Sinners & Gin - Top Shelf

I watched Aria get into the back of a black SUV with her father. She still didn’t look my way once.

It’s over. The deal is done.

Matthew

“All right, gentlemen. It’s time we get Spiked Roses back in business fully. To up our game,” I began the meeting, trying to shake off the miserable mood I had been in for weeks. Business as usual needed to occur or I was going to lose my damn mind. “Tennessee has been back for a couple of weeks and has whipped the staff in shape. It’s time we offer a Tasting in the Tasting Room.”

“Hell yes,” Lennon said. “Long overdue.”

“Any ideas?” I asked. “We need a theme.”

“Leaving Vittorio Costa out of this, I liked what I saw at his party in Aspen,” Victor Drayton chimed in. “We could do it so much better as I saw lost opportunity. But a pet play theme is fucking hot.”

I hated hearing Vittorio’s name, but I also refused just to show how sensitive I was over the whole thing. Time to move on. Hell… it was way past time to continue to wonder how Aria was. Was she safe? Happy? In the arms of another man…

Fuck.

“Our staff would be the sexiest kitties around,” Kenneth said with a nod of approval. “I could see every one of our members wanting to be a part of this.”

“It’s a good idea,” I said, giving my vote.

All the men agreed, and we began taking notes on what we wanted to see to give to Tennessee.

Business was back in order.

Focus on money.

Focus on the business.

Focus on anything but Aria Costa and her ghost.

Matthew

“You need to go to the Tasting and get your dick licked by a kitten’s tongue,” Tennessee said to me as he stood in my office right before the Tasting was about to begin.

“I’m fine,” I said, not looking up from the paperwork on my desk. “I have a lot of work to catch up on.”

“You’ve done nothing but work since we returned. I find it hard to believe that you are behind in anything,” Tennessee said. I knew the man wouldn’t take my hint and just leave.

“I’m not in the mood.”

“So, get in the mood,” he continued to push.

“Pet play really isn’t my thing,” I said, hoping that would be enough.

“Make it your thing.”

“Fuck, Tennessee. Leave me the fuck alone, alright? I’m not in the mood to attend the damn Tasting.”

“No, because whether you like it or not, you and I have crossed the line into friendship. You can’t eat my dumplings and not be a buddy. So, I’m standing here as your friend and not your employee. You need to do one of two things. Go get her back, which is what you really want to do, or get over her. Either way, you get your dick licked tonight. Either by her, or someone else. I think the choice is easy. Aria has a cute little tongue, though. My vote would be for her.”

“Fuck off,” I growled. My patience was gone. “This conversation is over.”

Tennessee crossed his arms against his smoking jacket in defiance. “The Tasting can’t run without me. And I won’t leave here unless you do. I’m done seeing you mope around, and I’m going to do something about it.”

I slammed my hands on my desk and stood. “Fine! I’ll go to the damn Tasting if it means shutting your ass up and getting you out of the office.”

I would make an appearance, have a drink, and then get the fuck out of there. I was in no mood to battle this out any longer with Tennessee.

Tennessee led me out of the office with a huge shit-eating grin on, clearly proud of himself for getting his way.

“It’s going to be one of our best Tastings. You should see the women. The leather costumes we put them in, the kitty ears, the tails… art I tell ya.”

“Great,” I mumbled, not giving a fuck.

When we entered the large room, I did have to give credit where credit was due. The staff of Spiked Roses were absolutely sexy, and the turnout was by far one of our best. The room was almost at full capacity and another body or two would have the fire marshal knocking on our door. The long, red window coverings contrasted with the black leather the women wore, giving off a gothic, erotic vibe that was always a favorite of mine. Women were on hands and knees, asses in the air that were plugged with a variety of tails, and our members were all dressed in their finest, ready to dominate the participants.

Before I could walk over to the bar to get a drink, a kitty crawled up to me and curled herself at my feet. I tried to not look or pay any attention, but in the corner of my eye I could see that Tennessee had done a particularly good job preparing this kitty. She wore a skintight leather leotard with a tail popping out from a hole cut in the back. Her butt plug tail was long with little white bows tied to the fur. Her mask covered all of her face except for cherry-red lips that begged to have a cock within them. I looked away to try to not even consider the temptation.