Page 44 of Guarded By the Gargoyle

Just thinking of my gargoyle protector’s hot mouth on the side of my throat sent an erotic shiver through my body. It was strange—I hadn’t felt any sexual desire in years. Not since Carlo started hitting me and giving me no choice about whether Iwanted to have sex with him or not. Once we were married, he decided my body was his property to use as he wanted.

But Kael wasn’t like that. He called me “Mistress,” and asked what I wanted. He didn’t push or argue or get mad if I decided to do my own thing. I feltsafewith him—that wassoimportant.

Fluffing out my hair once more I decided I was ready. Taking a deep breath, I left the bathroom and headed downstairs.

25

KAEL

Iheard her coming down the stairs and turned to watch. My eyes widened and my breath caught in my throat when I saw her—Willow nearly took my breath with her beauty.

She was wearing a white robe that clung lovingly to her curves and the sharp points of her nipples were visible beneath the silky fabric. I loved how her heavy breasts and full hips shifted as she came down the stairs. She was so beautiful—a curvy goddess and I wanted to worship her in a way that befitted her glory. But I sensed that I needed to be careful. She had been recently hurt and abused by the male I had killed. She would need all the patience and gentleness I could give her.

I swore I wouldn’t fail her—that I would do my best to bring her pleasure.

“Mistress,” I murmured as our eyes met. My voice came out hoarse. “You’re sobeautiful.”

She blushed, her pale cheeks going pink.

“Oh, thank you. The cottage picked this outfit out for me,” she said, gesturing to the short, silky robe. “I asked it for something nice to hang around the house in and this is what it came up with.”

“It has excellent taste,” I said. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. She reminded me of one of the female angels I used to see in Heaven, so many millennia ago, before The Fall.

Miss Sassy, the cat, woke up at that point. She glanced at Willow and then at me before hopping off my lap. Giving the two of us a significant look over one furry shoulder, she went up the stairs, presumably to give us some privacy.

Willow barely noticed. She was already coming to sit beside me on the leather couch in front of the fire.

“I’m, uh, ready for you to heal me now. I mean, if you still want to,” she said softly, looking up at me.

I felt my heart clench in my chest. She was so heartbreakingly vulnerable yet she was baring herself to me.

“Mistress,” I said softly, “Of course I want to heal you.”

I brushed the silky waves of her long black hair out of the way to examine the finger-marks on her throat. Just seeing them made me angry all over again and I wished once more than I had given the human man who hurt her a slower and more agonizing death.

But I knew my anger served no purpose here. I didn’t want to take my demonic form and frighten Willow. Instead, I stroked the marks on her neck gently, assessing the damage.

She shivered under my light touch and I could smell the sweet heat of her feminine desire beginning to perfume the air. She wanted this—she wantedme—but I knew I needed to be careful. I wanted her to know I would never be rough with her—never hurt her or bruise or mark her the way her worthless ex-husband had done.

“May I heal you now, Mistress?” I asked, looking into her lovely green eyes.

“Yes,” she whispered. I could feel the pulse in her throat pounding against my fingertips. “Yes, please Kael—I want you to.”

Bending down, I placed a soft, open-mouthed kiss over one of the marks on the side of her neck. I felt her shiver under my touch, but she didn’t try to pull away. She pressed closer to me and gave a little moan as I kissed her again and then again, making sure to heal all of the marks.

I could tell by her reaction that this was a very sensitive area for her. For some women, their neck is an erogenous zone almost as pleasurable as their breasts and nipples. Willow seemed to be one of those—she moaned again as I switched to the other side of her neck.

I kissed her right under her ear and then continued kissing down the side of her neck and over to the hollow of her throat. She was healed by now, but I could feel her pleasure—(part of my bond with my Mistress was being attuned to both her pain and pleasure)—and I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to make her feel good—to make her moan my name. I was sure that she’d never gotten much enjoyment from her time with the abusive ex-husband I’d killed—I wanted to make up for all her bad experiences by giving her a good one.

At last, when she was nearly panting with need and her scent was extremely hot, I stopped and looked at her.

“Mistress,” I murmured. “May I kiss you someplace else?”

“Where…where do you want to kiss me?” she murmured breathlessly.

“Here.” I cupped one of her breasts through the white gown. Her robe had come untied and the thin slip-like garment beneath it was almost see-through. “And more specifically,here.” I thumbed the tight bud of her nipple, circling it lightly to tease her.

“Ohhh…”Willow thrust out her breasts, pushing the one I was holding deeper into my hand. “Yes, please!” she begged softly. “Kiss me there, Kael.”

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