The year is 1806. Bastard-born jewel thief David Lambert has few rules in his personal life. Never bed the staff, never more than once with the same man, and never, ever, kiss. Attending an aristocratic party and relieving some of the wealthy of their possessions should be easy, but in the space of a weekend, one by one all his rules are shattered by a footman with a secret.<br><br>Jeremy Naylor thought he had found the man of his dreams, the one man who might understand him. Someone passionate, handsome, and respectable. But in one shocking moment his world is destroyed, and he is forced to run for his life.<br><br>Flung together to escape the hangman’s noose, the passion between David and Jeremy burns fiercely. But Jeremy yearns for respectability, and David refuses to admit what lies in his heart. Will they find a way together, or will their differences lead them to the very brink of disaster and the shadow of the gallows?

Thief of Hearts

“What the hell are you doing?” David hissed.


“I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing out of bed and down here?”


“Come on. You need to get back to your room.” David took him by the arm and towed him along but stopped. “Where is your room?”


Jeremy pulled free. “Basement. I don’t need you to take me. You need to get back to your own room before someone sees us and wonders what on earth is going on. You’ll get me turned off.”


The sound of a door opening jolted them both. They froze for a moment, looking at each other. “Fisher.” Jeremy couldn’t keep the fear from his voice. That was Fisher’s door. He knew it. They were going to be caught.


David grabbed Jeremy’s hand and dragged him along towards the stairs which would lead them up to main body of the house.


“What are you doing?” Jeremy hissed and thought about resisting, but the sound of Fisher’s cough made him run along.


Chapter 9