I reached the turning point in my story, The Courtesan and The Detective, this week, so it won’t be much longer until it’s published. To celebrate this momentous occasion, here is a saucy snippet:

Master Sheffield glanced up from the papers on his desk at her entrance and stared at her in surprise. “May I help you?”

“Yes, sir.” Marie let her voice tremble just a bit. “My husband, sir. He was let go yesterday, but you have to let him come back, sir, please.” It was easy to fall into the role, as it was popular among the masters of industry.

“Excuse me?” He continued to stare at her, as if he had forgotten the appointment. Suddenly remembering the fantasy he had requested she play out when he set up his appointment he cried out in surprise, “Oh!” and cleared his throat. “And why… why is that?” He leaned back in his chair.

“We have three little ones at home, sir, and nothing in the cupboard to feed them!” She wrung her hands together as she approached the desk. Up close he was a very attractive man, with hair almost as dark and as thick as hers and a long straight nose. Good, that would make it easier on her part – it was so hard to pretend to be interested when the client was uglier than sin.

“He should have considered that before he broke my rules.”

“He didn’t know any better sir. The foreman, he swears he never told him he couldn’t do that.”

“Nonsense.”

“Please, sir!” She swept around the side of the desk and fell to her knees in front of him. She clutched at the fabric of his pants, brushing the sensitive skin of his groin with the lightest touch of her fingertips. 

He jerked and and she felt the muscles of his legs tense. “There’s no need for that now.”

“I would do anything, sir.” Marie pleaded. She looked up at him through eyelashes. His pupils were wide, and his skin was flushed. “Anything.”

“Anything?”

She nodded. 

“Stand.” He commanded, looking bored. However, an excited gleam in his light eyes betrayed him.

She did as he asked and he rose as well, helping her to her feet. “Thank you, sir-”

“Don’t thank me yet.” He snapped, looking down at her. “Take off your bonnet.”

“Yes sir.” She pulled at the ends of the ribbons that she had tied under her chin. The neat little bow was quickly undone, and she pulled the bonnet off her head and set it on his desk. Freed from it’s confines, her thick black hair tumbled down her back. 

Master Sheffield sucked in a breath. “God’s teeth, you’re beautiful.”

Marie blushed and looked away.

He pulled her against him – close enough that she could feel his arousal pressing against her belly. He was taller than her by at least a foot and a half, and if she leaned against him, she suspected her head would fit underneath his chin perfectly. Good. She prefered it when her clients were taller. It opened up a whole realm of possibilities and positions – especially if they were athletic. 

His hands squeezed her waist, then skimmed up her sides and over her shoulders to cup her face. He kissed her, his lips firm and demanding. His tongue forced her mouth open to play with hers, and he moaned as if it had been a long time since he had kissed anyone at all. 

“Sir!” Marie gasped.

“You said anything.” He broke off the kiss and started to suck on the skin of her neck. 

“But . . .” 

“Do you want your husband to have his job back or not?” His fingers were deftly undoing the buttons of her dress revealing her chemise and corset underneath. 

“Yes.” 

“Well, then.”