Chapter 11 Kasimir #2
I can’t do anything but watch as she tips her head back. One hand supports herself on the edge of the bath while she uses the other to tease her rosy clit.
Perhaps my little Ruby is not as mouse-like as she seems. And that won’t do at all.
My cock twitches again as I struggle not to groan.
Your maids won’t be here to protect you forever, you scarlet-haired witch. You’ll pay for this.
Dearly.
Minutes pass like hours before the two maids have both returned and Ruby is wrapped in a new pink towel. But even with the towel covering her skin, it’s only when she’s swapped into a modest nightgown and seated at her vanity that my racing heart finally slows.
“I’m so sorry, Martha,” the princess laughs as the two maids comb her hair. “It appears my hair oil was here the whole time.” She scoops up a bottle and passes it to the maid innocently.
Of course it was.
The maid takes it with a smile and applies it to Ruby’s hair. “Not to worry, my lady. You’ve had a difficult night after all.”
“I certainly have,” Ruby agrees, shooting a scowl at my hiding spot.
It’s about to get a whole lot more difficult for you, my darling.
“Finished!” the younger maid announces.
All the confidence drops from Ruby’s shoulders. “Oh, but,” she stutters, “but what about my hair? Wouldn’t it be better to braid it?”
The older maid shakes her head. “Oh no, my lady. That would take far too long, and it’s already so late. You must try to rest before the sun rises.”
I can’t help but chuckle as the younger maid nods in agreement.
“But—”
“I really must insist you try to rest, Your Highness.” The older maid leads Ruby over to her bed. “Trust me, I’ve served your family for many years, and I know King Sol would rather his daughter take the rest she needs than be kept up by hair braiding.”
Dismissing the rest of her protests, the two maids help the reluctant princess into her bed and tuck her between the sheets. Then, they’re stamping out the fire and carrying out the tin bath, leaving Amaryllis alone with just a single candle flickering by her bedside – or so she hopes.
With a frustrated sigh, I heave myself out of my hiding spot.
“Stay back!” Ruby hisses, scrambling across her bed.
I’m too quick for her.
Leaping onto her bed, I plant myself on top of her, my hands and knees pinning down her limbs as she squirms beneath me.
“Stop it! Let go of me!” she yells. “I’ll call for the guards!”
With a heavy chuckle, I shake my head. “You’ll call for them, will you? Just like you did the last time? And the time before that?” My grip tightens on her wrists. “I think you’re lying to me again.”
Her lower lip trembles. “Please… I…”
Already tired of the conversation, I bury my nose into her neck, inhaling deeply. Every time she smells sweeter than the last – like fresh vanilla cake, berries, and something else. Something that sends all the blood rushing to my cock as a growl rumbles through my chest.
“Fuck, Ruby,” I breathe into her neck.
“Please. I can’t…” Her voice trails off as I use one hand to grip both her wrists and the other to squeeze her thigh. “Y-You have to leave,” she whispers.
“Oh, Ruby. I don’t think you want me to,” I chuckle. “Because I know your secret.” Slowly, I slide my hand higher and higher up her thigh. “I can smell it on you.” My fingers pause. “Right here.”
Her back arches as I drag two fingers across her hot, silky folds.
She’s completely soaked, almost enough to leave a puddle on the sheets. Just the feel of her on my fingers is enough to fill my head with dangerous thoughts – thoughts I should absolutely not be having about one of King Sol’s treasured virgin daughters.
Fuck.
“Listen to me, Ruby,” I hiss, my cock achingly hard. I need to get out of here before I do something much worse than murdering a prince.
With a heavy breath, her eyes flicker open.
“You owe me,” I start, resting my fingers on her mid-thigh. “And now Hugo has been permanently dealt with. You owe me a lot more than a few diamond necklaces.”
Beneath me, Ruby quivers. “I said you could take as much as you want. My sisters have jewels too. Lots of them.”
Laughter rolls off my chest. She may as well be offering me dust as my cock throbs, reminding me of what I really want. But I won’t take it from her. Not until she’s begging me for it – and Stars will I make her beg.
“Jewels aren’t enough any more,” I tell her as she squirms beneath me.
“Do you want money? I can pay you anything you want!”
‘I want to see you again,’ is what I almost say, but I bite my tongue.
I don’t want to leave her here. I can’t say goodbye. Not yet. But she has a life here at the palace, and I need to go home – back to Night Alley, back to killing.
Unless.
“Work for me.” The words come out before I can stop them.
“What?” she chokes.
This is a stupid idea, and I know the rest of my guild won’t agree, but for some reason I don’t care.
“Work for me,” I say again. “You owe me for killing Hugo, and whatever money you can give me will never be enough. I’m in need of a dancer with skills such as yours for an upcoming job.
So unless you know of anyone else who could take your place? ”
It’s technically the truth. I do need a dancer for an upcoming mission. And while we were going to take one of Lady Carp’s girls, Ruby would be a much better fit.
Besides, I’d rip a man’s throat out to see my princess in a dance gown again.
“But I can’t do what you do,” Ruby scoffs. “I’m hardly allowed to leave the palace and I could certainly never… kill someone—”
“You wouldn’t have to,” I cut in. “All you’ll need to do is perform on a stage while the rest of my crew locate the goods. You’ll be a distraction, Ruby. Just for one job, that’s all.”
At least for now.
She stares up at me with her huge beautiful eyes. “But won’t it be dangerous? Surely there’s some other way I can repay you.”
“You won’t be in any danger. And I won’t leave you alone, not even for a minute.” That, I can be certain of. No one touches what’s mine.
“Fine,” she agrees after a few moments of thinking. “When do I need to be ready?”
A smile tugs at my lips. “I’ll deliver the details in a letter.” I withdraw my hands from her wrists, ignoring the instant coldness that burns my skin. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”
She nods, but before I push myself off of her, I lower my voice. “One last thing, Ruby.”
Her violet eyes meet mine.
“The next time you want to act like a desperate whore in front of me, I won’t hesitate to treat you like one. Understand?”
She scowls, but I’m gone before she can argue.
Ruby can pretend she hates me to the moon and back.
She can run and tell the guards – for real this time – that a dark assassin grabbed her in her bedchamber.
Twice. But that doesn’t change the fact that just before I vault through the window, I catch her fingers drifting to her heat for the second time tonight.
With a smile, I climb through. She’s lucky I pretend not to notice.
Because I’m a man of my word.
And next time, I really won’t hesitate.