Page 33 of The Incubus and the Bodyguard

Cortes had just stepped out of the elevator.

“When the hell did you hack into my security system?” Vlad asked, aghast.

Delphine shrugged. “When I was upstairs just now.”

The doorbell rang.

“Want me to get that?” the super soldier said.

“No,” Vlad ground out. He marched into the foyer and opened the door.

Cortes grinned at him. “Hey.”

“What happened to texting?” Vlad said irritably.

“I was in the neighborhood.” The Colombian strolled past him, Popo looking around curiously as he hopped down onto Tarang’s head. “So, how’d it go with the—” He froze at the sight of Delphine. “Oh.”

Popo squawked, equally shocked.

Vlad pinched the bridge of his nose. The last thing he needed right now was a busybody sorcerer and his meddling familiar butting into what was already a complicated situation.

Delphine’s gaze found Popo.

“So that’s who you were flicking last night,” she muttered.

Cortes frowned at his familiar. “Why did you make yourself visible?”

“It was the shock, my Enrique,” the parrot said, abashed. “Besides, Tarang says she’s a friend.” He stepped sideways on the tiger’s head and leaned his beak close to his ear. “Does this mean the incubus got friendzoned by that sexy lady?” he hissed.

Tarang let out a series of huffs and low growls.

“Oh. Is that right?” Popo straightened and leered at Vlad and Delphine. “They made sweet, passionate love all night—ow!”

Cortes had flicked the bird’s beak.

“I can tell you do that often,” Delphine said leadenly.

“I have a callus forming on my finger,” Cortes muttered. His sharp gaze swung between Delphine and Vlad. “Something tells me you didn’t decide to stay over just because you like this guy,” he told the super soldier.

“I’m standing right here,” Vlad snapped.

“I can see why the two of you get along so well,” Delphine said drily.

Cortes arched an eyebrow. “That was a very smart way to avoid my question.”

Vlad sighed and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “She’s my new bodyguard.”

For once, Cortes looked at a loss for words.

“Your bodyguard?” the Colombian said once he’d regained his composure.

“You know, the one Yuliy hired for my protection detail?” Vlad said irritably.

Cortes blinked. He burst out laughing.

Vlad and Delphine frowned as he doubled over.

“Wait!” the Colombian gasped once he could speak again. “So you two hooked up without knowingyou”—he pointed at Delphine—“would be guardinghim?!” He indicated Vlad before collapsing into laughter once more.

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