Read The Taming of the Thief for Free Online Page B

answered?”
            “Possibly.” Pietr loved the way her smile curved her lips
upward, faintly dimpling her chin. The lines around her mouth suggested a
familiarity with smiling and a lightness that was more attractive than the
sparks dancing in her eyes.
            “All right.” She laughed again and Pietr quickly prepared
the plate for her, passing it into her hands before pouring a mug of the
steaming hot cocoa and setting it on the table next to her.
            He
turned, watching her until she lifted a piece of bacon to her lips. Pietr held
his breath when her pink tongue dashed out to sample the bacon before taking a
bite. Desire fisted in his stomach and a longing to taste the bacon on her lips
had nothing to do with a hunger for food.
            Sophie cleared her throat. Pietr jerked his
gaze up to hers. “Good?”
            “Yes,
but aren't you supposed to be eating too?”
            “ Oui.”
            “Well?”
            “Hmm?”
            To
his immense delight, she laughed again and scooped up a forkful of eggs and
held it out to him. He leaned forward and took the mouthful obediently, never
letting go of her gaze. The taste of warm scrambled eggs filled his mouth, but
he reached for another slice of bacon and brushed it teasingly along her lower
lip.
          Her mouth opened at the invitation and he
slowly edged the bacon forward, letting her tongue and teeth tell him when she
had the bite she wanted.
          Pietr held his breath until she bit into the
bacon and her simple groan of pleasure rolled over him.
          “The bacon is good?” He murmured.
          “It's wonderful. You should try it.” Her
enthusiasm tugged at him and he leaned forward, intent on sampling the taste of
it on her lips. Sophie's eyes widened as he closed the distance, the sweet
coconut and tang of lemony soap teased his nostrils. His
little academic proved provocative incarnate. He slid a hand up to cup
her cheek, thumb stroking the tender skin beneath her eye.
          Pietr hesitated, giving her the moment to
push him away, to tell him no, to resist. Her lashes fluttered down and he
touched his mouth to hers, accepting the invitation. The soft whisper of her
breath tasted of fresh mint, the bare hint of chocolate and salt.
          He teased at her lips, his tongue a slow
caress against her lower lip, beckoning for admission. Her fork clanged against
the plate as her mouth opened to him to him with a groan.
          A rapid knock against the hallway door
jerked Sophie back, her drowsy eyes going wide and Pietr swore.
          He was going to kill that interloper.

Chapter Five
           
          “E at.”
Pietr stroked the back of his knuckles down Sophie's cheek. “I will get rid of
them.” He waited for her shaky nod before striding to the door. If it was that
damn Detective, Pietr might just throttle him. A glance in the security hole,
however, left him frowning.
          He opened the door to a long-legged redhead
with a fierce smile and expensive tastes. “Lady Katherine.”
          “Pietr, darling!” Lady Katherine Hardwicke, the only daughter of the Earl of Suffolk and a
distant relation of Lady Prentiss, Pietr's aunt, blew into the room with the
power of a hurricane. Her arms went around his neck and her plump, little mouth
planted a long, hard kiss to his.
          Shock held him rigid as Lady Katherine
greeted him enthusiastically. He gave her a quick, polite squeeze and then
reached up to loosen her grip on his neck. “ Bonjour ,
Lady Katherine.”
          “ Bonjour indeed, my beautiful Pietr. I just found out you
were in New York and I thought surely you would call, but here I am,
desperately showing up on your stoop for just the smallest bit of your
attention.” Her too clever for words green eyes snapped with playful insult,
but her body rubbed against him in a manner that seemed both suggestive and
playful.