The prince waited for Layla to obey his request, his hand holding his hard though extremely sensitive manhood to continue stimulating himself until Layla came to him. His hand stroked himself within the waters, obeying the ritual's need for a phallus cleansed of his previous woman before taking the next. Technically this could be done by either him or any woman, but it was more convenient this way.<br/><br/>Tarkus' head tilted slightly in mild confusion and curiosity as Layla spoke. It was not the sort of tone anyone would use to his face, much less a woman of his harem. It was not coarse, or even disrespectful, it was...evasive.<br/><br/>His tilted head was the only part of him that seemed softened by her soft delays or excuses. His body stood in the waist-high waters, slightly illuminated by the flickering candles surrounding them. He had a hard, toned body, not as over-muscular as it was lacking in any excess. His skin was tight around his tightly formed muscles, which wound all through his body.  His skin was tanned from leisurely hours in the sun, and was light compared to how it had been in his mandatory time leading men in battle under the relentless heat. That duty had made him transcend adolescence, he would only be a man in all ways when he secured his harem.<br/><br/>His eyes flickered over her nude body, re-fixing on parts of her he had noticed previously, but had been distracted by Aisha's welcome but distracting demand for his attentions. Discoloration on her skin, subtle in the low light but obvious when he looked right at it, where the light shone on her from the reflecting glass from the window slits far above.<br/><br/>His head straightened on his neck, and his imposing stature, as though standing at rigid attention, loosened slightly. "I need neither water nor rest, my dear." He said in a low but patient voice. "I prefer to rest and hydrate when all that can be done, has. I enjoy capitalizing on the sensation and stimulation on throes just passed."<br/><br/>He stepped toward her, as she made no movement toward him. He had to push away his scandalized thoughts of her not obeying him. Certain realizations, or at least suspicions, were taking route in his mind.<br/><br/>"It seems your journey to me had bumps." He said, reaching out to touch her side to hold her in place before moving to her. He tried to prevent his cock from touching her thigh, for now, though it was easy to misjudge distance in the water, and his body shivered when his sensitive tip touched her leg once lightly. "You will know only silks and pillows under my hand." He said lightly. He could not ask now how she came about such markings. If the ritual were interrupted with such distractions, his harem and rule would be cursed, so sacred was the joining ceremony to his custom. He would not let that happen, though he would have many questions to ask those who brought her to him. Questions that may end in beheading.<br/><br/>"Do not be wary of my passion...I would not take you so intensely...I mean you only joy and pleasure. Come."  One hand on her hip, the other moving through her hair, he brought her closer to him. "You should know your own pleasure before we are finally joined." He almost looked forward to having her so that they could conclude, and he could get to the bottom of why he was brought a woman with marks on her body.<br/><br/>Gently, though insistently, he turned her so that her back was to him. His arms wrapped around her front, cupping her heavy breasts in his firm grasp. He sat back upon the step pulling her into his lap, behind his manhood so that she sat behind the very base of it.  With them sitting on that step, the water reached inches below her collarbone, the fragrant oils atop the water strong in their nostrils. His hands caressed her full breasts, while his lips moved down to where her neck met her shoulder. He nipped and kissed at her skin, until his right hand left her breast to move down her body. His fingers began to drag slowly up her inner thigh, his warm breath washing over her skin.