Chuckling, Sebastian removed his hand and leaned back. “Haven’t you had enough with last night and this morning?”
“Well apparently not, and I’m not the one who decided to fondle me, so maybe you should ask yourself that question.” Colton stuck his tongue out.
“Do that again,” Sebastian growled only inches from Colton’s face.
A sizzle went through Colton. “What? This?” He stuck his tongue out again.
Putting his hands on Colton’s shoulders and rubbing his thumbs along Colton’s neck, Sebastian closed his lips around Colton’s tongue.
A shiver went through Colton. Good galaxy, who knew caresses on the neck could be so erotic?
“Mmm…” He opened his mouth.
Sebastian ravished him with a slow, sensual assault. No wonder he was infamous for his sexual escapades. What he could do with a kiss alone devastated the senses.
Colton’s toes curled. The soft glide along Colton’s lips and tongue sent his mind reeling. His testicles drew taut. They were alone in the tack room. The stables too for that matter. Would it be bad form to push down on Sebastian’s shoulders? That mouth had done wicked things to Colton this morning. Or perhaps he should be the one to drop to his knees. That sounded good too.
With a sigh, Sebastian pulled back. When Colton didn’t immediately let go, Sebastian grabbed Colton’s wrists and unwound them from his neck. Sebastian held them, running his thumbs over Colton’s knuckles. “Let’s go inside. We can’t do this in here, sweeting.”
“Why can’t we?” Goodness, Colton’s voice had squeaked. “Does Berkley have camera functions in here?”
Sebastian smirked. “For one thing, this room is too small. And the grooms are liable to come in any moment. And no, Berkley does not have cameras in here. Only audio. He has most of the same capabilities as Jeffers, except his range. His range over the grounds isn’t as great as Jeffers’.” He kissed each of Colton’s hands on the knuckles. “Are you done in here?”
“I need to take Apollo’s bridle off.”
Sebastian backed through the door, still holding Colton’s hands. “Let’s do that so we can go upstairs. Oof.” Sebastian ran into Apollonia.
Colton chuckled. “Speaking of Apollo’s tack…I can’t find my cinch.” Had Sebastian just winced? “What?”
“I didn’t want to tell you yesterday, but…” Sebastian turned and shoved at Apollonia’s side. “Go get Apollo settled, and we’ll talk.” Sebastian’s voice was clipped.
Uh-oh. An itching sensation started along Colton’s shoulders. Something was up. Something Colton probably wasn’t going to like, although he couldn’t imagine what. Had someone stolen his cinch? Cinches weren’t expensive, but the gall… Did they think it would keep him from racing?
Apollonia moved out of their way but turned to stare at them. As Sebastian walked past her, she swiveled her ears toward her rump and backed up.
Colton reached out to soothe her. “Shh…”
She raised her head, her eyes wide, then finally sniffed and nuzzled into his hand.
“That’s my girl. Shhh…” Colton gave her one last reassuring pat and went to her father’s stall.
Waiting on Colton, Sebastian had leaned against the wall outside Apollo’s enclosure. His brows lowered and his mouth tightened, but he was slouched rather than rigid.
“Come on, tell me what’s going on.” Colton’s erection had taken a hike, and in its place his ire was rising.
“Yesterday before the race I went to Apollo’s pen first to see if you were there.” It had been a little odd that he’d come out with Brooks.
“And?” Colton unfastened the cheek strap and pulled the bridle over Apollo’s ears.
“While I was in there with Apollo I noticed your girth had been cut.”
Dropping the bridle by his side, Colton turned to face his consort. “Someone cut the girth on Apollo’s saddle?” Why would someone do that?
Jaw tense, Sebastian nodded once. “It was cut so that a little pressure, probably during the race, would’ve snapped it in half.”
Whoa. The bridle hit against the wall as Colton leaned on it. Someone wanted to hurt him. Why?
Sebastian touched his cheek. When had he come inside the stall? “It’s okay, I had everything under control. If I’d thought there was the slightest chance something else would happen, that you were in more danger, I’d have never let you race.”
Colton shook his head. “I just don’t know why someone would do that. Do you think it’s related to Aiden and Trouble being kidnapped? Or the admiral missing? Could it be the IN behind it?”
“It was Plume. He was there and seemed irritated when you won the race without incident.”
That son of a whoremonger. Gritting his teeth, Colton stormed past Sebastian and into the tack room. He hung the hackamore on the peg with the girth and slammed the door. He was going to get even with Plume if it was the last thing he did. Colton should’ve pummeled Plume the other day in the park. If he—
Blast. That’s why Sebastian had met with Leith.
Butterflies swarmed in Colton’s stomach. He should be ashamed of himself. He’d spied on his husband, and the whole time Sebastian had been trying to protect him. His consort had been looking out for him. Guh. I’m a ninny. A non-trusting stupid ninny who needed to beg his consort’s forgiveness.
“Colton?”
“What?” he snapped. Great. Now, he was taking out his frustration at himself on Sebastian. “Why didn’t you tell me this when it happened?”
“I didn’t want you to worry.” Sebastian closed Apollo’s door.
Better to get the truth out in the open. “Is this why you met with Leith today?”
Sebastian whirled around and narrowed his eyes to slits. Oh galaxy. Colton knew. The gate swung open and hit him in the behind because he hadn’t locked it. “What did you say?” Surely he’d heard wrong. Colton couldn’t possibly know. Sebastian balled his hands into fists as his stomach clenched painfully.
“I asked if that’s why you met with Leith.” Colton hesitated for a second and continued forward. “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have, but I went to the toy store with Muffin and Rexley after my meeting with the commissioner because it was near where the note asked you to meet…” He shrugged. “It’s not a good excuse. There isn’t one for what I did.”
“You were spying on me.” The accusation in Sebastian’s voice came out loud and clear. His face was cold and tingly. Colton had seen him with Leith. What if Colton put the pieces together? What if he found out?
Colton nodded.
How in the world had he found out about the meeting? Unless— “You read that note yesterday,” Sebastian accused. Colton didn’t trust him.
Stopping halfway to Sebastian, Colton studied his feet. “I thought it might be a paramour you were meeting with.”
Already it was starting. Just as it had with Giles. “After I told you I had no paramour?” Sebastian’s voice climbed, and he struggled to rein his temper back in.
Colton nodded. “I’m sorry, but you’re so secretive sometimes. You won’t talk about your family, or your life before the navy. And your birthmark… There has to be an explanation for the mark on your leg other than coincidence.”
Sebastian’s worst fears were coming true. Bugger, what was he going to do? Colton was getting way too close. Galaxy help Sebastian, he was in love with Colton and too selfish to let him go. “Just because I married you, doesn’t mean I have to tell you everything. You don’t own me.”
Colton took a step back, his eyes wide. When he spoke, his voice was soft, hurt. “I don’t want to own you. I want honesty.”
Oh bloody hell, not only had Colton spied on him, but Colton had put himself in danger to do so. Sebastian’s heart pounded so hard his chest ached. The pit of his stomach churned. If he held his hands up, no doubt they’d quake. “Where were your guards when you were busy playing detective? No, never mind. I can guess. They have a lot to answer for.” Sebastian turned
on his heel and strode toward the stable door. He had to get away. He needed time. He needed space.
“Wait! Where are you going?”
He should answer. He didn’t want to worry his consort, but Sebastian didn’t glance back. Maybe being left, even if it wasn’t permanent, would make Colton think. Then again maybe it was Sebastian who needed to think. At least Colton had told him what he’d done, and he seemed truly regretful. How big a heel did that make Sebastian that he wanted his consort to be as miserable as he was at the moment?
He was mad and scared and…maybe he should be honest with his husband.
Chapter Nineteen
Blackwell House, the Earl of Tarnwell’s residence in Classige, Pruluce.
Colton stared at the cornice around the Earl of Tarnwell’s ballroom without really seeing it. He’d messed up in an epic way. The plan was to get Sebastian to fall hopelessly in love with him, but instead Colton had alienated his consort and destroyed his trust. Against all his wishes it appeared as though he was going to have to settle for a typical ton marriage. He just didn’t see any other choice. Sebastian did not want to open up to him. How could they possibly have a real marriage, a marriage like his parents had, under the circumstances? They couldn’t. Dust, the thought made his heart hurt, but what else could he do?
“Is the wall particularly interesting this evening?” Aiden cocked his head slightly and stared up at the cornice.
“Don’t start.” Colton was not in the mood, and smart-arse remarks from his brother weren’t going to improve his disposition. Aiden couldn’t understand. He had a husband who adored him.
“No less than three people have tried to get your attention in the last thirty minutes.” Aiden looped his arm through Colton’s and started walking. “Come along. You can be antisocial outside as well as you can in here.” They skirted the dance floor, headed for the garden door next to the orchestra. Without breaking stride, Aiden motioned at someone to their left.
“What if I don’t want to go outside?” Colton asked, though he didn’t care where he went. One place was as good as another.
Footfalls hurried behind them, and Colton’s other arm was snagged. “Did you find out what’s eating him?” Nate asked Aiden over Colton’s head.
Aiden shook his head. “Not yet.”
Colton groaned. “Not only are you forcing me to be social, but now the two of you intend to grill me, don’t you?”
“Talking to your family isn’t being social,” Aiden grumbled. “We don’t count, because you’re supposed to talk to us whether you want to or not.”
Nate shrugged. “What are your intentions, boy? Do we need to interrogate him?”
“Absolutely.” Aiden tugged to the right.
Nate tugged to the left. “This way.” To Colton, Nate said, “To answer your question, yes. We intend to get answers from you.”
Aiden groaned. “Why that way? I wanna go to the fountain.”
“It’s too cold out here to be by the overspray.” Nate steered them toward the small garden.
“What if I don’t want to go anywhere with the two of you?” Colton asked.
“Too bad,” they answered in unison.
They passed under a rose trellis and out onto the lawn, just beyond the scope of the veranda torches, before Colton’s brother and brother-in-law released him.
The garden was small and simple, really more of a lawn, but beautiful and serene. They were the only ones out here at the moment. Probably because unlike a lot of the other gardens, this one had no secluded trysting spots. Or perhaps it was because it was chillier than it had been the last several days. The fountain trickled off to their right. All along the stone wall that concealed the alley behind the townhouse, evergreen plants glistened with a little dusting of ice. The grass was completely covered in snow. It too sparkled in the moonlight. Snowfall once again appeared imminent. Things seemed so desolate and…alone out here. It fit Colton’s mood perfectly.
Aiden shivered and hugged his arms to his chest. “What gives? You’ve been unusually quiet all evening. You didn’t even pick at Tarren in the lift on the way over here. And he was really asking for it too with his comment about dogs being smarter than horses.”
Colton frowned. “He said that?”
Aiden looked at his consort as if to say, Are you hearing this?
Nate stepped behind Aiden and began rubbing Aiden’s arms. “I think it was Tarren’s way of trying to find out if you’re okay. When you didn’t react, we all realized you aren’t. We’re worried about you.” He lowered his mouth to Aiden’s ear. “Still cold?”
A stab of jealousy pierced Colton. The two of them were so perfect together. They had a marriage like Father and Cony.
Shaking his head, Aiden relaxed into Nate and leaned on him. “According to servant gossip, Wentworth came by the castle earlier. He called one of the guards and the new bodyguard, Benny, into his office. Stayed for about fifteen minutes and left. Didn’t Benny accompany you, Rexley and Muffin this morning? What’s going on?”
Good galaxy, was anything a secret? Apparently not in the Townsend household. Colton groaned. He supposed he might as well tell them. The state of his marriage was going to become obvious eventually. “After my meeting with the race commissioner, I went to—” Colton winced. Put into words, it sounded really bad. “I spied on Sebastian.”
Nate’s eyebrows rose.
“Doing what exactly? And why did you find it necessary to do that?” Aiden’s nose wrinkled.
“I thought he might have a paramour, and I read a missive he got at Wentworth Park yesterday. I couldn’t tell who it was from, but I sort of manipulated things where Rexley, Muffin and I would be in that area at the time of the meeting by suggesting Muffin’s favorite toy shop. It wasn’t a romantic meeting.” He didn’t feel right telling them who the meeting was with—Sebastian seemed really agitated that even Colton knew—so Colton rushed on, hoping they’d let that piece of information pass. “I apologized. I was wrong, and I feel terrible.”
“I swear. Every one of you Townsends has enough curiosity and sneakiness for three men,” Nate grumbled and ran a finger along the edge of Aiden’s cravat.
Aiden grinned and turned his face up to Nate. “I haven’t the slightest idea what you mean, sir.”
“Of course you don’t, boy.” Nate’s shoulders shook, but his laughter was silent.
Glancing back at Colton, Aiden frowned. “What’s the problem if you apologized?”
“He didn’t accept my apology. He stormed off.” Colton’s gorge rose. What if Sebastian never forgave him? He’d tried to convince himself he didn’t love Sebastian once. Maybe he could do so again.
Nate gave Colton a sad smile. “He’ll come around. He’s not going to stay mad forever. Just because he’s angry doesn’t mean he doesn’t care.”
That was the crux of the problem. Colton wasn’t sure Sebastian did care. Oh, sure, he cared a little or he wouldn’t have married Colton, but Sebastian didn’t have any deep abiding love. Not like Colton did.
“What’d you just think?” Aiden asked. “You looked so sad.”
Colton glanced up at his older brother. “I was thinking Sebastian doesn’t care for me. I guess I’m foolish. I always assumed I’d have a relationship like Father and Cony. Like you two.” He shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m going to be so busy with the stables that I don’t really have time for all that anyway.” Right? Oh bloody hell, he was going to have to come to terms with his future.
“Stuff and nonsense,” Aiden protested. “And you don’t sound the least bit convincing.”
“I think you’re wrong, Colton.” Nate slid his arm around Aiden’s middle and pulled him closer. “And if Sebastian doesn’t care, he doesn’t know what he’s missing.”
“I’ll tell him,” Aiden growled.
“Stand down, killer. Beating the man to a bloody pulp isn’t going to help this situation any.” Nate met Colton’s gaze. “You need to go talk to him. Give him time to calm down and
tell him why you did what you did. And I don’t mean this whole jealousy thing. It stems from something much deeper than that. Sometimes you have to make yourself vulnerable to get what you want.”
But what if Sebastian didn’t love him? What if Sebastian didn’t even want to stay married? A pang of fear hit Colton. A numbness settled over him. “You make it sound so easy. It’s not.” Could it be? He wanted— Colton shook his head. “You’re a romantic, Nate.”
“I’ve never claimed otherwise.” Nate chuckled. “And it is that easy. I speak from experience when I tell you it’s worth the risk.”
Aiden glanced up at his consort with an adoring expression. “So much for pride?”
Nate nodded. “Exactly.”
Maybe—? Something cold touched Colton’s wrist. He glanced down and noticed the drop of water. He raised his head. Snowflakes fluttering around them. It was mystical. He watched the flurries for several moments, and it occurred to Colton what he needed to do.
“Thanks.” Colton hugged them both and jogged into the townhouse. He had to get back to Wentworth Park and wait for Sebastian.
“Was that Colton?” Steven glanced over his shoulder. His children had lost their minds. Colton walked right past him like he wasn’t there, even after he’d tried to hail him and now— He faced Aiden and Nate again. “What are you two doing out here in the snow?”
They stepped up onto the veranda, and Nate brushed the dusting of white off his arms. “Yes, that was Colton. And we were—”
“Wait.” Steven held up a hand. “Does it have anything to do with why Colton was in such a hurry to get away from the two of you? Never mind. I’m not sure I want to know.” Steven helped sweep off the back of Aiden’s black evening coat. The snow was really coming down.
Craning his neck over his shoulder, Aiden gaped at Steven. “Exactly what do you think we were doing, Father?”
“I thought we already established that I don’t want to know. Do either of you know what’s wrong with Colton? Did he give an explanation as to why Wentworth didn’t accompany us as planned?”
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