Read What a Demon Wants for Free Online Page A

job.
    She nodded, but clearly was not dissuaded from topic. “Is that because of client confidentiality, or just because you don’t like to explain anything?”
    He had to give it to her, she was tenacious, and she didn’t beat around the bush.
    “It’s a matter of client confidentiality,” he said. That sounded plausible.
    She nodded again, but he could tell that answer didn’t satisfy her. He hadn’t known her long, but he was already detecting a pattern. Nodding, in her case, didn’t mean acceptance.
    “I don’t just do bodyguard work,” he found himself saying in an attempt to beat her to the punch.
    “Really?” Her eyes sparked with curiosity, and he regretted his effort. Great, here come more questions.
    “What else do you do? Besides closet inspections?” She smiled, yet again pleased with her joke.
    His eyes fastened on those full, pink lips.

    “I do a lot of things,” he said, forcing his eyes back to hers. “Basically if you need someone paranormal to deal with something paranormal, then I’m the one for the job.”
    She tilted her head, considering that. “And this other job, it’s not working as a bodyguard?”
    “No.” He’d leave it at that.
    His gaze returned to her lips. They didn’t look any less appealing in a contemplative frown.
    “So what kind of job is it? I mean, give me a vague idea. You know, without going into specifics. After all, I wouldn’t want to overstep the client’s privacy.”
    Like a dog with a bone. He shook his head, his emotions somewhere between annoyance and amusement.
    “Somehow I don’t think you’re that concerned with my client’s privacy,” he said.
    Ellina widened her eyes as if she was offended, then she shrugged. “You’re right.
    I’m not.”
    A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, the sensation almost foreign to him.
    Her pale eyes locked on his mouth, homing in on that slight smile.
    Then she stepped back from him, as if she suddenly needed to put more space between them. And again her line of conversation switched abruptly, which seemed to be commonplace for her.
    “You probably should go with the other job. Really. I have friends I can call should anything happen. And I know how to dial 911.”
    He didn’t answer, and she didn’t wait for him to do so.
    “I’ve got to go write.” With that, she left the room.
    Jude had to give it to her—Ellina’s departures were as abrupt as her questions and subject changes.
    She was right. He should just go, but he couldn’t, even though he knew this job was dangerous. And probably not worth any amount of money.

    Breathe. Breathe.

    This was so bad. Bad, bad, bad.
    She hurried into her office. Ignoring her promise to Jude, Ellina shut her French doors, then leaned against them.
    Damn it. She was finding her reluctant bodyguard attractive. Extremely attractive.
    Like heart-racing, skin-tingling, parts of her body growing moist attractive.
    Which would be fine, if her physical reaction stopped with the heart-racing, skin-tingling parts of her body growing moist part. But her reaction didn’t.
    She carefully lifted her shirt, peering down at her bared stomach. Then she jammed the shirt back down and groaned loudly, letting her head fall back against the door. She waited a moment, eyes squeezed shut, then lifted her shirt again.
    Red scales replaced the pale skin that usually covered her stomach.
    She groaned again.
    Men got erections. Some women’s nipples hardened. When she became aroused, she got scales, horns, and glowing eyes.
    She made a frustrated growl low in her throat and walked over to the window that looked out at her small, enclosed courtyard. She rested her forehead on the cool glass, breathing slowly, willing away her reaction to him. When that didn’t work, she opened the French doors that led outside, letting the winter air waft over her, breathing it deep into her lungs, willing the chill to drive away the heat in her body.
    Gradually the low burn faded, taking the