The reaction to his bruises was embarrassing. Taiga didn't understand how far he was from a warrior's life he was, and assumed immediately Eras knew he'd been beaten like a slave or a coward. Ashamed though he was, he said gruffly, "There is nothing to forgive."<br/><br/>He stepped out of his boots, and then Eras was undoing the belt and ties to Taiga's soft leather pants.<br/><br/>Taiga's chest heaved. "No, it would be...suicidal to be undressed by a man in Xishan. Even were he a slave. And among our people bathing and dressing and undressing are not done with help, unless you're a child." He pressed his lips, counseling himself to quiet, realizing he was half babbling and undoubtedly anything he said would be taken back to that hawk-eyed duke.<br/><br/><i>Oh, father,</i>he thought.<i>You were right to beat me. The very first chance to be with a man and I leap like a starving dog on a hunk of goat.</i><br/><br/>He felt so ashamed. And aroused. Blood was rushing down between his legs, and he glanced at the door.<br/><br/>This was a shared bathhouse. Any of his men, seeking solace from the heat and sweat, could walk in at any time.<br/><br/>Eras took his hand and Taiga slid into the water, his adam's apple dipping in a swallow.<br/><br/>The water was cool, and Taiga moaned softly in sheer appreciation. He'd been so hot, so sticky with sweat. He eagerly slid into the water, trying to hide the flush his cock was gaining.<br/><br/>He heard a whisper of cloth and looked back. His mouth popped open, his eyes widening, face aflame with his cute blush. He couldn't look away from Eras' body.<br/><br/>His cock filled so quickly Taiga felt light-headed. His look was transparently that of a virgin, faced with the reality of his first experience.<br/><br/>His pupils were dilated, he breathed heavily. He looked at the door again, shyly. He stuttered, trying to tell Eras to put his clothing back on, to cling to propriety, but there was no propriety in his lingering, hungry, wanting gaze.<br/><br/>He shifted away from the stairs to let Eras join him. A faint flicker of his father's voice in his own head told him he was seducing this slave, as he'd seduced General Baat. His lips pinched in, held beneath his teeth.<br/><br/>If this man wanted him he could have him, spread and spitted in the cold bath. It would take nothing more than a touch, a word.