How to Steal a Thief's Heart - Bree Wolf Page 0,24

slid his pistol back into the holster at his belt.

“You wouldn’t dare!” she exclaimed in outrage.

This time, Pierce couldn’t hold back the grin that tugged on his lips. “Oh, little mouse, you have no clue how much I dare.” His eyes remained on hers, noting the way her own moved, her mind no doubt searching for a way out.

Then her jaw hardened. “I have nothing. You’re simply wasting your time.”

“I doubt it.” And without another thought, he surged to his feet, then dropped down onto the seat beside her.

With a shriek, she pushed herself back, trying to get away from him. “I will scream if you—”

His hands slipped under her cloak, and she stilled immediately, shock widening her eyes as she stared back at him.

Pierce grinned, holding her gaze. “What are you hiding, little mouse?” he whispered as his hands found her small waist, slowly sliding up her ribcage, her heart pounding frantically beneath.

Her delicate frame trembled, and he could feel her breath coming faster. Still, the steel in her eyes did not waver. “I demand that you release me immediately!”

Pierce chuckled. “I have not yet found what I came for.” His hands traveled farther upward until they touched upon her arms, which lay crossed over her chest, her own hands clutching something as though it meant the world to her.

Looking into her dark blue eyes, Pierce realized that he didn’t simply wish to know what she was about. It was not mere curiosity that drove him. No, a part of him needed to know as though he could not continue on otherwise. The secrets that she hid behind those large spectacles, now lay almost bared before him and all he needed to do was take a good look.

Fire stood in her eyes.

Defiance tensed her jaw.

Courage pulsed in her veins.

Pierce was intrigued. More than that. He was all but hypnotized. Who was she? Not the wallflower she’d led everyone to believe. Not the little, grey mouse she pretended to be. No, Miss Caroline Hawkins was much more than met the eye.

Her breath sped up as his hands moved higher, up over her arms to her shoulders before sliding back down. Pierce knew where to find whatever it was she was trying to keep from him. And yet, he could not deny himself the warmth that lingered on her skin even through the layers of fabric that separated them. He wanted to touch her, feel her, know that she was real. Alive and breathing, not a figment of his imagination. For he had always wished for a woman who would steal his breath, addle his mind and upend his world.

And Miss Caroline Hawkins did just that!

As his hands slid down her lower arms, inching closer to her hands, she tensed and drew in a sharp breath. “You cannot have it.”

His hands stilled as he gazed at her. “What are you hiding?”

“That is none of your concern!” she snapped. Her voice was no louder than a whisper.

Pierce’s forefinger slid sideways to her wrist, where her sleeve ended. Even through the leather of his gloves, he knew that now bare skin lay underneath and he wished he had foregone his gloves that night. “I disagree,” he whispered, then slid his forefinger inside her sleeve where her pulse beat frantically against her skin.

His little mouse drew in another sharp breath. “Unhand me,” she demanded on a gasp, “and I shall…not report this to the authorities.”

Pierce chuckled, enjoying the way her gaze narrowed…more in annoyance than fear. “I’m afraid I cannot,” he whispered, and his hands reached up to cover her own.

Another gasp was torn from her lips as she tried to twist away from him. “You cannot have it!” she all but growled, a new determination coming to her eyes.

One of his hands closed around the small leather pouch she held clutched to her chest while Pierce used the other to dislodge her hold on it. He loved that she didn’t give in, that she fought him, that she didn’t make it easy. He could not deny that he was enjoying himself. Indeed, she was a worthy adversary! And his heart all but sank when he finally managed to wrench the little pouch from her hands.

“No!” his little mouse exclaimed, her eyes going wide with panic as her hands reached out to retrieve her pouch. “Give it back. You cannot have it.”

Holding the pouch behind his back, Pierce chuckled when she all but moved onto his lap in her attempts to recover it. “I