“You.”
Lily shook her head. “You can’t be serious. You have to know this just makes me dislike you even more.”
“Lily, you don’t know what you want. You want a man who doesn’t exist. One who will never touch you, pretend you don’t have something seriously messed up going on inside of your head, and willing to put up with you constantly in some kind of trouble.”
“I am not,” Lily snapped. Shade lifted his brow at her response and her inability to deny the truth of the other two statements. “The man I want exists and I know you’re not him.”
“I’m the only man for you.” Menace poured from his eyes before he regained control, shrugging and nodding his head toward the phone. “Make your mind up.”
“Beth and Razer can build another house,” Lily argued.
“They certainly can, but it won’t be that house.”
“Razer and you are like brothers; you wouldn’t do that to him,” Lily called his bluff.
“Yes, I would.”
She thought about his cold-blooded approach to everything he dealt with and knew he wasn’t bluffing.
“I can’t do this.” She pointed back and forth between them.
“I’m not going to rush you. We can go as slow as you want. I’m a patient man.” If he tells me he’s a patient man one more time, I’m going to scream, Lily thought.
“I’m going to talk to Diamond.”
“I’ll take you to see her tomorrow, after you get finished at the church.”
“If I can find a way, I will leave.” Lily had every intention of finding a way out of his trap.
“You can leave now, Lily. It’s your decision.”
“Okay.” Lily gave in, left with no choice until she could make sure Beth didn’t lose her house. Beth had protected her too many years to let her lose her house without trying to save it. If Shade was true to his word, he wouldn’t pressure her, and she could find a way out of this mess. Beth would be angry and make her leave if she ever found out. She would forfeit the house she loved to protect her; Lily couldn’t do less.
Chapter 18
“Good, now that it’s settled, we need to take care of your punishment for nearly ripping my balls off.”
“I became caught up in our lesson,” Lily defended her actions.
“You were pissed at me for something. Care to tell?”
Lily remained silent.
“All right.” Shade leaned forward. “Let’s begin with Jewell. She closed the door to my office when Cash called. Kaley broke the rules. I really didn’t give a fuck if she tried to join the club or not. She would never have gotten enough votes to anyway, so it’s no loss.
“Now, let’s talk about your punishment. I’m going to be lenient this time,” he paused at Lily’s unladylike snort, “and give you your choice of punishment.”
“What are the choices?” Lily had no doubt she wasn’t going to be happy with any of them.
“You can take the spanking you deserve, or you can sleep in the bed tonight, or you can give me one kiss. Take your pick.”
“You’re not serious?”
“Yes, I am being more than fair. It hurt like hell when you grabbed my nuts. None of your choices involve excruciating pain.”
“That strap looks like it’s going to hurt.”
“I plan for you to enjoy that.” Shade gave her a grin.
Lily shivered, and it wasn’t from pleasure.
“Which one?” Shade prompted her. “Would you like me to pick for you?”
“No!”
Lily was stuck. She was going to have to pick one. She really didn’t want a spanking with that strap, but the other two were just as bad. The kiss was totally out; she couldn’t imagine touching her mouth to his.
“I’ll sleep in the bed,” Lily said reluctantly.
“You sure?”
Lily nodded her head.
“Fine. You can get ready for bed.” Shade got up from the chair, turning the television on.
Lily gathered her pajamas before going into the bathroom. Pulling off her clothes, she walked down the three steps into the shower. She turned it on, feeling the water hit her body at different areas. She took her time, as the shower was becoming an obsession of hers. Each time she took one, she felt absolutely decadent.
Lily bowed her head, confused with why he wanted her when he had a variety of women to choose from, not only in the club but also in town. Every woman in town who was single, and some who were married, had been chasing him since he had rode into town.
Reluctantly getting out of the shower, she blow-dried her hair to take even more time delaying the inevitable. She wanted to flick the rubber band, but she didn’t.