Train dealt the cards. Lily gazed down at her cards, still smiling. She had to hastily place an impassive expression on her face or she was going to lose before she’d even started.
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 that 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,” not wanting to perform any of the services that Jewell probably had planned. 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 she described what she had written. She was about to throw it into the pot.
“Uh, excuse me. It’s nothing personal, but I don’t want that.”
“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; her cards were so good.
Then it went to hell. Slowly but inexplicably, Lily realized she was going to lose. Minutes later, Shade grinned as he raked his winnings across the table. Lily didn’t know what made her more upset, that she had lost or that he had Jewell’s IOUs.
“I’m done for the night. Good game,” Shade said. His hand on her hips had her standing so that he could rise to his feet. He reached down onto the table, stacking his papers then 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.” She turned her head to see him shaking his. “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.”
Lily reluctantly followed Shade downstairs, lagging slightly behind. She was still trying to figure out how she had landed in her current predicament when Shade closed and locked the door.
“Shade…”
“Take off your clothes.”
Lily didn’t move.
“So you don’t plan to keep your word.”
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. Opening one, he 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 thought over the time she had known him, how he had always been gentle and kind to her despite the suspicion she’d had that he wasn’t a kind man. In fact, she believed he was exactly the opposite. He hadn’t shown it to her even when he had threatened Beth and Razer’s home, yet he hadn’t taken advantage by making her have sex with him. He had made her sleep in the bed, and if she was honest, she had been pretty sick of the floor after two nights. She remembered the extra padding on the floor in her safe corner. At that, her thoughts snapped in place. She had a safe place in the room she could go. He had promised that he would never touch her there, and she’d believed him. She still did. She had her answer.
“Yes, I trust you.”
“Good, now take off your clothes. This time, I’ll let you leave your bra and panties on. Will that make you feel better?”
Lily nodded her head, relieved he had relented on her being naked. She undressed, pulling off her clothes and laying them on the chair.
As she undressed, she saw Shade pull off his t-shirt and remove his socks and boots. When she turned back to face him, the door to his closet was open and he was going through his items.
“Lay down on the bed.”