The plate Winter was holding slipped through her fingers, landing with a thud in the dishwasher. Then she threw herself into his arms, hugging him.
Shade felt uncomfortable since Viper was watching from the table as his wife cried her ‘thank yous’ against his bare shoulder. He finally managed to break free, placing the drinks on the tray.
“No problem,” Shade said, heading for the basement door.
“Shade,” Viper drawled. “I see what you mean about watching your woman in another man’s arms, but for the amount of money you just forked over, I’m thinking of hugging you, too. I was going to break and buy them.”
Shade mock-shuddered. “I’ll pass, brother. Winter’s was enough.” He closed the door on Viper’s ‘fuck you’ gesture, chuckling as Winter smacked Viper on the back of the head for flipping him off. The price of the computers was worth seeing that sight alone.
He carried the tray into the bedroom, setting it down on the table in front of the television. Then he picked up the plate he had prepared for Lily and her drink, placing them in front of her.
“Thanks,” she said briefly, typing something on the computer.
Shade sat and watched the television while eating his own meal. Afterward, he sprawled out, relaxing and enjoying his day off from the factory. If anyone had asked him what his idea of contentment was, it would be having Lily close-by where he could see her whenever he wanted.
“Is the television distracting you?” Shade asked when she gave a frustrated sigh.
“No.”
Shade turned back to the movie, though his concentration was broken when her chair scooted back from the desk.
She stood up, grabbing her plate from the desk. “Do you need anything while I’m upstairs?”
“A beer would be great.”
He frowned when she left the room. Maybe her classes were turning out to be harder than she had anticipated. He would offer to help her, but she seemed to be in a grumpy mood and he didn’t think she would accept his offer.
She came back a few minutes later, empty-handed.
“Where’s my beer?” Shade asked.
“I forgot it.” She was flushed, looking down at her empty hands as if surprised nothing was there.
“I’m going to take a shower,” Lily said, grabbing her pajamas and then disappearing into the bathroom.
Shade frowned at her behavior. Standing up and stretching, he then carried the tray of dirty dishes to the kitchen.
He went through the kitchen door, hearing a moan as he entered. Looking toward the television room, he saw Bliss and Train were fucking on the couch. Lily’s behavior explained, Shade placed his dishes into the sink before going to the fridge to take a beer. Leaving the two to their fuck session, he returned downstairs to the bedroom, turning his movie back on.
Shade was taking a drink of his beer when she returned to the bedroom.
“It’s a little early to go to bed, isn’t it?”
“I have a headache. I guess it’s from staring at the computer screen.”
“Possibly. Will the television disturb you?”
“No.” Lily was about to climb into bed yet stopped, coming to stand in front of him instead.
“You need to let me go. I’m never going to fit into this club.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You know why.” She waved her hand at the beer. “Bliss doesn’t try to hide that you both have shared a relationship. She doesn’t want me here. She belongs here; I don’t.”
“You will.”
“No, Shade, I won’t. You’re only going to hurt everyone involved. I’m never going to adjust to your lifestyle. You’re not a one-woman man.”
“I already am,” Shade said softly.
“Don’t claim I’m the woman for you when you smell like another woman’s perfume.”
“I smell like perfume?” Shade asked, not trying to hide his amusement.
“Yes,” Lily said angrily.
“That’s because Winter hugged me when I told her I would pay for the computers for her school.”
“Well … heck.” Lily paused. “I’m sorry,” she apologized.
“You were awfully harsh to me, don’t you think? I mean, I was nice enough to fix your dinner and bring it to you, and then you forgot my beer. Then you rant at me about other women. I’m beginning to think you’re jealous. I never took you for the jealous type,” Shade said in mock-seriousness.
“I’m not jealous,” Lily snapped.
“I believe you are, and I don’t believe you’re sorry. Do you know how much those computers are going to cost me?” Shade tried to appear affronted.
“I am not jealous, and I apologized.”
“I don’t believe you.” Shade gave her a reproachful look.
“I really am.”
“Prove it.”
“How?”
“Kiss me and make it better.”
“No.” Lily shook her head.
“I knew you didn’t mean your apology,” Shade said, turning back to the television.
“I did—I do,” Lily corrected herself. “But I’m still not going to kiss you.”
“Why? You’ve kissed before, haven’t you?”
Lily didn’t say anything.
“Lily, have you kissed before?” He stared at her in surprise. Shade couldn’t believe she had never kissed Charles, since they had dated throughout her high school years. The part inside him which held jealousy toward the bastard suddenly died.
“No,” Lily admitted.
“What about Charles?”
“Just on the cheek or a brief peck on the lips. I guess I could do that,” she said unenthusiastically.
“Don’t knock yourself out. I’ve been told I’m a good kisser. I could teach you how,” Shade offered, trying to appear innocent.
“I bet you could,” she said sarcastically. “Who told you you’re a good kisser?”
“I don’t kiss and tell,” he said, grinning at her wickedly.
While Lily gritted her teeth in aggravation, Shade decided to push a tiny bit more, seeing she was battling her conscience.
“Come on, Lily. What’s a little kiss between friends?” He rose to his feet and put his hands behind his back. “I won’t touch you with anything other than my mouth. You can experiment and see how you like kissing.” He tried to appear nonthreatening, not staring at her directly, as if it didn’t matter if she kissed him or not.
Lily froze, her face a mask of indecision, but then she took a timid step forward. Shade didn’t say anything, appearing bored.
It took several seconds for her to take another step. Shade never became impatient as she steadily drew closer until a mere inch separated them.
She cautiously raised herself onto her tiptoes, and then her
mouth briefly touched his before breaking away and taking a step back.
Then, like a moth to a flame, she fluttered closer again. That time, her hands rested on his chest as she touched her mouth to his, letting hers linger a mere breath of a second before leaning back to study his face.
Shade kept his expression impassive as her eyes searched his face for a reaction.
She leaned forward again, pressing her lips harder against his mouth before she lifted herself away, but she didn’t move from his body that time. Shade wanted to snatch her into his arms when her tongue licked his lips to taste him. Her lashes lowered as she studied his mouth, and only the years he had spent being a Dom allowed him to remain in control.
She came back for more, pressing her lips harder against his mouth until he opened to her slightly. And that’s when Lily jumped away as if she had touched fire.
“That’s enough for tonight. You’re not a fast learner. It may take weeks for you to catch on to how it’s done.” He stepped away, going back to his chair while praying his shaking legs wouldn’t betray him.
He clenched the arms of his chair to make himself remain seated as she lay down in his bed, pulling the covers over her. He wanted to rip them away and give her a lesson in kissing she would never forget.
Shade gritted his teeth, trying to get his body back under control, forcing himself to keep his eyes on the television screen.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her hitting her pillow in frustration, and his hands clenched by his side. The woman didn’t know the meaning of frustration, but he was about to show her if she threw him another one of her pissed-off looks.
He was trying to go slow, not frighten her away, but even he had his limits. That innocent kiss he had gotten from her had nearly been his undoing.
When he was sure she was asleep, he got up and left the room. He didn’t trust himself to climb into bed with her at that point. He had to calm his body down.
Going upstairs, he grabbed a bottle of whiskey and poured himself a generous amount. His wall of patience was crumbling. It was time to heat up his efforts with Lily. He didn’t think it was fair to be the only one suffering. Lily needed to discover exactly what she was missing out on, which was him fucking her until she begged him for mercy.