“Afraid I’ve a prior engagement, luv.” Her regret was not entirely feigned. “A working girl ’as to earn ’er keep.”
And a debutante cannot dally with a thief, no matter how dashing he is.
“My loss.” He kissed her hand with gallant flair. “Adieu, mademoiselle.”
Bemused by her swoony reaction, she turned toward the door…and saw it opening. As she froze, an arm hooked her waist from behind. A heartbeat later, she was lying on her back atop the desk. With one large hand, the thief manacled both of hers above her head. Stretched helplessly beneath him, she felt a shock of heat low in her belly.
His lips found her ear, his command soft and urgent. “Moan like you’re about to come.”
Simultaneously, she registered that his French accent had slipped a notch and that he was proposing a charade. Although she was a virgin, she was not uninformed and understood what he wanted her to do. She summoned a breathy cry that had a genuine ring. For the thief was kissing her neck, his lips as hot as a brand. As his mouth coursed along the sensitive column, her breasts rubbed against his muscular chest, setting off sparks of pleasure. He roved up to her ear again, suckling the lobe, and she squirmed with irresistible need.
When he wedged a thigh between her legs, another moan broke from her lips. Her private place had grown startlingly wet and rubbing against that sinewy trunk made her even wetter. She couldn’t help seeking more of that wicked friction, arching her hips against him. He grunted, and she felt a poker-like object prodding her thigh.
“Ahem,” a male voice said. “Are we interrupting anything?”
Dear God.Turning her head on the desk, Fiona saw Count von Essen advancing toward them with a doxy on his arm. Fi had nearly forgotten the reason for the stratagem…that it was a stratagem at all.
The thief straightened. Sneaking a glance at him, Fiona felt a flutter when she saw the substantial bulge at the front of his trousers. He was a splendid actor, evincing flawless surprise as he bowed to the newcomers.
“Pardon,” he said. “I did not realize we had company.”
Von Essen harrumphed. “As this is my bedchamber, I did not think it necessary to knock.”
His black mask accentuating his bloated jowls, the count darted a glance at the painting that hid his secrets. Luckily, the thief was meticulous at his trade, leaving no signs of his tampering.
Nonetheless, von Essen eyed him with suspicion. “How did you get in?”
“Dearie me, I’m to blame, milord.” Fi slid off the desk, her tone contrite; she couldn’t let her partner do all the work. “Me and my cust—I mean, this lovely gent ’ere wanted to get be’er acquainted. I brought ’im upstairs, and we found this room open—”
“The door was locked,” von Essen said.
“It wasn’t when we came in,” Fi said brightly. “Maybe one o’ the servants forgot to lock it?”
Before von Essen could reply, his companion cut in.
“What does it matter, luv?” The tart eyed the thief with a sultry interest that made Fi grind her teeth. “They’re ’ere for the same reason we are. Why don’t we ’ave our fun together, eh?”
“Alas,mademoiselle, I am not a man who shares.” The thief nodded to von Essen. “My lord, we will intrude upon your hospitality no longer.”
As he led Fi out of the room, she heard the trollop’s wistful sigh.
“Come,” the thief murmured. “We haven’t long.”
Trusting her instincts, Fi followed him down the corridor and into another bedchamber. He shut the door, shoving a dresser in front of it. Fi rushed to the balcony, estimating the distance to the garden below.
Seconds later, von Essen’s voice boomed through the walls. “I’ve been robbed! Find those bloody thieves!”
Fi had already stripped the sheets off the bed and was knotting them together. The thief helped her. Within moments, they had a makeshift rope. Carrying it to the balcony, the thief secured it to a balustrade, giving it a testing tug before tossing it over the side. Fists pounded on the door; the dresser legs squealed against the floor.
The thief gestured for Fi to climb onto his back.
She did so, wrapping her arms and legs around him.
“Hang on,” he instructed.
He swung them over the balcony. For a terrifying instant, she felt like they were plummeting into nothingness. Then the rope tightened; her fear turned into exhilaration as he expertly navigated their descent against the star-studded sky. She hugged her partner, relishing his rippling strength and coordination. When they touched the ground, she hopped off…and not a moment too soon.
A pair of footmen barreled toward them. The thief dodged the first one’s fist, landing a punch that made the other double over. The second footman ignored Fi and lunged at the thief from behind, trapping him in a burly hold. As the thief struggled to free himself, the first footman recovered, marching over with a bloodthirsty expression.
