Clockworks and Corsets (6 page)

“Adjust?” Magpie scoffed. “To what? The blackness or the total darkness?”

After a few moments, Gabriella realized it wasn’t total darkness at all. A soft glow along the walls lit what appeared to be a hallway. She ran her fingers over the spongy, damp glow

“Phosphorescent moss,” Jayne explained.

“Captain,” Jax said. “Are you sure this is wisest course of actions?”

The captain seemed to ignore the question. Instead, she strode with her head held high to the hallway’s end. She looked over her shoulder at the crew. “Shall I collect Ruby’s money alone?”

The crew quickly fell in line behind her.

The hallway emptied into a foyer, complete with an umbrella stand and boot scraper, both of which were rusted with age. A small bench stood in one corner, looking like a single touch would cause its collapse. Another closed door lay across from the entrance. Before the captain could reach it, the door gave a click. It swung wide, welcoming the party further inside. They followed through to a receiving room.

Here, the furniture was also tattered. Dilapidated curtains hung from bricked up windows.

The carpet was bald in arching paths around the room. Aside from the wear and tear, the room itself was very neat, lit by the glow of a roaring fireplace. Gabriella looked around in wonder. This was not what she’d expected to find in the middle of the wild jungle.

Then again, nothing could have prepared her for what she saw next.

Standing beside the fireplace, with one arm propped against the mantle and the other hand thrust into his jacket pocket, was the handsomest man Gabriella had seen in her life. He was tall, even taller than Click. An amber wave of short locks spilled from his crown, giving him the appearance of a halo in the low light of the room. Flickering shadows danced across his regal face, showing pale marble features, he had a broad, prominent brow, a stout, bold chin, and a commanding, yet still quite kissable mouth. The handsomest thing about the man was his eyes. The color of polished copper, the man’s eyes shone bright and friendly, with a hint of the mysterious and mischievous echoing from deep within. Gabriella thought they were the kind of eyes that could pierce a woman to her very soul.

Gabriella looked down at her filthy brown uniform. She worried at the grime under her unkempt nails. She was a mess. What she wouldn’t give for one of her finer dresses right now. To have her hair done in a proper way. Her nails buffed to a shine. She hated to think it, but her mother was right. One never got a second chance at first impressions. Even in the tropical wild!

So, unwilling to face the young man, Gabriella hid behind Magpie.

“Finally,” the stranger said. “It is so good to have company.”

“What are you doing here?” the captain asked. Her hand wandered to her gun.

“Please,” the man said. “There is no need to draw your weapons. You can see I am unarmed.”

He stood straight, spread his arms wide, turning in place. He then held out his empty palms.

Gabriella noticed that one hand was bare while the other was hidden beneath a crisp, white glove.

“Certainly you are not afraid of me?”

“I fear no man,” Jax snarled. “It is you who should fear me!”

“Jax,” the captain scolded.

Jax crossed her arms, adopting one of her many scowls.

“You’re obviously a skilled warrior,” the man said. “I must admit that yes, I am afraid of you.” He spread his hands apart again before he bowed.

Jax furrowed her brow at first. This was soon followed by a half grin and nod at the stranger.

“That’s more like it.”

“Who are you?” the captain asked.

The stranger returned to his full height while clucking his tongue. “Where are my manners?

I’m sorry, these years of solitude have left me clumsy as an ox.” He stepped forward, offering a hand to the captain. “I’m Atom Loquacious.”

* * * *

“I don’t understand,” Rose said. As she shook the man’s hand, the rest of the crew exchanged confused glances. The stranger was an unexpected surprise in the wild of the jungle, especially since the laboratory was supposed to be deserted. What was even more surprising was his graceful charm. Not to mention the fact that he seemed glad to see them.

“It’s rather simple,” the man said, pumping her arm for all it was worth. “Atom with a t and an o. Like the eye of the nucleus, not like the first man.”

“Not that,” Rose said after he released her hand. “I’m sorry if we’re intruding. We didn’t expect you to be here, Doctor.”

“Captain,” Jayne said. “This man isn’t Doctor Loquacious. He’s too young for starters.”

“I’m afraid she’s right,” Atom said. “I’m no doctor.”

“But your surname,” Rose said. “Just who are you, exactly?”

The man looked to the ceiling for a moment, as if unsure of how to answer the question, before he settled back into a broad grin. “I think the easiest explanation would be that Doctor Loquacious is my father.”

“Impossible,” Jayne snapped. “Doctor Loquacious didn’t have any children.”

“That as it may be, it really is the best explanation I can offer,” Atom insisted.

“Sounds like son of mad scientist,” Jax said. “Talks in circles, like Jayne.”

Jayne snorted at the remark, but kept quiet.

“If you aren’t the doc,” Click said, “why hang around here?”

“I’m under strict orders not to leave the laboratory,” the young man explained.

“Mr. Loquacious,” Rose said.

“Please, call me Atom, Captain.”

Rose couldn’t help her smile. It wasn’t often that she was offered her correct title, much less by a complete stranger. She was still very wary of the man, though she suspected that wouldn’t last long under his silver tongue and agreeable humor.

“You are the captain of that glorious airship? Yes?” he asked.

Rose nodded, silenced by his flattery.

“And this is your wonderful crew?” he asked.

“Right again,” Rose said.

To everyone’s surprise, Atom pointed to each member of the crew, correctly identifying them. “The tall one is Jax, yes? Then there is Magpie, and Jayne. And you, my friend, must be Click. It is so wonderful to meet all of you. Please have a seat. Make yourselves comfortable.”

“Too right,” Click said, making for the sofa.

Rose grabbed him by the arm to stop the native from making himself at home. She shook her head, trying to free the disjointed feeling Atom’s naming act had given her before she lifted a finger at the man. “How do you know who we are?”

“Because I’ve been watching you since you departed the ship. There is one more among you? A Guppy? The young woman who worked out the door puzzle, yes?” He narrowed his eyes while he walked around the room, scanning the crew.

“What puzzle?” Jayne snapped. “That wasn’t a puzzle. It was a joke.”

“Captain, I’m not liking the sound of this,” Jax complained.

“What do you mean you’ve been watching us?” Rose asked.

“Ah ha!” Atom shouted over them. He stopped before Magpie and bowed nearly to the ground before he said, “Madam, I am honored to make your acquaintance.”

“Ain’t you just the bee’s knees?” Magpie asked. Over her shoulder, she added, “Guppy, honey, as much as I’d love to be the object of such affection, I think he means you.” The large woman stepped to one side, exposing a trembling Gabriella.

Atom rose from his bow, and as soon as his gaze fell upon the young woman, he went quiet.

Where he was a whirlwind of words a moment ago, he was now graveyard silent. He stood stone still, staring at Gabriella. She stood just as still, staring right back.

Neither spoke.

Neither moved.

After several seconds of nothingness, Rose cleared her throat. “Atom,” she said, “this is Gabriella Upstairs.”

“Gabriella,” he echoed.

Gabriella smiled at the sound of her name on his lips.

Rose recognized the smile for what it was. She dragged the child halfway across the world to teach her some independence, and the kid had to go and fall for some lunatic living in an abandoned laboratory. What would she tell Daniel?

Everyone seemed caught up in the chemistry between the pair. They stood in silence, watching Atom hold out his hand, while Gabriella placed her fingers into his open palm. Atom lifted them to his lips, grazing them gently before he looked back to her face again.

“Gabriella,” he repeated. “The feminine of Gabriel?”

“Yes,” Gabriella said.

“Like the angel?”

Gabriella nodded.

“Are you an angel?” he asked. His eyes twinkled with unspeakable affection.

Gabriella giggled.

“For heaven’s sake!” Jayne shouted, clearly the only one unmoved by the touching scene.

“She’s no angel. She’s just a spoiled little rich girl.”

Gabriella snatched her hand away from him before she went bright red from cheek to cheek.

Atom took on a severe look while he dipped his head. “I apologize if I made you uncomfortable.”

“You didn’t,” Magpie said. She shot Jayne a burning look. Rose wanted to applaud Magpie for her defense of Guppy. She knew the woman felt motherly toward the girl as they all did, but Magpie had taken the role to heart.

“Mr. Loquacious,” Rose said.

“Atom,” he corrected her while he raised his face to Gabriella again.

“Yes.” Rose sighed. “Please, let’s get back to the matter at hand.”

“Which is?” Atom asked, his eyes never leaving the blushing Gabriella.

“Tell us how were you watching us from all the way in here?” Rose demanded.

Atom finally turned to face Rose. “I can do better than that. I’ll show you.”

Interlude at the Red House

In which we have a moment alone with our antagonist.

Never send a man to do a woman’s job. That had been Ruby’s first mistake.

No, she thought while she tightened the straps on the counselor’s wrists. Her first mistake was choosing a second rate group of weak willed cronies with no ability to follow-through. Sure, they had killed the president, but little good it did. A new figurehead was in place within hours, and the country ticked on. A little sadder, yet none the worse for wear. All because that two bit hired hand panicked at the last moment, running instead of completing the entire plan.

This time she was sure to succeed. No more toying with political intrigue or long term schemes. All she needed was the product of one mad mind—Doctor Loquacious’s last great work. A weapon of unfathomable destruction. Of unimaginable devastation. Then she would have ultimate control.

The counselor groaned when she slipped the last cuff into place. Ruby ran a hand down the man’s chest, past his belly, pausing to grope his cock for the briefest of moments, teasing him into an even harder state. Her mind continued to wander while she fondled and stroked him. She should’ve had the entire country in her hands by now, or perhaps, the entire world. Instead, here she was with another handful of what amounted to the brains of this nation! Enraged by the thought, she brought her other hand down, open palmed, on the man’s thigh. The snap of flesh on flesh echoed through the bedchamber.

“Oh, Ruby,” the counselor groaned while he pulled against the restraints. “You always know how to hurt me just right.”

“Shut up, Garrison,” Ruby snapped.

“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled wistfully at her, his cock twitching as if nodding in assent.

Ruby slipped off the edge of the silk bed sheet, leaving the naked man alone for a moment while she went to her table of implements. She eyed the cat o’ nine tails, the various paddles, the feathers, the oils, the leather straps, and the cotton gags. There was nothing that could cause pertinent markings, nothing that would leave a lasting result.

“What will it be today, Ruby?” the counselor asked.

“Whatever I please,” she answered.

“Of course,” he said. “But if you favor the crop, I wouldn’t mind. Just so you know, I am willing to include a generous tip.”

She snatched up the leather riding crop with an aggravated huff. Plans for world domination were expensive, so Ruby made her money by the only means she knew. In some ways, it amused her that the very powers that be were unconsciously funding their own destruction by visiting her little bordello. Ruby cracked the air with the crop, sneering when the man whimpered in delight.

She turned back to him before she allowed a small smile to surface. The man was at her mercy, rock hard, ready for his weekly lesson.

Soon she would have the doctor’s weapon, then the entire nation would be at her mercy.

Then she would take great pleasure in teaching everyone who was in charge. Ruby supposed it both grated and relived her that Booth took the fall for the assassination. The nation may not yet appreciate her brilliance, but at least she had been far enough from the eye of the storm to escape unscathed when it went to hell. Snapping the crop against her naked thigh, Ruby relished the pain matched by the burning reminder of her failure.

“Are you okay, Ruby?” the counselor asked. “You seem like you’re somewhere else?”

“Nonsense,” she lied. “How could I be anywhere else when you’re here?”

The counselor smiled wide.

“Are you ready for your lesson?” she asked her client.

“Yes!” he shouted. “Teach me! Teach me so hard!”

Ruby looked at the ceiling before she slinked back toward the bed. The counselor drooled.

He was all bug-eyed and open mouthed at the hourglass cinch of the lacey corset and thin panties.

She paused to snap the crop again. The counselor shivered in what she knew to be anticipation.

They had played this game so many times, Ruby knew his every emotion, could predict his every response. Unlike her, the counselor was unable to hide his true reactions, his real feelings. It was a weakness she despised. Ruby crawled onto the foot of the bed, easing her way up the restrained man’s body. She paused to smack his feet with the crop, then his calves, until she loomed over his hard manhood. She pinned his legs under her, sitting on his knees while she leaned over him.

“Now,” she said, “what do you say?”

“Please?” he begged.

Ruby slapped his right hip with the crop. “You know better than that.”