Page 18 of Prettiest Little Thief (Band of Thieves #1)

Speechless, I dunked my entire head beneath the water.

The cuts on my face and lip stung from the soapy, eucalyptus bubble bath.

I had done a lot of crazy things to survive, but marriage…

that was something I never even let myself think about.

Not with me being a criminal. Not with the possibility I could be killed or arrested any day.

My main goal in life was survival. Not a relationship or marriage. Or children, for that matter.

Below the surface for as long as possible, a large hand reached in and gently grasped my upper arm. Lucas hauled me up, my hair a soaked mess, stuck to my face. He pushed back the strands and cupped my face with tenderness.

“Are you avoiding my proposal?”

“Absolutely. Yes,” I admitted. A grin tipped up on the side of his mouth. “Why would marriage help me in any way? You don’t even like me. I crashed your boujie car, I got myself kidnapped, I’m a thief… I can keep going, Lucas. Stop me at any time.”

Lucas let out a loud laugh, a true smile on his face.

Such a change from his usual prickly demeanor.

It brought me back to the night of the masquerade, when he kept touching me softly on any area of exposed flesh.

The intensity of his attention dispatched an army of impassioned goosebumps down my spine.

My nipples puckered beneath the heated water.

I slid down an inch more to hide how much he affected me.

Once his laughter stopped, he said, “By marriage, you’d be my wife.

Therefore, my funds would be readily available to you to pay off your debt to Charles. ”

“And why would I marry you for money?” My brow creased, and he rubbed his thumbs over the uninjured skin of my cheeks. The heat of his touch rushed through me like a bullet train. “Can’t you just tell the Crimson Brotherhood I’m off limits?”

He sat back on his haunches, releasing my face.

The lack of his touch left a cold sensation behind that I didn’t care for.

“I could, but that wouldn’t promise you protection in the long run.

By becoming my wife, you would have the protection of a shit ton of people as well as respect from everyone else.

No one would dare touch what’s mine.” I quirked a brow and pursed my lips together.

“And, if something were to happen to me, you would be the queen of all this.” He glanced around the room.

“A bathroom?”

He chuckled. “No. This ostentatious mansion.”

A giggle crept up my throat. “Fox told you?”

“Fox tells me almost everything.”

“Greaaattt.” I drew out the word.

Even with the joking nature of our conversation, a heaviness settled over me at his words. If something did happen to Lucas, he was willing to leave everything behind to me? That was crazy. He hardly knew me.

“But we’re even. I crashed your car; I got you the key. I can be out of your hair now. ”

“If you were able to pay off the Crimson Brotherhood, then you could help me finish one last task without having to look over your shoulder constantly. But you already said you didn’t want to be a thief anymore. I don’t want you to feel like it’s something you have to do.”

I threw my head back and ran my hands down my face, hissing at the pain that sparked.

“Careful.” Lucas grabbed my hands and pulled them from my face.

“Let me spit this out really quick. You want me to marry you, then pay off Charles so I can help you with whatever crazy mission you want to send me on. Then what?”

“We can divorce. I’ll set you up with plenty of funds to be comfortable for the rest of your life.

You can move out of the state or country if you want.

Away from the bullshit.” Lucas made it sound all so easy.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek in thought.

“And for what it’s worth, I don’t not like you. ”

I laughed a little too loudly and clasped my hand over my mouth as I felt the blood rush to my face. Giggles overwhelmed me. “You don’t not like me? So, you do like me? You could have just said that.”

His smirk was adorable. A small dimple in one cheek stood out. “I like that sound.”

“What sound?” I took several deep breaths to calm my snickers.

“Your laugh.”

“Are you flirting with me?” I squinted at him.

“Maybe.” The glint in his blue eyes gave away his humor.

My cheeks burned hotter. “All right, future ex-husband. I’m ready to get out of the bath.”

“Is that an acceptance?” Lucas asked .

“Maybe,” I mimicked his earlier words. He stood and grabbed a big, fluffy towel from the rack.

Holding it out, he turned his head to give me privacy.

I stood on shaky legs and took the towel, wrapping it around myself.

“I need to think about all of this before I make my decision. I have a lot of questions.”

“Ask away.” Lucas held out a hand to help me out of the tub. I took it.

“How did you know where I was?” My brow arched as I stared up into his face.

“Let’s get you dressed and let me check you over,” he said.

“You’re changing the subject.”

“Never.” The Lucas from the masquerade peered at me. Not the mean, cold-hearted Lucas he had been for weeks.

There was an ease between us when he didn’t have his shield up.

Lucas helped me to the room before he left me to get dressed alone.

He wandered off to grab a few things. Sliding my shirt over my head was torturous, with the aching and throbbing pain that bolted through my joints and muscles.

The same was true for when I slipped on my yoga pants.

There was a moment when I had to breathe through the agony to get them over my hips, gritting my teeth and scrunching up my face the entire time.

When I was fully dressed, I curled up onto the bed in the fetal position and pulled the covers over me. I didn’t want to move. I didn’t even want to breathe, because even inhaling sent an ache through my ribs and belly. But as soon as Lucas returned, I knew I would have to woman up.

The warmth from the bath and then the blanket encasing my body had me drifting in and out of the sleep I so desperately needed.

What felt like moments passed before the bed dipped and Lucas ran his knuckles over my throat.

My eyes fluttered open, and I glanced up at him, a pensive expression on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing.” He broke his gaze from me and reached over to the nightstand, where he grabbed a cotton ball and saturated it in antiseptic before gently dabbing it along the cut on my cheek.

I hissed at the sting of liquid as it seeped into my wound.

“Sorry.” His focus was entirely on my injuries.

“Can I ask my questions now, Lucas?” He gave me a curt nod before he reached back to grab a few other things from the nightstand. “You came in there like a–—ow!” I screeched and batted his hand away where he was applying an ointment to my cuts.

He opened up a bandage, removing the protective strips from the adhesive. Gently, Lucas placed it on my skin. “You were saying?” he asked.

“I was saying you just came into Charles’s house like a freaking crazy man. Popped that jerk Rocco in both of his knees. So, who the heck are you?”

“Lift up your shirt.”

My brows shot up. “What?”

“Lift up your shirt so I can put some arnica on your bruises. It’ll help it heal.” He held a tube in his hand.

“Oh.” Lifting my shirt to just beneath my breasts, I allowed Lucas to spread the cold gel over my ribs and belly.

My stomach quivered as his fingertips ran across my battered flesh, and my breath quickened.

With being this injured, his touch shouldn’t be affecting me this way.

But something about him just set my body on fire.

The flames licked their way through my body, and always, always ended right between my thighs.

I tried not to wiggle and squirm .

After a few long moments, Lucas was done and slid my shirt back into place. “Lucas Knight, owner of Knight Technologies,” he finally spoke.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m pretty sure that’s common knowledge among the masses. You own one of the largest tech companies in North America.”

“Isn’t that enough?”

“Not even close. How are you here and not surrounded by police?”

He sighed. “I have clients in high places. The police and other… unsavory businesses are valuable when I need them. Besides, I’m pretty sure Charles kidnapping you would have also been an issue with the cops.”

“I didn’t realize you were so connected.” I shifted on the bed and sat up taller.

“I don’t typically go around telling people my business.” The smallest of smirks played on his handsome face. “Is that a problem, little thief?”

Was it?

Not really. I couldn’t say I would be any better if I had people in my back pocket. Readily available when things went wrong.

The choices I had made in my twenty-five years were on the same spectrum as Lucas. Well, not the part where he shot someone. But he had reason.

I shook my head. “No.”

“Good. Now that you know who I am, are you willing to marry me?”

“That was only one question. ”

He sighed and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, those gloriously sexy tattoos coming into view. “Technically, you asked two questions but go on.”

“How did you know where to find me?”

“Fox called me. Your friend knew who had taken you.” He hooked his fingers around my wrist where the bracelet he had given me was still clasped, the gold twinkling from the light in the room.

I watched his thumb as he slowly ran it along the charms. Chills broke out across my skin, and it dawned on me.

“Oh my god. You put a tracking device into the bracelet!” I pulled my arm away from his touch.

“I had a feeling you were going to do something naughty while I was away. It was a safety measure.” He sucked his bottom lip between his teeth as he stared into my eyes.

“Like run from you?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You psycho,” I whispered as if he wouldn’t hear me.

Lucas barked out a laugh. “Exactly.”

“I should have.” Even though I wanted to be angry with him for tracking my location, I really couldn’t be.

The Crimson Brotherhood kept their locations secret.

Even I had never been to the house I was imprisoned in before last night.

If there hadn’t been a way to trace my location, I could very well still be in the clutches of Charles…

and Rocco. A shiver raced through me at the thought.

“Deal breaker?”

My gaze wandered around the room. I looked anywhere but at him to make him think it was something to seriously consider. Like I was moments away from bolting. When my eyes landed back on his solemn face, I couldn’t help but let out a small giggle. “It should be, but no. Not a deal breaker. ”

He gave a grunt as a way of letting me know he was listening.

“I need time to think about it. I can’t just say yes and expect all my problems to disappear.”

Lucas was quiet for a few moments. “But wouldn’t they?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t really know you, and that just doesn’t feel right.” My shoulders bunched. There was a lot to think about.

“It’s transactional. I would think you would jump on the opportunity.”

“I guess I’m a little old school when it comes to marriage. The offer sounds amazing, don’t get me wrong. It’s just kind of a big deal in my eyes.”

“You think you should only marry if you love someone?” A golden brow arched.

I threw up my hands, soreness running through me. “I don’t know. I haven’t ever seen what a real relationship or marriage looks like. My mom never married after my dad left when she was pregnant with me. She just put everything into being a parent.”

Lucas contemplated that for a moment. “I have the same feeling. Never seeing what a successful relationship looks like.”

Color me surprised. But Lucas had opened up to me. It was a small confession but a confession nonetheless.

“Your dad and mom didn’t have a good marriage?” I asked.

“I think when I was younger it was better. But the older I got, the worse my dad became. He started the business, started abusing drugs and my mom. It all just spiraled out of control.” Lucas ran a hand through his hair.

The dark blond strands didn’t stay put, instead falling back over his forehead .

“I’m sorry to hear that.” And I meant it, a frown creased between my brows. “So, I know your dad passed away since he left you the family business. What about your mom?”

Sadness swam in his blue gaze, and he cleared his throat. “She passed too. Right before my dad. I don’t think he could live without her, even if their marriage was a shitshow.”

I gripped his wrist. “Lucas, that’s terrible.”

He placed his free hand on top of mine. Right when I thought he was going to push me away, he caressed my skin with a thumb. Back and forth. Back and forth.

Butterflies took flight in my stomach.

“It was a long time ago.” Silence for a beat. “I’m going to get you something for the pain, and I’ll let you get some rest.” Lucas stood and stalked toward the door, only to stop at the threshold and glance back at me. “Just… think about it.”

“Okay,” I replied, just above a whisper. But he was already gone.