Page 66 of Narrow Margins
Now, there’s the million-dollar question: what do I think? Griff hasn’t given any clue as to whether he is excited about this. In fact, after the hassle this weekend, he has been more doubting than eager. I have to trust that the guys in front of me are serious, I know them well enough to know they don’t step into things lightly. This is something they have discussed, not only amongst themselves but with backers and sponsors. To already have a bike deal means the talks have been going on longer than either of us could have known. The longer I take to answer, the deeper the frown grows on Griff’s face but it’s my brother who breaks the silence.
“I don’t think Corrie needs to have an opinion in this. It’s whether you, Griff, want to race with us? Are you fully committed, or are you going to go and get papped again the minute you’re left alone? Are you really on board, or are you just having some fun here?” Raff drawls slowly, not even looking at me, but the sharp intake of breath from the others and the harsh ‘fuck’ that bursts from Griff tells a different story.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Griff spits as his hand cups the back of my neck, centering my thoughts on him, not on my brother.
“I mean, you’ve only just got together. You can’t make a serious decision based on who you’re fucking at the moment.” His sharp eyes fix on mine.
“Isn’t that exactly what you did, though, Rafferty?” I find my voice and it’s incensed. “You came here for a job and met Troy and you have been together ever since.”
“That was different, and you know it.” Raff growls back.
“How? Why was it different? I’m confused.” Griff speaks up as he looks around the group of men, all of whom have found their forever men.
“Because we’re gay and always fucking have been, you’re not, Griff. I don’t trust you with my brother. He’s been through enough; he doesn’t need you breaking his heart.”
“Then why are we even having this conversation, why do you want to invest millions of dollars to have me racing for you? Or, maybe it’s because it’s not actually your money being spent? Did you come here, to this table, with the will to invest that much of your own money? Or are you part of a couple with the money?” Griff is so angry. Standing up quickly and moving away from the table, he glares at the shocked faces of the other men.
They are totally baffled at what has happened, Troy looks sick and Ryan and Nico seem furious as they stare at Rafferty.
“Sorry, guys, I think I’ll turn you down. I’m not working with you anymore. I’ll pay my penalty for breaking my contract. I believe we’re done here.” Griff looks at me for the first time and I see the fear in his eyes as he tries to work out whether I’m with him or not.
I take his hand, “I think, gentlemen, we’re done here. Please, let yourselves out.” I look at my brother and, for the first time in my life, I see someone I don’t like. He is someone I thought I’d never see again and now, maybe, that will come true. “Rafferty, you need to sort your fucking head out. I don’t want to see you here again until you have worked your shit out, and maybe not even then. How dare you question what I have going on here? You know nothing about us. I think I may be about to break my contract, too. Sort your shit out, man. Then come back here with an apology.”
We stalk out of the room and head up the wide staircase, away from the shit that is about to kick off downstairs.
I hold on tight to Griff’s hand as I hear Nico start to shout. Pausing, we listen.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Raff? For fucks sake, what is your problem with him? Christ, have you actually taken the time to see how they look at each other? Well, have you? Because, fuck me, they look at each other the same way that you look at your husband. It may be new but, from where I’m sitting, that looked like the real fucking deal!”
“I think I need to be off this idea, you want him and he is shit-fucking-hot on a bike. I have never believed the whole ‘gay for you’ premise.” Raff snarls.
Troy speaks next, his voice low and unhappy, and so much worse than Nico’s shouting.
“I told you to get over it, Rafferty. I asked you to trust your brother. But you have just really hurt him and belittled what he has. I’m ashamed of your reaction. Griff is in your brother’s life and if you want to be in it too, you need to stop being such an ass and let a grown man make his own decisions.”
“Come on, sweetheart, let’s leave them. I want to talk to you about this.” I tug on Griff’s hand and lead him further up the stairs.
When we get to our room, I push the door shut and shove him up against it. With my hands either side of his head, I have him trapped.
“I’m going to say this. Remember when you said you would pick up racing again as long as I was there with you?” My face is mere inches away from his and I see the fixed look in his eyes as he tries to read my mind.
“Yes, and I still mean it.” Griff whispers and breathes in deeply. His tongue darts out and slicks across his bottom lip, leaving a sheen I can’t wait to taste.
“I know you do. My time with you has been the best time of my life. The fact that we connect on so many levels, and I knew I was falling for you even before we made love. But now? Now things have changed.” I pause as I take in the distressed expression on his face. “I know we have said this to each other, but I want you to realize just how much I love you, Griff. I really fucking love you. I have fallen for you, truly, madly, deeply fallen for you.” I take a deep breath and fix my eyes on his. “I don’t care what my asshole brother thinks, I know what we have is real. I will be wherever you are.”
Griff stays dead still, I see the tick in his jaw as he absorbs my declaration, then his eyes darken, his hands grab my hips, and he hauls me against his body.
“I love you, too. There is so much more I want to say but I don’t want to take this away from you, from this moment.”
My mouth hits his in a heated kiss: a teeth-clashing, lip-biting, dirty kiss. This is everything. As I swallow Griff’s moans and mix them with my own, my hands ensnare in his hair as I fix him still, angling my head to take it deeper. My tongue tangles and dances with his as he grips my hips with a tightness bordering on exquisite pain. My lips are tender as Griff tugs the top one between his teeth, pulling and nipping before letting go to slide his tongue over the sting. As I groan one more time, I pull away. Gasping for breath, I inhale deep lungsful of air as my forehead bumps gently against his.
“Fuck! I hope they’ve gone, because I can think of nothing more than your mouth on my dick before you bury yourself deep in my ass.” I pant.
Griff’s hips punch forward, his dick a steel-hard rod pressing into my own. “Shit, Corr. You can’t go saying that to me. I think we need to talk about what went on downstairs and how we feel about these guys. I know they are your family, and I’m not going anywhere that doesn’t include you. So, if you decide to forgive your brother, I will not come between you; I will be standing with you.”
“That will never happen, sweetheart, but, what about the racing? This is something you want?” I step back but let my fingers trail down Griff’s arms to reach his hands then, clasping them firmly, I lead him to the bed and sit down. Griff steps between my open legs, his hands sliding through my hair as he sighs.
“For a moment, I felt a surge of excitement, the thrill of the race. The adrenaline rush as I push my boundaries and limits: I would be up for taking a chance with this again. I hate knowing that I have lost my championship title this year and would love to get it back. But none of that is important if it stops us from being us.” Griff gives me a small smile and his hands tighten as they cup the back of my neck.
“I want us to be together. Are you ready to answer questions about us? I won’t be a secret, Griff.”
“Why in hell would you be a secret? Plus, it’s too late for that, don’t you think?” The look of genuine confusion on his face leaves me speechless.
Griff pushes against my shoulders until I’m lying flat on my back. “I suppose we should talk to Nico and Ryan tomorrow then. But your damn brother can keep the fuck away.” With his mouth less than an inch from mine, his warm breath washes over my lips. Slipping my tongue out and I slick it across my lips as his does the same. I open my mouth, letting him take control but it doesn’t last anywhere near long enough for me. His hands and mouth travel downwards and, seconds later, his hot, wet mouth slides down my aching shaft. I surrender domination; for a man who hasn’t given many blowjobs in his life, he’s damn good at it, and soon my release flows into his mouth and throat.
“Damn, you taste good.” Griff whispers as his head rests on my stomach, he turns his head and plants a soft kiss on the flesh.
“Dear God, Griff,” I chuckle, “the speed that you had me coming with is an embarrassment to my ego. That was amazing.” I lounge with my arm over my eyes as I regain control of my body. “Come on, let’s go back downstairs. With any luck, they’ve all gone and left the food, I’m starving.”
Griff lifts from my body and pulls me upright, kissing my mouth and chuckling. “I feel surprisingly full.”