Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 70779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
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.
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 I wanted 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 felt safe with him—that was so important.
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 so beautiful.”
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.