Part 57 (1/2)
I nodded and the girls just about tripped over one another scrambling to their bare feet. They were in the shower and gasping beneath the spray before I finished dressing.
I left them to wash each other and wandered out into the hallway towards the master bedroom.
I peeked into the master bedroom where the three girls were kneeling on the floor and quietly talking. They hushed as Elizabeth noticed my presence. She looked up at me expectantly. I just gazed in at them, three young women, glowing from their shower, kneeling for me.
Without a word, I carefully shut the door on their confused faces and walked back down to the dining room. I picked up the clothes laid out so carefully on the table from the previous night. Pursing my lips, I draped the fabric over my arm, the fabric of the evening gown sensual, the jeans and sweater a bit harsher against my skin. I reminded myself that I could always make them strip for me, and made my decision.
I made my way upstairs and silently entered the bathroom. The girls were still splas.h.i.+ng in the shower. I carefully laid the clothing down on the counter for them and breathed in the smell of the steam and the soap.
”G.o.d, that was awful,” Jane murmured to Christi behind the shower curtain. I smiled.
”You'll never get it all off me. Christ. I'll never eat syrup again as long as I live. I swear it.”
”Quit squirming, I can't get your hair clean if you keep moving around like a monkey.”
”We have to get clean and quick. I wonder what his problem is today. He was so nice to us last night.”
”I don't know. I'm not sure he ever really has a reason. Am I done?”
”h.e.l.l no. I'm going to have to wash you again. Jesus, you're sticky.”
”You think we can rinse with warm water? He didn't let the others.”
”I guess not. I can go beg him, once I'm clean.”
”He'll punish you for leaving the shower.”
”I know. But, I want a hot rinse.”
”How would he know?”
”He'll know.”
I smiled to myself. Truthfully, I had no idea if they followed my instructions when out of sight. For all I knew they could have used the shower individually and rinsed any way they chose. But there was always the chance that I'd sneak in when they didn't know I was there and find out. Then there would be h.e.l.l to pay. I almost just left then, interested what they'd come up with on the cold rinse problem on their own, but as I was leaving the bathroom I decided to give them a break. It would reinforce that I could listen anytime I wanted. Their privacy was nil.
”Girls?”
They both screamed as the unexpected voice registered with them, surprising them.
”G.o.d, you scared us.” Christi managed to speak from behind the shower stall.
”Doing something you shouldn't?”
”No, master, just showering like ordered,” Jane replied. ”Please, Master ...”
”No questions, girls,” I cut her off before she could ask the rinse question.
”Yes, sir,” Jane replied quietly, knowing that she would have to risk punishment no matter what they decided to do. It would be easy for me to tell what the temperature of their final moments in the shower were. Amy had been ice cold for at least ten minutes after suffering the cold spray.
I turned to leave smiling at their discomfort.
”Warm water is fine for rinsing.” I said over my shoulder as I turned away from the bathroom.
”Thank-you, sir. Thank-you,” I heard Jane's voice calling softly from behind the stall.
I smiled and returned to the bedroom. The girls were still kneeling and they all turned towards me as I pushed open the door. They all remained silent as I plopped onto the bed.
”Talking about me?”
Elizabeth nodded while the other two shook their heads.
”Elizabeth? You were talking about me and the other's weren't?”
She paled, realizing their mistake. ”No, sir. I. I got confused. It's. It's just that I'm still not used to being here.”
”After all this time?”
”No. You never quite get used to being nude and subservient all the time.”
”So you were talking about me?”
”Yes. I mean no.”
”Elizabeth. Calm. I'm not going to punish anyone for talking about me. Doesn't really matter. I'm not even going to ask what you were calling me.”
”Yes,” she finally replied. Beaten. She knew that I knew.
”Good. Now, how'd you like your morning? Your breakfast?”
”Truthfully?”
I nodded.
”I can't speak for everyone, but the pancakes were wonderful. I could have done without the syrup shower, though.”
”So you didn't like the syrup?”
”You have no idea how icky that was.”
”Hmmm. I'll have to keep that in mind.”
”Please not again. We've been good girls, haven't we? We even let you do that without a single complaint.”
”Well, you are all nice and clean now. I'm not about to spoil it.”
All the girls looked relieved. I lay back into the pillows and closed my eyes.
”Sir?” Sheila hesitantly raised her voice.
I opened my eyes and stared at her. I'd never seen her like this. Her face had on light make-up and her hair was brushed out around her shoulders. Except for the bruise on her left side, she was radiant. I could see that her side was still causing her discomfort, but she was bearing it well.