Page 63 of Chaos
MERRI
Iwrinkled my nose as I noticed the fresh dump of snow that had accumulated overnight. I was so ready for winter to be over. Letting the curtain fall back over the window, I sighed and glanced around my room. The truth was, I didn’t have to stay in here, locked away from social interactions. I could be downstairs right now, talking with Sin, making Grim teach me about plants, ogling Chaos, or asking Malice to help me test my mental barriers again. But that would mean I’d need to make myself vulnerable to all sorts of other things. Namely, the risk of getting attached to these handsome horsemen.
And that could not happen. Not under any circumstance. Chaos had proven yesterday just how fragile my self-control was.
Thus my self-inflicted exile.
Was it an exile when you didn’t leave a specific place? What was the word for exiling in the same spot? Quarantine? Internment? House arrest?
Just as my thoughts truly began to spiral, there was a brief knock at my door. I didn’t even have a chance to respond to it before the door cracked open.
“Mademoiselle? Are you decent?” Christian asked, his voice hesitant but not unwelcome.
I was more than decent. I’d bundled up in the warmest sweater available in my wardrobe, as well as a pair of fleece-lined leggings, wool socks, and soft slippers. “Yes. Come in.”
He pushed the door open a bit further but remained firmly on the other side of the threshold, his arms filled with a large stack of something.
“Ah, this will not do. Your fire is dying. No wonder you are so cold.” He set the bundle on my bed and rushed to the fireplace, which looked fine to me, but what did I know?
In minutes, he’d stoked the wood, added more, and the flames had gone from meager to robust.
He stood, dusting off his hands and beaming at me. “There. Much better. You should be warm in no time.”
“Thanks. I guess I should’ve realized something wasn’t right when the windowpanes frosted over.”
“It’s these old houses,” he said with a shrug. “Even with the improvements, they aren’t the most insulated.” As if remembering something, he straightened and picked up the stack of what I could now tell was clothes. “Which reminds me, these finally came for you.”
“What are they?”
“Outerwear. Gloves, a hat, and a heavy winter coat to ensure you are properly bundled for when you take your afternoon stroll through the grounds.”
“You noticed,” I said, touched he’d been paying attention enough to realize I’d been enjoying the outdoors even with an ill-fitting coat, hat, and gloves.
“Oui. It is my job to notice these things.”
“Well, thank you. That was really kind of you.”
Christian shrugged again, as if it was no big deal. “And if there’s anything else that you need during your stay, please do not hesitate to ask. I am here to help.”
There was a moment where I thought about exactly how Christian could help me, but I immediately snuffed the idea out.No. Bad Merri. He wasn’t offering to be your own personal buffet. He’s human. He can’t handle you. It’s horsemen or camming, and you already decided that all things horse are off the menu.
A pang of hunger protested, but I pushed it away. I could cam later. I would have to. Maybe Cole would be around for some one-on-one time. And I needed to check in on 1N3V1T@BL3 and see how he liked his personalized content. There was a good chance he’d have something to say about it that would tide me over.
Christian excused himself, shutting the door behind him and leaving me alone with my thoughts and the crackling fire as my only company.
I had to admit, the coat was pretty. Puffy and stuffed with down, I could tell from first glance it would keep me as warm as possible the next time I went outside. What a thoughtful gesture on his part. I was glad I’d controlled myself and resisted the urge to go all succubus on him.
I was just trying on the gloves—leather but lined with the softest fur—when a chime on my laptop announced an incoming message. I hadn’t planned on working quite yet, but you had to make hay while the sun was shining, right?
Tossing the gloves and coat aside, I moved over to the desk and clicked on my messages.
There was no faking my smile when I saw it was from Andi and not one of my clients.
PrettyPenny:
Hey girl heeeeyyy.
Merri-Go-Round:
