To Love a Thief

by Darcy Burke

  He guided her legs over his shoulders, cupping the backs of her thighs. His kiss deepened, becoming a series of sucks and licks that worked her flesh in increasing waves of pleasure. She was losing her sanity with each torturous stroke. A pressure was building inside of her and she sought a release she wasn’t sure she could find. She gripped the back of his head, seeking something to ground herself. His tongue swirled over that spot and she arched up.

  More. Please.

  She groaned and realized, embarrassingly, she’d spoken her pleas aloud. But then she was glad she had because he answered by sliding his finger inside of her. There was a sharp pinch, but it quickly ebbed. She pushed into his thrust and his tongue increased its movement, driving her to the edge of something. He ruthlessly pumped in and out of her, creating a delicious friction. Then he sucked her flesh, and her world shattered.

  She cried out, her hips jerking. He held her tightly, his mouth and hand easing her crisis as wave after wave of pleasure rocked her frame. Slowly, the world reformed, but it was brighter, clearer, more beautiful than ever before.

  She opened her eyes, having squeezed them shut as she’d fallen from on high. He was looking up at her with those intense eyes, and yes, she’d finally lost herself to him. And she didn’t think she ever wanted to be found.

  DANIEL stared up at her blissful expression and felt a surge of masculine pride. He’d pleasured plenty of women, but he’d never experienced this bone-deep satisfaction. And this was just giving her pleasure. He nearly shook with want when he imagined how it would be to make love to her.

  Her cheeks were flushed, her lips parted in wonder. She did look a bit ravished, but he could do far better. The question was, should he? It might be best if they stopped now.

  He decided to test the water. “How do you feel?”

  “Astonished. I never imagined …” She shook her head dazedly. “I thought we were going to, that is … that wasn’t what I expected.”

  He leaned back on his heels and caressed her still-quivering thighs. “And what were you expecting?”

  “You inside of me. On top of me. Our bodies joined.”

  Her words set fire to his lust. He wanted all of those things and conceived the many ways they could do each one. He was suddenly impatient, wanting to share everything with her now. But there would be a lifetime for them.

  He stood. “We can still do that. If you want.”

  Her lids drooped seductively, and she focused her glorious hazel eyes on him. “Oh, I want. I think you’re overdressed.” She slid from the bed to her feet with a speed he didn’t think was possible, given the languor that had filled her moments ago.

  She pulled the cravat from his neck and then started at the buttons of his waistcoat. He let her strip the garment from him and tug his shirt from his pants. But when her hands pushed the clothing up and skimmed over his bare flesh, he lost all semblance of patience. He grasped the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head. It had scarcely left his fingertips before he was bent over and pulling his boots and stockings off. Her fingers were on his fall before he stood upright when his feet were finally bare. The buttons came loose and he shoved first his pants from his legs and then his drawers.

  She’d stopped moving and was staring at his erection. Damn, he should’ve waited to remove the drawers. But then her fingers tentatively touched the tip of his penis and he nearly came apart in her hand. No, losing the drawers had been the best idea of his entire life.

  “Is this acceptable?” Her question was soft, guarded.

  “It’s a hell of a lot more than acceptable.” He sounded like he’d run up two flights of stairs, but he simply couldn’t get a full breath right now. Not when her delicate fingers were sliding over his hot flesh with an innocent precision that was going to drive him mad.

  “You’re so hard and hot.” Her other hand caressed his chest, gliding over his ribcage and abdomen with dizzying effect. Up it went again, toward his nipple. “How does this feel when I touch it? Is it like I feel when you touch me?” She tweaked the nipple between her fingers.

  Desire pulsed into his groin. “It feels good. How does it feel for you?” He somehow found the wherewithal to encircle one of her breasts with his hand. He cupped the flesh, palming it and then pulling on her engorged nipple. His mouth filled with moisture and he bent to take her into his mouth.

  “Oh. It feels impossibly delightful.” She moaned and wrapped her hand around his cock. Her grip was deliciously tight and hot.

  He suckled her breast and she arched up into his mouth. Instinctively, he arched too, sliding his cock along her palm. Her hold didn’t loosen and the friction was so sweet he wanted to shout with the joy of it. “Yes,” he urged her. “Just like that.”

  She understood because she began to move her hand. Up to the tip and back to the base. She set a rhythm that had him thrusting into her hand. His balls tightened with each stroke. He needed to put a stop to this unless he wanted to come all over her. The image was erotic and stoked his lust to an even brighter level, but there would be time for that and so many other things. Right now, he wanted to give her what she wanted. Cover her. Join their bodies. Slide inside of her.

  Heedless of her damned hair—and the fact that she had to let him go—he picked her up and gently tossed her onto the bed. She gasped in surprise, her eyes widening slightly.

  “This is ravishment, darling.” He drank his fill of her petite frame, her small, lush breasts, enticingly narrow waist, and the gentle flare of her hips. She was exquisite—and she was his. Pride and gratitude washed through him. He never imagined he’d find a woman like her. Find love.

  “Then ravish me. Please.” She held up her hand and it was all the encouragement he needed.

  With a growl, he climbed onto the bed and moved on top of her, his big body covering hers. He instantly worried about the difference in their sizes. “Am I hurting you?”

  She settled beneath his weight, spreading her legs so he could nestle between her thighs. “No. You feel divine.” She brushed her breasts across his chest and he felt the graze of her nipples against his flesh. God, she knew just what to do. His curious, fearless, incomparable Jocelyn.

  He reached between them and stroked her clitoris. She immediately cast her head back and gave an erotic little whimper. Her thighs fell apart and moisture coated his fingers as he stroked her entrance.

  “No. Fair,” she said breathlessly.

  Her hand came around his cock again and she pumped his length.

  “Jocelyn,” he ground out. “Put me inside you, darling. I need to feel you.” He spread her folds and drove his tip to her opening. “That’s it. Just help me slide in.”

  He’d felt a slight resistance earlier when he’d pushed his finger inside of her, but now she only felt tight. He went slow. God, it was so hard to keep himself from slamming into her, especially with her hand still wrapped around the base of his cock.

  Her intake of breath made him go even slower. Sweat trickled down the back of his neck with his effort.

  “Tell me if you want me to stop.” Heaven help him if she did.

  “You’re so big.”

  He smiled at the incredulity in her tone. “Or you’re so small.”

  She made a sound that sounded like a grimace.

  He stopped and let her accommodate him a moment. “Ready?”

  She nodded beneath him. He slid in further, and she had to move her hand. She skimmed his hip and settled her palm on his buttock, squeezing his flesh as he seated himself fully inside of her. Christ, she was spectacular.

  She was so tight and hot. He worried he was hurting her. “Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked.

  She cupped his cheek with her free hand. “Daniel, I realize I’m a small person and that I’m new at this, but you’re not going to break me.” She smiled up at him. “I’m quite ready to be ravished.”

  “Your wish is my greatest desire.” He pulled back out of her and pushed forward, keeping his gaze locked w
ith hers. Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an O.

  He retreated and drove into her again. Slowly, methodically, forcing her body to accept his. And by the way her legs curled around his hips, she was having no difficulty. After several more strokes, her head fell back and her eyes fluttered closed. She gripped his arse and his shoulder.

  Each thrust made her hotter, wetter, until he was sliding in and out of her with ease. She arched her hips to meet him, wordlessly urging him faster. He obliged, thrusting his hips with greater frequency, and angling his cock to exactly stroke against her clitoris. She groaned somewhere deep in her chest and her other hand trailed down his back to clasp him more tightly against her. He could feel her orgasm building by the frantic twitch of her hips and the desperate clutch of her hands.

  He pumped faster, answering her need with his own. His balls drew up with his impending release. He reached between them and pressed on her nub. She instantly fell apart, opening her mouth in a series of whimpers and moans that drove him past the brink.

  With a final thrust, he spilled his seed into her, his orgasm overtaking him with a white-hot bliss he’d never experienced. He cried out her name and pumped her flesh until he was utterly spent.

  Minutes later, he rolled to his side and gathered her close. She turned her head to look at him. Her eyes were slightly glazed, her skin a lush pink, and strands of her hair had come free. She appeared thoroughly ravished. He smiled. They’d get her repaired before he took her home.

  “Why are you smiling?” she asked, curling into him.

  “Shouldn’t I be?”

  She smiled in return. “Of course you should. That was wonderful.” She peered up at him, suddenly serious. “How long do we have to wait to hold the wedding?”

  He laughed. “I’ll post the banns this Sunday. You’ll need to decide where you want to get married.”

  “Me? What about what you want?”

  He pressed a kiss to her brow. “I want whatever makes you happy. We can talk about it on the way to your house. I really should get you home. Whatever are you going to tell Mrs. Harwood about where you’ve been?”

  “I’ll just say we went for a drive in the park. She was napping when I left anyway.”

  “After you met with Aldridge.” He immediately wished he hadn’t mentioned him. A dark pall fell over their post-lovemaking bliss.

  “Yes.” She trailed her finger along his chest, which did a measurable job of distracting him from the damned earl. But then she said, “What are you going to do about him?”

  He wasn’t sure. Aldridge was now aware that Daniel was investigating him. He could only hope Jagger might still be able to deliver evidence against him, but he accepted the chances were slim. He might be better off going to see him and simply laying things out. And then what?

  “Are you going to let him continue his activities?” she asked, verbalizing his inner dialogue.

  “If I do, I’m no better than I was. But I don’t have evidence against him yet and it may be difficult to obtain.”

  “Not if he continues. Can’t you set some sort of trap?”

  He stared down at her in wonder. “You’ve a deviously sharp mind, do you know that?” She smiled and he kissed the tip of her nose. “I suppose I could do that, but he may be expecting something like that, now that he knows I’m investigating him.”

  She cringed. “Sorry. I never should have told him.”

  “It’s all right,” he said, kissing her and letting his lips linger against hers. His cock was stirring again, which meant they needed to leave right now or her absence would really be noted. He kissed her once more, deeply, thoroughly, to last him until he saw her next. Although they did have a ten- or fifteen-minute carriage ride to her town house …

  She sucked on his tongue and wound her fingers into his nape. With a groan, he pulled himself away from her. “We should go.”

  With a sigh, she stretched, which drew his attention directly to her breasts. “I suppose.”

  He turned and practically jumped from the bed before he made love to her again.

  She sat up and gave him an alluring smile. “How do I look?”

  He took in her tousled hair—still pinned up, but with strands jutting every which way—her drowsy eyes, and her kiss-reddened lips. “Ravished.”

  “Then I thank you, sir.”

  Incomparable.

  Chapter Eleven

  SO THIS was what love felt like.

  Daniel marveled the entire coach ride home, including the stop he’d made to buy Jocelyn flowers, none of which he could name, and have them delivered to her house. He marveled as he asked Goring to instruct his valet to draw a bath. He marveled as he climbed the stairs and contemplated what sort of engagement ring to purchase and then chastised himself for not getting it first. But then they were apparently going to do everything out of order, given what they’d just done.

  Not that he regretted it. Quite the opposite. He’d make love to her again right now if it wouldn’t be beastly of him. Maybe tomorrow … And then he’d tell her he loved her, which he was ashamed he hadn’t done today. But then, neither had she.

  He stepped into his bedchamber and froze. Jagger lounged in the chair situated in front of the fireplace. “Afternoon,” he drawled. “Or is it evening?” He scrutinized Daniel’s hastily—and inexpertly—tied cravat. “Just get dressed?”

  The lingering bliss of his interlude with Jocelyn faded and was replaced with an edgy excitement. Had Jagger brought the details of Aldridge’s latest coded note? “I assume you’re here to make a delivery, though I rather wish you hadn’t snuck into my bedchamber.”

  “I’m afraid I’m not here for that.” Jagger braced his hands on the arms of the chair. “Nor will I be supplying you with the evidence you sought.”

  The miserable son of a bitch! Daniel strode toward the intruder and hauled him out of his chair by the front of his coat. “Then what the hell are you doing in my house?”

  Jagger found his footing beneath him and stepped back from Daniel, out of his grip. “I beg your pardon, this is a very expensive coat.”

  “That I’m sure you stole and could replace a hundred times over.” How the hell had this bastard gotten into his bedchamber? Daniel had a horrid suspicion this visit had something to do with Jocelyn.

  “The latter is quite true, but I must tell you I had this made on Bond Street.” Was the prick still jabbering on about his bloody coat?

  Daniel advanced on him and raised his hand to grab his lapel again. “I don’t give a shit where you shop. Talk before I rip the garment—and you—to shreds.”

  “Christ, man, there’s no need to be offensive. I came here to tell you to stop your investigation of Aldridge.”

  “No.”

  Jagger straightened his coat and squared his shoulders. He was of equal height to Daniel, if not a hair or two taller. His gray eyes turned to stone. “I’m not asking.”

  “And I’m not one of your lackeys.” Not anymore.

  Jagger showed no indication he’d heard what Daniel had said. “If you want Miss Renwick to be safe, you’ll leave Aldridge alone and let the problem resolve itself.”

  The bastard knew her name? Daniel grabbed him by the lapel again, but Jagger threw him off and withdrew a knife from his boot.

  Daniel slid his own knife from its sheath, also tucked into his boot. “Is this really how you want to do this?”

  “Not at all, but you don’t seem interested in listening to reason. I’m trying to help you here.”

  “By threatening my fiancée?”

  Jagger inclined his head as if they were sharing tea instead of brandishing knives. “Congratulations. Then you really should heed my counsel.” He lowered his weapon and raised his other hand in supplication. Then he stowed the knife back in his boot. He blinked at Daniel, clearly waiting for him to do the same.

  Daniel complied, but gave him a frigid stare. “Why should I listen to you?”

  “To keep yourself and your fiancée
safe. The problem with Aldridge will resolve itself shortly. You can trust me.”

  Like he’d trust an opium addict. “How is it going to resolve itself?”

  Jagger’s mouth ticked up at the corner, but there was no humor in the expression. “I don’t think you really want to know.”

  They were going to kill Aldridge? No matter the man’s crimes, he couldn’t allow Jagger or any of his cohorts to execute him. “I can’t let you do that.”

  “Why, because he’s an earl?” Jagger shook his head. “He’s been involved with criminal activity for years. Men have hanged for far less than he’s done.”

  Daniel clenched his fists. He wanted to see Aldridge pay for his crimes, but not this way. “That doesn’t make it right. He needs to be tried, and then he’ll go to prison.”

  Though he likely wouldn’t serve a great sentence, it didn’t matter. His criminal career was quite finished. Poor Lady Aldridge—was she aware of her husband’s crimes, or was she as innocent in all of this as Jocelyn?

  Jagger narrowed his eyes. “You’re missing the point. Gin Jimmy isn’t going to risk Aldridge being tried.” Because he’d bring more of Gin Jimmy’s operations to light.

  Daniel tried to appeal to Jagger’s own sense of survival. “Why do you care so much about Jimmy? One of these days, he’s going to fall, and surely that would benefit you.”

  Jagger’s sharp laugh filled the room. “Not bloody likely. I don’t want his job.” He sobered and stared Daniel square in the eye. “There’s nothing you can do to stop what’s been ordered. And if you try … Well, you’re familiar with Gin Jimmy’s tactics.”

  Cross him, and you were marked for life. Fear for Jocelyn burned Daniel from the inside out. “If he harms Miss Renwick, I will hunt him down and gut him.”

  Jagger arched an ebony eyebrow. “I believe you’ve made your feelings regarding Miss Renwick quite clear. So do what you must to keep her safe.”

  “I don’t trust Gin Jimmy. Or you.”

  “At this point, we’re your allies. She’s in far greater danger from Aldridge than us. Let us do what we do, and you can sail off into your happily ever after.”