Page 20 of Between the Stacks

“She’s cute,” he murmured. “Is she the one you want me to send the NDA to?”

“Yes.” I bit my bottom lip as he slipped his hand past the band of my pajamas.

“Do you want me to help with this project?” His fist wrapped around my cock and stroked.

“Maybe? Do you have time?” I hissed as the pad of his thumb rubbed my leaking tip.

“For you, Auggie, I always have time.” This time he kissed me and everything around us disappeared.

“Thank fuck.”

Lyra

Shopping was interesting,to say the least. We used the gift cards I had and when I ran out of money, Scott and Cole offered to buy whatever else I needed. I didn’t want to take them up on their offer, however, the heavy farming jacket I brought with me burned up in the fire and the amount on the cards wouldn’t even touch the price of the jacket. Nor did I have the funds to match whatever was left.

“I got it,” Scott said. “You need this for school. With winter settling in, we can’t have you catching cold.”

I shook my head. “Do you just throw money at every charity case you meet?” The question shot out before I could think twice about what I was saying. Nothing like ruining the day by sticking my big ol foot in my mouth. “That was uncalled for. Sorry.”

Cole pinned me with a glare, stopping me in my tracks. When I lowered my gaze, he lifted my chin until I stared at him. “Let’s get one thing straight. You’re not a charity case. If you haven’t figured it out yet, we like you.”

“We?” I murmured, unsure what he was getting at.

“Scott and me,” he replied.

“Oh. Sorry.” I could’ve kicked myself. “I think it’s the nerves and being here alone. Losing everything.”

“Well, you’re not alone when you have us,” Cole stated. “Now, where did you want to grab lunch?”

After that little faux pas, I didn’t think I could eat for the rest of the semester. “Uh, Kung Chicken?”

“Chinese,” Scott said, rubbing his hands together. “A veritable staple in every college kid’s life. Good choice.”

And that was how my day went.

By the time we arrived home, jazz music played in the study where Lowe worked and Jonesy was in the kitchen on a call. I went straight to my room to unload everything I bought, including the jacket Cole bought for me, and put everything away. Even with classes being postponed until Monday, I finished a couple of assignments ahead of time and saw what else I could read ahead on before we went back. It would keep me busy for a few hours, anyway.

First, I went through my email. I’d applied for work study after we’d finished eating and although I hadn’t applied for a job within the system yet, I wanted to be sure my application was there. Losing housing would make the rest of the year harder for students like me. When I opened the program, I spotted an email from a law firm. I figured it had to do with the fire, so I opened it and my gaze instantly went to the subject bar. ‘Jonesy.’ Only ‘Jonesy’ wasn’t his real name. Not even close. His given name was Archibald Fitzgerald Jones III Esq. The law firm he worked for Jones, Peckerman, Stewart. One of the biggest entertainment firms in the country. They represented one of my favorite musicians.

What are the odds?

I read the body of the email three times, trying to comprehend what was being said. For a second, I wondered if I’d been without oxygen long enough to cause injuries to my brain. Why would I need to sign an NDA? Why would a professor for a college need an NDA? None of it made sense.

Grabbing my laptop, I went down to the study where Lowe said he’d be working for the day and stopped at the closed pocketdoors. I gave a quick tap on the varnished hardwood and waited. Maybe it was a mistake. It happened. He probably meant to send me something to look over for college and instead an NDA that was supposed to go to Lowe went to me. It was easy to do. Especially if Jonesy was busy.

Wow, look at you. Don’t even know someone for more than a handful of hours and you’re already making mistakes for them.

The door slid open, and Scott stood there, almost as if waiting for me to join them. The unnerving way he shut down when he stared at me made me feel small. Like I’d done something wrong. Had I pissed them off because I refused to let them buy the jacket at first? I thought about the last half of our afternoon together and nothing seemed out of place, but the uneasiness bubbled up within me, and my stomach knotted while my hands shook.

“Don’t be a dick,” Cole said. “Come on in, Lyra. Did you get the email?”

I peered around Scott and saw Lowe sitting on a couch with Jonesy behind them. The whole scenario made me uncomfortable. Like a cow being led to slaughter or something equally horrible. “If I’m interrupting something important, I can come back.”

“Nope,” Cole replied. “You’re right on time.”

Glancing over my shoulder to where Scott closed the doors, I frowned. “Not ominous at all.”

“Did you get my email?” Jonesy asked.

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