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His tall, muscular body looked strange in my small car. However, being cramped awkwardly in that tight space didn’t make him any less gorgeous. Droplets of rain from his wet hair still trailed over his bare upper body, drawing my attention back to his impressive set of muscles. He had the kind of body I couldn’t help but admire, even if I wasn’t attracted to him. But of course I was attracted to him.
“I keep some towels in the trunk, just in case. But I figured by the time I got them out, they’d be wet too,” I explained.
Goosebumps rose on his skin and though he didn’t complain, I knew he was getting cold. I hesitated a moment before speaking. What were the chances that a man who introduced himself as the, “guardian of your bloodline,” would have any intentions to harm me? He did just stand between me and some angry werewolves.
“My apartment isn’t far,” I said.
“Do you bring strange gargoyles back to your place often?” he said, giving me another sexy smirk.
“This is my first time,” I teased. “I’ve never met another gargoyle. I’ve read about them, but I wasn’t sure if you guys were real or not.”
“I’m real, but maybe not for much longer.”
The rain started coming down with a vengeance then, so I focused on my driving and didn’t ask more questions. That didn’t mean I didn’t have questions, like what the hell was I going to do with him? And why was he here?
My apartment is in the part of Jackson City, sometimes simply called Old Town.
“It looks like a ghost town out there,” Hugh said.
“It is, except for a few random night clubs. That’s what I like about it.”
The gravel crunching beneath my tires was a welcome sound; it meant that I was home.
“You live here alone?” he asked as we got out, raising his voice to be heard above the rain.
“Yes.”
He paused to look up at the building and I paused to get another look at him. Rain poured over every curve and feature. I’d heard all sorts of legends about gargoyles and looking at him, I wondered if the one about them being carved from stone was true.
“Let’s get you in out of the cold,” I said.
He looked down at me and his blue eyes glowed like captured lightning, making him appear to be a part of the storm. “Aren’t you cold?”
“I feel the cold, but it won’t kill me.”
I stopped by the door and used one of my fangs to pierce my fingertip. I touched the doorknob with my blood and whispered the words to let Hugh inside.
“Do you have to do that every time?” he asked.
“No, not if I’m alone. But the spell wouldn’t let you in, even if you do claim to be my guardian.”
“I am your guardian.” And with those words, he followed me inside.
“This place is huge,” he said, looking around.
I paused to lock the door behind us. “It used to be a seed store/livery way back in the day. I live in the top part and use the lower half for storage.”
He made a slow full turn as he looked around the room. “You have a lot of magical supplies down here.”
“I didn’t stop being a witch when I became a vampire.” I also didn’t stop being a vampire hunter, but I wasn’t sure if now was the time to discuss my career choices.
He towered over me as we stepped into the lift, both of us dripping wet.
“I don’t know what to make of you,” I said.
“That makes two of us. All I know for certain is that I am here to protect you.”
I laughed softly.
“I realize that a badass like yourself probably doesn’t think she needs protecting.”
I nodded.
“Nevertheless, that is what I’m here for.”
As we entered my loft I flipped on the lights and went straight for the laundry room.
“I should have some dry towels in here,” I called. “I was doing laundry before I left.”
He gave me a funny look as he followed me into the room and took the towel I offered.
“What?”
“I have a hard time picturing you doing laundry, or any other domestic task.”
“Is it all the black, the leather, and the chains?” I joked.
“Probably. But I dig the whole, escaped from an 80’s rock band look.”
I laughed. “Really?”
“And that’s not me making fun of you. That’s my nervous attempt at humor,” he said, grinning. “I really do like all the leather and chains.”
“Well, that’s all about to come off.”
His look of shock was kind of adorable. He even blushed a little bit.
“Don’t worry, I’ll give you some privacy to get out of your wet pants,” I teased. “You can put them in the dryer.”
I pulled off my boots, careful not to touch the silver heels. I could feel his eyes on me while I dried my feet.
“Nice nail polish,” he said, smiling.
“You like green glitter?”
“I like feet.”
Damn. That was hot.
“I’ll be back,” I said. “Make yourself comfortable.”