‘‘Heya. Cy just showed up, May. Thought you’d want to know since you were worried and all. I think Aisling’s putting her in the room down the hall. You want to see her before you and Gabe go off to Boinksville?’’

I hesitated, feeling that I should make sure Cyrene was all right.

‘‘Is she harmed in any way?’’ Gabriel asked before I could answer.

Jim pursed its lips and shook its head. ‘‘Nope. Said she came close to flooding the place before they let her go, but she’s fine. István told her there was a pool in the basement, and she was headed that way when I left her.’’

‘‘Then we will see her in the morning,’’ Gabriel said firmly, pushing the demon none too gently out the door.

‘‘Suit yourselves, although she said she had something to tell May. If you need help shifting the furniture so you can do it in dragon form, just give me a yell—’’

The door slammed shut in its face.

‘‘Just tryin’ to be helpful!’’ it yelled.

Gabriel growled at the door for a moment before turning back to face me.

I decided such a show of restraint deserved a reward. I pulled off my shirt and pants, allowing my hands to run sensually down my ribs and hips.

Gabriel’s eyes widened, the pupils almost nonexistent as he gazed upon my exposed flesh. He swallowed a couple of times, his voice thick when he spoke. ‘‘Alone—’’

‘‘We bring your luggage,’’ someone said behind him. Gabriel leaped out of the way to avoid being whacked on the back yet again as István kicked open the door, depositing my bags from Gabriel’s house. I didn’t have time to snatch up a shirt before Gabriel was in front of me, blocking István’s view.

István’s eyebrows rose at the sight of my clothing on the chair. ‘‘Oh. Sorry. The door locks, you know.’’

‘‘I will be sure to see that it’s used,’’ Gabriel answered.

István surprised me with a grin, and then he was gone. Gabriel locked the door, counted to ten, then sighed when no one knocked on it. ‘‘Shall we try this again?’’

‘‘I don’t know—it’s taking on the feel of a scene from a Marx Brothers’ movie, don’t you think?’’

His smile warmed me to the tips of my naked toes, but it was his gaze that left me feeling as if I was burning. ‘‘You are so delicious, I don’t know where to begin.’’ His gaze moved along my exposed skin.

I laughed, propping my foot up on the chair and nodding toward the knife I wore at my ankle. ‘‘Why don’t you start by helping me out of this?’’