Chapter 12: 12

Kinsley came down to the dining room for lunch, hoping to see Nicholas. It had been two days since
they had been at the hospital, and she had not seen Nicholas. He had gone straight to his room and
locked himself in the moment they returned and had not come out. He had rejected food and company.
He sat alone in his room in the dark, killing bottle after bottle on his own.

The biggest fear with the staff was that Nicholas would try to take his own life again, but Octavius
checked on him four times a day and assured the staff he was still alive. From what she knew, Nicholas
never let him in, but Octavius had a key to the room for a situation just like this. Kinsley asked if it ever
upset Nicholas that he let himself in when he wanted to be alone, but Octavius told her his orders came
directly from the King who outranked Nicholas, so he did it despite the Prince’s objections.

She walked into the dining room to see only one place setting yet again. “He is still not coming down?”
She asked Octavius.

“No, Miss. Wells. He is still in a dark place.”

She took a seat and ate her meal. She thought about Nicholas. She had to pull him out of his despair.
She wanted to show him his life could still be worth living that he worried those who cared for him.
When she was finished, she stood up and looked at Octavius. “Would you please let me into his
room?”

“I do not think he would appreciate that. He wants to be alone.”

“Precisely why he should not be. He needs to know he is not alone.”

Octavius sighed. “Alright, I will let you in, but when he becomes verbally abusive, do not try to stop
you.”



They made their way upstairs to Nicholas’ room. Octavius unlocked the door and held it open for her.
She went inside, and Octavius shut the door. The room was dark. The curtains were closed, and only
the odd beam of sunlight peeked through the drapes and stretched across the floor. She walked around
the bed to find Nicholas sitting slumped in the armchair he had been in the first night they met with a
mostly empty bottle of whisky in his right hand. Like the first night, he was unkempt and dishevelled,
wearing a pair of slacks and no socks or shoes. His expensive shirt was untucked, unbuttoned, and
wrinkled. She realized he had not changed from the hospital. He had worn these clothes for days. The
growth on his jaw was thicker, and his dark hair was unwashed and unbrushed. Leaning against the
arm of the chair next to him, the support cane the hospital had given him. He was a complete mess.

“Who is there?” He asked quietly.

“Kinsley,” she said, realizing she was in his blind spot. He turned his head, trying to see her, so she
came closer and positioned herself right in front of him where he could see her.

“What do you want?”

She came and knelt down in front of him, placing her hand over his. “I came to see how you are doing.”

“Go away.”

“You should not be alone. Let me stay,” she looked him over. Have you done anything but sit here and
get drunk?” He did not answer, which in itself was an answer. He smelled of BO and booze. She came
to her feet and taking his hand. She coaxed Nicholas to his feet. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.
You will feel better.”

She was pleased that he did not fight her on it. She led him into the washroom and let go of his hand
so she could fill the large claw bathtub with hot water. While the tub filled, she reached for his wrinkled
shirt and helped him take it off. She tossed it in a hamper and then helped him remove his pants and
shorts, discarding them with the shirt.



She took his arm as she helped him into the tub. He sat down and sank low into the water as she
turned off the tap. She took a cloth, and somebody wash from the counted and knelt on the floor next to
the tub. She started by soaking the washcloth and dragging it over his face and hair. He sat relaxed in
the bath, his head resting back against the edge of the tub as Kinsley gently washed him, trying to help
him relax.

“See, does not this feel good. Better than sitting in that chair.”

“Yeah,” he whispered, surprising her. She had not expected him to answer her, let alone to agree. She
ran the cloth over his chest, and his hand came up and caught hers, stopping her but holding her hand
against him. He was facing straight ahead, and she was sure he could not see her. “You smell good,”
he said softly.

She smiled. “You are smelling to soap,” she teased, and the corner of his mouth twitched ever so
slightly.

“No. It smells like peaches?”

She smiled impressed, her perfume did smell like peaches, but she had put it on hours ago, and she
would have thought the smell had faded. “I am impressed. I would not think you could still smell my
perfume.”

“I like it. It is refreshing and clean.”

“I will wear it more often.”

“I have been thinking,” he said.

“You have had a lot of time to do that.”

“I am releasing you from our contract,” he said.



She looked up at him, surprised. “Why?”

“My condition is deteriorating faster than I thought it would. You did not sign on for this. So, I release
you from your obligation. You will receive full compensation.” She pulled her hand from his and
continued to wash him.

“I reject the gesture. I made a commitment. You are stuck with me for the next three months. Even if
you drop dead tomorrow, I am staying in this palace until the end of my contract. After all, when will I
ever get waited on like this again?” She teased, and he chuckled. His lips curved in a small smile. “See,
doesn’t it feel better to smile.”

“I was right to pick you. You have a way of making me feel better about things.”

She shrugged her shoulders as she grabbed the shampoo and began to wash his hair for him. “So, you
are going blind, big deal. There are millions of people who are blind and live fulfilling lives. Vision is
overrated,” she said as she used the wet cloth to pour water over his hair and wash away the
shampoo.

“But I will not be able to see you anymore,” he said, reaching for her hand and coaxing her to come and
sit on the edge of the tub, so she was directly in front of him and within his limited vision.

“Oh well, I am not much to look at anyway.”

He smiled. “No, you are beautiful,” he said, looking at her, his eyes taking on a playful heat. “Like an
angel,” he then wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into the water. She squealed as she
fell into his lap, and both his arms wrapped around her. She was soaked now, and he was looking right
into her eyes with a smile. “And if I go completely blind tomorrow, at least my last memory will be of
your pretty face.”



She smiled up at him as she relaxed and melted into his embrace. She no longer cared that she was
fully dressed and in the tub. His hand came up, and his fingers traced the line of her jaw. His fingers
stopped on her chin and tilted her face up, so her lips were lifted. He leaned in, and his lips hovered
over hers for a few taunting seconds, and then it happened, what she had longed for since the first
night they met… he kissed her.

His lips were soft against her own. Kinsley’s hand came up and caught him at the back of the head,
threading her slender fingers through his hair, stopping him from pulling away as her tongue slipped
past his lips and danced with his own. Nicholas moaned into her mouth, and their kiss deepened. His
hand dove into her hair, pulling her closer.

Kinsley could feel him grow against her bottom, and she wanted him. Her need was all-consuming. She
shifted in the tub, so she was straddling his waist face to face. She lifted her skirt and tugged her
panties to the side, then she sunk down on his erection and heard him moan with pleasure. Nicholas’
hands went to her waist as Kinsley began to ride him, seeking the pleasure she wanted so badly, the
water sloshing around and over the edge of the tub.

As she moved up and down, Kinsley thread her fingers through his hair, pulling his head back to bring
his mouth up to hers. She kissed him long and hard, her mouth eating at his. He returned her desire
with a white-hot passion of his own. She caught his bottom lip between her teeth and tugged softly.
Then she lay a path of eager kisses over his neck, making him purr. She felt his hand in her hair as she
sucked and nibbled on his neck, which he seemed to be enjoying.

The pleasure became too much, and she sat up, fully throwing her head back as she came. He
moaned as he, too, reached climax. As the madness faded, she leaned forward and kissed his lips
lightly. “If I knew kissing you would be that good, I would have done it sooner,” he whispered against
her lips.

She giggled. “Do you feel better?”



“Yes.”

“I am glad,” she said as she climbed out of the tub. “I need dry clothes.”

He smiled, turning his face in her direction, trying to see her. “I have a better idea. Why don’t we spend
the rest of the day in bed? You, me, and nothing between us. I’d liked to explore this kissing thing a
little more.”

“I think that is an amazing idea.”

Nicholas took hold of the edge of the tub and pulled himself up into a standing position. HE very
carefully climbed out of the tub, feeling around for something to hold on to so he could feel his way
through the bathroom. She knew he was having trouble, but he was trying. She reached for his arm to
guide him, but Nicholas pulled it from her grasp. “No,” he said softly. “I have to learn to do this,” she
walked next to him as he slowly found his way into the next room. He made it to the bed and sat down.
“Where are you?” Kinsley positioned herself right in front of him, and then he smiled. “There you are.
So beautiful. Take off your clothes,” she reached for the buttons of her dress, and he grinned. “Slowly,”
she grinned. “After all, soon, all I will have are memories. Give me a good
one.”


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