Shade

by Jamie Begley

  “Yes.” Lily slowly turned back to face him.

  “I see. You were being cute. I like cute; you being a smartass is not cute. For future reference, it pisses me off.”

  “I’m sorry, Sir.”

  Shade’s eyebrows rose at her fake meekness.

  “Good try, but I appreciate the effort.” He grabbed the ruler he kept on his desk. “Come here.”

  Her feet carried her around the desk, standing next to his chair.

  “Lean over my desk,” he ordered.

  Lily did as told, her posture one of angry defiance.

  “Now, if you answer my question, you’ll get a pass. If not, well, your bottom will tell you that answer, won’t it?”

  Lily nodded.

  “Why were you snippy with me?”

  “Because I didn’t want to get your coffee?”

  Lily’s attitude had the Dom inside of him bristling, but he had a feeling what the problem was because he was suffering from the same one.

  He raised the back of her skirt and Lily threw him a heated glare, making the blood rush to Shade’s cock.

  He stood up, looking at what he had uncovered. Shade froze, staring at her perfect ass.

  Every man, whether he admitted it or not, had a part of a woman’s body that lit a fuse to their dick. He was a definite ass man, and damn, hers was the best he had seen.

  He stared at it hotly, imaging just how he was going to fuck her from behind so he could feel that ass against his stomach, but then Lily shot straight up, her skirt falling back in place before she hurried to the corner of the room.

  Shade burst out laughing. “Smart move.” He sat back down at the desk, leaning back casually, linking his hands together over his flat stomach. “You’re quite a surprise with your sexy little panties. Those red ones of yours always drove me crazy imagining them on you. Now that I’ve seen you in that pair of purple lace, I have a new favorite color.”

  She flushed angrily as she stared at him across the small distance of his office.

  “So, are you going to tell me what’s wrong, or are you going to stand there the rest of the day?” he probed.

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Lily burst out. “Everything is bugging me: you, Georgia, Jewell, the church. Name it.”

  Shade leaned back farther in his chair, his smile widening. His woman didn’t deal with frustration well. He was able to give himself some relief, while she was too innocent to give it to herself. He wasn’t about to enlighten her, though. He had never been accused of being stupid.

  “How about we take one issue at a time. How am I bugging you?”

  Her mouth opened and closed. “You’re getting on my nerves, bossing me around. You never do what I expect you to.”

  “Like what?” he asked curiously.

  “Like not cashing in my IOUs, not touching me, and when you come in a room, you just set my nerves off,” she finished.

  He hadn’t touched her for the past two weeks, waiting for her to decide when she wanted more. He understood her convictions; while they weren’t his own, he was aware they were an integral part of her personality. Her beliefs had helped her survive a nightmare, and he wouldn’t tarnish the very thing that had saved her for him.

  “Okay, we’ll tackle that problem last. What has Georgia done now?”

  “She made a face at me this morning when I came in late. She’s not a nice person.”

  Shade nodded. “I can agree with that. She isn’t, but she is a good worker. Were you late?”

  “Yes,” she said sulkily.

  “Why?” His eyes narrowed on her face. She looked worn-out and pale.

  “I was tired,” Lily admitted.

  “So you’re angry at Georgia because you were late, and she made a face at you when some bosses would have at least said something to you about being late,” he reasoned.

  “I may have been wrong,” she admitted after a brief pause.

  “Now that’s settled, let’s move on to Jewell. What did she do?” Shade had to admit that that one had him stumped. Georgia soured his stomach, but as far as he knew, Jewell was friendly with Lily.

  “Nothing,” she admitted grudgingly.

  “Then how is she bugging you?”

  “You have her IOUs.” She stopped talking suddenly, narrowing her eyes on his expression. “Or do you?”

  “I do. And that bothers you?” Shade pinched his lips together to keep from laughing.

  “Yes.”

  “All right.” Shade opened the desk drawer before reaching in and pulling out the slips of paper. Opening them, he counted out several of Jewell’s IOUs before putting the remaining ones back in his drawer. “Here, you can have them.” He handed the slips of paper over.

  Lily stepped out of the corner, taking the papers before hastily returning to her safe space. Shade didn’t burst her bubble of satisfaction by telling her he didn’t need to use an IOU for what Jewell would eagerly be willing to give him. Lily’s reasoning sometimes boggled his mind, although the longer he was with her, the more he was coming to understand her naïve thinking.

  “Next up, what’s bothering you at the church?”

  Lily stared down at her hands. “Pastor Dean can’t find anyone to run the church store. No one outside the church wants the position because it doesn’t pay. No one in the church who would do okay at it wants it because it doesn’t pay, and the few people who did volunteer did terrible. Jordan Douglas told everyone in her bible study class how much money someone made who came in the store. Marie Newman told Lark Jackson he didn’t need a new coat, that the one he had was just fine. He had on a thin jacket! Laverne Thomas told Willa to keep the clothes she was donating because the way her weight fluctuates, she would probably need them again in a couple of months.” Lily blew out an angry breath.

  “So the job needs someone who is qualified to judge based on financial need if the people coming in require help, be sensitive to their privacy, and work five days a week all for free?”

  “Yes! Oh, and they need to be nice.”

  “I know the perfect person,” Shade said ruefully. Lucky had been right; he had mentioned a month ago that Lily wouldn’t be able to walk away from the church store.

  “You do?” Lily asked hopefully.

  “Yes—you. I can’t think of anyone more qualified.”

  “Me? I can’t take the job,” Lily protested.

  “I don’t see why not. It will give you the opportunity to use your degree in a way which will really benefit those in need, especially children, which is what you wanted to accomplish. You’ll have a better sense of what’s going on in their homes than a social worker with limited time. Anyone who arouses your suspicions, you can tell Knox about. You would be sensitive to their privacy, and you never gossip. But, most of all, you have the most important qualification—you’re extremely nice.”

  Lily smiled at his compliment.

  “But what about the pay?”

  “I have enough money for the both of us.” He held up his hand before she could interrupt. “But, since I know you want your own money, I’ll ask the brothers to each donate enough to pay your salary for the year.”

  “I couldn’t ask them to do that.”

  “You won’t; I will. Anyway, I already have a couple of their IOUs.”

  Lily stepped out of the corner, giving him Jewell’s IOUs back. “Don’t forget to ask the women members,” she reminded him.

  “I won’t. Feel better?”

  Lily nodded then bit her lip.

  “What?”

  “There is a family who comes into the store. They have two kids. Could the father have my job? I know there is a wait list, but since you said my job is extra, could you?”

  Shade groaned. “Give them my number.”

  “Okay.” Lily happily went toward the door.

  “Lily, we aren’t finished. Come here.”

  She let out a loud sigh. She had apparently forgotten the issue that he had saved for last—the most importan
t one to him.

  She started to go back to her corner, hesitating, but then she walked back around the desk, coming to stand next to him.

  He stood up, causing her to lean backward until her hands went behind her back to press against the desk.

  “I think I’ve also figured out what it is about me that’s setting your nerves off.”

  “You have?” Her eyes widened as she stared up at him.

  “Yes, I have. You see, sometimes when a woman wants a man, her body lets her know by becoming … How shall I put it delicately? Horny. Yes, that’s the word I’m looking for. You’re horny.”

  “I’m not horny!”

  “I can prove that’s what’s bothering you,” Shade said smugly, leaning over her, pressing her back against his desk. His hand went to her thigh, bringing it up around his hip. “And I can fix that problem for you, too.”

  “How can you fix the fact that you’re an arrogant ass?”

  “I can’t, but I can fix it where you won’t care,” he said confidently, sure about his ability to satisfy the woman whose breathing changed the second he drew closer to her.

  His mouth covered hers, cutting off her smart-aleck reply. She immediately opened hers wider, letting him take what he wanted, and she needed to give him.

  He slipped his hand under her skirt, pushing it up to her waist, and then he stepped back, pulling off her panties. Lily didn’t even tense, lifting her leg to help him slide them over her shoes.

  He then went to her pussy, finding her wet and needy, her clit engorged and begging for his touch. He stroked it and Lily pressed herself harder against his hand, trying to get him to exert more pressure.

  Shade lifted his mouth away from hers. Gasping for breath, Lily ran her hands through his short hair, drawing him closer to her. His hand left her cunt, lightly snapping the waistband of her skirt against her taut stomach before sliding her loose shirt up, exposing her matching purple bra.

  Shade tugged her breasts out of her bra, his eyes gazing down at her taut, pebbled nipples. Then he bent over, sucking one into his mouth and laving it into a pointed tip.

  “Am I still bothering you?”

  “Not so much,” Lily moaned as he teased her nipple.

  Shade rose, standing straight. His cock was about to burst his zipper as he went to his belt buckle, unbuckling and unzipping his jeans.

  Lily froze on his desk, fear coming to her eyes.

  “Eyes to me, Lily.”

  He leaned over her, seeing the fear disappear to be replaced with need then acceptance. Her face and breasts flushed as her desire built.

  Shade placed the head of his cock between the lips of her pussy, and she lifted her hips to help him slide deep within her, opening herself to him without reservation. His hard hands on her hips held her to the desk, pinning her in place.

  He began sliding his cock back and forth against the outside of her cunt, butting up against her clit, giving her the stimulation she needed until she was writhing as her climax played out.

  He continued to hold her tightly, careful his cock didn’t slide into the sheath he wanted to desperately thrust himself inside.

  Her scream was stifled by his mouth as his cock pulsated his release against the outside lips of her pussy.

  She was still trembling as he reached over his desk, pulling several tissues out of the box. She lay across the desk, looking up at him with wonder as he gently cleaned her before throwing the tissues into the trashcan. He then helped her into a sitting position before cleaning himself and zipping his jeans back up.

  Lily pushed her breasts back into her top then pulled her shirt back down to cover herself.

  Shade gently grabbed her jaw, tilting her head back to give her a brief and gentle kiss, silently thanking her for the dream she had been willing to give up for him.

  She didn’t want to have premarital sex, and Shade was aware of how important her convictions were. He didn’t want her breaking it for him, but he had taken it a step further than petting, hoping it wouldn’t rub her conscience too raw. It was the best he could do since he wasn’t a fucking saint, even though he felt like one right then. It was a miracle he had been able to stop himself from thrusting inside of her.

  Stepping back, he started to help her to her feet.

  “Ready to go back to work?”

  Lily nodded happily as she slipped off the desk. She was almost around the desk when she turned back, looking around the floor.

  “What are you doing?”

  The resignation in Shade’s voice had her looking swiftly to his eyes, a flush coming to her cheeks.

  “I was looking for my panties.” Her eyes swept the floor again.

  Shade pulled his hand out of his pocket. “These are now mine.” He then pushed the panties back into his pocket. It was the least he deserved until he could get his hands on the red ones.

  She blushed as she stared at him. Shade knew what was going on in her head. The thought of her working the rest of the day without underwear was going to be an added perk to his workday, though.

  It was short-lived when he read the intention in her violet eyes.

  She went through the door and was reaching back to shut it when he said, “By the way, while you’re at the house getting another pair of panties, could you get me a cup of coffee? Please.”

  Lily’s only response was to slam the door.

  Shade grinned at the closed door. He might need to call Viper and tell him to hold off on buying a new coffee pot.

  Chapter 63

  Shade took a drink of coffee, ignoring the others sitting at the table as he waited for Lily. She had stayed after church to ask Lucky if she could run the church store. She had been talking excitably about it that morning as she dressed, confiding she was nervous about asking the pastor.

  Shade had turned onto his stomach on the bed to keep her from seeing him roll his eyes. Lucky was going to accept her offer so fast she would be fortunate if she didn’t get whiplash.

  He was able to see clearly out of the diner window. He hadn’t liked the thought of her alone with Lucky. He didn’t worry that Lucky would try anything with Lily, though; his principles were too strong for that.

  They had served in the military together when Lucky was a chaplain and Shade had seen firsthand the commitment Lucky had for what he had said he had been called to do.

  The change in Lucky had started slowly, beginning with Knox’s first wife Sunshine’s death. By the time his service had ended, Lucky had been replaced by another man in the same body.

  No, Lucky wouldn’t violate the trust others placed in him. However, women tended to think of Lucky as a sheep—mild-mannered and easy-going—when, in reality, he was a wolf biding his time. Shade recognized it because he was a wolf, too; he just didn’t pretend.

  Lucky and he were alike yet different. Lucky would attack you and leave you staring at a missing hand with nothing except a bloody stump remaining while you wondered what in the fuck just happened. Shade would simply rip it off while you screamed for mercy.

  Lily came out, taking Lucky’s arm as they crossed the street. Shade unconsciously stood as she laughed happily up at the man, making Shade’s hands clench at his sides.

  Viper and Razer broke off their conversation, turning to see what he was staring at out the window.

  “Fuck!” Viper yelled, getting to his feet and taking Shade’s arm.

  “Shade, she’s coming inside. Do you want her to see you acting this way?” Razer asked.

  “I don’t give a fuck. I’m going to tie his dick around his balls,” Shade snarled, trying to break Viper’s hold.

  “Shade! For Christ’s sake, it’s only Pastor Dean!” Beth snapped.

  Shade started to snap back at her then caught the warning looks from Viper and Razer. Gathering his control, he blasted a threatening glare at Lucky as he came inside the diner.

  Lily looked up at Lucky with happiness shining in her eyes before reaching up and hugging him. Shade tried to knock Viper
away, but he pulled him back.

  “Cool it. You’re going to scare the shit out of her. Look, Dean’s running for his life. Calm down and paste a smile on your fucking face before she realizes you’re a crazy motherfucker.”

  Viper kept his restraining hand on Shade’s shoulder as Lily approached.

  “What happened?” Lily immediately went to Shade’s side, her hand going to his forehead.

  “He’s fine now. He choked on his breakfast,” Viper said, resuming his seat by Winter.

  “Thanks, Viper. I’m glad you were here,” Lily said with concern.

  “Me, too,” he said grimly.

  Lily told everyone the good news about “Pastor Dean” letting her run the church store and received their congratulations. Shade listened as he took out his cell phone, texting Lucky, “Later.” It was only one word, but Lucky would get his message.

  “Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” Beth asked, leaning closer to Lily’s side.

  “Yes, I do. I’m happy we settled it before Christmas. Do you think we have enough time to push for another toy drive? The store is already running low.”

  “I’m sure we do,” Beth said above the groans at the table.

  “I’m going home and hiding my wallet. Not only do we have Winter constantly after our money, now we have Lily after it for toys. Jeez,” Rider moaned.

  “It could be worse,” Lily suggested.

  “How?”

  “If I don’t get enough toys, I was going to ask Killyama if she could help take donations,” Lily said, taking a drink of her hot chocolate.

  “How much do you need?” Razer asked, reaching for his wallet.

  Shade felt his tension slowly easing. Lily had steadily become more comfortable with the men, able to talk and joke with the brothers where before she would only talk with the women.

  After lunch, Shade asked Lily to go furniture shopping with him while the others went back to the clubhouse.

  The local furniture store had a vast assortment to choose from. After only a couple of hours, he had managed to find furniture for the entire house and appliances Lily had approved of. He would pretend to look at the different furniture, but the ones she would gravitate toward, he would buy. The ones he couldn’t tell which she liked, he would pretend to be uncertain about and ask her help to choose. It took two hours to accomplish, yet he finally had enough to furnish the house.