Don't kill the author. She can't write when dead.
Warning from my Beta: completely filler chapter. I stumbled so low...
"Strip, Seafarer."
Shizuru gasped and momentarily berated herself mentally. She wanted Kruger to pay attention to her, right? If she didn't want this attention to be of sexual nature, she shouldn't have bared herself like this. It was too late to back off now. Sad smile graced her features as she pulled up the covers and started easing torn dress off her hips.
Just as she was readying herself to emerge from under the sheets, Kruger came back from the bathroom.
"Not ready yet?" he asked and added, smirking: "Or do you plan to bathe in your dress?"
Shizuru chuckled lightly at her own silliness and soon, her melodious laughter filled the room. The King sat by her side and regarded her with great warmth in his eyes. His long, slim fingers sifted through her hair and he leaned in for another slow and sweet kiss. When his tongue moved along her lips, she involuntarily parted them, expecting intrusion. But Kruger didn't take the invitation, focused on caressing her lips. He licked them and sucked on them, and nibbled at them; even went as far as gently biting the lower one and soothing the pain with strokes of his thumb.
It was only after a cold hand touched her bare thigh that she noticed her cover being gone. Kruger used the kiss as a distraction to slowly remove the blanket, leaving her completely naked. Under his appreciative gaze, Shizuru suddenly felt embarrassed and looked away, trying to suppress the heat rising in her cheeks.
"There's no need for that, Seafarer," said the King, raising her face. "I've already seen you naked." She scowled at him with indignation. "Now, this expression really needs to be scrubbed off your face." He gathered her in his arms, like one would a bride or a child, and whispered directly in her ear: "I much prefer it when you smile for me."
She was unaccustomed to the warmth and tenderness that suddenly filled his voice. So unaccustomed in fact, that she now pressed her face into the King's shoulder to hide the smile that brightened her features.
Kruger only held her closer and carried her into the bathroom, where he gently submerged her in warm water.
"Make sure you are properly wet," ordered the King, before heading toward the far corner.
As quiet rattling reached her ears, Shizuru strained to turn her head back. Her Lord was facing a set of shelves filled with multitude of clay pots of various shapes and sizes. Once in while, he would pick one of the vessels, take off the lid and bring it to his nose, only to replace in on the shelf.
Noticing her curious peeks, Kruger put the pot back and sent her an intent look.
"Seafarer," he started with a warning, but suddenly stopped as if struck by an idea. He picked up two pots, checked their contents, put one of them back and grabbed another one. Finally satisfied with his choice, he closed in on the bath.
Shizuru slipped lower, trying to hide herself in the bath even if its transparent surface provided no cover.
"I said I want you wet," reminded sternly the King before grabbing her by shoulders and pushing her completely under water, keeping there for a few seconds. When she was finally allowed to re-emerge, spluttering water and rubbing her eyes, Kruger laughed heartily, with no trace of malicious intent. "Now you are ready." Ignoring her resentful gaze, he presented her the chosen pots. "Lavender for your hair and jasminum for the body."
=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=
Upon his word, the girl turned her back to him. For a moment he marvelled at its exquisite smoothness and whiteness, before taking one of the pots in his hands and pouring a bit of fragrant oil over the mass of fawn hair.
As soon as he touched her scalp, Seafarer jerked away.
"My Lord!" she all but gasped. "It isn't proper for you to do so." She tried to cover her head but strong grip on her wrists prevented that. "It is slave's duty to wash their master. You shouldn't do this to me."
Kruger caught her chin and brought her face up, enjoying the light pink shade gracing her cheeks.
"Then I may allow you to return the favour. Some other day, in not so near future." A little forcefully, but he returned her to her previous position. "For now though, I want to play with what is mine. Will you deny me this pleasure, Seafarer?"
The girl finally relented, yet remained tensed. Once again, he dipped his fingers in fawn tresses, gently massaging her scalp. These soft caresses brought about a kind of deep intimacy between them and Seafarer finally started to relax under his touch, her body less and less rigid with every passing minute.
He rinsed her hair and proceeded to clean her body, washing it with a soft rag. With her eyes closed and soft sighs escaping her mouth every now and then, the girl seemed to enjoy his ministrations. But this image, sweet and sensual, proved too much for his burning desire.
Dropping the rag into water, he said curtly:
"Finish by yourself. I'll be waiting so don't take too long."
=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=
Stomping back and forth across his bedroom, Kruger kept flexing his hands in a futile attempt to calm down. Later in the evening, he would order for someone to get his release, but for now...
Seafarer stepped into the room, clad in a towel, with water slowly dripping of chestnut tendrils. And even though the fire was still raging in his bowels, the King's mind fell into a calm. The possibility of watching a sight like this was worth far more for him than any short-lived pleasure he might get.
"Dress." He gestured toward robes placed upon the bed. "Tonight, you shall entertain my guests for the sake of my country."
There you go. Hot, steamy bathroom scene you asked for :D
I would like to ask all one-line reviewers: could you at least give me a hug, when you only ask for a new chapter? Lately, I badly need all love I can get.
Be patient, the plot should come soon. :)