by Jamie Begley
“I do the payroll; I know what you make.” Winter gave the woman a narrow-eyed stare.
“I can buy a couple,” Raci conceded reluctantly.
“Bliss?”
“Put me down for two.” Bliss wasn’t even going to fight Winter. She didn’t want her paycheck up for discussion, either. She was paid for many hours she hadn’t put in, constantly telling Viper she would make them up.
“Thanks. Shade?” Winter turned her greedy gaze on him.
Shade paused with the fork halfway to his mouth. “No.”
Lily shot him a reproachful look.
“Don’t look at me that way, Lily. I’ve already bought that school two pieces of expensive equipment for their auto shop, a confection oven for the cooking class, and paid the salary of the auto shop teacher, so no computer from me. Maybe next year, if you don’t hit me up for something else before then.” Shade had no problem returning Winter’s stare.
“Have you asked Razer?” Lily broke into their staring contest.
“No,” Winter said.
“Why not?”
Because Razer is the biggest donator of all with Beth adding her own pleas to Winter’s, Shade thought to himself, seeing Winter would play that card with him, too, as soon as she managed to get Lily alone.
“Because he coughed up the money to pay for the afterschool tutors. Her chances of getting any money out of Razer are nil,” Shade answered, taking a drink of his beer. Lily sent him another reproachful look.
“Rider and Train?” Lily asked.
“New bus to drive the kids and lab equipment,” Shade replied after Winter’s continued silence.
“Knox?” Lily asked hesitantly.
“Media library.”
“Ouch. I could buy two. I have some money saved up,” Lily offered.
Everyone at the table looked at her. The woman had less than anyone in the club, yet she had made a generous offer.
“No, Lily. I couldn’t take your money. I have one other member I haven’t hit up yet.”
“Who?” Lily asked.
“Lucky.”
When Bliss looked at him from under her lashes, Shade wanted to snap at the woman, but it was too late—both Lily and Winter had noticed her behavior.
“I haven’t met him yet,” Lily said, glancing across the table at Bliss and him.
Shade kept his face impassive. However, as her hand went to her chest, resting on top of her heart, Shade wanted to jerk Bliss up from the table.
He was going to have another talk with her, and that time, he was going to be firmer. He hadn’t wanted to get too hateful with her, because they had shared a sexual relationship for several years, and she was a member of The Last Riders. Lily was the newcomer and was taking the place Bliss had wanted. Shade had kept to the rules of the club, but it was Bliss who had hoped for something more from him.
“Are you all right?” Shade asked, looking across the table at Lily with a frown.
“Yes, I must have eaten something that gave me indigestion,” Lily said, getting up from the table.
“Yeah, I feel a little nauseous myself,” Winter commented with a warning look at Bliss.
“You’re probably stressed out, worrying about coming up with the money for the computers. Let me know how much they cost, and I’ll write you a check for two of them. I wish I could do more,” Lily said, not looking at the people sitting at the table.
“I’ll ask Lucky. If he doesn’t, then I’ll pay for them,” Viper conceded, taking Lily’s hand as she reached for his plate. “We’ll take care of it. Keep your money, Lily.”
Lily gave his hand a squeeze before letting it go and picking up his plate then Winter’s.
“Okay, but if you decide you need it, let me know. I’m going to bed. I’m tired tonight. Goodnight, everyone.” Lily left everyone sitting at the table, carrying the dirty dishes to the sink.
Shade turned to Bliss. “Next time you act like that in front of her, I’ll drag your ass out of the club and throw your clothes out in the yard.”
Bliss gasped. “You’re not serious?”
“Try me, Bliss,” Shade snarled. “The brothers would miss your pussy, but not enough to fight me to keep it.” Bliss paled. “See that woman standing there washing dishes?” Shade nodded at Lily doing dishes with Jewell until Nickel took over for her.
Lily left, telling them goodnight, and again, Shade waited until she was out of hearing. “Lily would never intentionally hurt another soul—she’s incapable of it—while you didn’t give a fuck who you were hurting with your behavior.”
Shade stood up, picking up his dirty dishes. “Now ask me why I care about her and not you,” he said sarcastically, leaving the table to take his dishes to the sink.
Shade heard Lily in the bathroom blow-drying her hair when he walked into the bedroom. He was removing his T-shirt, having already taken his boots off, when she came out of the bathroom.
Lily started to go to the corner.
“Bed, Lily.”
“But—”
“You agreed when you chose your punishment last night,” Shade reminded her.
“I thought that was just for last night,” she protested.
“No. Go to bed. I’m going to take a shower.” He didn’t want to argue with her tonight.
The storm was getting closer—he had listened to the warnings before coming downstairs—and he wanted her asleep before the worst of it hit Treepoint.
He showered then changed before going back to the bedroom to see Lily was already asleep. He turned off the bedside lamp, leaving the bathroom light on, then laid down next to her, propping his back against the headboard.
Shade reached into the nightstand drawer, pulling out his tablet. He was in the middle of the fourth game, shooting zombies, when the bathroom light began to blink. Shade turned off his tablet, moving closer to Lily’s side.
The light blinked again, but that time, it didn’t come back on. He unconsciously held his breath, hoping Lily slept through the blackout, but the lights hadn’t been out a minute before she jerked straight up in the bed, screaming in terror.
“Lily.” Shade spoke calmly to her in the darkness, giving her his voice to cling to in the pitch black. “The power went off. The generator will kick on in a minute. Just take a deep breath with me and let’s count.”
She couldn’t concentrate enough to count.
“Lily! Concentrate. Count with me. One … two … three…”
Lily finally calmed down enough to join him. “Four … five...”
Shade kept reassuring her that the generator would cut on and she was safe as she continued to count through sobbing breaths until the lights flickered briefly then came on. Then she turned to him, laying her head on his shoulder and crying in relief.
“I have you, sweetheart. Shh … I have you,” Shade promised, his voice thick.
While he soothed and rocked her in his arms, holding her tightly, Lily’s arms circled his neck. She burrowed closer to him, searching for comfort, which he gave her without hesitation.
Fine tremors shook her body while his firm hand stroked her back as he continued to rock her, repeating over and over soothingly that it was only a storm.
After she gradually relaxed, exhausted, lying limply against him and falling back asleep, Shade pulled her closer, rubbing her cheek with his.
“I’ve got you, Lily. Nothing’s ever going to hurt you again. I swear.”
Chapter 54
“Here you go.” Shade placed his laptop on the desk in front of Lily. She wanted to get started on the class assignments she had missed the previous week.
Giving her privacy, he worked out so she could be alone and concentrate.
Afterward, she didn’t even raise her head from the computer when he passed through the bedroom to take a shower. When he got out, he pulled on a pair of jeans, going barefoot and shirtless.
She was frowning at her assignment when he reentered the bedroom.
“Hungry?”
&
nbsp; “A little, but I want to finish this.”
“Go ahead and finish. I’ll bring you a plate.”
“Sounds good, thanks,” Lily said absently.
Shade left the room to go upstairs where several members were in the kitchen, sitting around and talking after dinner. Shade made himself and Lily a plate of food, seeing Winter stacking the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
“What did you get in trouble for this time?” Shade asked.
Winter looked at him with a dejected air. “I wouldn’t quit bugging the members to buy computers, so Viper made me pull the punishment when Rider told on me. He has over twenty motorcycles, and he got mad at me when I suggested he should donate a computer for every bike. The freaking tightwad!”
Shade looked over his shoulder at Rider sitting at the table with his arms crossed over his chest. The brother was sensitive over his bikes. He was notorious for being a cheapskate over everything other than the motorcycles he bought. Winter had been lucky to have pried open his wallet as much as she had.
Shade set the tray of food down to get drinks. He was walking by Winter when he came to a stop.
“Order the computers you need. I’ll cut you a check in the morning.”
The plate Winter was holding slipped through her fingers, landing with a thud in the dishwasher. Then she threw herself into his arms, hugging him.
Shade felt uncomfortable since Viper was watching from the table as his wife cried her ‘thank yous’ against his bare shoulder. He finally managed to break free, placing the drinks on the tray.
“No problem,” Shade said, heading for the basement door.
“Shade,” Viper drawled. “I see what you mean about watching your woman in another man’s arms, but for the amount of money you just forked over, I’m thinking of hugging you, too. I was going to break and buy them.”
Shade mock-shuddered. “I’ll pass, brother. Winter’s was enough.” He closed the door on Viper’s ‘fuck you’ gesture, chuckling as Winter smacked Viper on the back of the head for flipping him off. The price of the computers was worth seeing that sight alone.
He carried the tray into the bedroom, setting it down on the table in front of the television. Then he picked up the plate he had prepared for Lily and her drink, placing them in front of her.
“Thanks,” she said briefly, typing something on the computer.
Shade sat and watched the television while eating his own meal. Afterward, he sprawled out, relaxing and enjoying his day off from the factory. If anyone had asked him what his idea of contentment was, it would be having Lily close-by where he could see her whenever he wanted.
“Is the television distracting you?” Shade asked when she gave a frustrated sigh.
“No.”
Shade turned back to the movie, though his concentration was broken when her chair scooted back from the desk.
She stood up, grabbing her plate from the desk. “Do you need anything while I’m upstairs?”
“A beer would be great.”
He frowned when she left the room. Maybe her classes were turning out to be harder than she had anticipated. He would offer to help her, but she seemed to be in a grumpy mood and he didn’t think she would accept his offer.
She came back a few minutes later, empty-handed.
“Where’s my beer?” Shade asked.
“I forgot it.” She was flushed, looking down at her empty hands as if surprised nothing was there.
“I’m going to take a shower,” Lily said, grabbing her pajamas and then disappearing into the bathroom.
Shade frowned at her behavior. Standing up and stretching, he then carried the tray of dirty dishes to the kitchen.
He went through the kitchen door, hearing a moan as he entered. Looking toward the television room, he saw Bliss and Train were fucking on the couch. Lily’s behavior explained, Shade placed his dishes into the sink before going to the fridge to take a beer. Leaving the two to their fuck session, he returned downstairs to the bedroom, turning his movie back on.
Shade was taking a drink of his beer when she returned to the bedroom.
“It’s a little early to go to bed, isn’t it?”
“I have a headache. I guess it’s from staring at the computer screen.”
“Possibly. Will the television disturb you?”
“No.” Lily was about to climb into bed yet stopped, coming to stand in front of him instead.
“You need to let me go. I’m never going to fit into this club.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You know why.” She waved her hand at the beer. “Bliss doesn’t try to hide that you both have shared a relationship. She doesn’t want me here. She belongs here; I don’t.”
“You will.”
“No, Shade, I won’t. You’re only going to hurt everyone involved. I’m never going to adjust to your lifestyle. You’re not a one-woman man.”
“I already am,” Shade said softly.
“Don’t claim I’m the woman for you when you smell like another woman’s perfume.”
“I smell like perfume?” Shade asked, not trying to hide his amusement.
“Yes,” Lily said angrily.
“That’s because Winter hugged me when I told her I would pay for the computers for her school.”
“Well … heck.” Lily paused. “I’m sorry,” she apologized.
“You were awfully harsh to me, don’t you think? I mean, I was nice enough to fix your dinner and bring it to you, and then you forgot my beer. Then you rant at me about other women. I’m beginning to think you’re jealous. I never took you for the jealous type,” Shade said in mock-seriousness.
“I’m not jealous,” Lily snapped.
“I believe you are, and I don’t believe you’re sorry. Do you know how much those computers are going to cost me?” Shade tried to appear affronted.
“I am not jealous, and I apologized.”
“I don’t believe you.” Shade gave her a reproachful look.
“I really am.”
“Prove it.”
“How?”
“Kiss me and make it better.”
“No.” Lily shook her head.
“I knew you didn’t mean your apology,” Shade said, turning back to the television.
“I did—I do,” Lily corrected herself. “But I’m still not going to kiss you.”
“Why? You’ve kissed before, haven’t you?”
Lily didn’t say anything.
“Lily, have you kissed before?” He stared at her in surprise. Shade couldn’t believe she had never kissed Charles, since they had dated throughout her high school years. The part inside him which held jealousy toward the bastard suddenly died.
“No,” Lily admitted.
“What about Charles?”
“Just on the cheek or a brief peck on the lips. I guess I could do that,” she said unenthusiastically.
“Don’t knock yourself out. I’ve been told I’m a good kisser. I could teach you how,” Shade offered, trying to appear innocent.
“I bet you could,” she said sarcastically. “Who told you you’re a good kisser?”
“I don’t kiss and tell,” he said, grinning at her wickedly.
While Lily gritted her teeth in aggravation, Shade decided to push a tiny bit more, seeing she was battling her conscience.
“Come on, Lily. What’s a little kiss between friends?” He rose to his feet and put his hands behind his back. “I won’t touch you with anything other than my mouth. You can experiment and see how you like kissing.” He tried to appear nonthreatening, not staring at her directly, as if it didn’t matter if she kissed him or not.
Lily froze, her face a mask of indecision, but then she took a timid step forward. Shade didn’t say anything, appearing bored.
It took several seconds for her to take another step. Shade never became impatient as she steadily drew closer until a mere inch separated them.
She cautiously raised herself onto her tiptoes, and then her
mouth briefly touched his before breaking away and taking a step back.
Then, like a moth to a flame, she fluttered closer again. That time, her hands rested on his chest as she touched her mouth to his, letting hers linger a mere breath of a second before leaning back to study his face.
Shade kept his expression impassive as her eyes searched his face for a reaction.
She leaned forward again, pressing her lips harder against his mouth before she lifted herself away, but she didn’t move from his body that time. Shade wanted to snatch her into his arms when her tongue licked his lips to taste him. Her lashes lowered as she studied his mouth, and only the years he had spent being a Dom allowed him to remain in control.
She came back for more, pressing her lips harder against his mouth until he opened to her slightly. And that’s when Lily jumped away as if she had touched fire.
“That’s enough for tonight. You’re not a fast learner. It may take weeks for you to catch on to how it’s done.” He stepped away, going back to his chair while praying his shaking legs wouldn’t betray him.
He clenched the arms of his chair to make himself remain seated as she lay down in his bed, pulling the covers over her. He wanted to rip them away and give her a lesson in kissing she would never forget.
Shade gritted his teeth, trying to get his body back under control, forcing himself to keep his eyes on the television screen.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her hitting her pillow in frustration, and his hands clenched by his side. The woman didn’t know the meaning of frustration, but he was about to show her if she threw him another one of her pissed-off looks.
He was trying to go slow, not frighten her away, but even he had his limits. That innocent kiss he had gotten from her had nearly been his undoing.
When he was sure she was asleep, he got up and left the room. He didn’t trust himself to climb into bed with her at that point. He had to calm his body down.
Going upstairs, he grabbed a bottle of whiskey and poured himself a generous amount. His wall of patience was crumbling. It was time to heat up his efforts with Lily. He didn’t think it was fair to be the only one suffering. Lily needed to discover exactly what she was missing out on, which was him fucking her until she begged him for mercy.