Page 37 of Protected By the Gargoyle
See you soon.
Janie hoped so.
Once she climbed into bed, she gazed out to appreciate the sunrise while basking in Arto’s scent and replaying the wonderful moments of the night before. Incredible. Whatever happened between them seemed almost magical. She closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.
When her phone buzzed some time later, she reached for it.
It was Larissa.Did you eat yet?
No.She glanced at the time. It was closer to lunch than her usual breakfast. She’d slept in after not sleeping much last night, or much at all lately.
Want to meet up?
She did but also wanted to go where they’d have privacy and that meant avoiding the common areas. Although most of the sentries were working long shifts to deal with the demon situation, she didn’t want anyone to overhear their conversation.
Can we meet in your room?
Sure.
I need coffee! And breakfast.
When Janie headed into the kitchen, Larissa was already there toasting bagels. A coffee pot in the kitchen was already half full so they poured themselves a mug. After smearing bagels with cream cheese and adding a handful of berries to their plates, they headed down to the space Larissa shared with Roman.
“You look like you’ve settled in nicely,” Janie pointed out.
Although Roman’s room had been spartan before Larissa had moved in, they’d spread into a larger space, which now had her mark with her belongings, furniture, artwork, photos, and more. The focal point, like most areas of the tower, wasn’t inside, but the breathtaking view of the seaport provided by the vast floor-to-ceiling windows. The late morning sun shone with a bright twinkle over the harbor.
“I’m getting there.” Larissa put her mug and plate down on a small table near a window and sat down. “It hasn’t been two months yet. I’m still adjusting to the whole living in a tower with my gargoyle mate life change. Not to mention my witchy powers and new lifestyle.” She raised her fingers and spread them.
Larissa had been a cop, but once she discovered her latent magical abilities, she’d left the force to learn more about this side of herself.
Janie grunted. “I bet.” She put her breakfast down and sat across from Larissa.
“Sleep okay?”
“Yes.” Janie averted eye contact.
“Really?” Larissa cocked her head. “No issues being in a different space? No nightmares?”
Janie pursed her lips and tapped her foot on the floor. “Um, I was rather—distracted.”
“By what?”
“Not a what. A who. And that who was Arto.” Janie pulled her gaze to meet Larissa’s. “I went to his room.”
Her mouth dropped open. “No?” She slanted her head in the opposite direction. “Yes?”
Janie’s lips twitched and burst into a wide smile. “Yes.”
“No freakin’ way. Are you telling me? You and Arto? First, a kiss, and then—damn!” Larissa’s eyes were wide with excited speculation as she sputtered out her thoughts.
“I shouldn’t have waited so long. I thought I might have been scared since the last time I had sex was with—well, you know…” Janie tipped her head. “But it wasn’t like that at all. I had a moment with that creeping into my mind, but it passed. And then the night with Arto was—amazing.” She beamed.
“Oh my, wow.” Larissa grinned as wide as the harbor. “I’m so happy for you. What does this mean? Are you two together? Or was it just a friends-with-benefits kind of hookup?”
Janie shuddered. “I hope not. There’s no way I can go back to just being friends after that.” Not after she experienced how he kissed. How he touched. And just how good he fucked. He left her speechless and boneless.
Larissa clasped her hands together. “This is so exciting. My best friend and Arto. I couldn’t be happier for you both.”
