Chapter fifteen: The silky bed

Her tears wouldn't stop flowing, they felt like twin rivers tracking down her cheeks. Her small frame trembled like leaves under the effect of a great wind and she had the tethers of her clothing in a tight knuckle numbing grip, while her eyes gazed vacantly at what was happening in front of her.

Salsa couldn't begin to wrap her mind around what nearly happened to her and she couldn't believe that Queen saved her.

Seeing the Queen angry, defending her she looked like an avenging goddess which somewhat terrified and intrigued her.

She wouldn't want to be on the Queen's bad side.

As the scene continued to unfold before her eyes, her tears gradually dried up, and her panic resided a bit even though her body was still trembling.

She couldn't be any happier when the guards dragged Master Chang away. She didn't care what happens to the man as long as he doesn't come near her again.

She shivered as she recalled her ordeal and then a great fear filled her soul when she heard one of the servants that have come with the Queen request that they live.

No please don't leave me, she cried in her mind, but outwardly only her eyes could communicate the amount of terror she was feeling inside.

She almost died of embarrassment when her stomach rumbled.

The sound of the Queen's light laugh pleased her soul even as her cheeks burned from the awkwardness of her stomach's embarrassment.

" Have you had anything to eat? "

Salsa shook her head vigorously hoping that this time she would get to eat.

She has lost count of how many times she has been asked if she has had something to eat and yet nothing comes out of it.

" Come, " the Queen commanded walking away.

Salsa turned to follow but the deadly glare the older servant shot her way froze her to the spot.

She held back allowing the other servants to go ahead before she meekly followed.

She barely raised her head to see where she was going as they passed the guards. She felt ashamed walking around in her torn clothes and couldn't wait to reach wherever they were going.

The sight of the peach tree was what gave away where they were they were heading.

Why is she taking us to her chambers? Salsa wondered as they walked into the Queen's chambers.

She felt bad seeing the Queen angry at her maiden servants which worsened when the one called Mei shot her an evil look.

Salsa could feel that the maiden servant didn't like her but she couldn't point her finger at any reason why. She hasn't done anything to offend yet the servant glares at her at any given opportunity.

" All of you out! "

Salsa jumped at the Queen's sharp tone and turned to do as was ordered.

" Not you. Stay, " the Queen's soft command in her direction froze Salsa mid-step.

She dropped back her leg already raised to move and stared at everywhere except the Queen.

The Queen both calmed and unnerved her.

She felt safe in her presence, like someone she has known for ages, and at the same time being near her made her feel weird inside, a feeling she can't describe nor understand.

She nearly whooped for joy when the Queen asked her servants to go and get food.

Finally, something to eat.

Her stomach rumbled silently as if agreeing with her.

She lost her joy when she saw the displeased look on Mei's face when she realized who the food is for. She looked down not to catch the angry servant's eyes.

Once she was left alone with the Queen a new tension gripped her. She was nervous for a whole lot of other reasons but not because she was scared.

" Come. "

Salsa clicked her heels and followed the Queen towards what she assumes to be her inner Chambers.

She has never seen a room this big or this beautiful. From the rich expensive materials used in the decorations to the fancy lanterns.

She stood awkwardly in a corner, with her hands wrapped tightly around her while her eyes gawked at everything in sight.

" Here. "

She jumped when the Queen suddenly appeared before her with an article of clothing in hand. Her heart raced at being this close to the Queen. She couldn't swallow because her mouth felt dry.

She looked down at the clothing and slowly took it from the Queen's hand and then shivered when her fingers brushed the Queen's own in the process.

She clutched the new clothing to her chest while anchoring the old one to avoid it slipping down.

She waited for the. Queen to turn around so she could get out of her torn clothes but when that didn't happen she grew uncomfortable.

She isn't going to watch while I undress, right?

The thought of revealing her nakedness under the Queen's intense piercing gaze both terrified and unnerved her. She felt a warm feeling between her legs which she ignored because she didn't understand.

Her body trembled as goosebumps erupted on her skin at the Queen's touch to her cheeks.

" He struck you? "

Salsa couldn't utter a word even if her life depended on it. She was surrounded by the Queen's delicate scent and her touch on her flesh wiped out all rational thoughts from her mind leaving her blank and devoid of the ability to speak so all she could do was hold her breath, with her heart pounding in her chest as the Queen moved her fingers around.

" Aw! " she flinched when the Queen touched a very tender spot, but she didn't move away from her touch. It was soothing and pleasing and she was enjoying it.

No one has ever touched her with such softness and care.

She got lost in the feelings she could see in the Queen's eyes. Tenderness.

She was flung back to reality when the Queen abruptly dropped her hand as if burned by fire and then turned away from her.

She immediately missed her touch and nearly reached out to take back her hand and put it on her skin again.

Her heart continued to race in her chest as she changed from her old dress to the one given to her by the Queen.

She allowed her old dress to pull down around her ankles leaving her in her underwear, a white very worn-out short, before she threw the long sleeve shirt over frame.

" Aw! " she cried out softly when the material brushed against her sensitive nipples. They were hurting from Master Chang's rough handling.

Her painful gasp made the Queen turn in her direction, a worried look in her dark brown eyes.

" What is it? " she enquired.

Salsa swallowed nervously, a little shy to reveal where her pain is.

" Tell me! "

The sharp demand from the Queen prompted her to action. Instead of speaking Salsa decided to show her.

She stared down to the ground as she revealed her shame. She felt ashamed for the Queen to see what was done to her.

Her eyes remained on the ground even as her flesh burned under the Queen's intense regard.

When the silence lingered and became uncomfortable for her she couldn't resist peeping at the Queen's reaction.

What she saw gazing back at her made her heart leap to her throat.

There was rage, and something else more primal. A hunger she has never seen before in her eyes.

She had been looked at with want before, heck Master Chang almost gobbled her up with his eyes but nothing compared to the way the Queen was looking at her flesh and none of those other people made her feel the way she was feeling right now.

Burning.

There was fire building between her legs.

She flinched silently when the Queen reached out to touch her, but not from pain. Far from pain. The feel of her hand on her naked flesh was like being touched by a live wire, but instead of being shocked, it aroused a powerful hunger in her.

Salsa's breath froze in her throat as she tried not to reveal what the Queen's touch was doing to her. She was scared of being punished should the Queen realize that she was enjoying her touch. She wasn't supposed to.

She is the Queen and she is nothing but a servant.

Her eyes fluttered shut when the pleasure became unbearable. She wished the Queen would stop and at the same time wished she will continue.

Her nipples began to ache for a different reason and before she could control it her sound of pleasure got away from her.

Everything in her froze as she waited for a sharp rebuke from the Queen but when none came she opened her eyes and looked up at her.

Her heart skipped at the strong feeling reflected on her.

She wasn't the only one feeling this strange thing between them.

Her chest heaved as they stared into each other's eyes not moving not blinking.

The outer door opened and the voices of the returned maiden servants broke the electric spell between them.

The Queen dropped her hand and she watched a little disappointed as the feelings cleared from her eyes like they were never there.

" I believe your food is here, " the Queen reached out and took her hand but when she tried to pull Salsa towards the outer chambers she resisted.

The Queen turned to look at her in question.

Salsa looked down shyly and began to close the buttons on the shirt.

" Join us when you are done, " the Queen ordered sharply and walked away.

Alone Salsa released the breath she didn't know she was holding.

" What is going on? " she asked herself trying to make sense of what was happening between her and the Queen.

No one has ever made her feel the way the Queen did. Not even the boys in her village.

She took her time covering up just to give herself a little time to recover from the emotional upheaval of the night.

When she knew she couldn't linger anymore without raising suspicion she made her way towards the outer chambers.

The Queen was speaking to her servants which all died down when they noticed her presence.

She faltered when she felt the Queen's eyes on her but forced herself to move forward ignoring the heat that filled her being from the Queen's eyes.

The other servants' gazes were also making her a bit uncomfortable. She felt exposed from the see-through shirt she had on and a little uncomfortable at wearing the Queen's clothing in the presence of her servants.

" Here, " the Queen beckoned her forward making room for her on the table.

Salsa quietly took her seat between the Queen and Sally.

" Feel better? " Sally asked in a friendly tone.

Salsa nodded and raised her head to smile at the other servant, appreciative of her kindness.

She could feel Mei glaring at her again and didn't bother to look at her.

Mei was shocked to see the new servant in her Queen's clothing.

What was going on?

She barely knew this servant and already she is letting her into her wardrobe and serving her meals.

" By the way what happened to you? " she asked rudely towards Salsa.

Salsa froze as the bad memories of the night came flooding back. The food she had just eaten felt like a stone in her belly.

" Not now! Mei, " the Queen scolded her sharply.

Salsa released a breath of relief. She didn't want to talk about the incident. She looked up and gave the Queen a grateful look.

They ate the remaining of their food in silence.

After the meal, The Queen stood up and addressed her.

" You will stay in my chambers tonight since you have nothing to wear, tomorrow I will arrange for new gowns to be made for you. "

Salsa opened her mouth to tell the Queen that it wasn't a problem if they could get her duffle from the hall and that she still has some gowns but Mei spoke before she could.

" I can lend her some of my gowns, " Mei offered not from the goodness of her heart but because she was jealous that the Queen wants to sow new gowns for the new servant.

They have always had the Queen's affection for themselves, and now they have to share it with the scrawny blonde.

" Thank you Mei for your kind gesture but I don't think your clothing will be suitable for her, and neither will Sally's___The Queen added before Mei could open her mouth again___ you are both taller than her. "

After speaking the Queen looked in her direction.

" Why don't you go and rest, you have been through enough tonight and must be tired from it all. "

Salsa couldn't argue with her and now that her belly has been filled she felt it more.

" Thank you very much, My Queen, " she curtsied before rising to her feet and walking back to the inner chamber.

Salsa stared at the bed in front of her like it was going to bite her before slowly lowering her body to it.

She moaned in pleasure at the silky softness of the sheet. She has never slept on anything this soft and nice.