Saber is friendly with everyone except me. He doesn’t like me for some unknown reason, but in all the years we’ve worked together, I’ve never been able to determine why.
It’s fine by me.
Before this last year, we were almost never in the same room at the same time. Back when he was running security with Atlas as one of the bouncers, it was much easier to avoid him. Ever since he got moved to management, it’s like I can’t escape him or his judgy, calculating eyes.
Laz laughs even harder. “All right, I’m going to go set up.” He finds humor in everything, which is one of the things I love most about him. He’s not tainted with pain like I am, and when I’m with him, it becomes easier to forget the ghosts of my past. “I’ll be waiting for you.” He smacks my ass and heads out.
Saber crosses his beefy arms over his chest and continues to stare at me.
I’ve gone over and over every interaction we’ve had throughout the years, but not one gives me any indication of what I could have done to offend him.
Maybe he just had a bad interaction with a siren? My kind is known for breaking hearts and being generally awful at relationships.
“Did you need something?” I turn back to the mirror and run my finger around my lips to remove any smudges.
“I’m the monitor on duty for your show,” he says, and his entire demeanor betrays hownotexcited he is about that fact.
“Good to know.” I grab a hair tie, pulling it onto my wrist for later.
I prefer to have my hair up for scenes, since it can get hot on stage with the lights blaring down on us. But the audience likes it better when my hair is down so Laz can fist my hair or watch as it fans over my body.
“I’m still required to go over the basics with you.” Saber gives me a condescending look as his eyes narrow. “If you need assistance, all you need to do is call outred. If your mouth is full, tap your partner three times. If they don’t honor your request to stop, hold up a fist.”
I smile as politely as I can when I feel like he’s constantly talking down to me. “Thank you, I remember.”
He nods and walks away without a backward glance.
Both of his heritage species are known for being haughty and high-strung, but seriously…
Saber is smoking hot.
He should have no trouble finding willing partners.
In all the years I’ve seen him around the club, I’ve never seen him with anyone or heard of him dating or hooking up.
Maybe that’s it.
He’s all pent up from watching everyone else fuck and never participating.
He might want to consider it. It might help him relax a little, which could lead to a more pleasant version of himself for the rest of us to interact with.
Chapter Two
Saber
The Monster’s Den has a certain undeniable energy. You step inside and time starts to lose all meaning. There are multiple options for how a customer can spend their night. They can head over to Venom if they’d like to dance and drink, or they can stick around The Den if they want a little more action.
They can gamble away their paycheck in the public or private betting rooms or watch the live performances. If they don’t find anyone to spend the night with, they can try out one of the paid companions.
No one is forced to be here.
All the employees are here of their own free will, and that’s why I can stomach working at The Den. My sentinel DNA is especially sensitive to anything it views as injustice, but I long ago came to terms with who I am.
My mother was a literal angel, and she still dropped me off with my father when I was only three days old. She disappeared in a shimmery cloud of smoke, and he never saw her again.
Or that was his version of events.
It is what it is.
