The Englor Affair (27 page)

“Get these off and get on the bed.” Simon tapped Payton’s hip and began pulling off his own clothes.

Payton froze, watching the muscles of Si’s chest flex as they were revealed to him.

Si’s face and neck were flushed, his erection evident through his trousers. Lifting his head as he dropped his shirt to the ground, Si met Payton’s gaze before his attention fell to Payton’s open trousers. “Now.”

Spurred into motion by the growly need in Si’s voice, Payton kicked his shoes off.

He turned toward the bed, and seeing his com-pad and journal, he took the time to set them on the nightstand. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his stockings off. By the time he stood and reached for his trousers and underpants, Si was gloriously naked, hard and all hands. He helped Payton divest himself of the rest of his clothes and shoved him backward onto the bed.

Payton landed with a bounce, his cock slapping against his stomach and splattering moisture onto his belly. Before he knew what hit him, Si was on top of him, pinning him, mouth covering Payton’s.

Si’s hand wormed between them, catching Payton’s cock. He growled and bit Payton’s bottom lip. “Fuck, you make me insane. Want you so badly.”

Gasping for breath, Payton squirmed, trying to get his hands on Si. His cock was so hard he felt as though he were going to burst. He’d never felt this intense, blinding 186

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arousal. He wanted to bite and scratch and—Galaxy, he needed Simon. Bucking his hips into Si’s tight grip, Payton managed to dislodge his consort and tumble him to the side.

Immediately he reached for Si’s erection and squeezed.

Snapping his hips forward, Si never faltered in his motions. He kept stroking Payton’s cock. “Yes. That’s it, don’t stop, Pay.” His chest muscles looked so round and hard, Payton’s mouth watered even as he moaned at Si’s ministrations.

Payton sank his teeth into the bulging pectoral muscle as he jerked Si’s heavy prick.

It wrung a ragged cry of pleasure from Simon. After that it became almost violent, both of them trying to get at each other. They were both panting and sweating, and somehow Payton ended up on the bottom again with Si sitting on top of him. He peered down at Payton, his sweaty red hair matted to his face.

“Oh.” Payton’s testicles pulled tight, sensation shot down his spine and his orgasm ripped through him, bowing his back off the mattress. Heat splashed on his stomach and his arm. For several seconds he couldn’t feel anything but the overwhelming pleasure, then the warm musky smell filled his senses and he collapsed back on the bed. His eyes clouded with tears and his body shook.

Si groaned above him and Payton blinked, focusing on the wide blue eyes staring down at him. He hadn’t even realized he’d let go of Si’s cock until that very moment. Si had grabbed it himself and stroked, once, twice. He fell forward bracing himself over Payton and came. His face scrunched together and then relaxed, a deep, shuddering breath left him. It was like all the stress of the past few days evaporated from him. Payton had never seen a more beautiful sight.

Fighting back tears, Payton caught Si behind the neck and tried to tug him down on top of Payton. He felt utterly worn out. He’d needed that in the worst way, but now he was all shaky, emotional. He didn’t like the feeling at all.

Si’s eyelids fluttered open. A small smile crept across his face and he pressed his lips to Payton’s. The kiss was slow and sensual, their tongues lazily exploring.

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Payton just went with it and let himself be swept away. He clung to Si, holding on tight. He didn’t want to think right now, instead he let the light floaty feeling of Si’s kisses take him away.

“Fuck, I needed that.” Caressing Payton’s cheek, Simon gave him one last soft kiss on the lips before getting up. “I’ve got to go to the base.” His voice was soft—it sounded almost sad.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Si stretched his arms over his head, his wide muscular back to Payton. Damn, that was nice. Even as sated and relaxed as Payton was the sight made his pulse race. He grinned and rolled onto his side. This marriage thing definitely had advantages. He trailed his fingers over Simon’s lower back and down one firm arse cheek.
Dust, he’s gorgeous.

“Mmm…you’re making me want to get back in bed.”

“Then do it.” Payton propped his head up on his hand.

Shaking his head, Simon stood. “I’ve got too much to do.” He grabbed his underclothes without turning and pulled them on, covering up his luscious arse.

Payton sighed and watched the play of back and shoulder muscles as Simon tugged on his pants. It was a pity to cover up such perfection, not to mention, Payton was happy and comfortable and didn’t want to move, but Si was right. They did have a lot to do.

“What’s the plan?” Payton sat and looked around the room for his strewn clothing.

“First I need to get Parliament’s support to keep the Marines on Englor.” Simon groaned and walked over to where his shirt lay on the floor. He picked it up and put it on.

“I have to go clear some things up on base. General Davidson is coming in from the other base for a meeting. I plan on speaking to him about the IN merger and get his take on things.” Buttoning his shirt, he bent over and kissed Payton on the forehead. “We need to move into the palace.”

Payton smiled and looped his arms around Si’s neck, trying to pull him back onto the bed. “What about the IN? We still need to find out what schematics they—”

Si kissed him and stood, tucking his shirt in. “Just leave that to me. See what you can do about arranging us an appointment with the Regelence procreation clinic and 188

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redecorate the palace. I’ve already talked to the head of the royal guards about security.”

He gave an over-exaggerated shiver. “I hate that place. It’s so bloody cold.”

Payton froze. What did he—? “An appointment? Why? Can’t Nate or one of my parents talk to the scientists about the process?”

“Nate’s going to look into it as soon as he gets back. He seems to think something in the process makes you stronger and more agile—”

Payton snorted. He’d apparently not gotten those traits.

“He’s right, Pay. You’re a lot stronger than a man your size should be. And you’re damned quick. With a little training you’d make a hell of a soldier.” Simon fetched his stockings and shoes, sat on the edge of the bed and began putting them on.

“Regardless, why do I need to make an appointment if Nate is going to speak with the scientists?”

“For an heir, of course.”

Falling back on the bed, Payton tried to catch his breath and stared at the canopy. He wasn’t ready for kids. He wasn’t even—

Simon stood, bent over and kissed Payton on the mouth, oblivious to Payton’s inner turmoil. “I’ll meet you at the palace this evening. If you need help redecorating, call Dru.”

Dru? Simon’s fiancée?
Payton laid there, a million things racing through his mind as Simon walked off.

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I swore I’d never become some lord’s brainless arm ornament and political host, but
I’ve become far worse. I’m a glorified housekeeper and sperm donor.

—
from the journal of Payton Marcus Townsend

Planet Englor: Hollister Palace in London, Moreal
He felt rather like a lab rat in a maze, or how he assumed a rat would feel. Payton jogged up a flight of stairs and faced yet another hallway that looked exactly the same as all the others. It had pale gray marble flooring and walls painted in alternating glossy white and flat white vertical stripes with glossy white wainscoting below. Wincing, he suppressed the urge to rub his hands over his arms. Hollister Palace was a lonely, cold and saturnine place, a showpiece rather than a home.

Raised in a gothic-style castle decorated in jewel tones and heavy mahogany furniture, he preferred dark colors that made a bold statement but felt cozy at the same time. His shoulders slumped as he continued down the hall. He missed Townsend Castle.

Maybe it was the unsettled things between himself and Si, but he was starting to feel more than a little wary. It was bad enough he had been regulated to househusband, but this place was making him homesick.

As he turned the corner a maid was just exiting one of the rooms. She took one look at Payton, her face hardened into a scowl and she quickly averted her gaze. Hurrying to the next room, she closed the door behind her with a loud, very-final-sounding click.

The staff was really beginning to get on his nerves. He’d caught several of them watching him, before disappearing as soon as they noticed him looking back at them.

Baxter, the butler, was downright belligerent and the housekeeper was avoiding him. The 190

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only one who’d welcomed him at all was a footman named Harry. Sighing, Payton continued going floor by floor and room by room. If the staff didn’t watch it, he’d fire them all and start anew.

He headed toward the last door on the right. This was his last floor and he’d be done familiarizing himself with the palace. His time would be better spent looking up information on the movement to disband the Marines.

Opening the door, Payton froze. The room was blue, not the dark blue of Si’s bedroom but a bright royal blue, with white puffy clouds painted high up on the walls.

There was a small red table and chairs and yellow shelves filled with wooden soldiers.

Payton shuddered, but unable to help himself, he stepped inside.

It was a nursery.
For an heir, of course.
Si’s statement rang over and over like a death knell. Payton shook his head, trying to get the words out of his head, but there was no use, he kept them. At this point he couldn’t decide what upset him most. The fact he’d been told rather than asked to produce an heir or that Si had spoke in such a matter-of-fact tone, like it wasn’t a big deal. He’d received no vow of love. Maybe that was what rankled? Sure, he hadn’t expected a declaration, but he’d always assumed he’d have one before he was asked, or rather told, to produce an heir.

This nursery wasn’t unlike the nursery in Townsend castle, but for some reason it didn’t seem very cheery. The far wall had a series of three windows with red curtains.

Dust motes floated in the sunlight streaming in from the middle window, the only one with the curtains pulled open. Toys were scattered across the tiny table. The room looked…lonely.

“Your Highness, the decorator you asked me to locate is here.”

Payton jumped at the pleasant voice behind him.
Harry, the footman.
Payton was seriously considering promoting the man. To what he didn’t know, maybe Harry could replace the absent housekeeper, Mrs. Cobbs, who Payton had asked to meet with him over two hours ago. “What do you think, Harry, should we have him start with the master suite?”

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“I was informed you were to make the decisions, not the footman,” Baxter the butler informed them in his snooty holier-than-thou voice.

Payton really hated that voice. It had done nothing but give him grief since he arrived.

Unclenching his jaw, he met Harry’s gaze. “Is he always like this?”

“Yes and no, Your Highness. He’s always, er…” Harry waved his hand side to side and lifted his pert nose into the air. He really was a cute kid. Well, not so much a kid really, he was about Payton’s age.

Smiling, Payton waved his hand in the same motion Harry moved his. “Snobby?”

Harry nodded, his curly chestnut hair bobbing. “Yes, but he seems to have taken exception to you, because he’s not usually quite so…” Again Harry whirled his hand in a circle.

“Hostile?” Payton supplied.

“Yes.”

“Harry, you are needed in the kitchen.” Baxter sounded like he too was clenching his teeth. Which was impossible since he was a computer.

“I don’t think so, Baxter. You will find someone else. Harry is now my assistant, until I say otherwise.” Payton beamed, making sure he was in full view of the palace’s cameras. Juvenile it may be, but he was not going to be browbeaten by a computer.

Speaking of…he really wanted to rifle through Baxter’s memory. If he let Harry handle the decorating, er, decorator… “Harry, can you tell the decorator I want something similar to Hollister House. I think it’s obvious that the colonel likes darker colors, and I certainly do.” Which was why he’d requested the decorator who did Hollister House for Simon.

“The proper address is His Majesty, not the colonel,” Baxter clipped out. “And from what I hear Hollister House is too dark and looks entirely too much like a bachelor pad.

Eventually, His Majesty will come to his senses and marry a nice young lady and produce an heir.”

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“Don’t mess with me, Baxter.” Payton pointed at the camera. He was tempted to have the entire palace redone in black, just to spite the butler, but then that would be torturing himself as well.

Stifling a giggle, Harry blushed and his violet eyes twinkled. “Right away, Your Highness.” He left the nursery.

Payton turned his attention back to the room, feeling like his heart was in his throat.

The nursery.
Of all the places he could have gone without seeing, this was it.

He walked over to the table and picked up a doll dressed in a blue uniform. An Englor Marine. The doll was made of plastic—it was really more of an action figure than a doll, the black hair painted on rather than actually hair. The gray eyes and painted-on lips were wearing off, indicating that the action figure was well loved. The Marine even had a colonel’s insignia on his shoulders. Payton grinned. Seemed as though Simon was destined to be a Marine from an early age.

“His Grace the Duke of St. Albins is here to meet the new queen. What shall I tell him, Your Highness?” Baxter announced, startling Payton.