Absolute Trust - Jeana E. Mann Page 0,74
it.” I blow out a cleansing breath to steady my nerves. With light steps, I race down the hall to the second door and place a gloved hand on the knob. It turns easily. I step inside, close it behind me, and wait for my eyes to adjust to the light.
I’m in an enormous bedroom. Yards of heavy velvet drape the king-sized canopy bed. Fat cherubs and naked women cover the muraled ceiling. Possibly a work of Ruben’s. If only I had time to admire all the amazing treasures inside this ancient villa. Unfortunately, time is my enemy in this circumstance.
“Are you in?” Cash’s voice buzzes in my ear. Every time I hear him speak, I get a jolt of desire between my legs. High-stakes thievery always makes me horny.
“Yes. Just give me a minute.” I scan the room for the bookcase. Soft Aubusson rugs cushion my footsteps. There are gold lanterns on each side of the shelves. I run a tentative finger over the left one, wrap my fingers around the base, and pull it toward me. The bookcase groans then swings open to reveal a wall safe. Just like Cash said. “Bingo.”
“Excellent, baby girl. You’re doing great.” His words of praise heat my cheeks. “Now, eighteen left, eighteen right, and twenty-eight left.”
The dial clicks into place at each number. “You’d think people with this much money would update their security systems,” I say as I scoop two diamond rings, a ruby pendant, and two watches into the pouches hidden beneath the black skirt I’m wearing. It’s an outfit identical to those worn by the female catering staff at the fancy dinner party downstairs.
“These people are old money. They’ve grown complacent. Why are you complaining?” His chuckle spreads warmth through my chest. “Their oversight is our gain.”
“I’m not complaining, just making a general comment.” I return to the door. “All done.”
“Great. Head downstairs to the party. I’ll meet you at the back door in ten.”
I open the bedroom door and peer into the hallway. The voices of the guests float up the stairs. I straighten the collar of my white blouse, adjust the waistband of my skirt, and smooth the bun at the nape of my neck. Adrenaline hums through my blood. I descend the staircase. At the bottom, I pick up a catering tray and make my way into the kitchen.
No one looks at me or blinks in my direction. I drop the tray near the back door and step outside into the mild air. Cash is waiting on a scooter a few paces away. My stomach does a crazy flip-flop at the sight of his windblown hair and mischievous grin. He jerks his chin toward the back of the scooter. “Hop on, sexy.”
I climb onto the seat and hold on for dear life as we zoom through the narrow, winding streets. At the dock, we trade the scooter for a jet ski. Within ten minutes, we’re skimming along the water toward our yacht. Another twenty minutes and we’re sipping champagne on the lower deck under a sky filled with twinkling stars.
“It never gets old, does it?” Cash asks, his eyes dark and filled with desire.
“Nope.” I set my champagne flute on the table so that I can straddle his lap.
His hands find my ass and squeeze. “This is the last time. For real.”
“Of course,” I say, even though we both know it’s a lie. We’ve been sneaking into houses of the rich and famous, skirting the coast of the Mediterranean for the better part of six months. Not for revenge. For fun.
I lower my lips to his and savor the taste of Moët on his tongue. He tugs the pins from my hair, letting it spill over my shoulders and down my back. I rock forward. Behind the fly of his shorts, he’s as rigid as a steel rod. The soft breeze tickles over my bare legs. Beyond the scent of his cologne hovers the tang of sea salt and the flowers on the table.
“Let’s go to bed,” Cash whispers into my ear, and I nod, because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Also by Jeana E. Mann
The Rich Royal and Ruthless Collection
(In reading order)
THE EXILED PRINCE TRILOGY
The Exiled Prince
The Dirty Princess
The War King
THE REBEL QUEEN DUET
The Royal Arrangement
The Rebel Queen
STANDALONE
The Ruthless Knight
THE ABSOLUTE POWER DUET
Absolute Power
Absolute Trust
PRETTY BROKEN SERIES
(In reading order)
Pretty Broken Girl
Pretty Filthy Lies
Pretty Dirty Secrets
Pretty Wild Thing
Pretty Broken Promises
Pretty Broken Dreams
Pretty Broken Baby
Pretty Broken Hearts
Pretty Broken Bastard
FELONY ROMANCE SERIES
Intoxicated
Unexpected
Vindicated
Impulsive
Drift
Committed
STANDALONES
Lies We Tell
Dirty Work
SHORT STORIES
Everything
Linger
About the Author
Jeana is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author from Indiana. She gave up a career in the corporate world to write about sexy billionaires and alpha bad boys. With over twenty books, three series, and many awards beneath her belt, she’s never regretted her choice to live out her dream. She’s a free spirit, a wanderer at heart, and loves animals with a passion. When she’s not tripping over random objects, you’ll find her walking in the sunshine with her rambunctious dogs and dreaming about true love. Subscribe to Jeana’s newsletter and get the inside scoop on new and upcoming releases, giveaways, and much more! SUBSCRIBE
TEXT ALERTS -
text the word “Jeana” without quotation marks to 21000 and get new release alerts straight to your phone.
Copyright © 2020 by Jeana E Mann
Cover photography by wanderbookclub.com
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Created with Vellum