I’m cheating today :-)

I’m going to cheat today and give ya’ll a new excerpt of my Upcoming Samhain release instead of blogging. Hopefully ya’ll won’t be too disappointed.
JL

My Fair Captain Excerpt
Coming June 12th from Samhain
Copyright June 2007 by J.L. Langley

Where was his large screen? There were paints, a conventional sketch pad, some oil crayons, graphite pencils, charcoal, even a small folding easel, but none of his screens were there. The small one he’d taken to the ball was on the nightstand, the medium one was in the dressing room. Aiden frowned. He hadn’t seen his large screen in several days. Thomas had taken it to Aiden’s room the day he’d gone to the docks, so why wasn’t it here? Maybe Thomas had gotten busy and left it elsewhere. “Jeffers, do you know where my large sketchscreen is?”

“No, milord.”

Hmmm. Well, he knew where his medium screen was. Aiden shut the trunk lid and went to the dressing room. He found the sketchscreen right where Payton had left it, on the chaise. He went back to his room and climbed into bed with the screen. “Jeffers, did you download the information from my large screen?”

“Yes, milord, as you requested. All data on your screens are updated and synchronized into your files upon leaving and entering the castle.”

“Upload the sketches from the large screen onto my medium screen, please.” Aiden hit the on button then glanced at the small screen on his nightstand. He sighed. What the heck. Maybe if he finished the sketch of Nathaniel he’d started at the ball, he’d get the man off his mind. “Jeffers, also add the data off my small screen onto the medium one.”

“Yes, milord.”

Why did the man have to be so…so…so compelling? Captivating? Bloody black hole, the man was becoming an obsession. He’d like to think it was from strictly an artistic standpoint—and it was, partially. He’d initially forgotten their dance because he’d had the urge to draw the man laughing. The image of Nathaniel’s smiling face, when he was talking to Cony, was permanently etched in his brain. The man didn’t seem to be the type to smile a lot. Aiden’s prick regained interest at the thought, making him groan.
“Lord Aiden, the data transfer is complete.”

Aiden started. “Thanks, Jeffers.” He toggled through his files and found the one he’d begun at the ball. The one Nathaniel almost saw. Aiden had nearly jumped out of his skin when the man had appeared before him. He’d been completely caught up in rendering the laugh lines around the man’s eyes when he smiled.

Maybe Cony and Father had a point about him having a one-track mind when it came to his art. He’d almost missed the chance of a lifetime, the chance to dance with Nathaniel. Luckily, the man himself had shown up to remind Aiden of their dance. He’d never forget that dance, it had been miraculous. He hadn’t wanted to leave the man’s company. Darn Rupert. Aiden desperately wanted to learn more about the earl. He wanted to know why the man was here. How long would he be staying? Would he pose for a portrait? How did his lips taste?

Aiden shook himself away from that line of thinking. Finding the sketch he’d done of Nathaniel earlier, he removed the stylus from the side of the screen. The man was so mysterious looking, like a dashing hero out of the romance novels Tarren was addicted to. What would it have been like if he’d let Nathaniel kiss him when he’d caught him from the tree? He was certain that was exactly what the earl had intended. Then this evening… He should be glad Rupert interrupted when he did.

This was getting him nowhere. His prick was on its way to throbbing, already fully erect again after the session with his hand.
Turning off the screen, he put the stylus away. Maybe food would help get his mind off Deverell.

Aiden climbed from the mattress and dug underneath his bed for his slippers. He should probably put a dressing gown on over his sleep shirt, but everyone had long since retired for the evening. Besides, it wasn’t like he’d run in to anyone in the kitchen—the staff was asleep and other than Payton or Cony, no one else would be caught dead there. If his other brothers or Father wanted something to eat at this time of night, they had Jeffers wake someone to bring it to them.

Thankfully, by the time he made it down the stairs, his wayward cock calmed down. He reached the bottom of the main steps and took two steps toward the dining room, intent on going through the servants’ entrance to the kitchen, when he heard talking. Aiden paused and listened. Jeffers was talking to someone in the study. He thought about going back upstairs to put on more proper attire, but decided it wouldn’t hurt to take a peek. Tiptoeing toward the study, he heard Nathaniel’s voice.

Immediately his stupid prick decided it wanted to perk up and listen to the smooth intonation too. Aiden looked down, hoping his problem wasn’t noticeable in the billowy calf-length shirt.

It was.

“Milord, Lord Aiden is outside the study.”

Aiden froze. Dust. Before his brain clicked back on and told him to run, Nathaniel appeared in the doorway.
“Hello, Aiden.”

“Uh…” Aiden peered up at the object of his fixation. His pulse actually sped up and his stomach got a fluttery feeling. He was standing here in his nightclothes, completely indecent with an erection straining against his shirt. “Hi. I was just…” He nodded. He had to get out of here before Nathaniel noticed his plight. Galaxy, the man was big. Aiden was ultra-aware of the man after that little fantasy earlier. He glanced at the big hands he’d imagined wrapped around—

Grinning, Nathaniel crossed his arms over his chest and leaned on the side of the doorjamb. His gaze raked up and down Aiden’s body, leaving a tingle of recognition every place it landed. When his gaze zeroed in on Aiden’s groin, his eyes widened and his nostrils flared. Finally tearing his gaze from Aiden’s cock, he asked, “Yes?” His voice was a husky whisper.

Oh Galaxy, how embarrassing. Please don’t let me be blushing. This was the second time—the third actually, but his clothes had hid it well enough while they were dancing. He had to get out of here before he made a complete fool of himself. Make that more of a fool. “Good night, Lord Deverell.” Aiden turned to leave, cursing himself.

Nathaniel grasped his wrist, turning him back around. “Not yet.”

Written by JL Langley

JL is a full-time writer, with over ten novels to her credit. Among her hobbies she includes reading, practicing her marksmanship (she happens to be a great shot), gardening, working out (although she despises cardio), searching for the perfect chocolate dessert (so far as she can tell ALL chocolate is perfect, but it requires more research)
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