The Black Sheep and The English Rose. Donna Kauffman

At least for the following eighteen or so hours.”

      She pursed her perfectly sculpted lips into a pout, which was so out of character for her, it actually made him smile. “I’d apologize, but that would be insincere of me.”

      He resisted—barely—the urge to yank her underneath him, shred the flimsy scraps of silk covering her, and bury himself so deeply inside her they’d both forget, at least for the moment, why they were really there. He had carnal knowledge, too. And he knew she’d be wet enough, tight enough, everything enough to fit him perfectly. “And I’d certainly never want anything less than complete honesty from you.”

      Something flashed across her eyes then, so swiftly he’d have missed it if he hadn’t been paying close attention. And, where Felicity was involved, he always paid close attention.

      “So noted,” was all she said. But she shifted her feet away from his touch then. “In the name of honesty, then, I’ll admit I’m surprised to see you here.”

      “Here in the city, or here in your bedroom?”

      Her lips curved slightly at that. “Both, actually, but I meant the city. Or, perhaps I should say I was surprised to discover we’re after the same quarry.”

      “And why is that? I know our paths haven’t crossed of late—”

      “I thought I’d read somewhere that you’d abandoned your vaunted post in the city as well as your…other travails, to start something, shall we say, a bit more legitimate. Haven’t you started some sort of charitable foundation with the inheritance from your father?”

      Now it was his turn to bristle, though he tried like hell to keep from responding to her obvious tactics. “I’ve never been anything less than legitimate, as you call it. I was an assistant district attorney when we first met.”

      Her eyebrows lifted. “In Bogota? Rather far afield for a city worker, isn’t it?”

      “Not in Bogota. We first met here. At a charity gala event, thrown by the mayor.” He smiled, surprised. “You don’t remember that, do you?”

      “When, exactly?” She immediately shook her head, and he couldn’t help but notice the way it made all those auburn curls of hers tumble about her pale, delicately defined shoulders. “Impossible. I would have remembered.”

      “It was quite crowded, and our introduction was made in a rather large group. The mayor can be somewhat pompous, and he was rather enjoying showing off, if I recall, to the lovely Brit.”

      “Namely because the ‘lovely Brit’ had a rather large checkbook attached to a very generous foundation that he was hoping I’d dip into for him. And I still can’t believe our paths crossed before Bogota. I’d have remembered you.”

      “I can’t see why.”

      She lowered her gaze, then lifted it once again, her eyes much darker now as her pupils expanded. “Let’s just say there are occasions when I want to dip into things on a more personal level. I’d have remembered you.”

      He hadn’t thought he could be any harder. Where she was involved, there apparently were no limits. That shouldn’t have surprised him. After all, she lived her life the same way. “As I recall, you were otherwise engaged at the time. Unless, that is, you like to double dip.”

      It was her turn to bristle. “Think what you will, but no, that isn’t something I’d ever entertain.” She looked around the room, presumably seeing the scatter of her clothing on the floor, then looked back at him. “If you’re concerned that could be the case here, let me assure you, it’s not. Appearances can be, and often are, deceiving.”

      “Because you have no interest in…dipping?”

      She drew her toes along his thigh again. “Because I haven’t dipped in some time. And, where you are concerned, it seems I always have an interest.” She drew her legs up before he could lay his hands on her again.

      It was taking great willpower to sit and chat, as if the explosive chemistry between them wasn’t electrifying every atom and air particle in the room. “Interesting,” he said, “considering the state in which I’ve discovered you.”

      “If you’re intimating that I used my wiles to that great a length as a means to get what I’m after, then I’m afraid you don’t know me at all.”

      “So Bogota, Prague…”

      “I’d have succeeded or failed in either case based on my own skills, thank you. I don’t use sex as a ploy. But then, I don’t have to.”

      “So your involvement with me was incidental? Now I’m the one who finds that hard to believe.”

      “I didn’t say that. You were critical to my success in Bogota, and an unfortunately ill-timed distraction in Prague. But sex was never part of the plan.”

      “So you’d have succeeded in Bogota with or without…dipping?”

      “Most assuredly.” She smiled. “One can have bad clams without great sex.”

      He shuddered slightly, but nodded. “True. And Prague?”

      “Most assuredly not in Prague. Had I stuck to my usual plan, I’d have walked away the victor there. It’s only because I let myself get distracted by you that I failed.”

      Finn wasn’t so certain of that, but he let the comment pass. “And here? You mentioned earlier you allowed yourself to get distracted…Seems you might have a little problem with that, then.”

      Now she cocked her head. “Do you know who it is you’re tracking?”

      “I thought I did.” No way was he giving her a name.

      “Then you know how high the stakes are. And that the playing field is a rather…challenging one.”

      “If you say so.” Finn had never gone up against this particular adversary, but after even the least bit of research, he’d realized that for once, he might be getting in over his head. A little. But he’d taken the case anyway. At the time, he’d have said that he’d signed on because he was certain that he was as capable as anyone to retrieve the priceless gemstone, regardless of who else was after it. He certainly had the best platform to work from, in both financing and talent. And, frankly, if he didn’t get it back for his client, no one would. No one else had the interests of a bastard child at heart. The rest of the players were motivated only by greed. Not by doing what was right.

      But now that he was here, it was impossible to deny that the entire time he’d been compiling the information he used to make such decisions, he’d wondered, given the players he’d discovered could potentially be in play on this, if Felicity would be in the game as well.

      In the end, it had been an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. His partners had no idea how big a risk he was taking. For the first time, he’d been less than completely open with them regarding the details, assuring them he was on top of things as they both had their hands full with other matters. He only hoped they, not to mention his client, wouldn’t be the ones ultimately paying the price. Whatever the case, it was too late now. He was committed. And he was here. He’d have to find some way to deal with Felicity Jane, along with whoever else popped up, and see that the job got done, with him walking away the victor.

      “So,” she went on, drawing lazy patterns on his thigh with her toes. “If you know who you’re up against, why aren’t you off continuing the chase rather than sitting here, chatting with me? I’ve got nothing left to offer you, I’m afraid.”

      Finn abruptly clamped down on her ankles, trapping her there, keeping her toes pressed hard against his thigh. Their gazes locked, and he was gratified to see the knowledge dawn in her eyes that perhaps she was playing with fire here. The problem was she didn’t appear any more put off by the idea than he was.

      He slowly drew her down the bed, until her arms were stretched over her head. The shackles locking her wrists to the