Chapter Fourteen: Standing Braids

I gasped at his words though not surprised by how shameless he was.

 "Please stop." I pleaded still yet trying to leave his grip but he held my shoulders, a frown forming on his face.

 "Bath me."

What? I was shocked, not quite comprehending his words.

 "Bath me." He repeated and that was when I realized he was in a robe which buttons were left open, revealing the middle line of his muscular chest.

I tried not to look embarrassed but I could tell he knew what I felt for his smirk grew even wider.

 "I can't." I announced, my voice timid. I didn't want to anger him but yet didn't want to heed to his sinful commands.

 "Get to the bathroom in 10 seconds or you'd be dead." There was an intense warning in his tone, as he turned, heading to his bathroom.

I could tell he wasn't kidding.

I hesitated, finding it hard to go with him but the thought of being punished like Cassandra prompted me to move my legs and hurry to the room.

When I arrived, he was already in the pool, his robe which he wore earlier on the floor.

It made me realize he was naked.

His body was buried underneath, in the large clean waters but some part of his nude chest was visible.

I wanted to shade my eyes. The scene felt too odd and uncomfortable for me to bear.

 "Massage my shoulders." His eyes were closed, leaving me to wonder how he knew I was already in the room.

I frowned at his commands.

I haven't massaged anybody before and definitely didn't want my first trial to be on a man, especially a man like him.

I forced myself to move towards him, trying to calm my tension.

I felt nervous and utterly embarrassed. My fingers were all fidgeting and quivering.

I wanted to badly run out of here but I knew I had no choice but to obey him.

I knelt close to him, at his back and with much hesitation, my fingers touched his shoulders.

I couldn't believe how broad his shoulders were. It wasn't smooth nor flawless, but yet was so attractive and alluring to touch.

I sighed, blocking those feelings.

I would only massage his shoulders and then leave. Hopefully, he wouldn't allow me bath him.

I applied some olive oil and then caressed them thoroughly onto every sides of his shoulders.

I touched and felt every muscle, trying to make him pleased but no reaction however came from him. His eyes were closed, not even giving out a satisfied countenance.

I put in more effort.

I haven't massaged anyone before, so I couldn't tell if I was doing well.

I ignored my negative thoughts and tried to think positively.

Thankfully, he muttered the word I had longed desired to hear.

 "Stop." He said and my palms went frozen on his skin.

I released my hands from his body and almost smiled, glad I was finally free from this bondage of a massage.

 "Wash my hair."

He again commanded and annoyed, I tried hard to ignore the urge to pull his hair instead.

I scoffed inaudibly, imagining all horrible things I could do to him, but his voice broke through my head, interrupting those thoughts.

 "I didn't command someone deaf, did I?" He sounded pissed.

I quickly went to a side nearby and grabbed some visible hair wash soaps and lotions.

I was taught on how to wash my hair by my maids, so this would be easy.

I applied the hair wash onto his hair, using my fingers to comb and massage through it.

I felt goosebumps on my skin when I did so.

His hair was quite soft, so curly and ludicrous enough.

It gave my fingers tingling feelings.

Suddenly I remembered when I was in the dungeon and how I envied the maids who were opportune to run their fingers through it.

Now, I was a maid also and was doing exactly as I had thought weeks ago.

I blushed slightly, feeling my cheeks go orange.

His hair got moistened enough with the hair wash and then I used a comb and not my fingers this time, to comb through it.

I wanted to see his face so bad, to know how he was reacting to my touchings but somehow I knew he had no expression on, which was quite usual of him.

His hair got much cleaner and had to be rinsed off. I took some water from the pool and rinsed it with them.

The soapy, bubbled water on his hair flowed away into the pool and his hair now so wet, adhered together and coruscated gloriously.

I dried them with a towel, though I knew it was useless anyway since he was going to take a bath, which would cause his hair to go wet again.

I wanted to tell him I was done but I feared he would once more tell me to bath him.

I kept mute and decided to give him a little hair massage which I quickly stopped before I even started.

I took a slight peek at his face and discovered his eyes were still yet closed. Was he sleeping?

I hoped he was. I would like to have a little time to myself.

I stared at his hair as an idea crossed through my head.

His hair was all down, styleless. I desired to style him but not an appropriate one.

I wanted to braid him and make him look ridiculous.

I knew he would be angry and would even punish me but somehow I didn't care. I wanted to pay him back for always behaving shamelessly towards me.

I took a comb and made a line at the center of his head, then I grabbed some hair nearby and quickly plaited it into a box braid.

I sniggered at how amusing it looked, then I ended up braiding most of his hair into standing box braids.

They were so imperfectly done that it looked rough and ruffled. Almost all the braids were standing at attention, not daring to lay low.

I giggled somewhat loudly, accidentally causing his eyes to snap open as he immediately glared at me.

 "What?!" He spat out, looking irritated but also confused by my laughter.

I stopped laughing but the look of amusement couldn't escape my face.

 "Nothing." I replied, trying to hold back any bit of laugh I had in me.

He looked childish and not so kingly. I wondered how his subjects would react seeing him this way. They would of course mistake him for someone other than their king.

It couldn't be their fault though, as much as I hate to admit it, he does look cute in this appearance, so cute I was sure if he dared pout, I'd be dazed.

He scowled however and touched his hair, as if knowing that could be the source of my amusement.

Feeling the tall braids, he got befuddled and stared at the mirror before him only to be amazed by what he saw.

Oh no! Now I knew I was really doomed!

I shifted back a bit as his angered face turned to me.

 "Do you find this funny?!" He thundered, his gaze boring holes into my skin.

I went silent, beginning to regret going ahead with my stupid plan.

Who knows? He might punish me horribly like Cassandra or even worse, behead me.

He came out of the pool and I bowed my head down to the floor, not wanting to see his naked body.

I could though hear the water falling off him as he approached me.

I shifted back again, scared he was going to come in close contact with me.

Unfortunately, he continued approaching me until my back hit the wall.

I gasped in fright as he suddenly appeared before me, trapping me between him and the walls.

I tried not to look at him but it was too difficult to, with him being this close to me. So instead, I closed my eyes and turned my face to the other side.

 "Am I some joke to you?" He sounded furious and though I couldn't see him but I could imagine him desiring to burn me alive.

I felt like I should apologize but didn't want to. This was the first time I was brave enough to grill him this much, even though he hated it, that did nothing but only pleased me more.

But I felt highly discomforted with him so close to me. He was literally one foot away from me, one step could get our bodies to collide.

 "Do I look like some child to you?"

He does look like one right now, though.

I wanted to say but due to the gravity of the situation, I didn't want to risk doubling his anger.

 "No."

He went silent, leaving me to wonder what he was thinking.

I wanted to open my eyes to see him, to figure out his countenance but before I could blink, I felt my weight being lifted and thrown out into the pool.

 "Enjoy yourself then." He yelled.