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He picked up the steel wires, one with a longer bent tip than the other. “These are your best option, they are lever wires. It depends on the lock, of course. Heavier ones like this one benefit from sturdy tools like these wires, but on a smaller lock with fewer levers, hairpins can work, if you have them handy and the metal is strong enough to bend the tips without snapping. Most locks all work on the same principle, you move the interior levers to the right height and that opens the lock.” He looked to her chiffon. “How many pins do you have in there?”
Her shoulders lifted. “A healthy number.”
“Good.” His attention turned back to the lock. He set the shorter lever wire into her right hand and then moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her as his right fingers slid over the back of hers. “I’m going to do this with you a few times until you get the touch of it.”
Good heavens, it was hard to think about anything at all when his body was pressed up against her back like this.
“Vic?”
She blinked hard, then nodded.
He had her pick up the lock with her left hand and then slid the lever wire into the keyhole opening.
His fingers over hers, he twisted the bent part of the wire around in the black void of the interior of the lock. “You won’t know how many levers are inside. Usually there are two to four, depending on the locksmith, but the goal is to get them all to the right height—there—did you feel how the tip hit resistance? That’s the resistance you need to push back against.” He squeezed her fingers, making her push the interior lever. “That is one. Let’s find the others. The levers are stacked in a row, front to back. There’s another one—do you feel it?”
Her shoulders lifted. “Maybe?”
He chuckled, his warm breath on her neck. “Let’s keep going.” He twisted her fingers holding the lever wire. “This is the third one and…there is the fourth, and that should release the lock.” He pulled up on the shackle, freeing the lock.
She looked to her left at his face directly next to hers. She didn’t know why this particular skill of his took her aback, but of course he knew how to pick locks. Why wouldn’t he? That was the world he lived in.
“Did you feel it?”
She offered a half smile. “Try again?”
He pulled the lever wire until it was out of the keyhole and then relocked the shackle into place. Setting the lever wire in her fingers, he slid his hands over hers once more. They went through the same motions again, only this time, he guided, letting her push on the levers once he led her to the resistance.
In short order, the lock opened again.
“Now do you feel it?” he asked.
She did—a little bit. “So, I basically fiddle around in there until something that is hard to move, moves?”
He smiled. “Basically, yes.” His arms wrapped around her dropped from her body and he took a step away, leaving a brush of cool air she didn’t care for to wisp down her back. “On your own. Your turn.”
He moved to her side, clamping the lock shut once more, then studying her hands as her fingers worked the lever wire.
Blast.Finding the levers was a lot harder without his touch guiding her. Several minutes passed, her tongue slipping out between the right side of her teeth as she concentrated on searching in the vacant dark of the chamber for thelevers.
“You’re doing fine.” He set his knuckles on the edge of the table, leaning down as his stare focused on her hands. “Gentle. Let the pressure bleed up into your fingers. The lock will tell you what you need to do.”
He thought her fingers were way more sensitive than they were, but then,click. Success.
Dumbstruck, she looked up to him. “I did it,” she said with a squeal, laughing.
He laughed with her, his dark brown eyes glowing like she’d never seen him.
Pride in her.
The simplest little thing that he could do so easily, and he was proud of her. Pride and…what? Something rumbling raw in his eyes. Like he was seeing deep into her, his hunger feral, wanting to steal everything she was for his own.
It stilled her, yet her smile stayed in place.
He blinked, and then his look dropped to the lock and he clamped it closed once more. “Again.” His fingers tapped the iron. “Again and again until you’re quick, sure at it.”
She nodded and set the lever lock into the keyhole again.
Easier.
