Several more minutes passed with him holding her, showing her he would release her when he was ready.
“Are you all right now?”
“Yes. Thanks, Shade.”
After Lily opened the door, going back to work, Shade looked at the clock on the wall, seeing it was almost quitting time before he went to the work board to double-check that all the orders had been filled.
“Are you okay?” Bliss asked. She and Jewell had stopped by Lily’s work station as they left.
“I’m fine. I just overreacted.”
“Do you need anything before we leave?” Bliss offered.
Lily looked embarrassed before asking, “Would you mind getting me a number four green bean pack from the refrigerator?”
“No problem,” Bliss said, turning to go to the back room to get the item.
“I’ll handle it, Bliss. You two go on up to the club.” Shade walked up to them, and the two women left after giving Lily a sympathetic glance.
“Go get the seeds. I’ll wait here,” Shade told her, understanding she had to face her fear while knowing he would be near.
She didn’t argue with him and went to the room, and she was back in less than a minute.
Shade watched as she completed her order while the rest of the workers left for the day. When Lily had finished and cleaned her workstation in preparation for Monday, he dashed her hopes of going immediately home.
“Go get your bag while I lock up,” Shade ordered.
“But I thought—”
Shade tilted his head to the side in question.
“I’ll go get my bag.”
Grabbing her shoulder bag, she followed Shade to the basement and went to get changed. Shade changed and was warming up on the mat when she returned.
She sank to the mat to begin stretching while Shade watched her for a few minutes before standing up and turning on the music. It was Friday, and the party upstairs would be getting started; the music would muffle any sounds.
Shade moved her into position to begin her defense training. Then he worked on her kick for several minutes, becoming irritated when she didn’t connect with him. She was trying not to touch him.
Lily became distracted as the noise upstairs increased. The music he had put on wasn’t able to entirely hide that the party had started. Her eyes went repeatedly to the stairway.
“Pay attention, Lily. If you used more strength, we would have been done ten minutes ago, and I would be upstairs drinking a cold beer,” Shade said, deciding to see how she felt about him going upstairs after she left.
She managed to kick him on the side of his thigh.
“About fucking time.” Shade smiled at her proudly, realizing she didn’t like the thought of him going upstairs.
“Did I hurt you?”
“No, Lily, you didn’t hurt me. Next time a dick like Gaige tries to touch your ass again, try that move.”
Lily grinned back. “Okay.”
“We’re done for the day.”
“Thanks, Sir.”
Going for her bag, she picked it up before she hesitated a moment, twisting the handle of the bag in her hand. “Thanks for getting me to go get the seeds. I would have just avoided the room.”
“I know. Lily, let’s work on getting rid of the old fears before adding new ones. You’re completely safe at the factory and here.”
“I know that.”
“Good. I’ll see you Sunday.” He waited to see if she would say whether she would be going to the diner after church.
“All right.”
Shade smiled as he walked her to her car. She was walking with an added confidence she hadn’t had before. The lessons were boosting her belief that she would be able to defend herself. She would, too; he would see to it. He would teach her how to defend herself against everyone except himself.
*
Shade carried two pizzas and a six-pack up the walkway to Lily’s front door, pausing when he heard music coming from inside. Gazing around the neighborhood, he saw that most of the houses were dark before he stepped to the window and looked through to see Lily dancing around the living room.
He smiled at seeing her enjoyment and the sexy way she rolled her hips. Her sensual movements had his cock rising behind his jeans. Thank fuck she went into the kitchen at that moment.
When Shade went to her front door and rang the bell, Lily answered the door seconds later, wearing dark-blue fleece pajamas. He was going to have to have a talk with her about the fucking peephole.
“Move, Lily, before I drop the pizzas.”
Unlocking the door, Lily took a step back, letting him enter.
Shade came in, setting the pizzas and beer on the coffee table.
“What are you doing here?” Lily asked, closing the door before walking barefoot back to the couch.
“I thought you might be hungry.” Lily’s stomach grumbled. “Go grab us a couple of plates.”
She did as Shade told her then sat down on the couch as Shade opened the box, putting two slices on her plate. She immediately took a bite of the warm pizza.