Shane's Redemption (Maura's Men Book 3)

by Stella Williams

  So there they sat, in Molly's kitchen, over a mug of blood. The heat of passion between them quickly cooling to the simmering anger of before. Molly may have been able to see things from his perspective, but Shane was refusing to see them from hers. He still thought that all he had to do was show up on his terms and profess his love. It would take much more than that. Especially now with that Carrie girl in the picture.

  "I know I have a lot to work on. I'm just asking that you give us a chance. Tonight when I was at the carnival with Carrie, she kissed me, and I knew I'd made a mistake. That she could never replace you," Shane finally spoke.

  Molly saw red as soon as Shane mentioned his date. He'd taken Carrie there of all places. She'd been able to forgive him for everything else, but the carnival was their place. The place where he'd confessed himself to her before taking her body and her blood. That place was sacred, that memory was now tarnished in her mind.

  "Get out."

  Molly was too angry to yell. Too heartbroken to do much more than sit there and grip her mug to keep from reaching across the table and strangling him.

  "Molly," He said softly, but she shook her head.

  Her skin already tingling with the powerful light of destruction within her. She knew Shane saw it there, glowing just beneath the surface. Could feel the prickling heat along his skin just as she did. He stood and headed to the door.

  "We'll talk again later. After dinner tomorrow, okay," Shane said.

  She held on as long as she could. Long after she heard the door close and Shane's footsteps retreating from her property. She held on until the world began to fade around her, and she prayed. She prayed she wouldn't destroy everything she owned as the light encompassed her.

  Dinner Party

  Maura prowled the warehouse looking over her army as they trained. The time had come and yet her army was only at half the strength she required. No matter, taking her revenge on the three males that had escaped her was only the first item on her grand agenda. What better way to start her quest for world domination than to rid the world of those who had crossed her in the past. Xander, Claude, and Shane would die first. Then Maura would drain that nuisance of a girl Molly for everything she was worth. Not that it would be much but Maura's full power would be restored to her and nothing could stop her once that happened.

  "My Queen," A trainee bowed as she passed.

  Maura didn't spare him a glance. There were too many, and they were far too expendable to warrant Maura wasting her time to get to know them. All that mattered was they give her the proper respect and do anything she asked exactly how she asked them to do it. Only a select few had earned any extra attention. It was those few who awaited her now. It had been a week since she was last updated on the progress of her army. They better have good news for her today.

  She made her way to the office loft and glared down at her minions who kneeled before her. "Speak!"

  "The new weapons sh-sh-shipment arrived Tuesday. I've gone over each p-p-piece my-myself. Everyth-th-th-thing is as it should be. No mistakes th-th-this time," Henry barely made it through his report.

  Maura wasn't sure if he was defective or just scared of her. He had every right to be scared considering his predecessor had bled out at his feet just last week when said mistake was reported. His stuttering was annoying. If Henry didn't correct it, he would be replaced as well. She'd only allowed him the privilege of being known at Rodney's insistence that he was the best candidate.

  She waved her hand for the next person to start.

  "The steroid mixture has caused some men to be hyper-aggressive, almost animalistic. They have been separated from the population to help maintain our numbers," Axel reported a smug grin on his face.

  Maura glared back at him. He may be her current favorite, at least in the bedroom, but that didn't mean he was any higher in supposed rank than anyone else. He was getting too cocky. Maura would enjoy bringing him down a few pegs later on that night. She squeezed her thighs together as moisture pooled between them. The thought of Axel strapped to her bed of needles, blood pouring from wounds reopened by her barbed whip. It was almost too much for her to keep her composure and continue with the reports. Nevertheless, the progression of her plan was more important than a little fun. With another wave of her hands, it was Rodney's turn.

  "All the accounts are in order. The traitors are all holed away in their mansion, although they frequent Molly's establishment. I have also heard the news that a Council member will be coming soon. Apparently one of them has an estranged daughter who happens to be in town."

  Maura hated Rodney the weasel more than any of her other men, maybe even more than the traitors but he had proved himself valuable many times over. One of those times being now.

  "A daughter you say?"

  "Yes and it seems she has taken a fancy to one of the traitors," Rodney confirmed.

  "I want her. Bring her to me immediately," Maura said and strode from the room.

  She would be having a very special guest soon and needed to be well prepared. A daughter of the Council, a pureblood would soon be in her grasp. It was only made sweeter that she had connections to the traitors. No need to ferret out her prey when this one key player would bring them all running her way.

  Cat watched in amusement as jealousy crossed her best friends face. After the past year, there was no way of knowing how Molly would react to seeing Shane with someone else. It had been a gamble for sure inviting a new friend to dinner with Molly there, but at least it was proving entertaining. Cat of course had hoped it would finally push her friend passed her stubborn resolve to hate Shane when they were meant to be together.

  "You shouldn't push her like this," Gretchen said in a hushed tone.

  Cat smirked.

  "She needs it. Quite frankly I'm tired of hearing her bitch," she didn't lower her voice.

  Molly shot her a glare and Cat returned one in kind. Claude chuckled from across the room and Molly's eyes literally sparked with anger. Her pupils slowly fading away as a bright light emanated from them. Everyone in the room froze. It was getting more frequent that signs of Molly's mysterious powers were showing. Considering the last time it was unleashed she had somehow bested Maura, it scared the shit out of pretty much everyone.

  Gretchen, who had unofficially become the peacemaker of the group, whispered something in Molly's ear and the eerie white light dissipated. With all the attention now on her Molly got up and left without so much as a goodbye.

  "Was that really necessary," Xander asked pulling Cat into his arms before she could follow Molly out.

  "She needs to let it go and the more we baby her. The worse it will be. I will not see this family torn apart because of her unwillingness to forgive," She said.

  "You need to drop this, whatever it is you have planned," he said.

  "Not happening," She replied

  "Have you ever thought that maybe if you weren't always meddling that things would work out for themselves," He said.

  She shook her head.

  "Tell that to your ex-girlfriend," Cat huffed, touching the heavy chain around her neck.

  The necklace stuck on Cat’s neck a reminder of Xander’s past and the key to Maura’s powers. Xander growled before kissing her soundly and storming out of the room. A habit he had any time he was reminded of the perils she'd gone through at the start of their relationship.

  “Thank you for inviting me to your home. I’m sorry if I caused in awkwardness for your friend,” Carrie said suddenly and ran from the room.

  Cat felt sorry for the girl. For the first time, Cat realized that Molly and Shane weren’t the only people whose feelings were involved here. Greg followed Carrie and Claude pulled Gretchen from the room before she could say anything to Cat. It didn’t matter. Cat knew she’d been the one in the wrong here. She didn’t need her friend's lecture. Tonight should have been about celebrating Shane’s recovery. That was the reason they had all gathered there. Instead, Cat allowed the Shadow’s dem
ands to supersede her judgment. The party had been a disaster from the start.

  Shane had no idea what had Molly so riled up, but he knew he couldn't just let her leave the party so upset. He apologized to Carrie and stood to follow.

  "Good Luck," Carrie said softly, disappointment in her eyes.

  Carrie would always just be a friend to Shane. Molly was and always would be the woman for him. He could no longer demure to others feelings. Play these silly games of will they or won’t they.

  "Thank you," He said and rushed from the room.

  Molly wasn't in the hall and by the time he made it to the door she was sliding into her red sports car. Without thinking, he got into the passenger seat. She turned to face him, her eyes shooting daggers at him but he didn't care.

  "Get out," She snapped.

  Shane reached over and pulled her into his arms. He fully expected a struggle. Shane was relieved when she sank into his embrace. Molly may be mad at him, but her body knew him as a source of comfort.

  "Why are you here," She asked after a moment.

  "You know why I'm here," Shane sighed.

  Molly pulled away from him. She didn't look him in the eye. At this point, he was used to it. She hated him, was disgusted by him. Still, he loved her with all of his heart. One horrific twist of fate had ruined everything between them. If Shane could take it back, he would. If had learned anything in his life it was that dwelling on the past was a dangerous thing. Molly hadn't been the only one affected by the tragedy. She just refused to see it.

  "I'm sure your girlfriend doesn't appreciate you chasing after me," She spat.

  Shane couldn't help the smile that crept onto his face. Molly was jealous. She kept her face turned away from him, but he could see her reflection in the window. Her lips were pursed almost in a pout as she spoke. It made his heart swell. Gave him hope.

  Molly couldn't look at Shane. There was too much emotion coursing through her to remain aloof. She wasn't jealous, at least not entirely. No, she was pissed. How dare he claim he would never let her go! Then, after a month away, come back looking like the man she had once loved but now on the arm of another. Of course, she should be over it by now. It had been a month since she'd first seen them together. A week since she crashed their date and spilled the beans about his betrayal. Only for the woman to shrug it off and continue to stare longingly at Shane.

  "Carrie? She's just a friend, she means nothing compared to you," He said.

  Molly tensed at Shane’s words. She never wanted to hear that name again. It tore at her heart to know that he could possibly feel for someone else the way he claimed to feel about her.

  "Save your platitudes for someone who cares and get out," She said.

  There was no venom in her voice. Shane had hurt her more than anyone in her entire life. That was really saying something considering what she'd gone through as a red headed foster child. Molly had trusted him with her life. He'd failed her. Molly had died, and he'd left her to her fate. She trusted him with her heart, and now Shane was shoving it back in her face.

  "I'm not leaving. Not this time. You can push and scream, do whatever you want but I'm not leaving you ever again," He said.

  One glance in his direction was enough for Molly to know he meant it. Not that she had needed to the conviction was there in his voice. Every alarm bell in her head was screaming for her to run far, far away. Her stubborn, stupid heart had other ideas where Shane was concerned. No matter how much Molly denied it, she still loved him. She knew it and apparently he did too. Not sure of what else to do, Molly turned on her car and drove off. She didn’t want to be anywhere near the mansion at the moment. Didn’t want anyone else to see her like this.

  "You want me to trust you, but you make it so hard," Molly said when she pulled into her garage.

  Shane climbed out of her car and walked around to open her door. She got out and let him pull her into his arms.

  "Then don't trust me. Trust your heart," Shane said brushing a finger across Molly’s collarbone.

  Her breath hitched. Molly closed her eyes. Letting the heat of his gaze and warmth of his body envelope her.

  "What if my heart says it wants you to go home," she asked.

  Her eyes fluttered open but avoided his. She knew he could tell she was lying. Her heart was saying the exact opposite.

  "My home is wherever you are," He said.

  Of course, he couldn't make this easy for her. Molly stood on tiptoe and kissed him. Shane groaned, accepting her surrender. His grip tightened around her waist, and Molly found herself being hoisted off the ground. Shane cradled her in his arms.

  "What are you doing," She breathed between kisses.

  "Isn't it customary for the man to carry his woman across the threshold," He said with a smirk.

  "That's man and wife entering their new home for the first time," Molly clarified.

  "Exactly," Shane said.

  He crushing his mouth to hers, stifling any protest she could have made. Shane carried Molly into the house and up to her bedroom. Clothes flying as they made their way up.

  "Once I have you there is no turning back. You are mine, and mine only do you understand," Shane said.

  He stood above her at the edge of the bed, tall and proud. Naked as the day he was born and god was the man glorious and erect before her.

  "You stubborn bastard," She cursed under her breath but to be honest, his new take-charge attitude was a major turn on.

  "Stubborn and madly in love," Shane replied.

  Molly could fight all she wanted. It didn't mean she wasn't still attracted to Shane. Even when he'd been an emaciated drug addicted skeleton, she'd been enticed by the memory of him. Maybe it was lingering affection or nostalgia for what once was between them, but tonight, Molly decided when she saw him lounging on her bed. Tonight she would have him. Take what he offered, what her heart demanded and tomorrow, well, tomorrow she'd figure out her next move.

  He fought the urge to rub his chest where her words had hit like an arrow to the heart. She was skeptical of his love, skeptical of him. Still, this was progress. Molly didn't outright deny him. If she had insisted that he leave he would have. Thankfully, she hadn't. Molly played along, allowing him to stay and now? Now was the big time. It was now or never. She either accepted him and everything he had to offer, or he would be forced to tuck his tail and run home a sad, heartbroken puppy once again.

  "Show me," Molly moaned gripping her breasts and fondling them in full view.

  Shane's dick twitched with arousal. How he'd missed this, seeing her playful and wanton in bed. Playing with herself, priming her body for him. Shane surged forward replacing her fingers with his tongue.

  "Like this?" He laved at her flesh. Softly, tentatively at first before latching on completely, suckling her with just enough force to extend her nipples before rolling them with his tongue.

  "Yes," Molly gasped and gripped his shoulders.

  He glanced up to see her head thrown back, her pink lip caught beneath her teeth. She was holding back, and that was the last thing he wanted. He continued his oral onslaught, catching her nipple with his teeth for a playful nip all the while his hand slid down her body and found the neat pile of soft curls between her legs. Shane still didn't quite understand the modern woman's obsession with looking like a prepubescent and was glad that Molly hadn't followed the trend in that regard.

  "Open for me," He commanded.

  Molly whimpered before widening her legs, his body sliding fully between them. He repositioned himself to keep his full weight from crushing her. Molly sat up and captured his mouth. Her warm tongue sliding along his and almost making him forget all about foreplay. He indulged her for a moment before taking her breath away as he slipped at first one finger inside. Testing the waters so to speak.

  "More," she sang into his mouth.

  It was the sweet song of a woman in heat. His woman in heat. Shane continued to stroke her with his finger until it was sufficiently slick with he
r arousal. He pulled his hand away from her and brought it to his mouth. She watched him intently, fire in her eyes as he tasted her juices.

  "Mmmm, I'll definitely be having more of that later."

  "Later," Molly quipped, "Why not now?"

  "Because this is just the appetizer and I fully intend to finish the entire five-course meal before getting to dessert," Shane said.

  "Five courses," She asked.

  "Five courses and I intend to enjoy every, last, bite."

  He punctuated the last few words with soft kisses from her shoulder to her neck, allowing his canines to graze the sensitive skin above her jugular. He felt her tense slightly. Shane backed away, trailing kisses back down before lingering at her collarbone.

  "But only if you allow," Shane clarified.

  He paused looking into her eyes, waiting, praying that he hadn't just screwed up big time.

  "Let's cross that bridge when we get there," She finally said.

  Relieved Shane laughed and kissed her delving his finger back inside. Doing his best to restore the hot and bothered mood of before. Her body softened, relaxing underneath him and he took his chance, sliding a second finger into her depths. Twisting and swirling along her slick inner walls until he found the precise spot he was looking for. Shane smiled down at Molly as her face contorted in orgasmic bliss, her inner muscles pulsating around his fingers.

  "Oh my god, yes!"

  Molly may have changed because of what happened, but this one thing he was overjoyed to know was the same. She'd always been a very responsive lover. It drove Shane wild with the desire to see, hear, and feel all the ways she expressed her sexual desires. Shane pressed his thumb firmly against her clit as he slid his fingers from her. Tracing slow circles as he shifted down to position his mouth at her core. Usually, he'd play with her a bit more. Explore her body with his hands and tease her until she was begging for release. This time he was the impatient one.