Chapter 9
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 pocket doors. 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.
“Archibald Fitzgerald Jones III Esq., that’s a mouthful.”
He chuckled. “Hence Jonesy.”
“I don’t understand why I need an NDA,” I said. “I thought nothing that happened here would require one. Did you send it to me by accident? Do I have to sign one before you take me on as your client?”
“Did you sign it?” Lowe took a swallow of his drink.
“Not yet, no.” I placed my laptop on Lowe’s desk. “I came here to ask why I needed it, actually.”
“We can’t explain anything until you sign, Lyra,” Scott said. “I know this feels forceful and menacing, but you’ll understand once you sign. I promise.”
“I’m not in trouble?”
Lowe shook his head. “Quite the opposite.”
I pulled up the NDA and read through it. Everything appeared in order and straight forward. I clicked on the yellow marker on the page, then signed my name and initialed where I was told to. Once I was done, I clicked finished. Two seconds later, Jonesy’s phone pinged, and he nodded to Lowe. If they meant to put me at ease, they did the opposite, especially when no one was explaining why I needed to sign a non-disclosure.
Lowe exhaled slowly and pointed to a spot between him and Cole. “Come sit with us. There is much to talk about and less time to prepare.”
“I feel like I’m in a dream,” I murmured, crossing to them. “Nothing makes sense, and everyone isn’t acting like themselves.”
He took my hand, tugging me down beside him. “This will come as a shock to your system. But I had Jonesy make you sign the non-disclosure for a reason. I’m not just a librarian. Scott and Cole didn’t enroll in the college Fire Academy to become firefighters.”
“Okay. Well, I’m not just an undecided college major student, either. I’m a farm girl.”
He chuckled while Cole had this shit-eating grin on his face. “You’re more than a farm girl, Lyra. You just don’t see your potential yet. That’s okay, you have time.”
“Uh...”
“We cam,” Scott said, blowing out a breath. “Cole and me. How we pay the bills and could help you with your jacket... We cam. Also the fundraiser, us too.”
I blinked, tilting my head, trying to reconcile what he said. “You mean like OnlyFans or whatever? Wait... That was your money in that fund? I can’t take that.”
“Told you she’d understand,” Cole stated, clapping his hands. “She’s one smart cookie. The fund isn’t just for you, Lyra. It’s for everyone who could use it. Also, it’s not all our money. It’s everyone who found out about the dorm burning down and they wanted to help.”
“Oh. That makes sense then,” I said. “Um, thanks. So, you what? Stream live events and show the masses when you do things together?”
“See...” Cole motioned to me. “Easy peasy.”
Scott rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, Romeo.” Then turned his attention back to me. “Kind of. We have sessions a few nights a week. Sometimes it’s watching movies. Other times it's sex or a blow job. Naked cooking. You know, different things.”
“We had a Mario Kart event a few weeks back, and those who watch us diligently could join the game,” Cole added.
I nodded, still completely perplexed why I needed to know what they did on their down time. Was it because we stayed in the same house together or something? Made sense, actually. If they had guests or those ‘types’ of friends over, they probably didn’t want their business out there where anyone could see it.
“Well, mum's the word, guys. Your secret is safe with me.” I mimed locking my lips and throwing away the key.
“The movie we showed you earlier was Lowe and Jonesy.” The statement shot from Cole like he couldn’t contain the secret any longer.
“I’m sorry, what?” Heat filled my cheeks the longer I sat between Cole and Lowe, as did the intense need to squirm to relieve the ache building between my thighs. If I looked at Lowe, I’d more than likely die of embarrassment, so I focused my attention on my breathing and making sure I didn’t have another attack.
Images of the man laid out on the bed filled my mind, only now I saw Lowe’s face. Rapture filled his taut features, while a deep groan filled his chest. He looked like he was eating the finest meal he’d ever had, or maybe he’d been so damn hungry he couldn’t get enough of his meal. Either way, the woman was a lucky bitch.
Goosebumps formed on my skin while an excited thrill slid down my spine. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Jonesy inching closer to us. I’d indirectly seen that man’s thick cock and a woman, the same woman Lowe, ate out, begging him to choke her with his dick. Holy shit. My body hummed with arousal and nervousness.
“Both of you?” I swallowed hard and ran the tip of my tongue over my bottom lip.
“Yes,” Lowe said, keeping his tone even.
“Kinky librarian,” I muttered, then slapped my hand over my mouth. “Sorry.”
Cole chuckled.
A slow, sensual grin pulled at the corner of Lowe’s mouth.
I exhaled a shaky breath. “Why are you telling me about this now? We’ve only been in this house together a day. Shouldn’t you be waiting until you were sure I wouldn’t spill your secrets?”
“NDA,” Jonesy said.
I got that, but... “Right. You don’t know me. None of you do.”
“I know you,” Scott said. “We have Statistics together.”
“I wouldn’t call us besties, though. I feel like this is a conversation for girls’ night or something. Whatever guys do while playing video games and watching sports?”
“We cam and play video games. Best of both worlds.” Cole meshed his fingers together.
Lowe shook his head. “My boss graciously gave me the month of February in our company’s first annual calendar. It requires a photo shoot and a movie,” he said, drawing my attention back to him. “I have to give my boss an answer by tonight for what kind of movie I’d like to do and my holiday selection.”
“So... You need my help coming up with ideas?” I could see the elephant in the room. It wore a pink tutu and was dancing around the enclosed space, knocking into the bookshelves and destroying the place. However, I didn’t get the point of the elephant or why it wore the tutu.
“Oh no,” Lowe said. He grasped my chin between his thumb and forefinger. Those beautiful winter gray eyes of his swirled with arousal and intention. “Sweet girl, I want you to participate in my movie.”
“M-Me? You want to have sex with me and film it?” Fear and something else swirled in my belly. I’d never been propositioned before, but this definitely felt like one. “I don’t think...”
“Don’t think, Lyra,” he whispered. “You’re just the right amount of sweet and innocent.”
“I’m not an adult film actress,” I said. “I’m also not the best suited for stuff like this. Not sure if you noticed, but I’m not a waif, either.”
“We don’t want waif,” Scott said, sitting on the edge of the coffee table in front of me. Our knees brushed and a spark of recognition raced up my leg. “We want you.”
“Wait,” I mumbled, trying to knock some sense into my brain, “all of you want me?”
“Something like that,” Jonesy answered.
I laughed at the ridiculousness of it. “You guys are so full of shit.” Disdain dripped from my tone. “Not nice on any of your parts. Look, I know I’m not everyone’s flavor of the week and I’ve been super sick because of the fire, but to pull this kind of prank...” I stood then. I couldn’t be there. With them. “I’ll ask to be moved to a different professor’s home, so you can have the space free for whatever the fuck you want to do here. Don’t worry, I’ll hold up my end of the NDA too.” I’d taken two steps toward my laptop when someone touched my hand.
The warmth of their body at my back seeped into my skin, chasing the chill of humiliation away. “We’re not pranking you, Lyra.” The desperation in Lowe’s voice did funny little things to my insides, but I didn’t dare turn around. I wouldn’t allow them to see how much they hurt me. I bit my bottom lip hard to keep the tremble at bay. All I had to do was grab my laptop and leave. “I never thought I’d meet someone like you. There’s no way you can’t feel the way you fit in here without even trying.”
“All I feel is the sting of being the butt of a joke. Make fun of the fat girl and watch her fall for it, right?” Tears stung the corners of my eyes. I’d dealt with shit like this more times than not. Add in the fact I lived on a farm, and the kids could be cruel back home.
“Never,” Lowe said, forcing me to face him. He cupped my cheek. I’d hurt him or he hurt for me. I couldn’t tell, but I saw the pain my words caused in the swirl of his gaze and the furrow of his brows. He leaned into me. “Never.” My breath hitched as he brushed his lips across my forehead. “We don’t see you as a joke. You’re gorgeous, Lyra. The minute I met you, I wanted you to be a part of this project.”
“But you didn’t know me,” I said. “You still don’t.”
“You’re right,” he agreed. “We want to, though. This isn’t a prank or a joke. We’re not doing this to humiliate you. You’ve got us all in knots.”
I glanced at them. There was a chance I jumped to conclusions about them. Who could blame me? They basically said hey, I know we all just met, but we’re all porn stars, you wanna be a porn star too? For all I knew, this was some kind of MLM scheme. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. When I looked at them there was a hint of sympathy in their gazes along with longing. I didn’t understand why they wore their affections or intentions so close to the surface when I’d learned how to hide mine over the years for fear of rejection. “I don’t know what to say. What if we don’t have any kind of sexual chemistry?”
Lies.
Lies.
I was a liar.
“Good thing we all live together,” Cole said. “Plenty of time to get to know each other while we study lines.”
I frowned. “We have lines.”
Lowe grinned. “Well, it is a movie. What do you say?”
I exhaled. “Don’t make me regret this.”
“We’ll take it slow,” he assured me. “All I need tonight is yes or no. The rest comes later.”
“Will I lose my housing if I say no?”
“Never,” he said, shaking his head. “You can stay here for as long as you need.”
Searching his gaze, I looked for the lie. For the secrets. For the joke. There wasn’t an ounce of ill-intentions or cruelty. All I saw was the genuine concern for me. “Yes.” I closed my eyes, fearful of what I’d just agreed to and how it could go horribly wrong.
Especially if someone found out.
Before Lowe could say a word, I added, “So long as no one finds out.”
He smirked. “I’ve got you covered sweetheart. Don’t worry.”
Yeah, I’d have to see that to believe it.