The Englor Affair (11 page)

“Six. Two more.”

The weights were getting really heavy. His heart was thrumming in his ear.

Si scooted forward, his legs now straddling the edge of the bench. Payton could feel the heat of Si’s thighs on his ears as Si took some of the weight of the bar, making it easier on Payton. Sweat and a musky warm scent teased Payton’s nose as Si dipped again, following the barbell.

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“Seven. Come on, do one more.” His blue eyes glittered down at Payton, and his voice was definitely lower and huskier than before.

Gulping in a breath, Payton steeled himself for one last rep. He was not going to notice the thick cock outlined in those strange underclothes. He wanted to bury his nose there and—oh galaxy, he wanted to know how Si tasted. Payton gasped, shocked at the admission. He wanted to taste and touch and do whatever Si would—
Oh.
Payton’s arms buckled.

The bar never touched him.

Si hauled the bar up like it weighed nothing, making the veins on his forearms obvious, and set it on the stand. He leaned his forearms on the bar and looked down at Payton.

At least Payton thought he did. His attention stayed focused on Si’s erection, outlined through the thin gray shorts. Payton made a noise halfway between a gasp and a growl. He reached up, his hand hovering in front of Si’s groin, before he came to himself and stopped.

Groaning, Si caught Payton’s wrist and pressed his palm against the hard length of Si’s cock.

Payton curled his fingers, and Si’s cock jerked under his hand. It was so odd touching someone else like this. He squeezed.

Making a strangled noise, Si tugged upward on Payton’s wrist. “Sit up.”

Payton let go, loathe to do so. Turning around, he straddled the bench and scooted closer.

Stomach pressed against the barbell, Si leaned forward and hooked his thumbs in his waistband. He dragged the nearly transparent gray material down, revealing a scrap of white barely covering his prick. The white undergarment was nearly as threadbare as the gray shorts and yellowed with sweat and age. A damp spot dotted the material where the tip of Si’s cock lay just under the elastic waistband. It was the most erotic thing Payton had ever seen. It was mesmerizing, fully capturing his attention.

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Si’s right hand slid behind Payton’s head, urging him forward. His left hand tugged at the band of the white underclothes, but all Payton could concentrate on was that wet spot on the material.

He caught Si’s hand, moving it aside, and leaned forward, pressing his open mouth to the damp material over the tip of Si’s cock.

The tangy taste burst over his tongue as the sweaty smell flooded his senses. He sucked at the material and the head of Si’s cock through it. It was so warm and firm, different than anything he’d ever had his lips against. Closing his eyes, he gripped Si’s hips and pressed his face against Si’s hot, hard prick. He smelled so good, not all cologney and sweet, but masculine and real.

“Payton, you’re killing me. Suck my cock,” Si growled and tugged at the waistband of his underclothes again.

Moving back, Payton watched as Si’s cock bobbed free of the cotton undergarment.

Payton just stared. It was amazing, long and reddish, different than Payton’s yet the same.

He swore he could see the blood rushing through the long vein down the front, even though he knew it was his imagination. The head flared slightly, then went back to normal, and a bead of clear liquid collected on the tip.

Payton licked his lips, his own cock started to leak and his testicles drew closer. He may have even moaned, he wasn’t sure, but he knew Si did. The sound was pure sex and traveled right to Payton’s prick.

Tightening his fingers in Payton’s hair, Si pushed Payton’s head closer, leaving little room for doubt about what he wanted. His other hand gripped the base of his cock. “Suck me.”

Leaning forward, Payton flicked his tongue over the end, swiping off the drop of almost sweet precome.

Si grunted and tapped Payton’s lips with the tip of his cock.

After a few tentative licks Payton opened up and took the head into his mouth. The very idea of what he was doing had Payton moaning around the thick cock.

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Thrusting his hips softly, Si began to fuck Payton’s mouth. The smooth skin caressed his lips, causing them to tingle. It was surreal, and Payton let himself get lost in the sensation. His fingers dug into Si’s arse, urging him closer.

Dropping his hand flat against his stomach with his thumb and forefinger still around his cock, Si surged forward. His cock hit the back of Payton’s throat, making Payton pull away and gag. Tears stung his eyes. He pushed back for a second, his hands still clutching Si’s hips, to collect himself and catch his breath.

“Sorry.” Si ran his fingers through Payton’s hair, petting.

A trickle of sweat ran down Si’s belly into the red curls at the base of his cock.

Payton followed it with his eyes before catching it on his tongue. The tangy taste had him reaching down to press the heel of his hand to his erection. “Mmm…”

“Bloody hell.” Si grabbed a handful of Payton’s hair and pulled him forward again.

He fisted his cock, reducing the length Payton had to suck.

The grip on Payton’s hair was almost painful, but it was exciting. Payton dove back in and swallowed Si’s cock. He managed to keep from gagging and bobbed his head at a nice steady rhythm. Si’s grunts and Payton’s own wet slurping sounds went to his head.

He slipped his hands around to Si’s arse. With every thrust the muscles tensed, and sweat trickled down the small of his back onto Payton’s hands. It was so primitive, not the polite distant sex Payton envisioned went on between most lords. His testicles were so tight, his cock throbbing. Those throaty sounds Si made drove Payton mad.

Payton’s whole body tightened, his orgasm taking him by surprise. He pulled back, eyes wide, staring up at Si, and came in his shorts.

“Oh fuck.” Si let out a hoarse yell above him and something hot hit Payton’s cheek, then his nose and chin. It ran down his neck.

Payton blinked and dropped his head, trying to take it all in.

Si released his cock and grabbed Payton’s chin, tipping it up. He bent over the bar and licked a long line up Payton’s neck, then his chin and cheek, cleaning the semen off.

With sudden harsh clarity, reality came back to Payton. He was in a gym with a near stranger. He’d just— “Oh galaxy.” If he got caught…

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Panic flared to life and his stomach clenched painfully. His heart started hammering in his chest, trying to beat its way out. He had to get out of here. Jerking his chin out of Si’s grasp, he ignored the surprised gasp. “I’ve got to go. I—I gotta go.”

“Payton, wait.” Si tried to grab his arm.

Payton shook his head. He had to get out of here. He couldn’t do this. Turning, he ran for the door, not even caring that he was making a cake of himself.

Wind and snow hit him with a gust when he opened the door, but he didn’t stop. He needed to be alone, to hide, to think. The freezing wind helped clear his mind. He would just stop going to the gym. He hadn’t seen Si anywhere else on base. Si wasn’t going to tell. If anyone found out he’d be in as big a trouble as Payton.

Payton took a deep breath and exhaled it. Steam blew out of his nose and mouth, and he realized he was halfway to his quarters, still in his gym clothes.

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The day was as bleak as his mood. Simon wrapped his cape around him tighter as he steered his horse toward Mayfair. He hadn’t slept very well last night after Payton’s abrupt departure. It had really galled that he couldn’t go track Payton down then and there and talk to him, so he’d asked one of his aides to find out who Payton was first thing this morning. But before he could learn anything he’d gotten a summons from St.

Albins.

“Good morning, Your Highness.” George, St. Albin’s groom, bowed.

Simon tried not to glower at the boy as he swung his leg over the saddle and hopped to the ground. He hated being called “Your Highness,” it sounded so pompous. “Good morning, George, and it’s Colonel,” he corrected, and handed over Cirilo’s reins.

George bowed again, his face going a little pale. “Yes, Colonel. Sorry, sir.”

Simon stepped over a pile of snow where it had been shoveled out of the walkway and onto the street. He was being an arse. It wasn’t the groom’s fault Payton took off last night and Simon couldn’t get the haunted yellow eyes out of his head. Stopping on the bottom step, Simon turned. “George.”

The boy looked up. “Yes, Colonel?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

George’s mouth dropped open for a brief second then snapped shut and smiled. He dipped his head in acknowledgment. “My fault, Colonel, I won’t forget again.”

Ascending the steps, Simon let his mind drift to last night. Had he pushed Payton too far? Honestly, he was surprised things had gone as far as they had. He’d known how shy Payton was from the beginning. But damn, he hadn’t expected that heat between them.

Payton made him ache like no one had in a long time. Simon hadn’t meant to be so overbearing, but he totally lost control with those stunning lust-filled eyes following his www.samhainpublishing.com 77

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every move. Payton had been aroused from the moment Simon had walked in last night and it had gone right to Simon’s head. Simon was just mourning the loss of experiencing it again, since he’d likely scared Payton off.

He strolled up to the mansion, taking his gloves off, then raised his fist to knock on the door.

The door opened before his hand made contact. The smooth deep baritone of Aldred’s butler Jaxon greeted him. “Welcome, Colonel.”

The under butler bowed and held out his hands for Simon’s gloves, hat and cloak.

“Good morning, Colonel. His Grace is waiting on you in the breakfast room.”

“Thank you, Dudley.” Simon took off his cover and coat, handing them over before following the scent of food down the hall.

As he reached the open archway, Clayton, Aldred’s valet, gave him a warm, fond smile and stepped aside. “Your Highness, welcome. His Grace has been expecting you.”

Simon couldn’t not smile back, even if Clayton had called him by that dreaded address. Clayton had been with Aldred since he’d lived at the palace, since Simon was still in the nursery. Simon had had quite the infatuation with him as a teen, but more than that he considered Clayton a friend of sorts. As a kid Simon had spent many hours with the man, taking refuge in Aldred’s room until Aldred returned from whatever ton event he’d been attending.

Simon grabbed Clay’s hand before he could leave. “Nice to see you, Clayton. How are you?”

Clayton smiled even wider, his green eyes twinkling with merriment. “I’m fine, and I see you still haven’t learned to ignore servants. It’s very un-noble of you, you know,” he teased, then tipped his head toward the breakfast room. “Get in there, it’s important.”

“Yes, sir.” Chuckling, he let go of Clayton’s hand and slapped him on the back.

“And you spoke to me first,” he called back over his shoulder as he entered the room.

Aldred sat at the head of the table with a plateful of eggs, bacon, kippers and beans.

It lay untouched in favor of reading the newspaper.

“He’s still handsome.”

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“Back off, boy.” Aldred grinned over the morning news. “Get your own valet.”

Laughing, Simon held his hands up in surrender. “Have no fear. I’d never subject Clayton to my friends. Although I suspect he could handle anything Roc and Wycliffe dish out. It would be them running for the door, instead of Clayton.”

“Right you are, my boy. Clay put up with enough of your antics as a child, I suspect he can survive anything. Fix yourself a plate and come sit down.” Aldred frowned, his face suddenly very serious. “I’ve got something you’ve got to hear, before it’s splashed all over the front page this evening.”

Great.
“That doesn’t sound good. Should I go fetch the scotch from the study?”

Aldred set the news aside and tried to give him a stern look. He failed miserably, his lips twitching. “It is entirely too early for you to be in your cups.”

Shrugging, Simon fetched a plate from the sideboard. “Yes, God forbid my mother should hear of me getting sloshed before noon. I’d rather not have holy water flung at me every time I step outside, nor do I think my commanding officers would approve of the base being picketed over my sins.”

“Oh come now, a little holy water never hurt anyone and our most righteous lords would never picket…they’d send their servants to do it for them.”

Simon grinned as he filled his plate. That would be a sight to see. A rainbow of livery holding signs, yet bowing and saying milord to everyone who entered the gates. “I actually have an update for you as well. So give me your bad news and I’ll give you mine.”

“There is a movement in parliament to have the Englor Marines disbanded.”

Simon spun around so quickly some eggs fell off his plate. “I beg your pardon?”

“You heard me correctly.” Aldred took a drink of his orange juice.

Setting his plate down, Simon glanced at Aldred. “Who? Who is pushing for it and why?”

“Markham and his cronies.”

“Markham?” What a strange coincidence.

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His surprise must have shown, because Aldred cocked his head. “Mmm…yes. He’s the main one championing the cause. You know him?”

“Yes. No. I only met him yesterday briefly. Dru and I were nearly run down by a rider in Hyde Park. Cirilo bolted in the confusion. Markham and Baymore caught Cirilo and brought him back. Markham seemed nice enough. What do we know about him? And how much support does he have?”