James (Hot Footman Secrets Book 1) Read online

“He got us in trouble. Fooling around with someone in the butler pantry.” Harry jerked up his pants, which had previously been around his ankles.

  “So you’re going to force him to satisfy you because he was with someone else? Thomas? I thought better of you.” James shut the door behind him. “Get dressed, all of you.”

  Thomas scowled. “The kid admitted it. Why can’t we have some fun? If he’s so eager he can’t wait until after work, he must want it.”

  James pushed both Harry and Thomas against the wall. “No one is expected or forced. That’s not just for the guests. That’s the rule for everyone. This isn’t your Molly house hazing the new boys and calling it training.”

  “Patrick took it fine.” Harry smirked.

  “You did what?” Thomas asked.

  “Little fun. That’s all.” Harry shrugged.

  “You’re both on the edge of being dismissed. I’ll speak to the colonel. This is the behavior we can’t tolerate. Harry, go to bed. You touch another man and you’re fired,” James warned.

  “Then what fun is this place?” Harry asked.

  “It’s for work, not fun,” James shot back.

  “Big butler now.” Harry buttoned his pants and stormed out the door.

  James stared at Thomas. “When you came here I thought you wanted to change your life. You can do this bad behavior back in London. I won’t tolerate it here.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t want Patrick to screw it up. Paul admitted it but Patrick denied it. Harry got the truth out of Patrick, I guess. The two have been cozy since they met. I didn’t touch Patrick but I was going to lecture him.” Thomas rubbed his hands over his face.

  James held his temper. “Why attack Paul? Why would you do that?”

  “He’s been uppity. He worked for the earl and he’s known the colonel for years. Personally hired. If he’s giving himself to Patrick, why not to me? You’re the butler. That boy needed an attitude correction.” Thomas shrugged.

  “That’s my job. I know who was in the pantry. I was handling it. You could’ve told me Paul was bragging and acting up. I won’t have anyone brutalized,” James warned.

  “He’d have liked it. I think the two of us spooked him. He needed to know he’s not the top dog,” Thomas said.

  “And this isn’t a Molly house. I do the smacking down. You and Harry will be lucky to keep your places. You swear you didn’t touch Patrick?” James asked.

  “No, not since I’ve been here. Patrick is an eager little pup. He needs a lecture, that’s all. He wasn’t strutting around like Paul.”

  James nodded. “I’ll handle it. You can tell me the problems. Don’t try to handle them on your own.”

  “Fine. I got it. You’re the boss. I’m just used to handling scuffles on our own. No one higher up wanted to hear about the problems. I swear, I’ll be good. I never have trouble getting men to say yes.” Thomas winked.

  “Go to bed,” James ordered.

  Heading to his room, James wanted so badly to go upstairs and recount all of this to the colonel. That could wait for the morning. James wanted input on how to handle the situation with the men. Firing a footman was easy enough in a normal house for one in his position. But he’d picked these men. He’d trusted them and turning one out meant the entire scheme was at risk.

  Chapter Seven

  The plan for a quiet day of invitations and checking on the livestock was ruined when Fred heard the news James shared.

  “You’re sure they were forcing him? Some men play games.” Fred didn’t want to believe it.

  “Paul? No, he’d have told me if it was a game. Thomas and Harry were put out about everyone getting a lecture. It was a punishment…more of a bollocking. I’ll handle them. Thomas doesn’t know better yet but Harry does.” James stared at the tie he was knotting around Fred’s collar, looking anywhere but at his face.

  Fred felt the chill from his butler. “You need to handle Harry just right. I know you’re close to him. Or you were.”

  James shook his head. “That’s not the problem. I’d have fired him on the spot if it weren’t for the secret agenda you’ve got here. If we dismiss Harry I’m concerned he’d head back to London and start talking.”

  “Even with a good reference?” Fred asked.

  “He’s vengeful. We could try paying him off but we’d never be rid of him.” James cleared his throat. “I spent half the night thinking it over.”

  “What if we relegate him to driving? Or working as a groom? Take him out of the house routine as punishment. Tell Charles and the other grooms if Harry steps out of line to defend themselves properly and report it. They won’t be in trouble. Better than tossing him out.” Fred didn’t want his plan to be exposed or to give someone the sack. His father had fired Harry. No one had given him a fair chance, most likely.

  “That might work. Eventually he’d be trained as a groom anyway so it wouldn’t look like a demotion or punishment,” James agreed.

  “Good. Make it clear to the others that if Harry is a problem they need to tell you. And they should defend themselves.”

  “I’ll tell him this morning when I get down. He won’t like it.” James smiled.

  “Thomas should be put on probation of sorts. Watch him. He still needs footman training and to learn all the rules,” Fred said.

  “Yes, sir,” James said.

  Fred studied James’ face. He wouldn’t make eye contact.

  “Maybe you need to recover some sleep?” Fred suggested.

  James shook his head. “I’m fine. With the invitations going out today I must keep an eye on the training.”

  The tension between them drove Fred crazy. It was different. If he tried to kiss James now he’d probably get a slap. If his butler had resolved to be nothing but professional, Fred had to accept it.

  “Good. I’m going to tour the livestock so I’ll need a driver. I’ll handle the invitations this afternoon,” Fred said.

  “I’ll arrange it at once.” James stepped back. “Anything else, sir?”

  “One more thing.” Fred tapped his cane on the floor. “We can be friends, James. I expect nothing more. But we’ve known each other a long time and I hope you know you can speak freely. We’re partners in this endeavor.”

  “Yes, sir. I appreciate that,” James said, his tone crisp and neutral.

  Then he left without a backward glance, just as a proper butler should.

  Fred shook his head and decided to take his hurdles one at a time. First, the stairs.

  Afternoon tea came just as Fred finished his letters in the cozy library. Unfortunately, quiet was not the word for today. The livestock tour had sparked several of conversations about what could be improved. Things were falling into place, though. That was a good sign.

  Paul delivered the tea tray with his usual perfection.

  “Thank you, Paul. Things better today?” Fred asked.

  Paul bowed his head. “Thomas apologized. Mr. Riggs came in before it got bad, sir.”

  “You’d tell me if you needed anything. If you were hurt?” Fred said.

  “I’m sure I should tell Mr. Riggs, sir. But I would,” Paul replied.

  “And Harry is out of the house for now,” Fred offered.

  Paul shook his head. “He didn’t care for that. He quit, sir.”

  “What?” Fred exclaimed.

  Paul nodded.

  “Riggs gave him a good letter of reference but Harry packed up and stormed off.” Paul poured the tea and offered it to him.

  “That’ll be all.” Fred took the cup. “Wait, put these with the post.”

  “Yes, sir.” Paul grabbed the stack of invitations and exited as quietly as he’d entered.

  Fred sat back and sipped his tea. Harry quitting wasn’t a scenario he’d thought of or James had mentioned. Paul still wasn’t his normal chipper self, either.

  What stung Fred most was he wasn’t much better than Harry. He’d kissed James. Showed off his erection. James probably thought Fred’s falls wer
e on purpose to get him closer. At the very least, Fred owed James an apology. Giving up wasn’t Fred’s style but he couldn’t force James into a relationship any more then he could force a shell-shocked man back onto the battlefield. It was the only black mark on his record but Fred couldn’t regret it.

  All day it seemed as though James was avoiding Fred. At dinner he’d been his usual reserved self. Fred worried as he waited for a valet to help him bathe and dress for bed that James would send someone else.

  The knock on the door made Fred drop the book he’d been trying to read.

  “Come,” Fred said.

  James entered and Fred forced himself not to smile, despite his relief.

  “Good evening, sir,” James said.

  “Good evening. I heard about Harry. Will he stay quiet, do you think?” Fred asked.

  James inhaled deeply. “I think so. He has a good reference and connections enough to get a job in London easily. I gave him money enough for train fare plus a month’s wages. He’s not one for barns and animals.”

  “He didn’t try to take you with him?” Fred asked.

  “That’s long over.” James started the bath.

  “Good.” Fred took his time getting to the bath. James lifted him in and put his false leg back in the bedroom.

  Fred bathed quickly and allowed James to carry him back to the bed without argument. He kept his mind on the list of things he needed to order for the livestock.

  “I owe you an apology.” Fred applied the salve to his wound, his fingers circling as he stared at what was left of his leg. Realizing what he was doing, he raised his gaze to meet James’ gaze. A man of his background should face his actions.

  “Sir?” James asked.

  “I’m sorry for you putting you in a bad spot. We won’t stop consensual relationships here but we can’t stand for pressure or aggression. I kissed you. I had no right to do that. I’m your employer. I know we have a lot of history but I’ve never had staff that worked for me before. Then again, I never dared risk that sort of thing under my father’s roof. But I’d never have done that to a man under me in the army. I had no right to do it to you.” Fred picked up his book.

  “It’s my fault. I started it all back then. The rules were different there. I lost my head. If I’d never done that we’d never have had any awkward encounters,” James said.

  Fred smiled. “That’s not true. The attraction was always there. I can control myself and I won’t do anything to make you or any of the footmen uncomfortable. A one-legged monk.”

  “That’s a sad prospect. Always alone. Do you have someone? A friend? One of your invitations, perhaps?” James asked.

  “No, I’ve never dared. The army was much safer. That’s not your concern, though. You need to be careful about the men under you as well. But I’m sure you knew that.”

  “Yes, sir.” James’ brow furrowed.

  “Don’t worry. You can assign someone else to be my valet. Paul did a fine job at the club. He’s young and strong but that’s up to you. I’ll let you rotate to give them valet experience when they’re ready.” Fred would miss this time alone with his butler but he had to be fair.

  “No, sir. I prefer to see to you myself. Especially with the wound still healing. We have private things to discuss about the progress of the footmen and the time alone is… convenient.” James folded the worn clothing and moved to the armoire to put it away.

  He dropped Fred’s shoe twice.

  “Are you well? You need to catch up on your sleep,” Fred said.

  “No, sir.” James came back. “Do you want another valet? My service is not acceptable?”

  “No. I’ve overstepped my bounds and I know it. That won’t happen again. You have my word.” Fred opened his book.

  James leaned down and Fred dropped the book as James’ lips crushed against his. The spark was far from snuffed out. Fred returned the kiss and pushed his book aside. James knelt on the edge of the bed and Fred braced himself. Either James would pull away and it’d be over…or James wasn’t leaving.

  Chapter Eight

  James’ mind screamed for him to stop but the colonel had taken the high road. He was closing the door between them and James couldn’t let that happen. Everything he’d said was true. All the reasons not to cross the line and get involved raced through his head, but his heart wouldn’t listen.

  The pull was just too much. He yanked off his coat and tossed it aside. Fred wasn’t taking control but he was kissing James back. James ran his hands over that muscled chest and his tongue snaked out to lick Fred’s neck.

  He had to step back to kick off his shoes and strip off the rest of his clothes. James’ erection was ignoring any of the common-sense things his brain spun.

  “Are you sure?” Fred asked.

  His undergarments slid down and James was naked in his master’s chambers.

  “I started this back in the war. Here I let you think the attraction was one-sided.” James shook his head as he climbed into bed and onto Fred, his hands bracing his body over him. “I admired you before the war but things weren’t the same in a trench.”

  “I’m glad.” Fred didn’t argue when James undressed him again, his manner far different than only a few minutes before.

  James kissed his way down Fred’s body and found him hard. As James licked the tip, he realized he wanted to have this every day. All the time. He wanted everything society said he should never have.

  He swallowed Fred’s cock all the way down then grabbed his balls. He must’ve touched Fred’s stump when he moved his hand because he felt Fred flinch.

  Releasing Fred’s cock, James said, “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry. Don’t stop, please,” Fred groaned.

  James moved over a few inches and kissed Fred’s hip and dropped a few kisses down. He stopped before touching the flesh that was still healing. No doubt Fred was walking too much and irritating it.

  “I’m not sorry for you. I’m glad you lived. But I don’t feel sorry for you.” James kissed up the shaft of Fred’s cock. “You retired from the army and your dad handed you all of this because he was proud of you. And he didn’t miss it.”

  “He wanted me away. Out of sight. My eldest brother too. I couldn’t live a life under their roof,” Fred replied.

  “We’re free here. You’re lucky.” James tongued Fred’s balls and fingered his hole, readying him for what was to come.

  Fred moaned. “I know. Here I can trust you with everything I have. No pitiful looks here.”

  James kissed Fred’s other hip and licked his way back to Fred’s mouth. He caught his lips with his own before the colonel could say any more.

  “I don’t feel sorry for you. What I make in a year you probably spend in a day just to run this place. We aren’t as alike as you think.” James bit Fred’s nipple, smiling as the action hardened his lover even further.

  Fred gasped and smiled. “The first rule you learn in the army is that there is always someone higher up. I worked with sons of royal dukes who were made to clean floors because they couldn’t understand that social rank and army rank weren’t the same. I earned my rank in the army. Society is a dice roll. I’m lucky in birth but I worked hard.”

  “And you’re helping people like us. I admire you for it, Colonel.” James looked around and wondered what to use for lubrication.

  Fred reached into the bedside table and produced a small tin of grease. “I don’t want you to admire me. I want you to desire me so much you can’t fight it. This isn’t about power.”

  “Everything is about power.” James greased two fingers and rubbed them between Fred’s ass cheeks, questing ever deeper.

  “Then I give it up. Here, you’re in charge.” Fred kissed James ravenously. “You’re the admiral.”

  James laughed but Fred was dead serious.

  “Here? For this?” James asked.

  “For whatever you want. I can’t change the world for you. I would but I can’t. Maybe I can prove to you
I don’t care about power except to do good with it. Please.” Fred squeezed his muscles on James’ fingers.

  James rolled off of Fred until he was on his back next to him. He felt like a king in that cushy bed. “Suck my cock.”

  Fred grinned and moved down James’ body. The warm and wet rhythm of Fred’s tongue nearly made James lose his control. Fred didn’t say a word but worked James’ long erection down his throat, moaning all the way.

  He could have this every night?

  “Faster,” James commanded.

  Fred moved faster.

  Then James saw the pressure Fred put on his arms. He was off balance to compensate for his missing leg. Fred didn’t want pity but he also didn’t want Fred in any pain.

  “Kiss me,” James said, pulling Fred toward him.

  Fred slowly kissed his way up James. As soon as their lips met, James rolled them so Fred on his back again.

  “Got any of those French protectors you were handing out during the war?” James asked.

  Fred shook his head. “Don’t want that with you.”

  James had to agree. He pressed his cock into Fred’s ass and groaned at the tight, hot sheath that fit him like a glove.

  “Please, yes,” Fred moaned.

  Being careful not to hurt Fred’s wound as he thrust, James rocked in and out of Fred’s body like it was his last meal.

  “Yes, James.” Fred lifted to meet every stroke.

  James looked down at him.

  “Admiral. Sir. Use me however you want.” Fred arched his back.

  It was pretend. It was crazy but it aroused James even more. Fred was as willing to give up power as he was to use it.

  James grabbed Fred’s cock and stroked it as he fucked his employer until Fred’s moans grew loud.

  When Fred tried to muffle his cries, James pulled his hand away. “No one can hear you.”

  Fred came, shouting James’ name. The cream landed all over Fred’s chest. James wanted to lick it up and kiss Fred all night. But he drove over and over into his colonel until James’ release knocked him down. He came deep inside of Fred and fell on top of him, finally satisfied for the first time in months…but more deeply than in his whole life.