Page 41 of Our Forbidden Romance 1

“I don’t mind.”

He moves closer and leans in for a kiss, but I put my hand between us. “Not until I brush my teeth.” Morning breath is bad enough, never mind when you have been drinking the night before.

“Really?” he chuckles, going in for another one.

“Yes! My breath is disgusting.” I push him away and bring the covers up to my nose.

“Alana!” he whines. “Go brush your teeth then so I can have a kiss.” He pulls the covers away from me.

I stick my tongue out at him, laughing but climb out of bed and head to the bathroom with Ezra following.

“Can I help you?” I question, raising my brow at him.

“I need to pee and some mouthwash too.” He whips it out, taking a pee right in front of me.

I laugh, shaking my head. “Seriously? You couldn’t wait until I left the bathroom?”

“What? It isn’t like you haven’t seen it all before.” He shrugs.

I roll my eyes and turn my attention away from him, brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth with some mouthwash, and I feel better for it. I leave the bathroom, letting him do what he needs to, and crawl back into bed.

I sigh, running my fingers through my hair, hoping for the pounding in my head to stop. As I sit there everything hits me all over again. I have no home or job. The tears build in my eyes, and I quickly wipe them away just as Ezra reappears and joins me on the bed.

I look up at him, and see he is studying me closely. “Alana, what is wrong? You have tears in your eyes.” I can hear a hint of sadness in his tone, and he reaches in to caress my cheek.

I hug my knees to my chest, resting my chin on them. “I got fired last night. So now I don’t have a job or home. That’s why I was drinking,” I whisper.

“What? He fired you. Why? What the fuck?” Ezra is angry, but it is aimed at Colin, not me.

“He started giving me a hard time. I had enough and lost it. In return, he fired me. It was stupid of me because I need that job more than ever now.” I don’t realise I am crying until the tears run down my cheeks.

“I am sorry, angel, but I think you did the right thing. You were too good to work for an asshole like him.” It is okay for him to say that because he has everything he needs.

“Maybe, but I needed the job,” I whisper, trying not to get annoyed with him for his comment because I know he didn’t mean anything by it. I am just sensitive at the moment.

“I am sure you will find something soon. Do you have money?” he asks.

“I have a little, but not much. I can start searching tomorrow for something.” There are plenty of jobs out there. You just need to know the right places to look.

“Stay here as long as you need, or I can rent you an apartment until you get back on your feet. I can also transfer you some money until you find a job.” I don’t understand why he is always insisting on these things. He has no obligation to take care of me.

“No. I refuse to take anything else from you, Ezra. You have done enough already, and I can’t work out why. We haven’t known each other long, and people don’t just spend money on someone they aren’t with.”

I am not looking for a sugar daddy or to be someone’s mistress, even if sometimes I feel like one since I started sleeping with Ezra.

“You haven’t worked it out yet?” he asks softly, his eyes searching mine.

“Worked what out?” I have no clue what he means. What is there to work out?

“Nothing. It doesn’t matter.” He sighs, sounding disappointed.

“Ezra, talk to me, please?” I encourage, resting my hand on his knee. He opens his mouth to speak, but changes his mind, instead, he shakes his head and disappears to the bathroom.

What the hell just happened? I hear him turn the shower on and decide to go after him and get some answers. I close and lock the bathroom door, at least he can’t run away. He is already in the shower. I rush over and pull the door open.

“Ezra Barclay, tell me right now what is going on in your head!” I make sure to be firm, and he jumps, nearly slipping in the shower. Oops! He glares at me, and I smile sweetly at him, his glare disappears and is replaced with a laugh.

I step into the shower, standing in front of him, not caring I am in here with my clothes on. He flashes his charming smile at me. “Can I help you, angel?” No, it isn’t going to work. I refuse to let him use it to sway me from the conversation.

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