The Englor Affair (26 page)

Pride swelled in Simon’s chest, overcoming the annoyance. He’d known Payton was brilliant. It was odd, he couldn’t remember ever taking pride in someone else’s accomplishments. No, that wasn’t true, he’d always enjoyed seeing the men under his command succeed, but this was different. He found himself wanting to take credit for it.

Like somehow because Payton was his, it gave him bragging rights. “So I’ve noticed.

He’s brilliant at everything he does. If he’s an example of Regelence’s artificial procreation technology, I see why the IN wants it.”

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The smile slid from Nate’s face. “Speaking of Regelence men, I’ve got a ship to catch. Not only do I need to fill Steven and Raleigh in on what’s happened and check with the Regelence scientists, if I don’t get going I’m liable to be hunted down by an angry Regelence artist.” He nodded and stood, a smirk appearing again. “I’ll be in touch.

Let me know if you learn anything new.”

Simon rose and walked around the desk. The other five men rose as well. “Lord Deverell.” Simon offered his hand to Nate.

Nate chuckled and shook his hand. “Reminding me of my Englor ties, Colonel?”

“No, just wondering how much longer you’ll be an admiral.”

“As long as they let me. I believe in keeping my friends close and—”

“My enemies closer,” Simon finished for him. “Me too. Thank you, Nate. As soon as I—or Payton”—
since he’s withholding information again
—“learn anything new I’ll let you know. Let’s cross our fingers that Parliament votes down the proposal to dissolve the Marines.”

“Let me know when the vote is. I’ll submit an absentee ballot or I can be here to lend support should you suspect the vote will go the other way.” He gave Simon a pointed look.

Simon nodded his agreement, knowing exactly what Nate was saying. Simon would do whatever it took to ensure that the Marines remained, but he wanted to try it the legal way first.

With his advisors following, Simon opened the study door. “Gentlemen, I’ll be in touch. I’ve a consort to keep out of trouble.”

“Good luck with that.” Hawthorne chuckled. “I’ve met all the Townsends and I can assure you mischief finds them whether they look for it or not.” He glanced over at his son. “Should we tell him Payton’s nickname is Lord Plague?”

Lord Plague? Terrific.
Simon shook his head. He didn’t want to know. “In that case, I’m going to go make sure he shares whatever it is he’s learned by using the encryption program.” He shook hands with all his advisors and hugged Aldred goodbye.

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His trek up the stairs was one of the slowest he could remember. He needed to apologize to Payton, but he was still a little cross. There was obviously something else Payton wasn’t telling him.

It was his own fault, not Payton’s. Simon should have paid more attention. He’d gotten so caught up in the politics of what would become of the Englor Marines, not to mention trying to find out what the IN was up to, that he’d ignored the signs. And there had been signs. One thing was certain now. He’d get an alliance with Regelence. Which he desperately needed. If his assumption was correct, the IN had his parents murdered.

Why? What did they want? He sighed. He was going to do his damnedest to find out.

And he was going to need the Englor Marines. But even the Marines could not stand up to the IN on their own. They would need the help of the Regelence Navy and the Regelence Marines.

Simon got to the top landing of the second floor, feeling the weight of Englor on his shoulders. The man who could help him carry the weight was down the hall.

He glanced down at the foyer in time to see the door close behind his advisors. The footman turned and disappeared down the hallway toward the kitchen. What kind of mood would Payton be in? Was he still mad?

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Simon headed toward his room. There was too much to do to sit around and fret over everything. Besides, it wasn’t his style. He had a problem. He had to solve it. It was his job. End of story.
Now to figure out what all
needed done and in what order.

He needed an heir. Simon grinned. The child would be completely his and Payton’s, and that would go a long way in soothing the people of Englor. How could they not accept their next king’s parent?

The palace had to be gotten in order. Not just security either. Moving back there was not something he was looking forward to. He hated that place. It was too big and too daunting. It was cold, like a mausoleum. He didn’t want his kid to grow up like he had.

Logically he knew part of it was his parents, but that place…

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He got to his bedroom door and opened it cautiously. The only sound came from the fire crackling in the fireplace at the foot of his bed. Payton was nowhere in sight. Simon frowned. Dunston had said Pay was in his…their bedroom.

Simon closed the door and crossed the room. “Pay?”

No answer.

Damn, it was chilly in here. Simon rubbed his hands on his arms, looking around.

There was a black leather-bound book and com-pad on the still unmade bed.

The closer to the balcony curtains he got the colder it became. The heavy drapes moved just a tad. “Payton?” Simon pulled the dark green velvet back, revealing an open French door.

Payton sat huddled in his coat on the stone balcony rail, staring down at the garden.

Snow drifted down, coating his dark hair like diamonds sparkling in the sunlight. He sat so still, with his knees drawn up and his arms wrapped around them. His head rested on his raised knees.

In this type of weather he shouldn’t be sitting on the railing, even if it was over a foot wide. What if it were icy? “Pay?”

Payton turned his head to face Simon, resting his ear on his knees. A fog of hot air billowed around him. His yellow eyes nearly glowed in the bright sunlight. There was a shadow of stubble on his cheeks and his hair was mussed. He wore the clothes he’d had on last night, but even still, he was breathtakingly handsome. “Did Nate send my things?”

“They arrived this morning before I met with my advisors. We need to talk.”

“Then talk.” Payton turned his head back toward the garden, all but dismissing him.

“Is there something else you want to tell me?”

“Don’t play games with me, Simon. What do you want to know?” Payton frowned and kept staring out at the snow-covered garden.
Just tell him, Pay. You’re just trying to
start a fight.
He knew Dunston had told Si he used the encryption program. Yet another thing he hadn’t told Si…
yet
. He’d planned on telling Si about the message from the beginning, he’d just been biding his time, and he’d wanted to know what the message 182

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said first. He was not going to let Si yell at him for withholding information. He’d had his reasons. Besides, Nate could have told Simon last night when they were so buddy-buddy on the Lady Anna, planning Payton’s life for him.

Payton gathered up some snow on the ledge next to him and threw it into the yard.

Okay, fine, he was pissed at being caught keeping information to himself again.
Damn it.

He’d never been a liar but he sure as hell was making himself look that way to Si.

A groan sounded behind Payton. It seemed resigned rather than angry. “What did you use the encryption program for?”

It was on the tip of his tongue to snip at Si and tell him that he could use whatever he wanted because this was his house now too, but he bit it back. Taking out his anger on Si wasn’t going to help anything. He’d been wrong for not telling Si who he was and for not telling him about the message.

Payton sighed, feeling about two feet tall. “Nate’s son confiscated a message on the ship he and Aiden were taken hostage on. It was a message to you from Benson that Caldwell apparently stole. I’ve been trying to crack it since this whole thing started. I figured out it was Englor encryption, but I couldn’t break the code.” Which was another thing that made him angry, he wasn’t used to not being able to solve puzzles on his own.

“What did it say?” Simon’s tone was even and a little flat. Payton supposed that was at least something. He’d be yelling if he were Si.

Payton dropped one foot over the side of the rail. “There’s an IN agent on Englor.

Which we already suspected. Benson didn’t know who, but he’d overheard Caldwell.”

“Did the message say anything else? Hint at why the IN wants the Marines?”

Payton shook his head, continuing to stare out into the snow-covered garden. It was dismal. Kind of like his life right now.

“I bet this all ties into my parents being killed too. Aldred seemed to think my father was leaning toward throwing his backing to keep the Marines. I don’t want you going anywhere without a guard, Payton. And you really shouldn’t be out here on this balcony.”

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Great
, he was going back to being chaperoned all the time. Payton stuck his hand out, catching the falling snow and watching it melt instantly. He was tired of the snow already.

“Is there anything else you need to tell me? Or are we done with the secrets now?”

I don’t know, are we? What did your advisors say earlier?
Did it even matter what Simon’s advisors had to say about their marriage? It was a done deal and they couldn’t change it. Unless they expected Si to get the marriage annulled. Payton felt the blood drain from his face.

“Why don’t you come inside? Besides the obvious danger, it’s cold out here.”

Almost as an afterthought he added, “Please.”

For a brief second, Payton just sat there, then he nodded absently. Swinging his legs over the railing, he stood and brushed past Si into the room, suddenly feeling the cold air.

Funny, he hadn’t thought it was that chilly when he’d gone out to have a look at the grounds in the daylight.

“Pay?” Simon closed the balcony door. “Listen. I never planned on— I never thought— Oh bloody hell, will you look at me please?”

Payton took off his coat and laid it across the bed, feeling defeated. He wanted to know what Simon’s advisors had to say, but he refused to ask. It was no secret that Si hadn’t wanted to marry him. He’d planned on marrying the Duchess of Kentwood and keeping Payton as a secret lover.

Payton swallowed the lump in his throat. Getting mad or fighting an annulment wouldn’t change Simon’s feelings. If Si truly didn’t want Payton— The rest of his anger slipped away. Whatever happened, happened. He was tired of fighting.

“Please.” Si rested his hand on Payton’s shoulder.

How could he stay mad when Si sounded so lost? Payton turned toward Si and was immediately struck by how worn out he looked. Had he even slept last night? “I tried to let you off the hook. There was no need for you to marry me.”

Si scowled at him. “I know bloody well that I didn’t have to, you reminded me of that at least twenty times on the ride to the Lady Anna, and at last three times after.” Si 184

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sighed, his shoulders heaving. “I’m trying to apologize for what I said last night. I didn’t mean that. I have no intention of acting as your guardian, Pay, you’re a grown man and can do whatever the hell you want. I was mad and— I’m sorry. Things got way out of hand.”

Nodding, Payton glanced around the room, looking anywhere but at Si. “I’m sorry too. I should have told you who I was, I just didn’t think it mattered. I was going back to Regelence and—”

Simon caught his chin, forcing him to make eye contact. “It was important, whether you went back or not, it was important. I wanted—want to know everything about you.”

“What did your advisors say?”
So much for not asking, Pay.

“Oxley seems to hope our marriage will start a trend. All of them were pleased that we’ll be getting an alliance with Regelence as a result.”

Ouch.
Payton winced. The cold feeling tried to creep back in. Si seemed so sure.

Almost like he’d thought of it as well. Payton had gone from unwanted spouse to political pawn in the span of a few hours. Could Simon have planned—? No, no, there went his overactive imagination again. Si hadn’t known who Payton was until Nate had informed him.

“I like the scruffy look you have going on here.” Si ran his fingers over Payton’s jaw, his gaze following them. His voice was deeper, huskier.

The sound made Payton forget all about his rocky relationship. He loved that lust-induced voice. He shivered. Si was his, at least for the moment, and he could do whatever he wanted with him. What a thought. Focusing on Si’s full, kissable lips, Payton bit his own. His cock twitched to life.

“What are you thinking?” Si’s thumb traced Payton’s bottom lip and he dipped his head closer. He licked Payton’s lips. “What’s with this naughty little grin?”

Moaning, Payton lifted his face until he could feel Si’s breath cooling the trail his tongue had just made. “I was thinking that you’re mine now and I can do whatever I want to you.” Galaxy, was that his voice? It sounded so rusty and unused. Like he’d just woken up.

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Si groaned and slammed his mouth down on Payton’s, his hand sliding around Payton’s back. He crushed Payton to him and thrust his tongue inside. The muscled length of his body was absolute heaven, stealing Payton’s breath and reminding him of last night before they’d been interrupted. Si was already erect against Payton’s stomach.

Payton whimpered, his own cock hardened. There was so much wrong. So much they needed to work out. They needed to talk.
Pull back, Pay.
His cravat was tugged off and thrown onto the bed. Si stepped back, putting space between them and breaking their kiss. He practically ripped Payton’s waistcoat and shirt off, then he jerked Payton’s trousers open. Button’s flew off in every direction, plinking and rolling on the hardwood floor. Payton’s cock strained against his underclothes.