Always His Earl (6 page)

As he approached George’s home, something made Myles stop. He’d intended to buy new clothing on his first full day back in London. Everything but the uniforms he owned was woefully out of fashion.

That could certainly wait, however getting word at the club to forward his messages to Lord Thistledown’s townhome could not. It would be a day of errands, but if Philips tried to check up on Myles in any way, he would be helping his sister greatly by sorting out his cover story to avoid Philips suspicions.

* * * * *

G
eorge paced in the library. He’d written letters and handled everything he could. Still, Myles hadn’t returned. Davis knew to send Myles in as soon as he arrived. If George went off to retrace Myles’ steps, it could reveal Claire’s location and bring more trouble to the tenuous situation. All George could do was wait.

And worry.

He’d done a ridiculous amount of worrying in the last day. Claire’s health, Basil’s self-control, what Philips knew, and now Myles’ safety. For years, George had worried Myles would be killed in battle. Even the betrayal didn’t stop those deep concerns. Could Myles be truly trusted? A man of action, George hated being limited. Until Philips made a move, this was safer. George had to let Myles handle this publically at present.

Some things had to be concealed. George’s lack of interest in women made him good at misdirection, but for Claire’s sake, he had to trust Myles with some things. The two men had sworn to be honest with each other as teens, but it had fallen apart. Could they ever be friends again? George had mourned the life they’d planned on before.

Much of that had hinged on traveling for business. Before the navy nonsense, George planned to help Myles start a business, and the men could travel for it together. If George stayed in one place too long, the pressure to marry would increase. George remained an attractive marital prospect for title alone. Myles had a nice estate, which put him on the list of single women all over England.

Hearing the door, George pushed aside that problem of the future. No one knew yet what the reality of their lives would look like tomorrow, much less in another year.

As the door opened, Davis bowed his head. “Lieutenant Harris, my lord.”

“Thank you, Davis. That’s all for now.” George remained calm until the door closed and he heard Davis walk away.

“What’s wrong?” Myles asked.

George stalked to the door and pushed Myles up against it. One hard kiss as relief swirled with annoyance inside of George. Myles was safe.

George let Myles go and paced off some energy. “Where the hell have you been? It’s been nearly three hours.”

“Philips is alive. I had to go back to the club and have them forward any messages here in case he checked up on my accommodations.” Myles leaned against the door with his arms folded.

“Damn it! I thought...”

“Thought what?” Myles asked.

George hated to admit all the terrifying things that had crossed his mind. “That Philips had attacked you. The two of you might have come to blows. Your father might have told him about us, and he could use it against us. Hell, Philips could have figured out that we have Claire and was going to the authorities. All sorts of terrible options occurred to me. You were to keep it brief with Philips.”

“I did. Philips acted as if nothing was wrong. He said Claire was out calling on friends but refused to say whom. The baron made it very clear that he was her husband and that takes precedence over a brother. I mentioned I’d been by the night before and he said the message would be passed on when she returned.” Myles shook his head.

“She’s not returning,” George added coldly.

“I agree. However, Philips is keeping up the charade. He suggested she’d send me an invitation for tea or dinner. Of course, that first night I’d left word that I was staying at the club.” Myles sighed.

George nodded. “If Philips is at all suspicious that you’re involved in his wife’s disappearance, he’ll send a message to test you. He might even stop by the club or send someone to check on you.”

“Precisely. Considering my arrival and Claire’s departure happened on the same night, I thought it was a prudent move. The club said no one had been by looking for me, but they would take any message and forward them here. I kept a room there in my name, just in case I needed to return. That way the club should be less suspicious.” Myles shrugged.

“A naval officer just returned to London would have many people to visit. Since your father sold your London home a few years back, there is no permanent residence for you. The club is safe and you can stay with friends off and on. At least Philips didn’t get there first.” George took a deep breath and studied Myles. He’d concealed something.

“Damn right. Philips is dangerous. When I asked where my sister was, he said she was staying with friends a day or so. It makes no sense when they have a home in London. It’s as though he wanted to feel me out as well,” said Myles.

“The crush on the roads must’ve been bad for you to take all that time for a call and a word at the club.” George moved closer to Myles.

“You are vexing at times, George.” Myles smiled. “I stopped off at the tailor on the way back. I didn’t think you’d be watching the door. Other than uniforms, I have nothing that fits or is in fashion. I placed an order for some new things to be made up and they checked my measurements. That’s all.”

George had intended to suggest that very thing, but Myles’ wardrobe seemed trivial yesterday. “A smart move to make it appear that everything is normal in your world. I was worried about Philips. Clearly, he’s violent.”

“He knows he has the trump card. She’s his wife and the law is on his side. Unless she turned up dead, he’s free and safe. Seeing as she left the house alive, he could even declare himself innocent of anything that happened later.” Myles pushed away from the door and paced in the room.

“I know. We’re not in the best position. But he’s alive and that’s one thing in our favor. If we keep her here, safe and concealed until she’s healthy in a few more days, she’ll be completely out of danger.”

Myles stared at George in disbelief.

“From her injuries,” George clarified. “Then we’ll have to get her away from Philips. He’ll likely make the next move. You’re very right. The club is where he’ll go to test you. That bit of covering your tracks was essential.”

“I don’t know if it’ll be enough.” Myles sat down in one of George’s library chairs.

“Meaning?” George sat next to him.

“He didn’t seem overly concerned, but he made it clear she was his wife. I don’t think he’ll look the other way if we take her off somewhere. He’ll come after me. If he finds out I’m staying here, I have no doubt he’ll turn up at your door.” Myles shook his head.

George leaned over. “Relax. The club won’t let him burst in and inspect your room. There are rights and privacy there. Besides, if Philips comes here it’ll be because of Claire and Basil talking last night. I’m shocked he hasn’t shown up yet.”

“Let’s pray he finds something to distract himself,” Myles said.

“If only Claire were well enough to write a note to him. Any lie, any letter written in her hand might buy us more time. I checked on her while you were gone. She’s still far too weak even when awake.” George had few options left.

“Should we be seen in public? Attend a ball tonight?” Myles asked.

A knot formed in George’s stomach. He wanted to be seen with Myles and yet feared anyone guessing the nature of their true relationship. The complex world they’d have to navigate meant being careful all the time—together or not. “I don’t think us being seen together will protect your sister. If you think you should go out and be social, that’s reasonable. If Basil were truly ill, I’d stay in. We should maintain the lie we’ve asked Dr. Wallis to tell.”

“You’re right. The lies we weave. I wish we could simply go home. Return to the estates and care for Claire until she’s healed. She and Basil could be together and we could...” Myles looked at George.

“We’ll be neighbors, like it or not.” George crossed his arms tightly and sat.

“I miss our childhood. If I could marry Claire to Basil and the world would accept it, I’d do it. We’d be set for heirs. We’d be family and have to sort out
our
feud. You’d still want me,” Myles said.

“Want isn’t trust or anything more. Things can’t be the same.” George shook his head.

“We can forgive and move on. You’ve done so much for Claire. I refuse to believe you hate me. You hurt me, but that’s not the end. We can make peace once our families are safe.” Myles stood and moved to George’s chair. The mood in the room shifted.

George remained silent despite wanting to point out that Myles had been the one to leave with no word. Finally, George watched as Myles knelt and opened George’s breeches. His cock responded instantly. His brain could do nothing more for the situation. Myles sucked George’s sac, and all he could do was lean back and take it. Praying no one entered, George closed his eyes and let Myles have his way.

In no time, George was hard as stone. Wanting more than tongue, he stood. However Myles took control and pulled out a snuffbox. He opened it, and there was grease, not snuff, inside.

George smiled. “That’s a clever place to keep it. Always have it with you?”

“That’s the idea.” Myles kissed George slowly then turned him to face the chair and pushed his breeches down off his ass.

Tensing, George bent over as Myles softly pressed his hands on George’s back. He hadn’t done this often when they were younger. Myles loved to be the one taking the mast. Bracing his hands on the chair, George firmed his stance and tried to prepare. The tension in him would only make it painful.

Myles’ playful tongue erased every worry as soon as George felt it skim along his rear entrance. There seemed no end to Myles’ patience as he flicked and licked at George’s entrance while fingers spread the cheeks so there was no mistake.

“You want it,” Myles said.

“It’s been so long,” George gasped.

“Say yes.” Myles rubbed a greasy-feeling substance to the spot.

George moaned at the new sensation. Whatever Myles had, it felt good. “Yes. I can take it.”

“Damn right you will. Years of wishing I could have you as openly and shamelessly as the men who did this at sea have driven me crazy.” Myles licked his way along George’s spine.

The heat of Myles’ cock pressed between his ass cheeks made George shudder. He held onto the chair and groaned as Myles pressed for entry. It’d been so long. He felt the confidence in Myles. George took a deep breath and relaxed his body to do something that was not in his nature—to yield.

Myles took George’s ass, inch after inch. Every time George thought he had it all, there was more. When Myles pulled back, George tightened and tried to keep it. The play and the lust made him dizzy.

“You’re tight. I love that you’re mine,” Myles said against George’s neck.

“Only yours.” George refused to think about the other men Myles had on that ship. Myles had come back and wanted him. George buried his resentment and hate. There was real love in their past and he hadn’t let go of it.

Rocking back on Myles’ cock, George felt Myles’ sac pressing and knew he had every bit of Myles’ erection. The grease worked well and the men came together again and again. George grabbed his own cock and stroked it for a second. Then Myles’ hand took over.

Thrusting into Myles’ hand as Myles thrust into George’s ass, the heat grew quickly. Grunting and moaning, George knew he had to give in completely to enjoy what they had. It was so fast. Silently, he came in Myles’ hand and rocked back to keep that long cock where it belonged.

Myles kept on squeezing George’s cock and using the cream to tease him more. “Good,” Myles said.

“Finish it. People might come in,” George said through gritted teeth.

The feel of Myles fucking him still made George shake. He loved it, but this was play for the bedroom alone, not broad daylight in the library.

Myles’ hands rubbed under George’s shirt along his chest, teasing his nipples as he kept filling George’s ass faster and faster. George listened to Myles breathe harder and knew it was a matter of moments. Bracing, George felt Myles’ climax as the man’s weight sagged against him.

The rush of forbidden intimacy sent pulses throughout George. It was beyond forbidden; to be found like this meant death at worst, exile at best. However, when they’d discovered their passion, they knew nothing of law or shame. Some bonds couldn’t be broken with time or distance.

For a moment they were frozen, neither willing to move. Finally, Myles eased from George. Doing up his breeches, George turned to look at Myles as he did the same.

“You loved it,” Myles said.

Unable to find the words, George pulled Myles in and kissed him hard. The slow embrace would get them in as much trouble, but George couldn’t care about anything but staying close to Myles at that moment.

Myles kissed down George’s neck. “You are as romantic as your brother. You just hide it better.”

“I have to hide it. We both do. I hope you’re not thinking of Basil.” George took a step back.

“No, I’m only interested in the elder Hardwick. Hate is the opposite of love, and I’ve loved and hated you for years. I know you feel both for me. If you believe the poets, love wins.” Myles smiled at him. “I’m going to check on Claire.”

George watched Myles leave. He wanted to do things to Myles’ ass. However, they had to be in control, especially in London. Too many eyes watching and tongues wagging could start a rumor that would follow them. George needed to be alone and regain his control before joining the others upstairs.

T
he next morning, Myles wanted George to have his way. After what Myles had done the day before in the library, he knew George would take charge overnight, and he thoroughly had. Sex was the best distraction and the one thing they weren’t getting nearly enough of. When they talked about anything but Claire, bitterness and hurt boiled up. Myles wanted to clear the air, but George had built walls around his heart.