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Frost Manor was huge home set deep in forested foothills of majestic snow-capped mountains. The driveway itself was 10 miles long and civilization was easily 100 miles away. But Frost Manor didn't seem to care, and didn't show any of the usual signs of being absorbed by an indignant Mother Nature. It stood alone and untouched, as it had for decades.

Scarlet always brought her new play things to her personal suite. The sleeping chamber had a large bed surrounded with heavy velvet curtains, and several plush armchairs and sofas crowded around the large fireplace. The bathing chamber had a shower, a small tub for one, and a larger Jacuzzi that could seat 3 or 4. The community chamber, where she sat now, had only her over-sized arm chair, facing the huge windows that allowed a view of the valleys below Frost Manor. This room was smaller than the others, thanks to false walls that hid all manner of toys, trinkets, tricks and tidbits that she found interesting to play with. But those things were hidden away, for now, while her newest acquisition became acquainted with the grand surroundings.

Scarlet flashed him a fanged grin. "Oh, I think first we'll put you in the bath. Then we'll brush you and groom you and put a bow around your neck. After that, I'd like to have a closer look at that tattoo."

"I'll have to scrub you down, just to make sure you don't have fleas," she teased. "And you don't get a choice about the bow--you should know better than that. Come along!"

She gently tugged his leash and led the way into her master suite's bathroom. She filled the bathtub with steaming hot water and added bubble bath that smelled like cedar forests and manly, smokey musk.

"You'd best get out of those clothes, precious--we'll have to burn them. I do not trust the hygiene at the place you came from," she suggested. She saw his worried look and could even pick out the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. "Oh, for darkness sake--I'm not about to take advantage! But I will not have a smelly dog in my home. We'll have fresh clothing tailored for you and you can even dine on a rack of lamb while I examine your back."

Scarlet smiled at his blush. She grabbed a large sponge and dipped it in the bubbles. Then she sat on a stool by the tub and started to scrub his back and shoulders. When she finished scrubbing his back and shoulders, she found a bowl, filled it with more bath water, and dumped it over his head. Then she squeezed a little shampoo in her hands and massaged it into his scalp. As she washed him, she hummed the tune "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf."

"Close you're eyes, precious," she warned just before she doused his soapy head with more water. "Do you want to splash around in the bubbles a bit longer, or are you ready do get out? Not talking, humm? Then up, young pup. I'll get you a towel."

She left him momentarily to grab two large, fluffy red towels. She waited until he stepped out of the tub and then passed him one to wrap around his waist. She used the other to roughly dry his shoulders and hair. His hair fluffed up, damp and wild, and she giggled.

"Now let me get you something decent to wear," Scarlet murmured as she wandered into her bedroom.

Her walk-in-closet was more like a mini-mall, and in no time at all, she'd found what she was looking for. She brought him a pair of loose black pants and the starched collar of a white dress shirt without the dress shirt. She also had a small length of black silk and a heavy platnium chain in one hand.

"Now, tell me truly, precious, do you need to keep that awful black leather thing around your neck or would you prefer something a little more stylish?" She asked.

He still didn't answer.

She placed a cold hand on his back over his tattoo. Her eyes flickered vague threats. "You're not going to bite me if I take it off, are you?"

He still didn't say a word.

She took his non-response for an agreement to be non-violent. Deftly, she slipped the shining chain around his neck and fastened it securely. Then she took off the thick collar the salesman had send Jericho home in and held it between thumb and forefinger like it was a dead rat. She dropped it with the pile of clothes meant for the furnace. Then over the chain, she fastened the faux-shirt collar around his neck, leaving him plenty of room to breath. Finally she tied the black silk length into a perfect bow. She stepped back to admire her handiwork and smiled wickedly. His muscles were in good form and still shiny with moisture from the bath. He cut a profile similar to an oiled body builder.

"You look so hansom. Here," she passed him the soft pants. "Put these on and I'll order up that lamb we were talking about." She flashed another smile and left him in the bathroom, (finally) giving him the privacy he seemed to desire.

Scarlet was supervising two servants who were setting up a small table and plush stool, while three others stood by, each with a covered silver tray, when she noticed Jericho peaking out of the bathroom. She arched an eyebrow at his modified appearance.

"You can take the wolf out of the wild, but not the wild out of the wolf," she muttered to herself. She beckoned him closer. "I have your dinner all ready for you, precious. I wasn't sure how you like your meat, so I had cook prepare a raw leg, a rare leg, and a well done leg."

The servants stood attentively, keeping an eye on the mistress of the house. It was obvious that they were loyal to a fault and more than willing to please.

Scarlet saw his annoyed look and knew he didn't like pet names. It tempted her to use them even more. She came up beside him and hooked her arm in his to lead him to the small table. "Come on, precious. Eat up. Don't look at me like that--you are precious to me," she soothed. "If you don't want me to express my affection for you in front of anyone who matters, I'll keep my endearments to myself. But you have to humor me in my own chambers, at least. You are mine after all."

Scarlet saw the sadness and silently resolved to find a way to erase it.

"Go on, precious," she indicated the food. "Eat to your stomach's content. I'm going to examine your unique body art while you're at it."