Of Tinkers and Technomancers

by Katherine McIntyre

  Begrudgingly, Ellie sank against her sister and the two of them continued forward. Silas’ chest warmed at the sight, even as envy seared him. At the end of the day, he didn’t have a soul who’d fight for him like that. And after what he’d pulled with the automatons, he’d be facing his father’s wrath for years to come.

  He should be relieved—after all his effort to retrieve the diamond core, Ellie would be able to return it. Maybe he’d even stand a chance at earning his father’s forgiveness. Yet the thought soured his stomach, and he couldn’t resist the overwhelming wave of loneliness that swept over him. What good were expensive baubles in a gilded cage? All the wealth in the world didn’t give him half the connection he’d felt returning to the Bell Tavern for a night.

  And riches paled in comparison to the way his pulse quickened at a mere glance from Theo Whitfield.

  This stretch of the streets grew familiar, the split cobblestones and the old rundown buildings of Islington all ones he knew by heart. To the far left, the Bell Tavern’s lights were on, and the usual customers sat on the stoop or congregated outside in throngs while their voices carried, louder with every drink. They followed the street down the blocks toward the tenement building. Even though he’d accomplished his goals tonight and had no reason to continue coming to Islington, he wasn’t ready to abandon these streets once again.

  He certainly wasn’t prepared to sever ties with Theo Whitfield like he’d be expected to upon returning to Kylock Industries.

  As they approached the tenements, Theo tightened her grip around her sister. “I always turned a blind eye to your thieving in the past, but not anymore. You’re done running around with those ratbags.”

  Ellie shot her a look, and Silas had to wonder how much of Theo’s lecture would stick. “We both know the straight and narrow route won’t keep a roof over our heads, so I’d like to hear what clever third avenue you’re suggesting.”

  Theo’s brow furrowed in a way Silas had witnessed more times than he could count, a frustrated look she usually lobbed in his direction. He felt like he had stepped into a private conversation, as if he’d missed his cue to exit a couple of streets back. Except Ellie still had to deliver the diamond core.

  “Don’t suppose you care to share the location of the item you stole?” he spoke, drawing their attention. “Now that we’re not running from gunfire and the sort.”

  “You owe him as much after everything he risked to get you free,” Theo argued, her eyes flashing with heat.

  Ellie crooked an eyebrow, the expression less than elegant with the crusted blood still clinging to her forehead. “Let’s not pretend he did it for anyone but you, dear sister.” Theo flushed at that, running a hand through her wild mane. A smirk curled Silas’ lips before he could help himself. Those rare flashes of vulnerability were worth every second of chaos.

  “Where’s the diamond core, Ellie?” Theo asked, her voice stern while she tried to pretend she wasn’t blushing.

  “Mother’s sugar jar. She rarely uses it, and we both know the woman doesn’t bake, so I figured the core would be safe there for a day or two before I sold it to Remington’s.” Ellie cast a begrudging glance toward Silas. “You sure you don’t want to offer it up to charity? Meaning me?”

  He withheld the grin at the audacity of the woman who’d caused all this trouble in the first place. “I’d prefer it returned, if you please.”

  They came to a halt in front of the tenement buildings, the ripe scents of spilled beer and urine reeking around the entrance. Theo still had her arm around her sister when she glanced at Silas.

  “Let me grab the diamond core,” she murmured. “I’ll be right back out.” The intensity in her gaze held the same weight as his own.

  She and Ellie disappeared through the entrance while he found a spot along the bricked wall to lean. Every ounce of him longed for a repeat of the night before, to continue where they’d left off, but truth be told, they had no more reason to associate.

  Silas let out a heaving sigh, his entire body sagging with relief at stopping. Sweat glued the fabric of his shirt and trousers to his skin, and he ran a hand through his sticky hair to move it off his forehead. His heart pounded in double time despite the slowdown. He straightened his collar and tweaked the cufflinks on each arm to clean up his ragged appearance. After tonight, there would be no more romps through Islington, no more breathtaking chases and no more adventures with Theo Whitfield.

  The front door creaked, drawing his attention.

  Theo stepped out, the soft light of the gas lamps bringing out the tawny hues of her dark hair. Even with the dirt smudges on her cheeks and how her mouth was drawn with exhaustion, the intense way her dark eyes glittered when their gazes met knocked the air from him. Her fist closed around something, and he presumed she carried the diamond core with her, having retrieved it from her flat.

  “Ellie’s getting a tongue-lashing inside,” she said, offering a warm smile. “I fear Mother spent every hour she was gone composing an intricate guilt trip to last into the next century.”

  “I don’t envy your sister,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. “From what I remember, your mother’s an expert at wielding guilt.”

  “The best.” Theo’s eyes gleamed with affection, the sort that made his heart squeeze tight. She approached him, opened her fist to reveal the diamond core, a glittering crystalline sphere, sitting on her palm. “I do believe you are owed this, if not much more.”

  Silas leaned forward to pluck his long-lost possession from her palm. As his fingers brushed against her hand, the current surging between them entranced him. He had the feeling he wasn’t the only one afflicted, as she lifted her head to lock gazes with him. He wanted her in a way he couldn’t deny, a longing so intense it nearly brought him to his knees. Silas brushed his thumb across her palm, over the quickened pulse of her wrist. Theo bit her lip, the sight dousing him with lust.

  “Unless you’d prefer to weather your mother’s haranguing inside, I could offer you a drink back at the workshop. I keep a bottle for special occasions, and this one was well earned,” Silas offered, his adrenaline quickening.

  “As much as I enjoy the show they’re putting on inside, I’d prefer not to get dragged into it. I think I could go for a drink with you.” She gave him the sort of impish smile that shot straight down, sending his mind to filthy places. Based on the look in her eyes, she knew where a nightcap would lead. His cock twitched at the thought of all the dirty things he wanted to do to her and how he longed to make her scream his name.

  If they were only going to get one night together, he would make this one count.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Joining Silas Kylock for a nightcap was a terrible idea.

  Theo should have retreated into her tenement building, closed the door and tried to forget about the man who made her heart race. About the one who, for the first time in far too long, made her want to be selfish. Except she’d agreed, and all too quickly, they stood in front of Kylock Industries yet again. Her heart raced in her chest, the adrenaline filling her with renewed energy despite her exhaustion from the day.

  Silas guided her to the back door and took out his keys, the jangle echoing in the resounding night. “I suppose these aren’t of much use if cracksmen like your sister can infiltrate our storefront with relative ease.”

  Theo snorted. “You may want to look into new locks. My sister has nimble fingers and finds herself drawn to crime.” The charming grin he gave her in response was the exact one she’d sworn she’d never fall for. Yet after witnessing all of Silas, the arrogance, the devotion, and his own bitter struggle, she couldn’t help the way he made her heart soar. How her cheeks flushed in response. He opened the door with a creak.

  “After you, my dear,” Silas gestured inside, holding it open.

  She stepped in, the coolness of the back room doing little to dispel the heat welling inside her. The floorboards creaked while she crossed through the area where they’d st
olen away his family’s automatons earlier that morning.

  Even though she’d put her entire life and business on hold the past couple of days to hunt for her sister, Ellie’s problems had managed to ruin Silas in the process. Guilt clung to her at how she’d crashed into his life and entangled him in her family’s perpetual mess. He deserved far better than how she’d treated him—how it had taken her all these years to see past his false face to the boy she’d run with in Islington.

  He stepped past her to enter the workshop and flick the dim lights on. The amber rays accentuated the golds and reds of his hair, deepening the shadows around his defined cheekbones and the full mouth she longed to kiss. She hadn’t missed the scorching looks he’d passed her at the tenement, ones that had traveled straight to her core. Theo ached for him with a surprising intensity spurred by the way their kiss had left off yesterday. When he’d pressed her against the building, his lips had promised so much more.

  Silas crouched behind his workbench and tugged out a slender bottle of brandy, the rosy liquid sloshing around.

  “How are you feeling after using your technomancy?” he asked, sneaking a glance as he guided her past the workroom, through the corridor and into the back of the storefront she’d marched through before.

  Silas flicked on another couple of lamps, the sparse light offering a brief respite from the inky black. Leather-bound books cluttered the bookshelves along the walls, and several mahogany chairs looked inviting, especially with the way exhaustion was claiming her. Up front, the desk near the entrance lay empty, and the glass windows of the shop were darkened by night.

  Theo twirled the conductor’s ring on her finger. “Exhausted, if I’m being honest.”

  Admiration flashed in his gaze. “I’ve never heard of a technomancer controlling so many before. You’ve got skills that King and Crown would fight over.”

  Theo ducked her head and stole a seat near one of the decorative windows by the gentle glow of the lamp. “Except neither King nor Crown would allow me to remain here to help my family. You know why I would turn them down every time.”

  He brought out glasses from one of the nearby cabinets. The delicate tumblers clinked as he set them on the surface and tipped the bottle. As he passed her one, Theo stared into the tawny liquid and inhaled the sweet scent wafting up from the cup. The heat of his gaze pressed into her and desire scorched the air between them. Her whole body vibrated from the tension, a spark away from explosion.

  For once in her life, she wanted with a strength she couldn’t deny, even if them together only lasted one night. Theo tipped the glass of brandy to her mouth. The rich, smooth liquid coursed down her throat and caused her chest to warm even further. Silas leaned by the wall beside her. Her body sparked to awareness with his proximity. He’d smoothed the wrinkles from his button-down, straightened his cufflinks and tamed the strands of his hair that had been wild from the wind.

  All his neatness and all his attention to detail enhanced her desire. Theo wanted to be the one to mess him up again, to tear off those clothes and run her fingers through his hair.

  “You’ve given up so much for your family.” Incredulity rang in his tone, which wasn’t surprising with the way he and his father operated. She imagined his relationship with his mother couldn’t be much better. “When do you get to live for yourself?”

  Her heart pounded so ferociously it drowned out nearly everything else. Theo placed her glass of brandy on the surface of the cabinet and rose to face Silas. He stared at her with wonder, his eyes searching hers when their gazes met.

  “Tonight,” she whispered.

  Before she could change her mind, before common sense kicked in, Theo crossed the distance between them and pressed her lips to his. The response was immediate, incendiary. His arms circled around her waist, his hands found her hips and he pulled her tight to him. Silas kissed her back as though he was drowning, as if each kiss offered one, precious breath.

  She tasted the sweet tang of brandy and sank into his hold on her, the strength of his grip offering the abandon she’d long desired. The sharp scent of copper and brass mingled with his earthiness, and the sweat from their earlier run stimulated her senses all the more. She fumbled for the buttons of his shirt, but she’d only flicked the first few open when his grip around her tightened and he hoisted her up.

  Theo wrapped her legs around his waist and tugged at his collar as he carried her across the room. Her nails bit into the open skin exposed, and he moved his lips along the column of her neck. The shivers coursing through her caused a moan to slip from her mouth.

  “You’re a warm bit, aren’t you,” he murmured in her ear, his breath hot and the whisper tickling. “I haven’t been able to get you off my mind for a moment.”

  She writhed in his arms when he came to a halt. Her bottom pressed against a cool, smooth surface, and in her peripheral vision she took note of the stacks of papers, the machinery and the myriad pens spread across the reception desk.

  “And you’re a cad,” she responded, sinking her teeth into the skin of his neck. “If I’m all you have room for in your mind, it must be a hollow place.”

  He let out a low curse and she grew quite aware of the hardness pressing between her legs. The feel of his erection made her core ache, made her whole body light up with need. In his arms she felt wanton, wild and free.

  “Let’s see how long you can hold out with that smart mouth of yours,” he said, his dark eyes dancing with wickedness. “I’ll have you screaming my name within minutes.”

  Theo arched an eyebrow before diving in to bite the point between his neck and shoulders. “You seem to think rather highly of your prowess.” He leaned in to kiss her lips again, and she felt his smile.

  Before she realized, his hands moved to the waistband of her trousers, those nimble fingers making quick work of her buttons. He tugged the trousers down, sliding them off her legs while she kicked her boots to the ground. Her pussy, bare and exposed, grew drenched within seconds, and that was before he tilted her back on the desk. She propped herself by the elbows, clattering pens to the floor with the motion.

  Silas sank to his knees, and the sight of him there at the apex of her thighs sent such a strong jolt of desire that her legs began to tremble. His hot breath tickled her, light as a feather, and he leaned even closer. His tongue darted out for the first lick. The sensation scorched her, her thighs tightening from the surprise—she’d never before enjoyed herself with a man in this fashion. In seconds, he returned for more. The glide of his tongue against her clit sent molten waves of pleasure through her.

  Theo melted against the desk, her elbows barely keeping her propped up as Silas increased his tempo, the man’s skilled tongue making her forget reason. Moans ripped from her throat unbidden, and she sank into the abandon he offered. The responsibilities she’d been holding on to, even now, dripped away in the wake of the intense pleasure growing with each stroke of his tongue.

  Her core ached with the painful need to be filled in entirety. She wanted him to bring her to completion, wanted to taste his lips upon hers, and wanted their sweat-slicked bodies to crash together until the past problems and future worries drifted away. Until only the moment between them existed.

  His pace quickened, turning to torment, and the need for release drove her hard.

  “Silas, I need you,” she moaned. A husky laugh escaped him while he continued pushing her further, slipping a finger into her center. Theo crashed over the edge, her mind searing with bliss. He continued slipping his finger in and out of her, the motion increasing with every pass. She let out a cry as her legs quaked and her whole body surrendered to the release.

  Sweat pricked along her temple and she licked her lips, able to do little else. Her limbs had turned to jelly.

  He rose from between her legs, his lips glistening. Theo swallowed hard. She found him devastatingly handsome. His hair had been mussed and she’d undone several of his buttons, exposing skin she desired to suck, taste and e
xplore. His wolfish smile, the predatory gleam in his eyes as he homed in on her, was enough to spark her desire to a flame.

  “I need to be inside you, now,” he commanded, his voice husky with lust. “Flip over for me.”

  Theo could barely summon her limbs to follow orders, but the urge to feel his skin against hers, the desire to have him buried deep inside her, overrode even her own exhaustion. She slipped off the desk and turned around, spreading her palms on the flat surface of the desk before her. The rustling of cloth sounded from behind, causing her pussy to clench with anticipation. The snick of buckles followed, and a moment later, a hard, hot length pressed against her bottom.

  He gripped her hips, and the possessiveness sent a thrill through her while she sank down, thrusting toward him. As he ground closer to her, the heat of him and the sensation against her slick folds was enough to make her legs buckle. Only his tight hold of her hips kept her upright while her sweat-slicked palms imprinted on the cherrywood desk.

  The tip of his erection glided against her, teasing, teasing, until he thrust in. A cry ripped from her throat, the sensations overwhelming. He eased farther in until he filled her, taking the edge off the ache in her core. Even as he held her hip, his other hand roamed underneath her shirt and up the slope of her waist until he circled around her heavy breasts and squeezed tight. She let out a gasp when he began to move inside her.

  Her fingers curled over the smooth surface of the desk, her nails biting into her palms as he picked up the pace. Silas thrust inside with an increasing strength, the force enough to make her scream out for him. Each time he rammed forward, the glide of his length inside her, and the way he hit her spot on the mark, every time, caused her body to radiate bliss. Theo savored the grunts from him while he drove into her with the force she loved. She could smell his scent on her, and their sweat mingled as their bodies slammed together.

  He rubbed a thumb over her nipple, sending a jolt of pleasure through her as he continued his fast pace. The smack of their bodies, the heat coiling inside her ready to be unleashed and the way his name escaped her lips with every thrust brought her closer. The angle her hips tilted had her clit grazing his skin every time they connected, and the touch sent mounting sparks through her.