Steam Guardians 01 - A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious (17 page)

“What you’re looking for is farther down.”

Janette jumped, startled by Decima’s voice. “Excuse me?”

Decima smiled, a small, knowing curving of her lips. She lifted one hand and pointed to the back of the aisle.

“Down there. You’re correct to be searching under ‘erotic arts.’”

“I…umm…”

Decima shook her head and walked past her until she reached up to pull a book from the shelf. When she looked back at Janette, there was a wicked gleam in her green eyes.

“All the female novices make their way here.” She looked up at the row of books in front of her. “And why shouldn’t they? Men do not hold the exclusive right to enjoyment when it comes to intimacy.”

Janette moved closer, excitement sending her heart beating faster. Decima offered her the book, and she reached for it while fighting off the urge to look over her shoulder.

“This social trend of insisting women be ignorant of sexual pleasure is relatively new,” Decima added before pointing at some of the books. “Many of these are translations. The pleasures of the flesh have long been recorded so the next generation can learn and enjoy producing the following generation. Many cultures believed sexual gratification kept one’s life energies in alignment.” Decima looked back at her. “That’s a pillow book. They used to be given to brides to enhance their wedding nights. Be careful. Once you look at those illustrations, you won’t be able to stop thinking about them until you try them.”

There was a promise lurking in her tone, but what interested Janette the most was the hint of challenge shimmering in her eyes, a sort of test from one confident female to one who wanted to be on even footing with her.

“Not that I wouldn’t mind you employing some of those tactics on Darius.”

The book nearly slipped from her fingers. Her cheeks burned, but she bit back the stupid question that tried to pass her lips. Of course people knew where their head of security had spent the night.

“Why would you say that?” Her second question was more thought-out. Decima nodded with approval.

“He’s too arrogant,” Decima announced. “Forgive me for being so forward, but it would delight me to think of him being at your mercy with his ever-so-solid control shattered for once.”

Janette covered her mouth before her laughter traveled through the maze of bookshelves to others nearby. She actually had to run her fingers over the small silver pin on her lapel to remind herself that the topic wasn’t scandalous. At least, not for an Illuminist.

Decima reached up and pulled another book free. “Mind you, that’s just the woman in me talking. Darius is a fine Guardian, one of the best. I respect him. Highly.” She opened the book and smiled when she viewed the illustration. “And still, the woman in me would like to know that he is just as capable of being reduced to a quivering mass of cravings like everyone else.”

She snapped the book closed and returned it to the shelf. “Under the cover of privacy, of course. I’d never wish him to be undermined where others might see. He has honor, something too rare to be tarnished.”

There was a hard warning in her eyes that fascinated Janette because Decima looked so feminine and fragile. But the spot on the side of her head throbbed, reminding her just how capable the Illuminist woman was. Janette’s gaze moved to the Guardian symbol on Decima’s lapel pin. Even among Illuminists, a female Guardian was rare.

“I’ll leave you to your studying.”

The Pillow Book felt heavy in her hands once she was alone.

A
quivering
mass?

She opened the book, curious to know how a man such as Darius might be made to quiver. Her cheeks never cooled, but heated up until she was sure they were likely to catch fire, but she didn’t stop turning the pages. The book was illustrated with bold colors. The first pages were innocent enough, with the couple meeting each other. But then they appeared without their clothing, and her nipples tingled before drawing into hard points when a turn of the page offered her a view of the male suckling at the breasts of his female consort.

Darius had done that to her…

Her hand shook, and she did look over her shoulder before turning the page again. Now the male was unclothed, his cock standing swollen and hard. His consort was taking the head of the engorged member between her lips while he leaned back in ecstasy.

Could she really do that to Darius?

The whispers of the good wives and matrons filled her ears until she forced herself to turn the page.

Now her jaw dropped because the male was returning the favor his companion had just done for him. Clearly depicted, the female had her thighs spread while her lover lapped at her open slit.

Her heart was beating faster, and between the folds of her sex, her clitoris began to throb. She had enjoyed Darius fingering the sensitive nub, which made Decima’s words echo in her thoughts.

Be
careful. Once you look at those illustrations, you won’t be able to stop thinking about them until you try them.

At least that way, she’d get a look at the man’s cock. She smothered another round of giggles. Cock indeed. Well, she knew what it was called and not just the scientific term.

You
know
what
it
feels
like
too…

But she hadn’t seen it—Darius had made sure to control the pace of their encounter. She returned her attention to the pages of the book, determination cutting through her astonishment. She would look and learn, and if Darius returned to her bed, she would do her best to make sure the man spent as many hours thinking about her as she was about him.

***

Decima felt the tension in the air. It prickled along her nape as she entered the security offices. There were too many hats on the stand, announcing visitors. She ducked into the closet and discovered three overcoats. She reached for one and turned back the lapel without hesitation. In the business of being a Guardian, there was never a time when unusual circumstances shouldn’t be investigated—especially when they had a newly discovered Pure Spirit installed as a novice. There would be more than one Solitary Chamber that would like to take her under their wing, and there were also the field councilors, who would enjoy getting their authority on the table before Janette completed her training and understood fully what she would face as a full member of the Order.

Men
and
their
ambition. They always tried to take advantage of women.

A hard hand wrapped around her face as she was pulled back into the coats. She reached for the fingers clamping down on her mouth, but he had her trapped against his body in a second.

“Easy…”

She sent her elbow back into her captor’s ribs anyway. Lykos stiffened and muttered a curse.

“There’s the thanks I get for trying to warn you.”

He had her bound to his body, and she cried out softly as a tremor traveled down her length. “Warning doesn’t include touching.”

She expected him to release her, but instead, she felt his breath against her temple and along her cheek, as though the man was smelling her.

“I need you out of sight,” he whispered softly against her ear. “But you already noticed we have visitors and considered it worthy of investigation.”

“Which does not involve touching.”

He chuckled, his chest rumbling against her back. “Kindly refrain from removing the single element of enjoyment from this moment.”

“Release me, Guardian Claxton.”

He sighed, sounding frustrated. She tried to ignore the sound, tried to remain irritated by his manhandling, but the tremor moving down her body was eroding her resolve. Her flesh was responding to him in spite of every reason she had to resist. Solid, logical reasons that didn’t seem to be fending off the sensations flooding her.

“Such animosity, when I was preventing you from being discovered.”

Decima heard the steps outside the closet and the door closing behind a pair of men. She wanted to refuse to thank him but needed to deny the impulse to be childish. Lykos Claxton would not strip her of her control.

“Your point is well-founded and passed now.” She pushed against him, but he held her still. “And another begins. Perhaps we shouldn’t be so quick to discard it.”

His voice was husky and thick with promise. It should have repulsed her, but her response was more horrifying than that. Her nipples contracted, proving without a doubt that she was tempted by his touch.

She could not tolerate such weakness.

“I believe we should.”

She made to move away from him, and his arms loosened. Relief speared through her for a brief moment before he turned her around and bound her in his embrace yet again.

“Damn you, Lykos.”

He chuckled at her again. “In a manner of speaking, yes, you have cursed me, Decima. Is it so wrong of me to want to test just how much I affect you?” He cupped her nape, teasing her with his strength.

“Yes. It is unprofessional, Guardian.”

“But you are trembling, Decima.”

Somehow, she’d managed to blind herself to just how much larger he was than herself. He loomed over her, leaning down until his breath teased her lips.

“And we are in a coat closet.” He flouted her attempts to remain proper. “What better location to dispense with formality?”

“I was seeking evidence.” She pressed her thumb straight up into the soft, unprotected flesh behind his jaw. “What better time to recall my dedication to duty?”

He stoked her nape a final few times as she increased the pressure against his throat. She was hurting him; she knew her skill well, but she could see him enduring the pain, challenging her to see how far she would go. Sweat popped out on her forehead before she stopped pressing deeper into his flesh. Her cheeks brightened with shame.

“I should kiss you anyway…” he muttered. But he released her with a short grunt. “You’re a woman, Decima. There is nothing wrong with remembering it from time to time.”

There was everything wrong with it. At least so far as it went with Lykos. No Guardian would respect her if she took any of them into her bed. She had to be only another Guardian among them, her gender irrelevant.

“I am glad you didn’t.”

The words threatened to stick in her throat, but she forced them past the longing biting at her. It would pass. She ordered it to do so.

“I’m not,” Lykos groused. “However, we have work to do.”

Decima should have been relieved to have him turn the topic toward duty. Yet she was torn between what she wanted to feel and the desire to have him make good on his promise.

It had been a very long time since she’d been kissed.

But Lykos’s expression was sober now, telling her she would not be changing that fact anytime soon.

***

“She is not in her quarters.”

Marshal Agapitos frowned. “At this hour? I find that highly suspicious.”

“You needn’t.”

Decima moved into his office on silent steps. Today she was wearing a tweed coat with a pair of cycling pantaloons that made her look very much like a member of the Illuminist community, but she still gained narrow-eyed glances from their guests.

Decima measured up expertly, arching one delicate eyebrow in response to the chilly welcome. “She is in the library. Rather predictably so, I might add. I deduced where she’d gone when the gate personnel told me she’d turned around instead of going into her chambers after classes.”

“Just how is it predictable?” Grainger demanded.

Decima offered him an innocent look. “She was raised outside the Order, but as it has been noted, she is happy to adopt our ways.”

“You are telling me nothing, Decima Talaska,” Marshal Agapitos complained. “Make your point. You are after all a Hunter; as such, you should be able to tell me precisely where Miss Aston is.”

Decima offered them all a knowing look. “I perform my duty well. One large disadvantage Miss Aston has suffered due to her mother’s decision to leave the Order is being raised amid Puritan teachings. Since she and Guardian Lawley have an understanding, it’s logical to realize she went to the library to expand her knowledge of intimacies.”

Grainger flushed, but Decima was more interested in Darius’s reaction. A flare of heat appeared in his eyes. For a brief moment, his perfect control vanished. She discovered herself envious of Janette.

Marshal Agapitos snapped his fingers at the two men clearing their throats near the door. They hurried to press their ear devices and escape the harsh demands of their superior.

Decima discovered herself fighting the urge to glance toward Lykos. She won but suffered the sharp sting of regret.

***

She really needed to stop.

Janette replaced the book and tried to force herself to leave before opening another volume. There were already dozens of ideas swirling around inside her mind, teasing her possibilities if she were bold enough to try them.

If
Darius ever returned to her chambers was a more prudent question. The man might well rethink his position on making good on his promise, after all. She had not been a very accomplished lover. Not in the least.

But he would honor his word. She felt that fact burning like a candle inside her heart. Beyond the need that flared up between them, she realized there was a deeper emotion allowing her to be drawn to the man.

Trust.

The man was arrogant, and it irritated her, but he was also honorable. She’d heard the word her entire life, had had it wielded over her like a whip, and yet Darius was the first man to actually embody it.

So was the real reason she’d allowed him into her bed because she needed someone to cling to?

Her memory offered up a vivid recollection of the way his kiss had sent her flesh to tingling.

No…it wasn’t the only reason.

She reached for another book; this one, in Japanese. She couldn’t read the text, but the drawings seemed to be about erotic games—to be specific, challenges to see how well a man might control himself while his cock was being sucked. She stared at the images of females hiding beneath a banquet table and nearly turned purple as she contemplated such things happening in the formal dining room at her father’s house. Her sire would die.