Halfway to their stateroom, Lucas tipped the bellhop and dismissed him with a nod of thanks. He then directed the clockworks to leave the bags in their room, and then retreat to their clockwork storage space on board. This made sense to Charity; it was more a hindrance than help to have them around in the zeppelin’s narrow corridors, after all, especially when the zepp had its own staff. Lucas then slid an arm around Charity’s waist, and steered her over to the window side of the walkway. “It’s beautiful up here,” he said, as the two of them looked out. There was a slight jarring of the deck as the loading gangway retracted back into the Skyport.

  “Yes.” Charity was half-heartedly paying attention, however; she couldn’t stop worrying about what would happen once they got back to Atlanta. What would her parents say? What would Eddie do? She shifted her handbag from one shoulder to the other, and noticed that it felt heavier than usual. She opened it up to find a small red pistol, a holdout beamer, inside. “Did you put this in here?” Lucas nodded. “What is this for?”

  “Peace of mind,” Lucas said, folding his hand around hers and pushing the piece gently back inside the bag. “You have my permission to defend yourself if we get into trouble.”

  “I don’t even know how to use it!”

  “Point, shoot, something dies,” Lucas said. “Hopefully. The model I gave you is the simplest one on the market and is designed for upscale ladies, like yourself, to use as a defensive weapon.” He paused, taking her hands in his. “I don’t know what’s going to happen when we get to Atlanta, but I do want you to be able to protect yourself.”

  Charity smiled up at him, then lifted herself onto her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss.

  “Oh, get a room you two,” Jake said as he walked by with Ayla. Ayla’s maids followed along behind them, a parade of little black skirts and frilly aprons, thigh-high stockings and white caps.

  “Hey, Jake, the Bellagio in Vegaston called; they want their harem back,” Lucas called after him. Jake flipped him off as they rounded the bend. Ayla leaned into Jake, placing her head on his shoulder, looking up at him as they walked to their own suite. “They’re cute. Can we keep them?” she asked as she motioned for her maids to continue on to their own quarters.

  Charity couldn’t help but laugh at the banter, but it also made her sad. She wished she could be around them forever, and yet soon, Jake would have to leave for work—and who knew where Charity herself would end up, how all this would end.

  Lucas read her clouded expression, and moved in behind her. “Let me take your mind off of things,” he said, kissing the back of her neck. “We have unfinished business from last night.”

  Charity hummed. “What did you have in mind, darling?” she asked as she felt his hands move around to the front of her abdomen. Lucas’ hands slid up her arms, and he directed them down to the guard railing in front of them. “Hold on,” he whispered in her ear, “and don’t let go.”

  Charity’s eyes widened, and she reached down to grab his hands. “Lucas!” she hissed, “We can’t do this here.”

  “Can’t we?” Lucas asked nonchalantly as one hand came up, gently tugging her black felt collar. “Haven’t you always fantasized about this? Besides, how is this much different than at the theater when you were still a free woman?” His voice, low and warm in her ear, sent a hard shiver down her spine, straight between her legs. He directed her hands back to the railing where she gripped it hard. He was right. She was now his to do with as he pleased, wherever he pleased, and there wasn’t anything that she could do about it. By Consortium Law, he could have paraded her onboard strip, stark naked just like the slaves back at the theater. Charity was thankful that Lucas had shown some measure of decorum, at least.

  Head bowed, lip quivering, she closed her eyes and gripped the bar in front of her. The hem of her skirt inched higher and higher up her legs, until it bunched around her waist. Years of upbringing and propriety screamed at her that this was wrong, that she should be ashamed to allow a man to do this to her—and in public! Yet at the same time, a tiny thrill ran up her spine at just the prospect of being caught in the open. Lucas’ hands were then dipping downward around the front of her warm thighs and Charity felt herself go slick at his touch. Forgetting everything, she moaned and pressed her bottom into him, arching her back in the process.

  “Good girl,” Lucas whispered, his breath hot in her ear. Charity licked her lips as his hand slid across her newly shaved mound. Lucas’ first instructions to her as her master was that she was not to wear underwear unless she was on her monthly, and that she was to remain smooth from that point on. She’d felt her heart flutter in her chest at his decree, but followed it nonetheless, as she’d just given herself over to his care. She hadn’t shaved in the Confederate States; it just wasn’t done. But Lucas wanted it. Lucas wanted her.

  He massaged her bare mound, working her until she was in rhythm with his fondling. “That’s it, just relax,” Lucas breathed in her ear. Charity heard him fumble with his pants as he popped the buttons on his fly. A moment later, his erection was pressing into the cleft of her ass. She let out a high gasp as his cock penetrated her pussy. He went deep, pushing her up onto her toes, forward, filling her. Once firmly entrenched inside of her, he let her skirts go, and they fluttered back down into place save for the part being held up by where their bodies met.

  “Lucas,” Charity whimpered. She was gripping the bar so tight her knuckles had gone white.

  “Shhh,” Lucas nipped at her earlobe. His hands encircled her, holding her close to him. He began thrusting forward, eliciting a moan of pleasure from her each time. Her mouth opened in a soundless scream and her eyes squeezed tightly shut as holding back became unbearable. She shook and trembled against Lucas as she kept her grip on the bar but silently begged for release.

  “Come for me,” Lucas said, thrusting harder. At the same time, he clamped his hand over her mouth to muffle her. It was just the thing that Charity wanted, so she could scream without being heard. She let out a deep, loud, guttural moan that was lost beneath Lucas’ hand as the orgasm rocked through her. Her legs waivered, but she managed to keep hold of the bar as pleasure overcame her. Lucas’ seed filled her innermost folds and she was so caught up into her own orgasm that she barely felt his cock throb, finding in her his own release.

  Lucas kissed the back of her head as he pulled out of her, stuffing his cock back inside his pants. “And to think that it’s a long flight,” he said, scooping her up into his arms. “Just wait until you see the honeymoon suites on these things.”

  Chapter 11

  Jackson-Hartsfield Skyport and the surrounding black spires of downtown Atlanta came into view as the airship broke through the clouds. From the bridge, Lucas and Jake watched the flurry of the crew’s activity, listening to the radio chatter between the airship and air traffic control. They weren’t the only ship coming in, and there was even a Dixie warship departing on routine border patrol with her fighter escorts out in full force. The airship swung to the right to let it pass.

  “What do you think?” Jake asked him with a nudge, indicating the warship that was now passing them by. “Standard pirate search or do you think that they’re heading off to get Cheyenne?” He snorted derisively. “Lucky them.”

  “You really need to find a new hobby,” Lucas deadpanned, eyes fixated forward.

  “Are you kidding me? She’s like the holy grail of law enforcement. No one can touch her, it seems, and whoever does manage to bring her down will have their choice of assignments anywhere in the world!”

  Lucas frowned as the airship shifted back to the left and lined up for one of the Skyport’s massive towers for docking. Airships were designed to stay in the air, docking only with towers that kept them high off the ground. This docking tower was no exception, housing eight berthing ports arranged in an octagon formation around the central tower. Similar towers were arranged all over the Skyport, with a central tower in the middle rising up even higher. This tower controlled all of the aerial traffic above Atlanta. It was only on the rare occasions, like for extensive overhauls, that airships ever came close to the ground itself.

  “Try not to get too far out of your league while trying to make your career,” Lucas said, turning his attention back to the docking operations. The conversation died out as Jake mulled that over.

  Below them, workers were coming into view, catching the docking lines thrown down from the bow and stern of the ship. The lines then fed into spinning wheels that helped reel the airship in for a gentle landing in its docking cradle that had extended out of the docking tower. Once the airship was at rest, fueling lines, cargo conveyors, and crew and passenger gangways extended from the tower toward the airship.

  Lucas went back below to get Charity, escorting her out on his arm while Jake retrieved Ayla and all of her maids. Lucas and Charity stopped short of the boarding ramp, however, when he saw the welcoming committee waiting for them on the other side. Twenty armed, local constables, all with dead-serious looks on their faces, stood waiting for them at the bottom of the ramp. “Yeah,” Lucas said slowly. “That’s about what I expected.”

  “What?” Jake asked as he and Ayla caught up to them. “Ah, hell. You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said as he nudged his way forward.

  “I told you that the flight was way too uneventful.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Jake said. “And you owe me ten gold ‘cause I told you this was going to happen.” He squared off in front of the constables. “What do you all want?” he asked them, opening his duster to reveal his badge.

  The sergeant in charge went pale at the presence of a Jaeger, but took a deep breath and puffed out his chest. “Jaeger Deliverer,” he said, clearing his throat and stepping forward, “we respectfully ask that you step aside. We have a warrant for the arrest of this man,” he pointed toward Lucas, “for unlawful kidnapping of a woman of the Dixie aristocracy—this woman, I believe. Lady Carmichael? You’re safe. We’ll be taking him into custody immediately.”

  “Let me see that,” Jake said, taking the warrant from him.

  “I assure you, everything is in order, Jaeger,” the sergeant said disdainfully. “We are to take anyone matching that man’s description that is traveling with Lady Carmichael.”

  Jake read the warrant over and handed it back. “It’s legitimate except that you boys have a problem; Charity Carmichael no longer is a free woman.” He held his hand out, and Lucas drew Charity’s papers from his vest pocket, laying them in his friend’s open palm.

  “These papers,” Jake said, handing the small bundle over to the sergeant, “are dated prior to your warrant being issued. Facing imprisonment for outstanding debts, Lady Carmichael gave herself over to the Consortium in New Eden and Mr. Wolverton bought her contract outright. Check the serial numbers if you’d like. At any rate, your warrant is invalid.”

  The sergeant swallowed as he read the documents. “Right,” he said, handing the bundle back to Jake. “I do apologize for the inconvenience, sir.”

  “Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to the respectable gentleman that you were hell-bent on arresting here with a whole squad of men, like some common criminal!” Jake snapped.

  “Right…,” the sergeant sighed and tipped his hat to Lucas. “My humblest apologies, sir.”

  “Think nothing of it,” Lucas said with a wave of his hand. “You were doing your job.”

  Only after the constables turned to follow their sergeant to the airship terminal did Lucas continue down the ramp. He leaned over toward Jake as they continued on. “So, when was it dated for?”

  “This morning; right after we left New Eden. When do you reckon Eddie told them to do it?”

  “Last night, I’d imagine, right after I’d made the arrangements. He probably gave some judge a line about how I’d kidnapped her or some other line of horseshit. Of course, her parents would have said she was out of the country when the judge called to confirm, and when they heard she was supposedly with a man, unaccompanied…,” he gave Jake a pointed look, “…I’m sure you can fill in the gaps.”

  Jake nodded grimly. “Her parents say that they authorized Charity to be with Ayla. The judge signs the warrant for you to be picked up at the Skyport. Charity is back under his control by suppertime.” He let out a disdainful groan. “The way politics works here sickens me sometimes. Still, I’ll go ahead and arrange a carriage for us.”

  “How much longer are you going to pretend being my damn accountant?” Ayla hissed at Lucas the moment Jake was out of earshot. “That whole thing could’ve been settled with a flash of your badge! You know you outrank Jake.”

  “Not now,” Lucas warned, jerking his head toward Charity.

  Ayla glanced at her friend. “She can’t say anything now that she’s your slave! It’s the same thing as having top-level clearance. She is bound by contract now to keep your secrets!”

  “It’s not—she knows I’m a Jaeger, Ayla, but I don’t want her to know I’m—”

  “What on earth are you two talking about?” Charity asked.

  “Nothing,” Lucas and Ayla said at once. Lucas let out a long breath.

  “Just, be ready to move when I tell you to,” he whispered to Ayla.

  Ayla shook her head, but seemed to brighten. “Who’s the target?”

  “To be identified. Right now, figure on Eddie, his two cohorts, and that sleaze at the bank who we’re about to go see.”

  They walked straight into the main lobby of the Regional Bank of Dixie in downtown Atlanta. The receptionist at the front gave them a polite smile, but froze when she saw Charity. Without a word, she bolted from her desk and tore into the main hall, disappearing into the back of the bank.

  “I’ve never had that kind of greeting before,” Charity said slowly, staring after the receptionist.

  “Don’t worry, Lucas gets it all the time.” Jake chuckled. “Bankers don’t like it when he shows up.” Lucas gave him the middle finger as he scanned the rows of desks in the hall beyond. He relaxed and smiled when he saw a man hurrying toward them.

  The man wore a trimmed goatee, but it didn’t do anything to hide his shock. His steel gray eyes darted between Lucas and Charity. Charity spoke first. “Mister Muller, good to see you again, sir.”

  “You two know each other?” Lucas asked, looking at her.

  Charity’s brow furrowed. “You know him?”

  “Are we missing something here?” Ayla asked from behind them both.

  “This is Coleton Muller; he’s the man I’ve been working with long distance on this case,” Lucas said, making the quick introductions as Cole ushered them into the nearest conference room, locking the door behind them. “He was already investigating the bank when I asked the Consortium for help.” He took a seat, pulling Charity’s seat out for her as well. “Can you tell us what you found out?”

  Cole seated himself at the head of the table, and lay his hands down against the wood before he spoke. “It’s not pretty, I can tell you that much. I’ve only just gotten an arrest warrant for Director Wain—corruption and conspiracy charges—and was getting ready to move in on him when I found out he’d decided to skip work today. I think that I might’ve inadvertently tipped my hand to him while investigating the Carmichael accounts.”

  Jake’s eyes narrowed. “How the hell does an investigative accountant get the power to make arrests?”

  “Being a Jaeger has its advantages,” Cole said. Lucas glared at him, but Cole only shrugged. “What? There are no secrets between friends.”

  Everyone else at the table was visibly shocked, though. Charity’s hand flew up over her mouth, and Lucas dropped a hand on her knee to ground her. Jake wasn’t taking it nearly as well, gaping at Cole across the table with his mouth open. “You’re a Jaeger?” he asked. “No offense, but, you?”

  “He’d be one of us,” Lucas said, avoiding Jake’s questioning glance, “yes.”

  “Do you know Jaeger Shadow by any chance?” Charity asked, sitting forward at Lucas’ side. He glanced over at her. Her cheeks had gone a little pink, and—wasn’t one of her romance books about Shadow? Hadn’t she mentioned that, at one point? She was looking for him.

  “You could say that.”

  “The fictional portrayal of real people does not always reflect reality, Charity,” Lucas interrupted, hoping to thwart further questions. “Can we stay on task here? Where’s Wain now?”

  “His estate, last I heard. But that place is a fortress,” Cole said, sitting back. “I have the local constables there doing round-the-clock patrols of the area in case he shows his face, but the warrant to search his property is still pending. If he decides to leave before it goes through, we’ll nab him.”

  “And the two running around town?”

  “Checked into the Georgian Regis right before you got here.” Cole pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Lucas. “They match the descriptions perfectly. It has to be them.”

  “The Regis, nice,” Lucas said, smiling. “Excellent. That’s where I always stay when I’m in Atlanta.”

  “If this qualifies as ‘nice’, I want to know what you consider grand or outstanding,” Jake said as they walked into the main lobby of the Georgian Regis. Outside, the building looked like a grand palace, with the grounds to match, and the inside could rival an upscale theater in the richest part of the world.

  Lucas snickered as he reached the desk. “The Consortium gives my division a great travel stipend. Hal,” he greeted the concierge, “how are you?”

  “Very well, Mister Wolverton, thank you. It’s such a pleasure to host you again. If you would, please sign in?” The concierge presented a book, and Lucas took the quill.

  “I’ll need two adjoining rooms, if possible,” Lucas said as he signed, “and, I do have one question before I retire to my room for the evening. I heard that the Baroness Carmichael is staying in the hotel this week. Any chance that I could get her room number so that I might pay her a visit?”

 

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