Page 19 of Stone Temptation

Sweat trickling down my spine in fear for my manager, I made it quickly.

“Monday, Ian,” Seth said. “I better see the money by noon.”

“You will. I promise. Thank you so, so, so, so much.”

“Now go. I want to speak with Luke.”

My manager scurried away, either hunched over with relief or because he was about to puke.

The gargoyle’s expression softened as he looked me up and down. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine.”

“He annoyed me. You know how it is.”

Did he have to break the damn glass? “I do.”

Seth knocked back his third Paloma then stood up. “Come to the tower after your shift. I have a proposition for you.”

“The tower? Again?”

“Not for that, you randy boy. For a chat.”

“Oh. I see. Okay, that’s?—”

He shushed me, beckoning me to come closer with his finger.

I submitted to his will as always. “I?—”

He launched forward, grabbing me by the throat and planting a rough kiss on my lips, my eyes going wide with surprise, the cocktail’s salt-tinged grapefruit and tequila blend hitting my tongue.

Breaking the kiss, he smirked, pulling his fur coat around him again. “Gives the club something to talk about.”

I gulped, confused and horny.

He raked his gaze up and down my uniform. “Always delicious.”

We’d never fucked. In that moment, I teetered on the edge of demanding he pound me over the bar. Or I’d pound him—however he wanted to do it.

Ahem.

He wiggled his fingers in a goodbye, then swept out of the club.

Phew. I sagged with relief, hunching over to catch my breath.

“What was that about?”

Tom appeared beside me as the customers spread out along the bar again. The two who’d yelled at me were tucked away in a booth near the club entrance.

“Give me a moment,” I answered, holding up a finger.

“No problem, mate.”

After a few minutes, I straightened my spine and got back to work whipping up cocktails, pouring pints of beer, all whilst trying to figure out what the hell Seth wanted to chat about.

FOUR

Asher