An Angel on A Demon's Shoulder (A BBW Paranormal Romance) (Demon Brothers' Trilogy Book 3) (3 page)

She mentally slapped a hand over her mouth at her language. But damn it, she might be an angel, but she was also a woman.

He opened his back door and ushered her inside. The cool air hit her, and she went into a full body shiver. Wrapping her arms around herself, she rubbed her arms. She heard a grunted curse and then a heavy weight fell on her shoulder. The scent of him surrounded her. She pulled the two sides of the sweater he’d give her close. “Thank you.”

Another grunt greeted her. “I’m going to go put some clothes on.”

“Don’t do it on my account,” Clementine murmured as he left the room, her eyes eating at him hungrily. Oh, what she wouldn’t give for that towel to fall off.

She stood in the center of the room not feeling comfortable to walk around. So she waited just as he’d left. In just a few moments, he was back, dressed as he usually was. Jeans and a dark t-shirt. He walked to the stove and turned on a burner, reaching above the island for a small pot. She watched, mesmerized by his actions as he retrieved milk from the refrigerator and a bottle of chocolate syrup from a large pantry. She realized he was making hot chocolate. She crept forward until she stood at the end of the island.

“Sit down.” He ordered, and she did, taking a seat on one of the padded barstools. In minutes, a steaming cup of chocolate was in front of her. “Now tell me why Luc sent you to my house.”

She took a sip wondering how she should handle this. Either way, he was going to be mad as hell, she thought with a grimace. She took another sip of the devilishly delicious drink. This, plus his sweater, was warming her up nicely.

She sat down her cup. “This should explain everything.” She waved her hand, and a parchment scroll appeared before Remington.

He grabbed it without saying a word. She braced herself, knowing that silence wouldn’t last. Not once he read what the scroll said.

Remington grabbed the scroll, keeping his eyes on Clementine as if she might disappear into thin air even though she couldn’t open portals at will. He could. All of the Conroy brothers had powers they’d inherited from their parents. Rafe could throw fireballs, and Roark could conjure things with just a thought. Remington could open portals and do a few extra things he didn’t think his family was aware of.

Of course, his brothers used to have extra powers as well when they worked for the Prince of Darkness. Those had been taken away once the curse that had kept them in servitude had been lifted. Roark, who had chosen to continue his job as a bounty hunter, had gotten back his powers.

Opening the yellowed paper, he began to read—and grew more enraged the more he read. He’d been assigned to act as Clementine’s bodyguard. He looked up at the woman sitting so calmly at his kitchen counter. “What the fuck?”

“It wasn’t my idea.”

“I don’t fucking care whose idea it is, why the fuck do you need a bodyguard?” Oh, he was outraged that he was being pulled from his regular duties to play babysitter for an angel. Why wouldn’t he be? He was Luc’s top hunter. His job was to take on the more dangerous of beings who decided hell just wasn’t working out for them. But what got his demon’s blood boiling was the fact that she apparently needed his protection. He glanced back down at the paper in his hand, hoping for more details. Nothing else was written. As he formed his next thought, the paper ignited and was gone, a small cloud of ashes all that remained. They disappeared too.

He stepped to the counter, placed his hands on the marble top and leaned over until he was inches from her beautiful face. For a brief moment, he forgot everything. Everything except the dark brown of her eyes, the pink bow of her upper lip, the soft hint of chocolate of her breath. A sharp prod from his demon brought him back to his senses. The creature had always been overly protective of Clementine.

“Why do you need a bodyguard, Clementine?”

“I don’t need one, Remington. Luc is just overreacting.” She lowered her eyes, a sure indication that she was lying to him, or withholding information he needed to have. He held on to his temper—barely.

“Okay. Then tell me why you think he thinks you need a bodyguard.”

She sighed and hugged his sweater closer. A shudder of awareness ripped through him. Here she was in his house, wearing his clothes… focus, Rem, focus.

“A dark fae, may—and I stress that word—may have made some threats towards me.”

Remington grew still. “A dark fae?”

Fae were usually small, female beings who radiated goodness and light. Dark fae were… different. A male-dominated species that could range in size from one or two feet in stature to over seven. Unlike their sister race, they were dark in coloring and dark in nature.

“Why is a dark fae threatening you, Clementine?”

“It’s not just me he’s threatening, although he has been more forceful because I did go out with him—”

“What!” Remington roared, his voice almost loud enough to shatter the glass in his kitchen windows.

Clementine’s hand clamped over her ears. An angel’s hearing was very sensitive.

“You went out with a dark fae? What were you thinking? Better yet, what was my mother thinking?” Remington pushed himself away from the counter and away from her. He started pacing the kitchen floor, his fingers running through his hair. He’d known she was dating, was the very reason why he’d kissed her, not once, but twice. His ego had refused to allow her to see other men and not acknowledge he was a man.

She wasn’t supposed to date. She was an angel. Pure. Innocent. Okay, he knew angels had sex. He was the result of an angel having sex. But still… not her. She was—

Damn it to hell and back, she was his.

“I’m a grown woman, Remington. I can date whomever I want. With or without your mother’s permission. Or yours, might I remind you.”

He stopped pacing and turned her way. He knew his eyes were glowing and wasn’t surprised to see her shift on her seat. He had to give her credit for not up and running. Lesser beings had. He silently urged her to run so he could catch her. But she was correct. It wasn’t any of his business. Yet.

“You said he wasn’t just threatening you. Who else?” He knew he wasn’t going to like her answer when she bit her lower lip. A sure sign she was nervous. “Clementine?”

“Your mother. He’s also threatening your mother.”

Shit. Damn. Fuck. Fuck. He raised his arms, gripping his head with the hands. He wasn’t surprised. Since his mother had taken Clementine on as her assistant, they had been in more trouble than he’d ever remembered. They were both softhearted, and fierce warriors all wrapped up in frail female bodies. “What did you two do this time?”

Clementine frowned. “We didn’t do anything. We simply took his children and placed them with another family member.”

Angels were the ‘social workers’ of the supernatural world and his mother had been doing the same type of work since before her children had been born. He didn’t doubt that what they had done had been in the best interest of the children, but they could have tangled with a being far less dangerous than a dark fae.

“Come on. We’re leaving.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. In seconds, a portal had opened, and they were traveling through space and time.

Clementine gasped as Remington pulled her behind him into the portal. She didn’t have to guess to know where they were headed. Her guess was confirmed when she found herself in the home of her employer, Rachel Conroy. When the portal collapsed, she clung to Remington’s arm as dizziness assailed her. She never did like going through portals.

“Remington! Clementine! What on earth are you doing here?”

Remington grimaced when his mother jumped off his father’s lap from the leather chair they’d been sharing. He’d learned long ago not to unexpectedly portal in where his parents were concerned. He still cringed when he remembered the scene he’d walked in on when he’d accidently opened a portal to their bedroom when he was a teenager. He’d received much more than a slap on the back of his head for that one. “Sorry,” he apologized quickly.

His father rose to his feet. “Don’t worry about it son, the good stuff doesn’t happen until the after midnight.”

“Ravjeer!” Remington had to smile when a deep shade of pink flooded his mother’s cheek. She quickly turned her attention back to Remington. “What are you doing here, son?”

Remington pulled Clementine forward from where she’d been hiding slightly behind him. “She told me about your problem, Mother.”

Rachel waved her hand. “Oh, that. It’s nothing.”

“Nothing? A dark fae is after both of you.” He turned his attention to his father. “Did you know about this?”

His father frowned at him. “Yes, son. I did. In fact, I’m the one that told Luc.”

“Why is Luc involved?”

His parents exchanged a look. “The dark fae is one of his.”

For some reason, Remington wasn’t shocked by that fact. Everything started to make sense. Except why Clementine had been dating a dark fae to begin with. “He’s a hunter?”

“Afraid so.”

“I need to see Luc.”

“Of course.”

He turned to Clementine, resisting the urge to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless. “You’re staying here with my parents. When I get back, we’ll figure something out.” He wasn’t sure being her bodyguard was a good idea, but his demon was refusing to allow him to turn her safety over to someone else.

“I want to go with you. I didn’t ask for this you know.”

He didn’t answer. There was nothing to say. If Luc decided she needed a bodyguard, then she needed a bodyguard. Luc was all about letting the chips fall where they may. Free will usually landed humans and supernaturals alike on his doorstep. Bad decisions were always made in the heat of the moment. Remington opened a portal and was gone before she could say anything else.

CLEMENTINE WATCHED AS
Remington poofed out of sight before turning her attention to her reluctant hosts. “Well, that was rude.” She forced a wide smile as she met her employer’s eyes. “I’m sorry we interrupted your evening.”

“Nonsense, Clementine. You know you are always welcome here.”

“Thank you.” She walked to the oversized stuffed chair and sat down, her legs still trembling from the ride through the portal. She’d never get used to those things. Ravjeer and Rachel sat down on the couch, side-by-side. She’d never seen the couple together when they weren’t touching in some way.

In hell for the second time that night, Remington opened a portal at the end of the long granite hallway that led to Luc’s office. He needed the time to get his emotions under control. Emotions. Something he’d spent his entire adult life trying to oppress. He’d seen what they could do to a man—a demon caught unawares. His family had suffered under the burden of a curse because some demon ancestor couldn’t keep his ‘emotions’ under control.

A witch who had gotten her panties in a wad had cursed the Conroy family to servitude under the Prince of Darkness until a demon fell in love with a witch—and the witch loved him back. Thankfully, his older brother Roark had done just that. Even better, the curvy witch he’d lost his heart to felt the same way. And voila. Curse lifted.

But Remington had learned that lesson already. Emotions equaled loss of freedom—one way or the other.

As he neared the door, the two Egyptian guards opened the opulent doors, not even questioning why Remington was roaring down the hallway. Not for the first time, he wondered what the two had done that had bound them in servitude. “Gentleman,” he said as he passed by. They didn’t speak, they didn’t move. Par for the course in the realm of hell. You did what you were told.

Remington walked through the door, and it immediately closed behind him. Luc’s office took up hundreds of square feet and Remington wasted no time crossing the vast expanse to the large seating area. He had to smile when he saw the roaring fire in the granite fireplace. A fire in hell, how ironic. It gave off no heat. But then, that was how most of the flames in hell were. Only those areas where souls were being punished did the fire in hell produce heat. And then they had the ability to sear flesh from the bone with just a touch.

He shuddered again in sympathy for Rafe who had suffered such a fate when he’d escaped to search for his mate and the mother of his child as it turned out. Of course, all three of the Conroy brothers had seared their skin when they were younger and snuck out of hell to chase a piece of tail.

“It took you long enough.”

Remington watched as the leather chair slowly turned to face him. In it was the Prince of Darkness himself, his boss, Luc. It didn’t surprise him that Luc knew he would show up when he got the scroll from Clementine. In fact, remembering the guard’s lack of surprise, it had probably been his intention all along. It also made him realize there was more to this than just being Clementine bodyguard although that was enough. The thought of her being in danger…

“What the hell were you doing allowing her to date a dark fae?”

“Allowing her? Who do you think I am, Remington? Her father?”

“No, but she’s an angel.”

“But not a fallen angel, I’m afraid.” For a moment, Remington thought the other man sounded disappointment by the fact. Did Luc long for a family of his own?

“Don’t fuck around with me, Luc.”

“Don’t swing that way.”

“Yeah, right.” Remington had to dodge a ball of fire Luc threw his way before taking a seat on a matching leather chair. “So why me?”

“Really, Remington? You might be able to fool her parents and brothers but not me. You’ve had the hots for that sweet little angel since she started working for you, mother.”

Remington felt his anger rise at the almost insolent tone Luc used to describe Clementine. But the man was right, and he didn’t quite cross that line of disrespecting her. At least he didn’t cross it enough for Remington to react.  “Tell me about the dark fae.”

“You’ve worked with him a time or two. Eric Smith I believe is what he goes by.”

“Son of a bitch,” Remington cursed. He’d worked with the dark fae all right. The damn man had almost gotten him killed. Their bounty had perished—and for no good reason. Remington wasn’t above removing dark souls from the universe. Some beings just needed to cease to exist. But the troll they’d been after hadn’t been one of those. Misguided. Kinky and perverted, yeah. But not evil.

“Pretty much.”

“How the hell did Clementine and my mother get involved with the bastard?”

Luc ran two fingers along the seam of his immaculacy pressed trousers. “Clementine had a couple of dates with him. He introduced her to his family and—”

“And she discovered he wasn’t such a nice guy.”

“Yep. Apparently, he had dark magic tutors for his children and kept them behind iron doors.” Prolonged exposure to iron made a dark fae weak.

“Their mother?”

“I have someone looking for her. It doesn’t look good.”

“And now he’s after Clementine?”

“And your mother.”

“My father will take care of my mother.”

Ravjeer Conroy was still one tough bastard. In fact, he was only one of two demons Remington had seen Luc back down from. The other was his brother Roark’s new father-in-law, Ephraim.

“And you’ll take care of Clementine.” It was a statement, not a question because both men knew Remington would indeed take care of Clementine.

~*~

Clementine didn’t know how long Remington had been gone, but she felt like a third wheel in her employer’s living room. She’d spent countless hours with the couple in the past. Tonight was different, though. It was near midnight, and she knew Remington’s unexpected appearance had disrupted something romantic.  It made her happy to know the couple still had so much love and affection for each other.

She rose from the leather chair, excusing herself and walking into the kitchen. The Conroys hadn't lived in the house very long, but finally, the couple was unpacked. They had never had a residence in the earthly realm, dividing their time between heaven and hell as they’d raised their three demon sons. That had changed with the addition of two daughter-in-laws who were both part human.

Deciding she needed some air, as quietly as she could, she opened one of the glass doors leading out to the oversized deck in back. The basic layout resembled Remington’s with a pool and sitting areas spread out across the space. But here, flowers and greenery exploded. Remington’s was somewhat barren with more of a desert landscape.

The night was still cool so she tightened Remington’s sweater around her. Before she could make her way to one of the inviting lounge chair surrounding the pool, she felt a presence beside her. Angels really didn’t have much in the way of defenses. Yes, they could levitate—not fly as myths would have humans believe—but not much else. They, could, however, scream.

Before she could open her mouth to alert Rachel and Ravjeer, a hand clasped over her mouth, and she felt herself being pushed, her back hitting the side of the house. Her eyes widened when she realized it was Remington’s hand covering her mouth and his hard body covering hers. She clasped his wrist and eased his fingers away. “What are you doing?” she whispered, not wanting his parents to come rushing outside.

“The question is, what are you doing?” He pressed a little closer. “I thought I told you to stay inside.”

“No, you told me to stay with your parents.”

“Inside, Clementine.”

“Next time, you’ll have to be more specific.”

“Next time, I’ll put you over my knee and spank your round ass unit it’s redder than the fires of hell.”

Suddenly he stilled. “Damn it.” He pulled away, straightening her clothes and stepping away until over two feet of space separated them. She gazed at his face and her breath caught at the sober expression shadowing his eyes. She wasn’t expecting that look. Maybe slumberous desire. But not that… almost desperate longing.

The outside door opened, and Rachel and Ravjeer stepped out. “Clementine. Are you out here?” Rachel’s voice held a slight note of panic.

Clementine stepped out of the shadows, pulling the sweater over her chest to hide the evidence of her arousal. Her nipples were diamond points of pain. “I’m right here. I just needed a breath of fresh air.”

“Remington wouldn’t like you taking off like that,” Ravjeer spoke up.

“I know.” Clementine prayed the other couple couldn’t see the pink staining her cheeks as she remembered exactly what Remington said he’d do if she did sneak off again. Not that she had been sneaking. But… the thought of doing something he’d disapprove of and being punished for it sent moisture flooding her still aching pussy.

“I don’t think she’ll be doing that again, Dad. Will you Clementine?” Remington stepped out of the shadows and placed his two big hands on her shoulders.

“I’m not making any promises.” She grinned at Rachel. She knew how the older woman liked to defy her mate. Mate. Was that even a possibility with Remington?

No. Remember the vision. While it was true angels didn’t have any defenses, they sometimes were born with a special talent. Clementine has visions. Unfortunately, there was no rhyme or rhythm to her visions. When she’d first met Remington, she’d had a vision. It was had been of him, standing to the side, as she walked down the aisle in her wedding dress—towards another man.

“So what did you discover from Luc, son?”

Remington grimaced. “Probably nothing more than you already knew.”

Ravjeer grunted in response.

“Well, I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m ready for bed,” Rachel smiled and looked at her husband.

Clementina cleared her throat. She was ready for bed too—for a totally different reason. Well, maybe not, seeing the gleam in Ravjeer’s eyes. This just embarrassed her completely.

“Right. We’ll get out of your hair.” Remington spoke behind her. “Ready to go?”

“Umm.” Before she could say anything else, a portal opened, and Remington was ushering her away. She wasn’t surprised when the portal opened back into Remington’s kitchen. This was going to be the tough part. Once she got her equilibrium back, she asked, “Could you take me to my place, please?”

“No.” He turned away from her and started toward the back of the house.

She almost had to run to keep up with him. “What do you mean, no?”

“No, I can’t take you back to your house, because you’re staying here.”

“Oh, come on, Remington. I can’t stay here. With you.” Alone. That was just asking too much of her good-girl restraint. Everyone had a breaking point. Even an angel.

“Luc’s order says I’m your bodyguard until the dark fae is found. Since I’m not the one tracking the dark fae that could take a week, maybe more.”

Clementine rolled her eyes at his ego-boosting comment. “That doesn’t mean—”

He stopped and turned around so quickly that she ran into his hard chest before she could stop herself. “That means exactly that. You and me. Joined at the hips until this guy is caught.”

The picture of them in his bed joined at the hips, raced through her mind. For a week. Maybe that would take the edge off her hunger for this off-limits demon.

“I—”

“Not up for discussion, sweetheart. Now get into bed.” He reached behind her and opened a door. She would have fallen if he hadn’t caught her to him. For the second time that night she felt the hard press of his body against hers.

If only he would see her as something other than his mother’s assistant.

As the door opened behind her, he turned her around, and they were inside a bedroom. His bedroom she realized instantly. While the rest of his house was beautifully decorated, here, it had taken on the personality of its owner. Rich, deep colors filled the room. A light brown carpet, navy bedspread and dark tan walls.

The bed was king-size—well more than king-sized. She remembered Rachel telling her he’d had it specially made. He would have had to, considering he was the most massive man Clementine had ever seen. His shoulders were so wide he probably had to worry about making it through doorframes. He was so big and strong he made her, chubby angel Clementine, feel small and fragile. Of course, all the Conroy males were over the top—tall, broad, and handsome as sin. But Remington was the cream of the crop, at least in Clementine’s opinion.

“This is your bedroom.” She made the statement in a clear, calm voice.

“Yep. I can’t very well guard you from across the hall, now can I?”

“I think that’s a bit extreme, don’t you?” While Clementine had accepted the fact that she did need someone with her until the dark fae was found, she thought Remington was suddenly taking his bodyguard duties to the extreme. What had Luc told him? She looked at Remington, trying to get a read on him.

She watched as he walked towards her and for a moment, she saw the same flare of awareness flash in his dark brown eyes she’d noticed outside his parents’ house. She froze, and he just smiled as he stepped around her. Smiled as if he knew exactly what his presence did to her. Damn it.