“I’m in,” Lily said.
“I don’t like that vindictive look in your eyes, but I’m in,” Rider agreed.
Lily looked expectantly up at Shade.
“Are you sure you want to play?” he questioned her, soothing his conscience by giving her a chance to leave the table.
She nodded eagerly, and that was all his conscience needed.
“Deal,” Shade said.
Train dealt the cards.
As Lily gazed down at her cards, still smiling, Shade rolled his eyes again.
When it came time to place the bets, Jewell got a pad and paper and wrote household services. Ripping the paper off, she threw it onto the middle of the table.
“Of course, that means a lot of services I can perform in the house.”
Train wrote on the paper “An hour of my time,” throwing the slip of paper into the pot, as well.
Rider did the same then Shade. When they handed her the paper, she wrote what the men had, “An hour of my time.” Lily tore off the paper, throwing it in the growing pile.
The game continued. When it came time to bet again, the pen and paper made the rounds again. Everyone’s IOUs stayed the same except for Jewell. Lily’s mouth dropped open when Jewell read hers out loud. “An hour of fucking.”
She was about to throw it into the pot when Lily spoke up.
“Uh, excuse me. It’s nothing personal, but I don’t want that.” Lily shook her head.
“Are you sure?” Jewell didn’t try to hide her disappointment.
“I’m sure,” Lily replied firmly.
“Perhaps you should just bet what we are?” Shade suggested.
Jewell wrote down “An hour of time.”
The game resumed with more calls to ante up. Lily was practically bouncing on Shade’s lap she was so excited. He scooted her forward an inch. The woman wanted to bust his balls even when she was in a good mood. Shade almost hated to spoil her good time, but then eased his conscience by telling himself he would show her a better one.
He leaned forward, making his move.
Minutes later, Shade grinned as he raked his winnings across the table to set them in front of himself.
“I’m done for the night. Good game,” Shade lied.
He lifted Lily off his lap so he could rise to his feet. Then he reached down onto the table, stacking his papers and sliding them into his pocket before reaching back to collect Lily’s winnings and handing them to her.
“Thank you,” she said, taking the cash from him.
“It was my pleasure. Later.” Shade nodded to the table.
Lily turned to go upstairs.
“Lily.” He shook his head at her. “We’re going downstairs for a couple of hours first.” Lily stopped. “Unless you want to renege on a bet?”
Everyone at the table paused, looking at her.
Lily cleared her voice. “Of course not.”
“I knew you were honest, going to church as often as you do.” Shade ruthlessly used her honesty against her. Thank fuck he didn’t have that problem.
Lily reluctantly followed him downstairs, lagging slightly behind. He held the bedroom door open for her then closed and locked it when she stepped reluctantly across the threshold.
“Shade…” Lily began.
“Take off your clothes,” he said sternly.
Lily didn’t move.
“So you don’t plan to keep your word?” He lifted a brow, keeping his face impassive.
She sucked in a sharp breath. “Yes, but choose something else.”
Shade reached into his pocket, pulling out the slips of paper, flipping through them. He found the one he wanted and showed her the piece of paper.
“There are no exceptions or exclusions on this paper. You should have made that clear.”
“I thought stuff like that would only count when it was worded like Jewell did. I didn’t…”
“Then you should have asked. Again, there are no exceptions. I won several hours of your time. Do you or do you not plan to keep your word?”
“Yes,” Lily finally answered.
“Good. Now take your clothes off.”
When she didn’t move, only stared at him helplessly, he sighed.
“Lily, do you trust me? I mean, really trust me?”
Lily took her time answering, and he was about to give up and hand her the slips of paper she had signed when her words stopped him.
“Yes, I trust you.” The truthfulness in her voice released the tight vice around his stomach.
“Good, now take off your clothes. This time, I’ll let you leave your bra and panties on. Will that make you feel better?” He let her see a glimmer of his approval before erasing it from his expression. She needed to become familiar with what would and wouldn’t earn his praise.
She slowly undressed, pulling off her clothes and laying them on the chair.
As she undressed, Shade pulled off his T-shirt and removed his socks and boots. Then he went to his closet, unlocking the door to search through his toys.
“Lie down on the bed.”