He helps me off him and carries me to the couch. We lie there together, catching our breath, and before I know it, we’ve fallen asleep.
At some point, Alec moved us into my bed. I wake up with his arm draped over my back. I roll over and stare up at the ceiling in shock.
I did that again. Again.
I’m still naked, lying next to Alec in my bed. He has his boxers on, and at some point, he ditched his shirt. I just stare at his sleeping face for a while.
It surprises me that Alec didn’t try to do anything else. I know he has to want sex, but he’s not forcing it.
I shudder as the memory of Theodore creeps up my spine and twists my stomach. Alec is a much better man, no matter what he does for a living.
I want to bask in the afterglow, but my phone rings, scaring the crap out of me. I sit up and snatch it off my nightstand, swiping the green circle to stop the noise.
“Hello?”
“Claire.”
My stomach drops. It’s Gary, my boss. He never calls this early. Hell, he never calls at all. And his tone is anything but pleasant.
“Hi, Mr. Carter. Is something wrong?”
Alec stirs beside me. I glance over my shoulder with a forced smile. I’d hoped I caught the ring quick enough, but it clearly woke him up.
“Yeah. Apparently, one of my girls has been pissing off a senator? Were you even going to tell me about this?”
Gary sounds furious. My heart races. I swallow hard, my hand shaking where I hold the phone.
“It’s a private matter, Mr. Carter. I?—”
“The hell it is.” A tiny pause. “You’re fired. I won’t get caught up in this mess with a politician.”
Before I can say a single word, Gary hangs up.
I sit there as dead air plays on my phone until the call naturally closes. Utterly speechless, I can’t stop the tears from streaming down my face.
How am I going to pay my rent? How am I going to pay for anything?
Other clubs won’t take me now. Gary will spread that news everywhere. I’m so screwed. I can’t get unemployment, and finding a different job will take forever.
I could bartend, but nothing will pay as much as dancing.
“Dammit.”
“What is it?”
I suddenly remember Alec is with me. “He fired me. I… I just lost my job.”
“Jesus fuck. Claire, I’m so sorry. I’ll?—”
Another ring cuts him off. Alec looks down at the floor where his cell is buzzing in the pocket of his jeans. He reaches for it and puts it to his ear.
“Hey, Boss. What’s up?”
The volume on his phone is turned up—probably by accident—so I hear it when his boss says, “Why the fuck is Theodore McDowell Jr. threatening my business?”
7
Claire
