Free The Garnet Dagger by Andrea R. Cooper

story,” I said staring at the door with my back to her. “Think you maybe the queen’s lady in waiting or someth — ” My words stuck in my throat as I turned back to her.
    Naked, she stood before me. My eyes roved over her form. Breasts were smaller than my hand. The slight curve of her hipbone cradled her flat stomach.
    As though unconcerned from my leering, she climbed into the tub and sank down. Her knees jutted out from the water. Mesmerized, I watched as she reached for the cloth and soap just outside of the tub.
    She scrubbed the soap across the rag, bringing the aroma of wood ash and lye. After she washed her legs, arms and body, she turned to me with a smile that nearly brought my legs out from under me.
    “Do you mind?” she asked and held out the soapy rag. “I can’t reach my back. If you hurry, the water will still be warm for your bath.”
    Bath? Certainly she did not expect me to bathe in used water, and in front of her, no less. I took the rag from her outstretched hand.
    She leaned forward and scooped my hair from her back and held it in one hand. Her golden hair winked at me from underneath her makeshift wig. Saw the curve of her back until the end of her form disappeared into the water.
    And I swallowed.
    “Might as well save the disguise for now.”
    I noticed how her ribs poked out along her skin. Welts healed and crossed in scars over scars. I ran the rag in swirls on her back.
    “Am I hurting you?” My mouth went dry.
    “Nay.” She settled forward, leaning her arm on the rim of the metal tub.
    Fearing she sensed me ogling her, I dropped the rag into the water. “Done.”
    With a sigh she leaned back. Water lapped underneath her breasts. My hair from her wig hung over the side of the tub.
    Forcing my legs to move, I stalked away and began searching her discarded clothing for the dagger.
    Reaching outside the tub, she snatched up one of the cloths and dried her face.
    She stepped out of the bath, water dripping from her nakedness and splashed onto stone floor. The cloth draped over her, clinging to her form. “Your turn.”
    Her smile and words brought me forward on wobbly legs. Felt as though my muscles churned into liquid and my bones turned to brittle sticks.
    At the tub, I stared down into the water. This same water had caressed her.
    “Hurry, now, before the water cools.” She added another log to the fire.
    With a nod, I pulled my tunic over my head. Not looking at her, I removed my stockings. Slipped my trousers off and leapt into the tub. Water sloshed over the sides.
    Grabbing the rag and soap, I refused to think about anything but bathing. The water chilled my skin, but I didn’t complain. Scrubbed my body, and ignored the ripples of water lapping at my stomach. Doused my hair and scrubbed the soap into my shorn locks.
    When I reached to soap my back, her fingers brushed mine.
    “Let me.”
    My hands gripped the sides of the tub.
    Her strokes across my back made me hold back a groan. Teasing, every so often her fingers brushed my back along the edges of the rag. Lightning coursed through me. I worried my power would take her, but this was different. Tingles spread over me. Wanting, anticipating her next touch.
    The rag splashed behind me.
    “All done.” Her feet slapped against the floor as she walked away.
    I flung my head back to rinse. The metal resonated when my head struck the edge.
    I heard a stifled giggle, but slid down deeper and under the water. I rose and felt her stare.
    Grabbing a cloth, I flung it over my body and turned away from her. Patted down the material to dry off.
    Still dripping, I made a knot with the edges of the cloth to cover me. But the material merely reached from below my navel to mid-thigh.
    A knock made my head whip around to the door. Holding my cover in one hand, I flung open the door with the other.
    On the other side of the door, a boy stared at me. “Here to take your clothes.”
    “Make certain they are cleaned first, before anyone