The Bride Market

Part 2

The overseer stopped striding towards me and just stood there, waiting for me to make my move.

I wasn't quite sure what to think of this... not that I was uncomfortable about my body or anything. More that I wasn't sure if that was the only thing he was expecting (desiring) me to do.

Is swear this guy can read my mind.

"Look, I'm still wearing my clothes aren't I? I just want you to get used to having a man see you. It will make things easier for you."

I hadn't really thought about it like that.

I decided to give in, and wrapped my arms around my side to reach my bra catch. But as I was about to peel the material from my body I froze.

What the hell was I thinking? Am I going insane? I have never even met this overseer before and now I'm stripping for him? No ways.

I clip my bra back over my spine and pulled my shirt over the red marks it has pressed into my skin. "No, I won't be pushed around. My body is for my husband to see and only my husband."

He didn't move a muscle, he didn't even look like he was considering what I just said. Damn overseers, they think they own us.

Finally he spoke, "Alright, have it your way. I'll wait in here while you bath."

He stepped aside for me to walk into the bathroom, which I did. I think I raised my chin a bit higher than necessary, but I felt a little bit more powerful standing up to him. Don't judge me.

Once inside I closed the door behind me. I tugged off the remainder of my clothes and dipped my foot into the steaming water. But it was much hotter than I had expected and I shrieked as the scolding water burnt my pale skin.

The overseer burst throught the door and hauled me out of the water. His strong hands grasped onto my shoulders. The pain was still pulsing through my foot and I grimaced in pain.

"You should sit down, take the pressure off the injury," he suggested.

I nodded and slowly started bending my knee, but my weight was too much to bear on one leg and I almost crumpled to the floor. I felt like a dirty sack of potatoes. He grabbed my bare waist to steady me, and slowly lowered me to the bathroom floor.

As soon as I was able to sit on the floor I curled up into a little ball in an attempt to hide my naked body from him. He took the hint and grabbed the towel from where I had left it next to the bath and wrapped it around me.

He did it so smoothly, and his hands felt warm as they brushed my skin. Aside from that a shiver still cascaded down my spine. I clung to the towel tightly like it was armor protecting me from his touch.

"So, I don't even get an apology?" I asked with a shaky voice.

"Um, I apologize for being the cause of your pain. Will you forgive me?"

"Well I don't think my foot is going to be forgiving you any time soon," I pointed to my foot which was getting redder by the minute. It still hurt.

He stood up and walked around to my injured foot and kneeled beside it, examining the burns.

"It does not look too bad, luckily it wasn't in the water long enough to peel the skin off."

I gulped and tried to push that disgusting and painful image out of my head. It is truly grotesque.

"Well, even though my foot won't forgive you, I think I can. But only if you tell Miss Howard that this was all your fault."

He look back at my face, I couldn't tell if he was grateful that I could forgive his stupid mistake or if he was scared of Miss Howard. Probably both.