“I beg to differ. You saw me coming several times.”
The awe swirling in those dark depths quickly took on more than a trace of arousal, but I wouldn’t let him use that to distract me. When we’d dived in and started asking each other the hard questions, I was surprised to find Dimitri more than curious about my tricks. They were things that could be particularly useful for him in knowing who he could trust. If he ever had doubts about his inner circle or someone he was conflicted about, he could easily plant a device the way I had to get the information he needed. It wouldn’t have been anything he needed to learn if I were around, but considering we were down to our last hours together, I figured helping him in whatever way I could to remain a strong leader was the best thing I could do.
For one, it kept my mind off the fact that I was leaving soon, and two, Dimitri had established himself as someone the Kings and I could trust, someone we’d want to be in business with, so really this was the smart thing to do on both accounts.
A twinge in my chest had me swallowing hard, and I shoved all those feelings into a box and struggled to lock it up tight. These past few days with Dimitri had been everything, and Ididn’t want to think about the fact that I didn’t know when I’d see him again.IfI’d ever see him again.
“Okay, teach me something else,” Dimitri said, making me laugh.
“Ah, such an eager student. I like that.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“Mhmm, let me see.” I tapped my finger against my lips. “While tricks and technique are important, when it comes to picking someone’s pocket, your attitude is key too.”
“My attitude?”
“Oui.You need to be confident about what you’re doing. You can’t fumble. You have to go to your target with a purpose. Know what you’re looking for, where it is, and zero in. Hesitation is a confession. But if you strike with confidence, then they will believe exactly the lie you’re selling them.”
“That makes sense.” He nodded. “Like shooting a gun.”
“Uh…” My brow furrowed. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Dimitri chuckled at my obvious displeasure. “So you reallydon’tlike to use weapons.”
“That would be a negative. The idea of holding something that can take another’s life? Not for me. I’m more about information gathering?—”
“Plus, that body of yours is weapon enough.”
My lips curved, and I moved back into Dimitri’s arms. “Is it now?”
He wound his arms around my waist and cupped my ass. “Almost had my heart giving out several times over.”
“Now that would’ve been a shame.” I gave a flirty wink and smoothed my hands up to cradle the back of his neck. “Especially when I was just about to show you how I was going to steal it.”
Dimitri grazed his lips over mine. “Who says you haven’t already?”
It was a good thing he had a hold of me then, because while I was being flirtatious and demonstrating my craft, Dimitri was dead serious.
I pulled back a fraction to make sure I wasn’t reading more than what he was saying, but when I caught the emotions swirling in his eyes, I knew I was right.
My heart began to thump a little harder as my stomach flipped, and just as I was about to return the sentiment, a phone rang.
The sound was so intrusive, so jarring in this otherwise perfect moment, that I cursed the blasted object and pulled out of Dimitri’s arms. He looked down at me as though he didn’t understand why I’d stopped. And while I knew my anger was irrational, I’d be damned if I got interrupted confessing my feelings by some gun deal.
“Well, aren’t you going to answer it?” I demanded. “I know it’s not mine.”
Dimitri smiled at my annoyance, and that only made me more irritated.
“What?”
“Nothing,” he said, casual as you please, as if he hadn’t just told me I’d stolen his damn cold heart.Bastard.“I just hadn’t realized how adorable you are when you’re angry.”
I planted my hands on my hips as he strolled over to where his phone was vibrating on a table. “Well, you’ve had plenty of opportunities.”
“That’s true,” he said, picking up his cell. “But I was too mad at you then to really appreciate it. I’m seeing it now, though, and…adorable.”
I was just about to give him a piece of my mind for laughing at me when he answered the phone.
