Stuffed

“Come over here.” Lawrence tries to coax me to him, but I shake my head.

I’m sure he’s freaking out because Rogue looks like he’s about to take this place apart. The wrong thing to do right now would be to leave Rogue’s side.

Stepping fully in front of Rogue with my back to him, I put distance between him and Lawrence. Rogue wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me snug against him.

“This is Rogue, he’s my—”

“She belongs to me,” he finishes.

Belong to him? I’d elbow him right now if he didn’t just save me a few seconds ago. I also ignore how much I actually like the sound of that response.

“Is that so?” Lawrence asks me.

“Yes.” If I say anything else, Lawrence will send every bouncer in here after Rogue to get me away from him.

“And she’s leaving.”

“She’s working.” Oh my god, does Lawrence not know how to read the room?

I don’t have to look at Rogue to know he’s about to explode.

“Listen here, motherfucker—” Rogue begins, but I cut him off this time.

“I’m leaving.” I give Lawrence a look that has him holding his hands up in front of him.

“Take out the trash,” Lawrence tells one of the bouncers standing nearby.

“Sorry,” I say. It doesn’t matter if Rogue is here or not. There’s no way I can keep working here after that. It only took two hours for this new job to fall to shit just like the casino. What is wrong with these men? If it wasn’t for my bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.

Rogue takes me by the hand and pulls me from the club. I start to tell him I need to grab my bag with my clothes in it, but I stop myself. I know he’s not going to let my hand go, and I don’t want him going back into the dressing room. It’s silly, I know, but I say nothing as he opens the door to the town car, and I scramble inside. He gets in after me and slams it shut before barking an order at the driver and putting up the divider.

“What were you doing at a strip club?” I blurt out, beating him to it.

His nostrils flare. “Work.”

“Me too,” I tease. Now I’m the one poking the bear.

“You’re pushing it, Ember. I’m still so fucking pissed that if I don’t calm down, I’m going to go back in there and do something I’ll regret.”

I swallow and look down at my torn fishnets. I can see the little marks Rogue left behind and I run my fingers along them. I never should have gotten out of his bed this morning.

Before I know what’s happening, he pulls me onto his lap and buries his face in my neck. I start to feel better instantly as he inhales my skin. How does he do that?

“Tell me you’re okay.”

I let myself relax into his warmth. “I’m okay. Were you there for me?”

“Fucking fate.” His warm breath tingles against my skin. “Why were you there, Ember? Is this a second job you didn’t tell me about or something? You really think I’d be okay with this shit?”

I swallow hard. That was a lot of questions at once. “It was a last-minute thing. I got fired from the casino last night.” He pulls back to look at me, and I spill the whole story. I knew he’d get it out of me one way or another, and by the time I’m done he’s just as mad.

“It’s clear I can’t leave you alone. That is just how it will have to be.” I smile because in a roundabout way, it’s sweet. “I’ll handle Neil.”

I know he will just by the glint in his eyes. “You’ll get my job back at the casino?”

“No.”

“Rogue, I have to have a job.”

“You’re hired.” I bark a laugh, but he keeps a straight face.

“You’re not paying me for sex.” I stare into his eyes, trying to read them. “Is that what this is, Rogue? Be straight with me before you take me to your house. Tell me what this is because I need to know if I should leave my heart at the door. I don’t want to get hurt.”

I give him the truth because my mom already broke my heart. I don’t want to get any closer to him only to lose him.

“I already told you, Ember. You belong to me and that includes your heart.”

Who am I trying to kid? With all that’s happened tonight, I’ve somehow fallen harder than I ever thought possible.

Chapter Fourteen

Rogue

I’m out as soon as the vehicle comes to a stop. I pull her from the car and try not to stomp into the house. As the sound of my shoes echoes in the foyer, I realize it didn’t work. I’m trying not to be so angry, but I can’t help it. Seeing her in that strip club with another man’s hands on her, I lost it. I could have killed him if she hadn’t called my name. I’ve never been one for violence but I’m not opposed to it when necessary. It was fucking necessary tonight.