Wash it

Inwardly, she scoffed, nearly losing it, but she reminded herself of her goal and held it in. It was only for a little while, it would be over soon.

Maintaining her smile, she walked up to him and climbed onto the bed, going on her knees as she leaned forward to take off his shirt. It surprised her that he was wearing one this time as he was usually shirtless or half-dressed.

Placing her hand on his shirt, she moved to unbutton the first button but froze when she felt his eyes on her, causing her to swallow. She couldn't quite figure out the meaning behind his stare, but it was so intense and sharp that she nearly got pulled in. She quickly looked away and focused on unbuttoning his shirt, keeping her gaze low as she worked.

Just as she reached the last button, he suddenly grabbed her wrist. Her eyes widened, and she gasped, lifting her head to meet his with a questioning look.

"I need to be relieved," he muttered…needily, causing Lilith's cheeks to flush. She immediately understood what he meant. Her eyes instinctively dropped to where his arousal stood, but before she could react, he grabbed her chin, then wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close until their chests touched.

"What are you doing? There are people here," she gasped, pushing herself up slightly, her eyes wide as she glanced at the maids, hoping they weren't silently judging her.

"Why? We will be mating anyway. Why should I care about people?" He replied with a mischievous smirk, which made Lilith's anger rise. For someone who had made his disdain for her painfully clear, he sure wasn't acting like it. She just couldn't figure out what he was trying to achieve by doing this.

"I will not be mating with you," she spat, struggling against him. But his grip only tightened, forcing her to stop resisting.

"Alpha Zayd, would you please let me go? I will be scolded if Madam Agnes sees us like this." She tried to use Madam Agnes as an excuse, but to her surprise, a smile crept across his lips, confusing her. He was smiling? Oh, right…he was a sadist who had made it clear he enjoyed watching her suffer.

"It would be fun… watching you get punished," he replied with a grin, finally releasing her. She immediately pulled away and climbed down from the bed.

"Let's go," he said, climbing off the bed and heading toward the bathroom, with Lilith and the maids following closely behind.

Once inside, Zayd took off his pants without hesitation, and Lilith immediately looked away, her heart pounding from the sudden act. He was too shameless for her, and she feared she might have a heart attack if things kept going like this. How could a man so boldly strip in front of other women?

But wait, if she was supposed to bathe him, would she be touching his… Oh no. She was doomed!

Swallowing hard, she clenched her fists by her sides, torn between sucking it up or storming out and facing whatever scoldings Madam Agnes threw at her. A few whips she could handle but stripping a man as an unmarried woman? Touching him in those places? That was the kind of shame that stuck.

"Are you deaf?" His voice cut in, hard and impatient.

Her head snapped up. He was already in the bathtub, waiting, thank the gods. At least he didn't make her drag him in.

She moved toward him, bent to the height of the tub, and turned away, her eyes flicking to the maids. They handed her a sponge and soap without a word. Lilith gritted her teeth, muttering a silent prayer to the moon goddess, trying to prepare herself.

"Are your hands numb now too?" He snapped again, his voice like a slap.

She cleared her throat and dipped her hand into the warm water, keeping her face turned away. She pressed the sponge and soap against his chest and began scrubbing, focusing hard on neutral zones. 'The V-line is safe enough. Just don't go further. Don't slip.' She told herself inwardly.

"Lower."

The sharp command made her freeze. Her hand trembled as she moved it slightly downward, teeth grinding with silent fury. gods, she wanted to drown him.

"Lower," he barked again.

She nearly lost it. Her jaw tightened, and she moved her hand again, down to his lower abdomen. Just above the danger zone. Too close.

"Do I need to give you a fucking lesson on how to bathe me?" He growled, twisting to face her.

His voice was deep, rough and dangerously smooth. It sent a chill through her, one she hated. It shouldn't sound that good.

"No… I am good," she muttered, forcing a breath out. Her hand inched lower, until she was just a breath away from the one place she had no business touching.

"Lower."

Her restraint snapped.

"You can wash that part yourself," she hissed, eyes flaring as she glared at him. "Why the hell do I have to do it?"

A smirk pulled at his lips like he had been waiting for that exact reaction. He leaned forward, both arms braced on the edge of the tub. "I don't mind tying you to my bed all night… naked. And imagine what comes after?"

His voice dropped, his eyes locked on hers with a dead-serious intensity. That was no bluffing and she knew it. He had done worse.

Her stomach twisted. With a stiff, forced smile, she muttered, "Fine. I will wash it."

"Good." He leaned back, satisfied.

She took a breath that barely filled her lungs and reached down. The second her hand touched him, she stiffened. Hard. Solid. Heat surged through her palm, and a hiccup escaped before she could hold it back. She fought the urge to look but she knew if she looked, she was done for.

What she didn't know was that he was watching every second of it, the satisfied curve of his mouth making it clear that he was enjoying it.