The Lady is a Thief Read online

  “Is that any tone to use on the guy who will be taking you to dinner tonight?”

  Did this sack of shit actually think I was pathetic enough to go on a date with him after what he’d done to me last year? Looking at him right then, I couldn’t even remember why I was even attracted to him in the first place. His height and looks were average and nothing to get excited over. He certainly didn’t have the rugged, bad boy look and his shoulders weren’t as broad as a linebacker’s. I never called Clayton’s name in the throes of passion—not with a vibrator, and definitely not with him, because he was the kind of lover who wasn’t a member of the Ladies First Club. Not to sound cruel, but he was a three-pump-chump. Afterward, he had the audacity to blame his short performance on me. He’d never had someone so tight and hot, yada yada yada. As if that was going to impress me.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you, Clayton. Not tonight and not ever.”

  “Darling, is this attitude left over from the little misunderstanding we had last year?” His smarmy voice made me want to puke. Misunderstanding? Is that what sleazebags called it these days? “Come out with me tonight, so I can make it up to you.” That pleading expression on his face was everything I dreamed of for years, but not anymore.

  “Sloppy seconds just aren’t my style, Clayton. Move along before this gets really embarrassing for you.”

  “Maegan…”

  “I believe the lady asked you to leave.” Elijah!

  Oh God! That voice! I nearly spontaneously orgasmed right on the spot. I didn’t risk turning around and looking at him for fear of making an ass of myself. I kept my eyes on Clayton’s surprised face instead. I waited for his eyes to return to me so that he saw how serious I was. “I did ask you to leave, and I meant it.”

  “I’ll call you later.”

  “No, you won’t,” Elijah and I said at the same time.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Clayton asked the newcomer. He’s the man who can make me come without trying.

  I felt the heat radiating off Elijah’s body as he approached and heard leather shifting before I felt the pressure of his hand on my shoulder. I closed my eyes because it felt so right.

  “Who I am isn’t important,” Elijah said in a deadly calm voice. “Leave this store and do not bother her again.”

  “See you around, Maegan,” Clayton said as he beat a hasty retreat out the door. I figured his next move was to call his sister and demand to know who Elijah was to me. I gave it ten minutes tops before Vanessa dialed my cell phone and eleven minutes before she called the shop’s landline when I didn’t answer my cell.

  I expected Elijah to drop his hand once Clayton left, but he didn’t. Instead, he massaged my neck in small circles with his thumb. A small whimper escaped my parted lips and my head fell forward, giving him more access. A warm chuckle rumbled out of his chest and he raised his other hand to my neck and deepened his massage.

  “Don’t stop,” I whispered, not recognizing the husky voice as my own.

  “I’ve been wanting to hear you say that since the moment we met.”

  I was ready to drag him into my office when I heard someone clear their throat followed by, “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend, Maegan?”

  Fuck! Milo!

  I HAD PLANNED TO TEST out the diner that everyone at the police department raved about when a display of pastries in a picture window caught my attention. I looked at the artfully painted name on the large picture window. Books and Brew. A customer walked out the door as I walked by and the delicious aroma of coffee and pastries made my mouth water. I knew exactly where I was going to stop on my way back to my truck.

  I glanced through the window at the business next to the coffee shop and bookstore and caught sight of something I wanted to taste more than diner foods, sugary sweets, or even rich java brews. Maegan. Fuck me! I thought she looked adorable and sexy in her pajamas the night before, but that sexy librarian thing she was rocking sent my lust into hyperdrive. I jerked to a stop and watched as she strode angrily toward a guy in her store. The blonde curls she had piled on top of her head bounced with every step as did her amazing tits that strained against the pale pink sweater set she wore. Her long legs were encased in black tights beneath a black and floral print skirt that hugged her hips and legs to just below midthigh. The chunky black heels she wore gave her a few more inches of height.

  Jesus, I wanted to push that skirt up her hips, rip those tights and panties off and bury my dick so far inside her. Lust clawed at my guts and my pulse pounded like the fucking tribal drums they used to play before going into battle. My tempo wasn’t a battle cry though, it was a call to mate, to possess, and claim. So help me, the skin on my dick would be raw if I didn’t get my hands on her soon.

  Maegan marched right up to the guy in a way that made me think she was going to slug him, but instead she crossed her arms over her chest, which pushed her glorious boobs higher. The only thing preventing me from popping full wood was the changes of expression in her face as the guy started talking. I didn’t need to overhear them to know what was going on. The guy was trying to sweet talk his way into her panties, and Maegan wanted no part of it. I didn’t want him to have any fucking part of it either. I was the one who would make Maegan soak her panties, and I was the man who would pull them down her legs.

  Rage filled me at the thought of that man, or any other, touching Maegan. Everything about her posture was screaming no, but the douche canoe wasn’t getting it. I hated men like him with a passion. I jerked the door open forcefully but the two of them were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t hear me.

  “Sloppy seconds just aren’t my style, Clayton. Move along before this gets really embarrassing for you.” Maegan had the trifecta working in her favor: intelligence, sexy, and feisty. I wanted it all to myself. Take a fucking hike, Clayton.

  “Maegan…”

  “I believe the lady asked you to leave,” I said firmly. Maegan stiffened but didn’t turn around.

  “I’ll call you later.”

  “No, you won’t,” Maegan and I said at the same time.

  “Who the fuck are you?” the dumbass demanded to know.

  I don’t know why I did it, because I didn’t have the right to touch her in such a familiar way, but I walked to her and placed my hand on her shoulder. Maegan relaxed immediately beneath my touch.

  “Who I am isn’t important,” I said in the most menacing voice I could muster. “Leave this store and do not bother her again.”

  “See you around, Maegan,” the tool said as he beat a hasty retreat out the door.

  Drop your hand and step back. Drop your hand and step back. Did I do those things? No. I liked my hand on her body and battled the urge to let it roam freely over her soft curves. Instead of pulling back, I gently dug my thumb in her neck and massaged small circles. The tension melted away as her body warmed beneath my touch, releasing the scent of her perfume or body wash. Maegan’s outfit was ladylike and demure, but her sultry fragrance screamed of long nights filled with hard fucking and back clawing.

  A tiny whimper escaped her lips and her head fell forward invitingly. My second hand joined the first and I dug my thumbs a little deeper in her soft skin on either side of her neck, eliciting a long moan from her. My dick was on high alert and if Maegan took a half-step back her ass would’ve encountered the proof of just how much I wanted her.

  I had a succinct feeling that Maegan was multifaceted like a high-quality diamond. I caught a glimpse of her vulnerability the night before and the force of her strength as she faced down someone much bigger than her the very next morning. She didn’t need my assistance, but she accepted it without complaint. She wore a spicy fragrance beneath elegant clothes. Maegan’s light green eyes were both honest and mysterious at the same time. She was a beautiful riddle that I desperately wanted to solve, but not too fast. I wanted to take my time uncovering all the facets of Maegan Miracle, starting with her body.

  “Don’t
stop,” she said huskily.

  “I’ve been wanting to hear you say that since the moment we met.”

  A delicate shiver worked its way through her body. I knew without a doubt where this was heading. The only question was how long it took us to get there.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend, Maegan?”

  She stiffened then stepped out from beneath my hands, breaking the contact as sharply as the interloper broke our connection. Maegan turned around and looked at me for the first time since I walked into the shop. She smiled sweetly, but the heat in her eyes told me how affected she was by my touch.

  “Um, hellooo,” the guy said. “Earth to Mae.” She turned her head and pinned the guy with a death glare so fierce that I expected laser beams to shoot out of her eyes and zap him into oblivion.

  I chuckled then turned to assess my potential competition. He was a few inches taller than Maegan, but still shorter than my six-four height. He had medium-brown hair styled in a boyband fashion and guileless blue eyes that twinkled with mirth.

  “Well, I guess it’s up to me to do the introductions.” He sort of muscled his way between us and held out his hand in greeting. “I’m Milo Miracle, Maegan’s older, dashing brother.”

  “Elijah Markham,” I said, shaking his hand. “Maegan’s new neighbor.”

  “Oh, so you’re responsible for my sister walking funny today,” he said. Brother. Good to know.

  “Excuse me?” I asked.

  Maegan made a noise like she was choking on air. “I’m going to kill you, Milo.” I should’ve told her it wasn’t wise to threaten someone in my presence, but I was having too good of a time. I wished that I was the reason Maegan was walking funny, although I didn’t want her to actually be injured, if you know what I mean.

  “She told me about chasing Lulu into your yard and stepping on a stick in her bare feet. She had a splinter and that was the reason why she was limping earlier.”

  “Maybe I should look at it. Is it infected?”

  “Are you a doctor?” Milo asked.

  “Cop,” I replied absently.

  “You’re Adrian’s new partner,” Milo observed out loud, but neither Maegan nor I were paying him much attention.

  “Were there any red streaks around the wound.”

  “I’m fine, Elijah,” Maegan said softly. “I promise.” She looked at her brother once more and rolled her eyes. “Milo is exaggerating as divas are prone to do.”

  “Diva? Me?” He batted his eyelashes.

  “Excuse me,” said a timid voice from the doorway that led to Books and Brew. “Milo, the espresso machine is acting up again.”

  “I’ll be right there, Sara,” Milo said before he turned his inquisitive gaze on me again. “Well, it’s nice to meet you. I’m sure I’ll see you around… town.”

  “Nice meeting you too,” I said to his retreating back before I zeroed in on Maegan. “Hi, Freckles.”

  “Hi,” she said, sounding almost shy.

  “Were you limping this morning?” I asked. I didn’t notice her limping when she charged toward that doofus. It was possible that anger made her temporarily forget her injury.

  “I’m fine.” Her face flamed a deep red, and I couldn’t imagine what part of my question made her so uncomfortable. I mean, if I asked her that after a night of sex… Maegan chewed her bottom lip and slid her pearl necklace between her thumb and forefinger as she diverted her eyes away from mine.

  Fuck me! Maegan Miracle spent the night having very filthy thoughts about me then did something about it. Jesus, my dick got impossibly hard at the thought of her pleasuring herself after getting turned on by the sight of my body. How many times? Once? Twice? I jerked off four times and each time I fantasized about a new position I would take her in.

  I slid my finger beneath her chin and tipped her head so that I could look into her eyes. I was back to wondering how long before I knew every inch of her delectable body. The answering heat I saw in her eyes said not long. Don’t be a dick, Elijah. Make conversation and quit staring down at her cleavage. Act like you have some fucking class.

  “I couldn’t sleep from wanting you. Oh, Freckles, the things I want to do to you would scare you to death.” Real classy, asshole. I stopped just shy of telling her I practically pulled the skin off my dick.

  Her bottom lip quivered but not from fear. Her pink tongue darted out to lick the plump flesh and I groaned embarrassingly loud. More than anything in the world, right then all I wanted was a small taste of her. I looked around and saw that we were still alone and there was an empty office in the back of the store. I grabbed her hand and tugged her inside.

  I shut the door and backed her up against it then lowered my head until my lips were centimeters away from hers. “I hope your boss doesn’t mind us using the office, but I won’t go another minute without knowing how you taste.” I wasn’t a total caveman for crying out loud; I gave her the chance to tell me to get lost.

  “She’s a real bitch sometimes, but she’d kick my ass if I didn’t take advantage of the opportunity.”

  Maegan slid her hands in my hair, pulling me the rest of the way until our lips met—tentatively at first while we learned the texture of each other’s flesh. I put my hands on either side of her head, caging her against the door. Maegan’s lips trembled shyly until I leaned my full weight against her body and she felt how badly I wanted her. Then she turned into a wildcat who literally left claw marks on my scalp as she raked her nails through my hair. She boldly slid her tongue against my lips seeking entrance. When I opened to her, she pulled her tongue back out teasingly. I pulled back and looked down into her wicked eyes. She smiled seductively and pressed her pelvis against my erection, seeking friction.

  I dropped my arms, cupped her round ass, and lifted her in the air. Maegan cried out in delight as she wrapped her legs around my waist. Her cries turned into guttural moans as I ground my hard-on against her crotch. I felt her heat and smelled her arousal. I knew damn well she’d be dripping wet if I slid my fingers beneath her panties.

  Maegan grabbed my head and gave me the most blistering hot kiss I’d ever had as she rode my cock, seeking her pleasure. Fuck! I worried I would blow my load because no woman had ever made me so hot and horny so fast. We alternated between rubbing our tongues together or Maegan sucking my tongue into her mouth like it was my cock. The only noise was our choppy panting and the creaking my leather jacket made when she gripped my shoulders for leverage and rode my dick harder. Fuck! What would happen when I finally spread this girl beneath me in the bed?

  Maegan ripped her mouth from mine, leaned her head against the door, and came hard silently with her mouth hanging open and a startled look in her eyes. If I didn’t know better, I would say that Maegan just shocked herself, but why? Was it her bold behavior or the orgasm itself that caught her by surprise?

  “I can’t believe I just dry humped you in my office,” she rasped. She sounded like she had been trapped in a desert for a day with no water. “I should be embarrassed, but I’m not.”

  “I’m not complaining,” I said, gently pushing back the damp tendrils of hair that stuck to her face. Then I realized what she said. We were in her office. “So, you’re the boss, huh?” I asked casually like I didn’t want to drop to my knees and pull her tights down so I could lick her juices from her hot cunt.

  “Yep. Milo and I own both businesses and lease the third space to our friend,” she said proudly. She made no attempt to wiggle out of my arms and had returned her hands to my hair. I was a sweaty mess in the small confines of her office, but she didn’t seem to mind. She looked me straight in the eye and said, “I couldn’t sleep from wanting you either.”

  I groaned and leaned my head forward, resting it against her collarbone. It got me closer to the glorious treasure I couldn’t wait to get my hands, lips, and dick on. Yeah, I wanted to squeeze her tits together and slide my dick in and out of the tight tunnel they made. I wasn’t sure how much further Maegan was goi
ng to take things in her business, but I took a chance and slid one of my hands between her parted legs to stroke over her soaked tights.

  “You smell so fucking good, Maegan. I can’t wait to taste you.” I acted like it was a foregone conclusion and she didn’t challenge me. In fact, she whimpered and pushed against me. I don’t know what would’ve happened next had the little bell over her door not jingled.

  “Fuck!” she whispered and wiggled free from my hold. She straightened her clothes and ran her hand over her hair. “Do I look like I just had an orgasm in my office?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh my!” She placed her hands over her cheeks like she was trying to cool her heated skin. She looked and sounded like a prim librarian again, which did nothing to deflate my raging hard-on. It had the reverse effect. “I got to get out there.”

  “Do you have a bathroom?”

  “Uh, yes. It’s right around the corner.” She looked down at my bulging crotch, licking her lips. I saw the confliction in her eyes and the desire to return the favor, but her customer wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Yoo-hoo,” the female customer hollered out. “Maegan, are you in there?”

  “I’ll be right out, Mrs. Tanbury.” She inhaled deeply and released it slowly. “Are you free for dinner tonight?”

  “Fuck, yes.”

  “Is six thirty too late to eat?”

  “No,” I told her. “Maegan,” I said stopping her before she could leave. “I like dessert first.”

  “Fuck, yes,” she whispered back before she opened the door and disappeared. “What can I do for you, Mrs. Tanbury?” She didn’t sound like a woman who’d just came apart in my arms and dampened the front of my pants.