Capturing the Devil (Stalking Jack the Ripper #4)(78)
“You’re really getting quite good at reading me, Wadsworth. Too good.” He leaned against the wooden headboard, smiling. “He still has feelings for you.
That much is plainly obvious. I hoped he might be swayed to at least listen for any news about murders. He’s got eyes and ears all over the lowly parts of the city. If anyone might know anything, much as I loathe to admit it, it’s him.”
“I see. So you decided to use me as bait in your little scheme? Your romantic gestures truly are something to behold, Cresswell. Be careful. You might kill me from swooning so hard.”
His gaze swept from my crossed arms to my turned-down mouth. It didn’t take his skill in deductions to figure out how annoyed I was. He held his hands up. “The main reason was to show you the Tesla coil. I know how much you wished to see Tesla perform it himself. I won’t deny the added bonus of speaking with Mephisto about the case and seeing if he could assist.” Thomas inched closer. “Trust me, I don’t want to be selfless. Not with you. But I’ll always stand aside so you have the space to make your own choices.”
The sincerity in his voice and his expression softened my ire. He had much to learn about partnership and going about things in a more respectable manner, but he loved me enough to try.
“No more schemes unless I’m part of them, agreed?” He nodded. “Do you believe Mephistopheles will really involve himself in this? He didn’t seem likely to, given how quickly he kicked us out once we’d asked.”
Thomas held the covers up, an invitation to my own bed. I stared at the spot, pulse trickling into a flood of emotions. He didn’t move, nor did he pressure me in any way to join him. He kept his focus on me, waiting to see if I decided to snuggle beside him.
“Thomas…”
“If you want me to leave, I will. No questions or guilt.”
He made to get up, but I placed my hand on his arm, stalling his movement. I bit my lip, glancing around the empty room. I told myself we were mature enough to handle snuggling next to each other, and without further hesitation, I crawled into bed beside him. He carefully tucked us both in, his attention so palpable I swore it undressed me by itself.
This was a dangerous game we were playing. He’d need to be up and in his own room before the maid came in to light the fire. Or before Uncle called on us.
“Didn’t you notice him whistle?” he asked, changing the subject.
I blinked, trying to focus on something more important than my raging heartbeat. Or the curve of Thomas’s treacherous mouth when he noticed my attention on it.
“Of course I noticed. He nearly made my eardrums burst with all the racket.”
I rubbed my ear as if I could still hear the phantom ringing. “He was calling for a carriage.”
“Oh?” Thomas drew closer. His warmth was much more enticing than any fire. I nestled against him, relishing the total calm. “Was that what he was doing?
Strange, since I’d instructed our coachman to wait in that alley for us. Stranger still that when he went back inside, someone else slipped in behind him.”
My pulse picked up speed that had a little to do with our conversation. I was recalling the way it had felt when Thomas lightly pressed his lips to the sensitive skin at my throat. And how much I longed for him to do it again. It was becoming harder to concentrate with him so near. “You believe he’ll inquire around for us, despite his protests?”
Thomas played with the ribbons on my nightgown, his gaze fixed on mine.
“Not for us. For you. I expect we’ll hear from him once he’s done his own snooping.”
He took hold of one ribbon, slowly pulling it free. I wasn’t sure what he was distracting me from. Maybe he simply couldn’t hold himself back any longer,
either. Perhaps we were both tired of fighting against our wicked hearts. He waited, ever a gentleman in this one area, for me to change my mind. No matter that we had shared a bed before; he would ask permission each time. Perhaps it was his consideration, or perhaps it was my own desire, but I moved my shoulder, allowing my nightgown to slip down and expose a swath of skin, successfully reigniting the fire in his gaze. I should tell him to go. To sleep in his own chambers. To stop this devilish pursuit until we were both free to do as we wanted, whenever we wanted.
We were being reckless with our hearts and it would only lead to breaking them further. He needed to leave at once. Instead, I unbuttoned his shirt.
I was no devil, but I never claimed to be an angel, either.
“Now, I recall a discussion regarding another adventure.” He brought his mouth to mine, soft, teasing, and wholly intoxicating. “Before we left for the play, you seemed to want—”
“—you, Thomas.”
I pulled him to me, silencing him with a kiss. He needed no further instruction or permission. Tonight was about forgetting the rules. There was no right or wrong. Nothing but the two of us, giving into our base desires. He had us both out of our clothes faster and more efficiently than any sorcerer casting a spell.
“Audrey Rose.”
He whispered across my skin, murmuring my name until I lost all sense of time and place. I gripped him, never wishing for us to part. I’d choose Hell each time if it meant experiencing this feeling with him. This euphoria. I refused to think of darkness and evil deeds.
Tonight I’d focus on the way our bodies created the closest thing to Heaven I could imagine here on earth. I’d tried doing the correct thing: I’d pushed him away and my heart had torn in two. I was tired of denying what felt right. He and I were two pieces of our own private puzzle—we fit together perfectly.