"You�re hiding something," he said, frustration finally bubbling over. "You�ve been nothing but cagey since our first meeting, and now you�re standing on my property, asking for favors to which you�re not entitled, nor have you earned. I demand to know�"

"Don�t. Please." With a gentle touch, she cupped his face, her eyes full of regret. "I realize how shady this sounds, but�"

"Darling, you have no bloody idea. I�ve met career politicians more honest and straightforward than you, even before I compelled them."

A wounded look flickered through her gaze, and she removed her hand, but Dorian stood by his words. She was shady. Shady, frustrating, witty, intelligent, adventurous, beautiful, incredibly sexy, and quickly infiltrating his very bones.

"I know I haven�t earned the right to ask for this," she said, "but�"

"You don�t trust me. After everything we�ve already shared."

"You shouldn�t trust me, either, Dorian Redthorne. We�re still strangers. And we�re talking about stolen artwork here. The kind of information that can lead to some really unsavory places."

"Like my bed?" He�d meant it to sound angry, but it came out more like a taunt.

Charlotte couldn�t help her smile, and for a moment Dorian was so relieved to see the light return to her eyes, he almost stopped caring about the secrecy.

"I wouldn�t call your bed an unsavory place." She took a step closer, sliding her hands over his shoulders, the sudden press of her body after so long without it quickly sending him into overdrive.

He slid his hands into her hair, drawing her even closer. "I have other unsavory beds, you know. A great many of them. Beds you haven�t yet had the pleasure of being bound to and thoroughly ravished upon."

His cock twitched at the thought, and her eyes darkened with desire, blood racing hot through her veins.

But then she closed her eyes and pulled back, leaving him with nothing to embrace but the crisp autumn air and an armload of regrets.

"Goodbye, Dorian Redthorne," she said softly. "Thank you, as always, for a lovely time."

Dorian pressed a hand to his heart. "Ah, she bids me farewell, and yet my questions remain unanswered, the mystery of Charlotte D�Amico eternally unsolved."

"I need more information," she said, impatience snapping through her words. "Can you do me that favor? Talk to your guy?"

In response, Dorian grabbed her shoulders and hauled her close, claiming her in a kiss so fierce, so protective, so possessive, it left no doubt about his intentions. Then, finally breaking for air, he kissed a path to her ear and whispered, "I�ll let you know what I find out."

Charlotte gave him a grateful smile, which Dorian reluctantly returned. He�d given in to her demands today, but she was going to have to start talking, sooner rather than later. Because after this weekend, whatever trouble Charlotte was heading for, whatever "unsavory places" awaited her, Dorian was going right down with her.

Whether she liked it or not.

She slid into the limo, and Jameson closed the door behind her.

"I shall take good care of her, sir," he said.

"I�ve no doubts, Jameson," Dorian replied. Then, in a low voice, "Keep the GPS activated. I�ll be right behind you."

Charley could not stop shaking.

She was so livid, so out of her damn mind with rage, she could barely think straight, let alone get her body to cooperate. It was all she could do to give Jameson the address change, and hope like hell he didn�t rat her out to Dorian.

She was in enough trouble with the vampire as it was. The last thing she needed was Dorian finding out she didn�t go home, after she�d insisted over and over she needed to get back to Sasha. JrNovels.com