Terror at the Gates (Blood of Lilith, #1)

by Scarlett St. Clair

“Praise isn’t a strip club,” he said. “It’s the only reason I’m considering letting you dance here.” “I’m not stupid, Zahariev,” I said. The brief attraction I’d felt toward him vanished. I reached into my bag for a pair of thigh-high stockings. I balanced on one foot as I rolled one up my leg and then the other. “I’m not calling you stupid,” he said, putting out his cigarette. “What do you call telling me something I already know?” I asked. “A warning,” he said. “What makes you think I’d strip for anyone?” “Let’s not pretend you wouldn’t do just about anything to fuck with me,” he said. “You do realize I make decisions all the time without thinking about how you will react,” I said, retrieving my heels from my bag, the final piece of my outfit. I slipped my foot inside one, using the table in front of Zahariev to buckle them. “I do,” he said. “Which is why I am telling you now, before we do this, there is no bend to these rules, Lilith. You do what I say, or you don’t work at all.” I could feel myself coiling up inside like a snake. The reaction was automatic. I didn’t like being told what to do, but that was why Zahariev was warning me. He knew my rebellious streak wasn’t a streak. It was just part of my personality. “Yes, daddy,,” I said, my voice thick with sarcasm. Zahariev’s jaw ticked, but the corner of his mouth lifted, eyes gleaming darkly. “Good girl,” he praised, his voice low and rough. He sat back, crossing one leg over the other. “Now dance for me.”