Page 19

Chapter

Nineteen

LOTTO

M y phone skidded across the desk and fell to the floor with a clatter.

I already knew the answer before I’d called the adult toy company, but the conversation went worse than I could have imagined.

In exchange for their sponsorship, Smiley’s would have to advertise their business in any way possible. A massive strap-on logo wasn’t enough. They wanted social media posts for their Viagra knockoffs. Interviews after fights holding up their famous Dragon Dick mold. Hell, they even mentioned starting a Smiley’s OnlyFans because “if the boxing didn’t work out, at least we’d have toys to enjoy for a little extra cash.”

So, now our choices were to become full-fledged prostitutes for some flight tickets and equipment, or go with the neighborhood felon who could give Troy’s crimes a run for their money.

All my other leads dried up. No one from the underground wanted to sponsor us. Not if it meant going against the biggest name in the scene. They all said the same damn thing. They’d bet on us in the ring, but what happened outside of that was “none of their business.”

Figured.

Troy and Lucien had made sure we were up shit creek, and they’d stolen our paddles to keep us trapped.

Was it even worth it to keep going? One month left. Ninth place. Shit sponsor choices. Comments on our social media posts trolling us for Lucien’s bullshit. This wasn’t the “exposure” I’d been hoping for when we signed with the Circuit. I’d known it would be a mess, but I was willing to take a chance. We all were.

Now that chance was a big neon sign that flashed “DUMBASSES” at every turn.

A soft knock sounded on the door, and River stepped inside before I answered.

“You think you own this place or something?” I spat.

“Ooh, someone has a bug up their ass.” River tilted his head, his smile full of mirth. “Is that any way to greet your family, Lotto?”

“If you were hoping for a welcome home kiss, sweetie, you’ll be awfully disappointed.”

“Damn. Not even a welcome home hug?”

“What do you want, River?”

River stopped in front of the desk and crossed his arms. “Ari said you’d be calling the sponsors.” He glanced at my phone on the floor. “No dice, huh?”

“Are you looking to be the face of Dragon Dick Magnum?”

“Not exactly. Though that does sound pretty fun.”

“Then congratulations. The only choice left is a felon.”

River’s face dropped immediately. “You know how I feel about dirty money.”

“Well, what the fuck do you want me to do about it?” I yelled.

I was losing control—I knew that—but my restraint had been slipping ever since Lucien had first walked into Smiley’s and wrecked everything. He might as well have bulldozed the gym like that fucking tree. Same effect in the end.

“And the Circuit won’t let us sponsor ourselves?”

“With what cash, River?” I slammed my hand down on the desk. “It’s not in the contract but they sounded pissed that I asked. Said they’d ‘hold a meeting and get back to me.’”

“When was this?”

“Four days ago.”

River whistled. “That’s a no, then.”

“If we had an actual place to support us in name and use our own cash behind the scenes, we might be able to convince them, but who the fuck is going to bother with a ninth-place team with the worst boxer in the entire damn country?”

“Hey now, I take offense to that. I’m not that bad.” River laughed.

Usually, his laughter made me feel better, but not right now. It pissed me off even worse. How could he be so nonchalant when our entire career was imploding?

“If you don’t have any other business, then get the fuck out.”

“Calm down for a sec, Lotto. You said we need an actual company as a front?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you secretly own some business.”

“No, I’ll leave the company part to you. I’m sure there’s some business out there willing to put their names on our shirts, but I can help with the ‘supporting ourselves’ part.” He drew a breath and shrugged. “I’ll hop back in the cage.”

“No.”

“We can make big money this way. I still get calls from old friends. More from enemies. People are chomping at the bit to take down a ‘washed-up champion,’ Lotto. A few fights and our problems are solved.”

“I’m not letting you do that.”

“Don’t be an idiot?—”

“If anyone’s an idiot here, it’s you, you fucking prick.” I reached over the desk and grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer to me. “You’re the one who gave us shit about going legit, and now you want to go back?”

“For the good of the family .” River narrowed his eyes and tried to push me off, but I held firm. “Unless you want to get out there? Or are you too much of a pussy to fight for yourself?”

“There’s more to fights than fists and brawls. I can control shit from the outside.”

“Can you?”

I wanted to wipe that smirk off his face with my fist, my lips, or my dick. Whichever would work best. “’Cause all I see is us being jerked around. You sure you’re fit to be our manager?”

“Watch your fucking mouth, River.”

“Make me.”

I tightened my fist in his shirt and pulled him further over the desk. I crashed my lips against his. Fuck, I probably shouldn’t have been doing this, but I also wasn’t an idiot. River had become part of our “family” with more than just his boxing. So why not include me in the fun and blow off some steam?

He tugged at my lips with his teeth, and I brought my hand up to his throat and squeezed a warning. River’s gasp let me push my tongue into his mouth. We wrestled, a tangle of lips and tongues that left me pulsing for more.

That stupid, sexy smirk was still on his face when we pulled apart. I moved my hand to the back of his neck and forced him down. River looked extremely fucking good bent over for me, hands gripping the edge of the desk. I kept my hand on his neck as I walked around. I drank in every flex of his arm muscles and shift of his hips. Oh, this was going to be fun.

“Flip over,” I ordered. I jerked my pants down and wrapped a hand around my cock. “Undress and lie back on the desk like the bitch you are, River.”

“I’m not the one palming my dick already, perv.”

But River did as ordered, and dropped his clothes in a pile before sitting back on the desk. Fuck, he was hot. Solid muscle, rippling abs, long hair splayed out. His cock was huge, hard and twitching near his belly button. He lifted his legs and set them on the edge of the desk. His ass was firm and waiting just for me.

I threw off my shirt, stepped forward, and spat in my hand a few times to lather my dick, then pressed the head against his hole. River grunted and spread his legs further.

“Everyone’s outside. Are you going to let them hear you? Or are you finally going to shut that big fucking mouth of yours?”

“Didn’t you say you were going to make me?” The glint in his eye was dangerous. He tilted his head back slightly, and I smirked. So that’s what he wanted?

I wrapped my hand around his throat and squeezed. His groan when I pushed into his ass was nothing more than a cut-off choke that vibrated against my hand.

The desk rattled as I fucked him hard. I pounded into him, letting out every annoyance, every grievance. River’s pleasure was the one thing I could control—hand on his throat, fucking his tight hole until he shook for more. My body fit perfectly between his thick thighs. River rocked into my sharp thrusts, tugging at his nipples. He tried to moan again, and I squeezed.

“Fuck your fist,” I growled. “If you want that high so fucking badly.”

My smirk grew when River immediately palmed his cock. I kept my eye on the jerk of his hand. His ocean blue eyes clouded with lust; they barely stayed open and locked on mine as he fucked himself. Having the best fighter in all the Circuit at my mercy zapped electricity down my spine. Fuck the OnlyFans. We were the only ones who got to see River splayed out on the desk and desperate for more cock.

My orgasm loomed much too fast. River’s ass squeezed my length, my balls slapping against his ass with each sharp thrust. I angled to hit deeper; River’s cry was choked behind my harsh grip.

“Cat got your tongue?” I asked.

“Got your dick,” he wheezed and squeezed his ass even tighter.

His tightness and knowing smirk sent me over the edge. I filled his ass, my thrusts growing choppy, grunts masked by heavy breaths. Even as my dick softened, I didn’t want to stop fucking him. I kept my length inside and swatted away his hand, wrapping my hand around his cock. I jerked him until he squirmed and ground into my hand, his head falling back.

White-hot cum spurted on my hand and his chest. River’s entire body shook with his high. His moans vibrated against my hand as I squeezed and cut off his voice. He was still smiling when he slumped against the desk. He opened his eyes, his pupils still blown from pleasure.

“You seem a little mad at me, Lotto,” he cracked and gestured to our joined hips.

“You’re not going back to the underground.”

Not if I could help it. I wasn’t going to let River step foot in the cage for us and fuck up his real family. It wasn’t worth it.

“Then what?” he asked.

“I’ll figure it out. I always do.”

“You sure do, Lotto.”

I rocked my hips into his again and smirked. “And if you need another reminder of who is in charge. I’ll gladly give it to you.”