Scrupulous (An Affliction of Falling Novel Book 1) by Kristina Canady Page A

home. He shows up at the bar last night looking less than pleased while I was flirting with the cowboy, like he has claim on me or something.”
    “He is laying claim on you. Gavin is not only our head of security, but he is also one of the clubs top Doms and is highly sought after for his discipline. That is how he spends his free time. I can’t believe this. You let him go all ‘Dom’ on you after a split-second conversation and I have spent a year trying to get you in the damn door.” Samuel almost looks hurt, which is hard to pass off in his vampire costume with fake blood dripping down his regal chin.
    “Gavin didn’t go ‘all Dom’ on me. There were no mind games, whips, or Saint Andrews crosses.” My black manicured nails nervously tap on the bar, anxious to be done with the inquisition.
    “Vanilla sex?”
    “I don’t know what the hell it was. He started out in the driver’s seat, but it all got muddied fast. Rough, fast and furious vanilla sex─ multiple times─ is a better description.”
    “No shit? Never thought he could get down like that after seeing the way he works.” Samuel looks thoughtful for a moment in his set of fake fangs.
    “What does that mean?”
    “Like I said, ‘highly sought after for his discipline.’ Top of his game and many want to suffer at his expert hand. Dude is on the sadistic side, Sor. You are not a masochist─ you are submissive to the core─ but I don’t see this being a very good match for either of you.”
    “What don’t you and he understand? There is no ‘match’ taking place. One-night stand with a playboy, whoop-de-doo.” I hated the words at they tumbled forward, and choking momentarily on their bitter taste. Running a finger under my black velvet spider choker, I try to get my anxiety under control.
    “Customers are coming. If he actually showed his face here last night, he’s on a mission and it has nothing to do with security around this place,” Samuel warns and puts on a fake smile, which looks ridiculous with his temporary teeth.
     
     
    The midnight hour strikes and I find myself in the same damn predicament as last night.
    “Gentleman, is this Groundhog Day? What can I get you?” What are the chances? Tobias and Gavin size each other up discreetly before turning their attention back to me.
    “Nice costume. You look mighty fine, Miss L. I’ll take a shot of that top-shelf whiskey and a beer.”
    Ignoring Gavin, I busy about but find my long dress is getting in the way of my attempts to reach the whiskey. Tobias’ order is no doubt intentional and Gavin has me feeling spiteful, so naturally, I hike the slit of my dress to the side baring my full leg as I prop it on the stool and salaciously grab the bottle before easing back down and finishing his order.
    Tobias licks his lips as his eyes lock on the breasts in front of him. He doesn’t even notice the drinks I have pushed his way. Gavin’s tanned skin turns a shade darker as he watches it unfold. Sashaying to the other side of Tobias, opposite of Gavin, I take and fill a few more orders, pointedly ignoring the brooding Dom. After a good twenty minutes, thinking he has finally had enough, I lean over the bar, breasts threatening to break free of their confines so that he can hear me clearly.
    “I am not allowed to serve alcohol to employees. Can I get you a club soda or something?” My tone snips with an all-too-sticky-sweetness as I drawl out the work- related title.
    “Off duty, girl. You can make me a backdraft .” He over annunciates, clearly disgruntled with my complete disrespect.
    “Of course, Sir, ” I sass back and narrowing my eyes at him. My anger and tension in regards to his backhanded methods of invading my privacy only fuel my display. As I flip a bottle behind my back without taking my eyes off his, my nimble fingers catch it perfectly. Lining up ten shot glasses, I double stack my mixing cylinders after strategically filling them with various liquors and pour