A Thief's Heart

by A Caprice

  “What time is it?” she asked. Her mind slowly cleared, but taking the fog’s place was panic. She focused on not hyperventilating.

  Gio turned his wrist. “About seven a.m.”

  “What?!” She propped herself up on her elbow, felt dizziness swamp her, and sank back down. “I’ve been out for over twelve hours.”

  His jaw clenched. “Yes, I was unable to wake you.” He glared down at her. “What are you doing here? How did Chirac catch you? Did he come to my house?”

  “That’s a lot of questions,” she said, avoiding his gaze.

  He grunted and pulled one of his wrists free from its cuff. “You have time to answer while I free you.” He turned to her handcuffs and attacked the lock.

  “Well, I was in the basement at ARC—”

  He jerked and the handcuffs dangling from his still bound wrist smacked her in the cheek.

  “Ow!”

  “Sorry,” he said through gritted teeth. “What were you doing there?”

  “Trying to find evidence of his thefts.”

  The hand at her wrist tightened painfully, but his voice remained smooth as silk. “I thought we had agreed that it was too dangerous for you to leave my house.” The lock at her wrist snicked open, and Gio pulled her wrist free of the cuff. “And obviously, it was.”

  She pulled her arms down, ignoring the ache in her shoulder, and sat up on the bed. She held her other wrist, still handcuffed, in front of Gio. “Are we really going to have this conversation now?”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her off the bed, ignoring both of the handcuffs still circling their wrists. “No. Let’s get out of here first.” Gio stole to the bedroom door and eased it open. The sound of a clock ticking down the hallway greeted them. In a low voice, he said, “Chirac drove off about half an hour ago. Presumably to go to work. He told me he would deal with us when he returned.”

  “Then why are we whispering?” The toe of Amanda’s shoe caught the heel of Gio’s, sending her stumbling into his side.

  He righted her then held more firmly to her arm. “I think we are alone, but one can never be too careful.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Some of us could be much, much more careful,” he muttered. He guided her out a side door. “Come, I am parked down the hill.”

  Amanda trotted to keep pace with his long strides. “I am careful.”

  Gio snorted and helped her into the passenger seat of his car. He closed the door on her protest and circled the car.

  Amanda shoved her seatbelt home as they rocketed down the street. Chirac’s neighborhood consisted of mansions nestled within forested compounds, and the early morning sunlight cast a warm glow among the woodland.

  She gripped the ‘oh shit’ handle as Gio took a turn on two wheels. “Jesus. And you have the gall to imply I’m reckless.”

  He shot a look at her from the corner of his eye, but slowed down to just under the speed of sound. “You shouldn’t have left my house. I told you to stay.”

  Heat flushed through her body. “I’m not a dog, and I don’t follow your orders. And I was careful. I entered ARC through a side entrance and I didn’t check in at the front desk.” She bit the inside of her cheek. “He must have been monitoring my badge access,” she said, mostly to herself. “But, when Chirac found me, there wasn’t much I could do.”

  “You certainly couldn’t run away. What did I tell you about those ridiculous heels you always wear?” Gio looked at her feet then made a quick turn. They passed a gate into a nature preserve. He bumped onto an empty dirt parking lot and cut the engine.

  “Everyone’s taller than me.” She flapped her hands, and Gio snagged the loose cuff and pulled her steel-bound wrist to him. “So I wear heels. Get used to it.”

  Gio bent his head and set to work removing the handcuffs entirely. Faint lines spread from the corners of his eyes and his mouth remained tense.

  Her irritation evaporated. He’d been scared. Scared for her. It was no wonder he was a little snappy. Amanda wasn’t really feeing at her best right now, either. She cupped his face with her free hand, rubbing her thumb along his cheekbone, wanting to rub his worry away.

  “Besides, my shoes wouldn’t have made a difference. Chirac had…” She scraped her teeth over her lip. He didn’t believe her about the paranormal. How could she explain it? She tried a different tactic. “He did…” Nope, whatever she said would sound crazy to Gio.

  “He used special powers against you?” He didn’t see her jaw drop, too focused on removing his last cuff.

  “Special powers?” she squeaked. Her pulse pounded in her neck. “What do you mean by that exactly?”

  Gio tossed the handcuffs in the back seat. He took one of her hands and chafed the red mark the handcuff had left around her wrist. “I know what you were trying to tell me. That ARC’s research into the paranormal isn’t just theoretical.” His shook his head. “I…saw something in Chirac’s house. Something I cannot explain.”

  “What did you see?”

  “It—” He blew out a breath. “It doesn’t matter right now. Tell me again. I’ll try to listen with an open mind.”

  Amanda released her seatbelt and turned onto her hip. “I don’t know how else to explain it except there are some people who have special abilities. Supernatural abilities. Sometimes they use their talents for bad ends.” She shrugged. “ARC is supposed to catch those criminals. Regular police wouldn’t know how to handle them.”

  His dark eyes burned steadily into hers. “And you? Do you have a special talent?”

  She nodded. “Nothing exciting. I can’t breathe fire or walk through walls. But I can read any language known to man.”

  He blinked. “Breathe—” He huffed. “I must have been hit harder on the head than I thought. I actually believe you.”

  Well, that wasn’t the most flattering statement of support, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. Her muscles unknotted. “Really? You believe me?”

  He gave her a lopsided smile. “Yes.” He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. “You really have a…magic talent for reading languages?” He didn’t wait for her to answer. “I should have guessed it. You read my vase.” A wide grin stretched across his face. “This is incredible.”

  All of Amanda’s air whooshed out of her. He believed her. “And you’re okay with this? You don’t think I’m a freak or hell spawn or—”

  “Madonna mia,” he muttered. “Is that what you’ve been called before?” He pressed a soft kiss to the palm of her hand. “I think you are brilliant”—he pressed his lips to her wrist—“beautiful”—a kiss to the inside of her forearm, pushing her loose sleeve up as he went—“hard-headed and infuriating.” His lips whispered across the crease of her elbow and a shiver raced through her body. He raised his head and scorched her with his gaze. “You are perfect, Amanda. Perfect for me.”

  She’d never been called perfect before. She’d never been perfect before. But she felt it, just like he did. They did fit perfectly together.

  She climbed over the center console, nearly throwing herself at him. Her thigh hit hard against the gear shift, and the steering wheel dug into her back when she sat on his lap, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was getting close to this man.

  She hiked her skirt up to her hips and buried her hands in his hair, dragging his mouth to hers. His tongue slid against hers followed by the delicious scrape of his teeth. Amanda’s whimper was swallowed by his mouth.

  He tangled his hands in her hair and gently tugged her head back, exposing her neck. He nibbled his way down until he found the hollow between her collarbones and sucked lightly. His hands, one at her head and the other at the small of her back, held her snug against him.

  She had never felt so connected to anyone before in her life.

  Still holding his head to her throat, Amanda tried to scramble to a better position.

  A loud blare tore her from her fog of arousal.

  Gio lifted his head, hi
s lips twitching. “Amanda…”

  “I know.” She pressed forward and lifted her rear off the horn. “There’s just not enough room, and my butt is too—”

  He grabbed her ass and dug his fingers into her flesh. “You’d better not finish that sentence. Your ass is sexy as hell and one of the first things I noticed about you.” His fingers massaged the sensitized skin, and Amanda sighed. “Although it is a dangerous weapon. It was responsible for knocking over a bookcase.”

  “You saw that?” She straightened in surprise. Gio’s eyes dropped to the breasts that thrust toward him.

  “Indeed,” he murmured. He traced his fingers around her nipples poking through her blouse. Skimming his hand down her waist, he grabbed the bottom of her top and dragged it over her head. “Now what were you saying about space?” He pushed his seat back and Amanda lurched forward.

  She pressed her hand to his shoulder to brace herself. Staring into his heated eyes, she tugged at the shoulder of his sweater, telling him what she wanted without words.

  He quickly shucked it.

  Amanda wriggled closer. His long erection rubbed against the satin of her panties. She swept her hands lightly across his smooth chest and delighted when his abdominal muscles tensed. She followed the tension and teased him lower and lower until his belt buckle stopped her wandering fingers.

  She lifted her hips and unbuckled him. The button and zipper on his pants followed quickly. She pushed the fabric down his hips as far as the seat allowed, then reached into his boxers and found what she was looking for.

  Gio moaned softly as she stroked his length, his erection throbbing in her hand.

  He opened his eyes to slits. Grasping the top of her bra, he tugged the cups down. He curled up and sucked one nipple into his hot mouth as he used his thumb and forefinger to tease the other.

  Tingles arced from her nipples to her core and she couldn’t contain the whimper that spilled from her lips. This was what sex should be. Making love with a man who knew her, inside and out, was the ultimate high, and she knew she could never go back. Didn’t want to ever settle for anything less.

  She scraped her skirt higher and rocked against his cock, the pulsing veins running the length of him rubbing against her clit. It wasn’t enough. “Gio, I need more.”

  He bit down firmly, the sting at her breast only increasing her arousal. The gusset of her panties was so wet she worried about leaving a stain on Gio’s pants. He laved at the bite then caught her gaze. “I know. I’ll give you more.” His lips spread in a wicked smile. “When I choose to.”

  She grabbed the seatbelt. The urge to strangle the pompous tease was strong, but then she’d never get her satisfaction. And she knew just how well Gio could satisfy.

  He bent his head once more and Amanda became lost in the sensations. His mouth explored every inch of her breasts. He slid his hand down her abdomen, over her panties, and found her clit. He placed just enough pressure on it to drive her crazy but offering no satisfaction.

  He slipped his other hand down the back of her panties and one finger stroked lazily up and down the crease between her cheeks. The tumult of sensations clouded her brain, not knowing where to focus for pleasure. She was a bundle of pure need, and the man beneath her was her tormentor.

  She dug her fingernails into his shoulders. “Gio, I swear to God. If you don’t—”

  The sound of her underwear tearing put a stop to her threat. He lifted her hips and guided her to his plump crown. They paused there for a second, staring into each other’s eyes, and Amanda saw what she never had before.

  Acceptance.

  Respect.

  Home.

  Ever so slowly, she lowered her body, her core clenching eagerly at his thick intrusion. A bead of sweat rolled down Gio’s forehead, and she leaned forward to lick it off of him.

  She’d never been one for licking, but with Gio, she wanted to lick him all over.

  His cock throbbed inside her. Amanda placed her hand over his heart to feel the matching beat. A soft moan escaped her lips when the head of his erection butted up against her womb.

  She sat immobile, wanting to tease him as he had her. He lifted his hips but she just rode with him, giving him very little friction. An Italian oath was muttered through clenched teeth. She squeezed her internal muscles. The feeling of being full of Gio was exquisite. She squeezed again.

  Eyes blazing, he grabbed her hips. He lifted her body as though she weighed nothing then pulled her down hard on his cock, thrusting into her at the same time. He pounded into her, again and again.

  She would be sore later but she didn’t care. Every ache brought pleasure magnified tenfold. She put her hands on the ceiling of the car and pushed down with his thrusts, using the roof as leverage. The pace was frantic and Amanda felt the tension coil inside of her.

  “Gio, oh God, faster.” Her head dropped back and she gasped for breath.

  He obeyed. “So damn beautiful,” he muttered. “Your skin glowing. Your nipples red from my mouth. Your tits bouncing for me to see. For anyone to see if they drive in here.”

  Amanda snapped her head down.

  His thrusts didn’t miss a beat.

  “Would you like that? Would you like someone to see me fucking you? See your beautiful tits that only I can touch?” He dug his fingers deeper into her hips. “Or maybe I should bend you over the hood of this car so someone can see what a perfect shape your ass is as I take you from behind. Do you want that, cara?”

  Amanda shook her head automatically even as her core clenched in excitement. God, she was close. “Please…please.”

  “I want the world to know that I am the man who gets to fuck you. The only man.” He clenched his jaw, and Amanda felt him grow even larger. His strokes became broken, jerky, and he came with a roar.

  Liquid heat flooded her core, and her pussy gripped him, milking his orgasm. She dropped a hand to her clit while she continued to rock. Two circles of her finger were all it took. Her body exploded around his, wave after wave of pleasure shaking her body.

  Gio pulled her chest to his and held her as she shuddered. He thrust lazily into her once more with his softening cock and Amanda sighed.

  “Sei la mia per sempre,” Gio whispered in her ear.

  Amanda snuggled closer. Yes, she was his.

  Their skin cooled and the windows of the car started to defog. With a sigh, Amanda sat up. Smiling down at him, she started to rearrange herself. She pulled the cups of her bra back into place.

  Gio reached up and uncovered her again. She slapped at his hands with a chuckle then leaned over to get her blouse.

  He stopped her before she put it on. “One last kiss.” He sat up and softly kissed each nipple before smoothing the satin of her bra over her breasts. He helped her put her blouse on then eased her off him and onto the passenger seat. He quickly put himself to rights and brought his seat back up. He cracked his window, and they sat in a silence broken only by the call of a bird.

  Cocooned in his car with Gio, she felt distanced from her problems. The interior of his car was peaceful. Intimate. She wanted to stay wrapped up in their little world forever.

  But such things weren’t possible.

  “Now what?” she finally asked.

  Gio cocked an eyebrow. “I assume we cannot go to the police about the thefts.”

  “No. The police wouldn’t understand about us. And ARC sure as hell wouldn’t want local law enforcement sniffing around.” She smacked her palm against the dash. “Dammit. ARC is supposed to be the organization that fights against corrupt paranormals. We’re not supposed to breed them.”

  He took her hand and squeezed. “No organization is perfect. The police have their internal affairs divisions for a reason.” He paused. “Who do you trust at ARC to go to with this?”

  “I…I don’t know.” She stared out the windshield.

  Gio turned her chin so she looked at him. “You must trust somebody. I know y
ou feel like you don’t have friends there, but you do. People want to be your family, if you will let them.”

  “I trust you,” she whispered. He squeezed her hand again and smiled. “And I think I can trust Director Hidrogo. He and Chirac seem friendly, but Ray Hidrogo has always struck me as being an honorable man.”

  Gio put the car in gear. “Then that is where we will go.”

  They wound down narrow lanes. She rolled her window down and turned her face into the breeze. She put her hand on top of Gio’s on the gear shift. “I finished decoding your grandfather’s letter.”

  His hand tightened beneath hers. “And? Was my grandfather a traitor to the cause?” He said the words lightly, but she heard the vulnerability hidden beneath.

  “There’s no evidence of that from his letter. He wrote of a safe house he had just set up and some information he had heard from a German émigré regarding troop movement. I looked it up and from what I could tell, the information was accurate. But—”

  “It is not a complete vindication.” He gave her a grim smile. “I don’t know why I was expecting one letter to prove his innocence. He could have peppered misinformation in other letters. Proving he wasn’t a traitor is an impossible task. I should have known better.”

  She ran her hand up and down his arm. “If he were loyal to the Italian government, why would he have bothered to set up a safe house? The one he described protected two Roma families from being sent to a concentration camp. To me, that’s evidence that he was an honorable man.”

  “If he wrote the truth.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing I’m an archivist. That’s just the sort of information I’m good at finding out.”

  He paused, then turned his hand over so he could twine his fingers with hers. “Thank you. That would mean a lot to me.”

  Amanda relaxed back into her seat, her hand warm in his.

  “It’s funny,” he said. “I’ve spent years looking for the decoder. Years desperate to know the truth. And now…”