“Yes, sir,” Trouble said.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Nate corrected.
Trouble darted a glance at Nate then back to Raleigh, batting his eyelashes. “Yes, Your Highness.” The little flirt’s voice was as sugary as the box of cookies he held.
Pinching his cheek, Raleigh fought his mirth. He bent close to the kid’s ear. “Go upstairs before Nate throttles you, Trouble.”
Trouble glanced at Nate, then back to Raleigh, then back at Nate. His eyes twinkled with mischief.
Nate opened his mouth to tell the pest that he better behave when Trouble went up on tiptoe and kissed the consort’s cheek. Giggling, he fled up the stairs.
Raleigh threw his head back and laughed long and loud. “Oh boy, you have your hands full.”
Nate shook his head, trying not to be amused, but the kid was cute. It was the only reason Nate hadn’t beat him to death over the years. “Yes, I do. Sorry about that.”
“Quite all right. Believe me when I tell you I understand.” He clapped Nate on the shoulder. “Breakfast?”
“Sure. I was on my way there.”
“Me too. I’ve two children to browbeat. Come along. I’ll glare, and we can both grab a plate and go to the study.”
Nate and Raleigh entered the breakfast room. Aiden and Payton sat slumped at the table with piles of food in front of them. When they noticed Raleigh and Nate’s appearance, they bolted upright, attaining perfect posture in the blink of an eye.
Looking up at Nate, Aiden turned three different shades of red before averting his gaze.
Nate grimaced. He’d gone to bed last night harder than stone and unable to get Aiden out of his mind. He’d finally jerked off so he could catch some sleep, but that had proved to be even more disturbing, because he couldn’t quit picturing Aiden.
Glancing between Nate and Aiden, Raleigh lifted a brow. He shook it off and leaned his hands on the end of the table, glowering at his sons. “Are the two of you going to sit here with the pretense of eating until the callers leave?”
Payton took a bite of food, and Aiden grabbed his drink, both feigning interest in the meal.
Suppressing the urge to smile, Nate wondered how long they’d been sitting here. These two really did not like being in the public eye. He pondered if it was just the idea of marrying, or if it was the attention in general. Aiden didn’t seem to mind attention so long as it had to do with art, so it was probably the adoring lords he objected to. Not that Nate could blame him. It would make one feel like a piece of meat. It gave him a new appreciation for what women everywhere had gone through for a millennia.
Raleigh sighed. “If the two of you insist on keeping this up all season, you’re going to get fat. I’ll expect you both in the ballroom at noon, starting tomorrow.”
Payton frowned. “Whatever for, Cony?”
“Exercise.” Raleigh crossed to the sideboard and began filling a plate.
“What kind of exercise?” Aiden wanted to know.
“Running mostly. Nate?” Raleigh turned. “Grab a plate.”
Both the princes groaned, but Aiden sought out Nate’s gaze, his cheeks still pink.
Could the man look any more adorable? And since when did adorable make him hard? Nate shifted, willing his cock to behave.
“Ahem.” Raleigh handed him a plate.
Nate realized he was staring and turned his attention to the food. He had to quit staring like some love-struck fool. He had priorities. Food, business, kill Trouble…in that order. Aiden didn’t fit anywhere in that picture, except in regards to the case. He filled his plate and followed Raleigh to the office without another glance at Aiden, even if it did take all his willpower.
After retiring to the study with breakfast to ensure their privacy, Nate and Raleigh discussed everything Raleigh had discovered so far. Sadly, it wasn’t much. Nate had actually discovered more talking to Aiden last night.
“Why do your children call you Cony?”
Rolling his eyes, Raleigh took a sip of his juice. “It’s a nickname. Most children call their parents Father and Sire. But thanks to Steven and his penchant for irritating me, my children call me Cony. It started because Steven used to call me Consort Dear to annoy me. Rexley was a baby at the time, and altered it to Cony. It stuck.” He smiled, shook his head and took another drink. He may not like the name Steven had tried to stick him with, but apparently he didn’t mind the one the children had given him.
Nate thought about it for a minute. What would it be like to have your kids give you a special name? Trouble had always called him Hawk, like everyone else on the ship. It didn’t matter, he had no plans for more children. “Raleigh, I need talk to you about Aiden.”
Frowning at his orange juice, Raleigh set his glass down. Crossing his hands over his beige waistcoat, he leaned back, giving Nate his undivided attention. “You have my blessing, but he will have to choose you himself, Nate. I won’t force him to take a consort he doesn’t want.”
“What?” Nate’s mouth dropped open before he caught himself. For half a second he considered going with it and pretending to court Aiden. It would enable Aiden to help him, but Nate didn’t want to lie to Raleigh. He honestly liked the man. “Since you and Steven both have other duties to attend to, I wanted to see if Aiden can help me. He knows the castle and its occupants. He can tell me things only an insider can. I need that if I’m going to figure out who took those weapons.”
Raleigh stared at him for several minutes. His gray eyes, very much like Aiden’s, seemed to see everything.
Nate got the distinct impression the man could see through him. It was chilling. He couldn’t remember the last time he had the urge to squirm under such scrutiny.
Finally, Raleigh nodded. “If anything happens to him, I will hold you personally accountable.”
“Nothing is going to happen to him while he’s in my care.”
“Just so that we understand each other. Your military record is exceptional and quite impressive, I’ve no problem with that. You are more than a worthy suitor for any one of my boys and Admiral Jenkins says you really are an earl. If you compromise him—”
Without hesitation, Nate held up a hand. “I swear I will propose marriage immediately.” The ease at which that came out should have been scary. He wondered briefly if he was getting in over his head. “And before you give your final consent, you should know that I’m no longer an earl. That honor now belongs to my brother. I’m an IN captain, period.”
“As I said before, we are a military-based society. Your record as a solider and your rank makes you more than an acceptable match for my son.” Raleigh was quiet for several seconds. He stood and stared down at Nate. “He may be rebellious, but make no mistake, he is innocent, and I don’t mean that in just the most literal sense. I will not have him hurt.” The warning was clear. And the cold ease at which Raleigh delivered it had Nate nearly squirming again.
Raleigh smiled, dissipating the tension in the room, and held out his hand. “If you leave the house with him, you will take an appropriate chaperone. Other than that, you have my blessing. Take care of him, that’s all I ask.”
Nate gave him a crisp nod and shook hands. Why did he get the feeling he just agreed to a betrothal contract?
Chapter Eight
He had fifteen seconds to make it to the end of the hall and through Nate’s door. If Nate’s door was locked…he might even be able to make it into the next hall over undetected. Two minutes ago, Jeffers had said he’d heard Nate in the shower. Aiden sure hoped The Spy’s info was correct. Looking at the pocket watch one last time, Aiden began counting in his head. Ten seconds to go. Putting the pocket watch into his waistcoat, he secured his grip on the sketch pad and artist’s pencil he’d brought for this expedition. He’d have rather had his sketchscreen, but the sketches on the screen were stored in Jeffers’ memory and for what he had in mind he didn’t want to chance one of his nosey family members hacking into his files and discovering it. Three, two, one…
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br /> Opening and closing the door silently, Aiden took off down the hall. His shoes slid on the wood floor, making him wish he’d ditched them and the hose. Thankfully, no one but Nate had a room in this hall, so he didn’t worry too much about the clacking sound his running made. The video loop Jeffers was on in the hallway included audio but it too was off at the moment.
Much to his relief, when he reached Nate’s door and turned the knob, it opened. He hurried inside and closed it as quietly as he could. Jeffers had audio function in the bedrooms, whether the hall video was off or not. He didn’t record in the bedrooms, but he could still notify Aiden’s parents of his presence. Leaning against the door to catch his breath, he did a quick survey. The room was empty and he could hear the water running in the other room. Thank you, Jeffers.
Smiling, he looked around for a place to hide. He couldn’t remember being in this room before. The big four-poster bed was against the wall on his left as was the door leading to the washroom. A window was positioned high up on the opposite wall. To the far left of the window next to the washroom was an armoire. A fireplace and bookcase dominated the wall to Aiden’s right. The room was lit only by the lamp on the nightstand and the sun coming in from the window. Good, it wasn’t overly bright. The décor was dark and bold with heavy mahogany furniture and deep jewel tones, so the light didn’t reflect very well.
There was a large upholstered chair with a skirt on it in front of the window facing the bed. It looked like the best hiding spot.
Crossing to the window, Aiden dropped his pencil at the foot of the bed. It rolled toward the far wall. As Aiden bent to pick it up the doorknob on the washroom door turned. Dust. He dove behind the chair, leaving the graphite utensil where it landed. His sketchbook slipped as his butt hit the floor, but he caught it and even managed not to make a sound while getting himself all the way behind the big chair.
The door opened. Nate came into the room, his hair damp, wearing nothing but a white towel. A drop of water dribbled down the powerfully built chest, to where the hair narrowed and disappeared under the white cloth. The man was so big and masculine. His legs, thickly muscled…and look at the size of those feet. Good Galaxy.
Biting his lip, Aiden stared at the artist’s pencil. Now what was he supposed to do?
Going to the armoire next to the washroom door, Nate opened the doors.
Aiden’s attention narrowed on the man’s butt. The white cloth was pulled tight enough Aiden could make out a nicely defined rear end. His prick had been half hard at the idea of sneaking in here to see Nate. Now, it was almost painfully hard. Aiden closed his eyes and leaned his head against the back of the chair. Note to self, always carry two graphite pencils from now on.
Nate removed something from the cabinet and tossed it onto the bed. He started to turn back toward the open chest but stopped, his head down.
Aiden followed Nate’s gaze to the pencil. Dust! He was caught. Any second, Nate would say something or look around.
Shaking his head, Nate turned back toward the armoire. He paused again then shut the doors.
Aiden swallowed the lump in his throat, knowing darn well he was blushing. That had been close. His palms were sweating at the fear of being caught, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the object of his desire.
Sitting on the bed, Nate ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath, his chest moving in and out.
Aiden’s stomach clenched, and his heart pounded harder. His mouth was dry. Licking his lips did little for his parched mouth. He wanted to see Nate so badly, see what he’d felt the other night.
Unwrapping the towel, Nate pulled it off and laid back on the bed, until his shoulders were against the headboard and his feet on the mattress. As Aiden got his first good look at Nate, he exhaled and his lungs seized, refusing to take air back in.
The man’s cock was in proportion to the rest of him, and it wasn’t even fully erect yet. A heavy gold ring peeked out of the foreskin. Even though it wasn’t all visible, he assumed it looped through the head and out the tip, but it was definitely gold. It glimmered in the lamplight, beckoning. Nate’s cock was beautiful.
Leaning back on the pillows, Nate wrapped his hand around the foreskin and tugged. “Mmm…” He pulled on it again, making his cock even harder, as he leaned his head against the headboard and closed his eyes.
Aiden barely held back a whimper as Nate’s hand slid down the shaft. Drawing the skin back and exposing the fat pink head, he groaned. “Can’t wait to feel your mouth on me, your teeth. Yeah, that’s it, lick under my foreskin and around the head, boy. Pull the foreskin down with your teeth. Damn, that’s good.” He began stroking, the skin bunching around the top then moving back down. “If you’re a real good boy, I might even let you taste me.” Nate pulled one hairy leg up, bending it at the knee, giving Aiden a better view of his testicles. “Then again, maybe I’ll just come on those pretty little lips. You’d look incredible with my cum all over your face.”
Oh man. Aiden’s prick twitched, leaking from the tip. He was going to die. Who was Nate thinking about?
Nate’s hand kept pumping. His cock had become fully erect, and oh he was big. He used the other hand to tug on the ring while he stroked himself. “Ah, shit yeah, Aiden.”
Biting his lip, Aiden froze, even trying to hold his breath. Panic raced through him. Could Nate see him? No, no, of course not, his eyes were closed. Aiden made himself relax. Nate didn’t know he was here. Which meant… He wants me.
Aiden was hard and throbbing. He should be shocked, and he was, but he was more excited. Everything Nate said went right to his head, making him need. He wanted Nate, he wanted to taste and touch and he—
“You like this? Want me to fuck your sweet, hot little ass with this big piece of uncut meat, boy?” Nate’s hand squeezed, drawing forth clear drops on the pink tip around the base of the gold ring. “Want my cock in your ass?”
Aiden tried to imagine it. Could he? No, no that wasn’t…was it? His mind might not be sure but his body didn’t seem to have the same objections. His ass and thigh muscles tightened. He was very close to coming without even touching himself.
Stilling his hand, Nate brought it to his mouth and spit into it before wrapping his fist around his prick once more.
Licking his lips, Aiden stared. He’d never even considered doing something so crude as using saliva. His heart pounded and his cock felt like it was going to burst. Why did Nate’s vulgarity turn him on this much?
Nate moaned, his hand moving faster, his voice husky and rough now, breathy. “Oh, hell yeah, I’m going to own your ass, boy. Not only my dick, but my fist. First one finger, then two, then three and four, till my whole fucking hand is in your tight, slutty hole. Would you like that? Are you man enough? Stretched out on my bed taking my fist and pleading for me to go deeper. I’ll be able to feel your fuckin’ heart, Aiden. Will it belong to me? Can you handle it? Can you give me all I want from you, Aiden, what I’ll demand?”
Aiden’s ass squeezed tight at the scandalous words. Shocked to the core, he knew he should leave, run, but he couldn’t. His body tingled, begging for release. Reaching down, he rubbed himself through the fabric of his trousers.
“Oh, fuck yes, come for me, Aiden. Give in to me, boy.” Nate’s voice was a hoarse whisper.
Balls drawing impossibly close, Aiden’s whole body tensed. Rubbing harder against his cock, he let the slap of skin and smell of sweat permeate his senses.
Nate stroked faster, his hips lifting off the bed. “Mine, I’ll fucking take you, Aiden. All of you. Body, mind and soul.”
Yes. Thrusting his hips against his hand, Aiden’s muscles contracted sharply. He came staring at Nate, trying not to pant for breath.
A trail of sweat ran over Nate’s abs, getting caught in the thick, dark hair above his prick. Groaning, Nate followed him. “Mine. Aiden.” Nate shot. Semen landed everywhere, coating the heavy gold ring, running down his hand, over his knuckles. It trailed up his belly an
d chest—there was even a spot on Nate’s cheek, by the corner of his mouth. His tongue darted out and licked it off.
Nate grabbed the towel and wiped down. He laid there for a few minutes, then sighed and heaved himself up. Taking the clothes off the bed, he went back into the washroom, shutting the door behind him.
Aiden sat there for several seconds. What just happened? He scrambled up from in back of the chair. Clutching his sketchbook, he looked back at the pencil, before he turned and ran. He didn’t stop until he reached his room and got inside. Leaning against the door, he dropped his sketchbook and slid to the floor. He dragged his trembling hands down his face and took a deep breath. He knew he was in way over his head with Nate, but darned if his prick wasn’t still harder than a rock, despite having the orgasm of his life.
Groaning, Raleigh sat back in his chair and ran his hands over his face. Having a traitor in his house was beginning to grate on his nerves. There was no doubt in his mind that whoever stole those weapons had inside information, he just didn’t know who or how. Even with Nate helping him, they hadn’t learned much. Only that there was a hover truck missing from the carriage barn.
Jeffers had been instructed to inform him of any staff members acting unusual or snooping around. So far the computer hadn’t noticed a thing out of the ordinary. “Jeffers, has anything strange happened the last few days?”
“Only Lord Aiden running down the guest hall, milord.”
Raleigh frowned. Why was that unusual? Sure, he’d instructed the kids not to run, but they all did it from time to time, well all except Rexley, that boy had been born mature. “Show me the video.”
The hall outside of the boys’ rooms flashed on the screen, then seconds later it switched to one of the guest halls where Aiden stood outside of a guestroom. His hand jerked away from the doorknob and he took off running down the hall, away from the camera.
Raleigh sat forward, watching until Aiden disappeared around the corner. “Play it again, Jeffers.”
Again the video started in the princes’ hallway and looped to the guest hallway. The one where Nate was staying. And that had been Nate’s door.
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