Page 1 of No Strings Attached

Chapter One

Although this wasn’t his house, Sam still hated it when Daryl threw parties. The loud metal music gave Sam pounding headaches, and now, he stood in the corner of the kitchen, contemplating whether it would be better to sleep in his car for the night. The couch was Sam’s bed, but he wouldn’t be able to sleep because the party didn’t look like it would end anytime soon.

Even if he could sleep, Sam wasn’t comfortable around some of Daryl’s skeevy friends.

One of them was checking him out from across the room, the stranger’s eyes lingering on Sam’s body with a lecherous gaze.

Unable to deal with the noise and indecent looks any longer, Sam made his way toward the kitchen exit. His car seemed like the best option until Daryl approached him with a playful grin. “I know this isn’t your thing.”

Sam didn’t want to be rude, even though he wanted to tell the guy he needed to pick better friends, ones that didn’t seem so damn creepy. “I’ve just never gotten into heavy metal music.”

Daryl tapped the back of his hand on Sam’s stomach. “It grows on you.”

Not likely.

“Let’s head to my bedroom where it’s quieter.” Daryl set his plastic cup down on the cluttered counter. “I need to talk to you about something, anyway.”

Sam hurried from the kitchen, weaving between people as he made his way to the back of the house. The thick smoke from cigarettes and weed hung heavy in the air, making Sam cough as his throat started to sting. He wished someone would throw open some windows to let the smoke out and fresh air in.

He stepped over the sea of plastic cups and empty beer bottles littering the floor, unable to avoid his feet kicking a lot of them. The cleanup would be a nightmare tomorrow, but it was a small price to pay for Daryl’s generosity in letting him stay there for free.

The loud music was only slightly muffled as Sam stepped into the bedroom and Daryl closed the door behind them. “Better?” Daryl asked.

Not by a longshot. “You don’t have to worry about me. What did you want to talk to me about?”

Daryl leaned against the door and folded his arms over his chest. “I let you crash here for free, Sam.”

This was the part where Daryl asked him to leave. It wasn’t anything new to Sam. He wished he could have kept the apartment he’d rented three years ago so he didn’t have to continuously go through this. Unfortunately, that required money, and after losing his job, Sam hadn’t been able to find steady work in Midnight Falls for the past two years. Small towns had their perks, but an abundance of jobs wasn’t one of them.

“I’ll gather my things,” Sam said. “I appreciate you letting me stay here for the past two weeks.”

Daryl raised his hand in a stopping motion. “I’m not telling you to leave. I’m just pointing out that everything comes at a cost.” He stepped away from the door and walked to his dresser.

A sense of unease settled in Sam’s gut. He’d met Daryl in the park, and they’d struck up a conversation. At the time Sam was homeless. The guy had gotten him something to eat, and they’d spent hours hanging out afterward.

When Daryl offered his couch, Sam reluctantly accepted. His car’s AC was broken, and the summer days were only growing hotter. Now he was wondering if he should have turned down the offer.

As that uneasy feeling intensified, Sam asked, “What exactly are you saying? I’ve tried to find steady work, but no one is hiring.”

The side of Daryl’s mouth curled into a grin as he dismissed Sam’s comment with a wave of his hand. “I was thinking about a different kind of work.”

Sam was completely lost. “Like?”

Despite Daryl throwing wild parties and supplying all the booze and weed, Sam had never seen him go to work. Daryl did always have a duffel bag with him, which Sam noticed sitting in the corner of the room.

Moving closer, Daryl draped an arm around Sam’s shoulders, causing Sam’s skin to crawl. “A few associates of mine have shown a keen interest in you, Sam. They said you’re very pretty. If you use my bedroom to throw them a private little party, my couch is yours for however long you want it.”

Sam jerked away from him. “You want me to sleep with your disgusting friends?”

Unfazed by Sam’s outburst, Daryl flashed a smile. “Don’t be like that, Sam. Just a few hours with three guys. And I’ll even sweeten the deal by paying you if they leave here satisfied. It’s a quick way to make some real cash.”

Normally, Sam didn’t trust anyone, but Daryl had come off as genuine and boyishly charming when they’d met, which made Sam lower his guard. A mistake he now regretted.

“I’ll just get my things and go.” As Sam moved toward the bedroom door, Daryl grabbed him and slammed him onto the bed. Afraid the guy was about to beat the crap out of him, Sam shrank back.

Daryl glared at him. “For the past two weeks, you’ve slept on my couch and eaten my food. Nothing is for free. I even tried to pay you for tonight, even though it’s you who owes me. So you’re not going anywhere until your debt is paid.”

Sam scrambled over the side of the bed farthest from Daryl. “If I owe you for staying here, I’ll find a way to pay you, but I’m not letting your repulsive friends touch me.”

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