Читать книгу The Enemy's Kiss - Zandria Munson - Страница 9

Drakon Castle, Romania

Nicholas flexed the thick and aching muscles of his neck. Obscured within the shadows of the large dining hall of his family’s estate, he waited. He’d been pacing the darkness as he’d contemplated all the possible motives for what had occurred, when a noise had alerted him. Silently, he’d made his way down the hall, slipping an eighteenth-century rapier from the wall in the process.

He’d arrived in Romania earlier that day and had relayed the incident of the stolen rune stone to his father. As expected, Lord Victor hadn’t taken the news well, and he’d summoned the elders of their clan to discuss the matter.

As Nicholas neared the main dining hall the scraping noise grew louder. He slipped within the shadows cast by the massive hearth whose jaws gaped with only slivers of a dying flame. From somewhere in the mansion a grandfather clock chorused the midnight hour. His eyes riveted to one of the tall rear windows and one thought invaded his mind—the Midnight Bandit had come to find the second rune.

A soft popping sound ensued and the window creaked open, the heavy drapes lifting as a gust of wind reached in to caress them. His muscles tensed. It had been a long time since he’d last had the privilege to engage in a worthwhile fight, and thus, he welcomed the inevitable confrontation with eagerness. He only hoped that his opponent was up to the challenge.

One black boot then another swung in through the opening. Nicholas would’ve advanced, but paused as two slender calves encased within skintight leather slipped in. Shapely thighs and hips followed. Dressed in a black, fitted shirt, leather pants and a mask, the figure landed in a silent crouch on the floor. His eyes narrowed on his new adversary. It seemed his assumption had been correct; the Midnight Bandit was female.

With feline grace, she crawled another few feet and she shot an assessing look about the room.

Nicholas remained as he was; still and without breath. He watched as she stood and began to saunter across the floor. She even took a moment to admire the room’s heavy oak table before advancing. Her figure was completely outlined as she moved past the dull glow of the hearth.

Nicholas’s gaze trailed the length of her as she drew nearer; lean and fit with full breasts and a slender waist. Her stride was bold and confident, that of one who had nothing to fear. It was obvious that she had no knowledge of the territory she’d chosen to invade.

He eased from the shadows then. “Five hundred years ago your crimes would have been punishable by death,” he said.

Her attention snapped to him and a look of surprise crossed her eyes but she quickly regained her composure.

“I guess that makes me fortunate to be living in the present, doesn’t it?”

One of Nicholas’s dark brows peaked slightly at her sharp retort. “You would be wise to return the Rune of Moloch to me and save yourself the unnecessary grief.”

Silence lapsed between them as she watched him. It was short-lived. “I have no intention of returning anything to you,” she said. “In fact, I intend to walk out of here with the second one.”

His eyes narrowed on her. A confrontation he’d anticipated, a fight he’d hoped for, but he hadn’t expected this: a recalcitrant hoyden whose tongue was sharper than the blade he held.

“And I intend to stop you.”

“It seems we have a conflict of interest.” She quickly slid one of the brass fire pokers from its rack and took a defensive martial arts stance.

“So it seems.” With fluid grace he raised his own weapon just in time to block her attack. Metal met metal in a deafening clash that initiated a fierce waltz. Her speed and agility both surprised and impressed him. She moved with the apparent effortlessness of one well schooled in the art. He found himself wondering who she was. The world had softened and its warriors had abandoned the ancient arts of physical combat. She was a rarity indeed.

She attacked again, slicing upward. Nicholas jumped backward, but not before the sharp point of the fire poker slipped up along the front of his billowed shirt. The material fell apart, gaping to reveal his midsection.

“If you intend to stop me you’d better try harder than that,” she said with a smirk in her voice.

Nicholas gripped his shirt and tore it from his body. If she wanted a fight she was going to get one. He charged forward, but she evaded his attack with a graceful backward flip. It seemed the bandit was also an accomplished gymnast.

She returned the favor with an attack of her own, swinging her weapon in a manner that would’ve disabled a man of lesser skill. But he was prepared for her this time. He evaded her assault and gripped the top of her ninja-style mask, stripping it from her head.

A wealth of inky tendrils fell about her face and shoulders like a cloud of hell-fire smoke. Eyes of the same haunting hue locked with his as she eased back a step.

Nicholas stared, his gaze unabashed and lustful, for the creature before him was more than beautiful. She was exotic and striking, an apparition of complete and utter perfection. Desire ignited within him. He’d never met a woman whose skill rivaled her beauty.

“Who are you?” he asked quietly.

For a moment he thought he would gain no response, and then she spoke. “Does it matter?”

He was given no time to respond for she came at him again, brandishing her weapon in a way that would’ve made her teacher proud. Nicholas matched her speed, but was careful to only block her attack. Although he relished the throes of battle, he didn’t believe in harming those weaker than himself. And this little delinquent, although well trained, was no match for his five centuries of ruthless grooming.

He ducked an attack then swept a foot beneath her. His sudden move was unexpected and she lost her balance, coming to land flat on her back. Nicholas marched toward her and quickly kicked the fire poker aside. She moved to sit up, but he crouched above her and placed a firm hand against her chest.

He watched her in the dim lighting. She lay still, her breathing coming in quick gasps. His gaze trailed her body, moving along the ripe curves of her breasts, down her flat abdomen to the tight and very suggestive molding of her pants. He found himself wondering what sort of undergarments, if any at all, could be worn beneath the skintight attire. A low groan escaped him and he was abruptly reminded of how long it had been since he’d last had a woman; nearly two days now. He was ravenous.

Daniela fought to catch her breath as she gazed up at the tall figure towering above her. Two days after the heist of the Rune of Moloch, she’d received word from Mai that the same buyer wanted an artifact that was identical to the first. He had only the assumption that the rune was hidden within Drakon Castle, which meant she was left with the daunting task of trying to locate it. But he was paying double; a fair enough arrangement in her books. She’d immediately left for Romania, leaving her sister Elaina, who was now fifteen, under Mai’s supervision.

She’d been waiting outside the castle for hours. She’d deduced that only one person was at the residence, and when all the lights had dimmed, she’d made her move. She hadn’t expected to find one of the Drakon brothers waiting for her in the darkness—and with a sword.

She’d played it off well and kept her cool, but even now her heart, along with her mind, raced. She’d never been caught before, and at this point the possibility of an escape seemed nonexistent. Time and time again she’d promised herself to give up stealing, but it was the only way of life she knew. Now it was too late. It seemed her rope had just come to an abrupt end.

The man responsible stood above her for what seemed an eternity, his transfixing green eyes piercing into her. Finally, he spoke.

“Where is the Rune of Moloch?” It was an unmistakable command.

Daniela, however, was determined not to convey exactly what she was feeling. “Sold by now, I would imagine.” She was also making a valiant effort to keep her eyes from flitting along the broad expanse of his well-muscled torso.

“Sold to whom?” he asked, his gaze unrelenting.

Daniela stared back. Did he honestly think she would just tell him what he wanted to know? She was already going to be imprisoned for her crimes. The last thing she needed was to have her name out on the street as the one who spilled her guts. She didn’t know the identity of the buyer, but the men who’d collected the item weren’t exactly prize citizens. They were the scourge of the criminal world, and she didn’t want to find out just how dirty they could get. If he wanted answers he was going to have to find them himself.

It seemed he read her stubborn resolve, for in a swift movement he sheathed his sword and reached down, pulling her to her feet.

“You will tell me what I wish to know and you will do so now,” he said as he spun her to face the wall.

With her hands pressed against the cool stone, Daniela steeled herself to remain still as he begun stripping her of her weapons and gadgets. “Why should I waste my time? The way I see it, I’ve got nothing left to lose.”

She could feel the intense heat of his powerful form as he reached around her to slip her phone from her waistband.

“Nay, girl,” his deep voice vibrated throughout her body and his warm breath invaded her ear. “There is much you have yet to lose.”

A large hand moved slowly up along the ripe curve of her hip as he felt the pockets there. Daniela clenched her teeth. She knew that it was more than obvious that she carried nothing there. The material was, after all, like a second skin.

His hand glided higher, up her slender waist and to her chest. She struck the offending member away. “I have nothing hidden there,” she gritted out.

Something resembling a snicker reverberated within his chest. “One can never tell with you women.” He braced an arm above her head and leaned over her. “You may begin your recount,” he told her.

Daniela cast him a brief look over her shoulder. She didn’t know what was worse, his pompous attitude or the scorching heat that was passing through the entire length of her back. She was determined to appear impassive. Her effort might’ve worked too, had he not turned on her cell phone.

The device chimed softly as the light flickered on. His attention was drawn to the image on the screen and she found that she was suddenly embarrassed. She’d uploaded the image a few days ago; it was of her and her sister at the orphanage’s Easter party.

He hovered above her, quiet and contemplative. Daniela lowered her forehead against the cool wall. She certainly wasn’t proud of the life she’d chosen to continue, especially when so many looked up to her. She didn’t know how she would ever face them all if she went to jail for burglary.

He snapped her phone off and slipped it into his pocket. “You can take your chances with me or with the authorities,” he told her, his tone incomprehensible.

Daniela knew within herself that there was nothing to consider. If she continued to resist he would call the police and have her arrested. But if she went along with him she could gain enough time to execute an escape.

“Fine,” she agreed. “What do you want to know?”

His free hand moved to the exposed skin between her fitted shirt and low-rise pants. Calloused fingers traced slowly along her skin. “Who are you employed under?”

Fighting the tingling sensation that was fast spreading from the spot where his fingers played, Daniela rationed the air within her lungs. “I work for no one.”

His fingers paused on her hip. “Then what compels you to steal?”

“Money, what else? I have responsibilities.”

His fingers began to move again, this time outlining the edge of her leather pants. “That is hardly an excuse.”

Her eyes narrowed and she bit down hard on her retort. What did he know of responsibilities? Born into such a wealthy family he’d no doubt had everything given to him. She despised his kind.

“Who have you sold the Rune to? And did he hire you to steal the second?” His finger encountered her slinky thong and he looped a finger into one of the straps, pulling it further to the surface.

She inhaled slowly. She wondered how he’d managed to assume that she’d taken the missing rune stone. She’d been careful to cover her tracks. Her heart began to race again. She wasn’t sure if it was due to the uncanny fact that this man knew far too much about her activities or to the warm sensations he was stirring within her.

When she provided no response, he looped his finger within the strap of her thong a second time, tightening the undergarment. “Answer me, girl.”

“I don’t know him,” she managed. “But yes, he wants the second rune.”

His deep groan echoed within his chest as he acknowledged her admission. “Now I will ask you again, who is this buyer? You steal upon his request. You must know something of him.”

“I’ve never seen him,” she breathed. “I only steal the items and they tell me where to make the drop-offs,” she blurted.

“Where?”

“About thirty minutes from here is an old monastery. I’m expected to deliver the second rune there tomorrow night.”

“You will take me there now.”

She tossed him a look over her shoulder, her brows drawn in a frown. “I don’t have the rune and there’s no way I’m going there without it.”

“You will lead me to this location, but not under the pretense of delivering the rune,” he told her. “I wish to see this drop-off point that you speak of.”

“I don’t think so,” she shook her head. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t some game of cops and robbers. These men will kill me if they even suspect that I’ve betrayed them.”

He leaned in closer, the heat of his body searing a hole through the clothes at her back. “There you are wrong. This is a game—one that you initiated and one you will see to its end.” He spoke evenly, but it was clear that he would abide no objections.

Daniela remained silent for a moment, definitely not liking the way things were progressing. Going to any drop-off unannounced and empty-handed was risky. She wouldn’t only be placing herself in danger, but also those closest to her. She knew all too well the kind of people she did business with. They were a dangerous group and were loyal only to the highest bidder. And when they were crossed they stopped at nothing, cutting down everything and anything in their paths until they got what they wanted. She would never forgive herself if anything ever happened to the people she loved.

Yet there was no way she was going to jail either. All in all, she had no easy way out of this. She would continue to go along with whatever he asked until she could make a run for it.

Daniela’s head fell against the cool stone wall and she sighed in resignation. “Fine, I’ll take you there.”

A deep groan rumbled within his chest as he acknowledged her acquiescence. It passed through her rib cage and slid up her spine. At that moment he slipped his finger from the binds of her thong and the strap retracted with a snap.

The heat of his body left her as he stepped back. Slowly, she turned to face him. He stepped to one side and motioned for her to lead the way out of the room, his eyes daring her to try something. Reluctantly, Daniela moved forward. Her heart was drumming. She steeled herself to remain calm, but something told her that this was going to be a very long night.