G-Force (Commitment, a gay romance series Book 2)

by Karen Botha

  “I’m sorry, Elliott, not until this is sorted out.” James shakes his head. “We can’t have a loose cannon floating around.”

  Kyle finally speaks, and barks, “You’ve got one and you’re mending his broken hand. How do you think that happened?” His wide eyes stare from one member of the group to the others. “Well?”

  No one replies.

  Kyle shakes his head, and I share his disgust that these people who know him could think so little of him.

  “It was while I was taking the knife out of his hand, which he had pointed at my gut by the way.”

  I move close enough to place my hand on his thigh and lean into him. “I had a message from Noah saying he was going to get Kyle. For some reason that message, which was saved has now disappeared. You should be worried about my safety as well. He’s managed to get hold of my phone somehow and delete his messages and my missed calls.”

  Kyle’s eyes bore a hole into the side of my face. I can’t look at him, but I can imagine his wide eyes asking me what the fuck I was thinking by not telling him everything. I stare ahead ignoring the burn.

  Noah adjusts his position on the ground, moaning about his hand and the ache between his legs. “Listen, if you want this mess sorted out before you let Kyle go, the least you can do is treat Noah in the same way.” My anger is calming and my rational head finally starting to control my actions. Some clarity cutting through the fog.

  “I think that’s a fair call,” Jessie says. “But we need to be discreet. We don’t want wind of this hitting the press.”

  James and Greg have a hushed confab.

  “I just have one question before we all disperse to our relative custodial locations,” Kyle says.

  Everyone turns, looks at him. “Go on,” James says.

  “If you consider where we are right now.” He sweeps his head; all other parts of his anatomy being restrained. “We are close to my sleeping quarters. Noah, has no business being around here. So, if I were the one doing the attacking, how do you think he got here? Surely I would have had to hunt him down.”

  “You told me to meet you here,” Noah shouts from his position still on the ground.

  “You’re a fucking liar.” Kyle glowers. “I didn’t even know you were here.”

  Noah laughs, but it’s not the one I remember from our childhood. It’s an evil cackle reminiscent of horror movies.

  Kyle

  James decided to lock me in his camper with him, so he can’t be that scared of me.

  “This is no good Kyle; we need sleep for tomorrow.”

  “Let’s both of us just try to get some shut eye. Honestly, I have nothing to hide. All I’ve done is protected myself from some stalker ex of Elliott’s. His lawyer will deal with it all. Let’s both at least try to sleep so we can work properly tomorrow when all this is sorted out by El’s lawyer.”

  James nods before walking over to check that the door is locked. He places the key in the pocket of his jeans and sits down. He arranges some cushions on one end of the bench seat. Throwing some over to me to do the same at the other end.

  “Come on then. Let’s get some rest and hope this all blows over in the morning.”

  My chest fills with warmth. He believes me. I have no idea whether I’d believe myself at the moment, but at least James does. As does Elliott.

  I settle down and James turns off the light. “I hope you don’t snore.” I hear his smile through the darkness.

  But that’s when it starts. Demons ravaging through my brain. I’m tired, but I can’t sleep. As soon as I close my eyes, the visions flash back like rediscovered cine footage, spliced together in disjointed memories.

  Elliott turns up and I see for the first time the look of confusion on his face as he spots me attached to the tree. The vision of the knife clutched in Noah’s hand as he twists it toward me. And the feeling that I could cause some real cold blooded harm to this individual who thought it possible to threaten not only my life, but what I hold close.

  That ice bitter hatred is the scariest. I’ve never felt like that before. Totally in control and yet with venom running through my emotions like blood through my veins. The ability to cause pain and hurt without batting an eye, wanting to inflict the maximum amount of damage to another human resting fine with me. Only the logic wavering in the back of my mind prevented me from causing further injury to the pathetic figure I had cowering on the floor.

  And then I wonder, how different am I compared to him? He didn’t start out feeling this way. Something pushed him over the edge in the same way he forced my hand. Are we ever that far away from our basic instincts to survive at the expense of all else? Not just in life, but in everything we cherish.

  “Are you awake?” James asks.

  “Yep.”

  “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

  “No, go for it.”

  “When Noah came for you with that knife, how were you able to take it from him without you getting injured?”

  “Krav Maga. It takes a lot of practice, but as a kid I had too much time on my hands. My parents were very into the Church and it was difficult for me to make friends. Kids used to pick on me rather than befriend me. You learn quickly.”

  “Really? I didn’t peg you as a bullied youth.”

  “I was, but only for a while. It’s the best thing that could have happened though. I wouldn’t be here now without it. It gave me time to dismantle everything in my wake and rebuild it. If I wasn’t so insular, then I’d never have been good enough to end up working on your team.”

  “You didn’t know Elliott before you joined us then?” he asks.

  “No, why?”

  “Just wondering.”

  Elliott

  Clifford, my lawyer calls me back first thing in the morning.

  “Sorry Elliott, I didn’t check my phone last night. It didn't enter my head that you'd be involved in an altercation. Isn’t it a race weekend?”

  I smile. He’s a funny character and his old boarding school manner takes some understanding at first, but Clifford is the best. I ignore the small talk as is customary during our chats and explain the situation.

  “OK, I’ll put a call through. And you’re happy for me to disclose all the facts as required?” He double checks.

  “Yep, please do what you need. All I'm bothered about other than Kyle is getting my head straight for today's race.”

  I leave my personal room at the back of the pits and head off to find Chase upstairs while Clifford continues to chat in my ear. Best to take this to the top, get his orders to filter down and keep everyone below him in line.

  “I’ve already applied for an injunction, but you know how these things can take time sometimes. It’s not considered serious because you haven't made a formal police complaint so I’m pulling the necessary strings to get the judge to review the paperwork in private. Last thing you want is this going public.”

  “Exactly,” I agree, taking two steps at a time up to the offices. Rapping on the open door, I poke my head through the doorway to find Chase sitting behind his desk with two local police officers flanking him on the other side.

  “You’d better get yourself ready. The local cops are here,” I whisper to Clifford into the phone.

  “Shit, last thing we want is them getting involved. Cross border communications are never the best. Don’t say anything. Let me handle it. Pass me to Chase.”

  I step over the threshold while Clifford is talking and wave my free hand at Chase. “I have, Clifford, my lawyer, on the phone. He’s been dealing with Noah stalking me up until everything blew up last night.” I totally ignore the police officers. Not sure if that’s the smart decision or not, but it’s too late now. “I’ll pass you over,” I say to Clifford before I pass the handset to Chase.

  I hover, noticing how my body hangs while I wait. My spine is tight, and I swear I can feel the blood pumping in and back out of my heart as it thuds in my chest. I’m uncomfortable; I don’t know how to stand. I
have an almost uncontrollable compulsion to rest my hand on the back of the chair in which one of the police officers sits, to lean on it, and kick one leg out across the other. Maybe it’s the need to look confident and perhaps a little less agitated by their attendance.

  Instead, I smile, keeping my mouth closed and wait, shifting my weight from one foot to the next.

  “Hi,” I finally say as the silence grows increasingly awkward.

  They nod, remaining silent.

  Is it right to ask what they’re doing here? They won’t tell me anyway, I expect. If they wanted me, they’d have found me. And so I continue to shift from one foot back to the other, standing on that same spot in Chase’s office, waiting for him to return my phone and say that Clifford has worked his magic and this whole mess is now all fine.

  “I’ll just pass you over.” I hear instead of the words I’ve been holding my breath for.

  Chase hands my phone to the police.

  I raise my eyebrows. Chase shakes his head, urging me to keep quiet.

  Kyle

  I’m released in time for the race.

  “Get your kit on,” James instructs as he blasts into his trailer. “You’re out.”

  I hop up off the couch with a little less of a spring in my step than I’m happy with. I’ve seized up being holed up in here for so long. I stretch.

  “You’ve no idea how close this was. Elliott pulled it out of the bag for you, but Noah reported you to the police.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “No, they’ve been with Chase all morning; he’s spitting feathers. He hasn’t had the time to do the normal pre-race jobs, so he’s not a happy bunny. Keep yourself a low profile,” he warns.

  “OK.” I don’t argue. Yeah it’s not fair that I was the one attacked by some psycho and yet I have most definitely come out of this the worst. Save for Noah’s wrist. The feel of his bones cracking filters into my conscious thoughts again and I tense, unhappy with how the pleasure swells my chest.

  I’m down in the pits by the time I get to see Elliott. My heart bursts when I catch sight of him like one of the camera flashes from the film crews is going off inside my heart. He gestures for me to meet him around the back, away from the prying eye of the press.

  “Come here.” He pulls me toward him, and brushes his lips against mine, over my eyes, my cheeks, my neck. I sigh, relax into him. “I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through.”

  “It’s fine El. It’s not your fault he’s a raving lunatic.”

  “No, but it’s not yours either.” His words whisper over my mouth as he kisses me again. “I’m just so thankful you managed to get the better of him. That you spotted him.”

  I nod. “Listen, don’t worry about it. Go and show him now. Win this race.”

  I say the words and something changes in him. A film coats the glittering in his eyes and they change from warm to focused. He stiffens, growing taller, no longer leaning against the wall. “I will. Look, I’ll see you around, and we’ll celebrate my win later. Together, OK?”

  “Not so quickly.” I grab his fire suit and tug him back. “I want to know exactly how we’re going to celebrate together when you’ve finished winning this race and putting everyone who was against us back in their box.”

  “I’m sure we can think of something.”

  “Tell me.”

  “I’ll... listen, can we talk about this later? My brain isn’t working in that way right now.”

  “Sure...” That’s a first. I know he’s got a lot going on, but I’m left standing in that corridor wondering what I’ve missed while I’ve been holed up in confinement.

  I’m sure I’m only being over dramatic. He has to concentrate. He’s going out onto a track to drive at speeds which could end his life if he doesn’t have the focus. He’s engaging the sensible part of his brain.

  Elliott

  The anger that I pour into that race means that no one can pass me. My pre-race routine may have been well and truly screwed up, but there’s no way for any one of my competitors to beat the aggression that has me edging out front from the first corner and holding onto the lead for the entirety of the required laps.

  Storming in without even a chance for anyone else to sniff that top podium position has me crowd-surfing the team as they gather to congratulate me.

  There is not a face among them which doesn’t know what went on over the last twenty-four hours and it makes the victory all the sweeter.

  Ending up in the middle of my team, I land at Kyle’s feet. His grin spans the width of his face, and my jaw cracks under my helmet as I push it against his face in the best effort at a kiss that I can muster while still wearing all my gear.

  “That’ll be all over social media within ten minutes,” Kyle shouts above the din.

  “I don’t care. I love you. The world needs to know.” I stop short of saying so there are no repeats of last night, but he knows what I mean and nods, grasps my gloved hands in his and squeezes my slim fingers between his thick ones.

  Once I’ve finished with my trophy collection, speaking to the rounds of press, who all comment on our kiss, I finally find Kyle. The crew has completed the garage pack-up and excitement tingles through my bones at being able to finally get my hands on him.

  “I’ve missed you.” I wrap my arms around his waist as I approach him from behind. He jumps, his muscles tensing at my touch. It's only when he recognizes my voice that he relaxes.

  “I’ve missed you too.”

  “Where is everyone?”

  “They’ve all packed up, but I knew you’d come down here to find me so I hung around, tinkering with some parts.”

  “Ooh, tinkering with parts. Anything I may find interesting?” I raise my eyebrow and he turns, frames my face in his large palms and studies me.

  “I love you, Elliott Judd. Thank you for believing in me when no one else did.”

  “Of course I believe in you.” I run my hands up the underside of his work tee and he gasps as my eager fingers connect with the sensitive flesh on his toned belly. I trace lightly upwards, grazing my nails against the regrowth of his treasure trail, up between his sculptured pecs and across his muscular chest. My hand wraps around his defined back and I pull him against me.

  “What happened?” I breathe into him as I rest my cheek on his firm torso.

  “I’ll tell you later, but it's nowhere near as exciting as all the gossipers out there would have you believe. Let's not dwell on it; it’s dealt with now, isn’t it?”

  “Sure, hopefully we’ve heard the last of him. Clifford got on the case this morning and sorted everything out with the police. You know he reported you?”

  He nods into the top of my head and I close my eyes and listen to his heart. “Come on. Let’s wrap up and go to my place.”

  Kyle

  I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something Elliott isn’t telling me. He’s saying all the right things, but I know him pretty well by now and something is niggling at him. He’ll tell me when he’s ready. Much as I want to know, I also very much would like to become reacquainted with the love of my life.

  As soon as we’re inside his trailer, a whirlwind grips us. We pounce on each other, ripping at clothes and tugging at belts and manhandling the other in all manner of directions to grasp whatever piece of available flesh we can.

  He back walks me into the bedroom and throws me naked on the bed. I think about pulling on my cock, giving him a show, but I want him. I need to feel him, for us to be as one and so I relax, stroke my hand over my length, enjoy the warm sensation that brings, but do no more to myself.

  He immediately grabs the lube from the bedside table, squeezes a generous amount in his palms, and rubs them together. Simultaneously, he takes one cock in each hand and swipes down a slick strip of lube before slowly rubbing his hand up and down us both. It’s the sexiest feeling in the world, that simple touch, full of love and understanding, uniting us in the same rhythm within a dynamic force.

/>   He straddles me, resting on one hand placed either side of my head. I wrap my fingers around one arm and tilt my neck so I can kiss his wrist while he positions over me and rubs his cock against mine. My hips tilt, working against his, pushing out any air from between us so we’re locked together.

  Tingling radiates up into my rib cage. My breath catches as my heart speeds up. I widen my legs, wrap my arms around his waist and clasp his butt, pulling him down until his movements, now restricted by my pressure, become shorter, deeper, and more intense.

  The power of his touch burns into my groin, waking the ferocity from the night and turning it into the purest form of pleasure. I don’t demand any more from him. I just desire his presence, to feel him, and for him to feel me.

  Craning my neck to reach his mouth, my abdomen clenches, my nerves contract and the intensity of his writhing sends electric shocks deep within me, through my core, and up to my heart.

  Our mouths touch, then open and our tongues intertwine, rolling over the other, exploring the new sensation of protecting and being protected. I pull away, pause a few millimeters from his lips as his hips continue to plow into mine and our cocks beat against the other.

  My head fills, dizziness taking hold. My passion for this loyal man surges and I slam my mouth back against his. I force his lips open and delve my tongue into his mouth, sucking and teasing him into my space, interlacing them into one. Our teeth smash together, our jaws extended. There’s no end to one nor start of another. Our tongues continue to swirl as the tension builds. I yield to the ache in my balls. They retract and I can cling on no longer. I cum all over my chest, all over his. My release forces him over the edge and he joins my ecstasy with a groan.