Naked Shorts by Tina Folsom Read Free Book Online Page B

two men to come in. They entered the foyer.
    “A forgery?” Olivia echoed and stepped toward them. Marcus put his arm around her waist.
    His touch was reassuring, as was the knowledge that he was as surprised about the police showing up at his door as she was.
    “Would you care to elaborate?” Marcus asked the inspector.
    “We”ve apprehended an employee of the auction house,” Inspector Chadwick explained as Mr. Hammerlein cringed. “The employee was trying to smuggle the item out of the country, no doubt to sell it to a foreign collector.”
    “What makes you so sure that his is the real one, and this is the forgery?”

    Marcus” hand around Olivia”s waist held her closer to him as if he felt her unease around the policeman. His thumb stroked her tenderly.
    “He confessed, and we found the workshop where he made the replica. We”ll of course have to test both items to make sure. Therefore, we”ll have to confiscate the artifact for now.”
    “Baby, why don”t you give the armband to the inspector?”
    She was unable to move. Marcus took the armband from her hands and passed it to the inspector.
    “Very sorry, Madam, Sir,” Mr. Hammerlein apologized. “The auction house will of course make sure you”ll receive the real armband once the investigation is closed. And your money will be put into an interest bearing account for your benefit. May I say, we at Christie”s are shocked and -”
    Marcus waved him off. “I”m sure you”ll sort it out.”
    Then he looked at Olivia, and a big smile spread over his face. He seemed completely unfazed about the revelation that he”d purchased a forgery.
    “Gentlemen, if you”ll excuse us. My girlfriend and I have plans …” The way he said girlfriend and plans in one sentence coupled with the way his eyes devoured her told her exactly what he wanted.
    “Of course,” Hammerlein stammered.
    After an exchange of business cards and a receipt for the fake armband they were alone.
    Gone was the armband, replaced by the knowledge that there was no legend or magic
    attached to the forgery.
    It was worse than she”d thought. If there was no magic, no legend, then she had fallen for Marcus, fallen for the man she”d robbed.

    “I”ve got to leave,” Olivia burst out and made for the door pushing past him.
    He gripped her arm and pulled her back. “You”re not going anywhere, love.”
    Her lips trembled. She was scared. Scared of the emotions she carried in her chest. “But -”
    Marcus shook his head. “There”s no legend. No magic. It”s real. You and I - that”s real.”
    “But it can”t be. It”s not possible.” She tried to deny it, hoping that if she said the words, she could will the feelings away.
    “What are you scared of? Me? Or yourself?”
    He hit the nail on the head. His hand snaked around her waist, and he pulled her closer until her body was pressed against his.
    “I”m a thief. You don”t want me.”
    “You”re a thief, I can”t deny that. Do you want to know what you”ve stolen this time?” He paused and looked into her eyes. She saw warmth and affection coupled with the same hunger she”d seen in him earlier.
    “My heart. You”ve stolen my heart. And I”m going to punish you for it every day for the rest of my life.”
    “You don”t know what you”re saying.” Olivia continued resisting, but her body was calling her a liar, and she knew it.
    His leg pushed her thighs apart, and he rubbed against her sex. She sighed.
    “You don”t fight fair,” she whispered as he sank his lips onto her neck.
    “I fight as dirty as I want to. The prize is worth it.”
    His hands tugged at her sweater, and with one swift move he pulled it over her head. As usual she didn”t wear a bra. Hot lips sank onto her skin, blazing a trail to her nipple before taking the treacherous erect bud into his mouth.

    “We have to stop this,” she insisted as she ran her hands through his hair. “You don”t want me. I”m a thief.”
    Marcus