the two of us at the end—I can assure you of that.”
“I’m strong.”
“Yes, I noticed that last night.” He tilted forward a shoulder and looked over it. “The claw marks are no longer there, but you do like to dig in and hold on, don’t you?”
“You loved it.”
“Of course I did. You are exuberant and fiery when properly aroused. And wow. Red is really your color.”
She blew out a breath and shook her head. He was baiting her, and she should not take the hook. Again. It was just another line in his Casanova script, she told herself. He probably said the same thing to every woman he fucked.
“What is your reason for stealing the egg, if you’ll share with me?” he asked. “I would guess the monetary reward, but really, we both know fencing that thing will prove a bitch. It’s too famous. A lost Fabergé egg?”
“It’s worth millions,” Kyler said. “Why wouldn’t I want the thing?”
“So you’re a professional thief, are you?”
No belief in that question whatsoever. She set back her shoulders with as much confidence as she could muster. “I am.”
He eyed her soberly.
Kyler felt her bravado slip. The man could read her like a book. And that stare was 100 percent seduce and master.
She wandered to the end of the bed. “I’m not going to give details. In my profession, that’s never wise.”
“Of course not. So it’s a profession for you? I’m so glad I stepped aside to allow the professional to handle the details.”
“Damn right.”
“So you’ve a fence or buyer lined up?”
“Maybe.” She leaned against the wall and crossed her arms.
“And where does this friend come in? I thought you said you’d picked up a piece of art for him. Or was that a lie you made up when we met at the bar? It is a him, yes?”
“It is. And it wasn’t a lie. But how can you know the art I told you about was the egg?”
“You’ve committed two heists since arriving in Venice?”
Kyler shook her head. The man was insufferable! “Just the one. What about you? You said you were casing the place the same time as me. You don’t strike me as particularly in need of pin money.”
“I am quite well off, thank you.”
No kidding. The palazzo must be worth a fortune, and she bet the suits set him back a couple thousand per outfit. “And I recall you said you weren’t a thief? I don’t get it.”
“There’s nothing to get, Kyler. I wanted the Nécessaire egg. I devised a way to obtain it, via you.”
“How’d that work out for you?”
“I can’t argue the night ending on a high point with you pierced by my cock.” He stroked his jaw. The move was so sensual Kyler’s body heat rose a few degrees.
Neither could she make the argument. And just the sound of it—pierced by his cock—ooh, it gave her a good shiver.
“And I do love a good adventure. Such as werewolves,” he continued. “They provide a challenge. Keeps an old vamp on his toes. And in this case, I’ve also the pleasurable challenge of dallying with a very pretty vampiress thief who wishes to thwart my mission.”
“I’ve never thwarted anything. I’m not a thwarter. But I will win this one. I don’t care why you want the egg. It was mine. I had my hands on it. And I will have it again.”
“Do you know what the egg does?”
She shrugged. She had a good idea what the egg could make happen, and she understood it wasn’t the actual egg, but something inside it. But she wasn’t about to lay down all her cards before this guy.
“I thought it was a woman’s cosmetic kit inside the Nécessaire egg?” she said. “That’s what was advertised on the auction profile.”
“Right. Filled with combs, nail files, a mirror and so on. But beyond what the public knows...let’s say it is important I obtain the egg. For the safety of many.”
Kyler rolled her eyes. “Too vague. You didn’t win that argument.”
Dante tilted his head back against the headboard and slid a hand down his abs. The action took her out of her cautious reluctance and into a wanting desire for what was not-so-cleverly hidden beneath the towel.
“Fine,” he said. “We’ll play this game of cat and mouse. I like games. Especially one matched against a beautiful woman.”
“I never mix business with pleasure,” Kyler said quickly.
“Too late,” he said in a singsongy tone. “I’ve tasted your sweetness. Everywhere.”
Her shoulders dropped. Yeah, tell her about it. She hated the man. But she also found him irresistible. And she hated herself for being interested in him. This was exhausting.
“So what will we do with ourselves until my clothes arrive?”
“I’m not waiting for clothes,” she said. “Perhaps I’ll step out and see if I can pick up the trail.”
“That wouldn’t be wise.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“I would only wish to do such when you are naked and wanting before me.”
She bristled and turned her head quickly to hide the sigh that crossed her lips.
Dante leaned forward. “Have you experience with werewolves, Kyler? With fighting them? We do know the ones we heard on the bridge are armed with stakes. And they have our scents. How many times have you faced down the pointy tip of a stake?”
She’d forgotten about that. Her answer was never, and please, never let it happen anytime. Soon enough she wouldn’t have to worry about a stake being her end. But if she wanted to maintain any sort of advantage in this game of Dante’s, she couldn’t let him see her bluff.
“And what is your experience with fending off wolves?” she countered. “Are you some kind of trained killer? A werewolf slayer?”
Dante chuckled and swung his legs off the bed. As he stood, he ran his fingers through his hair, which had already dried; the short strands stuck up ever so invitingly. “Over the decades I’ve picked up some defense skills. Werewolves may be strong, but they’re slow. We vamps have speed and agility going for us. And I’d like to think we have the brains, as well. The dogs are stupid. But if they are part of a pack, then we have to be careful. Two or even three werewolves shouldn’t present a problem. A whole pack? Then we’ve got issues.”
“How do you know if they are with a
