Illusive

by Nina Levine

  Her eyes flashed with desire and I began finger fucking her while circling her clit with my thumb. She closed her eyes, and I ordered, “Keep your eyes open. I want to see what my fingers do to you.”

  While I kept fucking her with my finger, I let go of her neck and dipped my head so I could lick the skin along her collarbone. I just needed a taste and I had to force myself not to spend longer there, because I wanted to watch her eyes as she moved closer to her orgasm.

  “Wrap your hand around my cock,” I commanded, and a moment later she began stroking me.

  Fuck.

  Her hand around me felt so fucking good.

  “I’m not going to fuck you with my dick, Sophia. I’m going to make you come with my fingers, and then you’re going to get on your knees and suck my cock.”

  I need to see her on her knees tonight.

  My fingers worked harder and got her so fucking wet that it took every ounce of my self-control not to turn her around, bend her over, and fuck her. The need to have her every way I could overwhelmed me, and I knew we were in for a long night of sex. But first, I wanted my dick sucked.

  Her eyes fluttered closed but she snapped them open straight away, and I knew she wasn’t far off coming. She looked so goddamn beautiful when she came – it was a sight I would never grow tired of. I watched her now as her mouth formed that perfect ‘O’, and her pussy contracted around my fingers, and I applied a little more pressure because I wanted her to scream out her release tonight.

  Her hand around my dick squeezed me hard as she came, and a moment later, she screamed out my name, “Griff!”

  Once her orgasm had worked through her, she knelt in front of me and took me into her mouth. Jesus Christ, her mouth was one of the best places to be. She took hold of the base of my cock and worked me with both her hand and her mouth. Her tongue slid over me, too, and fuck that felt amazing. I placed a hand on the back of her head and closed my eyes, letting go of all thoughts and letting the pleasure take over.

  I was so far gone by the time she got my dick into her mouth that it didn’t take long for me to blow. Sophia swallowed everything I gave her, and then looked up at me as she licked her lips. She always licked her lips afterwards, as if she loved my cum and couldn’t get enough of it, and that turned me way the fuck on.

  Reaching my hands under her arms, I pulled her up. “Fuck, baby, I think we need to start every day with a fucking blow job. Screw waiting until the end of the day for that.”

  She grinned as she curled her arms around my neck. “Sounds good to me. You know how much I love having you in my mouth.”

  I bent my mouth to her ear. “We’ll begin tomorrow.” Moving my face away from hers, I said, “Now, I’m going to clean you, and then you’re going to go and wait for me in my bed.”

  She nodded as I reached for the soap and began lathering her body. I dedicated time to every inch of her and got her ready for me to fuck her when I’d finished in the shower.

  As I watched her dry off and then walk out of the bathroom, my thoughts drifted back to today. And to the vote that was coming.

  Fuck.

  * * *

  Sophia lay on my bed for me, naked, waiting. She turned to look at me as I entered, and I saw something in her eyes that I hadn’t seen in anyone’s eyes for a long time. Josie probably came close, but not to this degree.

  Compassion.

  Care.

  Kindness.

  It slammed into me and caused a wave of emotion I didn’t even realise I was feeling.

  I raked my fingers through my hair as my emotions assaulted me. Thoughts I’d tried to bury long ago rushed forward and smacked me in the face. There was no escape, and I realised that for once, there was no way around, but rather only a way through.

  I sat on the edge of the bed, facing away from her, and said, “I do shit you probably wouldn’t agree with, Sophia.”

  She placed a hand on my back. “Like what? Can you give me an example?”

  Turning to face her, I clenched my jaw before saying, “I killed the man who murdered my family ten years ago.”

  Her eyes widened, and she looked like she’d been slapped. And then she gave me hope she could accept me for who I was. “Your family was murdered?” Not even a mention of the fact I had killed someone.

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  I told her the story and she listened intently. When I’d finished, she scrambled into my lap and put her arms around me. “I’m so sorry, Griff,” she said, and I heard every drop of compassion in her voice. It was the kind of compassion that had been missing from my life for a long time – the kind of compassion I hadn’t even realised I needed.

  “I do work for Storm that involves violence,” I admitted, needing her to know exactly who I was. If we were going to make this work, I needed to know she accepted everything about me.

  She processed that, remaining silent for a few minutes. “Do you do it to help your club?”

  “Yes. The only time I get violent is when I’m doing it to help either my club or someone I care about, but I do it, and I need you to know that.”

  Nodding, she said, “I have no problem with that. Ever since I saw you beat that guy up who tried to steal a car, I’ve known you had that streak. It didn’t bother me then and it doesn’t bother me now.”

  I watched her closely and knew she was telling the truth.

  Thank fuck.

  Before I could say anything else, she took hold of my face with both her hands. “Griff, I accept you for who you are and always will. You never need to change yourself for me. I’m still getting to know stuff about you, but I know who you are at your core – you’ve already shown me that. I’ve spent my entire life trying to fit in, and make people like me, and the thing I’ve learnt is that it never works. The trick is to find your tribe where you don’t have to work to fit in, but where you effortlessly slide right in. And to find your person – that one person who just gets you and doesn’t try to change you; that one person who only needs to take a glance at you to know if there’s something wrong; that one person who would drop everything to be there for you when you need them…you’re my person, Griff, and I’d do anything for you.”

  Fuck me.

  She’d just given me the fucking world.

  I claimed her lips in a kiss that went on for so long I lost track of time. And although she sat naked on my lap, my hands didn’t roam over her body. I just needed her lips for now. When I’d had my fill, I ended the kiss, and said, “You’re mine, Sophia. Forever.”

  29

  Griff

  Two days later, when Wilder was in the clear from being shot, I walked into Church with a sense of apprehension. It had been quiet around the club over the last two days, and I couldn’t read some of the boys. They avoided eye contact with me, as well as conversation with me, and I figured they were the ones who would vote me out. The fact there seemed to be a lot of them avoiding me was of concern.

  I took my seat next to Scott who opened with club business. Looking around the room, I took in my family. These men had been there for me through good times and bad over the last three years. We’d packed a lot into a few short years, and I’d learnt what loyalty and acceptance meant. I guessed after today, I’d learn who believed in unconditional love.

  Scott finished going through the business he had to discuss regarding the fire at Trilogy and a few other matters, and he asked if anyone else had anything to go over. Wilder spoke up, his voice full of nerves as he stumbled over his words. “You remember you asked me to find out a little while ago who those guys were outside The Eclipse Bar who none of us knew?” He waited for Scott to acknowledge that, and when he nodded, Wilder continued. “I was given the wrong information. We were also given the wrong information about who was behind the fire at Trilogy.”

  Fuck.

  I sat forward in my chair, every muscle in my body tense. This was not going to be good news.

  “Keep going, and don’t stop until you get everything out,
” Scott ordered, his shoulders tense.

  Wilder took a deep breath. It was clear he didn’t want to tell us whatever it was he had to say. “One of the guys is Julio Rivera and he arrived in Brisbane about four months ago. He’s been building his network, with an end goal of running this town. His fingers are already in a lot of pies, Scott, and he’s achieved one of his goals thanks to us – getting rid of Ricky. Seems he was setting Ricky up to take the fall for the Trilogy fire because he hoped we would buy it and do exactly what we did. From what I’ve been told, he’s slowly working his way to bringing down the big guys so he can take over from them. The Bond Family were another one on his list, and we helped him out there, too. That guy who was missing yesterday in your count of dead bodies, Griff? He had just shifted allegiance to Julio; that’s why he was missing.”

  Scott’s breathing had slowed, and anger clouded his face. “How the fuck do you know all this?”

  Wilder hesitated, as if he knew this wasn’t going to go down well. “It was something Carly said one night when she was high – it didn’t add up so I’ve been doing some digging.”

  Scott slammed his hand down on the table as his eyes flashed a level of anger at Wilder that I’d never seen from him. Standing, he bellowed, “Next fuckin’ time you have a gut feeling about something, Wilder, you need to bring it to the table. We’re a club and sticking together is what makes us work. Running off and doing shit on your own doesn’t fuckin’ work.”

  “Okay,” Wilder said.

  “Have I made myself clear?” Scott’s voice was still raised as he demanded an answer.

  “Yes, loud and clear, Prez,” Wilder said, almost tripping over the words to get them out.

  Scott raked his fingers through his hair. Looking around the room, he said, “Right, we need to deal with that, but first we need a vote on Griff. I think I made myself pretty clear the other day as to where I stand, but so there is no misunderstanding – I accept Griff’s reasons and support his membership in Storm. He always has our backs, and it would do you well to remember that when you cast your vote. I vote yea in support of his membership.”

  I nodded at him, and watched as the vote went around the room. After quite a few nay’s, I swallowed back my concern this wasn’t going to go my way. And then came some more yea’s, but I wasn’t convinced there would be enough. At some point, I actually lost count, so when Scott had the final vote in, and looked at me, I wasn’t sure where I stood.

  Scott’s hard stare told me nothing, and my stomach knotted with stress.

  Fuck.

  Was I about to be kicked out of Storm?

  Scott watched me for a few moments before turning back to the room. “Good, I believe we’ve made the correct decision. Griff stays.”

  The room spun a little as his words worked their way through my consciousness.

  Griff stays.

  I balled my fists as nervous energy flowed through me, and in that moment I realised just what this family truly meant to me. I thought I’d always known, but now that knowledge was lodged in my brain, never to be forgotten.

  Storm meant everything to me.

  And for them to accept me, knowing the real me now...that meant even more.

  As I processed that, I lost concentration and had no idea what Scott was now saying, but loud voices pierced my thoughts, jolting me back to awareness.

  “I’m not fuckin’ staying if he stays!” Jones shoved his chair back and glared at me.

  “Me either,” said Truck.

  I watched as five more guys joined them, threatening to leave Storm if I stayed. Jesus, if Storm lost seven men, at a time when a new threat had just arrived in town, shit would not be easy.

  We can’t afford to lose them.

  Just as I was about to try reasoning with them, Scott thundered, “If you want out, there’s the fuckin’ door.” He pointed at the door while he glared at them.

  “Fuck,” I muttered. “Can we back this up and discuss it some more?”

  Scott’s head snapped around to look at me. “I refuse to run a club with divided loyalties, Griff. If anyone can’t fully support an official club ruling, they can leave as far as I am concerned. The vote to keep you was fair and square, and I won’t have a few members try to throw their weight around, issuing threats that fuck with that.”

  I agreed with him, but fuck.

  “I’m out!” Truck spat and dumped his cut on the table before storming out of the room. And then we watched as every other member who’d threatened to leave followed him.

  Once they’d left, and Scott had regained control of the room, he spoke loud and clear. “Everyone who is still sitting here must fully support me, Griff, and the club. That means when a vote is taken, you follow it because you believe in this club and what it stands for. That means when we decide on a course of action to protect our club and our families, you follow it, no questions asked. That means you would lay your life down for the club.” He paused and looked at each member. “If anyone here wants out, now is the time to leave. With what Wilder has just told us, it looks like we’ve got tough times ahead, so we’re gonna need every member fully on board. This isn’t a time for fucking around, this is a time for taking command and getting shit done the way Storm knows how to get shit done.”

  He waited a few minutes, giving everyone time to make their decision, and then he nodded, took his seat at the head of the table, and said, “Right, let’s make a plan. Nobody fucks with Storm and lives to talk about it.”

  30

  Sophia

  I watched Griff from my kitchen as he worked on my patio. He’d been out in the sun labouring for three hours this afternoon so I’d grabbed him a beer out of the fridge and was about to take it out to him. His muscles had distracted me, though. He wore no shirt, and each nail he hammered, and each piece of wood he cut, caused his muscles to flex in a hypnotising way.

  Everything about him hypnotised me – his good looks, his bossiness, his hidden sense of humour that he only seemed to share with those closest to him, his protective nature, his fierce way of caring, and so much more.

  He stopped what he was doing and looked at me. Goosebumps flooded my skin from the way he looked at me – like he wanted to devour me. I held up the beer, and he jerked his chin in that way of his – the way that said ‘woman, come here’.” I loved that chin jerk.

  As I stepped foot outside, a noise at my front door caught my attention. Turning to see what it was, I smiled at the sight of Magan traipsing down the hallway towards us. “Hey, honey,” I called out.

  “I’m just going to use your printer, okay?” she said, and I nodded.

  Turning back to Griff, I walked to where he stood and passed him his beer. “It’s looking good,” I said, looking at the work he’d done so far.

  He took a long drink of his beer and nodded. “Yeah, much better. When I move in, we can use my barbeque. It’s one of the only decent things I own and it’s better than this one the previous owner built in. In fact, I’ll pull this one out completely.”

  I blinked, and at the same time, butterflies whooshed through my stomach. “You’re moving in? When is that happening? I mean, we haven’t even discussed it…but I don’t mind…what I mean to say is I’m down with it, but I hadn’t realised we were at that stage in our relationship where we’d move in together, and I also am surprised you want to move into my house rather than me move into yours. And, wow, this seems so fast…are you sure?” I took a long breath and stared wide-eyed at him. I hadn’t even seen that coming.

  His gaze was glued to mine, and I saw a determination in it that I loved. He was sure about this. “A man could search his whole life looking for a woman like you, Sophia. I know what I’ve got, and trust me when I tell you this, I’m not letting go. As far as me moving in here…it makes sense because Josie lives across the road. And as far as moving too fast…I’m not good with waiting for something I know is going to happen. I’ve already started packing my stuff.”

  I smiled. “So
unds good to me, handsome.”

  He drank the rest of his beer and passed me the empty bottle. “Okay, you need to move your ass inside, woman, so I can finish this job in peace. Not a man alive who could do it with you sashaying around in those shorts you like to wear.”

  Grinning, I left him in peace, and headed inside to find Magan.

  She met me in the kitchen, and said, “I got that job.”

  My brows furrowed. “Which one? You applied for two, didn’t you?”

  “Oh, yeah…I got the one at the dress shop. I start in a few days and have to take my birth certificate in for them so I thought I’d make a copy in case they want one.”

  I smiled at her excitement. “They shouldn’t need a copy of that, but I’m so proud of you for being organised.”

  She stilled and gave me a strange smile. Almost a sad smile. “Thank you, Sophia,” she murmured, and I had no idea what she was thanking me for. On top of that, I hated the sadness in her voice.

  “What for, honey?” I asked as I reached for her hand, needing to hold her.

  “For loving me like you do. I’ve gone my whole life pretty much without a mother figure, well, at least, one who cared for me like a mother. You might be my sister, but in a lot of ways, I kinda think of you like my mother.”

  The heartbreak our mother had caused both of us was still fresh, and we were still coming to terms with it in our own ways. It meant the world to me to hear these words from her. I put my arms around her and hugged her. We held onto each other for a long time, and when we finally let each other go, she said, “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, honey.”

  She moved to the table and stashed her documents in her bag before turning back to me, and said, “We have to cook cake. Josie will be here soon.”

  My heart felt like it could explode from happiness.

  My new family.

  * * *