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

She laughed. “It’s not like you have anything I haven’t seen before,” she said, and Jeremy huffed a short laugh in return. He was pulling off his breeches when David came back into the room.


“Let me help,” he said, and slid his arm around him. It was good to lean on him. Feel him. Smell him. He was so warm and familiar he wanted to cry. He was sure he would cry eventually, but at that moment, he just needed to get clean.


“Your legs will hurt,” David said, as they peeled the makeshift bandages away.


Jeremy nodded, and held onto his arm as he stepped over the side and got both legs in. He shrieked and jumped out again, splashing water everywhere. David grabbed him, laughing, and helped him get back in and sat down so he could drape his damaged ankles over each side. Jo retreated from the room, leaving him alone with David.


Chapter 72