He didn’t. And I’m alright now, thank you,” she adds curtly, avoiding my stare. “You’ll find your payment on my vanity. Just take anything you’d like, but please leave quickly and speak of this to no one.”
Her chin jerking towards the necklaces on the vanity is my silent cue to obey. And really, if I were a better man, I would. I don’t even need to look at the necklaces to see how much the diamonds shine. Real diamonds. Real value that I could share out amongst my crew and their families.
But I must be selfish, because the only jewel I can focus on is the red-haired beauty sitting nude beneath her rose-scented bathwater.
My Ruby. Mine. And I’m not letting go of what’s mine that easily.
“Are you bored of me already, Princess?” I tease, dipping and swirling my fingers into the water just enough to make ripples in the bubbles.
“Stop that,” she grumbles.
“Stop what?” My fingers plunge deeper.
“That!” she spits. Gathering more bubbles to her chest, she gives me a glare that could rival a hissing kitten’s. “This is highly inappropriate,” she huffs. “You need to take your payment and leave before I call the guards.”
A chuckle rolls off my lips. Lifting my fingers, I let her think I’m listening for just a few heartbeats before suddenly, I’m scooting closer.
Her breath catches.
With a smile, I lean forward and trap her chin between my thumb and forefinger. “Do it,” I tell her, lifting her chin to meet my gaze, “call the guards.”
“I-I…”
“Go on,” I prompt, “I dare you to call them.”
Like a little mouse, she trembles beneath my stare. It would be so easy for me to take her now, and I know she knows it too. She’s already undressed. I could haul her out of those damned bubbles and have her legs spread completely bare for me faster than she could scream.
But no. As I said, I’m a gentleman – or at least I’m forcing myself to be around Ruby. I like my prey willing. And I’m certain that eventually Ruby will be – even if she’s too stubborn and full of royal decorum to admit it right now.
“You should leave,” she manages to mutter, clamping her lips shut in a feeble attempt to hide the way they quiver. Damn pretty lips.
“Call the guards,” I say again.
She scowls.
“Coward,” I tease, as her lips part in a scoff.
Before she can argue we’re interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.
Ruby gasps, then gestures with her head towards the window. “It’s my maids. Leave!”
This time, I really should listen. My heart pounds as the footsteps draw closer.
A good man would leave. A good man would bid his fair maiden goodbye with a kiss on her cheek and disappear out the window. But unfortunately for Princess Amaryllis, I am not a good man.
So, with a smile and a wink, I keep my grip on her chin just long enough to press my lips to her cheek before darting away from the bath.
The door swings open.
By the time the two maids reach her, I’ve slipped into the dark space between her chaise longue and a bookshelf.
With it being close to midnight, the room is lit only by a crackling fire and a few candles around her bath.
The dim lighting leaves more than enough dark places for me to hide, and also gives me a perfect view of Ruby as the maids surround her, placing their oils and creams on a nearby table.
“Are you alright, my lady?” one of them asks, glancing vaguely in my direction. It’s too dark for the maids to see me, but Ruby knows for certain I’m still here.
And if looks could kill, I’d be a dead man.
Cheeks burning, Ruby softens her glare to address the young maid. “Yes, I’m fine. Sorry.” She turns her gaze to the bubbles in front of her.
“No need to apologise, my lady,” the second maid insists. She’s older and more motherly looking than the first. “You’ve had a stressful day. Not many ladies would be strong enough to even stand after what you went through. Poor dear.”
Guilt twinges in my chest. Perhaps I shouldn’t be toying with her right now. After all, it is my fault that the prince is now dead and the ball ended early. Maybe I really should be leaving.
Then again, I did save her life – and the future of her poor youngest sister. So perhaps she ought to be more grateful.
There’s a clang as a bucket is set down on the floor, and the second maid moves towards Ruby. “Let’s get you rinsed now, and then into some night clothes,” she says, reaching for the princess’s arm.
Ruby thanks her, and I watch in silence while the maids work to rinse out the bubbles from her hair. It takes a while, my spot growing more uncomfortable each minute I’m stuck here, but still, I can’t look away.
She’s mesmerising, every inch of her, from her long scarlet hair to her lightly tanned shoulders that glisten with the water’s shine.
Soon enough, the first servant swoops in with a cream towel, and my view of the bath is blocked. Holding it up high to protect Ruby’s modesty, the maid averts her gaze as the princess rises from the bathwater.
Like her, I can’t see anything beyond the thick cream towel, but it doesn’t matter. Just the thought of my Ruby standing bare behind it sends a tightening sensation shooting beneath my belt.
“Martha?” the princess chimes. “I’m afraid I left my hair oil in Camellia’s room. Would you be a dear and fetch it for me?”
“Of course, my lady.” Placing down a crystal lotion bottle, the older maid dips her head and hurries out of the room, leaving Amaryllis alone with the younger servant.
A few moments pass before I hear Ruby’s voice again. This time she’s much quieter, speaking barely above a whisper as she addresses the young maid.
“...Please…you… fetch me…”
Heart pounding, I lean forward.
Perhaps she really is going to call for the guards. Or maybe she’ll send her maid to do it for her. It doesn’t make a difference to me. Either way, I’ll be long gone before they get here.
I’m heartbeats away from darting towards the open window when the maid’s reply steals my attention.
“Forgive me, my lady. I did not realise this towel wasn’t to your liking. I’ll fetch you another.” With that, the young servant dips her head and scurries over to the armoire, whisking away the cream towel with her.
My jaw clenches. Princess Amaryllis stands beside her bath, her tanned skin completely bare – from her narrow shoulders to her slender feet, still glistening with water.
Barely able to breathe, my eyes rake over her.
Such fragile, perfect skin. I can’t help but feast in all the details, like the small freckle above her belly button, and how her nipples match the rosy hue of her lips. With the candlelight flickering over her soft curves, she may as well be a goddess.
Just as I’d fantasised, her breasts are the perfect size. So perfect that if I weren’t already on my knees, I’d feel the urge to drop to them.
It’s odd, though. Without the towel to protect her, I’d expect to see her trembling. Even if she can’t see me, she must feel the heavy weight of my gaze. But she’s not. If anything, her own stare is challenging as it pierces through my hiding place. Like she’s daring me to come out.
With one maid gone and the other too busy digging through an armoire, a ghost of a smirk touches Ruby’s lips before her fingers slip down between her thighs.
Ah.
My stomach dips. Suddenly, this little ploy with the towel makes sense. Now who’s toying with whom? Yes, I might be impulsive, but I’m no idiot – with her maids still lingering, I’m trapped in my hiding place.