Chapter Text
“My dear, you are going to change the world.”
Jacob looked up at the older man sitting across from him, taken aback. “What?” He said, not sure if he’d heard correctly, then, “Oh no, that’s going to be Evie, not me.”
Maxwell Roth raised an eyebrow as he took a sip of his drink—Jacob had finished his in a few gulps, but it seemed Roth was more civilized—and tilted his head to the side. “Why not? We’ve done some good work, haven’t we?”
“Well, yeah, but-” Jacob fiddled with his glass. “Could I have another drink?” He asked instead and Roth grinned.
“Certainly. But that’s not quite the answer I was looking for.” He got up and took Jacob’s glass out of his hand. The two had been celebrating their latest blow to Starrick’s hold on London, and Jacob could hardly refuse a drink, especially when it came from someone with expensive taste and the money to be choosy. Roth handed him back his drink and sat back down again, watching Jacob.
“So. You don’t think you’re destined for greatness, Jacob?” Roth said, continuing the infernal conversation.
“Never said that, did I?” Jacob said with a grin, trying to imitate Roth by sipping his drink. “I just think you’re embellishing a bit.”
Roth laughed at that. “I’m an actor, darling; can you really blame me for embellishing a tale? But in all seriousness, didn’t you yourself say that we’ve done more in the past few weeks than your sister has done in months? I’m telling you, Jacob, you underestimate yourself.”
Jacob was rendered speechless. Fuck acting civilized, he thought as he took a good gulp of his drink to avoid replying. He did, however, notice Roth’s knowing smile. He shifted in his chair before standing and said, “Well, I think I should be heading back. Evie always gets on my case if I’m-”
“Already?” Roth said, sounding disappointed. “Come now, Jacob, she’s hardly in charge of what you do. Besides, you haven’t even finished your drink. You’ve certainly earned a break; sit down and relax!”
He was right, Jacob thought as he sat down again, feeling a little foolish. Evie wasn’t in charge of him. Roth pulled out a pack of cigarettes from a drawer. “Care for a smoke?” He asked, pulling one out and offering it. Jacob declined.
“Not much of a smoker,” he said.
“Ah. Very well then.” Roth put the smoke away before pausing. “Would you mind terribly if I smoked?”
“Not at all,” Jacob replied easily. Roth took the cigarette back out and reached into his pocket for a box of matches.
“Always good to have matches,” he said, striking one of them on the table. “Never know when you’ll need it, eh?” Jacob hummed in agreement and watched the flame sink down towards Roth’s fingertips, hypnotized, until Roth put it out. Jacob was feeling faintly sleepy and he glanced down at his glass.
“Did you put something in my drink?” He asked. It had tasted normal to him, but…
Roth smiled. “Nothing I don’t usually put in my own glass. It’s just a mild relaxant; I felt we were both still a little high-strung from our little adventure.”
“Ah.” Jacob frowned and Roth finished his drink.
“My apologies, darling,” he said, seeing Jacob’s expression. “I really should have asked; that was rather careless of me.”
“That’s alright,” Jacob said, placing his empty glass on the table. “But I really should be getting back now.”
He stood, and Roth watched him intently with a look that seemed to see into Jacob’s very soul. “Would you care to spend the night?” He offered, glancing at the bed. Jacob blinked at him, and it took a moment for him to realize what he was offering. Jacob went red. He had seen the way Roth looked at him at times, watching his mouth, or the way he leaned forward to catch every word Jacob said.
“I- I really shouldn’t,” Jacob said. It wasn’t a no, but if Evie were to find out about this…
Roth seemed to read his mind. “Worried about that sister of yours, my dear? You mustn’t fear, Jacob; my staff is very discreet. No one but us need know anything.” He paused and smiled. “It’ll be our secret, yes?”
“I’m not afraid,” Jacob said indignantly. Roth lifted his hands.
“I didn’t say you were,” Roth said. “No need for arguing.”
“I’m not,” Jacob insisted.
“I believe you.” Roth stood, picking up Jacob’s glass and going to put them away, turning his back to Jacob. “It was just an offer. But I would be very… pleased if you were to stay, to say the least.”
Jacob felt torn and stood uneasily by the door, but was intrigued all the same. “…What did you have in mind, exactly?” He asked. Roth laughed softly, his back still turned.
“It would be easier to show you,” he replied. “Come now, take off your coat and hat, stay a while longer. What’ll it hurt? Your sister?”
“Evie’s not the boss of me,” Jacob replied.
“No one is, Jacob.”
Jacob glanced at the window. He could still leave if he chose, but… Did he want to? He looked back and saw Roth take his revolver out of a hidden pocket, carelessly taking the bullets out and tossing it on the table. Jacob relaxed. What exactly did he think was going to happen? He could trust Roth; the man had certainly proved that.
Slowly, he took off his top-hat, collapsing it and putting it away before taking off his coat. Roth glanced back at him and smiled. “Is that a yes then?” He asked, looking utterly delighted. Jacob shrugged, hoping to seem nonchalant. Roth laughed again and walked over, extinguishing his cigarette in a dish and taking Jacob’s coat, laying it over a chair. “Would I be correct in thinking I am your first?”
Jacob swallowed, but couldn’t stop the flush from creeping up his neck, his heart thudding in his chest. Roth’s smile softened, and he leaned in to whisper in Jacob’s ear, “It’s an honor I won’t take lightly. Relax, my dear, and trust me. You’re in skilled and experienced hands, after all.”
Roth kissed his jaw and pressed up against him, laughing again a little when Jacob stiffened. “That’s quite the opposite of what I’ve asked now, Jacob. Relax.”
Swallowing, Jacob loosened up as Roth ran his hands over Jacob’s waist as he kissed him, almost chastely, upon the lips. He reached up to cup the back of Jacob’s head and kissed him again, deepening it, until Jacob groaned a little, leaning into it. Roth pulled away then. “Greedy,” he said, sounding amused as he led Jacob towards the bed. “I like it.”
Nerves were balling up in Jacob’s stomach as he laid down on the bed, letting Roth straddle him, unbuttoning his shirt and kissing him as more and more skin was exposed, taking his time when he discovered Jacob’s tattoos. Jacob didn’t know what to feel, but he knew when Roth placed his hands over his exposed hips, his gut twisted into something akin to shame.
Roth paused, nimble fingers hooked over his trousers. “How are you feeling, darling?” He asked. Jacob swallowed, a lump forming in his throat.
“Um.”
“Jacob?” There was a note of something prompting him, as if ordering him to answer, but he found he couldn’t speak. Roth seemed to know anyway and came back up. “Look at me, darling.”
Jacob did. Roth’s eyes were narrowed a little. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, Jacob. Just relax. You do trust me, don’t you?”
Jacob’s throat felt dry and he squeezed his eyes shut and nodded. Roth let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good to hear. Shall we continue?”
Not waiting for a reply, Roth undid Jacob’s trousers and slid them down, pressing his lips lower and lower. Jacob tossed an arm over his eyes, wanting to hide from the overwhelming nerves that were threatening to spill over.
“None of that now, my dear,” Roth said. “Just feel.”
He was, Jacob wanted to say. He was feeling every little touch Roth laid on his bare skin, felt every little reaction his body was having, knew he was already hard. He resisted the urge to cover his face and could feel himself trembling long before Roth took his cock into his hand. He wanted to vomit, he felt like he was going to explode, like he was already burning from the inside out.
“You’re doing very well,” Roth remarked, stroking his hip and settling between his legs. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are, Jacob?”
Was he? He couldn’t be, there was absolutely no way he could be this disgusting and still be attractive, Jacob thought as Roth bent over him, taking his cock in his mouth. Jacob’s fingers grasped desperately at the sheets as he squirmed, breathing heavily, until Roth reached up and took one of his hands in his own, gently squeezing, grounding him a little.
It was overwhelming. Too overwhelming; he could hear every shameful noise he was making, and he bit his lip, trying to silence himself. By the time he came, there was blood in his mouth. Roth didn’t seem fazed by any of it, but stroked his cheek with one hand, undressing himself with the other. It wasn’t over yet, Jacob knew, and when he realized what was coming next, he shook his head, swallowing.
“I- I’m not sure about this,” he said. He felt like he was going to be sick, nausea settling into his stomach.
Roth came back up. “Shh, darling, it’s alright,” he said, stroking Jacob’s hair. “You’re doing so well, you’re so good for me, do you know? Just a little more, can you do it?” And Jacob found himself nodding. Roth kissed him again and Jacob found himself wanting. He was breathing hard. “Good boy. So good, Jacob, darling,” Roth murmured. “You’re gorgeous like this, don’t be ashamed, you’re beautiful.”
He went back down, resting back between Jacob’s legs, running his hands over the backs of Jacob’s thighs, telling him to bend his knees. He did so, with no little amount of discomfort and embarrassment and Roth ran a hand over Jacob’s backside, removing it for a moment, then pressing a slickened finger to his entrance. Jacob’s whole body shuddered, and he found himself both wanting this to happen, and not wanting this to happen.
“Relax, Jacob,” Roth reminded. “It will make this much easier.” He pushed a finger inside.
It was uncomfortable, but Jacob couldn’t say it hurt the way he was expecting it to. Roth used his fingers until Jacob forced himself to relax a little, earning him a kiss on his knee and more praises that made him feel hot and a little giddy. Roth then crooked his fingers, searching, and suddenly Jacob’s entire body felt as if it had been shocked and he was horrified to find himself moaning. Roth repeated this movement and Jacob squirmed, his hands balling into the sheets as he felt himself get hard again. Roth grasped his cock again and the mixed sensations had Jacob writhing until he came again.
He didn’t realize he was crying until Roth reached a hand up to wipe his tears away. “There you are, my dear,” Roth said with smile. They weren’t finished, but Jacob found himself already worn out when Roth pushed himself in almost excruciatingly slow. Jacob was not sure how much more he could take, but he was exhausted and only found himself tensing a little as he shifted around the discomfort. This didn’t feel right, none of this felt right. Roth picked up his pace a little once Jacob had relaxed again, spreading his legs a little more when Roth prompted him.
“Jesus, darling,” Roth said, is breath getting heavier, and then it was over, and Jacob was left empty, one of Roth’s hands on his knees while the man stroked himself through his own orgasm.
When he was finished, Roth sighed deeply and moved away from between Jacob’s legs, picking up the discarded blanket from the floor and placing it over Jacob, pushing his hair—drenched with sweat—away from his face and pressing a kiss to his forehead. Jacob watched with fuzzy vision as Roth moved across the room, completely naked, and fetched a drink. He soon returned and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Sit up a little, darling, and drink this,” he said. Jacob did, leaning against Roth, and Roth pressed the glass to his lips. It was somewhat salty, but Jacob drank it gratefully, Roth stroking his hair. When he finished, Roth placed the glass aside and helped him lay down again, blowing out the light and getting in beside him.
Shame and guilt built up in Jacob’s stomach again in the darkness and he curled up on his side, aching a little, tears slowly leaking out of him.
“Shh, darling, I’ve got you,” Roth murmured, and pulled him close. “Everything’s alright now.”
It didn’t feel that way, but Roth was warm, and Jacob was so, so tired now. He burrowed closer to Roth, letting the man hold him and whisper praises to him.
“Sleep, Jacob,” he said. “You did very well. Sleep now.”
Jacob only hummed in reply, sniffed, and finally let his exhaustion overtake him.