To Catch A Rogue by Bec McMaster
(London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy #4)
Publication date: October 30, 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Steampunk
An impossible heist. A thief and a rogue. But will she steal his heart, instead?
The Company of Rogues finally knows the identity of the mastermind behind a plot against the queen—but their enemy is still one step ahead of them. When he kidnaps one of theirs, the Rogues plan a daring rescue mission that will lead them into the heart of the bloodthirsty Crimson Court.
It’s a job for a master thief, and there’s nothing Charlie Todd likes more than a challenge. To pull off the impossible, Charlie needs a crew, including the only thief who’s ever been able to outfox him.
He broke her heart. But now she must risk it all to save his life…
Lark’s spent years trying to forget her past, but the one thing she can’t ignore is the way a single smile from Charlie still sets her heart on fire. When he proposes they work together again, it feels just like old times, but she has one rule: this is strictly business.
It’s Charlie’s last chance to prove he can be trusted with her heart. But Lark’s keeping a deadly secret. And as passions are stirred and the stakes mount, it might be the kind of secret that could destroy them all…
Ocean’s 11 meets Dracula, in this sexy paranormal heist by USA Today Bestselling Author, Bec McMaster. If you like sexy paranormal romances, steampunk shenanigans, and plenty of action-adventure (vampires, dirigible flights, and steamy rooftop chases), then dive into this thrilling heist with Charlie and Lark.
Steam curled through the air. The heated pools were truly a marvel. Whoever owned the place had spent a fortune on boilers so the water would be a constant temperature. This was luxury on a scale he couldn't quite conceive of.
"Well, here we are." Charlie slid his hands into his pockets as he waited for Lark to finish examining the room. "Towels are in that cupboard over there."
Lark turned her back and swept the ragged remains of her hair over one shoulder. The night's efforts had obliterated the elegant chignon Gemma had created, but she looked more herself this way. "Could you undo my buttons?"
He stared at the little row of pearls trailing up her spine. Even now he could still make out the splash of red silk that was all that remained of the dress. The request seemed dangerous in a way he couldn't quite figure out. He'd set the game into motion, but somehow she'd turned it on its head.
He was definitely losing this battle.
"Of course."
Charlie forced himself to swallow the hard lump in his throat and started on her top buttons. He had hands that could coax the secrets out of even the most stubborn lock, but right now his fingers felt thick and fumbling.
Friendship balanced on a knife-edge.
"You certainly won't get a job as a lady's maid." Despite the mockery, her words came out slightly breathless.
"What a damned shame."
"One would think you'd worked your way around your fair share of ladies’ garments. Surely you're not fumbling just because it's me?"
His fingers stilled on the final button. "Is that what you think?"
Lark bowed her head, the nubbins of her spine pushing through her skin. He wanted, desperately, to press his lips to the one at the top. Lark tilted her face slightly to the side. "You're hardly an innocent."
"I'm so glad you've worked me out." He couldn't stop the hint of anger flavoring his voice. "You always did know me best."
"Just undo my buttons, Charlie. I'll manage the rest."
"Done." He stared down at her parted gown, wanting to put his hands inside it and push it forward off her shoulders, but he was angry at her presumption. And aroused. It was a confusing mix of emotions. He couldn't see a damned inch of her back, thanks to her corset and chemise, but it felt like she was naked.
Turning away, he fumbled at his own buttons. The clammy, wet heat of the air clung to his skin and welded his shirt to his chest.
"Coming in?" Lark called, and he heard her gown hit the ground.
"I'll let you go first," he replied through gritted teeth.
Water splashed behind him as she waded in. "Oh, my goodness," she moaned. "This is delicious. I'm so glad you talked me into this."
Me too. He rolled his eyes at himself. I thought it would be fun, but it feels like torture.
Just who has the upper hand now, Charlie?
His mind's eye provided an exquisitely detailed image of what she'd look like as she entered the water like Venus de Milo in reverse. The dimples in her bottom shifting as her powerful thighs flexed. Her hands fanning through the ripples as she sank deeper with each step.
"Did you just say something?" she called.
I'm fairly damned certain I just groaned. "No. Are you covered?"
"Almost."
He heard her submerge and whipped his shirt over his head, and then began stripping his trousers and drawers down his thighs briskly. His erection slapped against his stomach as he freed it. Grabbing a towel, he draped it around his waist as he headed for the pool.
Lark watched him come, only her bare shoulders revealed. Water spiked her lashes together, making her eyes look dark in the moonlight.
Charlie steeled himself and forced a smile. His hands dropped to the towel. "Best close those innocent eyes," he warned, tugging his towel loose from his hips.
"Charlie!"
He slipped into the water, heat rushing up his body. Lark had clapped her hands over her face, so he dove under and then surfaced, raking his sopping hair out of his eyes.
He saw her peeking through her fingers and smiled at her. "Enjoying the view?"
Lark's eyes narrowed. Challenge accepted. "It's adequate."
The look in her eyes told him the truth. "Lark Elizabeth Rathinger. Don't make me prove my point."
"And how would you prove it?"
They circled each other, arms fanning in slow back-and-forth movements. He could touch the bottom, but he doubted she could right now.
Charlie took a step closer. "Dare me."
BEC MCMASTER grew up on a steady diet of 80’s fantasy movies like Ladyhawke, Labyrinth and The Princess Bride, and loves creating epic, fantasy-based worlds with heroes and heroines who must defeat all the odds to have their HEA. If you like sexy, dark, paranormal romance, try her Dark Arts series; for some kick-bustle ladies-saving-the-day steampunk romance then check out London Steampunk; and for rocket-fuelled post-apocalyptic romance with a twist on the werewolf theme, then see her Burned Lands series.
Bec has been nominated for RT Reviews Best Steampunk Romance for Heart of Iron (2013), won RT Reviews Best Steampunk Romance with Of Silk And Steam (2015), and Forged By Desire was nominated for an RWA RITA award in 2015. The series has received starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal, with Heart of Iron named one of their Best Romances of 2013.
Escape the Ordinary at www.becmcmaster.com or follow her on Twitter @BecMcMaster, or www.facebook.com/BecMcMaster
Join Bec’s newsletter for all the latest news on releases, exclusive excerpts and cover reveals, and get your copy of ‘Tarnished Knight’, a novella in her award-winning London Steampunk series. Copy and paste this link into your browser: http://eepurl.com/F_LkD. You can find her on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5763301.Bec_McMaster
This sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good.
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