“The imperial expression on the woman’s face almost quivered into a smile. “Don’t forget the button in the corner,” she said, pointing to the floor. “That’s an expensive shirt.”

“Doing some mental maths, Kat realised she wasn’t even ovulating, the time of month when hormones and instinct reminded her that she was at the end of a very long, evolutionary line of successful couplings on the savannah. At that time, even newsreaders could suddenly morph into enticing reproductive candidates.”

“She frowned at the message on his T-shirt: IT ONLYSEEMS KINKY THE FIRST TIME.“It was a gift,” he said.“From Satan?”Something that looked almost like a smile flickered across his face and then disappeared. “You don’t like it, you know what you can do about it.” Hecleared another snarl of water hyacinths.“What if a child saw that shirt?”“Seen any kids today?” He shifted his weight slightly on the seat. “You’re making me sorry I lost my favorite one.” She turned back to the bow. “Idon’t want to hear.”“It says, ‘I’m al for gay marriage as long as both bitches are hot.”

“It isn’t fair, but maybe that’s the whole point. Fairness has no part in real life, and she took that lesson away from the Hotel Angeline with her.”

“Her mouth trembled and parted and she began to gasp in light, shallow breaths that made her flushed breasts quiver deliciously, invitingly… He bent and touched a stiff pink nipple experimentally with his mouth, very gently. She jerked and cried out, exploding beneath him in a series of violent convulsions that almost unseated him.”

“I think that’s everything,” she said, rising to her feet. “Thank you, Mr. MacIntyre.”He shook his head. “Lucas. Or the deal is off.”She pressed her lips together. “All right. Lucas. And I must tell you, I don’t particularly care for you shortening my name. Emily is perfectly fine.”“I know, Em. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Penryn? Who are you talking to?” My mother sounds almost frantic now.“Just my own personal demon, Mom. Don’t worry. He’s just a little weakling.”Weak or not, we both know he could have killed me if that’s what he wanted. I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing I was scared, though.“Oh.” She sounds calm suddenly, as if that explained everything. “Okay. Don’t underestimate them. And don’t make them promises you can’t keep.” I can tell by her fading voice as she says this that she’s reassured and walking away.The baffled look the angel shoots at the door makes me chuckle. He glances my way, giving me a you’re-weirder-than-your-mom look.”