Page 67 of Playing with Fire

I sucked in a breath, shoved away from Perky, and squealed, “Not the halo! Or the singing. Or the smiting. But please, please, not the halo!”

Quinn cracked up laughing, lifted his hand, and peeled the angel’s fingers away from his mouth. “Maybe you should step outside for this, Gardener. Perkins, why don’t you go with her and maybe cover her ears. If she faints, try to catch her, would you?”

“You just want to watch, don’t you?” Perky accused.

“Yes.”

By the book, I was supposed to walk away from dangerous individuals to avoid drawing unwanted attention. If the angel wanted to chase me, could I really get away in time anyway? I ran all the way to Perky’s SUV and hid under Quinn’s blanket so I wouldn’t have to witness when the angel smited my parents, no matter how much they deserved it.

Smote. Whatever.

Chapter Sixteen

>If that bothers you, wait until she calls the incubus ‘Father.’

The SUV’s door opened, and Quinn laughed, a soft, gentle sound. “You can come out now. The smiting is all over. I have your documents, and those devil spawn are gone. I’m really, really sorry. I meant to get rid of them before Perkins got you moving.”

I wrapped the blanket tighter around me. “You called my parents. Hadn’t I told you they were assholes?”

“You hadn’t. I’d heard rumors about them, but I had no idea they were anywhere near as bad as I’d been told. They’re the absolute worst. My parents are infinitely superior, and they want to meet you.” Quinn tugged at the blanket. “If you don’t come out, I just thought you should know I’m manly enough to carry you inside, blanket and all.”

“That woman called the angel her dad, Quinn. I didn’t think angels had gender.”

“If that bothers you, wait until she calls the incubus ‘Father.’”

“Wait. What? Both of them? Is she adopted or something?”

“No, she’s really their daughter. When an angel falls in love with a human enough to have children, they need to ask an incubus or succubus for help. Since my grandfather loved my human grandmother, I ended up with an extra grandfather. Yes, it’s as weird as it sounds.”

“You’re part angel.”

“And part incubus, too.”

Well, that explained a few things. “But you look human.”

“On paper, I’m about as human as it gets, although I have a magic rating that exceeds the norms a little.”

Holy hell. Quinn really was my heaven and hell rolled together into one sexy package. “That couple in there. They’re your parents?”

“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t expecting them, either. I walked in and they were waiting for me, looking smug. They’re really, really good at that.”

The angel manifested in the seat beside me. “It really is safe to come out now.”

I screamed, launched out of the SUV, and ended up trapped in Quinn’s arms, half tangled in his blanket. “Y-y-you demonic angel! You did that on purpose.”

“Yes, I did. She is so much fun, little one.”

Quinn sighed and rested his forehead against me. “I told you angels were jerks.”

“I like her, little one. Marry her before she gets away. I didn’t go through so much trouble to watch you squander such a nice opportunity.” The angel disappeared in a column of golden light, and I clung to Quinn in case it—he—returned.

“Did he just say marry?”

“He may have.”

“Me, marry you?”

“You know, thinking about it, that would be nice. Then, if a gorgon even looks at you funny, I can assault him, too. No court would convict me for protecting my wife. I like it. Did you know that’s how gorgons solve disputes over lovers? With violence. Lots of violence. Lots of violence I’d be legally allowed to participate in. I like it.”