Demon’s Embrace(5)

He preferred quiet, biddable beauties who did what he asked without arguing. He liked tall, cool blondes, not fiery redheads curved in all the right places and just looking for the worst moment to explode in temper. He couldn’t even imagine dating a woman who questioned his every move and challenged him at every step. He’d probably end up tipping such a difficult woman over his knee and smacking that pert, deliciously curved bottom until she cried out his name and shattered with orgasm.

Nope, he couldn’t imagine any of it.

He wrapped the towel tighter around his groin, glanced at the knowing smirk on Alex’s face, and then grabbed his bag and headed back into the bathroom. Hell, he wasn’t even sure why he’d forgotten to take his stuff in with him in the first place. It’s not like he actually wanted her to see, and maybe remember and admire, the hard planes of his chest and abdomen. He was in good shape, but it wasn’t like he needed her to notice.

So why then was he disappointed that she continued to hold on to Alex as if the world were coming to an end?

Fortunately that last thought put him back on track. In a way her world was coming to an end. Even after this was all over, it would be difficult to forget that feeling of no longer being safe in her own home. If he could, he’d shield her from it. That’s why he was here. He had a job to do. He and Kali had already done and failed the whole “relationship” thing—if the few hours they’d spent together could even be called that—so he had no reason to even consider such unimportant things when he was here to keep her safe. He needed to protect her, not rehash ancient history.

He carefully pulled his jeans over the erection that wouldn’t quit, strapped on his weapons, and then headed back into the kitchen in the hopes that Kali and Alex had taken his “five minutes” order seriously and were already packed.





* * * *





Kali finally realized she was clinging to the man like some sort of vine. Sheesh, she’d never been the damsel-in-distress type, so why was she acting it now?

She pushed gently against Alex’s chest, and after a heart-stopping moment of hesitation he let her leave his embrace.

“Sorry,” she whispered, quite embarrassed by her behavior. She’d met the man all of two minutes ago.

“Don’t be,” Alex said with a genuine smile. “Anytime you want a cuddle, darlin’, I’m your man.”

She nodded, relaxing slightly despite his flirty demeanor. He probably spoke to all of their clients like that. Hell, with a work partner like Ronan, Alex would need all the charm he could muster.

As if she’d conjured him with just the thought, Ronan marched back into the kitchen dressed in jeans and a casual sweater and looking more handsome than any mere mortal had a right to. With a face as fine looking as his, it was almost criminal that he would have the body to match. No man deserved to be that lucky. Except that, well, considering his abrasive personality, maybe there was some sort of cosmic balance at play. He could attract the girls. He just couldn’t keep them.

Appalled at her nasty thoughts, Kali turned to the kitchen table she used as a work station and tried to decide what she would need to be able to work while she was away. She heard a sound in her hallway and turned to see both men exchange a look before Alex headed toward the front door and Ronan wrapped an arm around her and dragged her toward the bedroom. Annoyed at his heavy-handed response to what was probably only her brother returning—he was the only one with a key after all—she tried to tell Ronan to lighten up. Of course that would have been much easier if he hadn’t placed his big hand over her mouth. She gave him a look that should have fried him on the spot, but he just shook his head and held her closer.

“We need to go. Now!” Alex said as he stalked into the room, grabbed her hand in one of his, and placed the other on Ronan’s shoulder. What happened after that was still a blur ten minutes later, but she was sure she never, ever wanted it to happen again.





* * * *





Ronan shook his head for about the millionth time since they’d landed. Well, landed probably wasn’t the best description for arriving at their destination by some sort of demon-hoodoo-voodoo-whatsit-type transport. It always left him feeling like the day after he’d been shot. Fuck.

Poor Kali hadn’t fared any better. She’d been green since the moment they’d arrived and hadn’t even bothered to demand an explanation. He had no doubt that conversation was coming. It was just a measure of how ill she must feel that she hadn’t started it yet. She’d curled up into a ball on the sofa, and Ronan wished he could do the same, maybe even beside her, or curled around her, or lying over her.