It'll Be An Adventure (Masters of the Shadowlands #15)(21)
Author: Cherise Sinclair

 

“No problem.” He kept his eye on her as he stopped to give the server his request for food.

 

And he noticed the obnoxious bastard had recovered and was slinking out of the bar. Good enough.

 

When Saxon arrived at the K9 table, he stopped and frowned. Didn’t it just figure that the only empty chair at the table was between Murphy and Dustin?

 

When his temporary flanker turned and saw him, her expression went cold.

 

Damn, seeing that still hurt.

 

As he sat down, Dustin leaned in and said in a low voice. “I get the impression she doesn’t like you.”

 

“Yeah. I’m not sure why. I was polite.”

 

“From what I saw, she didn’t like you from the moment she saw you.” Dustin ran a hand over his balding pate. “Bet it’s that yellow hair of yours, flying all over the place.”

 

“Ah.” Saxon nodded solemnly. “Yeah, that must be it.”

 

Dustin tilted his head toward Megan across the table. “Nice job there. Quick and quiet. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you served in the forces.”

 

“Felt like it sometimes, but no. Military boarding school—and my Marine Corps uncle insisted I take all the martial arts available.” He poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher.

 

“Eh, Marines.” Dustin, a retired army officer, snorted. “They got only two answers to any problem—punch it or shoot it.”

 

Since that about covered his uncle’s philosophy of life, Saxon just smiled.

 

 

 

 

 

Murphy glanced out of the corner of her eye at the guy sitting next to her. The brawny guy several inches taller than everyone at the table. The one who’d helped Megan.

 

She kind of liked Saxon for that, although it’d been eye-opening how easily he’d dealt with the jerk.

 

But then, of all the bad luck, he had to come and sit here. She tried to keep from scowling.

 

And she truly wished she’d remembered to pack a bra in her go-bag. At least the T-shirt she wore was loose, and her girls were on the small side. She hunched her shoulders a little, hoping her nipples weren’t poking out.

 

Saxon had obviously showered, and his damp hair hung loose over his shoulders. His dark red shirt wasn’t tight, but still didn’t hide how freaking big his chest and shoulders were. The unbuttoned Henley revealed thick muscles at the base of his throat.

 

When he wrapped his hand around a glass, a slow shiver ran through her. Those hands had been on her, had cupped her chin.

 

Hello, fool. Those hands had hit—spanked—Gabi. Whatever word used, he’d made her cry.

 

She turned in her chair enough to keep him out of her sight.

 

Dustin, Saxon, Megan, and a couple of others kept the conversation going. They were full of stories of other searches and about the dogs and their quirks. Saxon regaled everyone with an amusing tale of when Sherlock had gotten the better of him. He very obviously loved his dog.

 

Her eyes narrowed. Apparently, it was just women the Dom smacked around.

 

Maybe she should write him into her book and kill him off.

 

In a total bloodbath.

 

Having arrived before Murphy, the other team members were eating dessert as her cheeseburger and Saxon’s food were delivered.

 

The pretty server stepped between Murphy and Saxon, arranging his food as she brushed against his side. Flirting for all she was worth.

 

Nonetheless, the Master didn’t pay any attention. He gave her a quiet thank you that sent her on her way.

 

A couple of minutes later, one of the dog handlers pushed her chair back. “Sorry to eat and run, but I need to call my babies.”

 

“Woman,” Saxon said. “Your babies are older than I am.”

 

“They’re still my babies, no matter how old.”

 

“Ah.” Saxon’s smile twisted slightly. “I’ve heard that’s how it works.”

 

How it works? Murphy studied his expression, seeing a trace of…sadness? Had he lost his mother as a child, maybe?

 

Dustin rose. “Time for me to be going too. I have paperwork to finish up.”

 

To Murphy’s dismay, they all headed off, leaving her at the table with the Shadowlands bully. And she’d only just started her food.

 

Could she make an excuse and take her food up to her room?

 

“I can join the group over there if that would make you more comfortable.”

 

Startled, she looked up. Saxon didn’t look angry, just…concerned. And now, she felt like the rudest person in the world.

 

“Murphy.” He rubbed the back of his neck. And she couldn’t help noticing the way his biceps rounded into a boulder shape. “What did I do that pissed you off? I’d like to know.”

 

He could take his “like to know” and stuff it into a… “Are you serious?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Dammit, she didn’t want to talk about the Shadowlands. Or talk to him.

 

“Murphy?” A corner of his mouth drew up. “Use your words, please.”

 

She growled under her breath. Fine, if he wanted to know, she’d tell him. She glanced around to check that no one was within hearing distance. “At the club. You span—you hurt Gabi. You made her cry.”

 

“I thought that might be it.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Gabi said you’d just had orientation. Are you new to BDSM or just the club?”

 

“What does that have to do with anything?”

 

His chin came up slightly, and why did that cause a funny feeling in her belly? “Tell me, please.”

 

Oh, that voice.

 

“I was in a club one other time. And I’ve looked things up on the internet. Otherwise…” She shrugged.

 

“Fuck me,” he muttered.

 

Why did she get the impression she’d missed something important?

 

Fine, if he wasn’t going to talk, she’d eat. So she could get away from him. She took a bite of her burger.

 

“All right. Normally, I wouldn’t share information about a member, but Gabi essentially subjected you and everyone else to her punishment. Let me start by saying that Gabi and her Master have an interesting dynamic. She often mouths off to get Marcus to punish her.”