‘Beliel is not her big sister, and he didn’t raise her either.’

‘Call me a sentimentalist, but I like the idea of you in one piece. Besides, she’s not the only one who might be interested in your tasty flesh.’

I tilt my head. ‘Who told you I was tasty?’

‘Haven’t you heard that old saying? Tasty as a fool?’

‘You made that up.’

‘Huh. Must be an angelic saying. It’s to warn the foolish about things that go bump in the night.’

‘It’s daytime.’

‘Ah. So you don’t deny that you’re foolish?’ He finally opens his eyes with a grin. But his expression goes slack when he sees all of me.

‘What are you wearing?’ He scans over my outfit.

I was so comfortable that I’d forgotten I’m wearing the cropped T-shirt and stretchy shorts. I glance down at myself, wondering if I should be self-conscious. I’m reasonably covered except for my midriff, and I guess I’m showing more of my legs than usual.

‘This coming from a guy who runs around shirtless all the time?’ Of course, I kind of like him shirtless and showing off his six-pack abs, but I don’t mention that.

‘It’s hard to wear a shirt when you’ve got wings. Besides, I haven’t heard complaints.’

‘Don’t let it get to your head, Raffe. You haven’t heard compliments either.’ I want to say that we have plenty of guys who look just as good as he does, but that’d be a total lie.

He’s still scrutinizing my outfit. ‘Are you wearing men’s shorts?’

‘I guess so. But they fit.’

‘Whose are they?’

‘Nobody’s. I found them in a drawer.’

He reaches over and pulls a thread off the frayed leg. It unravels, slowly winding its way around my thigh and incrementally shortening the already short shorts.

‘What would you do if you had to make a run for it?’ His voice is husky as he stares, mesmerized, at the unraveling thread.

‘I’d grab my shoes and run.’

‘Dressed like this? In front of lawless men?’ His eyes drift up to my midriff.

‘If you’re worried about pervs breaking into the house, it’s not going to make a difference whether I’m in this outfit or in baggy jeans and a sweatshirt. Either they’re decent human beings or they’re not. Their actions are on them.’

‘It’ll be tough for them to take any action while I’m pummeling their faces. Disrespect will not be tolerated.’

I half smile at him. ‘Because you’re all about respect.’

He sighs as if a little disgusted with himself. ‘Lately, I seem to be all about you.’

‘What makes you say that?’ I wish my voice didn’t sound so breathless.

‘I’m sitting on the hard floor outside your door while you take a cozy little nap, aren’t I?’