The Englor Affair (40 page)

Cony came into the room, frowned at them and shook his head, then his attention focused on Garrett, who still slept in the crook of Si’s arm. A big happy grin lit his face and he walked over and plucked the baby from Si. He headed toward the door, then turned back and walked around the sofa when he saw Father coming in the room.

“Give me that baby, Raleigh. You monopolized him last time he was awake. I’ve promised to take him to see the portrait gallery.” Father rounded the sofa, completely ignoring Payton and Si, arms outstretched toward Garrett.

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The Englor Affair

Cony actually snorted and turned his back on Father as he made his way toward the door with Garret clutched to him like a prize. “You are not going to bore my grandson with your stuffy ancestors. He’d much rather see my weapons collection.”

Payton scooted closer to Si, pressing his cheek to Si’s as they both watched his parents leave, still fighting over Garrett.
They have lost their minds.
Cony hadn’t even given him a lecture on proper behavior.
Amazing.

“You don’t think they’re going to start playing tug-o-war with the baby, do you?” Si kissed his cheek.

Chuckling, Payton kissed Si on the nose. “No. But we may very well start a war when we take Garrett home with us.” He straddled Simon’s lap fully, tilted Si’s face up and kissed him.

Si grinned and nipped Payton’s chin. “We’ll have them sign a peace treaty before we leave.”

“Good thinking.”

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Look for these titles by J.L. Langley

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Without Reservations

With Love

With Caution

My Fair Captain

The Englor Affair

In this world, trust is hard to find…and the one thing they need to survive.

Poison

© 2008 Joely Skye

Tobias Smator lives down his late father’s execution by avoiding the spotlight—and responsibility. He doesn’t mind what people think of him as long as they leave him alone.

Still, in this unremarkable half-life he’s fashioned for himself on deceptively low-tech Rimania, he’s not safe from political intrigue. Someone wants him dead.

Alliance operative Geln Marac’s orders for his first assignment were simple: Stay uninvolved. Those orders go out the window, however, when he delivers an antidote to save Tobias from death by poisoning. His reward? Possible betrayal that lands him in the hands of police interrogators. To protect the Alliance, Geln resorts to a temporary mindwipe.

Tobias is fascinated by the amnesiac man who saved his life. But Geln has attracted the attention of the high-powered Lord Eberly, who would use him as a pawn. Rather than sacrifice Geln to the political wolves, Tobias chooses to embrace his heritage.

Geln’s memory reawakens to a precarious situation with no source of protection—

except Tobias. There’s only one way forward for both of them.

Trust—or die.

Warning: this book contains hot nekkid otherplanetary manlove.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Poison: After Tobias returned from the outside world, Geln told him, “Take off your clothes.”

That brought Tobias up short. But then he walked to Geln and stopped, a gleam in his eye that made Geln a little breathless.

“You first,” said Tobias.

Geln slowly shook his head.

“I was naked last time,” Tobias pointed out.

“Half-naked,” Geln amended.

Tobias shrugged one shoulder to indicate he didn’t think it made a difference.

“All right.” Geln decided this wasn’t an impasse he was interested in keeping. “Strip yourself,” he added as he pulled off his shirt. A naked, responsive Tobias would be easier to work on. Dressed, Tobias wasn’t quite vulnerable enough.

They stood nose to nose. “Lie down,” said Geln.

A small half-smile played on Tobias’s face. He gripped both of Geln’s arms, gentle but firm, and pulled him to the bed so they sat together, Geln’s legs draped over Tobias.

“I don’t want to lie down,” Tobias said softly, an edge there that surprised Geln. He could feel his heart kick up and couldn’t tell if it was exactly lust or fear or both. His cock hardened though.

Tobias still had hands wrapped around each of Geln’s arms, an odd kind of embrace, as if Tobias didn’t fully trust him. Perhaps, Geln’s earlier ministrations had made him uneasy. Geln skimmed a hand down Tobias’s side, the movement restricted by Tobias’s clasp.

His lover sucked in a breath and Geln did it again, enjoying the response.

“If you let go of me, I’ll touch you all over,” Geln promised. “In case you haven’t noticed, you like it.”

“I like it,” Tobias admitted, “but I’d rather you come this time.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Geln murmured and clasped Tobias’s wrists, lifting his hands off. Before he could do more Tobias was kissing him, palms back on him, one on his neck, the other just under his arm. A thumb stroked the sensitive underside.

Geln shuddered and Tobias angled his mouth to kiss more deeply, tongue playing with Geln’s, insisting, asking for more.

He wanted to give way, he did, but it was hard.

“Trust me, even if I don’t know what I’m doing.” This said against Geln’s ear and then he was pushed onto his back. Well, whatever “stuff” Tobias and the stable boy had gotten up to… That thought got lost as Tobias’s teeth came down on Geln, grazing the sensitive skin around his nipple, and Geln sucked in a long breath. A palm lay flat on his stomach now, warm, reassuring and he turned to see question in Tobias’s eyes.

“Whatever,” said Geln.

“Whatever?” repeated Tobias, somewhat taken aback, and his lust-darkened eyes seemed to lighten.

“I mean”—Geln swallowed—“whatever you want, I want.”

Very slowly, Tobias wrapped a hand around Geln’s dick, all the while watching.

“I guess I don’t make a great top,” Geln said dryly, “though I was trying.”

Tobias cocked his head as he ran a thumb across Geln’s slit. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Geln gave a small hoot of laughter, which just made Tobias more baffled. “Don’t worry, neither do I. Besides, I don’t make a great bottom, either.” Geln pushed up, deciding that he’d better stop talking before he caused Tobias to lose all confidence.

He ran fingers through Tobias’s hair. “I don’t think I’ve ever been with someone so lovely.” He kissed lightly, with some tongue. “I’m sorry I’m such a mess.”

Tobias, he noted, hadn’t released his dick. “Don’t be sorry about this, about us,”

Tobias said in low tones.

“No. No.” To his dismay, Geln’s voice was shaky. He wrapped himself around Tobias’s neck and buried his face in Tobias’s throat. Strong arms held him and Tobias started up again, kissing, touching, exploring; and Geln gave it back. He didn’t care if he came first, he just wanted to be with someone who noticed what was going on in bed.

When he was close, just from Tobias’s hand, Tobias shot him a glance, bashfulness there. “I don’t have much practice, well, any practice…”

“Yes.”

Tobias scooted back and bent over, hot breath touching Geln’s dick before his mouth took him in, a little unsteady, a little unsure while finding a rhythm.

All hell’s about to break loose. Literally.

An Inner Darkness

© 2008 Ally Blue

Bay City Paranormal Investigations Book 5

After more than a year as a couple—and plenty of bumps along the road—Sam Raintree and Dr. Bo Broussard are finally settling into life together. Bo has come to terms with his sexuality, their business is thriving, and Sam has begun to accept his role as a step-parent of sorts to Bo’s sons, Sean and Adrian. The only real dark spot is Bo’s ex-wife, Janine.

When eleven-year-old Adrian begins exhibiting signs of psychokinesis—the same ability which allows Sam to manipulate interdimensional portals—the friction between Sam, Bo and Janine escalates. Sam and Bo have reason to believe Adrian’s raw, uncontrolled talent poses a danger to him and those around him. Janine, however, believes Sam and Bo are encouraging dangerous delusions on Adrian’s part. Common ground is nonexistent, anger and hard words ever-present.

Caught in the middle of the conflict and burdened with an ability he can’t yet control, Adrian is soon pushed beyond his limits. With Adrian’s mind—and the lives of everyone around him—hanging in the balance, Sam and Bo race against time to save both boys and keep an otherworldly horror from breaking free.

Warning: This book contains graphic language, explicit male/male sex, family
drama and scary monsters.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
An Inner Darkness: Adrian fell asleep in the truck halfway to Sam and Bo’s apartment. Bo carried him inside. Sam trailed behind with Adrian’s duffle bag. He set it beside the bed while Bo pulled off Adrian’s sneakers and tucked him under the covers. Bo pressed a gentle kiss to the boy’s forehead before following Sam out of the room and closing the door.

They brushed their teeth and changed out of their clothes without speaking. Sam had to remind Bo to take his anti-seizure medication. Bo took the capsules without argument, but it worried Sam that he’d forgotten. He’d been taking them ever since his seizure back in May, and hadn’t forgotten once until now.

When they switched off the light and climbed into bed, Bo still hadn’t said a word.

Worried by Bo’s silence, Sam slipped his arm around Bo’s waist and molded his body to Bo’s back. “Are you all right?”

“No. I’m afraid, Sam.” Bo turned to look at Sam. His eyes glittered black in the low light bleeding through the curtains. “He’s safe tonight. But what about tomorrow night?

And the night after that? What’s going to happen to him and Sean, if we can’t protect them?”

Sam’s heart twisted. He tightened his arm around Bo. “We just have to take it one day at a time. Do the best we can.”

Bo nodded, his hair tickling Sam’s face. “I know you’re right. It’s just so tempting to take them and run. Just get them both the hell out of here before…”

He didn’t finish the thought, but he didn’t have to. Sam kissed the shell of Bo’s ear.

“You know we can’t do that. It’ll just put the kids in worse danger in the long run.”

“I know.” Bo drew a shaking breath. “God, I don’t know what to do. I’ve never felt more helpless in my life.”

A great fist seemed to close around Sam’s chest. He wished he could take away the despair in Bo’s voice.

“Try to sleep,” Sam whispered in Bo’s ear. “Things’ll look better in the morning.” It sounded false even to himself.

Bo let out a harsh laugh. “I can’t sleep. Right now I feel like I’ll never be able to sleep again.”

With no idea what to say or do, Sam buried his face in Bo’s neck and rubbed his hand in soothing circles on Bo’s chest, as if he could erase Bo’s fear with nothing but his touch.

Maybe you can,
he thought when Bo’s heartbeat quickened against his palm
. For a
little while, at least.

Sam trailed his fingers lower, over the threadbare cotton of Bo’s T-shirt to the drawstring of the ancient hospital scrub pants he always wore to bed when he felt in need of comfort. A sharp tug loosened the bow. Sam slipped his hand inside and reached between Bo’s legs, cupping his balls in his palm.

Bo moaned. “Sam. I don’t know if—”

“Shhh.” Sam nuzzled behind Bo’s ear. He ran his fingertips over the head of Bo’s cock, which began to swell in his hand. “Just relax. Let me touch you.”

A tremor ran through Bo’s body when Sam’s fingers closed around his shaft and began to stroke. Hooking a thumb into the waistband of his scrubs, Bo shoved them down to mid-thigh. The drawstring dragged over Sam’s prick where it pressed against Bo’s ass.

The thin material of Sam’s boxers did not a damn thing to reduce the sensation.

Wanting to feel skin on skin but unwilling to let go of Bo’s cock, Sam used the arm he was lying on to wriggle his boxers down as far as he could. When the garment was out of the way he squirmed until his erection lay nestled between Bo’s buttocks. It felt wonderful, just as it always did. His cock fit perfectly in the warm, welcoming crease of Bo’s ass, and his thighs molded to Bo’s as if they were parts of one whole.

Bo’s hand curved over Sam’s on his cock. “Sam. Please.”

Realizing he’d been lying there simply holding Bo for a couple of minutes now, Sam chuckled. “Sorry.” He began stroking again, swiping the pad of his thumb across Bo’s slit just to hear Bo’s near-silent gasps when he did it.

Letting the movement of his hand fall into a rhythm so familiar it was second nature, Sam rooted into the thick tresses pooling around Bo’s neck and breathed deep. Bo’s hair always smelled so good, fresh and clean as a spring morning. The underlying musk of

sexual desire added a familiar lusty kick, the two blending into the scent Sam loved more than any other.

Fastening his mouth to the juncture of Bo’s neck and shoulder, Sam sucked the firm flesh. A hint of salt caressed his tastebuds. He pressed his tongue flat against Bo’s skin to gather as much of the sharp flavor as he could.

Bo shivered, his body arching against Sam’s. “Oh, God,” he whispered, thrusting into Sam’s hand. “Harder.”

Electricity shot through Sam’s insides. He obediently tightened his fingers around Bo’s shaft and pulled harder, faster. Bo growled and pushed his ass against Sam’s groin, and
fuck
but it felt good. Slipping his free hand beneath Bo’s neck, Sam curled his arm around Bo’s skull. His fingers dug into the silken warmth of Bo’s hair and tugged Bo’s head back, baring his neck for gentle open-mouthed kisses. Bo moaned, the sound low and sweet. His hips rocked, forward and backward and forward again, fucking Sam’s hand and rubbing his ass against Sam’s cock, until Sam was lost in a haze of heat and sensation.