Page 11 of Prettiest Little Thief (Band of Thieves #1)

The feeling of someone near woke me from my sleep. Blinking my eyes open, Lucas sat at the end of the bed. He was quiet as he looked at his phone, typing away, dressed and ready for the day. And I… I was still in my jammies.

I sat up slowly, the blanket falling to my waist. “What are you doing in here?”

“We’re going to the museum today,” he replied without even glancing at me. “Get up and get ready. Breakfast is on the table.”

“You’re bossy.”

“I wouldn’t be where I am if I wasn’t.” Lucas slid his phone into his pocket and his gaze finally met mine. Then trailed down to my alien night shirt. “Aliens,” he murmured.

“Yes, aliens.”

“Do you have any other night wear?”

“Do my alien pajamas bother you, Lucas?” I crossed my arms over my chest and quirked an eyebrow.

But he didn’t respond. His expression hardened, and he stood from the bed. “Get ready,” he barked before he stalked out of the room, leaving me to obey his command. I hated being bossed around, but what other choice did I have ?

I threw back the sheets and took a quick shower. Since it was a cooler day, I dressed in thick black leggings, a pair of black and white chucks, and an off the shoulder, gray knitted sweater.

Once I had eaten, we left in one of Lucas’s fancy cars.

“Is Fox off duty today or something?” I asked as he pulled out onto the main road.

“He is. Why? Do you miss him?” His grip on the steering wheel tightened, but his eyes didn’t leave the road.

“Maybe.”

Lucas’s gaze swept to me, down my body and then back up to my face. “Are you fucking him?” He turned back to face forward. The bluntness of his question made me draw back in surprise. Not just surprise but disgust. Because no one had ever asked something so personal in such a vulgar way.

But instead of responding defensively, I figured I’d roll with it. “If Fox and I were… intimate, would it be a problem?” His jaw feathered as he clenched his teeth together. He remained quiet. So, I continued. “He is a handsome man, you know. Even my friend Evie was impressed with Fox.”

“You didn’t answer the question,” Lucas ground out.

“Neither did you.”

“I asked you first.” His knuckles were bleached white with how tightly he held the wheel.

I threaded my fingers together in my lap. “No. We aren’t.”

Lucas relaxed minutely, and I waited for him to respond to the question I had asked him. Would it be a problem?

“It wouldn’t be a problem. But I wouldn’t like it either.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Why?”

“I just wouldn’t.” No other explanation.

“That’s not really an answer,” I replied. “But I think I know what it is. ”

Lucas chuckled. “Yeah? And why do you think I wouldn’t like it.”

“Because I’m such an amazing kisser, you don’t want to share these lips with anyone.” I puckered and made kissing noises to tease him.

Suddenly, Lucas turned the car sharply, pulling off to the side of the road and putting it into park. He unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned in closely to me, crowding me. There wasn’t much space in the car to move away from him, but I put my back against the door and watched him with wide eyes.

“What are you doing?” I asked, breathlessly.

Lucas’s large hand gripped the back of my head and pulled me toward him. Our mouths were an inch apart, his breath caressing my skin. My nipples tightened beneath my sweater, and my body quivered in anticipation.

“You may be right about that,” he said in a husky whisper. He moved closer, and his lips touched mine. Softly. My belly buzzed with butterflies that spread outward. The slightest touch from Lucas sent my pulse skyrocketing and my body humming with need.

I flicked my tongue out, and he opened for me, tangling our tongues together. A deep groan vibrated from Lucas’s chest, and I placed my hand on his sternum, twisting my fingers in his black T-shirt.

His grip tightened on my neck before he pulled away and pressed his forehead against mine, his blue eyes piercing into me. “Do you think Fox can kiss you like that?”

“I don’t know,” I said.

“Wrong answer, Monroe.” Lucas slammed his mouth onto mine again. This time, rougher. More demanding .

My body melted into him as I looped my arms around his neck and ran my fingers through the hair at the nape.

My core pulsed with excitement. I wanted more.

So much more. But I wasn’t going to go there.

I still held a bit of malice toward Lucas.

No matter how sexy he was in his jeans, red plaid jacket, and black T-shirt. He looked like a lumberjack stripper.

Lucas pulled away again, and those piercing azure eyes searched my face.

“No. No, I don’t think Fox could kiss me like that,” I said, hardly able to catch my breath.

“Good.” Lucas released me, buckling his belt again and putting the car into drive. “I like to make sure all my employees favor me.” Did he just imply that I was not only an employee but that he would do anything with who knows how many women to gain likability?

Ew. Just ew.

The lust that had consumed me seconds before evaporated. “Excuse me?”

A cocky grin spread across his face as he pulled back out onto the road. “I knew if I kissed you, you’d cave.”

“Are you freaking kidding me?” My mouth dropped open from how stunned I was.

“You are the biggest jerk I’ve ever met.

” I moved to sit normally in my seat and stared out the front windshield, not able to look at Lucas.

The softer side of him he’d shown me at the masquerade had obviously been a facade, and my anger bubbled even more when he laughed outright.

He had kissed me as part of a sick game.

He wanted to have me under his thumb. To lust after him.

I thought we had gotten past the mean guy persona.

I was wrong. “I changed my mind. Fox is way hotter than you. And nicer. And a better kisser.” I crossed my arms over my chest, refusing to look at the smug look on Lucas’s face as he taunted me.

Lucas continued to laugh. He didn’t believe a word I said after I basically became a puddle in my seat. And… there might have been an actual puddle in my seat from how worked up he had gotten me.

The arrogant expression on his face didn’t leave for the entirety of the ride.

Which peeved me to the depths of my soul.

I sat in silence and watched the buildings become bigger and bigger as we continued deeper into the city, until we eventually pulled into a parking structure and of course used the valet service.

At the entrance of the museum, a large sign that read Arcane Repository hung above the doors.

The building was neoclassical in style, with a large dome on top.

Banners hung from the large columns that lined the walls of the outside, promoting the exhibits the museum currently had. None of them being the relic of Ana.

We strode through the glass front doors and glanced around. Lucas paid for our admission, and I grabbed a pamphlet with the different exhibit information. Flipping through it, I didn’t find anything regarding the key we were hunting for.

“The guide doesn’t say anything about Anastasia’s Keepsake ,” I said.

“That doesn’t mean it isn’t here. Maybe they haven’t updated it yet.”

So, around and around we went. I didn’t mind seeing all the cool artifacts.

And when we came upon an ancient Egypt exhibit, excitement hummed through me.

Walking ahead, Lucas called after me, but I didn’t slow my pace until I halted my steps directly in front of the mummy behind the glass.

A section of stone hieroglyphs was positioned in a case right next to him, and I scrutinized the artifact.

“What are you doing?” Lucas said from behind me. I didn’t turn around and continued my inspection.

“I’m looking to see if the hieroglyphs have any evidence of aliens being around in ancient Egypt.”

“You really like aliens, don’t you?” Lucas hadn’t laughed at me like I expected him to. Instead, he seemed perplexed. I glanced at him over my shoulder.

“I do. Don’t you have any interests or hobbies?”

He was quiet for a moment and stepped closer to me, until his arm brushed against mine and our fingers grazed each other. An electric pulse thrummed through me at the slight connection. So unexpected but thrilling. Even if I didn’t want to feel drawn to him. “I used to play the piano,” he murmured.

“You like classical music?” I craned my neck to stare up at him as his gaze took in the case in front of us. “I didn’t think that would be something you were into since I heard you playing Atreyu.”

“I guess you could say I have eclectic taste in music.”

“I guess so. Why did you stop playing?”

“Hmm?” Lucas’s icy stare moved to look down at me. He was distracted. Lost in thought. I wondered what was going on in his head.

“Why did you stop playing piano?” I repeated.

“That’s not something I want to discuss with you.” His nostrils flared in annoyance, and I rolled my eyes. My attention slid back to the display and my shoulders slouched.

“There’s nothing showing aliens. But did you know that there are tons of people out there who believe aliens are responsible for building the pyramids? ”

“I may have heard that before.” He paused for a beat before he spoke again. “We really need to find the keepsake.” Right. The keepsake. I had gotten so excited it slipped my mind for a few minutes.

Taking initiative, I walked across the room to the security guard who stood in the doorway.

“Excuse me.” A saccharine smile spread across my face and I batted my lashes at him.

His stance relaxed when his gaze took me in from head to toe.

I fought back the grossness I felt at being checked out and having to flirt a little.

“Can you tell me if Anastasia’s Keepsake is on display yet?

We’ve been looking everywhere since we heard it will be here. ”

“No, ma’am. It won’t be out for another few weeks when the new exhibit is brought out.”

“Shoot. They probably have it stashed in the back then, huh?” I tried to sound nonchalant as I let out a soft giggle.

“Under lock and key.” The guard gave me a grin before winking at me.

“Well, I guess I’ll just have to come back when it’s out.” I puffed out my bottom lip in a mock pout.

“I look forward to it,” he replied, his eyes lingering a little too long on my chest. Talk about heebie jeebies.

Turning on my heel, my false smile fell, and I marched back over to Lucas, who was watching the whole scene from a few feet away. His irritation seemed to flare to life again, and a frown pulled at his eyebrows.

“It’s stored in the back.” I grabbed his sleeve and led him out of the exhibit. We had passed a couple of doors marked as Employees Only , and I would bet money that all of the soon-to-be displayed artifacts were behind those doors.