Moonlight & Mechanicals

by Cindy Spencer Pape

  “No, damn it. I can’t.” Liam clenched his hands around the desktop again. “But I can be civilized enough not to give in to my desires.” Not likely.

  “I don’t want you to be civilized.” Two more buttons slid away. “Don’t make me go back to my bed alone and ache. I can’t stand it anymore.”

  There were more arguments, serious ones, which he could have made, but they all fled from his brain. The skin of her shoulders gleamed in the firelight as she pulled the blouse off over her head, revealing her shift and stays. When her fingers moved to the front hooks of her corset, he broke. With a ragged groan, he dragged her across the desk and into his arms.

  This kiss was hotter and harder than any of the others that had come before. She opened her mouth, sucking on his tongue when he thrust it inside. Then she pushed back, the tip of her tongue gliding along his fangs. He ought to be ashamed of his animal instincts, but Wink didn’t seem offended. The sting of her nails on the back of his neck only spurred him on. He’d avoided this, denied this need for too damn long. She was right. It was time.

  However, he had just enough presence of mind to avoid taking her here on his desk. With all the forbearance he had left, he stood, lifting Wink easily in his arms.

  She hummed and smiled against his throat. “I always forget just how strong you really are.”

  “Too strong.” He strode out the door, kicking it shut behind him. Carrying Wink, he took the stairs one at a time, instead of his usual two. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You won’t.” She seemed to have complete confidence in him—more than he did in himself, to be sure. As he walked, she nibbled on the side of his throat. “Your skin tastes wonderful—just a hint of salt and spice.”

  His spine quivered and for a moment his knees went weak. Liam groaned. “Wait until we’re in the bedroom to say things like that.” Dropping her now would be very, very bad.

  “What an excellent idea.” This time she licked his earlobe. Liam’s entire body throbbed with need. “I’ve wanted to see your bedroom.”

  He ignored that. Who cared about a room? It had a bed and a hearth—that was all that mattered. Hopefully Mrs. Stanton had tidied up today or at least made the bed. She wasn’t the most assiduous housekeeper, but then he’d never needed her to be. Wink was the first woman he’d ever brought up to his room.

  Wink chuckled as he carried her into the bed chamber. “A bit Spartan, but pleasant. Not what I’d have expected for a wolf’s lair.” It was a warm night, so there was no fire in the hearth, but one gas lamp burned on the wall, bringing out the copper glints in Wink’s hair.

  Liam paused by the side of the bed and let her slide down his body until she stood before him. “And what did you expect?”

  “Something a bit plusher, I suppose.” She cast a glance at his bed, which was severely made up with only sheets and a single woolen blanket—no quilts or coverlets. Her eyes crinkled when she smiled. “Maybe a fur bedspread.”

  “Sorry to disappoint.” He brought his hands up to unfasten her overskirt and let it fall to the floor, followed swiftly by her single muslin petticoat.

  “You didn’t.” She didn’t shy away as he undressed her, but stood tall, her hands resting on his shoulders. His fingers trembled as he opened the first hook of her stays and her chest fluttered beneath his hands with each rapid, shallow breath. “You won’t.”

  “I wish I had your confidence.” Her belief in him was humbling. He undid the last hook and tossed her corset to the floor while she kicked aside her skirts. Her fine linen shift clung to her skin, showing every curve and hollow. He reached out and brushed one tightly furled nipple with his thumb and felt her respond, even through the layer of cloth.

  “You still have all your clothes on.” Wink licked her lips as she gazed at him. “And I need to sit down to take off my boots.”

  “Then have a seat.” He gestured at the bed. When she perched on the edge, he dropped to his knees beside her. “Allow me.”

  Wink actually blushed as he removed her high, buttoned boots and her silk stockings. The lacy trimmings on her shift and bloomers brought a smile to Liam’s face. As tough and no-nonsense as she was, the lady definitely had a softer side. He dropped a kiss on the arch of one foot and made her giggle.

  Had Liam ever felt that young? And yet she was older than he’d been when he’d seized control of his life and joined the police force. Older than most of the girls on the marriage mart. She was plenty old enough to know her own mind.

  After making short work of his own boots and socks, he stood and yanked off his cravat and waistcoat. Before he could start on his shirt studs, she stood and her slim fingers pushed his aside. “My turn.”

  He looked down at her hands. They were fashionably pale, since she wore gloves out of doors, but unlike most women he knew, her nails were short and blunt, and her skin was lined with fine white scars. He lifted one hand to his mouth and kissed a knotted scar on the ball of her thumb.

  Not to be outdone, Wink leaned forward and kissed the skin of his throat, nipping at the tendons.

  A low growl rumbled in his chest. “Be careful what you ask for, imp.”

  “Maybe it’s you who needs to be careful.” She pulled her hands back and made short work of the studs. “I can keep up with you, Inspector. You just watch me.”

  “If you insist.” He winced as she plunked them carelessly on the bedside table, but then he realized their clothing was strewn all over the room. Oh—and down in the study as well. Apparently with her, he forgot to be fastidious. He shrugged his shoulders to help as she pulled his braces off along with his shirt.

  Moving together, they made short work of the rest of their clothing. Liam held her at arm’s length for just a moment, wanting to admire the perfection that was Wink. She was taller than most women, with sleek curves and supple muscles. Her breasts were small, but high and firm, and so perfect his fangs ached.

  “You’re beautiful,” she said huskily, echoing his thoughts. She ran one hand down his chest to his waist. “Everything I imagined you would be.”

  Liam shook his head. Why couldn’t she see him for the animal he was? He kept his lips closed to hide his fangs. He’d never had this problem with another woman—only with her did his wolf threaten to emerge.

  Then her fingers brushed his lips. “Let me see them.” He shook his head, but she cupped his chin. “Please. I’m not afraid of your wolf, Liam. I’ve seen him before, remember? He saved my life.”

  Eight years ago, she’d been held prisoner by a crazed vampyre. Desperate to save her, Liam had gone into the battle in wolf form, and he supposed he had contributed to the victory, along with Merrick, Caroline and even Wink herself. Still, he hated to think of her witnessing that side of him. He shook his head again.

  “Fine. Then just kiss me.” She stepped into his arms and pulled his head down to hers.

  “That I could do all night.”

  Those were the last words either of them spoke for quite some time. Liam lost himself in the sensations of her soft lips and strong hands, a surprisingly erotic combination. He pulled her down to the bed beside him and took the time to run his hands and his lips over every inch of her skin, especially the scars. Each one of those made him want to howl with fury, and yet he was proud of her. Despite everything she’d faced, she’d survived. Even more, for tonight, she was his. He wasn’t foolish enough to waste that opportunity.

  When he took her nipple into his mouth she cried out. Her tone held just enough surprise for him to realize that even if she’d done this before, her partner hadn’t bothered to teach her much. So Liam set out to rectify the unknown idiot’s oversight. Despite his own urgency, he took his time, paying tribute to first one breast and then the other. Meanwhile he brought his hand down to the coppery curls between her legs and cupped her, finding her deliciously damp.

  Her breathy moans urged him on as he suckled her and stroked her sex. When her hips began to grind against his hand, he pressed harder, finding
the nub at her core and caressing it firmly. Wink screamed his name and shattered, her legs clamping tight around his wrist, holding him in place. The ecstasy on her face was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

  Petting her softly to bring her down, he moved up her body to kiss her lips. “Ready?”

  “Please.” She opened her legs again and looped her arms around his neck. Her eyes were wide and utterly devoid of fear or nerves as she gazed up into his.

  With all the patience he could muster, Liam covered her and slid into her welcoming heat—or he tried to. She was tighter than he’d expected and he had to push against an unexpected bit of resistance. When he did, seating himself deep inside her, he felt something tear, just a bit, and saw the wince of pain she tried to hide.

  Whatever experience she’d had, certainly hadn’t been much. Had she lied? Liam looked into her face and she smiled. “That’s nice.” Her legs came up to cradle him and she licked her lips. He found he didn’t care if she’d fibbed her way into his bed. Cautiously, he started to move, wary of causing her further pain.

  She met each of his movements with her own, her short nails digging into the skin of his shoulders. Liam was so primed for her that he wasn’t going to last long, and he wanted to bring her pleasure again first. He angled himself to rub against her clitoris with each thrust, and lowered his mouth to the side of her neck. She’d liked being kissed there before.

  Ah, yes. She whimpered and arched her throat to give him room. When Liam felt her climax begin, he forced back his own. But another instinct overpowered him. As she convulsed around his cock, he buried his fangs into the lithe muscle at the top of her shoulder, marking her skin.

  Well, hell. He certainly hadn’t planned on that. Wink spasmed again, and this time Liam couldn’t wait. He wrenched himself out of her arms and body and spent himself on the sheets.

  When he was done, he rolled to his back and took her into his arms, cradling her close. He kissed her gently, trying not to let her see just how badly she’d shaken his world.

  * * *

  A little while later, Wink lay on her side, her head resting on Liam’s shoulder. His arms draped loosely around her and she played idly with the springy dark curls on his chest. As sated as she was, she ought to be sleepy, but time with him was too precious to waste sleeping. Besides, she needed to get home before too much longer. Carrying on a secret affair wasn’t going to be easy with all her siblings looking on.

  “I didn’t know it could be like that,” she said. “Thank you. That was…amazing.”

  Liam sighed and then said, “You’re right. It was.”

  “Is it always like that for you?” She kissed his sweat-dampened skin.

  He shook his head. “Never.” After a long pause, he twined his fingers about a lock of her hair. “Tell me something. You said you’d done this before, but you weren’t being entirely truthful, were you?”

  “Drat, you weren’t supposed to be able to tell.” She’d bled that one time, but apparently she’d only been partially torn.

  “Who was he?” Liam’s voice was gentle, almost a caress on her skin. “I don’t believe for a minute that you allowed someone to use you without it meaning something. Were you attacked?”

  “No.” How much should she tell him? Not all of her past was pleasant.

  He tugged on the curl he’d been twirling. “Did you love him?”

  “Good lord, no.” Wink was stunned Liam would have even thought that. “I was fourteen years old. What would I have known about love?” She hadn’t met Liam until over a year later.

  “Then why?”

  “You want to hear the whole sordid story?” She tugged back on a whorl of chest hair. “Fine. I’d prefer to be honest with you, for as long as this relationship lasts. But it goes both ways. You have to answer my questions as well. Agreed?”

  “Agreed.” He brought one hand up to cup her chin. “You can ask whatever you like. Later. Now tell me.”

  “Nell and Piers lived with their mother until she died when Nell was ten and Piers was eight. When she died, their landlady sold Piers to a chimney sweep and gave Nell to an orphanage. The governors of the orphanage had an arrangement with a brothel, but Nell was lucky. Her mother and some other ghosts helped her escape.”

  “I’m glad,” Liam said. “Nell is far too gentle a soul to have survived that kind of life.”

  “She is. Which is why, once we found Piers, I was the one who had to bribe the guard. The sweep had an older boy who watched the others at night. Even ill as Piers was, the sweep didn’t want to give up any of his possessions. The older boy agreed to drug the sweep’s wine, but he demanded favors in return.” Wink shrugged. “Better me than Nell.”

  “Your courage astounds me,” Liam said thickly. “But did he not finish? Or was he simply…unusually small?”

  Wink laughed. The old memory was just that—a memory. Not something that still had any power over her. And in retrospect, it was sort of funny. “Oh, he finished. So fast he hadn’t even gotten his trousers off yet. He only managed to poke me with his fingers, but that was enough to make me bleed. I didn’t know it would happen again.”

  He tugged her close for a lazy hug. “So technically speaking, you were a virgin. I should spank you for lying to me.”

  “That wouldn’t be fair, now, would it? When you’re secretly pleased as punch that I did.” She rubbed her nose along his collarbone, loving his warm, spicy scent. “Besides, all these years, I considered myself ruined. At least now, I’ve gotten some enjoyment out of it. You are pleased, aren’t you? You don’t regret what just happened?”

  He sighed deeply. “No. I’m not that big of a hypocrite. I probably ought to have regrets, but just now, I can’t seem to dredge any up. You’ve destroyed me, woman. I’m not sure I can even stand on my feet at the moment, let alone on my principles.”

  “Your principles will just have to adapt.” She hid her smile against his skin. Then a worrisome thought struck her and she poked her head up so she could see his face. “That is, if you’re not done with me already. You aren’t, are you?”

  Liam began to laugh. “My dear, I’m only getting started.” He drew her hand down his body, to feel his erection. The skin there was soft and silky over the solid flesh, and she couldn’t resist running her hand up and down his length. When she sighed, he said, “Well? You’re the one who swore you could keep up with me. Backing down already?”

  She closed her fingers around him, or tried to. At his widest point, her fingers didn’t quite touch. Wanting to experiment further, she leaned over and licked his nipple, gratified when he shook. Apparently men enjoyed that too. “Not at all. I had no idea you could recover so quickly.”

  “There was no recovery required.” Liam rolled over and covered her body with his. “When it comes to you, my body seems to believe I’m an untried boy again.”

  “Mmm. Lucky me.” She arched up into his kiss and wrapped her legs around his, eager to have him filling her again. The spot on her shoulder where he’d bitten her tingled and she brushed his lips with her fingertip. “Why did you bite me?”

  His gaze shuttered. “I’m sorry.”

  Wink licked her lips. “Don’t be. I loved it. I just want to know why.”

  He glanced away. “Instinct, I suppose. I warned you that my animal comes out when I become aroused.”

  “Again, lucky me. Mmm… She arched into him as he thrust slowly into her core. “That must be awkward if you’re with a woman who doesn’t know what you are.”

  He blushed. Liam the big bad wolf actually turned pink to the tips of his ears, surprising a laugh from Wink. “What? Why is that embarrassing? Come on, you promised to tell me the truth.”

  “I don’t want to talk now.” He took her mouth then, leaving neither of them free to speak.

  Wink forgot all about talking. She gave herself over completely to the sensation of being loved by Liam.

  Later, they lay panting in each other’s arms.

  “You r
ealize,” he wheezed, “that even though I withdrew, there’s still a chance of consequences. You’ll tell me if any should arise.” It wasn’t a question. Autocratic Liam was back in full force.

  Wink was too content to care. “Of course I’d tell you. It’s not likely, though. Mum made sure Nell and I knew more than the average girls, and don’t forget one of my closest friends is a physician. Geneva doesn’t believe in girls being ignorant either. This isn’t the right time of the month for me to conceive.” Her courses were due in just a few days—which would put a serious crimp in her plans to have Liam every night if she could.

  “Again, you can’t be sure.” He stroked her back with one broad hand. “If we’re going to do this again, I’ll need to get some preventatives from the chemist. They’re still not entirely foolproof though.”

  “I know.” She dropped a kiss on his shoulder. The idea of having Liam’s child didn’t frighten her in the slightest, but she still didn’t want him to marry her out of duty. She also hadn’t been lying to Liam. She really didn’t want children at quite this point in her life, though one or two later on might be nice, assuming he got over his fear of marriage. For now, she’d telephone Geneva—there were probably precautions she could take as well. “Very little in life is entirely foolproof. We’ll just have to be as careful as we can, and hope for the best.”

  “Just so you know—if there is a child, we will marry,” he said. The words were so dragged out of him, it sounded like he was discussing his imminent execution.

  “If you wish.” She wouldn’t fight him on that, though she’d be perfectly willing to go back to Hadrian Hall and raise the child herself without trapping him in a marriage he resented.

  “But even if we do, we will not, cannot live together.” He sounded so lost and sad that she hurt for him. “I won’t let myself harm you, or possibly a helpless infant.”

  “We won’t worry about it now.” She patted his chest, her mind racing. This was the big problem, the reason he was so afraid to marry. The poor man truly believed that utter nonsense. Well, at least now she knew what she was fighting. There would be time later to remind him he’d spent a great deal of time around the Hadrian brood, and he’d managed not to hurt one of them yet. Liam had fabulous family instincts. He just didn’t know it. “No point in borrowing trouble.”