“I am not going to argue about this any more, Angel.” Ian glares at me as he jams the toe of his boot through a puddle of rainwater on the weathered boards of the steamer platform.
“Fine, then just admit you have no control over me and get over yourself. I assure you there is enough of me to go around.” The warm spring sunshine caresses my skin as I lean back on the hard wooden bench, propping my booted feet up on Ian’s trunk. “Unless you intend to keep me chained in your basement, you are just going to have to deal with the fact that I am not a one-man woman. I don’t even know why we are having this conversation. It isn’t as if I know anything about you that would prevent me from making this decision.”
“You know you will die if you are away from me. That should be reason enough. Would it be so bad to belong to one man?” A hint of confusion and maybe a sliver of hurt mixes into his angry glare, “Aren’t you tired of fucking everything that moves, even if you don’t want to?”
“Trust me, I don’t need saving, but maybe you do. Being saddled with a half-succubus sex fiend isn’t as much fun as it sounds, I promise.” I slide on a pair of glasses--tinted lenses wrapped in a wire frame. Ian doesn’t need to see that a part of me wants to belong to one person. I did try it once. It didn’t end well. He and I may share a soul, but that will only carry us so far.
“I don’t want to die, and despite your cranky attitude, I think you are a good person. Also, it didn’t seem like I had such a hard time keeping up earlier, did it? In fact, I think I almost wore you out.” The heat simmering in Ian’s eyes is intense as he dares me to contradict him.
“That was one session. And you only think I am a good person because you haven’t gotten laid in a while. Once you get out and away from your laboratory, you will find more desirable women. I guarantee it. I can also promise you that I am not a good person. I have survived by killing, stealing and fucking whomever and whatever. Don’t ever underestimate me.”
Ian’s hand grabs my wrist as he pulls me up and close to him. Our hearts are beating in time, echoing through our chests until they become one. “I don’t give a damn about your past.”
His mouth crushes into mine, his lips hot and hungry. Unable to stop myself, my tongue tangles with his in a duel of passion. Ian’s large hand palms the back of my head, holding it still so he can explore the deepest recesses of my mouth. Each time we touch or kiss, I feel a little more alive. It is intoxicating.
The metallic clatter of a coin hitting the wooden planks of the steamer platform pulls me away from Ian’s lips.
“I figured I should pay for the privilege of watching you grope each other in public. I am pretty sure you gave that old man over there smoking his pipe a heart attack.”
A rare smile springs to my lips as I see the petite form of the closest thing to a constant lover I have. Clad in tight leather, with a pair of goggles shoved up on her forehead, she looks every inch the sassy steam engineer she is. “Jez! Aren’t you sight for sore eyes.” I leave the warmth of Ian’s embrace and wrap my arms around her slender figure before planting a kiss on her soft, sweet lips. “Thanks for coming.”
“Anytime, darling. You know I can’t resist you and the wicked things you do,” Jez moves a strand of hair away from my face in a familiar gesture.
Ian is looking slightly dismayed and a little turned-on by the familiarity between Jez and I. “Ian, this is the enigmatic steam engineer, Jez. She will get us to the crystal as fast as her steamer can get us there. And trust me, it will be fast.”
Ian holds out a hand. “Nice to meet you Jez.”
Jez ignores his hand and moves in, planting a kiss on his lips. “You are a handsome one! You have permission to board my steamer.” With a wink, Jez turns on her booted heels and, with a sassy sway of her hips, heads back to her vehicle. “Get a move on, you two, or I’m leaving without you,” she says over her shoulder as she steps aboard.