Reborn as a Side Character in the Beastworld

Chapter Three

Winston came back before too long with a tub that looked like it had been carved from a massive redwood tree. He had already filled it with cool water, his muscles bulging from the weight of it. He set it down on the stone floor in the middle of the room.

"I'll go get some bubble root." He said before heading right back out.

I stood up to inspect the tub. It came up to my knee and was just wide enough for me to sit in it with my knees bent. Cold baths were common, and I hadn't expected anything else, but remembering the feel of a hot bath after a long day made me ache for one. I would have to find a way to make one later.

Things like shampoo, conditioner and body wash I might also be able to make if I experimented enough. Bubble root was an onion looking plant with juices that would lather up with friction. It was a natural soap that could at least get the filth off my skin and out of my hair. Males didn't use it since every time they shifted, dirt would fall off on its own. Some females enjoyed it, but it wasn't easy to find. I guess I shouldn't be surprised though considering Winston is brother to a king. If I'm lucky, he might even come back with a sea sponge.

A few moments later, Winston was back. He had already squeezed the juices of the bubble root into a small bowl and in his other hand held a sea sponge. Good man. In my honest opinion, Qing Qing was entirely too neglectful of Winston. He was more intelligent and observant than she ever gave him credit for.

He set the bowl and the sponge down next to the tub before turning to me. "Is there anything else you need?"

"You wouldn't happen to have soft bristly twigs around, do you?" Brushing teeth wasn't common practice here. Females often had yellow and decayed teeth since their diets didn't consist of enough greens to keep their gums healthy. My own teeth and gums could use some love and attention considering my diet had been just like everyone else's. Luckily, I was still young and since sugar wasn't really a thing here, mine weren't as bad as they could be. But now that I knew what I was missing, I was determined to make them better.

"There might be some in the courtyard. I'll go get them." He turned to leave for the third time.

"Let me come with. I need to use the sandbox." I would have been embarrassed by that statement in my last life but in this world, bathroom humor and modesty were nonexistent.

He walked over to me and picked me up like it was the most natural thing in the world. And in this world, it was. Women rarely walked anywhere on their own two feet. Myself included. Yet another lifestyle change I would have to make if I wanted to live a long and healthy life. 

He took me to the sandbox which happened to be just on the other side of the courtyard, hidden by azalea bushes. While I emptied my bladder, he broke off some branches from a tall thin tree. I walked over to him when I finished and inspected them. With a sharp claw, he was able to cleanly remove the bark from one and separate the inner fibers until they looked like bristles.

"Will this work?" He handed me the twig.

"I think so." I immediately placed the bristles on my front teeth and started scrubbing. "Ugh!" The taste was horrible. A bitterness worse than anything I had ever eaten assaulted my taste buds, but I didn't stop. It was effective and wouldn't hurt me. Though I didn't think it would help my breath much.

Winston had flinched like he was going to take it away from me when I'd grimaced at the flavor. But when I kept using the twig, he took his own piece and copied my actions. His nose wrinkling was the only indication he was not immune to the acrid taste.

"You don't need to clean your teeth if you don't want to." I said, laughing a little. Another benefit to being male; their teeth, just like their skin, rid themselves of any grime every time they shifted. I had never seen a male with less than perfect teeth.

"If never seen anyone scrub their teeth before. May I ask you the reason?" He licked his fangs as though trying to wipe away the taste.

"It isn't common practice, but if females want to have healthy mouths and strong teeth, we should be brushing them daily, so they don't decay."

"I had no idea." He looked at me in appreciation of my unique knowledge. He was most likely storing that information away for the future. As considerate as he was, I doubt I would ever have to go a day without brushing with him around.

When I was done, he took it from me and tossed both twigs on the ground before picking me up again and taking me back to his room. Setting me back down on the bedding, he backed up and stood awkwardly facing the door.

"I'll let you bathe. I'll be just outside if you need me." The back of his neck peeking out from underneath his white locks was turning a pretty shade of tomato and his tail flicked around like it couldn't decide to stay still or not.

"Thank you." I said, trying to stifle the urge to laugh. He had no problem holding my ass in his arms or hearing me pee, but the idea of seeing me bathe got him hot and bothered.

Once he shut the door behind him, I took off my grey rabbit skin tube top and skirt that Ryan had made for me and stepped into the tub. I didn't want to stay in the cold water for too long. Just stepping in had made me shiver. So, I grabbed the sea sponge and bubble root juice and washed up as quicky as possible.

When I'd finished, I realized I had forgotten something important. I didn't have anything clean to change in to. I supposed it wouldn't matter that much since what I planned to do next with Winston wouldn't require clothes. Another blush turned my face as red as my hair with that thought. He was going to see it all anyway. I was going to make him my mate so there was absolutely no reason to be embarrassed. I chided myself.

I stood in the center of the room in nothing but my birthday suit, took a few deep breaths to try and calm my racing heart and called out to my mate. "Winston, I'm finished."

He opened the door, took one look at me and then slammed it shut again without having come inside.

"Pfft". That was so cute! I held my stomach as the half-stifled giggles tore through me. Oh, he was going to be so fun to tease, but I knew I shouldn't leave him out there too long. That would just be mean.

I went over to the door and pushed it open a crack until I could see Winston's stiff-as-a-board back. His hands were clenched, and he was taking deep calming breaths. His tail was going absolutely wild. He hadn't noticed me, too busy trying to reclaim his usual stoic façade. I reached out and gently touched his left fist. He jumped and turned to look. Only my face and arm were visible through the crack but his gaze trailed each inch of me from my fingertips until he met my eyes.

"Come in." I said, gently pulling on his arm. He followed my gentle lead in a daze, never taking his eyes from mine. I led him inside and closed the door before standing in front of him. My own gaze flowed over him from his piercing silver-blue eyes, down his broad, muscular chest and sculpted abs, until they landed on the tent his manhood was making with his tiger pelt skirt.

Since I was the one with the most experience, I knew I would have to take the lead. Winston was someone who would always maintain a respectful distance and he would never initiate intimacy in the novel. It took hallucinogenic poison to make him cross lines with Bai. It was a horrible setup that I would never let happen.

I closed the distance between us and reached for the knot of his skirt. All his muscles were tense as he forced himself to stay frozen. Only his erratic tail was outside his control. I undid the knot and his skirt fell to the floor, revealing something much larger and thicker than I had imagined. It was my turn to freeze. There was no way that was going to fit. Not without A LOT of foreplay.