She smiled in spite of herself. "I won't borrow from Marla, I'll borrow from Marlon."
"Marlon?"
"Her alter ego. He doesn't visit here much, but she keeps a few of his things for whenever he feels the need to come out."
"I don't think I quite understand."
"Go bathe," she said, urging him into the room.
Valerius didn't argue. The fetid stench of the water was truly unbearable. He was just grateful that Tabitha was willing to tolerate him long enough to allow him to clean up.
He'd barely stripped his clothes off and entered the shower before the door opened.
Valerius froze.
"It's just me," Tabitha said from the other side of the shower curtain. "I found a pair of black slacks and sedate black shirt for you. The pants are probably a little too big in the waist, but they should be long enough. I'm not sure about the shirt. You might end up wearing one of my tees."
"Thank you," he said.
Before he realized what she was doing, the curtain opened to show her standing outside with a hungry look on her face. "You're welcome."
Valerius didn't move as he stood facing her with the hot water sliding down his spine. Her bold, intense stare made his body harden against his will.
She didn't seem to mind at all. Indeed, a small smile spread across her face.
"Do you always spy on your guests?" he asked quietly.
"Never, but I couldn't resist getting a peek at what I intend to savor later."
"Are you always this brazen?"
"Honestly?"
He nodded.
"No, I'm not normally quite this obnoxious and you're the last man on the planet I should be considering. But I can't seem to help myself."
Valerius reached out to touch her. She really was too good to be true. "I've never known anyone like you."
She covered his hand with hers, then turned her face to kiss his palm. "Hurry and shower. We have work to do."
She pulled away and he felt her absence immediately. What was it about her?
Unwilling to think about it, he quickly bathed, then dressed. He found Tabitha in her bedroom, sitting in the chair and flipping through one of her books.
Tabitha looked up as she felt Valerius's presence. He stood silently in the doorway. He appeared to be completely in his element, except for the clothes that didn't quite fit.
Getting up, she offered him a kind smile. Once she reached him, she unbuttoned the cuffs of the sleeves that were a little too short for his arms and rolled them back on his forearms.
Then she untucked his shirt.
"I know it's not your style, but it looks much better this way."
"Are you certain?"
He looked delectable. "Oh yeah."
He held a long, retractable sword in his hand. "The only problem is if I don't have long sleeves, I can't wear this."