Chapters (71)
- Cover Page
- TITLE PAGE
- DEDICATION
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- HOPE LUCIFER’S DAUGHTER
- HOPE GODFATHER
- LUCAS 1
- HOPE GOBLIN ROMEO
- HOPE SUNKEN TREASURES
- HOPE CANDY STORE
- HOPE THE FACE OF AN ANGEL
- HOPE EASY RIDER
- HOPE ADRENALINE
- HOPE VIEW FROM THE TOP
- HOPE HISTORY LESSON
- HOPE PLANS
- LUCAS 2
- HOPE SWEET SIXTEEN
- HOPE CRY HAVOC
- HOPE TEQUILA SHOTS
- HOPE HUNGRY
- HOPE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
- HOPE LEARNING FROM THE MASTERS
- HOPE BRUSH-OFF
- HOPE REBOUND
- HOPE DILEMMA
- HOPE GONE
- HOPE BONUS POINTS
- HOPE THE SCENT OF TROUBLE
- HOPE MATING INSTINCT
- LUCAS 3
- LUCAS 4
- HOPE BIRTHDAY PRESENTS
- HOPE TASTE OF DEATH
- LUCAS 5
- HOPE FEAR AND LOATHING
- LUCAS 6
- HOPE PANIC BUTTON
- LUCAS 7
- HOPE SECURITY CLEARANCE
- HOPE DEATH INTERRUPTED
- LUCAS 8
- LUCAS 9
- HOPE CHAOS-CRAZED
- LUCAS 10
- LUCAS 11
- HOPE UNWELCOME
- HOPE OVERTIME
- LUCAS 12
- HOPE DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH
- HOPE LAYING THE BLAME
- LUCAS 13
- LUCAS 14
- LUCAS 15
- LUCAS 16
- HOPE RACKING UP CREDITS
- HOPE PARTY TIME
- HOPE POSITIVE ID
- LUCAS 17
- HOPE SCENT MEMORY
- LUCAS 18
- HOPE TRUTH
- LUCAS 19
- HOPE BIOLOGY IS DESTINY
- LUCAS 20
- HOPE VISIONS OF MADNESS
- HOPE CRASH AND BURN
- HOPE DEATH WISH
- LUCAS 21
- ALSO BY KELLEY ARMSTRONG
- COPYRIGHT
A slow survey of the rooftop. Adrenaline still surged from a narrow escape. Too narrow, I chided myself. I was too cocky. Took too many chances and came too close to paying the price. But it felt good. So damned good. And I was good enough to pull it off.
A small laugh. Karl’s laugh.
My clenched fist opened and I looked down to see a black-gloved hand and, nestled in the palm, a diamond bracelet glittering in the moonlight.
“Yes?”
Karl’s voice, but disconnected from the vision, and it pulled me back into the hotel room. I was lying in the bed now, Karl stretched out beside me, his arm under my head, his face inches from mine, eyes as bright as the diamonds.
“More,” I said.
He smiled. “Are you sure? You said you didn’t want—”
“More. Please.”
He took me back under, to the rooftop, diamonds in hand, the distant wail of a siren making my heart trip with exhilaration.
Simple chaos, but my favorite kind—that mix of danger and excitement, devoid of moral quandaries. I was certain he hadn’t found the bracelet lying in the trash, but he’d been careful not to show me where it came from, letting me enjoy the aftermath without guilt.
I stepped to the edge, so close my toes rested on air. The wind caught my jacket. It rustled and billowed. A strong gust rocked me, as if tempting me to take that final step. I smiled, and backed up a few inches to crouch on the edge and survey the street below. Lights flashed to the east. Coming from the same direction as the siren? Yes. Coming this way? Hard to tell…
The lights veered around a corner.
Yes, apparently so.
A fresh surge of adrenaline, telling me to move, but I lingered another moment, casually slipping my hand under my jacket, unzipping the inner pocket. I let the bracelet slide inside onto the small pile of others nestled at the bottom.
My pulse raced as the lights came closer, but I drew it out, waiting until the last possible moment—
The memory snapped off.
“Enough?”
Karl’s face was inches from mine and I could feel his breath, smell it, and it reminded me of what he tasted like, and I wanted—
“Is that enough?” he repeated, lips twitching.
“No,” I said hoarsely.
“You want more?” His hands slid down my shirtfront and started unbuttoning it from the bottom. “Maybe we should get you ready for bed. In case you drift off.”
There wasn’t a chance in hell of that now, and he knew it, his lips curving as my breath came in short pants. As he spread my shirt, his thumbs brushed my nipples, and I moaned.
“More. Please.”
His hands went back to my breasts, cupping them, nipples squeezed between his fingers.
“Oh, you didn’t mean that, did you?”