“It’s an aid for the process,” Kyrine said. “As will be the other things we must do.”

“We?” I asked.

Kyrine ignored my question. “As your flesh soaks in the warm water, so your spirit will be cleansed of impurities. Once this is complete, you will be ready to take me.”

My eyes widened. So, the hunger I’d seen wasn’t just my imagination. Oh, hell, this day was just getting better and better.

I grinned. “I’m game for that,” I said, and stood to begin getting undressed. A wash certainly was needed—after the fight in the cavern below, I had been soaked in sweat and dust. I kicked my boots off and then began to pull my t-shirt over my head.

“Allow me,” said Kyrine. She stepped smoothly from the bed and sauntered toward me. With each swing of her hips, my stomach fluttered.

Her hands found my shirt, and for a moment, I couldn’t see anything. When she’d pulled the garment over my head and I could see again, I was staring into her scarlet eyes. Her lips opened slightly, and I grabbed her head and pulled her mouth to mine.

Her hair was formed from glittering diamonds. They looked rock-hard and sharp enough to slice my skin, but to my surprise, they felt soft and supple when I put my hands on her head.

The taste of her mouth was sweet and electrifying, and the warmth of her tongue sent a flood of pleasure throughout my whole body.

Her hands reached into my trousers and found my cock. Gently, she stroked its head while softly nibbling on my bottom lip.

I reached for her bejeweled breasts, amazed to find that the gems that had covered them faded and vanished, leaving behind bright pink nipples. Kyrine moaned in pleasure as I slipped away from her mouth and started to tickle her nipples with my tongue.

“Not so fast,” she gasped, laughing. “You must first be cleansed.” She shoved me, not too softly, toward the hot tub.

“Fine by me,” I said as I removed my socks and trousers.

I lowered my boxers, and my cock sprung free like some kind of jack-in-the-box.

Kyrine was staring at it, hungrily.

“That,” she said, “is of a most impressive size. I have to say that the other prospective Keepers… well.. Let’s just say that after I’d killed them, I realized that they wouldn’t have passed this final element of the interview process.”

“And I would?” I asked playfully.

Kyrine ran her eyes up and down my length. “Evidently. Now get in the tub!”

The tub’s water was deep enough to cover my shoulders and was steaming hot, and I almost winced as I lowered myself fully into it. Then I groaned as the richly scented water eased the aches I’d collected in the fight from earlier.