Luck of the Dragon (Entangled Covet) Read Online Free

office anyway.”
    Alec looked sideways at his friend with a knowing smile. “Better hurry up, then.” Tee was Leo’s best domestic casino hostess. As the head of Casino Operations, Leo constantly had to meet and greet her high-rollers.
    “It’s not like that with us,” Leo protested. “She’s my employee and friend. That’s it.”
    “Whatever you say.”
    “Tee’s damn good for the bottom line, that’s what she is,” Leo said with sharp finality.
    “She does have a lovely bottom line .” Alec enjoyed the good-natured ribbing.
    Leo shook his head. “I’ll see you at the evening briefing,” he said before stomping to the exit and leaving the exhibit.
    Alec turned his gaze back to the appraiser. She had not moved from her spot on the balcony and seemed wholly entranced by the sealed case. He bounded up the stairs with a light tread.
    “Interesting,” Luciana muttered to herself. “I’ve never seen this color…it’s like the ring.”
    Alec stopped near her and inhaled her scent. No daisies here—she was musky with a hint of vanilla. His dragon wings pulsed invisibly at his back. Bestial urges flared and warmed his skin, so much that he wouldn’t have been surprised to see steam fill the room. Alec frowned. His physical reaction to this human woman was unusual.
    “You’re hot.” The woman turned to face him, seeming not at all surprised to see him standing next to her.
    “So I’ve been told.” He rested his elbow on the case, letting the back of his hand brush her bare skin. Energy zapped along his arm with the suddenness of a snake bite. Alec fought to keep his expression neutral and unthreatening.
    “I bet.” The woman dropped her hair and scooted away from him along the edge of the case. “I meant you are warm, temperature-wise. I can feel it.” A flush started at her neck and climbed to her cheeks. “Even in this meat locker.”
    Alec stepped closer, purposely crowding her. Luciana’s pupils dilated, but she lifted her chin toward him like a shield. Heat swarmed from him and settled over her. “You’re a contradiction, Dr. De Luca.”
    “How so?” Her tone was bold, unperturbed, but she bit her bottom lip. More contradictions.
    “You are a natural redhead of Italian descent.” Alec let his gaze drop to her unpainted toes, then travel up the swell of her hips to her narrow waist, then linger over her unbound breasts until her nipples puckered. Luciana crossed her arms.
    Alec waited patiently for her to meet his gaze again.
    “Look.” Luciana put her right hand on his chest and patted him, as if he were a child being told to wait for dinner. “I am only interested in the jewels.” She bit the tip of her left index finger and touched her lips. The flash of white teeth and stretch of red lips distracted him, but not enough that he couldn’t feel her right hand take his keycard from his jacket pocket.
    Interesting.
    Alec smiled wider, baring his own teeth. He liked a challenge. He reached past her, and his arm brushed her breast. Luciana stepped back with an indrawn breath. Alec affected a dispassionate mask and leaned around her to press his thumb to the glass. Immediately, the case next to her opened with a click of efficient electronics.
    Luciana narrowed her eyes, as if she were afraid he might touch her again. She chewed on her lip and then seemed to make a decision. She reached into the case and removed a blue sapphire the size of her palm, set in Byzantine gold. “All the cases open with your fingerprint?”
    “My fingers can be very persuasive,” Alec said.
    She ignored him.
    Luciana replaced the sapphire and picked up a jewel-encrusted dagger sheath. Pulling the wicked looking blade, she turned to him. “This piece is priceless, slag-free crucible steel, and the handle is 18-carat gold inlaid with rough-cut rubies and emeralds. It’s probably Viking, 800 AD, but I’ll need to test it to be sure.”
    Alec knew exactly where the dagger had come from. “ Everything in