“Who are you worried about? Killyama or Train?” Rider questioned Lily with a grin.
While the whole table cracked up, Lily threw the members an angry glance, her lips tightening in disapproval. Shade was happy someone else beside himself was on the receiving end that time.
The door opened and closed with a slam. They all sat watching as Train fixed himself a plate, piling on food, and then sat down at the table.
“Well?” Rider asked.
“Well, what?” Train asked with a glare.
“How did it go?”
“How the fuck do you think it went? The woman is a fucking lunatic. She thought I would let her drive my bike.”
“What happened when you told her no?” Lily asked.
“She tried to climb in front of me. I almost wrecked my bike.” He tore the top off his beer, taking a long drink. “When I brought her back here to her car, she actually thought I was going to fuck her.” He shook his head in disbelief.
“What happened when you told her no?” Lily asked again, apprehensively.
That time, Train remained quiet.
The shocked silence had Train lifting the beer to his mouth, finishing it in a long swallow.
Lily’s giggle had Shade hiding his own smile. He was smart enough not to goad Train when he was simmering to a boiling point.
“Did you manage to tame the bitch?” Rider asked with a smirk.
At that, all Hell broke loose. Train’s fist flew out, hitting Rider in the jaw and knocking him backward, toppling the chair and him over. Lily screamed, standing up from the table, about to go to Rider’s aid, but Shade took her arm and pulled her away.
Train threw himself on Rider when he attempted to stand up. Then the two fought on the floor, throwing their fists viciously at each other, striking whatever body part they could reach while Viper and Nickel tried to pull them apart.
“Stop!” Winter yelled. “You two are scaring Lily.”
Everyone except Winter froze, looking at Lily in trepidation, waiting for her to have one of her panic attacks.
Shade stared down at her, frowning. She didn’t seem upset.
Beth relaxed first, familiar with Winter’s machinations. Lily’s twinkling violet eyes had the other members turning to Winter suspiciously. She shrugged, sitting back down at the table then continued to eat. Lily joined her. Shade sat down next with the others gradually retaking their seats, as well. Finally, Train held his hand out to Rider, helping him to his feet. Both returned to their seats to finish their own dinners. Eventually, the atmosphere relaxed, and no one else dared to ask about either of Train’s rides.
After dinner, Shade, Train, and Rider began a game of cards while several others played pool in the corner of the room. Lily and Beth cleared the table as Winter and Ember started the dishes.
The brothers were behaving themselves, so Lily couldn’t make an excuse to disappear upstairs. However, when Raci and Jewell came back downstairs after changing, Shade read her intent to leave.
As she passed the card table, Shade reached up then pulled her down to sit on his lap while he continued to play cards. He made sure to seat her so Lily’s back was to the room, unable to see what was going on behind her.
She relaxed against him, looking down at his cards. Nickel put some music on as Crash moved the furniture so they could dance.
When Shade won, she clapped for him, and Shade motioned for Rider to begin another game.
“Do you want to play?” Shade asked.
“I don’t know how,” Lily said regretfully, her eyes filled with disappointment.
“I’ll teach you,” Shade offered. True to his word, he spent the next hour teaching her how to play.
Rider got up from the table, going into the kitchen and then coming back with beers for the men, placing a soda in front of Lily.
“Unless you want a beer?” he joked.
“No, thanks.” Lily opened the soda, taking a drink.
Raci’s moan sounded behind their backs, and Lily started to get up. Shade didn’t have to turn to see who had moaned; he was familiar with all the sounds each woman made when they fucked.
“It’s your turn,” Shade reminded her, trying to distract her.
Lily took her turn, and he watched as she tried to concentrate.
Shade wished Raci would hurry and climax before Lily couldn’t take it anymore and darted from the room. Nickel liked to play around with the women before they came. Shade was going to beat his ass if he ruined his plans.
Lily was winning steadily with a pile of cash sitting in front of her. Shade could see the little wheels turning in her brain on how many people she could help at the church store with that wad of cash. She had already sweet-talked him out of two large donations at Thanksgiving.
She scooted her latest winnings into the pile sitting in front of her.
“Sucker.” She grinned at Train across the table.
Shade smiled at her gloating.
“Beginner’s luck,” Train mumbled, dealing another hand.
Shade was going to give him an extra IOU for his performance. He knew it was killing the brother to deliberately lose.
Lily looked down at her cards, unsuccessful at stifling the grin which threatened to break loose.
Shade rolled his eyes. The woman was a lousy poker player.
“Can I join?” Jewell came up behind Train, circling his neck. He reached around to pull her down onto his lap, and then he dealt her a hand.
“Ante up,” Rider said. His own acting job wasn’t going so well.
Shade threw him a threatening glare at his lackluster performance.
“I don’t have any money. How about we play for favors?” Jewell’s hand went to Train’s lap.
“Okay with me. I need my room cleaned,” Train teased, pulling at her top.
Jewell playfully hit his shoulder.
“Okay with you, Lily?” Shade asked, his arm circling Lily’s waist, using the movement to kick Train under the table. He changed his mind; the brother wasn’t getting the extra IOU. He wasn’t going to get any at all if Lily left before the game was over.
“I’m in,” Lily said.
“I don’t like that vindictive look in your eyes, but I’m in,” Rider agreed.
Lily looked expectantly up at Shade.
“Are you sure you want to play?” he questioned her, soothing his conscience by giving her a chance to leave the table.
She nodded eagerly, and that was all his conscience needed.
“Deal,” Shade said.
Train dealt the cards.
As Lily gazed down at her cards, still smiling, Shade rolled his eyes again.
When it came time to place the bets, Jewell got a pad and paper and wrote household services. Ripping the paper off, she threw it onto the middle of the table.
“Of course, that means a lot of services I can perform in the house.”
Train wrote on the paper “An hour of my time,” throwing the slip of paper into the pot, as well.
Rider did the same then Shade. When they handed her the paper, she wrote what the men had, “An hour of my time.” Lily tore off the paper, throwing it in the growing pile.
The game continued. When it came time to bet again, the pen and paper made the rounds again. Everyone’s IOUs stayed the same except for Jewell. Lily’s mouth dropped open when Jewell read hers out loud. “An hour of fucking.”
She was about to throw it into the pot when Lily spoke up.
“Uh, excuse me. It’s nothing personal, but I don’t want that.” Lily shook her head.
“Are you sure?” Jewell didn’t try to hide her disappointment.
“I’m sure,” Lily replied firmly.
“Perhaps you should just bet what we are?” Shade suggested.
Jewell wrote down “An hour of time.”
The game resumed with more calls to ante up. Lily was practically bouncing on Shade’s lap she was so excited. He scooted her forward an inch. The woman wanted to bust his bal
ls even when she was in a good mood. Shade almost hated to spoil her good time, but then eased his conscience by telling himself he would show her a better one.
He leaned forward, making his move.
Minutes later, Shade grinned as he raked his winnings across the table to set them in front of himself.
“I’m done for the night. Good game,” Shade lied.
He lifted Lily off his lap so he could rise to his feet. Then he reached down onto the table, stacking his papers and sliding them into his pocket before reaching back to collect Lily’s winnings and handing them to her.
“Thank you,” she said, taking the cash from him.
“It was my pleasure. Later.” Shade nodded to the table.
Lily turned to go upstairs.
“Lily.” He shook his head at her. “We’re going downstairs for a couple of hours first.” Lily stopped. “Unless you want to renege on a bet?”
Everyone at the table paused, looking at her.
Lily cleared her voice. “Of course not.”
“I knew you were honest, going to church as often as you do.” Shade ruthlessly used her honesty against her. Thank fuck he didn’t have that problem.
Lily reluctantly followed him downstairs, lagging slightly behind. He held the bedroom door open for her then closed and locked it when she stepped reluctantly across the threshold.
“Shade…” Lily began.
“Take off your clothes,” he said sternly.
Lily didn’t move.
“So you don’t plan to keep your word?” He lifted a brow, keeping his face impassive.
She sucked in a sharp breath. “Yes, but choose something else.”
Shade reached into his pocket, pulling out the slips of paper, flipping through them. He found the one he wanted and showed her the piece of paper.
“There are no exceptions or exclusions on this paper. You should have made that clear.”
“I thought stuff like that would only count when it was worded like Jewell did. I didn’t…”
“Then you should have asked. Again, there are no exceptions. I won several hours of your time. Do you or do you not plan to keep your word?”
“Yes,” Lily finally answered.
“Good. Now take your clothes off.”
When she didn’t move, only stared at him helplessly, he sighed.
“Lily, do you trust me? I mean, really trust me?”
Lily took her time answering, and he was about to give up and hand her the slips of paper she had signed when her words stopped him.
“Yes, I trust you.” The truthfulness in her voice released the tight vice around his stomach.
“Good, now take off your clothes. This time, I’ll let you leave your bra and panties on. Will that make you feel better?” He let her see a glimmer of his approval before erasing it from his expression. She needed to become familiar with what would and wouldn’t earn his praise.
She slowly undressed, pulling off her clothes and laying them on the chair.
As she undressed, Shade pulled off his T-shirt and removed his socks and boots. Then he went to his closet, unlocking the door to search through his toys.
“Lie down on the bed.”
Lily climbed on the bed, sitting on her knees and waiting.
Shade turned on his stereo, and the room filled with soft music. When Shade got on the bed beside her, his finger traced down her cheek to her throat. She swallowed nervously as his hand lowered, and he traced the edges of her bra above her breasts. Her breathing escalated at his touch.
“You have beautiful breasts.” Shade’s lips traced the same path his fingers had followed, from her check to the flesh above her plain white bra. He lifted her hand to buckle a fur lined leather cuff onto her wrist.
Her mouth opened to protest.
“No exclusions, Lily,” Shade reminded her once again.
She closed her mouth as he fastened another on her other wrist.
“Lie down,” he ordered.
She lay down on the mattress as he reached for the thin chains he had placed on the bedside table. He clicked the chains into the metal loop on the side of the cuffs. One at a time, he locked each of the chains to a hook positioned on the bottom of the headboard that the mattress had kept hidden.
Again he reached to the nightstand, picking up two plain silk scarves. Shade could tell from her frightened look that she had expected something else.
Shade tied the silk scarf around her eyes, knowing darkness was Lily’s greatest fear. To conquer it, he wanted her to experience the pleasure she could find within it.
His hand slid across her stomach, her muscles quivering at his touch. He remained silent as his hand traced over her body, lingering at her ankles, brushing his lips over the delicate flesh. His hands explored her calves and thighs until he reached her hips, and then he brushed his mouth along the same path his hands had taken.
Patiently, he explored every area of her body with his hands and mouth except for her breasts and pussy. He familiarized her with his touch until her nervous quivering stopped, and she relaxed back against the mattress.
When he gently removed her panties, sliding them down her legs, Lily tensed. His hand went between her thighs, holding his breath in anticipation for what he was going to discover, only releasing it when he found she was wet. He had been just as nervous as her, afraid he would find that she didn’t want him.
He explored her slick flesh, easily slipping his finger against her clit until her legs tried to close to press his hand harder against her. He touched her as if her pussy was a delicate flower which would tear if handled too roughly.
The music started getting louder, the beat faster, and Lily’s hips twisted on the mattress as she tried to capture his touch.
“Shade, please…”
He carefully placed a slap against her clit, making Lily shudder.
“How are you supposed to address me when we’re in this bed?” he explained why she had been given the slight punishment, which really had been no punishment, but a guide to the climax he was leading her toward.
“Sir.”
“Now, ask me how you’re supposed to.”
“Sir, please, I want to come.”
Shade moved his hand away from her pussy, sliding his body down until he was lying between her thighs. He lowered his mouth to the pink flesh which was driving him crazy. His tongue found and slid between the lips to her clit, rubbing the already-sensitive nub until she arched upwards.
He first licked and then sucked her clit into spasms he felt against his tongue, which had her screaming her climax out as the music rose and then ended abruptly before going back to a soothing rhythm. He continued to stroke her body, bringing her down from the orgasm while still leaving an ache. He didn’t want Lily completely satisfied. Oh, no; he wanted his woman to want more and more.
He rose, releasing the chains and taking the cuffs off before removing the blindfold.
“Thank you for trusting me, Lily.” He brushed a tender kiss against her cheek.
“You’re welcome, Sir.”
Shade grinned at her, helping her off the bed and back into her clothes. He dressed as she put her shoes back on before storing everything back in his cabinet, locking it and then leading her from the room with an arm around her shoulders to their room upstairs.
Lily changed into her pajamas then climbed into bed as soon as she came out of the bathroom. Shade went in the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He leaned his forehead against the door, breathing deeply, clenching his hands at his sides.
No other woman had ever given him as much pleasure in bed as what Lily had just given him, especially when he still remained hard, holding his own desires back to give her pleasure.
He turned to the shower, staring at it balefully; even Viper was joking about the fucking water bill. He showered, which didn’t take long and that made him even more upset until he went to bed and Lily turned to him, laying her head on his shoulder and placing her hand over his hear
t.
Wrapping his arm around her, he decided to go online and buy stock in the local water company.
Chapter 62
“Dammit!” Shade placed the coffee pot back on the burner. The machine was older than he was.
“What’s wrong?” Viper asked from over the phone. They had been discussing orders when Shade had tried to pour himself a cup of coffee.
“Order a new coffee machine. I’m throwing this one out,” Shade told him.
“I’ll take care of it, and the Maloney account,” Viper laughed, hanging up.
Shade went to his office door.
“Lily, the coffee pot isn’t working. Could you go to the house and get me a cup?”
“Get it yourself!” she snapped, slapping the tape dispenser down onto the worktable.
While the room went silent at her sharp remark, Shade stared back at her.
“I’ll get it for you, boss,” Georgia offered with a smile which gave him the willies. He would be too afraid to drink anything she gave him.
“No, thanks, Georgia. I’ll take care of it. Lily, come here.” His jaw tightened when he saw her about to refuse. Luckily for her, she changed her mind at his expression.
She came into his office, closing the door behind her while Shade resumed his seat behind the desk, swiveling his chair to face her in the doorway.
“Want to tell me what burr has crawled up your ass?”
His blunt question didn’t have her backtracking. “No, I don’t.” She even had the audacity to place her hands on her hips as she snapped back at him, silently challenging him. She was brave with the factory at her back.
He grinned, loving a challenge. “Lock the door.”
“Fine.” Lily went to the door, about to make her escape.
“From the inside, Lily. And, if you think to disobey me, have no doubt I will punish you in the other room in front of every man and woman busy working. We really don’t want to disturb their work even further, do we?”
“I don’t suppose so.” Lily reluctantly locked the door.
“When I asked you to lock the door, you knew which side I wanted you on, didn’t you?”