Persuasion

by Stone, Piper

  True to form, there were several beautiful pieces of art and jewelry positioned in glass cases placed in strategic locations in the oversized living room. Several of the guests were oohing and aahing over the collection. The very empty case located within an arm’s length of Mr. Worthington gave me a smile. He’d presented his finest piece first, locking it away in what he believed to be a secure vault, likely preventing me from collecting the valuable piece too easily.

  Without use of entirely different tactics. However, by this time tomorrow, the diamond would be in a more protected environment.

  I’d enjoyed hearing all about his priceless art during a by-invitation-only golf outing, the opportunity allowing me to provide pictures of my collection. His excitement in seeing my erotic paintings had been... fascinating. The gilded invitation to the costume party had arrived only three days later.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed an exquisite woman, her beauty unequaled in the room. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her but not only because she was stunning. She was also a thief. I was amused as hell as I watched her flitting from guest to guest, sliding her hand into the pockets of unsuspecting men. She was quite talented as a pickpocket, more so than the majority I’d run across over my years. She also managed to expertly slide whatever she’d obtained into her small clutch, the men far too mesmerized by her attention to notice her true intentions.

  I chuckled, lifting my glass in appreciation. Her actions were ballsy as hell, creating the kind of desire burning deep within that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I envisioned her naked body draped against a cloak of red velvet, her platinum blonde hair sweeping over the satin pillow. I could see her pert little mouth wrapped around my cock while her dazzling eyes stared up at me, her wrists shackled in iron.

  For a few delicious seconds, I envisioned fucking her.

  Using her luscious body in any way I desired.

  Controlling her.

  Owning her.

  Hmmm... I hadn’t allowed myself such a provocative thought in years.

  My shaft stirred at the thought, the darkness that dwelled within me rearing its ugly head.

  She continued her task, oblivious that I was carefully watching her every move. She’d obviously been invited, several of the guests acknowledging her warmly. When she finally seemed to notice me, her eyebrows lifted, a slight smile crossing her shimmering face.

  We played cat and mouse for a full five minutes, her expression laced with seduction.

  But only with an ulterior motive in mind.

  I took another sip of champagne as she headed in my direction, likely prepared to attempt the same action with a man who could eat her alive. I purposely looked away, once again scanning the room. If her actions were discovered, she could blow my chance at recovering the diamond. I worked alone, little more than a predator of the night.

  Any kind of hindrance I didn’t need.

  I concentrated my energy on my keen observations. Mr. Worthington had certainly been able to gather a group of some of the most prominent citizens in New Orleans. From judges to state senators, wealthy moguls to sports giants, it would appear that the notorious thief was prepared to show off portions of his collection. This should prove to be a fascinating evening.

  Unfortunately, a nagging instinct had kicked in, a reminder to be extremely cautious. Far too much time and money had been put into this mission.

  She studied me for a few seconds before taking a decided step sideways, perhaps determining that I wasn’t an easy mark. I felt her gaze dropping to my glass.

  “Not to your taste?”

  The purring quality of her voice yanked at my attention immediately, the tone provocative in every way. As I tipped my head, catching a glimpse of her beautiful porcelain skin and aristocratic nose forced my cock to push against my zipper. When I shifted my gaze down the length of her voluptuous body, my balls tightened. The little black dress she was wearing left little to the imagination; the deep V in both the front and back allowing me a stunning view of her rounded breasts. The thigh-high slit created a sinful array of filthy thoughts, desires that I had no place feeling.

  I’d always been drawn to women who disobeyed the law, finding them more irresistible than those who performed in the appropriate manner. Unfortunately, this was the wrong time to be delving into my own personal desires. I had an entire network of professionals who’d worked countless hours putting this scheme together.

  However, I liked to think of what we were doing as righting wrongs.

  A few seconds passed as the music changed, Wyland motioned for one of the waiters to refresh his drink.

  She stood with one arm crossed at her waist, the other swirling a glass of champagne, her body rocking forward and backward. I couldn’t help but notice her long leg was positioned in such a way the slit had crawled dangerously high on her upper thigh. She appeared bored, even nibbling on her bottom lip, the very one that was stained a delicious ruby red.

  I took a deep breath, inhaling her exotic perfume. The scent alone was enough to fuel a series of dark fantasies, igniting my own sadistic desires. As the same waiter as before passed by, I slid the glass onto the sterling silver tray, both amused and aroused. “Not in the least. I prefer something with more... elegance.”

  She slowly turned her head, narrowing her eyes yet I was able to see the shimmer in the mesmerizing emerald green color. Sadly, the colorful mask hid the majority of her face, but I had no doubt that hidden behind the feathers and rhinestones was a gorgeous woman. The electricity between us crackled and the moment she dragged her tongue across her lips, I couldn’t help but smile. “A man of distinction. I appreciate that very much.” She pulled the glass to her lips, taking a small sip. “You are right. This is godawful. Disgusting in fact.”

  Her long blonde curls trailed halfway down her back and the way she fingered the crystal stem was quite a scintillating draw. “I prefer a more robust flavor in everything.” I’d always been a man of discerning tastes, although my dominating desires off putting to the majority of women. I also hadn’t succumbed to my carnal hungers for several months, my work taking me from one continent to another preventing anything but a one-night stand. Not my style.

  “Hmmm...” She darted a glance from right to left, finally offering a slight wrinkle of her nose as she inched closer. “What would you say if I told you that I knew exactly where the wine cellar is? I know for a fact that Mr. Worthington has an extremely amazing collection of fine wines and spirits locked away.”

  “I would say you’re very resourceful.” Perhaps getting her away from the mark wasn’t a bad idea.

  “Are you game for a... taste?”

  “I’m curious. Would that mean that you are a friend of the family?”

  She snorted lightly, slapping her hand over her mouth. “Oh, hell, no. I just happen to know where the true goodies are hidden. Mr. Worthington throws parties nearly every other week. Not only am I resourceful, but I’m a girl who enjoys taking chances. What about you? Do you dare indulge in things that are... risky? Or are you simply one of the same conservative assholes with huge bank accounts and even larger bellies pretending to have chutzpa?”

  Risky. She obviously had no idea who she was talking to. The true risk was not following the order of things that I’d carefully laid out. Granted, as I calculated the time I had in order to retrieve the stolen object, I realized that I had at least a few minutes to spare. Why did this woman entice me as so few had done before? I was actually curious as to how far she planned on going with her game, my cock aching. “Do not issue a challenge to a man you’ve never met unless you’re prepared to face the consequences.”

  A seductive smile crossed her face as she darted her eyes down the length of me before beckoning the same waiter, shoving her glass down with a slight thud. “How about a dance with me, just to make certain I’m worth taking a chance on? That is, if you can handle the heat?”

  No woman had ever challenged me before, certainly not in this manner. I
eased my glass onto the same tray before taking her hand. The level of electricity shooting down the length of my arm was unusual, tightening my balls. I pulled her close, using a single finger to slide several strands of hair away from her long neck.

  Her lower lip trembled, her stunning emerald eyes opening wide. It was easy to tell her reaction was the same, our attraction one of a filthy nature. I could devour her in one sitting, lapping every drop of cream from her sweet little pussy, but only if she was a very good girl.

  “Accepted,” I stated in a commanding tone.

  “Yes. Okay.” She faltered only slightly before planting the palm of her hand against my chest, digging her fingers into the material of my jacket.

  I swept her into the middle of the few couples already dancing, pulling her even closer. The feel of her in my arms was exquisite, dragging the darkness from deep within me to the surface. The vile things I wanted to do to her only fueled the embers. I slid my arm around her waist, forcing her heated body against mine. The music was perfect, the sultry strains of the blues adding to the mystery.

  There were no words said as we danced, her eyes never leaving mine. As the scent of her feminine wiles filled my nostrils, my thoughts turned even more intense. I could tell she was wet, her hunger as raw as mine.

  She shifted her hips back and forth, a slight moan slipping past her lips. Everything about her was tempting, my desire increasing.

  “Who are you, Zorro?” she finally whispered.

  “A very dangerous man. Do you still want to play?”

  There was only a slight hesitation and as she tilted her head until our lips were mere centimeters apart, her whisper became rocket fuel.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Then you will do exactly as I say no matter what I ask. Are we clear?”

  I was indeed a savage man, a barbarian that she should run away from in fear, but instead, she’d chosen to tempt the ravaging beast.

  She dragged her tongue across her lips nervously, blinking several times before issuing a single nod.

  While the moment was unusual, I knew without a doubt that one day, I would take her.

  Command her.

  Own her...

  Chapter Two

  Kostya

  I had no idea what I was doing with this girl. None. In fact, anyone who knew me would say I was fucking out of my mind.

  Not to mention I was breaking the single precious rule the Specialists had put into play.

  No personal involvement. Hell, I guess that didn’t mean I couldn’t touch and taste.

  Or fuck.

  Sadly, I would need to toss her away after.

  “Then I accept your challenge,” I said in a husky tone as I drew her onto her tiptoes, brushing my lips across hers.

  She swallowed hard, her fingers lightly cupping my chin. Suddenly, she pushed me forcefully, backing away. “Then follow me if you dare.”

  Exhaling, I scanned the room, noticing Mr. Worthington fully engaged in a conversation before heading out into the hallway. The scent of the masked girl wrapped around me like a tight vise, drawing me into one vicious web, my hunger off the chain. I inhaled, holding my breath as she led me down a hallway that appeared more like the wing of a museum.

  I allowed myself a moment to appreciate the various works of art Wyland had collected. Provocative. Even I had to admire the heightened level of kink depicted in the raunchy paintings. I couldn’t help but wonder what his influential guests thought about his collection. Every one of the paintings was protected by a highly sophisticated security system unnoticeable by the naked eye. The man had thought of everything to protect his precious items, at least two of the six also listed as stolen by other owners.

  I knew my art and even though I’d only been hired to retrieve a single item, I would certainly be happy to notify the powers of my find.

  As we moved into the kitchen, the various staff scuttled out of the room, as if they’d been ordered to give every guest a wide berth. When she reached the cellar door, she wrinkled her nose before grabbing a sharp knife positioned on the kitchen counter. “This should do. There isn’t a lock I can’t pick.”

  I would keep that in mind. My instinct told me that she wasn’t here to grab handfuls of cash. Was it possible that she had her beautiful eyes on another prize? While I’d taken great pride in the fact that I’d refused to harm a woman during the years, I couldn’t allow her to interfere. I would need to derail her next phase before it began.

  Within seconds, I heard a slight click, her lilting laugh confirmation that she’d released the lock. She positioned her finger over her mouth before opening the door, taking careful steps down the stairs.

  I hesitated, darting a glance into the hallway before following behind her. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she turned on a single light, giggling softly. This was nothing more than a game for her. I certainly wasn’t going to become her mark though. She stood back, taking small steps as she studied my reaction. “Now, this is what I call a wine cellar. I can only imagine what the bottles are worth.”

  “Impressive.” I already knew a good portion of the contents, having researched his wine and liquor distributor. He was a true wine connoisseur. Still, I lifted several bottles from their cocoons, marveling at their labels for effect. “Yes, a very nice collection.”

  “Nice. Hmmm... All right.” She flitted from one bay to another until I heard the clicking of glass. When she returned, in her hand was a bottle of well-aged scotch, not what I’d expected. “I think this is actually more to your taste. Forceful. Dominating.”

  “Is that what you think of me?”

  “That’s what I know about you, Zorro. You take exactly what you want.”

  Without hesitation, she twisted the cap, taking a deep whiff of the contents. I found it fascinating that I didn’t even know her name, although I also didn’t want to make this... experience any more personal than it needed to be. I was surprised when she tilted the bottle, taking a solid chug.

  There was something enigmatic about this woman, her vivacious actions intoxicating. My blood was pumping wildly, the adrenaline flowing. Even my mouth watered at the thought of thrusting my tongue into her pretty pink pussy. I chastised my thoughts, reeling back my raging libido.

  When she lowered the bottle, beads of the fine malt trickled down one side of her mouth. She inched closer, holding out the offering alluringly. “I think you will find this to your liking; that is for a man who prefers something more robust.” Another chuckle slipped past her ruby-stained lips, her eyes falling purposely to my crotch.

  I didn’t bother looking at the scotch before wrapping my hand around the bottleneck. Using my index finger on the other, I dragged the tip through the string of liquor on her chin, pulling my finger to my mouth.

  She seemed to be watching every move, a wry smile crossing her face. I caught the light sound as she took a deep breath, her lower lip quivering. She was without a doubt a damn good actress.

  I gathered a hint of her feminine wiles as I sucked on my finger, using the same one to slide a stray stand of hair from her mouth. She didn’t retreat or react in any manner, her eyes merely boring into mine.

  Nodding my appreciation, I took a swig of scotch, closing my eyes as the smooth liquor slid down the back of my throat. “Perfection.”

  “Yes. I would say. I wonder who you truly are, Zorro. Somehow, not only do I not envision you on a giant black steed, I can also tell that you’re not from around here.”

  I chuckled darkly. “Actually, I am now a proud and happy resident of this great city.”

  “Well, that is very interesting, although I think you’ve been drinking too much of the N’awlins Kool-Aid. Perhaps we can change that.” As she grabbed the bottle from my hand, our fingers touched. It seemed the move forced her to take a deep breath, her entire arm trembling.

  Why did I have the distinct feeling that this was merely a beautiful act? While I was the master of games, they were only acceptable on my terms
.

  “What should I call you?” I asked, resisting the various dark urges clinging to me.

  “Call me... Fairy Princess.” She pulled the bottle once again from my hands, issuing a soft laugh before taking another sip.

  “I think you are one very bad girl.”

  “What makes you say that?” she asked quietly.

  “You break into a man’s private collection, taking what you want. You don’t seem to have any concept of right and wrong.”

  “Right and wrong,” she mused as she tapped her finger against the bottle. “Oh, yes, that’s when you actually have a conscience. Tell me, Mr. Zorro. Do you?”

  “I’ve learned that having a conscience is a necessity in business as well as pleasure.”

  “And right and wrong?” She swayed her hips back and forth, keeping the bottle out of my grasp, her smile playful.

  “In my world, anyone who doesn’t follow the rules is punished. Severely.”

  “Hmmm... Are you suggesting I need to be punished for my naughty actions? You have no idea who I am or what I can do.”

  Very few women who knew me in any regard either tested my patience or challenged me. While she had no concept of who I was or the kind of penance I’d doled out, her defiance grated at the true beast living deep within. “What I’m suggesting is that you need a firm lesson in discipline.”

  “Why?” she mused.

  I took the liberty of yanking her purse from under her arm, surprising the hell out of her.

  “What do you think you are doing?” Hissing, she attempted to rip the clutch away, her femme fatale persona shifting to an exposed grifter.

  “I suggest you learn your place, feya printsessa,” I said in a controlling manner as I opened the clutch, pouring out the contents onto the table. “What do we have here? Hmmm... I would say that tonight’s haul was exceptional, Ms. Fairy Princess.”