“Don’t blame yourself. I was the stupid fuck who let her count the money for me last night. We’d been slammed but I should have known better.”
“She stole from you? Seriously?” My mom could be shady at times, but I’ve never known her to steal from Lawrence. He was the hand that fed her.
“I don’t think she acted alone. Lesson fucking learned.” His voice is filled with both anger and disappointment. He’s not going to go after my mom, but he’s also never going to be there for her again. She burned that bridge, and there’s no rebuilding it. And if he can’t get a hold of her, I’m sure she already knows it.
“Lawrence, I’m really sorry.” He’s always been so good to her, and I can’t help but wonder what the hell she’s going to do now. Stealing from him is a deal breaker, and everyone knows it. I thought it was why she’d never done it in all the years she’d worked for him, but there must have been more to it.
“You know, your mom doesn’t work here anymore.” I let out a humorless laugh as I fall back onto the bed. I know where this is going.
“I’m not taking my clothes off for money.” I run my hand through my hair, trying to tame it.
I have no doubt it’s a hot mess right now. My body starts to hum, thinking about how it got to be a hot mess to begin with. Just the thought of Rogue and my whole body lights up. He has this hold over me that I don’t understand. While it’s fun and exciting, it scares the crap out of me too. I never let men close, but he keeps pushing right on it.
“You can serve drinks.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen the girls who serve drinks there. I’m not going topless.”
“Come on, Em. I’m fucking desperate. I’m down your mom and the two other bitches that helped her. You know you’ll make a killing here, and you don’t have to be topless. Just a little bit less than what you girls wear over at the casino.”
I bite my lip, thinking. What is really different about serving drinks at a casino and a strip club? I wasn’t dancing, and he was right. I would make three times more. Plus, I’m desperate too. I need a job to live.
“Deal,” I agree, because what choice do I really have?
“I need you tonight.”
“I figured. I’ll get there as soon as I can.” Between what I wore last night and stuff I’ll be able to use from the dressing room at The Landing Strip, I’m sure I can manage an outfit. Either way, Lawrence will deal for tonight if he wants me there as quickly as possible.
“I’ll see you soon,” he says before hanging up.
I reach over and turn on the lamp next to the bed. I gasp when I look down between my thighs. I run my fingers along the red marks that I know are from Rogue’s short beard. I shiver, recalling the feeling of him eating my pussy for hours. After every orgasm, I kept trying to close my legs, but he didn’t stop. I lost count of how many times I came, but he was starved. After that I passed out and must have slept for ten hours straight.
I look around the bedroom again and notice his side of the bed is empty. I get up and find something to wear and remind myself to not get attached to Rogue. He will get bored and be onto the next soon enough.
Even so, I know it’s going to be an argument about me leaving. Then again, if he’s always so worried about where I am, then where is he? He knows I have to work, but not necessarily where. He thinks I have a shift at the casino, and I might just keep that little detail to myself.
After I’m dressed, I venture out of the bedroom. I didn’t get a good look when we got here last night since we’d been all over each other. I don’t know how we didn’t end up having sex, but it was probably due to me passing out.
I run my hand along the beautiful countertop and love how his place isn’t overly done. It doesn’t look like a woman lives here, but it still screams money. I look down at my faded jeans that I didn’t buy that way and my thrift store tank top. I don’t belong here.
“Rogue?” I call out and wait. Did he leave?
I check a few surfaces to see if he left me a note, but there’s nothing. I guess I don’t need to leave one then either. I take out my phone and request a Lyft. As I wait, I snoop around some. Each room is like the last with basic essentials. Everything is in its place and clean with nothing bold or over the top.