At the soft sigh of a window being gently forced open and the touch of cold March air against her skin, Anna Chang knew that she’d succeeded in luring the thief back. The fourth floor of the Allanmeyer Institute was draped in shadow, the rest of the staff having long since gone home for the evening, and in the winter’s darkness, the beautiful archivist’s assistant waited for her prey to emerge, heart pounding so loud with nervous anticipation she feared it might give her away. Soft footfalls sounded to her left on the other side of a row of bookshelves, and dimly, she acknowledged that the new security system Director Allanmeyer had gone to such great expense to have installed after the New Year’s Eve party had utterly failed to keep the intruder from returning. There, in front of her, a dark shape moved, and Anna stepped forward on shaking legs, only halting once the pistol’s barrel was pressed firmly against his back. “Lights!”

The library’s lights snapped on at her sharp command, banishing any shadows that might offer concealment, and sharp brown eyes widened as the thief who’d broken into the Institute stood revealed and at her mercy, dressed in the same black sweater, pants and baclava he’d been wearing when he left her bound and gagged and aching with want. “I thought I heard someone else skulking about in here,” he remarked lightly, hands raised in surrender. “I take it that rumour about the Sultan Tippoo’s ruby being studied here was your doing, then?”

“Seemed like the best way to lure you back here,” Anna confessed, the pistol wavering in her unfamiliar grip. She’d never been comfortable around weapons, never mind threatening to use them against someone, and she forced herself not to let her voice betray her nervousness and uncertainty. “Walk over the couch.”

Without a word, the thief complied. “Turn around.”

Again, he complied without resistance, a slight smirk manifesting on his soft lips. “Shall I dance for you next?” he quipped, head tilting at the change in her appearance. “I didn’t know you wore glasses.”

Despite herself, Anna began to blush at his scrutiny, free hand adjusting her frames. “Yes, well, I was wearing contacts for the New Year’s party.”

“They look very beautiful on you,” the thief insisted, and a shiver of delight ran down her spine as he took in the rest of her appearance; a close-fitting red turtleneck sweater, knee-length black skirt that flared outwards from her hips, dark nylon stockings and black stiletto-heeled ankle boots, the effect elegant yet sexy upon the pretty Chinese woman. “Do I offend you by saying so?”

“No,” admitted the Chinese beauty, unwilling to lie as ever. “Do you do this often, then? Toy with the emotions of the women who fall into your grasp?”

“To be fair, the mark of a great thief is to never be seen in the first place. And on the rare occasions someone’s come upon me… no, my compliments towards you were genuine, Anna, both then and now. You’re a beautiful woman, and for what it’s worth, I’m sorry you got caught up on one of my heists. Are you going to hand me over to the police?”

Sighing, Anna made the gun safe, before placing it off to the side. “No, even though I probably should.”

“Do you want me to leave? Say the word, and I’ll be out of your life completely, Anna. I’ll never trouble you again.”

The Chinese woman gave a small shake of her head. “No.”

In answer, the thief stepped towards her, and Anna retreated until her back pressed against the side of the nearest bookshelf, his breath intoxicating against the smooth, fair skin of her neck. “Then what do you want?” he whispered, lips grazing the shell of her ear. “You lured me here, so what do you want of me?”

A second longer and she would have faltered, fear winning out over arousal. She did not give herself that second, her lips crashing against the thief’s so passionately they drew blood, and her heart soared as he responded with equal desire, strong arms reaching out and pulling her close so that her breasts pressed against his broad chest. The kiss ended, and a gloved hand gently threaded through her raven-black locks, provoking fresh shivers of delight. “Could you, umm… could you…” mumbled the Chinese woman, unable to speak the words.

“Ravish you?” finished the thief, chuckling at her nod. “It would be a shame not to, seeing as how I’ve already stolen your heart. Now, where did I put those ropes?”

“Oh, don’t tease me like this, I—mmppgggh!” The familiar feel of balled-up nylons filling her mouth stifled any further comments from Anna, and she remained still as a length of blue silk was produced and bound over her mouth to complete the gag. “Mmmpppgghhh…”

“You want me to stop, give me three sharp nods, and I will,” promised the thief, hooking an arm around the back of her knees and carrying her up, bridal-style. “In the meantime, let’s see about making you more comfortable.”

Anna offered a grunt of affirmation, throwing her arms around the thief’s neck as he carried her off. What is it about bondage and dangerous men that lures me in like this? she wondered, before settling back and enjoying the ride…