She gave a little gasp and went boneless, her body melding to his. For an instant he had a vision of what it would be like to have her naked, her body twisting beneath him. Shed be lightning in a mans arms, strobing heat and emotion. Making love to her would be like plunging into a chasm of wicked flames. Damned if he wasnt beginning to believe itd be worth the fall.
Dragging his mouth from hers, he found himself distracted by the pulse beating wildly beneath her jaw. Try the front one. He breathed the words into her ear before taking the lobe between his teeth.
What?
It pleased him that her voice wasnt quite steady. Try my front pocket. My wallets not in there either, but you might find something else of interest nearby.
He was prepared for her reaction, so he caught her fists in his hand before she could use them on him. Her struggles brought her hip into sharp contact with his injured thigh. He grunted, the now familiar pain lancing through him. He solved the problem by simply wrapping his arms around her and bringing her too tightly against him to wreak anymore damage. He hoped.
Vous êtes fils dune chienne!
Insulting my parentage isnt going to solve anything. What were you looking for, anyway? Not money, since I doubt you need it. ID? Her sharply hissed breath was its own answer. As much as I was enjoying the search, I dont carry ID with me. You never know when a gorgeous woman will use her clever fingers to pick your pockets.
Juliette glared at him, and he took a moment to appreciate the storm in her eyes. So he had only himself to blame when she stomped her stiletto heel sharply into his foot.
Dammit! The resulting throb served as a vivid reminder of the seriousness of this encounter. He gave her a little shake. Settle down. Were attracting attention.
She obeyed, but her voice when it came was a dangerous purr. You dare to call me a pickpocket? I could go to those gallery doors and have a dozen men rush to defend my honor for that insult alone.
Funny how the term pickpocket offends you more than thief. Ill keep that in mind. But we both know that you arent going to summon any of your admirers from in there.
She tipped her head back defiantly. Do we? And why is that?
Because Im about to tell you everything Ive found out about Juliette Morrow. It isnt much, all things considered. Given enough time, Im sure I could discover more. And he wished, more than was comfortable, that he had that kind of time. Wished for answers to questions better not asked. Better not considered.
She yanked at her hands, and, because he thought her temper had passed, he released her. If you had done near the research you claim, you would have learned that le petit voleur is a man, hence the name. Her shoulders straightened, as if daring him to disagree. I think youll agree that I am very much a female.
His mouth quirked. I can certainly attest to the last statement, but the presss nickname is merely a reflection of perception, isnt it? Who would expect the most notorious thief on the continent to be a young woman?
She gave him a pitying glance. I am not sure what kind of women you are used to in America. In France, we understand that females are far different from males. We lack the strength, the daring necessary for the feats you accuse me of. Her hand went to her chest, one finger absently traced the bodice where material met bare skin. It was a maneuver meant to underscore her words, to draw attention to her femininity. In my country, we accept those differences. Weembrace them. Her voice trailed off suggestively.
He was hard-pressed to know whether to kiss her or applaud. In the end, he did neither. Bet those words were hard to say. But then, acting is part of your role, isnt it? He knew by the heat in her gaze that hed scored a direct hit. It doesnt matter. We both know you dont mean them. Youve been thumbing your nose at the rest of the world for so long I doubt you remember where the pretense ends and you really begin. There was a flash of expression on her face, there and gone too quickly to be identified. But he had the feeling that fleeting as it was, it was the first true response shed shown him all evening.
You know nothing about me.
Raising his brows, he said, No? How about if I just run through my information and you can see for yourself? He leaned back a little and let the railing behind him take some of the weight off his leg. Its a convoluted little past youve concocted, and I have to hand it to you, damn hard to check out. Born at home outside Savignytaken to live in Sweden when you were an infantof course, before your birth could be recorded.
She reached up, smoothed a tendril of hair back from her face. There wasnt time. My mother was very much in love with my father, and he wanted to take her back to his home country.
So much in love with her that he didnt bother to marry her, but hey, I guess that would have left a paper trail, too, so you were wise to avoid that convention.
Her gaze narrowed. Are you insulting my parents now?
You mean the way you did mine earlier? No. Just remarking on the convenience of the past youve spun for yourself. By the way, having your mother be an American living abroad was sheer brilliance. Allows you to establish dual citizenship, and that must come in handy.
Well, Im glad my lifes story has provided you with such entertainment. Her words were glacial. Perhaps you could get to the part where I need to steal for a living.
Sam folded his arms across his chest. Not even to himself would he admit it was to keep from reaching for her again. You mean because youre an heiress, living off a modest trust you inherited upon your parents early deaths? Again, a nice touch. And it does thwart those pesky questions of how you live without visible means of support.
It hasnt seemed to thwart yours.
He shook his head. Im trained to look beneath the surface. To see what others have missed. Even a trail with as many twists and turns as yours can be followed, given the right incentive.
She stooped to pick up his jacket which had dropped earlier, and draped it again around her shoulders. He had no doubt shed checked the pockets, surreptitiously, before shed turned her attentions to him. And your incentive would be
I want to acquire your services.
This time she couldnt hide her reaction to his words. He took in her frozen expression with satisfaction. Well have to work out a different sort of arrangement than youre undoubtedly used to, but I think youll find it to your benefit.
It didnt take her long to recover. Asintriguing as that offer sounds, Ill have to refuse. I dont provide any services that are for sale.
The music started up again in the ballroom, and couples on the balcony began drifting back inside. Im not offering to hire you, actually. More like work out a trade.
And here I thought you couldnt get more offensive, Juliette said coolly. How unfortunate to be proven wrong. She slipped out of the jacket and laid it over his shoulder.
He watched her turn that slender bare back on him and start away. She got exactly three steps before he said, Threats arent really my style, but if you decline, the file Ive accumulated on you could be turned over to the local authorities. I think youd find it less inconvenient to cooperate than to be subjected to their questions.