The gold of the blade shimmered in the candlelight. The brackets holding the sword in place locked the treasure to the wall. It was going to be slightly more challenging than simply sneaking it out of the house. They’d first have to figure out how to remove it from its mounting.
Max tugged at the bracket, running his hand along the metal, looking for a catch. “Interesting. I can’t find any kind of lock mechanism.” He looked around the room. “I think I’m going to need something to break those off.”
He jumped off the bed, then reached up to pull her down. She braced her hands on his shoulders as he brought her down to the floor. His movement was slow and intentional, placing her strategically between his arms, pressed against his chest.
With one wicked grin, he leaned in and captured her mouth. His kiss was hot and needy.
But she pushed against him. “Max, we shouldn’t,” she said.
“I never have paid much attention to what one ought or ought not to do,” he said.
She considered him a moment longer, knowing that more than anything she wanted to press herself against him and lose herself in his kisses and caresses. But she could not do that. Making love to Max didn’t change anything about the prophecy. And it didn’t make her forget anything. Quite the contrary, it flooded her mind and heart with dreams and wishes for so much more. Family and love, he could not and would not offer her. He’d said as much last night.
“The fire poker,” he said.
“Will that work to pry the brackets off?”
He nodded, but said nothing as he went to retrieve the poker. Again he climbed onto the bed, this time armed to remove the brackets. It took several tries, but he was able to pop one of the brackets off the wall. There were four others. Max had placed the poker into the second one when they heard fumbling at the door. The knob turned.
“Hide,” Max said.
CHAPTER20
Max jumped off the bed and raced toward Sabine and the door she’d opened. He barely made it into the oversized dressing closet and closed the door behind them before the other people entered the bedchamber.
Max leaned against the closed door with a heavy sigh and set the poker down. A gentleman’s voice, followed by a woman’s throaty giggles, filled the room and echoed into Max and Sabine’s hiding spot.
He cracked the closet door to peek out into the room. The woman pushed the man onto the bed with a lusty laugh, then proceeded to push down her bodice to uncover her ample breasts. Max pressed the door closed. This would be interesting.
“Who is it?” Sabine whispered.
“Just a man and a woman.”
“What do they want?”
“Each other,” he said simply.
Recognition lit Sabine’s molten eyes and her features softened. “Oh,” she said soundlessly.
As if punctuating his meaning, sounds of passion began seeping through the door. Sabine’s lips parted, and color stained her lovely neck. Blood surged through Max, intensifying his arousal.
“Oh, yes!” the woman yelled. Another moan, and then several trills of laughter. “You’re so naughty,” she said, then giggled again.
Moments before, Sabine had been in Max’s arms, kissing him back. And though he knew she desired him, she’d pulled back. Their work was nearly done. He’d helped her find the dove, and it was only a matter of time before they were able to stop this Chosen One. She wouldn’t need him anymore after that. And hadn’t she just said it was a role she had played, his seductress?
With other women, he had always been the one to slip from the bed after a night of passion. Last night had been different, though. And it had stung when she’d closed the door behind her. True, they had argued, and he’d been angry. Still, she had just walked away.
Damn but he wanted her again. And it didn’t help that the noises of the other couple’s lovemaking were growing louder and more pronounced. The wooden headboard slammed against the wall in rhythmic beats. The man grunted, and the woman continued with her chorus of “yeses.”
Sabine had closed her eyes. Max didn’t know if it was to try to remove herself from the potentially embarrassing situation or if she was attempting to listen, closing out everything else to focus on the amorous noises just beyond the door. Perhaps she was aroused as well, standing there wondering when he would reach out and touch her, kiss her.
He stepped closer to her, and still she did not open her eyes. The woman in the bedchamber released a throaty moan and Sabine’s breath caught.Bloody hell!Shewaslistening to every sinful moan. Her lips parted, and her tongue darted out, moistening her bottom lip, then she bit down. A sensual flush spread across the flesh exposed at Sabine’s throat, and the appealing blush disappeared beneath her gown.
She looked lovely tonight, wearing the blue gown he’d bought her. He’d known it would look perfect on her.
The pounding of the headboard became faster; the man’s grunts more steady. Max’s erection pressed painfully against his trousers. Sabine still stood completely still, though her fists had gathered fabric from her skirts.
He had to have her. Right now.