The Devil of Downtown

by Joanna Shupe

  “Find out who is on the front door,” Jack said to Rye with a meaningful glance.

  “Is that because of me?” Justine’s eyes darted between them. “If so, I came in through the kitchens.”

  Jack frowned. That was worse. “I’ll see to it,” Rye said, noting Jack’s expression and hurrying out.

  Now alone, Jack gave his full concentration to her. The brown skirt and white shirtwaist were boring and serviceable, but she still appeared delectable to his eyes. “Not that I am unhappy to see you, but why the kitchens? Did you think you’d be refused at the door?”

  “I didn’t wish for the entire world to know I was here.” She stared at the floor, not meeting his eyes. The skin of her neck had turned a delightful pink.

  What was happening?

  If he didn’t know better, he’d say she was embarrassed. And, why did she wish to keep her presence at the club a secret?

  Then it hit him. Was she here for the afternoon pleasure they’d discussed? Lust rolled through him to settle in his groin. He hadn’t expected this so soon but he was absolutely ready and willing.

  Coming closer, he slid a hand onto her hip and pulled her into him. She fit perfectly, all sweet softness and feminine curves. Everything inside him quieted, settled. His mind calmed, no longer going full speed with worries and dollars and things to do. He focused solely on her, from the pulse jumping wildly in her neck to the silky strands of hair falling to frame her lovely face. Bringing his mouth to hover above hers, he whispered, “Shall we go to Bond Street, cara? Where I may spread you out on my bed and feast on your pussy until sundown.”

  “Yes,” she breathed, then seemed to shake herself. “I mean no.”

  “No?”

  “No, that isn’t why I’m here.” She pushed away from him. “I mean, perhaps it could be why I’m here—but later. After we’ve talked.”

  “What is it we need to discuss?”

  “Should we sit, or . . . ?”

  This was a new tentative side of her. He was missing something, clearly. “Of course. Would you care for a drink?”

  “Whatever you’re having.” She lowered herself into an armchair and fussed with her skirts.

  Also unusual. She was normally confident, telling him exactly what he’d be doing and when. He poured them two lagers and set the cold glasses on his desk. “There you are.” He dropped into the armchair beside her. “Try it. This is one of the beers I hope to sell across the country.”

  Justine brought the glass to her mouth. Foam coated the sweet bow of her upper lip after she drank, which she licked with the tip of her tongue. Oh, that tongue. How I’ve missed it. “It’s good,” she said. “Normally I do not care for beer.”

  Grinning, Jack took a sip from his own glass. Her reaction was precisely how he knew this beer would make them all very rich. “Now tell me. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this afternoon?”

  She set her glass down. Clasped her hands in her lap. “I need a favor.”

  Sweet Jesus, those words. The extraordinary amount of delight he experienced at hearing them come out of her mouth should have embarrassed him. Before, he’d cajoled and bartered with her. Now she was here making a simple request for his help. They’d turned a corner—and the victory was fucking satisfying.

  He struggled to keep his face completely impassive. “And what is that, mon ange?”

  “I wish to become the first female detective on the New York City police force.”

  “No, you don’t.” He started to rise. “Now, we can take the tunnel to my house or—”

  She put a hand on his arm, stopping him. “Yes, I do.”

  He returned to his seat and took a sip of beer, thinking on how best to put this. “I realize how this sounds coming from me, but they are criminals—and bad ones at that. You do not want to join their morally corrupt ranks.”

  “Not all of them are criminals. And even if that were the case, I would not be a criminal. I could do a lot of good for the women and children of this city.”

  “You are doing a lot of good for the women and children of this city. In fact, you hardly ever stop doing good.”

  “Don’t you see? If I had a badge and real authority, then I wouldn’t need—”

  Her jaw slammed shut and he finally understood. Disappointment burned in his chest, a hot poker of realization. He forced himself to say it. “You wouldn’t need me.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I wouldn’t need anyone. Not Detective Ellison or my father. Not even my brother-in-law. I could make real change in this city.”

  He didn’t believe her, but he let it go. Furthermore, hadn’t she spent enough time with him to see how things really worked in New York? “I keep telling you, the coppers aren’t who make change in this city.”

  “It will not always be that way, though. Would the force not benefit from women investigating the types of crime the men refuse to touch?”

  “The sorts of cases you’re already investigating?” He thought of the factory owner, Mr. Bay. Von Briesen and Gorcey. “Is that what you mean?”

  “Yes.”

  “If you think a badge commands respect and will make things easier for you, I hate to disappoint you with the truth.”

  “I don’t believe that. I have seen the way people respond to Ellison, how he’s able to back up his threats with jail time.”

  “You are not Ellison, however.”

  “I know, but it would be better than what I have now. Which is nothing.”

  No, he wanted to say. You have me.

  But he couldn’t offer her that. She certainly didn’t want it, not after just declaring her eagerness to be rid of him. Besides, he had O’Shaughnessy likely planning his demise at this very minute. It was in her best interest to leave here and never return.

  Not that he would let her go. Not yet, anyway. They weren’t quite finished with whatever this was between them.

  He shot to his feet and moved toward the desk, his hands deep in his pockets. Everything in him told him to refuse. To keep her tethered tightly to him. Yet, how could he not give her everything she wanted, even if it took her away from him?

  Her eyes were full of hope, looking at him as if he could do anything. Could solve any problem. It made him feel like the most powerful man in the world, a god among men. He’d give his entire fortune to avoid disappointing her.

  Smothering a sigh, he nodded once. “I will speak with a man named Mr. Keller. He handles these things.”

  “I just came from meeting him.”

  He tried not to appear as surprised as he felt. “You met with Keller?”

  Her throat worked as she swallowed. “He told me no. That I’d be taking a job away from a man who needed to support his family. He was . . .”

  “He was, what?”

  Fury tightened the angles of her face, her mouth hard and angry. “Condescending and awful. And so very smug.”

  Keller was most definitely all those things.

  She added, “He said to pass on his regards to you.”

  Interesting. That meant his association with Justine hadn’t gone unnoticed by the Tammany boys. Though why they cared Jack couldn’t say. One thing he did know was that Keller would answer for upsetting this glorious creature. His do-gooder. “Is this what you really want?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then consider it done.”

  Her mouth worked but no sound emerged. Finally, she said, “J-just like that? Don’t you need to speak to Keller first?”

  “Do you honestly think he’ll refuse me?”

  “No.” Her lips twisted as she gave him a playful smirk. “Is this where you tell me I should have come to you first?”

  Reaching over, he helped her out of the chair. Though they were close, he didn’t move away. Instead, he ran the pad of his thumb over the smooth skin of her throat. “I won’t deny that I like when you need my help, but I hate dwelling in the past. You did what you thought was right in the moment.” He pressed his lips to her cheek
, the slope of her brow, the edge of her mouth . . . tiny kisses to reacquaint himself with the taste and feel of her skin. “And there are better things to discuss, such as how I’d like to take you to my bedroom, whereby I will make you come many times.”

  She clutched at him, her fingertips pressing into his chest. “I’m in favor of such a discussion.”

  “Then follow me.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Warm afternoon light streamed through his bedroom windows as he undressed her. He went slowly, drawing it out, clearly trying to drive her mad. It seemed each naked inch of her was new terrain that must be explored by his hands, mouth and lips. Her body burned, the yearning so deep and fierce that she could barely stay on her feet. By the time he removed her corset, she was panting, her heartbeat thrumming in her ears.

  He remained annoyingly clothed. She itched to touch him, to investigate all the muscles and ridges under that fancy suit. Not to mention that she wanted to drive him wild, as well. Make him as mindless as he’d been in the carriage, when he had spent in her mouth. Just the thought of it had her pressing her thighs together to ease the ache in her core.

  Her shift ended up on the floor, quickly followed by her drawers. Before she could worry about her nakedness, he laid her out on the bed and stretched out beside her. One large thigh slid between her legs, pressing into her bare flesh, the wool of his trousers rubbing in all the best places. His bright blue gaze raked over her. “You are so lovely,” he murmured, cupping one of her breasts. “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

  Rising up slightly, she sealed her mouth to his. He froze for a half second before he kissed her back, his hand angling her head to where he wanted before his tongue delved past her lips. She couldn’t get close enough to him as their tongues swirled and tangled, their shared exhalations rough in the quiet room. The connection felt necessary, important to her very survival. There was no rationalization or serious thought, other than more and yes.

  The pulse between her legs turned demanding, and she rolled her hips, seeking. Fabric dragged against the nub at the apex of her folds, his leg weighting her down like an anchor to hold her in place. Oh, God. Sparkles danced behind her eyelids and pleasure rippled throughout her core. She did it again and gasped, breaking off from his mouth to suck in air.

  “Keep going,” he whispered into her throat. “Use my leg to make yourself come.”

  His hand went to her hip, encouraging, and then he bent to lick and suck the tip of her breast, with each draw on her nipple echoing deep inside her. She didn’t think, just began moving, churning her hips as the pleasure built. Rocking her body against his to satisfy the raw need coursing through her.

  When her rhythm faltered, he began moving, sliding his thigh back and forth, until she shattered, her limbs shaking. She moaned as her womb contracted, the orgasm going on and on. After she floated down, she marveled at how fast that had all happened. He’d barely touched her.

  “That was the single most arousing thing I’ve ever witnessed.” He kissed her like he couldn’t get enough. Like she was the air he needed to breathe. “I cannot wait to see you do that again.”

  His reaction eased any embarrassment she might have felt. “Another time. Right now, I want to explore you.” She tried to roll him over so that she could undress him.

  “Not yet.” He dragged his teeth over her earlobe, along the side of her throat. “I want to taste you first. Make you come on my tongue.”

  Goodness, she wanted that. A lot. Jack was incredibly talented with his mouth. But today was about something else, something bigger.

  Something she’d been thinking about for a while now.

  “Jack, get undressed. Please. I want . . . Let me feel you inside me.”

  Unblinking hypnotic eyes focused on her. “Are you certain? There are many other ways to pleasure one another. We don’t have to—”

  “I want to. Desperately. Unless you don’t want to?” She hadn’t considered that possibility, but of course he might not want to. “Is there someone else?”

  “Justine, no. Definitely not that—and I absolutely want to fuck you. I just need you to be certain.”

  He never wrapped the words in pretty euphemisms. For a charmer, he had a dirty, dirty mouth. And she liked it. He was real and raw, a man half the city feared. To her, however, he was her knight in tarnished yet impenetrable armor.

  She trusted him. To keep her safe, to watch out for her. To slay her dragons. No matter what happened between them in the future, she wouldn’t regret sharing his bed.

  Placing her palm on his cheek, she didn’t try to hide her emotions from him. “Have you ever known me to be uncertain about anything?”

  He chuckled, looking so handsome and carefree that her heart stuttered. “True. You are a woman who knows her own mind.” His smile fell. “This isn’t some sort of repayment for speaking to Keller, is it?”

  The idea hadn’t even occurred to her. “No, absolutely not. I would never . . .” Sleep with you as a way to trade favors. She couldn’t even say the repulsive concept aloud.

  “I didn’t think so, but some have tried. I apologize.” The side of his mouth hitched. “I forgot for a brief second that the most noble and trustworthy woman in the city was here in my bed. Spread your legs for me, chérie.”

  She did as he asked, trying not to think about the other women in his past. Then his fingers swept along her folds, through the moisture at her entrance, and her worries disappeared. He slipped a digit inside her, the thickness dragging against her inner walls. She threw her head back, the sensitive tissue magnifying the pleasure rippling through her. “What about your clothes?” she asked when her ability to speak returned.

  “Soon.” He drew on her nipple while his finger slid in and out, stretching her. “We need to ready you first.”

  The sensations created by his mouth and hands were amazing. Better than amazing, actually. “I’m ready,” she breathed and clutched at him.

  She felt him smile against her skin. “Not quite. I wouldn’t like to hurt you.”

  Hurry, hurry, hurry, she wanted to tell him. Instead, her hands started on his vest buttons, pushing them through the holes. When she couldn’t reach any more, he finished then shrugged out of the garment. Next came necktie, studs, shirt collar . . . He was able to focus on several things at once, getting undressed while still touching and licking her. If she weren’t so desperate she would’ve been impressed.

  He removed his fingers for an instant as he whipped his shirt over his head, and then returned to pleasuring her. More pressure as he added a second finger. “You are so hot and wet. So tight. I cannot remember ever wanting something more.”

  “Now.” She was wheezing, barely able to draw in air fast enough. “Please, Jack.”

  He ignored her. Teeth gently scraped her nipple before his tongue soothed her. She moaned, helpless.

  A third finger had her rolling her hips once more, chasing the bliss that lay just out of reach. His thumb swept over her clitoris and her back bowed. Her lids slammed shut and every muscle tightened. “Oh, God.”

  Close. She was so close.

  The fingers disappeared as he shifted. He unfastened his trousers, hands working quickly and efficiently to get them off. Then he moved between her legs, his big thighs pushing her wider as he worked on the tiny buttons of his undergarment. The cloth was tight, clinging to every part of him, making her mouth water. She couldn’t wait to taste and touch all that rough skin.

  He took his erection into his fist. His eyes were wild as they focused on her sex. Pressing forward, he notched the crown at her entrance. Then he caught her gaze and held it. “You may change your mind, you know.”

  “I won’t. I’m not. Please, Jack.”

  His throat worked as he swallowed, then he pushed inside. There was no pain, only a heavy fullness. He didn’t look away from where they were joined, while she watched him. Skin flushed, muscles bulging . . . he was the most beautiful man.

  She wan
ted to see all of him.

  Her hands reached for the tiny buttons on his remaining garment, intent in divesting him of the cloth. Glancing up, he stopped her with a large palm. “Not now.”

  Why would he rather keep clothed? “I want to touch you.”

  “I’d much rather watch you touch yourself.”

  “What? Where?”

  Dark mischief lit his eyes just before he captured her hand. “Right here.” He brought her fingers to her clitoris. “Stroke yourself for me.”

  Her skin went up in flames. Touch herself there . . . while he watched?

  “There is no right or wrong, not with me. Only what makes you feel good. It will also help keep you wet for your first time.” He jerked his chin to where he was barely inside her.

  “Oh.”

  If this would help, how could she refuse? She slid the pad of her finger over the taut nub, her hips jerking slightly. That brought him deeper inside her channel. “Fuck,” he gritted out, his lids closing as his hands dug into the outsides of her thighs. “I’m trying to go slow.”

  She didn’t need slow or careful. She wasn’t breakable.

  Her sisters viewed her as naive and weak, but she wasn’t. She was brave and strong, a woman who knew her own mind.

  Soon to be the first female police detective.

  She lifted her hips once more, and Jack slid deeper. Once more and their hips met. His chest heaved, the lines of his face etched in painful ecstasy. “Oh, Christ. You’re killing me.”

  There. It was done. He was inside her . . . and it was better than she’d even imaged. She closed her eyes, letting the feeling wash over her. Jack was a part of her. There was no pain, only a delicious fullness that radiated from her core.

  “All right?” he asked. “Because I need to either pull out or start moving.”

  She nodded, incapable of anything else. He braced himself on his arms and began thrusting inside her, slowly at first then picking up pace. “Move with me,” he told her, “while you rub yourself.”

  Reaching between them, she circled the nub with her fingers as he pumped his hips. They worked together, two bodies straining and climbing. His hooded blue gaze remained on her face, gauging her reactions. When she gasped, he growled, almost as if her pleasure fed his own. It felt like they were joined more than just physically, that he was deep in her brain. Wrapped around her heart. A part of her in a way she’d never shared with another person.