Renegade Angel

Ember ran a hand through the unruly tangles of her hair, winced as she pulled through innumerable snags. Then she sighed and again looked over at her big, grim-faced chauffeur. Her reaction to him was no less powerful than it had been last night, but this time it was tempered with annoyance. It didn’t stop her from wanting to crawl into his lap, but it did allow her to hang on to her wits this time. Or maybe her body was adjusting to a new, erotically charged baseline.

“Raum, if that really is your name,” she said, and saw by the slight turn of his head that he was listening. “I really don’t feel like I should have to ask, but what the hell is going on?”

He paused. And at least this time, when he answered her, he didn’t sound as if he wanted to fight. It was progress, of a sort.

“I’ve been trying to figure out a way to explain this that doesn’t end with you throwing yourself out of the car,” he said. “So I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you just ask me the things you want to know? And start small.”

She nodded, inadvertently amused. He really did seem to be a man of few words. But as long as he was answering, she could work with it. “Okay,” she said. “Agreed.”

“Good.” He took a deep breath, and Ember realized, suddenly, that Raum was as knotted up as she was. Somehow, knowing that made it easier to start.

“What are you?” she asked.

He considered this for a moment. “Start somewhere else.”

Ember blew out an irritated breath. “Okay, fine. What am I? I’m assuming you’re not unaware of the fact that I was growling and snarling right along with everyone else last night.”

“At least you have a sense of humor about it,” he said. When she just glared at him, waiting for a response, he relented.