Chapter 7: The seduction

Rae was an emotional wreck. She couldn't believe what she had done.

She buried her face deeper into her pillow, her cheeks flaming as the memory replayed in vivid, excruciating detail.

Not just him, but his… She bit her lips, her face burning with embarrassment. The sheer vulgarity of her actions made her chest tighten with shame.

She pulled her thick quilt over her head as if it could shield her from the avalanche of emotions crashing through her.

What had possessed her? Why would she do something so… so obscene?

And yet, she groaned softly, her breath hitching as a flicker of heat spread through her body. She had liked it.

The way his body had trembled in her hands, the deep, guttural sounds of pleasure he made, the way his molten gaze seared into hers, filled with hunger and unspoken desire, it had ignited something in her, something primal and terrifying.

"Lord above," she muttered into the folds of her quilt. "I must've lost my goddamned mind."

But the truth was undeniable. She liked how he shivered under her touch, how his skin burned like molten gold, how the deep satisfaction on his face made her feel powerful.

Her thoughts spiraled deeper, only to be interrupted by the sound of footsteps.

The heavy wooden door creaked open, and the women from the bathhouse filed in.

Their presence filled the room with tension, their silks shimmering in the candlelight, their perfumes trailing behind them like an invisible cloud.

All of them were glaring at her.

"You," one woman said, her voice sharp and accusing. "You pleasured the crown prince."

Rae's breath caught in her throat.

"And he liked it?" another sneered, her disbelief laced with envy.

"You weren't even half-naked!" a third woman scoffed, her perfectly arched brow raised in disdain.

Before Rae could respond, Ethel stepped forward, her golden clasps glittering like fire in the dim light.

With a deliberate motion, she undid the intricate ties of her satin top, letting the fabric slip from her shoulders.

It pooled around her waist, leaving her bare from the waist up.

The sight drew audible gasps from the other women. Ethel's full breasts, perfectly shaped and glowing in the soft candlelight, were a vision of beauty and confidence.

She moved closer to Rae, each step a calculated display of sensuality.

Her hips swayed like a pendulum, her dark eyes locked onto Rae's amethyst gaze with an intensity that made Rae's heart race.

Ethel knelt before her, her silken skirts spreading out like a halo around her. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension.

"What is it that you have?" Ethel asked, her voice low and sultry, the words dripping with curiosity and accusation.

Her eyes burned into Rae's, demanding an answer. "What is it about you that makes him let you touch him… but not me?"

Rae blinked, her mind scrambling for a response, but before she could say a word, Ethel's hands cupped her own breasts, lifting them slightly.

"Are my breasts not as full as yours?" Ethel's voice was a purr, but her tone carried an edge of frustration.

She leaned closer, the soft, warm flesh of her breasts brushing against Rae's arms.

Rae stiffened, her breath quickening as Ethel closed the distance between them, the heat of her body palpable.

Ethel brought her breasts closer to Rae's face, her dark eyes glittering with challenge. "Do yours taste better than mine? Shall I taste yours to see what makes you so special?"

Rae's jaw dropped, her mind a whirl of shock and confusion. She tried to form words, to object, to push Ethel away, but all that came out was a strangled sound.

Ethel's lips curled into a wicked smile as she leaned even closer, her breath warm against Rae's skin. Her hands slid down Rae's arms, her fingers featherlight and teasing.

"Teach me, Lady Rae," she murmured, her voice a husky whisper. "Teach me how to please him the way you did."

The air grew thick with tension, every candle in the room seeming to burn brighter, their flames casting flickering shadows on the walls.

Rae felt trapped in the moment, her senses overwhelmed by Ethel's proximity, her scent, her touch.

Ethel's hands moved to Rae's shoulders, her fingers tracing slow, deliberate circles over the fabric of Rae's dress.

"You're shy now?" she teased, her voice soft but mocking. "You weren't shy when you touched him."

Rae's blush deepened, and she opened her mouth to protest, but Ethel cut her off.

"You made him tremble, didn't you?" Ethel's voice was barely above a whisper, her lips grazing Rae's ear as she spoke. "You made him want you."

Her hands slid lower, grazing the curve of Rae's waist. "Show me how you did it. Show me how you made him lose control."

Rae's breath hitched as Ethel's hands trailed lower, her touch a slow, deliberate exploration.

She wanted to protest, to push Ethel away, but her body betrayed her, every nerve alight with sensation.

The other women watched in silence, their expressions a mixture of envy and fascination. None dared to intervene.

Ethel's hands stilled, her dark eyes locking onto Rae's once more. "Do you know what you've done?" she asked, her voice softer now, almost gentle.

"You've captured the attention of the most powerful man in the kingdom. And you don't even realize it."

Rae shook her head, her voice finally finding strength. "It wasn't like that," she said, her voice trembling. "It wasn't-"

"It was exactly like that," Ethel interrupted, her voice firm. "And you liked it. Admit it."

Rae's silence was answer enough.

Ethel smiled, a slow, knowing smile, and leaned in until their foreheads nearly touched. "He won't stop thinking about you now. None of us will ever compare."

With that, Ethel rose gracefully to her feet, her silks rustling softly as she turned to face the other women.

"You all saw it, didn't you?" she said, her voice carrying an air of finality. "The way he looked at her? The way he touched her?"

The women nodded reluctantly, their gazes dropping to the floor.

Ethel turned back to Rae, her expression unreadable. "You've won something none of us could. Use it wisely, Lady Rae."

And with that, she left, the other women trailing behind her, leaving Rae alone with her racing heart and the echoes of Ethel's words.