Con Artist (Breeding #6)(6)

If she wants to be hunted, she’s in for a treat. I’m all too willing to become the beast she desires.





Chapter 5





James





The Fabergé egg is heavier than I’d thought it was going to be. I try to not focus on its weight as I wonder what the fuck is wrong with me. I completely froze after I took it and I still don’t understand why. It was like part of me wanted to get caught. This was the third time I’d done something stupid when it came to this man.

The first was lifting his wallet, the second keeping it, and then I stood there like I was waiting for him to grab me. When nothing happened disappointment sparked me back into action. I realized what I was doing—playing a game I shouldn't. Fear of being caught rules my life.

This time when I take off through his estate I’m not as hesitant as I was coming in. I slip into the shadows and make sure I stayed unnoticed. The great thing about being as small and as quick as I am, most of the sensors that line the home track me as an animal.

I move quickly to get off the property as fast as possible, but I keep looking over my shoulder the whole time. I listen for the sounds of dogs, but they don’t come and instead alarms go off and I swear I can feel a beast tracking me. Even if I don’t hear one, I feel it lurking not far behind.

Shouts ring out from the same men I slipped past on the way in because I’m not hiding now. I already made myself known when I shattered the glass. I didn’t try to do it quietly either and that was stupid. For some reason I wanted him to know it was me.

I take a deep breath as I push harder and move towards the wall. That’s the most challenging part of getting in and out of here. I flex my fingers in my glove-covered hands, making sure they’re still snug as I leap with all my force onto the wall. I use my right foot to push myself up and then my left. With a loud grunt I raise myself up while I grip the top of the wall. Lights flood the estate grounds and light everything up. I stand there looking back at the giant home that was more of a museum than anything as the guards run towards me. I fight a smug smile because I’ve gotten one over on this guy again. I relish it for a moment knowing they can’t catch me now.

All of the security guards are too big to be able to scale the wall like I did. Sometimes strength can actually be a weakness. I pull my hood over my head as I turn and jump. I brace myself for the fall, bending my knees and using my left hand to hit the ground with my feet to spread the hard shock of the blow my body will take. I suck in a breath to give my body the second it needs to let the impact roll through it before I push off the ground and race down the along rock wall that surrounds the castle-like home.

When I was inside the mansion I itched to explore it. I wanted to see what other goodies were nestled inside. I probably wouldn’t be good at knowing what was worth the most money because I had to google what Bradford told me. I had no clue what a Fabergé egg was. They were strangely pretty but my eyes almost bugged out of my head when I saw the range of prices they could go for. Who pays that for an egg you can’t even eat? People with more money than god is my only guess. When you have so much money you don’t know what to do with it you buy stupid shit, I guess.

The price on this egg could change my life. I wonder how long it would have taken for someone to notice it was missing if I hadn’t had to shatter the glass to get to it.

I pull my gloves off and stuff them into my pocket. When I glance at my watch I see my heart rate and it’s higher than it should be. It will start to slow me down soon if it doesn't level out, and I’ve still got a ways to go.

I keep running as I pull out my burner phone and log into the Lyft app I signed up for with a gift card and fake information. I type in that I want the car to pick me up a mile from where I am as I keep running. The six minutes it takes me to get to the pickup spot feels longer than it should, but the car pulls up at the same time as me and I hop in. I already have my destination keyed in. I drop my head back and close my eyes as I try and even out my breathing. Shit, this guy is fucking with me.

The job is finished but somehow I know this isn’t over; I can feel it. The car pulls up two miles from my place, and when I get out I give the driver the rest of the money left on the gift card for a tip before I throw the burner phone in a trash can. It’s late at night and I’m done running so I pull off my hoodie and let my hair down. Someone in all black this time of night moving too quickly would only draw attention.

I slip in the back door of the bar and hear the music playing softly. I head up the stairs and unlock my door then close it quickly behind me. I flip the lock and when it clicks into place relief falls over me. I stand there, letting out a long.

That is until a hand comes down over mine and I start to scream. But just as I do, a hand clamps over my mouth and I still. There is nowhere to go and he’s all around me. His chest is to my back and he’s caging me in. Just from his hands alone I can tell the man is big, but when his scent hits me as his mouth comes to my ear I know instantly who he is. My fear shouldn’t calm, but for some crazy reason it does and I lean back into him. I gasp behind his hand covering my mouth when I feel every hard inch of him.

“You took something of mine,” he says against my ear, but he doesn’t sound mad about it. Then he kisses me softly in the same place and it’s almost sweet until his mouth moves a little lower. This time he bites me. It’s hard enough that I know it’s going to leave a mark, but instead of crying out I actually moan as my ass pushes back into him all on its own.