Page 38 of It Takes a Thief
He shakes his head, swiping a hand through his cropped hair. “You’re a princess, Merritt. Real-life royalty who deserves a helluva lot better than me.”
“That’s not true,” I whisper fiercely. “You’re a good man—”
He snorts out an abrupt laugh. “You have no idea who I am, sweetheart.” He leans forward, dark eyes glittering, hands dropping between his splayed legs. “If you did, you’d tell me to leave and never come back.”
“Tell me then.” When he doesn’t respond, I lean forward, too. “Who are you, Linc?”
“I’m nobody,” he says simply. Softly.
The way he says those two words, with so much conviction, makes my heart ache. “I disagree. I think you’re the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever met. You saved my life last night, and I should gift you a kingdom for your bravery.”
His lip quirks up. “A kingdom?”
“You think my life is worth less?” I ask archly.
“No, that’s not what I meant,” he hurriedly assures me.
“I’m kidding,” I say, and we share a smile. The air between us seems to clear, growing lighter and more comfortable again.
“I’m really not that noble,” he says.
“I disagree.”
“The truth is I’m not exactly who you think, and that’s why I walked away last night. You should know the man you give your virginity to, Mer.”
He’s talking in circles, so I meet his dark brown eyes, teeming with uncertainty. “Then I’ll ask again—who are you, Lincoln?”
Chapter Fourteen: Linc
Ihave no idea what’s prompting this sudden need to open up and expose myself to Merritt. Maybe because I’m having a crisis of conscience. Because even though I seriously want to fuck her, I want her to wantme. Not the man she mistakenly thinks I am.
Because I’m no hero. No knight in shining armor and certainly no prince. I’m a washed-up fighter and a thief. I suppose the best way to extinguish her wanting me is to tell her that. But my lips stay sealed. I guess on some level, I crave her approval, and I don’t want her to hate me.
Because like I said, there’s nothing noble about me. And the selfish bastard inside wants to taste her again.
Her question reverberates through my head.Who am I?She’s waiting for my answer, and I merely shrug a shoulder. “I’m the guy hired to keep you safe, Princess. And that includes from myself.”
She scoffs. “You would never hurt me.”
“Not physically, no. Never.” Emotionally, though? That’s a very good possibility. If I crawled into her bed and used that sweet body in every possible way I’ve imagined, there’s no doubt in my mind she’d end up paying the price.
“You mean you’d break my heart,” she says quietly.
“I’m the guy who walks away after one night,” I remind her.
“I didn’t forget your rules.” She sits up straighter, blue eyes locking with mine. “I’m even willing to play by them.”
I inhale swiftly.
“In twelve days, I’ll be on my way back to Arcadia, and my parents expect an engagement announcement. We can continue dancing around each other”—she waves her hand back and forth between us—“or we can spend that time enjoying each other. Either way, I’m leaving, and you’ll be free to go on your merry way.”
Her offer is so goddamn tempting. But I don’t make impulsive decisions. Not about something like this. I’m a planner, and I’ve survived this long by thinking through various outcomes thoroughly before making a final decision.
“Think about it,” she murmurs, as though reading my mind as she takes a sip of coffee. “Oh, and I’m meeting my friend Charity for lunch.”
I frown but know I can’t keep her locked up like a prisoner. “If you insist.”
“I do. Besides, it’s tradition.”
