Page 43 of Guarded By the Gargoyle

“Would you like to come and sit by the fire?” He indicated the leather couch across from the fireplace in the living room. Miss Sassy was already curled up there, snoozing in the warmth. “You can relax while I make you something to eat.”

“You cook?” I asked, surprised.

He nodded.

“Though I might not be knowledgeable about the kinds of foods you like. Still, in this cottage it’s hardly necessary. We can just ask the Flower Bower to provide whatever we want.”

“I really appreciate the offer but what I want right now is to take a shower and get changed.”

Of course, I’d had a shower that morning but it seemed like a million years ago now. And all the shooting and craziness back in New Orleans had made me feel dirty.

“Of course, Mistress—please take your time.” Kael came to stand in front of me. Looking down he cupped my cheek in one big, warm hand. “And when you finish bathing, maybe you’ll allow me to heal you.”

“Heal me?” I asked, my voice coming out breathless.

“Here…” His long fingers brushed against the bruises forming on my throat. “And anywhere else the bastard who hurt you touched you in anger.”

“Oh, well…” My heart was pounding and I suddenly felt hot and wet between my thighs. I couldn’t help remembering that his way of healing was to kiss the injured area. Did I want to let him do that? Yes, I did, I decided. “I…I guess that would be all right,” I said at last.

“Thank you, Mistress,” he rumbled. “Then I’ll be waiting for you.”

He went to sit on the couch and Miss Sassy at once found her way to his lap. He gave me a smile as he stroked my cat and I couldn’t help feeling myself melt as I watched the two of them together. Miss Sassy was an unerring judge of character—if she loved someone, I knew they were safe and a good person. If she hated them, well—like I said, I should have trusted her instincts about Carlo.

“I’ll be back down in a little while,” I told him.

He nodded.

“I’ll be waiting.”

His words spoken in that deep, velvety voice sent a shiver up my spine and I hurried up the steps.

The bathroom still had a shower stall instead of a tub—I supposed the cottage must have heard me. If I really stayed here, it would be amazing I thought. The idea of living in a house that anticipated my needs and wishes and changed to fulfill them was mind-blowing. Also the fact that I could ask it to make me any meal or snack I wanted gave “convenience” a wholenew meaning. It would probably even provide me with clothes. I shouldn’t have bothered lugging all my stuff here in the big duffel bag.

Then again, I liked having familiar things around me. It made the Flower Bower seem more like home. Which I supposed it would be, for the foreseeable future. But right now I needed something to wear after my shower. I didn’t want to put on a bulky sweater and lined leggings since we were going to be sitting by the fire.

“Er, I’m going to take a shower now,” I said to the cottage at large as I pulled off my clothes. “While I do, could you please get me something nice to wear around the house?”

I didn’t specify exactly what I wanted because I wasn’t quite sure myself. Plus, I wanted to test the cottage and see exactly what it might provide.

I twisted my hair into a knot at the crown of my head and stepped into the shower. It was already the perfect temperature and I reveled in the steaming water washing away all the blood and violence and nastiness of the morning.

The cottage had stocked the shower with an exfoliating bath mitt and a choice of three different shower gels. One smelled like mint, one was pink grapefruit, and the third was something soft and floral and feminine.

All three smelled great but I chose the third one because the scent relaxed me. As I soaped myself up, I winced at the tender places on my neck where Carlo had choked me. Also, just as I had suspected, the place he had pinched me was bruising. It was high up on my inner right thigh, almost to my neatly trimmed pussy mound.

I ran the bath mitt over these hurt areas carefully and thought again about letting Kael heal me. Of course I would let him do my throat—that area was very visible and I didn’t want the residents of my new town thinking I was a battered woman.But I wasn’t going to ask him to heal my thigh. That would be too much—too embarrassing, I decided.

I got out of the shower and dried off with one of the big, puffy lavender towels the cottage had provided. Then I looked around to see what it had gotten me to wear.

I found my new outfit hanging from a golden hook on the back of the bathroom door on a padded hanger. It looked like the cottage had plans for me—the little white slip of a dress was silky and almost see-through. It had spaghetti straps and a V-neck that showed the inner curves of my breasts when I put it on. There was no bra provided, so the dark points of my nipples pressed prominently against the thin, silky fabric.

“I love it but I can’t just wear this,” I said aloud to the cottage. “I need something to cover up with.”

I had been looking at myself in the mirror as I talked and I thought I saw a glimmer of light from the corner of my eye. When I turned to look at the back of the bathroom door again, I saw another hanger on the golden hook. It was a robe made of the same thin white silk as the dress. It crossed over in front and had a sash to tie it closed. I felt better with it on—not so exposed.

There were also some cute little ballerina slippers to go with the outfit which fit me perfectly when I slipped them on. Nice! I could definitely get used to letting the cottage dress me, I decided.

I let down my hair and shook it out—my black, wavy waterfall contrasted nicely with the white silk. And the V-neck of the slip-dress I was wearing showed the marks on my throat—which meant Kael should have an easy time healing me.

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