Illegal Contact (The Barons 1)

A blow job should have been a surefire way to lose myself in sensation and forget the uncomfortable strap around my leg, but it wasn’t. Even with my fingers digging into thick dark hair and warm wet heat surrounding my cock, my brain was going.

I glanced down to the nameless model with the dark hair, pale skin, and light eyes, and remembered Noah. Insolent, mouthy Noah. What would it be like to have that guy locked in a house with me for six months? Would we get along or be at each other’s throats? And how many times would I end up fantasizing about wrecking Noah’s mouth or ass whenever I was hard up?

The real question was what happened first—me going off on Noah and throwing him out, or him getting pissed at me and finding dirt he could use for blackmail?

It was lose-lose.

But the truth was that I really did need the help, and I’d rather give the money to a broke asshole instead of one who just wanted to hang out with a football player.

With the decision made, I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy the nameless guy kneeling at my feet.

***

Noah

“I blew it.”

“Yeah, you did.”

I flicked Jasmine’s curly black hair. “That was your cue to comfort me.”

“Why would I do that?” The question was asked around a mouthful of apple-cider donut. Even stuffing her face, she was a bohemian goddess in a patterned dress that clung to her curves and contrasted with her dark skin. “You were too busy being indignant to care about the fact that you could have cleaned up money-wise with only a half year worth of work. That kind of stupidity needs a smack.”

It was true. Now that I wasn’t wearing the uncomfortable suit, was out of the unattainable tower of wealth, and away from slimy sports managers and filthy-rich athletes, my hackles had come down enough for me to realize just how bad I’d screwed up. From the start, I’d been majorly off my game, and then I’d let Joe get to me.

What had I expected? Someone that rich to be nice? I was applying to be the help. It was likely programmed into their brains to treat me like I was worthless. But for that much money, and a shot at both paying my loans and helping my father, I could have tried harder.

Shoulders sagging, I wandered the Greenwood farmers market without looking at any of the stalls. I usually enjoyed these weekly trips with Jasmine. It was our way of making sure we kept in touch, now that we’d both returned to the city after college. But as nice as organic produce and fresh baked goods were, they couldn’t overshadow my reoccurring desire to slam my head into hard surfaces.

“Joe Carmichael reminds me of . . . him.”

Jasmine’s eyes got bigger. “Oh. Oh no. Not the pervert who was banging staff and SafeZone members?”

“Yeah. That’s the one.” My shoulders sagged. “It was like I had some fucking PTSD attack. I kept remembering the way Gallagher used to talk to me and look at me, how nervous I was around him before he graced me with his sudden interest, and then . . . How everyone on the board decided my accusations were unfounded because there was no proof. Even though I walked in on him with one of the older members beneath his desk.”

Jasmine shook her head. “They seriously act like he walks on water.”

“I know. They like to say his money helped to ‘breathe life back into the organization.’” I sneered. “Sometimes I despise rich people.”

“Um. Yeah. Me too, but you’re not supposed to make it obvious when you’re on a fucking job interview.” Jasmine shoved my side. “I’m saying, Noah. You’re a mess. That job was perfect.”

“I bet the pay was perfect too.” I sighed so loud it could be heard over the screeching of a bus. “Damn it. I didn’t even tell my father what happened. He’d be so disappointed.”

“No, he wouldn’t. I think he hates that you had to move back home to help him, anyway.” She hesitated. “So, how is he?”

“Not great. He’s depressed, and since he lost his job he no longer has insurance. Nobody normal can afford COBRA, and he’s too young to retire.”

Jasmine’s face clouded over. “This is so awful. Hasn’t he worked for that same company forever?”

“Yeah. Since it was a small chain in the tristate area. But now it’s a major national sporting goods chain, and they got rid of managers at his level.” I kicked a rock in the path. “This just sucks. I was supposed to be helping him until he got on his feet, but now I’m not even on my own.”

“You’ll find something soon, babe. And I’ll do anything I can to help. You know I will. There are plenty of opportunities out there.” Sympathy creased her face. “It’s a big city.”