Page 16 of Kronos’ Consort

“Master?” She breathed the word against his skin, her lips skimming the top of his abdominals.

“Yes.” His tone was contemplative, and for the first time since they’d both been naked, she sensed that sex was not at the fore of either of their minds.

“You said that you’re not a man.”

She hesitated, grimacing at how ridiculous that sounded. Even though his words and behavior had intimated the likelihood many times, and only the day before, he’d told her he had power over time itself, a part of her scientifically trained mind still refused to accept the evidence of her ears and eyes.

“I did,” he agreed.

Her fingertip trailed over the ripple of his stomach muscles, helping to distract her from the absurd conversation. “So…” Her gaze flitted to his face. “What are you, then?”

Her heart hammered as the question loitered between them, and she watched his responses carefully. He seemed relaxed, caring even, but he was such an enigma. She didn’t want to do anything to upset the precarious balance between them. He’d already made it known that he hadn’t forgotten about the punishment that she’d been crazy enough to ask for, so the last thing she wanted was to vex him further.

The hand steadying her hip dipped into the bathtub, and reflexively, she followed its movement. Scanning the massive tub, she couldn’t truly call it a bath at all. The damn thing looked more like a small swimming pool, but the fact that he’d filled it suggested he was serious about her bathing. She considered the idea briefly, deciding that after everything she’d been through, the notion of relaxing in the water’s warm depths did sound wonderful.

“Into the tub, and I shall tell you.” That same hand rose from the water, spilling its contents in the space between the tub and their feet.

“It’s so big.” The side of the tub he expected her to climb into was virtually as tall as she was, and she saw no obvious steps to assist her. “How do I get in, Master?”

“You let me help.” His hands moved like lightning, swooping to collect her thighs and whisking her from her feet.

She yelped as he lifted her from the tile, her hands gripping his forearms as he dangled her over the water and slowly lowered her into the pool.

“How is the temperature?” he asked when her feet were submerged.

She glanced down, waiting for her brain to register the answer as her toes splashed in the contents.

“Lovely,” she answered at length. “Thank you.”

The water was hot enough to warm, but not so hot that she’d overheat.

Her fingers clasped his arms until the water lapped past her knees, and he gestured for her to sit down. Releasing him warily, she grasped the edge of the tub and eased herself down into its depths. She sighed as the water rose to envelope her, unaware of how badly she wanted its luxury until she was plunged into the bath.

The only problem she could see as she sank, permitting the water to wash over the back of her long hair, was that the so-called tub was so enormous that her feet didn’t reach the end, and there were no sides available for her to hold on to. Whenever she tried to sit upright, she just slid further into the water. Giving into the ebb and flow, she tipped her head back, her eyes temporarily closing as she allowed all of her hair to be submerged. It had been so long since she’d showered that the clean water felt heavenly, even if she didn’t have any of her usual products available to wash herself with.

For a split second, everything was perfect. Cozy and refreshed, she felt secure, even though there was no rational reason to believe she was. She was satisfied in all the right ways, and despite her weariness and the fact that she must have looked terrible, she was safe to be herself. No hairstyle, no makeup. Hell, she’d barely even worn clothes around Kronos, yet she had rarely felt judged. Rather, whenever she’d searched his scintillating eyes, she was sure she’d seen a genuine fondness gleaming there.

The tranquility of that moment was sublime, her body suspended in the water’s warmth, but it evaporated a moment later, when an unexpected wave rushed over her face. Opening her eyes, she gasped, unintentionally taking in a mouthful of the tub’s contents as she grappled to find an upright position. Kronos’ hands were under her immediately, yanking her upright to accept the air her lungs craved. Smoothing her sodden hair back with a cough, she blinked, shocked to see he’d climbed into the tub beside her.

She took in the look of his muscular hamstrings as she pulled in a deep breath. He’d released his grip on her and risen to his full, towering height.

“Are you okay?” Concern was etched into his voice.

“I’m fine, Master.” She rubbed at her eyes, taking in the scale of his strapping body as he stood in the bath next to her.

She had a vague recollection of him mentioning that they bathe together, but when he’d run the bath, she’d assumed he’d done so solely for her. Seeing him there, his honed form only a matter of inches from hers and glistening with water, though, she realized he had something else on his mind.

“My arrival caused something of a tsunami.” He grinned, lowering his perfectly formed backside into the water.

She eyed him as he settled, stretching both of his long arms on either side of the tub. Naturally, with his enormous arm span, remaining stable and upright was much easier for him than it was for her.

“You look surprised, little one.” He smirked at her. “Did you not expect me to bathe with you?”

“No,” she admitted. “But there’s plenty of space for us both.”

“True,” he replied, peering around at the space. “Though I shall need you over here.” One of his hands moved, pointing to the water covering his lap. “Don’t be shy.”

Her heart sped up at the command. Kronos was already difficult enough to resist on dry land. Goodness only knew how she was going to concentrate on anything other than his cock if she was compelled to perch on him in the warm, lapping water.