She stared at him mutely while he held her gaze with sheer will, wanting her to see he was with her. There, in the room, together. Forever.
“What’s in here can’t hurt you anymore.” Shade tapped the side of her head. “The world around you”—his hand circled the air around her body—“I’ve got that.” He brought his hands back to hers, holding them in his. “No one will ever hurt you again,” he promised in a steely voice.
It was a promise he intended to keep for a lifetime.
Chapter 56
Lily was brushing her hair out in the bedroom when Shade walked in. She had woken up the morning after her panic attack without remembering what had triggered it, or she had deliberately forgotten. Shade didn’t know which; he doubted she did, either. The rest of the week had passed as if it had never happened.
She twirled her skirt around her legs, showing off her outfit. Her black hair was long and loose, and she had several chunky necklaces on.
“You look great. What are you supposed to be?”
“A gypsy.”
“How is it any different than what you usually wear? You should have at least been adventuresome enough to raise the hemline above your ankles,” Shade said, taking a change of clothes out of a drawer.
Shade saw Lily looked down at herself.
He walked to her, cupping her cheek. “You look gorgeous. Who got it for you?”
“Beth,” Lily said, twirling away.
Shade looked at her dress closely. “Remind me to thank her.”
He was going to have a long talk with Beth to thank her for buying Lily the gypsy costume for the Halloween party. The dress had a shimmering fabric which was practically see-through when the light hit it.
“Why?”
Shade merely shook his head, going into the bathroom. “Never mind. I won’t be long.” If he told her what he could see, she would take it off. He wasn’t about to deny himself a glimpse of that ass.
Shade took a quick shower then changed before going into the main room of the basement and taking a seat on one side of the couch.
Several club members were already there. Beth was sitting on Razer’s lap next to Evie on the couch, eating snacks. Viper and Winter were dancing among others who had toned down their usually more suggestive grinding.
“How was Georgia this week?” Beth asked Lily, putting her arm around Razer’s shoulder.
“Fine.”
“Lily, would you mind getting me a beer?” Shade requested. “The new prototype came back today with suggested changes from the manufacturer,” he told Razer.
“Figures. What do they want done now? It better not change the cost of production.”
Lily got up from the couch to go to the table where the beer had been set up at and got him one. When she came back and handed it to him, Shade reached up and pulled her down on his lap. Lily tried to wiggle off.
“Sit still,” Shade ordered.
Lily quit wiggling.
Shade ignored her rigid posture, resuming his conversation with Razer about the production of one of the tools which was selling well.
“The only way to increase production is to go with another manufacturer,” Razer said.
Their conversation continued while Lily and Beth talked about the church store Lily had volunteered to put together with Rachel Porter.
It wasn’t long before Train and Jewell came downstairs and started dancing alongside Viper and Winter. Train wasn’t wearing a shirt, but he had on a bandana over his hair and a patch over one eye. Jewell was wearing a pirate wench outfit which left most of her breasts bare, and the short skirt showed the long length of her shapely legs.
As the song changed, Razer got to his feet. “Let’s dance.”
With that, Beth and Razer joined the couples dancing.
Halfway through the song, Evie came downstairs dressed as a French maid with Cash dressed as himself.
Lily laughed, looking into Shade’s eyes. “Train is the only one who dressed up?”
Shade shook his head. “Rider dressed as Tarzan, but I threatened to kick his ass if he came down here.”
Lily’s giggles were cut off as Shade got up, setting Lily on her feet before taking her to the dance floor. She tried to get away but he snagged her around the waist, pulling her close.
“Dance with me, Lily.”
“I don’t know how,” she protested.
“That’s okay. They don’t, either.” Shade pointed his hand at Evie and Cash.
She began moving, and by the third dance, Shade could tell she was relaxed.
The other members came and went, moving back and forth between the two floors, everyone seemingly enjoying themselves.
Shade pulled her closer as someone turned off a couple of the lamps, dimming the room without making it too dark. The thin material of her dress let him feel every inch of her body. Yes, he had a lot to thank Beth for.
Beth, Razer, Winter, and Viper had gone upstairs while Cash, Evie, Train, and Jewell were still dancing. She seemed to have grown comfortable enough around the members to have a good time. It was definitely a party unlike any at the clubhouse. While upstairs the usual ‘anything goes’ was in effect, the downstairs was tame in comparison.