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)
“Wow—so quick!” I remarked.
“Quick and painless, I hope,” Goody Albright said, smiling. She took me in her arms and gave me a warm hug. “Welcome to Hidden Hollow, Willow,” she murmured. “I hope you’re home to stay.”
I hoped so too. Though I still had twinges of sorrow for the shop I’d left behind in New Orleans, it seemed I was getting settled in my new place and everything was finally going my way.
I had no idea how wrong I was.
24
WILLOW
“Welcome, Mistress,” Kael rumbled when I came back to the Flower Bower. This afternoon there was a vase full of Jasmine flowers on the mantelpiece over the fire and their scent perfumed the entire cottage.
“Hi Kael.” I still felt a little bit awkward around him. But I was drawn to him too.
“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 whole new 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.