“I trust you weren’t impolite?” Her stomach flip flopped a little. It was maddening how unsettled he made her feel. She wasn’t used to being phased all the time. She wasn’t used to being phased at all. As casually as she could she reached in front of him and stole his cup.
“I didn’t strike him. I think that was very polite of me. Though I will admit to being somewhat terse.” She took a long sip and glanced again at Demitri who was watching with interest with those piercing eyes of his.
“I can’t imagine what he might have done to deserve rudeness.” Her ire rose faster than she could control it.
“Can you not?” She turned to Thelios, inflamed and ready to defend herself with proverbial claws if necessary. He was looking back at her. His face was cool, and serious, but his eyes were gentle, incredibly gentle. She melted instantly and her words died dryly in her throat. He wasn’t angry then, or contemplating beating her.
She felt the air let out of her, “I’m sorry,”she breathed, before looking away, suddenly guilty and embarrassed for having been affronted and turning her anger on him. “I just don’t think anyone should be treated disrespectfully. Regardless.” She explained and looked back up to his face. “I’ve always been irritated by those who don’t treat slaves like people.” She smiled a bit and her voice took on a sardonic note. “Especially when they don’t even belong to them.”
He leaned over a little and plucked his cup back out of her hand, brushing his arm against hers and sending a shiver up her spine.
Demitri leaned forward.”What did he do anyway?”
She tore her eyes from Thelios and took a bit of bread and cheese, feeling relaxed enough to eat at last. “Well the rudeness and leering made me civil rather than friendly… but being manhandled always makes me lose my temper.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing really, just pulled away, and when he persisted, told him to remove his hand at once.”
“But what did you say?”
“Just that. Word for word.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“How disappointing, He made it sound like you took a swing, or at least were terribly insulting.”
“I’ll try harder next time.” She half grinned at him.
“Do.” The masters voice sounded dark and she looked back at him. He looked angry and she felt instantly uneasy again. Her grin faded.
“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about a next time anyway.” Demitri interjected lightly. They both looked at him. “I figured he’d done something rash and made a grab at you, so I told him” he paused to chuckle to himself, “I said to him” and here he looked very stern and put on brusque airs, “I hope you didn’t touch her, whatever you did. The monster, my master, ain’t posh like the rest of ’em, and has a nose like a hound, so when he catches a sent he doesn’t like on his things, he’ll hunt down the owner and tear ‘im limb from limb. He’s a mean vicious beast that way, he is.” He stopped again laughing and wiped a little moisture from his eye. Seemingly finding this terribly funny. “Then I added some gruesome details about foot long fangs and what not. The look on his face made my week.”
Calliope looked at him in disbelief. Had he just called the master a monster to his face, and a beast? She checked Thelios’s reaction only to find him smiling in grim appreciation of the story.
“So,” Demitri continued, “I told him to let others his way know the score and keep to themselves.” He winked at her. “I’d wager everything he’ll not be coming himself next time.” He looked a little more seriously at her. “In all seriousness though, turn about is fair play.”
“I wasn’t really raised that way.” She smiled self-consciously.
“Then consider it a command.” She blinked and looked up at Thelios who was giving her a rather stern look. She nodded, swallowing hard. After a moment she excused herself and fetched the rest of the hot water, remembering herself enough to swish her hips on the way out.
He wasn’t in the bath yet, so she readied clothes and soap, wishing he’d hurry, as the longer she waited the more nervous she became. Finally he entered, tossing his wrap off to the side unceremoniously and stepped into the bath.
He was already mast hard and slid his eyes appreciatively over her fairly exposed form. She didn’t look away this time, but she could feel the blood rush to her face and breast. She blushed too easily, and in this dress it became a full body blush. Of course that thought only made her heat up that much more.
Her mouth was dry again as she approached kneeling next to him, beginning the same process as the first night. He remained silent, and she could think of nothing to say. What’s more her near bare breasts kept brushing his back as she worked making her nipples harden and ache, distracting her terribly. Her attention was otherwise occupied with the defined ridges of his arms, the solid mass of steely muscle under cool skin that was his back, and the throat tightening view between his thighs.
By the time she’d tired her fingers out she was embarrassingly aroused and found herself squeezing her thighs together in a vain attempt to alleviate the aching of her sex. It only seemed to make it worse. She felt frustrated and what’s more, irritated. It wasn’t as if he was even doing anything to excite her, just … sitting there… naked… and hard and… glistening. She was breathing rapidly and couldn’t stop herself from running her fingers over the smooth, oddly pronounced tendons at the back of his neck, or from remembering, vividly, last nights rather vigorous activities.
He must have felt the change in her touch, because he turned his head to look at her out of the corner of his eye. She stood and moved to the side of the bath, putting him out of reach. All she could think about was sliding her hands over that broad chest again, feeling the muscles bunch and flex, and his huge, rough hands gripping her body. The expression on his face, however, was anything but inviting. So she stood, and waited, torturing herself with her thoughts.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, master.” She wondered if he was referring to her odd behavior from the night before.
“You look upset.” She blinked. That was hardly the word she’d use to describe her current state.
“Do I, master?” She asked slightly dazed.
“Are you still upset about that man?” His face darkened again when he mention it.
“No, Master. It slipped my mind.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, master.” He quirked an eyebrow at her.
“Is that all your going to say to me now… yes, master?”
She paused and her lips twitched. “Yes, Master.”
He smiled back.”Is this” he gestured to her vaguely “because of last night?”
She paused again, thinking about it. “Partially. Yes.”
“Yes, what?” He smiled more fully at her.
“Yes, Master.” She said coyly, deepening her voice a little.