Angel with Attitude

by Мишель Роуэн

  She tried to think of something to say in reply, but found she was now rather speechless.

  Reggie took that moment to yawn, stretch each of his legs one at a time and open one black eye, then the other. “Whoa. I had some seriously weird dreams.” He looked at Lloyd, then blinked. “Never mind. Maybe it wasn’t a dream.”

  Lloyd returned to his seat on the sofa. “Anyhow, I didn’t mean to turn this into ‘all about

  Nathaniel’ night. We were talking about me earlier. And my new book.”

  “We were?”

  “Yes.” He suddenly had a blue Sharpie in his hand. “How would you like it autographed?”

  Twenty minutes later, after Lloyd had personalized two hardcovers and a category romance for her, Val sat next to the bed where Nathaniel still lay unconscious and studied the demon in the dimly lit room.

  His bare chest was no longer a torn-up mess. It had healed almost completely and she looked at his toned, golden body for longer than she probably should have. His face had healed, too, back to its prior unmarked perfection. And he’d always looked this good, even as a human?

  Hardly seemed fair. It would have been easier to believe that he used some sort of glamour all this time. At least then she’d have an easy scapegoat for her undeniable attraction to him.

  And that’s all it was. Just a physical attraction.

  Just an appreciation of his demonly male physique.

  Sure. And that’s why she was sitting vigil at his bedside.

  That’s why she’d left Reggie downstairs after insisting that Lloyd give him a reading of the first three chapters of his latest book.

  Val didn’t really know what to make of the demon in front of her, to tell the truth. Lloyd’s insights on the inner workings of Nathaniel had turned on some major lights in her mind, but she didn’t know how much to believe and how much was just made up. He was a writer, after all. It could all just be fiction. That seemed easier for her to believe than the fact that

  Nathaniel hated what he did and felt guilty about it. So much so that he had failed many times and only had one chance left. She was his chance. If he didn’t tempt her, then . . .

  She cringed, thinking that he might become one of those horrible creatures. It wasn’t fair.

  After another ten minutes, Nathaniel moaned softly and shifted in the bed. Val tensed as he opened his blue-gray eyes and looked directly at her.

  He licked his dry lips. “You.”

  “Morning, sunshine.”

  “You’ve decided to torment me even as I sleep?”

  “Looks like. How do you feel?”

  He attempted to sit up and grimaced. “As if a group of Nightflyers attempted to have me for dinner.”

  “Actually, I think it was more like a late-night snack.”

  “How long have I been out?”

  “A couple hours. It’s still dark out, so we can’t go anywhere yet.”

  “Where are we?”

  “Your buddy Lloyd rode in on his white horse. Blew up one of the Nightflyers. It was pretty cool. Brought us back to his place.”

  “Lloyd,” he repeated, and he looked immediately calmer. “Good. You’ll be safe, then, for a while at least.”

  He stared at her for a moment, then closed his eyes again.

  Val stood up. “I’ll just let you rest a while.”

  He moved his hand out to catch her wrist. “Don’t leave.”

  “What did you say?”

  He let go of her and looked away. “Nothing. Just mumbling incoherently. Ignore me.”

  She sat next to him on the edge of the bed. “Why did you protect me out there, anyhow?”

  “Because you commanded me to and I am temporarily bound to obey you. Remember?”

  “Look at me.”

  He didn’t move.

  “Look at me,” she said again, stronger.

  It took him a moment, but he finally did.

  She crossed her arms. “If I didn’t have control over you like this, would you have left Reggie and me to die?”

  His jaw tightened, but he didn’t answer her.

  Why was she asking him this? Because she’d finally and completely gone off the deep end?

  Maybe. She’d gone temporarily insane but she still wanted to know. She needed to know.

  “Answer me, Nathaniel. You have to tell me the truth.” She swallowed hard and was furious with herself that her eyes were brimming with tears. Holy overemotional, Batman. “Would you have let them kill me?”

  A tremor went through him and every muscle in his body tensed up before she heard him choke out, “No.”

  “No what?”

  His teeth were clenched. “No, I wouldn’t have let you die.”

  “Lloyd told me what will happen if you fail on your assignment. If you don’t get me to agree to go to Hell. Is that why? Because you were afraid of losing me before you got another chance to tempt me?”

  “Lloyd shouldn’t have told you a thing. It’s none of his damn business.”

  “But he did. Now tell me. Is that why you saved me?”

  “No.”

  “Then why? Tell me!”

  “Damn you, woman.”

  She took a deep breath. The tears were still holding their own. None had escaped yet, but it was only a matter of time before one made a break for freedom.

  “That’s not a very good answer. Why not?”

  He stared at her for a long moment with an expression she’d never seen before. She didn’t even know how to explain it. Furious, panicked, afraid . . . all at the same time. Although, mostly the furious part.

  “Because”—his eyes narrowed, and she felt the intensity of his gaze run through the length of her entire body—“I burn for you.”

  Val frowned at him. “You burn for me? What does that mean?”

  Flames danced behind his eyes before he turned his furious glare away from her again without another word.

  “Nathaniel . . .” She was so confused, growing more so every moment she sat there. She shouldn’t have come in—shouldn’t have allowed herself to feel such growing concern for someone whose only goal was to use her for his own gain. She should never have asked him that stupid question. He burns for her?

  He had turned his face away so she could only see the back of his head. He looked so human, so not evil or anything she ever would have imagined a demon to look like. She couldn’t help herself. She stroked his hair. Slid her fingers down his neck and across his broad shoulders.

  To prove to herself that he was real and not just an illusion.

  “Please do not touch me,” he said quietly, but he didn’t try to pull away.

  He felt like silk beneath her fingers. Warm, taut silk, and she ran her hand over his chest and along his tight abs, all the places his injuries had been. The injuries he’d sustained from protecting her. Placing himself between her and the big, nasty monsters.

  Because he burned for her.

  “Thank you for saving me,” she murmured as her hand drifted lower.

  He gasped, and he grabbed her arms, drawing her close to kiss her deeply, his tongue plunging between her lips. He pulled her down on top of him and rolled her slowly so he was on top, pressing her down into the mattress, his body a hard, hot line against her own.

  “Valerie,” he murmured against her mouth. “My angel.”

  She kissed him as if she were dying and this was all there was. Like his body was her lifeline and all that kept her from falling into the abyss. Overdramatic? Perhaps a tad, but that’s how she felt. He’d tempted her. He’d damn well succeeded. She couldn’t help it. She didn’t care what he was anymore, what she was—just that he was with her, on top of her, against her.

  And he wanted her as she wanted him.

  Their kiss grew even deeper, more urgent, and she moved her hands down to the back of his black pants. She’d only been human for two months, but she knew what she wanted. She wanted him. She slid her hands under his waistband and started to slide it over his hips
, feeling the hot skin underneath.

  He moaned, and broke off the kiss for a moment to stare down into her eyes.

  “Don’t you see?” she said as she pulled his hard body closer to her own. “I burn for you, too.”

  “Valerie, please . . . no.” He turned his face away.

  She tried to kiss him again. “What?”

  “No, Valerie.”

  “Nathaniel—”

  “No.” He pulled away from her and pushed up into a sitting position, his back against the post at the end of the bed to stare down at her with fiery eyes. “You need to leave now.”

  Even though she was still fully dressed, she felt suddenly naked. Her lips tingled. Her body ached. She pushed herself up, too. Nathaniel was staring at her from the end of the bed as if he feared her.

  “What’s wrong?” She reached for him but he flinched.

  “Nothing’s wrong. We need to focus on getting your key back. There’s no time for distractions. Just leave.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing. Listen to me. I want you out of here right now.”

  “Tell me what’s wrong.” When he didn’t answer, she frowned at him. “Nathaniel, I command you—”

  He was off the bed and on his feet in one motion. “You command me? I’ve had it with that bullshit. Open your ears, damn it. I said I want you out of here now.” He picked up the nightstand and threw it against the far wall like it weighed nothing. It splintered into a thousand pieces.

  Val’s throat was dry as she stood on shaky legs. She didn’t say another word or even look at him again as she left the room.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “He seems to be feeling better,” Val announced as she returned to the living room. She’d spent a couple of minutes in Lloyd’s lovely violet-colored powder room commanding herself not to cry. It had mostly worked, but her eyes were a bit red.

  Reggie turned to look at her. “This guy is a great writer.”

  Lloyd closed the book he held. “Oh, come on. You’re just saying that.”

  “Am not. You’re fantastic. I can see it in my mind like a movie. Amazing.”

  Lloyd nodded. “The movie rights have been optioned. I’m thinking a young Brigitte Bardot for the lead.”

  “Naw. More like Jenna Jameson.”

  “Anyhow,” Val interjected, “like I was saying. He’s recovering.”

  Lloyd nodded. “That’s good to hear. How is he?”

  “He’s a total jerk.”

  He continued to nod. “Am I missing something here?”

  She crossed her arms, feeling all tense and in need of more hot chocolate. Extra marshmallows. “No. Just that he’s a jerk. That’s all. Oh, and as soon as this dark-time is over, we’re out of here, Reggie. Just you and me. We don’t need him around. He’ll just cause more problems.”

  Reggie opened his furry mouth, but she held up a finger.

  “By ourselves,” she snapped. “You got a problem with that?”

  He shut his mouth. “Nope. No problem, boss.”

  “Now,” Val turned to Lloyd, “how much longer is this stupid dark-time going to last?”

  He raised his one thin eyebrow. “Um. Several more hours. At least. Uh, sorry.”

  “Well, that sucks.”

  “I have plenty of room here if you want to get some shut-eye. If you want to freshen up, you’re more than welcome to make use of my en suite bathroom. I have a Jacuzzi tub.”

  “Sounds tempting.” There was that word again. “Thanks Lloyd.”

  Val sat on the sofa while Lloyd continued to read aloud to a captivated Reggie. She crossed her arms and listened to the tale of love and loss and redemption. It had a happy ending.

  What a load of crap.

  Her eyes burned when she thought about what had happened. What did she do wrong? Was she that repulsive? Maybe she was a lousy kisser. She thought he wanted her. No, she knew he wanted her. But just as she was all ready to . . . well, plunge right in, he’d pushed her away like she was a disgusting insect.

  Women didn’t like to feel like disgusting insects. It was now a proven fact.

  She held her arms tightly against herself.

  What’s wrong with me? she thought.

  Come to think of it, what was wrong with her to want him to touch her in the first place? He was a demon. It went against everything she believed in. What kind of an angel was she, anyhow? It had turned out for the best.

  Nothing happened.

  Good.

  She decided not to give it another thought. The key was all that mattered. Time was running out for Barlow, for herself, for the world at large. She had to focus. First thing in the morning she would find this Mayor Vaille’s mansion, march right in and take back what was rightfully hers. Well, Barlow’s. And it would all work out. Just had to keep with the positive thinking.

  Yeah, right.

  Being that she was exhausted, mentally and physically, she must have fallen asleep on

  Lloyd’s couch after a while, with the sound of the romance novel reading in the background.

  When she opened her eyes it was light outside Lloyd’s bay window.

  She made quick use of Lloyd’s bathroom to freshen up and marched back down the stairs.

  She poked Reggie, still curled up on his velour pillow. “Let’s get going.”

  He blinked his eyes open, yawned, and got onto his feet. Then stretched out each leg before he looked at her.

  “I dreamed about Claire,” he said.

  “And how did that go for you?”

  “She was a rat, too. Seemed right, somehow. But we were together and we were happy.

  Thinking about starting our own rat family.”

  “Congratulations. Are you ready to go?”

  “I guess. Are you sure you don’t want Nathaniel to come with us? That might not be such a good idea, you know.”

  She frowned at him. “I don’t care.” She stood up from the sofa and turned around. Nathaniel was standing behind her.

  “I am coming with you.”

  “No you’re not.”

  Nathaniel looked at her with annoyance. “You mean to face Julian yourself, with no protection? That is the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “What do you care?”

  “I’m bound to protect you. Whether or not I like that fact is not important. You’d walk away from that?”

  Val narrowed her eyes. “Just watch me. Want to throw another piece of furniture against the wall now in a pissy show of brute strength?”

  Lloyd stood up. “Is that what that noise was? Nathaniel, no more Tempter tantrums, okay?

  This is my house.”

  Nathaniel didn’t budge. Didn’t flinch. “I’m coming with you.”

  “Like hell you are.”

  Just as she was about to turn away from him, he grabbed her arm.

  She frowned up at him. “Let go of me.” she said it in her commanding tone that usually worked with him.

  He immediately released her, but didn’t look happy about it.

  She snatched Reggie off the sofa with an audible “eek” from him and threw him on her shoulder. “Thanks for everything, Lloyd. It was a pleasure meeting you.”

  “Likewise Valerie. Don’t forget to check out my Web site. The new design just launched last week.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  She made for the front door, opened it up, stepped into the bright sunshine, and began walking toward the sidewalk. Was she being stupid for not letting Nathaniel come with them?

  Probably. But having him around would remind her how close she’d been to making such a huge mistake. She didn’t care what Lloyd had to say about the history of Nathaniel. He was a demon. That didn’t fit very well into her heavenly plans.

  End of story.

  “Uh-oh,” Reggie said.

  She felt a hand on her arm twirl her around. It was Nathaniel again.

  “Geez, don’t you ever give up?”

  He frowned. “Listen to me Val
erie, I want to talk about what happened between us earlier. It wasn’t because I—”

  “Shut up,” she commanded and felt an odd satisfaction that he immediately stopped talking.

  “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Nothing happened. Now I want you to not move, not speak, and definitely not follow me. Got it?”

  He glared at her, but seemed frozen in place.

  She smiled. “That’s more like it.”

  Turning, she continued down the front path that led to the sidewalk. A girl was coming toward her. About Val’s height, with reddish hair, and a pretty face. She cocked an eyebrow.

  “Hi there.”

  “Hey!” Reggie shouted excitedy. “That’s Lisa. She was the maid at the Paradise Inn before you, Val. Hi Lisa! Long time no see!”

  Lisa ignored the rat and walked right past Val to approach Nathaniel.

  “Hey, baby,” she said. “Remember me?”

  She ran her hand along the back of his unbuttoned shirt—a new shirt, gray-striped; Lloyd must have loaned it to him since his other one was ruined—across his shoulder blades, and over to his bare chest. Val felt a sudden twinge of anger, or maybe it was jealousy that this girl was so freely touching Nathaniel. His eyes were on Val, however, and he didn’t move since she told him he couldn’t. His eyes flicked back to the redhead.

  “Don’t tell me you don’t remember me,” Lisa pouted.

  She curled her right hand into a fist and punched him. His head snapped to the side, but he was unable to move away from the attack. A trickle of red appeared at the corner of his mouth.

  The girl studied his lack of reaction for a moment. “That’s very interesting. And it makes things so much easier for me.”

  She hit him in his stomach this time, and an involuntary “Ooof” escaped his lips. Then she hit him again in the mouth. By this time Val had closed the distance between them and grabbed the girl’s arm.

  “Stop it.”

  Lisa turned to look at Val, an angry, wild glare in her eyes before she backhanded her across the face.

  “This has nothing to do with you, bitch. This is between me and the demon. I’m here to vanquish him. But first I want to kick his sorry ass.”