Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Emory
Emory normally didn’t sleep a lot when he was guarding a client but that night, he was exhausted from just doing nothing the entire day. He’d followed Julien to his luncheon and then back to the office, where the man said very little to him. Julien’s focus when he was at work was relentless.
Maybe Emory should take a page out of his friend Dax’s book and bring something to read.
It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy reading, it had just been some time since he’d picked up a book.
Normally on jobs, the clients talked with him or he was busier.
This standing around Julien’s office while being completely ignored was harder than he would have thought.
But then, that was because a part of him hated being ignored by this particular man.
He didn’t even know what it was about Julien, other than his good looks and fantastic body, that was drawing his interest. He got the feeling that the man kept such tight control over his life for deeply personal reasons.
He also felt that if anyone needed his world shaken up, it was Julien.
What would he be like if he actually dropped that tightly leashed control and lost himself to passion?
Just the thought of that had Emory’s legs shifting restlessly among the sheets.
He turned onto his side, let out his wings, and closed his eyes, trying in vain to get the rest he needed, but all he could picture was having that loss of control be because of him.
A prickle of dark magic brushed over his skin. He quickly jumped out of bed and ran into the hall only to find Julien there, wearing a pair of black silk pajama pants.
“It’s here, isn’t it?” Julien whispered. “I heard something knocked over in the kitchen, and I knew you were in bed, so I was coming to get you.”
“It is. Stay with me.” Emory crept down the hallway and into the living room.
A low chuckle came out of the darkness.
Out of the corner of his eye, Emory saw a quick-as-lightning streak of black move from one side of the room to the other. He squinted and looked straight ahead, knowing it was easier to spot a penumbra with peripheral vision, and sure enough, it dashed closer to them.
Emory reached behind him, pulled Julien close to him, then stepped back to press Julien into the wall.
“What do you want with this man?” Emory called out.
It merely laughed again. This time, he spotted the black streak as it moved closer, but he was ready for it. He aimed a hard cut to the side and heard a low grunt of pain when he connected with something solid. It darted away, its low laughter trickling into the room.
“Smart angel,” it whispered.
“This smart angel would like to know who hired you. Or do you have a personal beef with him yourself? Wonky cloud storage issue, maybe?”
He heard a snort from Julien behind him.
“Beef?” was all the penumbra asked.
“An issue, something that’s pissed you off.”
Instead of answering, it darted toward him again. He would have ducked, but then he’d be leaving Julien open behind him. This penumbra wasn’t out to kill Julien, though. Not yet. It needed a lot more fear to get its fill.
A punch slammed into his midsection, causing him to let out a huff of pain. But he sucked in another breath of air and swiped his arm out, catching another part of its nearly invisible body. There was a thump as it hit the wall, but again it moved too fast for the eye.
This time, the low, hissy voice came from across the room. “Someone doesn’t like this human.”
“Not good enough,” Emory growled out, still plastered to Julien, so Julien had a face full of his wings—he felt Julien’s breaths ruffling the feathers.
He wasn’t feeling a real threat from this penumbra—not yet.
Normally, their attacks escalated, driving up the fear they fed on, but this one was obviously thrown off by Emory’s presence.
The front door slammed open, and the prickle of magic disappeared.
“Did it leave?” Julien asked, his breath rustling Emory’s feathers again.
“You weren’t exhibiting any fear, so it must have given up this time.” He reluctantly stepped away from Julien, and when he turned to face him, it was to find a fierce frown on Julien’s face.
“There was no need to hide me behind you.”
Emory quirked an eyebrow. “You hired me to protect you.”
“Yes, that’s true.” His frown deepened. “I’m just not normally one to stay back when something is happening.”
“You prefer to be in control,” Emory stated.
“In all things.” Julien looked away from him. “It’s the only way I can exist.”
Surprised by yet another admission, Emory eyed the man closer.
The tight set of his shoulders and his disgruntled expression certainly conveyed his discomfort.
But with the way a penumbra attacked, right behind Emory was the best place for Julien to be.
“I’m sorry if you’re uncomfortable with the way I handled that, but I do think it was best.”
“This whole situation is annoying as hell. All it would say is that someone doesn’t like me.”
“Can you think of anyone that could be?”
“Most people don’t like me, so it could be anyone.” Julien sighed and stepped away from the wall. “I won’t be going back to sleep at this point. Would you like to have tea?”
“Sure.” He followed Julien into the kitchen, unable to keep himself from looking at his body clad in only those black silk pajama bottoms. All that time in the gym certainly showed, especially in the sleek muscles of his back and his tight, round ass.
He barely liked the man, so this crazy attraction made little sense. But it was there nonetheless, burning constantly. A low hum of heat and curiosity and that pervasive need to ruffle him up a bit.
Julien’s movements were very precise as he got down mugs and filled his kettle.
“Think I’ll join you in the black tea and honey.
” He turned and leaned his hip against the counter.
“So obviously you were right and someone hired this thing. I am trying to think of who that could be, and honestly, the list is long. I’ve fired employees, and there are even a few members of my board who don’t hold me in high favor. ”
“Why is that?”
“Because I will always run my company as I see fit. The shareholders are welcome to air their concerns, but it boils down to my decisions.”
“Give me their names, and I can look into them. Are any of them preternaturals?”
Julien nodded. “There are three on the board. One I’m pretty sure is a wizard and two elves. But those aren’t the ones who find issue with me, so I doubt they’re behind this. I do have my suspicions right now as to who could be doing this, and unfortunately, I considered the man sort of a friend.”
“The one you met for lunch?”
“Yes. He’s my chief financial officer, and there are problems in financials.
If he’s skimming, he knows I’ll find it, no matter how hard he tries to cover it up.
But this could also be related to some data I found and turned over to your employer.
Were you aware that powerful preternaturals were gathering here in the city? ”
“I was not, though I did know more preternaturals have been coming here because of the growing magic in the ley lines. If powerful beings are gathering, that probably means something truly bad.” He paused. “Are they aware that you turned this information over to Xavier?”
“No. It goes against our policies, but I was concerned enough to seek supernatural help. And who knows? Maybe they did figure it out. But why not send something to just kill me instead of a creature that draws things out like this? That doesn’t make sense.”
Emory considered all the information for a moment.
“I honestly think the two things aren’t related.
Whoever sent the penumbra wanted this drawn out.
It’s possible it wasn’t sent to kill you at all, just fuck up your life.
Maybe distract you from the information you found. Who would you think would want that?”
“The same man I mentioned before.” The kettle whistled, and Julien poured the hot water over the tea bags in the mugs. He poured some honey into his own mug before handing the bottle to Emory.
But surprisingly, he didn’t move out of the way when Emory stepped forward to doctor his own tea. Their bodies brushed against each other, and when Emory looked back into Julien’s face, it was to find those hooded eyes zeroed in on his lips.
Emory went perfectly still, lust humming low in his gut.
Julien’s gaze lifted and their eyes locked.
They stayed frozen like that until Julien cleared his throat and stepped away, breaking whatever the hell that was.
He took his tea to the table and sat on the built-in cushioned bench along the wall.
“I’m going to dig harder into the financials and figure out exactly what’s going on before I question William.
Come fully prepared. I think my colleague is stealing from me, and I plan to find out exactly how. ”
Emory took a chair across from him and sipped the hot tea, the honey nicely sweet. He had to work hard not to look at Julien’s bare chest. The man was thick with muscle—not surprising with how much he worked out. He had a sexy T-shape of dark hair over his pecs that trailed down his stomach.
“If your CFO is stealing, then you’re right to think he may have hired the penumbra.
At lunch, I sensed he’s a wizard, though his power is minimal.
But as a wizard, he’d have the access for that hire.
His reasoning doesn’t make a lot of sense, though.
He obviously doesn’t want you dead—maybe as I said…
just distracted? Long enough to doctor the books? ”
“I honestly believe he’s been doctoring them all along.
I’ll figure it out. Confront him. He hasn’t been his usual polished self for a while now, so something is obviously going on.
” Julien looked down at the mug he held in one hand before raising it to sip the liquid.
His gaze flitted back up to Emory and roamed over his chest before coming back up to his mouth.
The man held an obvious fascination with Emory’s lips.
He must have realized he was staring because he cleared his throat and looked away. “Tell me about angels. You said that the human idea of angels is incorrect, that you’re from here just like I am.”
“Yes, we aren’t heavenly beings who came to earth to live.
As I said, we’re a species just as demons are.
They aren’t from some kind of hell dimension.
As for angels… Well, a lot of them are adamantly against having children with humans and other species—they believe the species should be kept pure.
I had a human mother, so I wasn’t too popular among those particular angels.
But what sets us apart is the wings, of course, and different abilities.
I can move things with my mind, and I’m strong.
Though strength is a standard thing that sets all preternaturals apart. ”
“It must be amazing to be able to fly.”
“It is.” Emory bit his lip to keep him from blurting out that he no longer could. It wasn’t something he liked to share, so he changed the subject. “What do you do beside work? Any hobbies?”
Julien shook his head. “I’m hideously boring. No hobbies or interests outside of my business. It takes a lot to run that company, and I’m so focused on that, I don’t do much else.”
“I noticed you don’t even have a television.”
Shrugging, Julien lifted his mug to his lips and sipped before setting it back down. “I do watch the occasional movie, just on my laptop.”
“I’m the opposite. Love shows and movies and I really love my huge television screen.
” His voice trailed off when he noticed Julien staring at his mouth again.
Heat coiled low in his stomach as a hint of interest flared in Julien’s eyes as they came back up to meet his.
Did the man realize he held a fascination with Emory’s lips?
Their stare picked up in intensity, and Emory couldn’t help but lick his lips. Julien’s gaze dropped instantly, his lips parting and his expression glazing over like he was imagining kissing Emory.
Emory suddenly couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t even remember what they’d been talking about. His eyes widened as the absolute strength of this attraction barreled through him. He cast about for some way to break the tension, but it just seemed to increase.
“What the fuck?” Julien whispered as his face flushed.
He suddenly jumped to his feet and cleared his throat.
“I’m hitting the gym. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen.
” His movements weren’t as coordinated as usual as he set his mug in the sink.
He didn’t look at Emory again as he hurried from the kitchen.
Emory just sat still, stunned by whatever the hell that had been.
His body was awash with lust on a scale he’d never experienced.
He should be running, but he was too damn fascinated.
And Julien might think of himself as a straight man, but he’d just looked at Emory with a desire that had bordered on actual need.
Emory couldn’t help but wonder if he even realized that.