Shade

by Jamie Begley

  His fingers found her clit, rubbing her as he slid his cock in and out. By the time he ground a second orgasm out of her, she was crying his name.

  When she lay too spent to move, he lifted her off the chair, carrying her upstairs to the shower and turning on the water.

  “I love this shower,” she said as he pushed her down onto the bench.

  He pulled her ass to the edge of the seat then delved his fingers inside her, pulling both balls out. He placed them in a small, plastic, red container, snapping it closed.

  He then pulled her off the bench, washing her off. They took their time before getting out and drying off.

  Lily was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

  Shade slid into bed next to her, pulling the covers over them. He rolled over to turn the lamp off on his bedside table when a swatch of color caught his attention.

  Sitting up in bed, he reached out, picking up the object. In his hand lay a red rubber band.

  Chapter 70

  Shade came out of his office, motioning to Evie who had been heading back to her workstation.

  “What’s up?” she questioned as she walked up to him.

  Shade opened his office door wider and Evie walked in, taking a seat on the corner of his desk. He closed the door as he came back inside.

  “I need you to do something for me.”

  “What do you need me to do?” Evie asked curiously, taking a sip of her hot coffee.

  “Beth has been changing King’s bandages, but she’s tied up with Mrs. Langley and a new patient. She wanted to know if you would be able to stop by and take care of it for her.”

  “No problem. I’ll stop by after lunch.” She paused. “I thought he would head back to his home,” she said as an afterthought.

  “He wants to stay and spend some time with Lily before he goes back.”

  “How’s that working out for you?” She didn’t try to hide her amused grin.

  As Shade sat down behind his desk, staring at her, Evie lost her expression and was about to get up.

  “He nearly got Lily killed. The stupid bastard couldn’t protect her when she was a kid, but he thinks he can make up for it now.” He leaned back in his chair, his deadly gaze pinning Evie in place. “He’s supposed to go back to Queens City in a few weeks, though, so I can tolerate him that long. I’m planning on taking Lily to Alaska the first of the month anyway, and we’re going to be gone for a few weeks, so there won’t be any need for him to stay.”

  “Lily will love it.”

  “I haven’t told her yet.”

  “I won’t say anything.” And she wouldn’t.

  He and Evie had shared many confidences over the years, many they had never shared with the rest of The Last Riders.

  Shade nodded. “Penni has decided to go back to work for Kaden Cross. I’m not happy about it, but I can’t change her mind. The only stipulation I was able to get out of her was that The Predators have to stay away from her. I want you to drive back with her and spend some time with her.”

  “To make sure she’s safe?”

  “Partially. Penni has always managed to watch out for herself, but I have another reason.”

  “Which is?”

  “King. I want you to find out exactly what shit he’s involved in and if it could touch Lily.”

  “And if it can?”

  Shade remained quiet.

  “All right. Let me know when she plans to head back, and I’ll get packed. What reason did you give her for why I’m going back with her?”

  “Brotherly concern.”

  Shade didn’t feel emotions the way everyone else did; however, Penni was his half-sister, and she had earned her own place with him. He would protect her, although there were easier ways to accomplish it instead of sending Evie. With a phone call to his stepmother, Penni’s ass would be sitting at home with the parents.

  Evie snorted. “That works for me. I could use a vacation. Besides, Lily said her dad runs a strip club; I can always pick up a few new pointers.”

  “I doubt that. You could probably teach them a thing or two.”

  “I do try.” Evie grinned, sashaying her ass to the door.

  “Evie?”

  She turned her head back to him. “Yeah?”

  “Anything, one little piece of dirt that can get Lily hurt, and I want to know.”

  She lost her smile, seeing the grim resolution on his face. “Sure thing.”

  * * *

  The next day, Evie was again sitting in his office. Beth had asked her to change King’s bandages for her again, which had worked out well for Shade. Beth wouldn’t share any information on King with him. She wasn’t stupid; she knew Shade wouldn’t tolerate anyone being a threat to Lily or The Last Riders.

  “That was all he said?” Shade’s enigmatic gaze rested on her, waiting for her response.

  King had mentioned Friday nights to her, like he knew what the club did those nights. It had made Evie nervous, and she had immediately called Shade the minute she left King with a message that they needed to talk. He had also asked Evie to join them Friday night for a dinner Lily and Beth had set up with King. Shade had suspicions King was up to something with the invite.

  “Yes, I think he knows about the club.”

  “Perhaps. It wouldn’t be difficult with Kaley telling everyone in town.”

  “You think that’s all?”

  “No, I think he’s checked us out. I’m sure he has the resources to find out what he wants.”

  “It doesn’t bother you?”

  “No, Lily knows the truth about the club. He’s not going to tell her anything I haven’t.”

  “You’ve told her everything?” Evie asked in shock.

  “Not everything, no. Just the parts King can use against me. The rest about my jobs with the military, no.”

  “Did you tell her about me?” Evie licked her dry lips.

  “No.”

  He didn’t know how much longer he would be able to keep that part out, thanks to Lucky. Shade was going to talk to him, though. Maybe another pastor could be found before Evie learned who was taking over for him.

  “Thank you. So, what are you going to do?”

  “Nothing. I’m going to let him make his move.”

  “You don’t think he can come between you and Lily?” she asked hesitantly.

  “No. I’m really not worried about some bullshit he thinks he's going to pull out of the closet. If he does, Lily and I will deal with it.”

  “Cool. I could just picture you beating the shit out of him with Lily watching. That’s why I accepted his dinner invitation.”

  “When I deal with King, Lily won’t be around. I can deal with him, man to man, whatever he pulls. It’s the garbage which could get Lily killed that concerns me.”

  “When is Penni going back to Queens City?”

  “The week after next. The same week Lily and I leave for Alaska. I told her last night.”

  “Is she excited?”

  “That’s putting it mildly.” A smile lit his face briefly as he thought about Lily’s excitement the previous night before it disappeared.

  It actually benefited Evie that they were leaving. King would return to his hometown, and Evie would follow along with Penni. When she found out who Merrick Patterson had married, she would be thankful for the excuse to leave Treepoint for a while.

  “You finished for the day?” Evie asked, breaking into his thoughts.

  “Yeah, I just have to lock up.”

  When they walked out of the office, Evie stood by his side as he locked the factory door before going up to the clubhouse together.

  Dinner was already starting when she turned to go upstairs. Shade paused.

  “You're not going to eat?” Shade asked.

  “No, I’m not hungry. I’m going to have an early night. See you in the morning.”

  “Night.” Shade watched Evie going upstairs.

  He had seen the growing discontent the past few months. A few wee
ks away would give her time to think. She wouldn’t be the first woman who had eventually left the club. Evie would always remain a Last Rider, her loyalty without question, but she had healed enough to begin searching for a lifestyle she couldn’t find there, something to call her own. Whether that was a man or a different life away from The Last Riders, it was a choice only she could make.

  * * *

  The next day, Shade was going around his desk to leave his office when he looked out the window. Lucky was in the parking lot, unloading his things from a car. He would probably sell his “pastor wear” or donate them to the church store as soon as he could.

  The brother had waited a long time to ride again.

  He watched as Evie and Jewell came out of the factory. Evie ran forward, throwing herself into Lucky’s arms.

  Shade left his office, going outside to greet the brother.

  He crossed the parking lot to stand beside them. “I see you’re not wasting any time.”

  “No. I wanted to make Merrick comfortable. I’ll hand over the church to him Sunday, and then I’ll be free of all my commitments to the church.”

  “We need to talk,” Shade said just as Lily pulled into the parking lot. There were a couple of things they needed to discuss.

  “Fuck,” Lucky said, his eyes on Lily with a grim expression on his face.

  Shade wanted Lucky to enjoy being back at the club, but he didn’t want Lily hurt, either. The brother was going to have to find a happy medium, one which kept Lily happy while also keeping Lucky happy. Shade had kept Beth and Winter out of his business, so Lucky could be circumspect and still have his fun, too.

  “Be cool,” Shade warned Lucky.

  “Pastor Dean, hi. I was wondering where you were today,” Lily said as she came up to the group.

  “I’m outta here,” Jewell said under her breath.

  “Coward,” Evie teased.

  “I’m a lover, not a fighter. Arguments tense me up.”

  Jewell left, but Evie didn’t. The woman loved to sit back and watch drama unfold around her.

  “Hi, Lily. I was going to come back and introduce you to the new pastor because you were at lunch with King when I came by the church store earlier.”

  “You went to lunch with King?” Shade asked sharply.

  “At the diner,” Lily answered.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I wasn’t aware I had to tell you my every move since the danger is over.”

  “We’ll talk about this later.”

  “No, we won’t. It was lunch, just across the street.”

  “Lily, we still don’t know who Digger hired to hurt you. Until we make sure he’s stopped, you’re not completely out of danger.” Shade knew exactly who the guy was, and he had plans for that motherfucker.

  “Oh.” She paused. “Next time, I’ll tell you when I leave the church.”

  Lily turned back to Lucky expectantly. “Are you staying for dinner?”

  “Actually, dinner and breakfast. I’m moving in.”

  “That’s great. I was worried you would move away, and I wouldn’t see you anymore.”

  “I think you’re going to be seeing a lot more of Lucky than you ever expected to see.”

  Evie just couldn’t help herself, Shade thought. He and Lucky both gave her silent warnings. It seemed their talk wasn’t going to take long concerning Lily.

  “Let’s go home, Lily,” Shade said, taking Lily’s arm and moving her toward the pathway to their house.

  “Spoil sport,” Shade heard Evie call out as they left.

  “What did she mean by that?” Lily asked curiously.

  “Nothing,” Shade answered, changing the subject to asking about her lunch with King.

  Keeping Lily’s world safe and happy was becoming more difficult to manage than he had anticipated. Lucky and King were both threats. One he could handle without difficulty, while the other would take a little time.

  Chapter 71

  Shade drove Cash’s old truck with Lily sitting in the middle and Evie by the passenger door. He would rather be going anywhere other than King’s house for dinner. Neither King nor Shade thought the other belonged in Lily’s life, and they were both right. The evening was going to be a fucking disaster, one he had every intention of having Lily make up for when they returned home.

  A huge fucker opened the front door for them.

  Shade hadn’t lost time by finding out all he could about King. He hired the best, and Henry, his bodyguard, was known to be lethally efficient at his job.

  He led them into the living room where King was sitting. Evie and Shade both silently watched as Lily greeted her father, bending down to hug him and brushing a soft kiss on his cheek.

  King then turned to him. “Shade.”

  “King.” Shade gave a small nod.

  Shade had dressed in his good jeans, boots, and a nice black shirt. King’s eyes flicked over Shade’s relaxed attire. Shade stared back just as critically, scanning over the expensive suit and shoes King had dressed in for the dinner. Then the two powerful men glared at each other, neither afraid.

  “Evie,” King greeted.

  Shade stiffened at the condescending tone King addressed her with. His mouth snapped open to say something, but he was silenced at her own tone. Evie hadn’t earned her rank of being over the women by allowing herself to be pushed around.

  “King.”

  A twist of King’s lips showed he had received her message.

  “Henry, get everyone a drink.”

  Shade placed his arm around Lily’s shoulder at her wary look as they sat down on the leather couch. While she was around liquor more constantly at the clubhouse, she would never lose the fear it inspired; her scars ran too deep. She was still uncomfortable being around it, and King had just showed how little he knew about his daughter.

  After the doorbell rang again, Beth and Razer were shown into the living room. Beth was much more casual with King, giving him a hug and inquiring how he felt.

  “I’m almost back to normal.”

  Shade was barely able to restrain his snort. The fucking bastard wasn’t normal when he was in tip-top shape.

  “Dinner’s ready.” Henry’s voice broke the silence in the room.

  Shade held Lily’s hand as they went into the dining room. The table had been set lavishly. Both Shade and King sat on opposite ends, Lily sat next to him, Evie sat next to King, and Beth and Razer sat across from them.

  He was forced to admit to himself that the food was good—a standing rib roast with fingerling potatoes and asparagus tips. Afterward, Henry brought out a chocolate mousse which had Shade wanting to take Lily’s portion. Only the sensuous way she was eating the damned stuff kept him from swiping it.

  King was deliberately flaunting his wealth in front of them. Shade could have told him it was a wasted effort. Lily didn’t care about money other than how it helped others.

  “Would you like more?” King asked Evie.

  “No, I think that was enough,” Evie replied coldly.

  While Shade sensed chemistry between the two, she wasn’t a pushover. If King thought she was, he wasn’t as experienced as Shade had read.

  King nodded then turned his attention to Lily. “Would you like more?”

  “Yes, please. I have a weakness for chocolate.”

  Fuck! Shade didn’t know if his dick could take him watching her eat another bowl of that stuff.

  After they finished their dessert, they went back into the living room. Shade resumed his seat next to Lily on the couch, sitting tensely.

  The dinner had gone well. King had fed them good food in a relaxing atmosphere, luring them in like all good predators did.

  “How do you like working in the church store, Lily?” King asked.

  “I love it. The Christmas holidays have left our shelves almost bare, though, so we’re having a clothing and food drive this Sunday after church. There’s supposed to be a break in the weather. Pastor Dean—I mean, Lu
cky—thought it would be a good way for the new pastor to meet the congregation.”

  “I’ll have to attend. It will be a good time to meet the rest of your friends.”

  “That would be nice.”

  “You’re content at the store instead of using your degree? After all, anyone can be a cashier.”

  And so it begins, Shade thought, stiffening at the indirect insult.

  “No, I really like it. It’s more than being a cashier. I have to approve of the needs of the people coming in—”

  “I’m glad you don’t feel like you’re settling with the job opportunities available in Treepoint.”

  King’s interruption of Lily talking didn’t sit well with Shade, or Beth by her expression. Razer wasn’t much happier, but he was able to hide it better.

  “Lily’s excellent at her job. Several families in the community have benefited from Lily working there. She’s also helping them find jobs.” Shade’s arm went around Lily’s shoulder, and her eyes smiled up into his. He smiled back, his thumb rubbing the delicate flesh behind her ear.

  “So, how did you two meet?”

  “We met at the lake when I was in high school.”

  Lily’s choice of words had King straightening in his chair, his indolent attitude disappearing.

  “You allowed her to date a man of his age while she was still in school?” His accusation was directed at Beth, who paled at his harsh words.

  “Of course not! I started dating Razer when Lily was in high school. As they were friends, naturally she met Shade. However, Lily and Shade didn’t start seeing each other until last summer.”

  “A whirlwind courtship?”

  “We had known each other for years.” Shade’s voice equaled King’s in attitude.

  Lily’s head went back and forth between the men until her eyes settled on King. “I didn’t feel rushed, if that’s what you’re getting at.” Lily took Shade’s hand in hers, gripping it tightly.

  “I didn’t mean to insinuate it was. I’m sorry if I implied otherwise.”

  Bullshit, Shade thought, gritting his teeth.

  “I’m very happy, King. Shade and I are looking forward to a long and happy marriage with children.”