Commitment Collection 2- Ignition; Turbo Charged; Pole Position, page 13
part #4 of Commitment Series
And that’s when I feel it, the thing I hadn’t realized was missing. That security not only of being one half of a couple, but of being me.
Kyle
We ride off to the party with a convoy of new friends following in a variety of pickups and trucks. Elliott, and me to a degree as well, have earned respect from some fairly hefty folks within the logging community who are impatient to celebrate the charity work we’ve done in the name of their industry.
The goodwill is also emanating from the cabin when we pull up; high spirits radiate from within. Jessie has done another fabulous job of warming up our crowd of journalists, and the party is in full swing.
After we busy ourselves waiting for the competitors with whom we are now firm friends to pull up, we walk to the door. Elliott opens it and the throng inside immediately notices. The room fills with an almighty roar.
Their applause turns stereo as it starts up behind us. And that’s when I feel it. I’m hauled up from under each arm. Someone grabs both legs and before I can stop it, I’m bobbing around above our crowd of well-wishers.
Cameras snap and the cheers continue as my bruised and aching body wobbles through the process of leveling out and being secure enough in my temporary hoist to snatch a glance at Elliott. Our eyes lock, and my heart does that funny, heart-skipping-a-beat thing, sending butterflies raging around my core.
And that’s when a grin splits my face so much that my cheeks ache, sitting there, refusing to shift. That man is my entire life. I’ve never met anyone capable of creating so much just because it’s what he sets his mind on.
Someone grabs a microphone and static screeches through the air. The crowd groans, but then the chairman of our chosen charity starts to speak.
“Bring these boys up here.” He gestures toward the stage with his hand. “Didn’t they do well today?”
There's another huge cheer as Elliott and I are deposited on the makeshift podium at one end of the long room. We both wave to our adoring crowd, milking the good humor in the spirit it’s intended. I’m not one to generally get off on the celebrity life, but this type of recognition is different. Not only have we overcome our personal barriers to be here today, but in the process, we’ve accomplished something great for generations to come.
“I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have done for us. You’ve trained hard and your work hasn’t gone to waste because look at what you achieved.” He holds up the trophy, which was presented to Elliott an hour earlier.
“What, you think I mean this old thing?” The chairman laughs as Elliott takes a mock bow beside him.
The crowd agrees, “Yeah!”
“No, surely not? No, the real prize today is for us. Elliott and Kyle here have worked tirelessly to be ready for today’s competition. They chopped down much of their own forest while training, and the logs on which you stand today are only here because they traded them for the ones they felled.”
Elliott takes the microphone. “The original plan was to build this cabin from our own trees, but I’m sorry,” he waves his hand to today’s competitors, “that was before we knew they had to dry out first. Rookie error!”
I laugh along with the rest of the experts at how naïve we were only a few months ago, shaking my head and tutting. I wrap my hand around Elliott’s, which is still holding the microphone, directing it to my mouth, “I’m sorry, guys. Such newbies, huh?”
Another surge of applause. Elliott slips his hand around my waist, drawing me in until I’m sealed against his side. Our glistening eyes lock and without any further thoughts, our lips briefly join.
“That’ll be all over the papers in the morning,” Elliott whispers when we pull away.
“Ah, ain’t that cute?”
The microphone has somehow ended up out of Elliott’s hand again. Unable to speak over the din in the room, we take another bow.
“Now, as I was saying. These boys have worked tirelessly, and we couldn’t be happier to accept their donation. This room in which we’re all enjoying alcoholic beverages this evening will be put to work first thing on Monday morning as a classroom to teach all the skills you guys here today make your living from.”
He goes on to explain about the program and how many kids it helps and how many more he’ll be able to place into gainful employment because of the support Elliott and I have given them.
I’ve never had the opportunity to give back like this, to really make a difference. Until I met Elliott, I was always too busy struggling to pay my own rent, let alone to think about using my own skills to aid others.
Elliott
The party goes on well into the night and way past the time we expected to be out of here and back in our room at the local inn. The lack of security felt OK when we booked our accommodations. Being an understated place, it seemed fine. We decided we’d just make sure we didn’t do anything to stand out. We didn’t do a great job there, though, and I’m starting to think as I stand on the edge of the party, watching Elliott the celebrity work his adoring fans, that we should start up our security detail again.
“Isn’t this tremendous?” Jessie sidles up behind me and links her arm through mine.
“You did well. It’s one of your best.”
“Oh no. I organized a business catch-up. A quick photo op after the event. You guys and your enthusiasm turned that into a party.”
“Well, I don’t care. I’m having a ball. And it’s fantastic to let our hair down after the last few weeks. We’ve been training so hard. It’s like being in the middle of the racing calendar again.”
“Do you miss it?” She asks, referring to the fact that I’ve pulled myself out of being on the road in favor of working at the factory so I can see more of Elliott.
“Oh yeah, sure. But, I’d miss El more.”
We stand for a while in amicable silence, watching the party play out. A couple of people observing from the sidelines in a peaceful silo.
“How about you? Don’t you miss Zac when he’s away?”
“Yeah, I do. I’ve been meaning to talk to Elliott about that.”
“Oh no, that doesn’t sound good.” My pitch deepens along with my mood.
“It’s OK. Don’t panic, but I do want to speak to him about cutting down my hours when the team launches with him as number one driver. If I bring someone in now, I can train them up and then manage your account remotely. Only when it’s the right time though. I won’t abandon you. Don’t say anything. I need to choose my moment.”
My heart has sunk to the pit of my stomach where it’s currently rolling around in a sea of alcohol. This is not the best time to be having this conversation, and it shouldn’t be with me. “You can’t tell me something like that and not expect me to mention it to him. You know how much he relies on you.”
“Look, it’s only an idea. I want to talk it through with him. I’m not handing in my notice or anything and it’s not like he’s going to be taking over soon. We have a few years yet. Chill out.”
“What are you two conspiring about?”
“Ah nothing, just chatting,” Jessie says. I keep my mouth well and truly sealed, but I also mentally drift away from the party. My mind is elsewhere. It’s with Elliott and me living our life separate for a few more years. We had originally said that it may take two years for Elliott to become the lead driver, but with all the training he’s been doing, I assumed he’d take over next year.
Sure, we didn’t talk about it, and Elliott hasn’t promised anything. Perhaps it’s a combination of wishful thinking and not being involved enough in the new business, but it never entered my head that we’d go beyond this first year apart.
Kyle
The rest of that evening is a blur. We’re all celebrating hard. It feels like we have so much more to revel in than either of us could ever put into words, but it’s clear, something has once again shifted, and we’ve turned a corner into another phase of our life.
We can’t let this moment slip away. All our progress will be for nothing if we don’t harness this next stage of our lives together.
When we wake in our hotel room the next morning, the rejoicing seems a distant memory, and I’ve had a crappy night’s sleep.
“Ah...” Elliott turns in bed, struggling to shift his weight without damaging his purple elbow and ribs. The mattress sinks with his uncharacteristic ungainliness. As he settles, I study the way his blonde waves settle on the pillow out of one sleep encrusted eye. The light streaming in through a gap in the curtains catches it and its warmth radiates into my soul.
I move to touch him, matching Elliott’s groans with my own. But for me, it’s my head that is hammering. “I drank too much last night.” I hold my palm to my forehead, but I know the pounding is also caused from overthinking my conversation with Jessie.
I’ve not been able to shake the notion that we’re on the precipice of something we’ll lose if we don’t grasp it with both hands. We’ve been in a great place before and almost lost it because we didn’t cherish what we took for granted. I will not make that same mistake again.
“El, when do you think you’ll be driving again? You were on pretty good form yesterday. Don’t you miss it?” My voice is croaky.
“Sure I do. But, I don’t want to go back until I have a car I can win with. I want to come back fighting.”
That spells that out then. Jessie was right.
“You sure? Wouldn’t going back sooner mean that you have more of an input into what needs to be improved with the drive?”
He rolls over so that he’s facing me, his hand under his bruised cheekbone. I wipe my finger over the fresh coloring.
“Where has this come from?” He trails a digit between my pecs, then places his palm flat against me. The heat from his hand radiates into my chest, causing a pulsing, well, elsewhere. Any thought I had of Elliott in the driving seat again is temporarily forgotten.
I place my hand over his and draw it south so he can discover exactly what the hot blood of his male can achieve first thing in the morning.
“I thought your head was aching?” His eyebrow twitches, a sinful glint telling me that his aches and pains may well be about to clear up.
“Oh, it is.” I whisper the words into his mouth as his hand locks onto my shaft and he works it the way only he has ever been able to. My mouth trails along his jaw, his morning stubble eating into my lips as I graze my teeth over the strong line. When I reach his ear, I sigh, “Can’t you feel how much my head is aching for you?” I nip on his ear lobe and suck hungrily until his hips flutter forward and our dicks collide.
Elliott
Kyle’s body melts against mine, limbs wrapped half in and half out of the hotel bed sheet. The crisp white of the linen contrasts with the dark tones of his skin, tanned from working outside for the competition.
As we touch, he inhales sharply, his breath catching at the razor-sharp ache that takes a hold of our groins. The musky smell of his sweat fills my airways as I breathe him in, licking down the crease of his neck and tasting his saltiness.
He exposes his throat as he cranes back his head, allowing me to nibble up his collarbone. The morning light catches the sheen coating his skin as his body temperature rises to match my own, and I release a slow, lazy sigh for the pure joy of being together as one.
Kicking the covers off the bed, I run my hands over his nakedness. Starting under his arms, I trail down his side as he rests on the other. My fingers caress the firm muscle of his chest, the dip between his pecs, and then I allow them to linger by the trail that leads down to the treasure throbbing against my stomach.
His skin prickles as my fingers enjoy the way he twitches under my touch, tracing the dip of his waist as he leans on the other. I use the pad of my index finger to draw around the outline of his bone, one way and then the next, before tracing down the line of his V and then back up.
“Oh, Elliott, you tease.” His voice is gruff, the words rasping from the back of his throat as he moves to stroke his fingers over me.
I take that hand in mine and guide it above his head, clasp hold of his wrist with my spare hand. His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t resist as I roll him onto his back and lock down both of his as I open the packet of lube I’ve taken out of my wallet, slicking it along both our pulsing cocks.
And then as I slip my legs between Kyle’s and pin his hips in place, I begin to move.
I rock backwards and forwards, sending slow cries of ecstasy around our craving nerves. Kyle’s ankles wrap around my butt, pulling me in toward him, closer and harder, but he allows me to continue to pin his arms under the pillow as he becomes increasingly rough, hungrily demanding more from my touch.
As we grind our hips together, I pull his mouth open with my thumb, hold it there and bend sucking his lip between mine. His stubble scrapes over my soft skin, and something about that scratch frees the animal inside me. My sucking turns to nipping, to biting, and then I sink my mouth against his, owning him as our teeth collide, tongues delving to the back of the other’s throat with a desperate need to be as one, to be as close as is humanly possible to the other.
His hands break free so that he’s grasping at my butt, pulling me down against him so our naked bodies are completely sealed. He leaves them there, increases his pressure, trails a finger down the dark slit until he finds my begging hole and slides that finger around the entrance. My hips buck and weave without any chance of me stopping. My head is about to explode; hell, I’m about to explode.
He feels the same way. His eyes are scrunched closed, and he’s grunting harshly, forcing his hips up off the bed and driving against me.
“I’m close,” I pant.
“Keep going, don’t stop,” He rasps, but before he’s spit the words out his pleasure has dissolved between us, allowing me to let go as my vision splinters and shock waves grab a hold of my balls, rippling through my body, snatching at my breath until I explode in a heady mixture of love.
Kyle
‘I want to wake up like that every morning.’ I think. I’d gotten used to it, and now I’ve gotten used to being alone. And I don’t like it. I will not put up with that any longer.
When I return to my next shift, it’s with a letter in my pocket.
I hunt around for James, but he’s nowhere to be found.
“Anyone seen James?” I ask generally to anybody who can hear.
“He’s out at meetings all morning. He’ll be back at 2 pm,” Ryan says.
“Hmm.” I see Greg, his number two, and a much nicer, all-around guy, at the other side of the workshop, and walk over. “Do you have a second?” I check.
“Sure, man. What’s wrong?”
“Somewhere more private...” I throw my head in the general direction of the office space.
He widens his eyes, “Huh? OK.”
I follow him as he nips between engine parts. He walks into the room first but doesn’t sit. He stands facing me as I close the door behind us.
“Go on then?”
“I’m handing in my notice. I want to be with Elliott.” I pluck the handwritten note from my back pocket and pass it over. He doesn’t open it; instead, he turns it around between his fingers. “I was going to hand it to James, but he’s not here, and I don’t want any delay.”
“You’ve made your mind up then?”
“Yeah. Elliott doesn’t know yet. It’s a surprise.”
“Oh, shit! You do know Elliott, right? He’s not one for surprises.”
I smile, nodding. “Yeah, but I won’t let him talk me out of this.”
“Good on you.” He slaps me on the back, and then after an awkward pause, he drags me in for a hug. “You guys are meant to be together. You’re doing the right thing. I might join you.” He laughs. It’s wry.
“Hey, only at work I hope.”
“Oh, goodness, yeah. Don’t get me involved in any bedroom activities. Please.”
He releases me, and we face one another, each showing a moment of respect for the other, not just for work, but for how far we’ve come together since we first met.
“It’s been a good ride with you, Kyle. You’ll be missed. You’re the best mechanic I have.”
“Sure, but you’ve already replaced me on the circuit, so you’re halfway done already.”
“You’re still the fastest at a tire change. You know that.” His lips are turned up, but they're closed firm and his eyes hold the softness of sorrow. “I’ll tell James about this.” He taps the letter against his thigh. “Don’t you have some vacation to take?”
“I was going to ask you about that. I don’t want to leave you in the shit, but it would be great if I can be out of here as soon as possible.”
He exhales, runs his fingers through his hair. “Go. Get out of here, now. I’ll tell James I let you go because of confidentiality issues. Fuck that I know you’ve taken everything with you already.” He shoves me loosely on the arm.
“I don’t need telling twice. Thanks, Greg.”
“Just get out of here before James gets back. He’ll want his pound of flesh.”
Elliott
“There’s someone in reception for you,” my assistant calls through.
“Who is it?”
“He didn’t leave his name, but said you’d want to see him as soon as...”
I pause, possible candidates flying through my brain. ‘Have I missed a meeting? It could happen with my crazy assed schedule.’
“I said you’d be right down,” she prompts. I’m instantly suspicious. It’s not like her to push me into meeting with someone who not only hasn’t left a name, but whom she hasn’t vetted to within an inch of their life first.
Feeling like I have a rod up my back, I march down to reception to find out what on earth is going on.
