Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Shaking all that aside, he walked into the building. It was time to focus on the job.
The receptionist was an elf, and she greeted him warmly before directing him to the seventh floor where Julien Davenport’s office was located. He hefted his overnight bag higher on his shoulder. On the way, he encountered a lot more preternaturals than he’d even expected. Either this CEO was one of the special humans who could see them or his HR person was.
When he reached the right floor and stepped out of the elevator, another kind of magic pricked his skin. He stopped and looked around, not recognizing what kind it was, but Xavier had told him it was a penumbra. He’d not encountered one before. This magic was malevolent. It held a thickness to it that made the air around him feel heavy. It was here and watching him.
Mr. Davenport definitely needed his help.
He introduced himself to the assistant outside the right office and was told to wait a moment. She stared the entire time he waited, so he gave her a cheeky grin when she finally let him through. He was used to human stares, knowing his angelic good looks and magic drew them in.
That grin disappeared when he saw the man coming around his desk to meet him.
Big was his first thought. Taller than Emory’s six foot one, with massively broad shoulders and heavy muscles. But it was his face that truly captured Emory’s attention. Square with a tight black beard, an aquiline nose, and hooded eyes that spoke of sex in a way that had Emory’s body perking up. Blue eyes stared hard at him, staying on his face. The man’s hair was the color of a midnight sky with soft waves swept back off his face.
Well shit, his new client was fucking stunning.
And straight as a board if the signals he was picking up were on point. And they usually were.
Emory didn’t mess around with straight men.
But if there had been an inkling of queerness, client or not, this was the kind of man who’d tempt Emory to break the rules against fraternization. He strode forward and held out his hand. “Hi. I’m Emory Sterling from Protective Solutions. You’re Mr. Davenport?”
“Call me Julien.” Julien shook his hand, his grip strong and sure. “Thank you for coming.”
“Xavier told me that you were attacked by a penumbra. You didn’t see it?”
“No. Just shadowy glimpses.”
“They’re faster than the eyes can follow, so that’s normal.”
Julien’s gaze went over Emory’s shoulder, and he knew the man was looking at his wings.
“Angel?”
Because Xavier had also told him Julien could see past glamours, Emory wasn’t surprised. Still, he felt a faint prickling of unease because his attraction to the man along with his ability made him doubly off limits. The last thing Emory wanted was a soulmate, and these humans who saw past the magic they used to blend into the human population also had the ability to bind with preternaturals for life.
He had to repress a shudder at the thought of that kind of commitment. He much preferred variety and couldn’t imagine a long life spent with one person only. Both his best friends had settled down happily, and good on them. He chose a different life.
So it was better to ignore this attraction altogether.
He realized he hadn’t answered Julien, so he finally nodded. “Yes, an angel. But angels are not what common lore tells you.”
Julien tilted his head. “You mean the beings from Heaven?”
“We’re just another species. I’m from here, same as you.”
Julien nodded, then walked back around his desk to sit down. “I have a lot of work to do, so make yourself comfortable. We’ll be here late.”
Emory blinked at the abrupt dismissal, getting the feeling this man was used to people just following his orders. Probably came with the CEO territory. It was fine with him, so he walked to a space next to the door and did his job. He stood guard.
And it was like he wasn’t even in the room. Julien ignored him as he typed on his computer. Emory took the time to look around the office, noting that there was not one personal item or even any decorations beyond a boring color blotch print on one wall. He doubted it was something Julien had chosen—probably came with the original decor. There wasn’t even a bookcase. Just a desk, two chairs and several file cabinets. His printer was strategically placed on the corner of his desk.
Not one thing told him anything about the man he was guarding.
Hours passed without Julien speaking. Some of their clients were like that. Treating a bodyguard as another piece of furniture. That was fine with Emory and helped quell that first burst of attraction. He much preferred men and women who were friendly and quick with the smiles. This man had permanent frown lines around his eyes and mouth. And he didn’t seem that old. Early thirties by Emory’s guess. He could also guess that Julien was a workaholic. He was in charge of a big company at a young age, and from the fierce concentration as he worked, he’d put in the effort and time to get where he was.