How to Steal a Thief's Heart - Bree Wolf Page 0,100

her eyes countless times.

The proud slope of her chin as she refused to back down.

The warm smile that melted his heart within an instant.

Air escaped his lungs in a rush, and his eyes narrowed, looking harder still, unable to believe what his heart knew to be true. “Caroline?” he croaked, tempted to shake his head to rid himself of this mirage.

Her smile deepened in such a way that he could have groaned. “I was wondering if you’d recognize me,” she whispered and took a step closer, her blue eyes looking up into his. “What do you think of the dress?”

Still staring, Pierce’s gaze swept lower and took note of the absence of her usual high-collared dress. Of course, he’d been aware of the red gown. However, before, he’d not been aware of her.

Now, he was.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Selfish

Caroline shivered at the way Pierce’s gaze raked over her, slid from her eyes and then slowly followed the column of her neck and down over her almost bare shoulders. She all but felt his gaze glide over her skin, like a caress that sent shivers into every fiber of her being.

His eyes darkened as he took in her gown, hugging her body like a second skin. Never had she worn a dress quite like this, and yet, she knew that it barely stretched the limits of what was considered appropriate. The most scandalous thing about it was, in all likelihood, its dark ruby color.

“Well?” she prompted breathlessly and his gaze returned to hers.

“Are you mad?” he growled, and she could see the pulse in his neck hammering like a stampede as his dark gaze drilled into her.

Disappointed to hear an accusation instead of a compliment, Caroline felt the smile slide from her face. “I thought you might…you might be…”

“What?” he snapped as he charged forward, his hand clasping around her left wrist. “Your insanity knows no ends, does it?” The muscles in his jaw were tense to the point of breaking as he glared down at her. “Again, you leave the house in the middle of the night,” a harsh breath left his lips, “and come here of all places,” his gaze dropped to the slight swell of her breasts barely visible considering the comparatively modest neckline of her gown, “dressed like this!”

Caroline’s jaw hardened. “Was it not you who told me never to wear a high collar again?” she demanded, aware that her words were like fuel for the fire raging within him. Still, she could not keep silent, could not allow him to ruin this night for her. After all she’d risked, all she was risking, she deserved…

…something, didn’t she?

His jaw tensed as he continued to stare at her, still and rigid like a stone column. And then something inside him snapped, and Caroline found herself being hauled across the room, her wrist caught in his iron grip as he all but dragged her away from the crowd.

The light dimmed farther as they headed down a small corridor, darkness creeping in from all sides, and the noise of the ballroom fell away step by step. Then abruptly, he stopped and pushed open a door. Moonlight filtered into the room through the tall windows at the opposite end, and Caroline could barely make out the dim shapes of a settee and two armchairs situated near an ornate fireplace. Massive shelves lined one side of the room while the other nearer the tall windows held a small writing desk and chair.

Pierce yanked her forward and she stumbled a few steps toward the windows before stilling her feet. His hand left her wrist and the moment she spun around to face him, he pushed the door shut with a loud, angry kick of his boot. “Who do you think you are, dragging me in here like this?” Caroline thundered, hating him so very much in that moment for making her feel this way.

Unwanted.

Pitiful.

Rejected.

“How dare you come here?” he snapped in return as they stood head to head, both furious, both unwilling to back down. “Have you not learned from the past? Have there not been enough close calls?” Gritting his teeth, he raked his hand through his hair. When his fingers touched upon the black mask, he yanked it away from his face and stuffed it inside his jacket, his movements jerky.

“Don’t treat me like a child!” Caroline growled out through gritted teeth as well, feeling her own blood boil and her anger barely under control. All her hopes for this night had been dashed