Page 105 of Bound By Crimson
She knew now: the maids didn’t knock. They simply came.
It was the rule.
No sleeping in.
She padded barefoot back down the long corridor, heart racing like a teenager sneaking home past curfew.
Her door creaked softly as she pushed it open, and she exhaled only once she was inside.
Safe.
Alone.
She washed her face, fixed her hair, and changed quickly—just in time.
The maids entered moments later with cheery voices and fresh linens, none the wiser.
Later that morning, Kai met her in the hall, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Put your swimsuit on,” he whispered. “There’s one part of the house I haven’t shown you yet.”
Her curiosity lit up instantly.
She changed quickly, tugging on a soft robe over her suit.
He led her through a winding corridor she hadn’t seen before, down a narrow staircase, and through a set of tall glass doors.
The air inside was warm and dewy.
It was a pool room—but not just any pool.
The space was encased in glass like a conservatory.
Lush plants hung from the rafters.
Ivy climbed the corners.
Sunlight poured through the ceiling and painted golden streaks across the blue water.
She gasped.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I used to come here when I was a kid, me and…” he stopped. Then added “It always felt like my own secret world.”
Me and who?Lyric wondered. But her thoughts were quickly interrupted.
He pulled her toward the water, stripping off his shirt and diving in with a splash.
She laughed and joined him, wading in, letting the warmth soak into her bones.
They played like children, splashing, teasing, chasing each other through the shallows.
For a moment, all the tension melted away.
He caught her by the waist, lifting her gently.
Her laughter echoed against the glass.
