My Fair Captain (24 page)

“Earl of Deverell.” Nate turned sideways in the seat, resting his back against the side, and pulled Aiden in between his legs. “And heir to the Duke of Hawthorne.” Wrapping his arms around Aiden’s waist, Nate nuzzled his neck.

Oh, that felt good. Aiden closed his eyes and relaxed. He loved Nate’s beard. Loved just being near Nate.

Aiden’s eyes flew open, and he turned his head slightly. “You’re heir to a dukedom?” That meant Nate had known what their society would think of them dancing three waltzes together. But why would he do that?

“Not anymore. I was disowned.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Nate settled Aiden back against him. “I killed my father’s best friend’s heir in a duel.” He said it very matter-of-factly, but Aiden wasn’t fooled. There was a story here.

Nate tightened his grip on Aiden’s waist and kissed his cheek.

“Daniel’s fiancée accused me of compromising her. I tried to go talk him out of the duel. When he wouldn’t listen, I decided to shoot over his shoulder, but he shot first and clipped my arm as I pulled the trigger.”

“But you didn’t compromise her.” Nate was way too honorable for that.

“No, I didn’t. I caught her leaving a rendezvous in the garden at a ball. I’d heard her saying goodbye to her lover right before I rounded the hedge. She wasn’t about to let me go, knowing I’d overheard that. She ran to Daniel and said I attacked her.”

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What a witch.
Aiden touched Nate’s cheek, where it rested beside his, and combed his fingers through the hair. “Why didn’t you tell him the truth anyway?”

Practically purring, Nate leaned into his touch. “I didn’t have an alibi.

Or rather I didn’t have one I could share. I was with Daniel’s younger brother.”

Aiden didn’t like the idea of Nate with another man. Which was utterly ridiculous, it was in the past…and probably their future too.

Aiden frowned, really not liking that idea because he was beginning to think of Nate as his and he didn’t like sharing.

“Englor does not approve of same-sex relationships. It’s not illegal, but it’s not acceptable either. Had it been only myself to consider I’d have told the truth, but Presley was my friend and I was not going to jeopardize him.”

That didn’t surprise Aiden one bit that Nate had sacrificed himself to protect someone else. It seemed to be a habit with him. It’s what made him such a wonderful captain. Aiden had heard numerous accountings of Nate’s bravery and altruism at the military ball.

Aiden turned to face Nate, straddling Nate’s thighs. Catching Nate’s face in his palms, Aiden kissed him. “I’m sorry you lost your family over it.”

“So am I, Aiden, so am I.”

“Did you have a large family?”

He shook his head. “No, only me, my younger brother Jared and my father. My mother died when I was young.”

There was a longing to his voice when he spoke. Aiden’s heart ached for him. He couldn’t imagine not having his parents and brothers even if they were pains in the neck sometimes. “You have me now, if that helps.

And Trouble.”

Nate’s eyes flashed, his demeanor changing to one of certainty in an instant.

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The look almost made Aiden feel treasured. Mashing his mouth against Nate’s, he controlled the kiss all of a second before Nate made a growling sound and took over.

Nate plunged his tongue into Aiden’s mouth, finding his. Wrapping his fingers in Aiden’s hair, he tilted his head back.

The tingle in Aiden’s scalp went right through him, making his prick fill. He loved how demanding Nate was, how he always took over. It made him feel desirable, like Nate needed him. It seemed as though Nate was out of control to have him, but Aiden knew it was an illusion. Nate was very in control. Everything he did was designed to drive Aiden crazy. And it worked. Aiden couldn’t get enough of him. Being the center of such concentrated attention was becoming a craving.

Tugging on Aiden’s hair, Nate broke the kiss. He nipped Aiden’s jaw, his other hand sliding to cup Aiden’s arse. “Boy, you have horrible timing, you know that? We’re almost at the docks.”

Aiden whimpered.
Oh Galaxy
, his cock was so hard, it was throbbing.

He loved how Nate’s voice got deeper and rumbled with passion. It made his body tingle, gave him goose bumps. He tried to scoot his hips forward to rub against Nate.

Nate nipped his jaw again. “Raise up.”

“Sir?”

Nate’s face softened and he took Aiden’s lips in a brief kiss. “Lift up on your knees for a second.”

Hurrying to comply, Aiden moved his arse off Nate’s legs. He didn’t know what Nate had in mind, but he sure wanted to find out.

Unfastening Aiden’s trousers, Nate slipped his hands inside the back of them. He grabbed Aiden’s arse, pulling him forward, and kissed him.

Fingers slid over Aiden’s crease, his hole. “Mmm…” Nate’s hands on him, anywhere, was a sensual delight. Nate had such big, strong, calloused hands.

Moving one hand from Aiden’s ass, Nate pushed a finger into Aiden’s mouth. “Suck, boy. Get it good and wet.”

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A shiver raced along Aiden’s spine at the realization of what Nate intended to do. His arsehole clenched and relaxed. He sucked, gathering saliva in his mouth.

Nate moaned, his lips going to Aiden’s jawline. His tongue traced down and then up behind Aiden’s ear, wringing another tremor from Aiden. Nate drew his finger out and worked his hand into the back of Aiden’s pants.

A wet fingertip rubbed over his hole before pressing inside. Aiden groaned, his cock jerking. It was strange for only a second then his whole body relaxed. It felt very good.

Pushing his finger in and pulling back out, Nate teased. He did it again, barely touching Aiden’s prostate.

“Oh.” Shuddering, Aiden closed his eyes and dipped his head backward. He would have never thought he’d like such a thing.

Clutching Nate’s shoulders, he tried to move, to impale himself. He should be embarrassed at his own actions, but he wasn’t. He wanted Nate so badly, wanted Nate to fuck him instead of using his finger. Aiden whimpered. “Please…”

Nate rubbed his gland several times before taking his finger out and tapping Aiden’s lips with it.

Aiden engulfed the digit. A warm rich slightly bitter taste filled his mouth and it occurred to Aiden what he’d done. He should have been horrified, but instead his balls drew tighter, his belly tensed.
Oh.

“You like that, boy? Like the taste? I’m going to eat this sweet little ass out, tonight. You’re going to love the feel of my tongue fucking your ass.”

Aiden shuddered at the thought of Nate’s face buried between his cheeks. The things the man said to him. His cock got even harder.

A second finger forged into his mouth. Nate’s tongue circled Aiden’s ear as he wet the fingers.

Sliding them free of Aiden’s mouth, Nate bit Aiden’s earlobe. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to distract Aiden when both fingers pressed into his arse. Going deep, they nudged his gland. Over and over, Nate

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stroked relentlessly as he kissed Aiden deeply, sharing the flavor. “Mmm, you like my fingers in your ass, boy?”

Moaning, Aiden tried to thrust down and his eyes flew open. His hole squeezed Nate’s fingers. He was close, his prick leaking, just a little—

Nate pulled out. “Un-uh, no coming. You have to wait until later.”

Pushing the two digits he’d used into Aiden’s mouth again, he groaned.

No, no, no.
Aiden sucked greedily, hoping to entice Nate to continue.

Dust, the things Nate did to him, made him want. Aiden moaned. “Fuck me, please.”

Nate moved his fingers, sliding them over Aiden’s cheek, and ground his mouth into Aiden’s. He kissed him deep and hard, ravishing his mouth. “Oh fuck, boy.”

Aiden squeezed his eyes shut, resting his forehead against Nate’s.

Why did this man make him so out of control with need? He’d always been a bit of a hedonist, it was the artist in him, he supposed. But this trust and passion that flared between them surprised even him. And oddly, as new and almost scary as it was, he didn’t want it to ever stop.

Nate tucked Aiden’s shirt back in and buttoned up his pants. “We’ve got to go. The lift stopped several minutes ago.”

Panting for breath, Aiden tried to ignore the need for release.

Knowing this was only a postponement, he stood.

Nate stood too and immediately adjusted himself.

Good.
Aiden was glad he wasn’t the only one suffering. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay here a little while longer?”

“Behave, boy.” The fondness and sexy growl in Nate’s tone made it less of a chastisement and more of a plea. “C’mon. We have a ship to find. If it’s in port, we shouldn’t have any problem identifying it.” Nate exited the lift and waited for Aiden to join him before ordering the door closed.

That much was true, he’d had the details down so well that he’d even gotten the “Property of the IN” on the side of the crates. Unfortunately, the ship numbers had been on the other side and he hadn’t gotten them.

Jeffers hadn’t found the attacker in any of the crew lists of the ships in

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port either. Therefore, he and Nate were taking a trip to the docks to see if they could locate the freighter.

Aiden reached for Nate’s right hand, trying to get his mind on business.

Shaking his head, Nate stepped around Aiden and took his hand.

“Left side. We’re at the docks.”

Aiden must have looked as confused as he felt, because Nate chuckled. “I’m right handed. If I need my sword in a hurry…”

“Ah.” That was a good point. Aiden sure could have used a sword when he was here last time. “I want a sword.”

“You don’t have one?”

“No.” They walked down the small slope between buildings to a wood pier. “Unmarried men don’t carry swords.”

Aiden stared in awe as they got closer to the ships. They were huge.

Much bigger than they’d seemed up on the cliff. And the smell. He was right, it was much worse closer to the water.

“Can you use one?” Nate jerked his arm, making Aiden slam into his side.

“Oof.”

A sailor rushed by, a barrel over his shoulder. “Wotch out, guv.”

He’d have run over Aiden if Nate hadn’t pulled him out of the way.

Aiden turned to watch the sailor hurry past. Man, this place was much busier than it had seemed from above. Everyone seemed to be running about. And it was loud, with people shouting out orders. It was all very interesting.

“Aiden?” Nate squeezed his hand.

“Huh?” He looked back at Nate. “Oh! Yes, swords. I can use them. It was part of my schooling. I’m proficient in several firearms as well. But they can only be used for sport on Regelence so I’d need a sword to carry instead of a fragger.” His gaze drifted to the other side, past Nate. The buildings were dingy and rough, like they’d seen better days. The atmosphere itself was dull and gray. There was no green anywhere,

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unless you considered the murky greenish water. Yet the place was teeming with life.

Nate chuckled. “I asked if you were all right.”

Aiden nodded. “Yes, just taking everything in.” He sure wished he had a screen right about now. Normally, this setting would have made him uncomfortable. He was definitely out of his element, but he also had Nate. And he had no doubt Nate would keep him safe. Likely walking close to Nate would deter most people from messing with him.

This was different than watching from above. Here in the midst of things he could see better. He could feel what it was like. It was much more real down here. Even his skin felt different, clammy. The air was thicker, harsher. Capturing this on screen would allow others to experience it too.

Squeezing his hand again, Nate laughed. “You should see your face.

And the answer is no you cannot stop and sketch.”

Turning toward Nate, Aiden laughed. “Am I that transparent?”

“Yes.”

Aiden smiled. Nate didn’t seem to mind one bit that he was in “artist mode”. Nate liked that part of him too. Amazing really, no one else did, it annoyed most people. He bumped his head into Nate’s arm, chuckling.

How had he gotten this lucky?

They continued down the pier, listening to the boards squeak and clack beneath their feet, silently enjoying each other’s company. At least Aiden did. It felt right to hold Nate’s hand and walk beside him, sharing the experience with him.

Nate jostled his hand, getting his attention. “Aiden, look in front of us.”

Turning his head away from a pair of squawking seagulls fighting over a fish, Aiden spotted the ship. His stomach plummeted to his feet and jumped for joy at the same time. He’d half expected not to find it today. “Do you see the numbers or a name yet?”

“Not yet.”

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Aiden inspected the Cargo Hydro-Space Craft from top to bottom and side to side, trying to burn the details into his brain, and he knew Nate was doing the same. It didn’t look like the other ships. It was much nicer, newer. He hadn’t noticed that before. Or maybe he had, but seeing it next to some of the other ships, up close, made it very apparent.

As they approached the ship, Nate hailed a passing sailor. “What’s the name of this ship? Do you know if she takes on passengers? Where can I find the captain?”

The man shook his head. “That there is the bloomin’ Marchioness, guv. Ain’t she a beaut? Far as me knows, she’s a cargo ship now, guv.

At’s ’er cap’n there.” The man pointed.

Nate tightened his grip on Aiden’s hand and jerked him in between two stacks of wooden crates right next to them. He pushed Aiden against the wall of crates, grabbed Aiden’s shoulders and shoved him to his knees.

What the—?

“Suck, boy. I did not pay you good money not to have your mouth doing something besides flapping.” Nate spoke loudly, unhooking the placket of his trousers.

Oww.
His knees. Aiden frowned up at him. What in the Galaxy was he doing? “I—”