1. Gaslight


    Date: 10/10/2015, Categories: Fantasy & Sci-Fi, Author: lucywild, Rating: 5, Source: LushStories

    A Steampunk Erotic Romance I always think of her when the sun sets. We’d been on the beach all day, I’d been watching her play and enjoying the heat of the summer as the tide slowly crept towards us. Eighteen years old and still making sandcastles like a child, it was just one of the endearing things about Olivia. Behind me the beach huts crawled slowly back up the sand towards the pier, backing away from the encroaching waves that could damage their delicate mechanisms. I’d only turned away to look at them for a moment but when I turned back she was gone. That was six months ago and not a day has passed by when I haven’t wondered where she’s gone, who’s taken her and why. I was sat in my office looking out of the window and wondering where she was right now, was she even alive? Would she remember me if I found her? I tipped the bottle to my lips and drained the last of it. Empty. I didn’t know when I’d be able to afford anymore. I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes as the gaslights flared to life in the street outside. New Year’s Eve. Three hours until a new year, not that 1892 was likely to bring anything different for me, not unless it brought Olivia back. “You look like a woman who’ll be glad to see this year end.” I looked up at the sound of the voice. Silhouetted in the doorway was the shape of a woman. Blinking away the tears that had barely had a chance to form, I watched her walk towards me as she lit a cigarette, the flare of light illuminating her face ...
    for just a moment. “Do I know you?” I asked, sitting upright and taking a closer look at her. She hit the switch on the edge of the desk and the dome of gaslight beside me hissed, spluttered and then died. “You need a new Ronson dome,” she said as she flicked it with her finger. “I like the dark.” “Mind if I sit down?” She sat opposite me and leaned forwards, the ember of her cigarette drawing my eyes towards it. “Can I help you with something?” “You don’t remember me do you?” “Should I?” “Let’s take a walk.” “Listen, it’s nine o’clock on New Year’s Eve and I’m closed for business.” “I get the feeling you can’t afford to close and anyway I’m not offering you business, I’m offering you Olivia.” I sat bolt upright, my hands starting to tremble. “What did you say?” “Come on Cat, come for a walk with me.” I stood up. “All right, fine, I’ll play. But if this is some kind of joke you should know I’ve got a fusegun with enough charge to split you in half.” “No you haven’t. But I’ll let you in on a secret.” “Oh yeah? What’s that?” “I’ve got one.” She reached under her cloak and pulled out a brand new Rayon Fuseplus that glowed in the dark as she pointed it at me. “Now let’s go for a walk.” I followed her out of the office, something irritating me like a dust mote in my eye. I knew her voice but where the hell from? Outside the party was in full swing. As we walked down the stairwell I could hear laughing voices behind every door. On the street there were people in costumes everywhere, ...
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