Page 9 of Convenient Rivals

Langdon flushed bright red. Gregory was rarely amused by Jason’s antics, but he had to look down so people wouldn’t see him smile. Langdon was their big brother and protector, but he was also the loudest in the bedroom, and despite additional soundproofing, they could still hear everything. Gregory just played his games with noise cancelling headphones and shut them out. Jason didn’t really care either, but his favourite pastime was tormenting Langdon.

Brunch went by in a blur as they caught each other up on their respective weeks. Even though most of them lived together, it was rare they were all at home unless they were sleeping. Langdon worked in a bar, so was always out late. Paolo was a masseuse and did shift work. Jason worked hard and played hard, and Gregory was shackled to his desk – be that the one at work or in his home office.

“When are we gonna do a movie night?” asked Jason. “Shall we do one for Halloween?”

“As long as we don’t have to watchScream: Daddy’s Homeagain,” said Langdon, causing them all to laugh.

Jason liked to slip something inappropriate into their movie nights and just wait for their reactions. The most dramatic was always Langdon, which just encouraged Jason even more. They all got their phones out and agreed on a date the weekend after Halloween, and it would need to be a Sunday because some of them would have to work on the Saturday. Gregory wasn’t a big fan of horror, but he’d do anything to spend time with his brothers.

Speaking of horror, that was the only way Gregory could describe this party with his family. It was bad enough he had to listen endlessly about how his brother was so hard done by, but Oscar Montgomery and his parents were also here, as were some of the other wealthy families. His mother was desperate to get back in their good graces after they’d originally lost their fortune.

His mother was an only child who came from old money, but his grandfather had been a serial womaniser, and had several bastard children scattered across the globe. It had only been after his death that she found out, and that vast fortune which she thought was coming her way had been severely diluted. It wasn’t enough for her to maintain the lifestyle she’d been accustomed to, but had it stopped them spending? Not a chance. By the time he was eighteen, they were broke, and when he came out to them, they used it as the perfect excuse to cut him off. It had only been when he was financially successful they became interested in him again. They had never apologised for how they’d treated him. Instead, they’d made him feel guilty by saying it was his duty to support his parents. It had worked, and since he’d been so desperate to have his family back in his life, he’d bailed them out several times.

His father had now made some sensible investments, and they were comfortable, but nowhere near what they once had been. You wouldn’t know that by looking at their home, though. Why his mother needed to still live in a mansion was beyond him. They couldn’t afford permanent staff, but she would hire people whenever they entertained so the guests wouldn’t know. It wasn’t unusual for catering and hospitality to be billed to Gregory’s company either, and always without asking. It was always paid because he didn’t want to deal with any form of confrontation.

“Fancy seeing you here,” said a familiar deep voice.

Gregory shuddered, his skin prickling as Oscar’s breath ghosted over his ear. He put his signature scowl on before turning to be face to face with him. Those blue eyes almost took his breath away, but they belonged to Oscar Montgomery, a man who had made his life miserable in secondary school. He may not have been the ringleader, but he was always there in the thick of the action.

“Of course I’m here. It’smyfather’s birthday. What areyoudoing here?”

“My mother and yours are best friends, remember?”

“That still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”

“Do you know how hot you are when you get angry?”

Gregory flushed, with what he wasn’t sure. Anger? Desire? All of the above.

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what you said to me in the club.”

Gregory wasn’t sure what to say. He didn’t know why he’d said it. He blamed the whisky, and Jason for forcing him to go to the club. Gregory had left after he’d walked away from Oscar, and met a guy off one of the apps. The itch had been scratched, but that was a month ago. Now he had his dream guy, who he’d been crushing on since he was a teenager, practically panting in his ear. Why did he have to be such an arsehole?

Oscar Montgomery had been his gay awakening. He was a year older than Gregory, but because of their mothers’ friendship, they’d spent a lot of time together as kids. Gregory had been so nervous about going to a private secondary school, which was all boys. He’d been grateful to have a friend there, but Oscar had ignored him and pretended they didn’t know each other. That had been hard enough, but once he was in year nine, and it was becoming obvious to everyone but his parents that he was gay, that’s when the bullying started. For some bizarre masochistic reason, it hadn’t quashed Gregory’s unrequited crush on Oscar.

Oscar had apologised many times over the years, and Gregory could understand why he’d done what he had. He knew what is was like being terrified to come out, especially in the world they were raised in. As Langdon had said to him, it might explain Oscar’s actions, but it didn’t excuse them. He knew Oscar wasn’t that horrible teenager anymore, but Gregory was stubborn about holding a grudge. He thought his crush had died when they were teenagers, but feeling Oscar’s hot breath against his ear was making his dick plump. It was far easier to hate Oscar Montgomery than admit how much he still wanted him. What was he supposed to say in response? He needed to make sure Oscar knew who was in control here.

“Enjoy thinking about it, because that’s the closest you’ll ever get.”

“We’ll see about that,” said Oscar with a chuckle.

Damn!Before he could respond, he noticed his brother lumbering over.

Barty Balfour looked like a used-car salesman from Essex, although he had the same hoity-toity accent as their father had. His suit was always ill-fitting, and his arms were too long for his body, meaning he moved like a chimpanzee. He was the same height as Gregory, but his arms were like Oscar’s. His brother had also not been blessed in the looks department, with his squashed features. It was possible one of their nannies had dropped him on his face. He couldn’t blame them if they had; he was tempted to do it himself. Barty had been an obnoxious brat then, and he still was now.

Gregory didn’t think himself good looking, but was thankful he didn’t look like his brother, and he didn’t have any problem picking up guys, but it was rare for him to find one who was into the same things he was. Wanting to keep feelings out of it, Gregory didn’t do repeats, so he hadn’t had anything regular with anyone since his uni days. It was easier that way.

“Greg, can we have a word?”

“Gregory.”

“Whatever. I need to talk to you.”

Barty looked antsy, like he was on something. He wasn’t aware of his brother taking drugs, but nothing would surprise him anymore.

“And why are you talking to this prick?” asked Barty.

“Nice to see you too, Barty,” said Oscar.

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