Chapter 181: Too Many Questions
Bastet’s bare feet padded softly against the polished floor, her sun-kissed legs gleaming under the warm bathhouse lighting. Her golden accessories echoed off the bath’s walls as she moved, hips swaying lazily beneath her flowing getup that left very little to the imagination. She paused near the edge of the tub, eyeing Kaiden with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.
"Master," she purred, voice smooth as honey, "why did you have a bath prepared today?"
Kaiden’s smirk faltered for a moment, realizing he might’ve forgotten an important consideration. "Why? Do you hate water, Bastet?"
The Ra-Blessed Felinid scoffed in response, not appreciating even the thought of her being some smelly monster. She tossed her hair over one shoulder with feminine hurt, golden eyes narrowing. "Of course not. Master, what kind of a dirty woman do you take me for? I bathe multiple times a day. Self-care is sacred. I wouldn’t skip it unless my life depended on it."
"Good," Kaiden nodded with a smile, leaning back with his arms braced on the edge behind him. "Because today I’ve got a few questions I want to ask you. I figured we might as well make it fun. A warm soak, a bit of banter... It should make the conversation a lot more pleasant, don’t you think?"
The Pharaoh’s strong frowns evaporated as she returned the man’s smile with one of her own, knowing perfectly well that Kaiden didn’t think of her as a filthy woman. His question was innocent in its nature.
Then, Bastet’s gaze sharpened as she studied him. She could tell that he was filming. This was no ordinary bath. It was an event. A stream. But above all else, it was something dearly important to him.
The idea of being part of it, joining her master while he worked, doing her part in their rise to the top... appealed more than the feline thought it would.
She nodded once, gracefully.
"A bath with Master, then," she purred. "I accept."
She stepped closer, her hand extending toward him. Not in demand, but in invitation.
Kaiden, understanding her wordless intent, shifted his weight. One hand slipped around her back, the other under her legs, and in a single smooth motion, he lifted her up and into the tub.