Brown Skin by Timaira Smith (best beach reads of all time txt) 📖

The night was warm enough, the moon shone bright, making the water before her appear to sparkle. Feeling a sudden bold urge to bathe, she stood up and slowly dipped her brown foot into the water. She almost giggled at the rush of water between her toes. She started to walk in, letting the water brush her ankles, the knee and finally her thick, muscled legs fall in before diving underwater. The river was not too deep, about forty feet across and ten feet in depth. She swam all the way into the bottom, almost like a majestic mermaid with smooth grace and beauty. The water instantly took her head pain away as it cleaned her wound, her bruise on her ankle, and her spirit.

"Murder? How can you be sure? Have you followed the trail?" King Troy questioned, trying to gather his thoughts on what his father would do in this situation.

"No, my liege. But the guards are running through the halls and charging at the slightest of sounds. All in your manor are now awake and terrified! Your mother fainted at the sight of the one drop outside her chamber door" said a servant, standing in front of his troupe. All wear dressed in night wear, swollen eyed and delirious looking. "What do you want us to do my lord?" said another.

"Awake all the guards who are asleep on their jobs, scribe their names and bring the list to me. Send the strongest men who are not afraid to follow the trail. And send in a physician to wait upon my mother. Go!" and at the commands they bowed low and all ran off to different directions. He closed his door and rubbed his brow with frustration. He started to walk away before hearing another knock at the door. He cursed and swung it open "What is it?!" It was Thomas Seymour.

"My liege, sorry for coming uninvited I came to check to secure your safety. Behind me are five guards, I ordered them to stay in your room with you in the case of a murderer or criminal meaning to bring harm to his majesty." Sir Thomas was also in his night wear, but bright eyed and speaking quickly with adrenaline, for he also wanted to investigate.

"Five is too many, I am not weak, I can handle myself. Give me one to watch over me so I can go back to sleep in peace if that is what you wish. If one more more person dare comes to my chambers without my invitation I will hang them for trespassing, as you leave make sure you share that with everyone." Thomas nodded and bent down to King Troy's hand before leaving with the other four guardsmen. The one guard walked into the room, he was a little taller than the king but same in muscle structure. He closed the door behind him and stood by the door, crossing his hands holding his spear across his chest. He held the same grim glare on his face. King Troy looked at him, almost laughing at his seriousness. "Come man, I know nothing will happen in this room so heavily guarded. Sit down in my chair, rest yourself." The guard looked up at the king in confusion, not sure rather to heed his words or stand his ground. "Sit, I say, it is too late at night for this action." King Troy commanded. Quickly the man sat down in the grand velvet chair by the fireplace. Being careful to not relax too much. King Troy got up and prepared to lay down in his massive bed, suddenly he heard a quiet splash outside his window. He walked to his window and searched out. His back window had the view of all the back gardens, with a glimpse of the river. He squinted his eyes and saw a shadow like figure raising out of the water, immediately concluding it was a woman because of its shape. He was frozen in his spot at this sight. He wondered who it was, and immediately thought of the girl. "I need to get out there..." he said quietly to himself. He looked over to the guard who was, surprisingly dead asleep with his mouth open. King Troy laughed and put on his cloak and stepped into his warmest boots. He opened his door and peeked out. Making sure to not be seen, he slipped out his door and began to walk down the hall.

Lillian stepped back on the soft grass of the yard, sighing at the breeze that brushed across her body. "I have no towel, I better air dry." She picked up her night gown that was drying on a nearby branch. Though it was still damp, she lifted it over her body and slipped it on. she checked the wound on her head, and confirmed that it stopped bleeding. She put her wet hair over her shoulder, looking down at it she braided it into a neat thick braid and swung it over to her back. She bent down in front of the river again and washed her face. She sat up and looked down at the water. She cocked her head to the side at her reflection. "Not too bad.." she concluded. She felt her high and stout cheekbones, and her small but wide nose. Her very plump dark lips and the mole above her eyebrow. Her favorite part of her face were her eyes, they were big and oval with a mix of light brown and a hint of dark brown. Her family used to comment into how she had the appearance of the rich english women of court. Her mother later told her that in her not too distant family, a man of color fell in love with an english girl, giving birth to their great great grandmother.

"The genes must live strong, you have her eyes. Everything else is of me and your father."

She began to unbraid her hair and run her fingers through it, which was harder because of its thick waves. She pushed it onto her back. It was not real long like english women's hair, but it was past her shoulders. She fluffed it out and gave one last look into the water....

"You could be hanged for trespassing and indecent exposure for you bathing in my river."

Lillian jumped up and was immediately shaken with fear. The king was standing before her, looking at her almost lustfully. She lowered her head to the ground "Mmmyy Lord...I beseech you. Please, have mercy. I had a wound on my head, I just wanted to use cold water to stop the bleeding-"

"Bleeding?....You were where the trail of the blood came from."

"Trail?" Lillian was horrified. She didn't know she left a trail, so many things could be assumed with a trail of blood. And if the king knew, then surely the whole kingdom did by now. She dropped down to her knees and put her hands on the ground. "Oh forgive me your majesty. Forgive me please, do not have me hanged. I have only been here a few days, I do not yet know all the laws of the court. I will never touch nor look at your river nor show my face to you ever again. Have mercy, on me!" She shook violently in her damp nightgown and sudden cold air. King Troy walked up to her slowly, and thought carefully.

"I will let you know a law that you must never forget...." He bent down and grabbed her hands, slowly lifting her up on her feet. "I am not one to be afraid of, and I despise bowing and being called 'my lord' all the time. He put his hand under her chin and looked into her eyes. The moon sparkled bright against the tears forming in her light eyes. "I will forgive you, for you had an injury, though you should have a basin of water in your apartment."

"There was none, my room is bare, nothing but a mere wooden chair and a small hard bed." She said quietly, staring into his eyes. Bright blue almost silver in the moonlight. She shivered, the temperature dropped. Without hesitation, King Troy lifted the cloak off of his shoulders once again to give to her. Lillian stepped back. "Oh no, my lord, not again, not after how I have behaved today" she lowered her gaze back to the ground. King Troy smiled and threw the cloak on her back anyway. Smoothing it onto her shoulders he leaned in and whispered.

"Would you dare refuse a king?" He stepped back and looked at her, she stopped shaking.

"But, are you not chilled?" Lillian asked.

"No, I stay feverish, it is in my blood." As he talked he made sure that he appeared as if he was looking at her face, but in actuality he was staring at her body. She was not too slender, still had some meat on her bones. She had wide hips with a small but not too small waist. A beautiful face. Hair like he had never seen before, making him fight the urge to touch it. Her full, large breasts were accented by small chips of hardness. He tried to take a deep breath in to prevent arousal, but it was too late. His manhood was awake and now pushing awkwardly against his cloth pants. He began to squirm.

"My lord, are....are you alright?" Lillian was genuinely confused. She had never seen a man act in this way.

"Yes. I will forgive you this time, but since you had no basin of water in your room I shall order you a separate tub for you and you only. No more bathing in my river, is that clear?" He attempted to stand up straight. "Go back into your apartments, It is almost dawn, try to get some rest." He looked up at the sky, it was slowly turning more purple than black.

"Yes, My lord, goodnight" Lillian bowed low and grabbed the cloak on her shoulder, preparing to give it back to him.

"Not this time. You keep that, you can return it later." He put a hand on her shoulder and had one last glance at her brown face and copper eyes. He turned away and started to walk. Lillian started to walk but stepped hard on the foot with the bruised ankle. She limped. The king stopped walking and turned around back to her. Looking down at her bare feet he asked, "Would you me to escort you to your apartment?"

"No, My lord, goodnight."

"No, Troy. Call me Troy"

"No sire, I will not, I will give you the respectable name you possess."

"Then what shall you call me, if not my lord, my liege or any other epithet I despise?" Lillian thought for a moment.

"How about...Lord Stawery?" King Troy shrugged his shoulders.

"Tis better. Goodnight...Lillian"

"Goodnight my king." And with that both started walking in the direction of the castle.

"My Lord! Where have you disappeared to? You had me worried! I thought you stayed in your chambers, out of harms way!" Yelled Thomas Seymour, just when the king thought he sneaked back into his room without incident. He rolled his eyes at the attention.

"I am like a sly fox, Thomas. I was bored, I wanted to investigate the news myself. I am no babe, I am a grown man"

"And what if the murderer who made the trail was to hurt you, my lord. Or worse! Kill you!"

"Murderer? Ha! So everyone still believes that! Okay Thomas, if you were so worried then who exactly followed the trail