Shade

by Jamie Begley

  When he lifted her nipple to his mouth, biting down, her soft whimper had his cock jerking its release as he came.

  Lily was placing soft kisses on his shoulders when he finally managed to give her breathing room, placing her back on her feet.

  He held her arm as they walked out of the shower.

  “I’m not going to fall, Shade.”

  “I don’t want you to shower unless I’m in the room,” Shade told her, drying off.

  Lily gaped at him as she dried off before putting on her nightgown. “You’re being ridiculous.” She shook her head. “Am I supposed to go without a shower when you’re not home?

  Shade frowned. “Of course not. You can call Beth and have her come over.” Shade lay down on the bed, flipping on the television.

  Lily stood staring at him with her hands on her waist. “For a minute, I thought you wanted me to call Razer,” she snapped.

  “Now you’re being ridiculous,” Shade stated.

  Lily left the bathroom door open as she blow-dried her hair. The show he was watching was almost over when she came to sit on his side of the bed, gazing down at him with a frown.

  “I’m not going to wait to shower until you’re home or call Beth. I’m very careful when I’m in the shower, so nothing is going to happen.”

  Shade studied her serious expression, his hand going to her belly. “I don’t want anything to happen to this baby.”

  Lily’s frown disappeared. “Nothing’s going to happen. I’m fine; the baby’s fine. You need to keep from overreacting.”

  “I’m not overreacting,” Shade denied.

  “Yes, you are, and I love you for it, despite the fact that you’re driving me crazy.” Lily leaned forward, brushing his mouth with hers, her hand cupping his smooth cheek.

  Shade caught her troubled expression as she started to rise. He took her hand, pulling her back down.

  “Is there something wrong?”

  Lily didn’t try to avoid his question, asking one of her own. “Why do you still shave all the time?”

  “I told you before, because you like to touch my face.”

  “I thought men who were married eased off trying to be so perfect, but you haven’t.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?”

  “It’s not only that, Shade. Sometimes, I think you do too much for me and not enough for yourself.”

  “Like what?”

  This time, Lily hesitated. “Sex.”

  Shade laughed. “In case you missed it, I was just as loud in the shower as you were.”

  Lily’s lashes lowered, but Shade saw the hurt in her eyes. He reached up, cupping the nape of her neck and tugging her down to him. “I’m very happy with our sex life, Lily, if that’s what you’re trying to ask.” The tip of his tongue came out to trace her bottom lip before parting them and plundering her mouth in a passionate kiss which dissolved her doubts.

  He rolled over until she was beneath him.

  “Very happy.”

  * * *

  “Any luck?” Shade asked Cash.

  He had just arrived back at the clubhouse, and he, Razer, Viper, and Train were about to go up to the house after getting out a large order when Cash had pulled in.

  “No,” Cash answered grimly. The brother looked exhausted. He had been out all night and the entire day, searching for Rachel.

  “Get some rest,” Viper ordered. “I’ll ask Winter to call some of her former students to see if they have any idea where Rachel would go.”

  “I’d appreciate it,” Cash said before pausing and informing, “Viper, I’m going to Lexington to make sure Rachel isn’t there. She has a couple of friends who live there, and Lily’s old boyfriend lives there, too. Maybe she’s staying with one of them.”

  Viper nodded. “You want us to go with you?”

  “No need for all of us to waste our time. I won’t be long. If I can’t find her, I’m going to try to talk to Tate.”

  “Good luck with that,” Shade said sardonically.

  “If he’s half as sorry as I am for running her off, he’ll listen. If not, I’ll make him.”

  “Ride safe, brother.” Viper turned toward the clubhouse, and Shade followed behind. He almost turned back to go with him, but he knew Cash didn’t want his help, preferring to search for her alone.

  As they walked up the path, Viper said to him, “It shouldn’t take Cash long to track down his leads.”

  “It might take longer than he thinks,” Shade replied.

  They heard Cash restart his bike and turned to watch him leave. Neither man knew it was going to be a long time before Cash came home.

  Chapter 82

  “How is Cash?” Shade asked Viper who had come into the waiting room.

  Shade had been in bed with Lily when Viper had called to tell him that Cash had crashed his bike. He had made Lily stay at the house with Beth, despite both of their arguments.

  Viper shook his head. “Truthfully, I don’t think he would want to live in the shape the doctors say he’s in, if he even makes it.”

  The women were sitting on the chairs, crying. King was standing behind Evie with his hand on her shoulder.

  “He’ll live with whatever shape he’s in. Cash is a fighter,” Shade said forcefully.

  “Yes, he is, but there are some battles which can’t be won, and you know that, Shade.”

  “I do, but this isn’t one of them.”

  “You can’t fight the inevitable.”

  Shade knew Viper was remembering his brother Gavin.

  “No, but I know someone who can. I just have to find her.”

  * * *

  Shade watched Rachel as she carefully stepped down the steep path on the hill. When she got to the bottom, she looked up, coming to a stop as she saw him.

  “Hi, Rachel.” He was leaning against the door of her car with his arms folded across his chest.

  “Shade. What are you doing out here?”

  He gave her a mocking smile. “Knox told me you used to come here every weekend. I knew, eventually, you would come by for a visit, so I had the place watched. Old habits die hard.”

  “Evidently. What do you want?”

  “I want you to fix Cash,” Shade said determinedly.

  Her mouth dropped open. “I’m not capable of fixing him, Shade. I don’t have super powers.” She brushed a tendril of hair away from her cheek. “Besides, I already tried.”

  “Then try again.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “You’re just going to leave him lying in that bed without trying?” Shade asked brusquely.

  “I tried! What don’t you understand?”

  Shade straightened away from the car. “Rachel, do you feel any better since you left town?”

  “No,” she admitted.

  “Then, if you’re going to feel like shit, why not stay in town near Cash? Even if you can help him deal with the pain, then wouldn’t it be worth it?”

  “I don’t owe Cash any favors,” she responded stubbornly.

  “Don’t act like you don’t care, or you wouldn’t have come back to town. No one says you have to move back into your brothers’ house.”

  “Where would I stay?”

  “You could stay with Cash’s grandmother. No one goes near that old bitch’s house.”

  A slight smile touched her lips. “She’s not that bad.”

  “Yes, she is. Well?”

  “All right.” Rachel agreed to what they both knew she wanted to do, anyway.

  “Good. She’s expecting you.”

  Rachel rolled her eyes.

  “I owe you, Rachel.”

  “That’s the same thing you said when you asked me to go to work in the church store to help Lily. I would have helped Lily regardless, but it would have been nice if you would have broken up that fight before Cash opened his big mouth.”

  Shade climbed on his bike, turning on the motor. “I paid you back when I helped Viper hold Cash back when Tate dragged you away. If
he had gotten near Tate, he would have killed him. Welcome back, Rachel.”

  Shade felt Rachel glaring at him as he rode away. She could hate him as much as she wanted as long as she stayed and healed Cash.

  * * *

  Rachel stayed by Cash’s side, although Shade would see her slip out the door whenever any of The Last Riders visited, avoiding talking to them.

  Cash’s doctor gave them regular updates on his condition, and each time, he was less optimistic about Cash’s recovery.

  “We decreased his medication, so he’s in more of a deep sleep versus a coma.”

  Shade stood next to Lily as they listened to Cash’s doctor explain his condition.

  “His spinal injury is quite severe, and we’re going to begin to wean him off the ventilator.” The doctor paused. “I do not anticipate him walking again.”

  At his proclamation, several of the women began crying. Viper put his arms around Winter, Knox pulled Diamond closer, Shade pulled Lily into his side, and Evie turned to King. Everyone there stood stupefied at the doctor’s prognosis that the consequences of the wreck would be life-changing for Cash.

  The Last Riders began making plans as soon as the doctor left.

  “We can put him downstairs. It’s accessible with a wheelchair and has the exercise equipment and hot tub,” Viper stated.

  “I’ll call Donna as soon as he’s out of the rehab center,” Winter said.

  Each and every one of them discussing how they would help Cash heal and adjust to his new life was why Shade was loyal to The Last Riders. They stood together to face any challenge thrown their way.

  “I need to go talk to Rachel.” Lily wiped her tears away as he released her.

  “I’ll go with you,” Beth said.

  Both women walked to Rachel who was standing at the edge of the group. Shade went to get a bottled water, waiting for Viper to come out of Cash’s room so he could go inside for a few moments.

  Viper walked out, and then Shade motioned to Lily that he was going to go see Cash.

  He went into Cash’s room, staring down at the brother fighting for his life.

  “Brother, your woman is here, but if you want her, you’re going to have to wake up.” Shade continued talking to Cash as if he was awake until the door opened and Pastor Patterson came into the room.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, but Cash’s grandmother asked me to stop by and pray for him. I’m Pastor Merrick Patterson.” He reached out to shake Shade’s hand, which he didn’t take. The pastor dropped his hand to his side.

  “Have we met before? You look familiar?”

  “We met once in the service briefly. I served with Dean.”

  “Ah … That explains it. My wife tells me I have a terrible memory, and I have to agree with her.”

  “Your wife is a fucking lunatic. While everyone in town believes she has the wool pulled over your eyes, I just don’t believe anyone can be that clueless unless they want to be.”

  Pastor Merrick paled.

  Shade didn’t feel the least bit of sympathy for the man. He was the one who had brought Brooke back into his and Evie’s lives.

  Merrick gave a nervous laugh. “I know Brooke is a little high-maintenance for a pastor’s wife, and she hasn’t learned to fit into small town life yet, but she will adjust. The church congregation will learn to love her as I do.”

  With that, Shade knew he had been right. Merrick Patterson was a man who loved his wife. He wasn’t blind to her evil; he tolerated it and turned a blind eye to keep her.

  Shade stared at him coldly before he walked toward the door. “You need to pray for yourself more than Cash. When Brooke no longer needs you, neither you nor that kid of yours will be safe. I’d pray hard if I were you.”

  He went out the door, closing it behind him. One of the two men in that room was facing death, and it wasn’t the one lying on the bed.

  Chapter 83

  “Could you come to the hospital and pick me up?” Lily asked.

  “Give me ten minutes.” Shade disconnected the call.

  He tracked Rider down, finding him in his room with the bedroom door open. Rider was lying on his back on the bed with Jewell and Stori. The brother was watching the women have a clit fight while he jerked himself off.

  “Can I borrow your truck?”

  “Keys are on the nightstand,” Rider grunted.

  Shade walked into the room, picking up the keys, then turned to leave.

  “Sure you don’t want to join?” he asked.

  “I’ll pass. Have to go pick up Lily.”

  Stori gave a small scream, twisting on the bed.

  “I won,” Jewell gloated, sitting up and running her hand down Stori’s thigh.

  “Come here.” Rider motioned for Jewell.

  She crawled across the mattress to Rider who was putting on a condom. Jewell threw one leg over Rider’s hips, plunging herself down onto his cock.

  Shade was going out the bedroom door as Winter came out of Viper’s bedroom. As she passed Rider’s bedroom, she heard Jewell’s moans, automatically looking inside, and her eyes met his.

  Shade dangled the keys. “Just borrowing his truck,” he said mockingly.

  “Did I say anything?” Winter shook her head. “I don’t doubt your devotion to Lily.”

  They walked down the steps together.

  “How’s Cash?”

  “The doctor called Viper. He crashed again this morning. That makes twice that we’ve almost lost him. If he crashes again, the chances are slimmer that he’ll pull through.”

  Winter blinked back tears, “I’m going to start dinner. Viper is on the way to the hospital. When I’m done, I’m going to join him.”

  “Lily went there after work. She wants me to pick her up. After dinner, I’m going back and staying with him until Train comes.”

  “Cash is lucky to have you all.” Winter reached up and kissed his cheek.

  Shade frowned.

  Winter laughed. “I won’t tell Viper if you won’t.” She turned toward the kitchen.

  “Winter, I don’t understand…”

  She turned back. “Why I kissed you?”

  Shade nodded.

  “Because I know you’re responsible for Rachel staying, and you’ve made sure one of the men is always at the hospital. You’re a nice guy, Shade.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  Shade’s sharp reply had her shaking her head at him, turning back to the kitchen. “Yes, you are.”

  “No, I’m fucking not!” Shade went out the door, slamming the door to prove it.

  The drive to the hospital didn’t take long. Shade pulled up to the hospital door, expecting Lily to come out. When she did, he threw the truck in park and jumped out.

  “What the fuck is wrong with her.”

  “Help me get her in the truck.” Lily struggled to push the wheelchair Rachel was sitting in, looking deathly pale.

  Shade took the handles of the wheelchair, pushing it toward the truck, then lifted her inside. Lily climbed inside the driver’s side, scooting over toward Rachel.

  Shade took the wheelchair back inside the lobby, angrily coming back to the truck and climbing in.

  He pulled out, driving to Cash’s grandmother Mag’s house, where Rachel was staying.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Shade snapped out.

  “She saved Cash,” Lily spoke breathlessly. “I still don’t believe it. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes … Her blood pressure dropped too low.”

  Lily went on to explain Cash was awake, and his vital signs were better. Her jumbled words were filled with excitement, relief, and worry over Rachel.

  Shade packed her inside Mag’s house with the old woman staring at him from her wheelchair as he carried Rachel to the room she was staying in.

  Lily took off Rachel’s shoes. “I’m going to stay with her for a while. I’ll call when I need you to pick me up.”

  “All right. I’ll go back to the hospital and stay with Cash until you cal
l.” Shade kissed Lily briefly.

  Rachel caught his hand as he was about to leave. “I want your promise not to tell him I was there.”

  “Why?” he asked curiously.

  “Because,” she said stubbornly, unwilling to explain.

  “I’m not going to make a promise I can’t keep.” Shade raised his hand when she would have interrupted. “I won’t say anything unless he asks, but that’s the best I can do.”

  Rachel reluctantly nodded as she began shaking so hard Lily had to cover her with a blanket.

  Shade left the two women alone, going through the house and outside to the porch where Mag was sitting in her wheelchair.

  “I want to go see Cash.”

  Shade stared silently at the old woman then went down to the truck and opened the passenger door before walking back up to the porch. Leaning down, he lifted her, carrying her to the truck then gently placing her into the seat. Reaching up, he buckled her in.

  “I could have done that,” she snapped.

  He didn’t respond, closing the truck door before going back to get her wheelchair. Shade expertly folded it before placing it in the back of the truck.

  Once behind the steering wheel, he drove out of her driveway and then turned toward town.

  “You don’t talk much, do you?”

  “Not when I don’t have anything to say,” Shade replied.

  “Had to do some talking to catch that pretty wife of yours.” Mag snorted. “She must like the strong, silent, asshole type.”

  “You talk to Cash this way?”

  “Hell no, Cash is my grandson. I don’t have to pretend to be nice to him.” She laughed, hitting him on the arm.

  Shade’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. Maybe Cash would have been better off in the coma.

  * * *

  Fat Louise was sitting on a bale of hay as she watched her friends lead Sex Piston’s kids through the field to pick out pumpkins. She didn’t look much happier since the last time he had seen her on the helicopter, and back then, she had been crying on Killyama’s shoulder.

  Shade knew something had happened since she had returned, but Lily refused to tell him. Truthfully, he hadn’t been interested enough to badger her for the information. He would remedy that when they went back home, though.