The Englor Affair (13 page)

The Englor Affair

Payton put his elbow on the desk and leaned his chin on his hand. Should he go back? Maybe he could meet Hollister. Not to mention, he really wanted to see Si again. If he was leaving so soon, would it really matter if he saw Si one last time? Payton shook his head and groaned. No, he really shouldn’t go. Scrolling down, he noticed he was the second to last person to leave the gym yesterday.

The last person to leave was
Col. S. Hollister
.

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J.L. Langley

Not only did I manage to accidentally meet the man I’m investigating, I managed to
accidentally have sex with him. I’m either the luckiest man alive or the unluckiest. The
verdict is still out as to which.

—
from the journal of Payton Marcus Townsend

Standing outside the gym door in the cold, he watched his breath rise into a steamy cloud and debated with himself. Payton was pretty sure the IN was playing Englor just as they were Regelence from what he found today, but he didn’t know for certain. Si could be in with the IN…although everything he’d heard so far made him think otherwise.

Why did Si have to turn out to be Simon Hollister, heir to the throne of Englor?

Payton reached for the door, then let his hand drop. He sighed and turned away from the gym.

Leaving and never coming back would be the best thing to do, yet here he stood.

Damn you, Si.

The snow glistened in the light from the streetlamps. In the distance horse hooves clacked and the low hum of lifts carried through the base gates, but the base itself was quiet. Smoke billowed out from the tops of the different buildings and lights glowed in windows. Everyone was locked away inside, oblivious to him. No one knew he was there. No one
would
know. Why shouldn’t he go in? Maybe Si could help him figure out what was going on. Perhaps Payton could learn something from him.

He turned back toward the door with his stomach in knots. He
wanted
to go in.
It would be foolish, but a little voice in his head whispered that he’d never get the chance again, at least not until he was twenty-five, and he was leaving soon anyway. The fact 88

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that Si was Hollister should eliminate the prospect of a fling, but it didn’t. “Bloody hell, I’m doomed.”

Mind made up, he opened the door and stepped inside. What was it about Si that made him so irresistible? No, it wasn’t just Si. It was the freedom, the ability to do what he wished, to rebel.

He tried to convince himself it was a prime opportunity to find out what Englor was up to, but even he wasn’t buying it. In fact, he was going to have to tiptoe around that.

Hurrying to his locker, Payton changed. His mind drifted back to last night. He’d never dreamed it would be so intense, or that he’d enjoy it so much. Masturbating by himself in the dark didn’t compare. He’d give almost anything—including going against his better judgment—to feel that at least once more.

Wait. What if Si doesn’t come back?
“Would you come back after you ran out like you did?” Payton groaned and finished dressing in a hurry.

Upon leaving the dressing area, he discovered there was no one in the main weight room with all the free weights, nor was there anyone in the treadmill and cardio area upstairs in the open loft. Payton’s mood fell. He hadn’t checked out all the rooms, but he felt certain that if Si were there he’d be in one of those rooms. After checking the room with all the weight machines downstairs, opposite of the free weight room, he headed back toward the cardio room. This was for the best, he knew it was, but he couldn’t help the disappointment he felt.

Since he was here he might as well work out. He could certainly use the exercise.

As he climbed the stairs again, he heard a thudding sound coming from the opposite direction as the treadmills. Frowning, Payton turned around and spotted a narrow corridor he hadn’t noticed before. There were two doorways. Both doors were open.
What is that
noise?
He turned down the corridor toward the thuds.

The first open door revealed a large space with a mirror along two walls. In the back corner of the room Si punched a heavy bag. Sweat dripped down Si’s wide muscular back, soaking his white sleeveless shirt. Gauging from the dampness of the shirt, he had probably been there for some time.

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Payton nearly swallowed his tongue and stood there silently, in awe of the raw power in that big body.

Si was pure male. His voice was cultured and aristocratic, but looking at him now, it was hard to believe he was royalty. He didn’t seem like a man to conform to society’s dictates. It was one of the things so appealing about him.

Payton’s cock filled instantly, remembering how uncivilized they’d both been last night. He could almost feel Si’s hands pulling his hair and telling him to suck his cock.

Payton shivered.

After hitting the black bag so hard it bounced on its chains and made a clanking sound, Si stopped.

Stepping inside the room, Payton closed the door behind him. “Hello.”

Si spun around, his eyes wide for a second. “I didn’t think you’d show up tonight…Lieutenant.” His gaze slid down Payton’s body, lingering on his erection before returning to his face. “Does the admiral know you’re meeting with me?”

So, Si knew who he was. “No.”
Act casual, Pay. Like it’s no big deal that he knows.

Now wasn’t the time to chicken out. “When did you find out?”

“This morning.”

Payton nodded. “I’m sorry about last night.” Making his way into the room, he walked slowly down the length of the back wall, which held racks of swords, foils and rapiers.

“If you’re talking about leaving so abruptly, there’s nothing to apologize for.” Si grinned. “I’ve been there, it’s a bit overwhelming at first, but I assure you no one will find out.”

Unable to meet that knowing grin, Payton pulled one of the foils with a rubber tip on the end off the wall. Si knew he was here as Nate’s aide, but did he know they were investigating him? His confidence wavered a bit, but he didn’t show it. Swinging the foil a few times, he tested its weight and balance.

“You know who I am, don’t you?” Si walked a few steps closer to Payton and took a foil off the wall.

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Payton swallowed hard and bobbed his head. “I found out this afternoon.”

“Then you didn’t set out to meet me?” Si slashed his blade through the air.

“No.”

Simon stared at him for long seconds, his expression unreadable, then finally he nodded. “Do you fence?”

“On occasion, when my sire can’t persuade any of my brothers to spar with him.”

Si’s smile was downright wicked, his attention drifting to Payton’s groin again.

“Winner names his prize.” He lurched forward, not even waiting for an answer.

“Uh!” Even as surprised as Payton was, his training took over and he parried easily.

“Well done.” Si went on the attack, backing Payton up several yards. “Why is the admiral really here, Payton?”

Oh, so this was going to be an interrogation. Si knew or at least suspected they were here to investigate him. “For a routine inspection of the base.”

Si stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes narrowing slightly, then one red brow arched before he came at Payton with unrelenting determination.

By the time Payton got his bearings and was able to counterattack, he was breathing heavily and working up a light sweat. Thank galaxy Cony insisted he be well trained in swordplay, otherwise he would have already been soundly beat. Si was an excellent swordsman, nearly as good as Cony and Rexley. Payton was thoroughly impressed.

“Are you sure that’s the story you want to stick to?”

Advancing, Payton moved Si back to the middle of the room. “Why else would Admiral Hawkins be here?” No way was Payton giving him anything, not until he knew he could trust Si.

“Hmm…”

They went back and forth several times, well matched, but Payton couldn’t help but notice he was more winded than Si.

“When you lose, I’m going to spread you out on this floor and—”

Gasping, Payton crossed out of the way of Si’s foil. “That’s cheating.”

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Si chuckled, not looking a bit repentant. “Nonsense. How is talking cheating?” He lunged.

Payton knocked his foil aside and went on the attack. “You’re trying to distract me.”

“Trying?” Si backed up several steps, tossed his foil into his other hand, pulled his shirt off one arm then switched back. His chest gleamed with sweat as he tossed the shirt aside then lunged again.

Blast, Si is gorgeous.
Payton groaned. Caught up in the play of perfectly chiseled arm muscles, he nearly missed parrying. His cock took notice once again, not that it’d ever fully lost interest.

Taking advantage of the distraction he created, Si knocked the foil out of Payton’s hand, stepped forward and pressed the tip to Payton’s throat. “Strip.”

“S-strip?” Payton panted, trying to catch his breath.

“Strip,” he repeated.

Payton’s cock jerked at the demand and his heart raced. Glancing down Si’s body, he saw the bulging erection against Si’s thin gray shorts. Once again Payton’s stupid conscience tried to warn him against dallying with Si, but he ignored it. He wanted Si.

He’d worry about the consequences later, right now…

Payton grabbed the hem of his shirt and whipped it over his head. It took every ounce of restraint he had not to cover himself with his arms once the shirt was gone, but he managed.

Si stepped back and flicked the material of Payton’s shorts up with his foil. “Shorts.

Off.”

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Payton hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his shorts and slid them down. He got them to mid-thigh before Si interrupted him.

“Mmm…nice. Lie down.” Tossing his foil aside, Si knelt.

Payton’s stomach clenched in anticipation as his cock grew harder. He got to his knees before Si helped him the rest of the way to the ground.

Once Payton’s arse rested on the thin black rubber mat covering the floor, Si tugged Payton’s shorts and smallclothes off over Payton’s shoes. He put his palm on Payton’s 92

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chest. Si had to have felt how hard his heart was pounding, but he didn’t say anything. He pinched Payton’s nipple, then pushed. “Lay down on your back.”

Easing onto his elbows, Payton nodded. He was nervous, but his body didn’t seem to realize that because his testicles grew tighter.

Si crawled between his legs and leaned over, resting his weight on one hand beside Payton’s hip. Sweat dripped off his chin onto Payton’s belly and his biceps flexed as he bent his arm a little. With his other hand he gripped Payton’s cock.

Hissing out a breath, Payton squirmed. No one had ever touched him like that. He wanted it, but it was strange, his mind’s first inclination was to yell no. Not only was he new to this, but Si could be Regelence’s enemy.
Why do I want this so badly? I’ve
become a complete wanton.

He must have flinched, because Si grinned up at him. “Relax, I’m not going to hurt you.” His eyes held a sincerity that inspired trust. Whatever was going on between their planets, it didn’t affect them, their attraction, not right now anyway. They
both
wanted this.

Dropping his head forward, Si held Payton’s gaze as he took the head of Payton’s cock into his mouth.

“Oh!” It was the most amazing thing Payton had ever felt. His arse muscles clenched and his legs stiffened. A tingle raced down his shaft to his testicles, and he forgot all about espionage and who might or might not be involved. Even his nipples tingled. They seemed to be attached to his cock.

Slowly, Si slid down his shaft. His blue gaze fairly twinkled at Payton. His cheeks hollowed out as he applied suction, before slipping back up Payton’s prick.

“Oh galaxy.” Payton closed his eyes and dropped his head. It was pathetic, but already he was having to concentrate on not climaxing.

Si didn’t relent though. He dragged his hand up with his mouth, creating a wonderful friction that had Payton’s head spinning. He went deep, taking Payton all the way to the back of his throat.

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The heat closed around the tip of his prick and Payton saw stars. “Oh bloody hell.

More. Oh please.”

Si bobbed his head, getting to work.

The wet sounds added to Payton’s excitement. He couldn’t believe this was actually happening. He’d gotten so aroused by doing this to Si last night, he’d never imagined how much better it would be having it done to him. His cock jerked in Si’s mouth, his stomach clenching as tight as his arse and thighs. “Please don’t stop.” Rocking his head back and forth, he stared at the white ceiling tiles, trying to focus. Trying not to come.

Moving his hand off Payton’s cock, Si slid it to his testicles, pulling gently as he deep throated Payton’s prick.

“Dust.” Payton arched up into Si’s mouth, his back bowing off the mat, and came.

He lay there panting for several seconds. His whole body tingled.

Si got to his knees abruptly, his ab muscles rippling. “Get up here.” He jerked his shorts and the odd underclothes out of the way and began pumping his cock.

Still dazed from his orgasm, Payton sat up, not understanding what Si wanted until Si grabbed a handful of Payton’s hair and drew him closer. He smelled of sweat, sex and something uniquely Si.

“Open your mouth.”

The tug on his hair should not have been sexy or intoxicating. Payton whimpered and opened his mouth. His prick slapped against his stomach as he wiggled nearer. He loved the feeling of helplessness when Si held his head like that. It took the choice away from him, freeing him. Payton couldn’t imagine anyone who knew who he was treating him as a sex object. It was a huge turn-on.