Page 7 of Wanted 2

As I waited, I prepped for my mission, removing the camera packaging and tossing it in the trash so I wouldn’t accidentally leave any evidence around.

Finally, four new tires later, I was racing back to the Count’s house, fingers crossed my speed wouldn’t attract any cops. This time, the universe showed a little pity, and I arrived back at the mansion with no cop the wiser.

Key and cameras in hand, I ran into the mansion and to the Count's office. According to my calculations, I had about fifteen minutes to set up and hide my surveillance system. I couldn’t risk waiting another day. I was already down to six.

The key fit the lock perfectly and with a click, I was inside. The room was dark and as he didn't have any conventional lighting in his office--or even a freaking window--I had to let my eyes adjust until I could see well enough to place the cameras. It was just a matter of picking out which bookshelves provided the best angles of the safe.

I tucked the key into my shoe so I wouldn’t accidentally leave it somewhere obvious, and then found hiding places for the first two cameras easily enough. I regretted my purchase of the pen version. It stuck out like a sore thumb and drew attention, practically advertising “look here.”

I’d just removed it from the fourth location when the door to the study opened.

It was the Count.

3

The Count stood in the doorway with his dark eyes riveted on mine. “What are you doing in here?”

“Oh, just getting an early start to the cleaning,” I squeaked and licked my dry lips.

His eyes flicked down to my mouth. A muscle tensed on his lean jaw. “This room is off limits.”

“Oh?” I feigned surprise. “The door was open.” Technically, not a lie. It was open…after I’d unlocked it.

He approached me slowly, like a predator hunting prey. “Do you remember the rules?” he whispered, towering over me. “Do not lie?”

“Yep. Rule number one, isn’t it?” I smiled.

He loomed closer, and then closer still until I could feel his breath on my face, and so help me, in spite of what I’d been in the midst of doing, all I could think about was his kiss. God, would he please kiss me again?

“I could command you to tell me the truth,” he said, his voice so compelling and his eyes pulling me in, inviting me to drown in the darkness of his soul.

I wanted him. I wanted nothingbuthim. I’d tell him anything he asked, as long as I could have him. Yet, even as I opened my mouth to spill out my innermost thoughts, he stepped back.

“But I won’t,” he said, sounding distant again.

The urge to tell my secrets faded. I swallowed, shocked how close I’d come. What the hell had happened to me? How could I be so willing to give up Jeremy's future for a quick lay?

I blinked, trying to find my voice. "Do you want me to finish cleaning in here?" I asked, pocketing the pen that I never did find a place for. The other cameras would have to work. I prayed to whatever gods might still be listening to me that he wouldn't find them and catch on to my plans. I'd be dead. No lie.

"Your services are not needed in here," he said, clearly dismissing me with his tone.

With jangling nerves I feared he could hear, I walked to the door, and as I stepped out into the hall, his voice stopped me.

"How are you feeling?"

It wasn't the question I was expecting. I turned to face him. "Better than I deserve," I said honestly.

He approached, his face unreadable and didn’t stop until he came within inches of me. "You deserve so much more than you realize," he said softly, his eyes piercing my very soul as he brushed a lock of hair from my face. "Certainly, more than you've been given."

I sucked in a breath, not trusting myself to speak. He didn't know me. Didn't know what I'd done. What I'd lived through. What I was in the process of doing to him.

Truthfully, I was too jaded to judge who deserved what. But then, how could anyone know the weight of a person's soul? Mine or anyone else's?

"What darkness shadows your heart?" he asked, and I couldn't tell if it was rhetorical or not, but either way I didn't know how to answer.

"I could ask the same of you," I said, my voice catching on raw emotion.

"I've already shared with you my demons," he said, his lips inches from mine.

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