Clockworks and Corsets (7 page)

“Please suck my cock,” he begged. A pearl of desire oozed from the tip of his waiting steel.

Ruby brought the crop down with a loud crack against the man’s left hip. He groaned and shuddered.

“Louder!” she screamed.

“Please suck my cock!” he yelled.

She struck him again. He yelled the phrase even louder. She worked the crop from hip to hip until each side of his waist was the color of her namesake. All the while, the high paid lawyer screamed, begging for her to take him into her mouth. To suckle him. To stroke him. To please him.

After a few measly minutes of this, the man was done with the game. He didn’t have to say it.

Ruby recognized that broken point in him. His pitiful squirming and shifting beneath her illustrated his vulnerability. She was never surprised by how frail people were. Her own limits were much higher. Much stronger.

“Please, Ruby,” he said, on the verge of tears. “I can’t take anymore.”

Ruby nudged his quivering cock with the crop. “I don’t know...”

“Please, for the love of all that is holy, woman. Just let me come already!”

Ruby smiled when the blasphemy rolled from the counselor’s lips. She leaned in to engulf the man’s shaft all in one swoop. When the head of his cock touched the back of her throat, he gave a mighty yell and tensed from head to toe. Ruby closed her eyes while his hot need rushed to fill her mouth. She swallowed it all. After a few spurts, a few grunts, and the counselor was done.

Ruby pulled away with an audible pop.

“Oh, Ruby,” he said in a weak voice. “That was amazing, as usual.”

“Yes,” she agreed. She reached behind her to pull free the pitiful excuse for restraints.

“Let me make love to you,” he said.

Ruby shook her head. “Not today.”

“I want you. I need you.”

“No.”

“Please, Ruby. I want to make you as happy as you always make me.”

Ruby eyed him. The only way a man like the counselor could ever make her happy was if he got down on bended knee to swear his fealty to her. She imagined he would do just that and more, some day. Today was not the day to find out. That day would come soon enough. When she freed his wrists, he reached up, pulling her into his arms. He buried his face into her cleavage.

“I could give you such pleasure,” he murmured, his breath warm on her breasts.

“I’m sure your wife would appreciate that.”

The counselor’s body stiffened at her words. He lifted his head until he was eye to eye with her. He furrowed his brow, as if hurt. “Why are you so cruel?”

“Because you pay me to be. Now get dressed, Garrison, I have another client in an hour.”

While the counselor dressed, Ruby glanced at the meeting notes he had brought to her. She could hardly wait to inspect them closer, to see if there was anything useful said behind closed doors this week. Later she would add them to her ever growing collection of White House transcriptions.

“That last page has all the names of the candidates for the next election,” the counselor said.

“That’s years off,” she said, then almost bit her tongue in two. It never paid to let on how much she understood about what was going on. Better he assumed her interest was a hobby and nothing more.

Thankfully, the counselor seemed oblivious to her understanding. “Things move fast in the political arena.” He waved his undone tie at her.

“I can’t thank you enough for the notes,” she cooed while she worked his tie into place.

“No problem.” He cocked his head at her, clearly amused. “I admire a woman who takes interest in politics. It’s...well, it’s downright charming.”

Ruby’s nostrils flared at the insult, but she held her tongue. “Some of us women just like to know what the great men in our nation are up to. That’s all. Again, thank you for the notes. I know you risk so much getting them to me.”

He caught her up in his arms again. “Ruby, honey. I would risk just about anything for you.”

He pushed his lips to hers.

Ruby smiled under his sloppy kiss. That kind of submission was what she liked to hear. “I know. I’ll see you next week.”

The counselor nodded, then left her alone so he could return to his wife, his job, and the pathetic play he called a life. While she watched him go, she mused on how everyone was, at heart, just an actor. Some people just understood their place on the stage better than others while some changed their parts as readily as clothes
.
Ruby had been disappointed by more than one performance in the past. This time she had chosen her actors more wisely, giving them each such suitable roles.

Like Bloody Rose Madigan and her crew of merry widows.

Ruby returned to her bed, smiling at her own ingenuity. Hiring the all female crew to retrieve the weapon was a stroke of brilliance in this new scheme. Ruby needed Doctor Loquacious’s invention, Rose Madigan needed work. One hand washed the other, and the men of the world were none the wiser. So what if they were? What was more innocuous than an airship crew of women?

Who would suspect they carried cargo that would change the very power structure of the world?

A weapon so powerful that it could level an entire city in less than a minute.

The very idea of it made her want to come. Ruby dropped down to her bed, spreading her legs for her own satisfaction. She ran her hand under the triangle of fabric that covered her dripping sex. Closing her eyes, she envisioned a new America with her at the head. The promise of power was the only thing that could ever satisfy her. Her fingers fluttered over her slick clit. She groaned at the thought of the weapon, and how close she was to ultimate control. When her orgasm came, she rode it slow, trying to hang onto the high for as long as she could. Then it was over. She was back in her bedchamber, just another whore ready to turn her next trick.

Ruby clutched herself with a sigh while visions of world domination danced in her black heart.

Open Arms, Empty Airs

In which we find the laboratory as vacant as our coffers.

In the low lamp light of the laboratory, Rose squinted at the massive mirror mounted on the stand. Before her was the image of The Merry Widow, tethered to the beach almost five miles away. Rose tapped the glass before she shook her head again. “I don’t understand how it works.”

“It’s very simple,” Jayne and Atom said simultaneously.

Atom motioned for Jayne to continue.

Jayne seemed unmoved by his gesture, as though she expected nothing less from him.

“Smaller mirrors are arranged all over the island, each one pointed at the other, until their images reach the end point here at the lab.” Jayne motioned to the series of lenses, ranging from a few inches to a full foot across, which hovered just over the mirror. “With the magnifying lenses, he can pinpoint the section he wishes to see and amplify it, thus eliminating the stacked image effect that multiple reflections are known to cause.”

“You’re very correct and very clever,” Atom said.

“I know,” Jayne said. “I feel it’s only fair to admit that I’ve seen it in action before.”

“Where?” Atom asked.

“The Orthinological Society in Atlanta employs a similar system to keep up with the bird’s mating habits without intrusion. I believe it was Doctor Loquacious who set that one up also.”

“You seem to know a lot about the doctor.”

“Yes, I...did a dissertation on him. When I was...” Jayne paused, looking to Rose before she added, “In school.”

“Ah,” Atom said. “An educated woman. Excellent! Tell me, what university did you attend?”

Jayne’s guarded look melted into panic. Like the rest of the crew, Jayne was on the run from a sordid past. One which, unlike the rest of the crew, she didn’t care to discuss.

Rose came to the young tinker’s rescue. “How many of these are on the island?”

“About fifty or so. I can adjust the main receiver to pick up five distinct reflective patterns.”

Atom pushed the brass stand with his gloved hand. The whole frame swiveled in response while the image on the glass changed to some non-descript part of the jungle. “It was sheer luck that you just happened to stay right in my path most of the way.” He stopped to eye Gabriella, who blushed again before she looked away. Atom added with a whisper, “Luck or fate.”

Magpie leaned in close to whisper, “Actually, Captain, I’m thinking that map is based off the course of these mirrors.”

“Makes sense,” Rose said in a low voice. “It would explain the roundabout path to get here.”

Rose wondered if Atom had witnessed her rendezvous with the wild side of Click. She decided there was no use worrying over it. Besides, she had to admit it was kind of exciting to think someone had watched them make love. From the grin on Click’s face, she knew he was thinking the same thing.

“Names,” Jax said. Her voice sounded flat and commanding in the nearly empty room.

“I’m sorry?” Atom asked.

“How did you know our names?” Jax asked.

“Good question,” Rose concurred, narrowing her eyes at Atom.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Atom asked. He looked to Jayne for an answer. She just shrugged.

Rose shook her head.

Atom smiled again. “You stood outside my home and shouted them at each other for almost an hour.”

Rose groaned
. Some captain I make.

“Atom?” Rose asked. “What are you doing here? When we set out on this venture we were informed that this laboratory was abandoned.” She felt strange asking because in all sense of the word, it was abandoned. Whereas the living quarters were well lived in, there was nothing at all in the lab. Not a single retort. Not a single beaker. Not a single note or other scrap of paper. The enormous place was empty save for the mirrored device.

“I’ve been his lab assistant for years,” Atom said. “One day he came to me and said he had to go, that I was to stay until he returned. He left. So here I wait.”

“Did he say where he was going?” Jayne asked.

“I didn’t think to ask.”

“You haven’t heard from him since?” Rose asked.

Atom narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t he send you?”

“I’m afraid not,” Rose said. She bit her lip while looking at Click.

“Bad news, my friend,” Click said. “No one has seen your papa for a long time.”

“I don’t understand,” Atom said.

“He’s missing,” Rose said.

“Missing?” Atom cocked his head.

“And...” Rose paused, not wanting to finish the thought. “And presumed dead.”

“Oh,” Atom said. “I see.” He slumped into a chair and hung his head, falling quiet.

Rose felt bad for the young man, whether he was the doctor’s son or not. She didn’t expect to have to deliver such awful news to anyone, let alone a possible relative. Gabriella seemed just as pained by the news, edging toward Atom to pat him on the back. Atom looked up at the young girl. Even in his sudden grief, he still had a smile for Gabriella. It was sickeningly sweet. Magpie gestured for Rose’s attention. Rose signaled for Jax and Click to join them, leaving Jayne to ponder the mirror, and Gabriella to comfort Atom.

Magpie pulled Rose aside and whispered, “Cap, I think it might be best if we mosey on back.

I do believe that the doctor cleaned house before he bolted. I doubt there’s anything of value left.”

“I was afraid of that,” Rose said. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and Ruby will at least pay for the fuel. Eh?”

Magpie and Jax looked doubtful.

Rose didn’t blame them. She nodded to Atom. “So, what about our gentleman here? Do you think he’s telling the truth? I mean is he who he says he is?”

Magpie eyed the distraught man. She shrugged. “Maybe. He seems sincere enough. He’s certainly brainy enough. I ain’t seen someone give Jayne a run for her money like that in a long time.”

“Yes, but cleverness doesn’t mean he’s the son of Loquacious,” Rose said.

“True,” Click said. “Why would the man lie about such a thing?”

“We should take him with us,” Jax suggested.

The other three stared open mouthed at her.

Jax shrugged. “What? He has sharp mind and a good grip. Not to mention he just lost his father. Bad time for anyone to be left alone.”

“I see,” Rose said. “What about you two?”

“I have to agree, Cap,” Magpie said. “He seems like a nice enough guy. I’d hate to leave him here waiting for someone who might never return.”

Click added, “I think he seems taken with Guppy.”

“Then maybe,” Jayne said, joining the discussion, “it’s not such a good idea to bring him aboard.”

“Jealous?” Jax asked.

“No,” Jayne said. “I just think he would distract our debutante from what little work she manages to get done. Besides, I think he’s a bit off his toast. What’s with the one glove? I mean, really. Who wears just one glove?”

“Maybe,” Magpie said, “he has a grotesque scar that he doesn’t like to show.”

Jayne fell quiet at the remark.

“Everyone in favor of giving Atom a ride back to the mainland?” Rose asked.

Click, Magpie, and Jax raised their hands.

“Any against?” Rose asked, looking to Jayne.

“Mark my words,” Jayne said, “he’ll bring nothing but trouble.” She shook her head, stalking away.

“I was wrong,” Jax said.

Rose raised an eyebrow in question.

“She’s not just jealous,” Jax said. “She’s very, very jealous.”

Rose couldn’t agree more.

* * * *

Atom Loquacious was the stuff of dreams.

Erotic dreams.

Gabriella blushed as she shuddered at the racy thought. He was handsome, charming, clever, and simply wonderful. She had never met someone who made her feel both comfortable yet flustered at the same time. She wondered what had her so upset about the man. She knew it wasn’t love because her mother had been very clear on how love worked.

Love, her mother told her, was the careful arrangement of a prosperous union. It was the willingness to overlook one’s own needs in favor of her future husband’s, because, after all, he was to be a lifetime of security. Love meant putting aside childish things, including her abacus, while taking on the roles of mother, maid, and mistress. Love was the necessity of allowing the body to be ravaged by a husband’s animal lusts, then by the bearing of the children such acts were meant to bring. Love had nothing to do with affection, desires or any feelings whatsoever. Love, in a word, was work. A woman had to work at love to make it succeed.