“I bet the men miss that with me living down here now,” Lily remarked ruefully.
“Forget the men. The women miss it. It’s great exercise for us. It’ll take me months to get rid of the inch I’ve gained on my thighs.
“I’m used to exercising on one, too. I might use it when no one is around. I know a great exercise that will take that inch off in no time.”
“Really? What is it?” Evie’s interest was sparked and she urged Lily to show her the exercise.
Since all of the men were out of the room, Lily got up, going to the stripper pole. Jewell moved back a step, watching curiously.
Lily started spinning, wrapping her leg around it. Not lifting it high, just winding her leg around it. Carefully tucking in her loose skirt, she leaned backwards, arching her back as she let her thigh hold her weight. Rising up unconsciously, she timed her movements with the beat of the music then leaned back again.
“It’s great not only for the thighs but your stomach muscles, as well. Just don’t let your arms do the work for you; let your tummy and thigh muscles do it,” Lily informed Evie. When she didn’t make a remark, Lily rose up, noticing her eyes were on the foot of the steps.
She turned to see what Evie was staring at. Shade stood there with his hands full of beer and sodas while Cash had a plate of pizza that was about to slide off with his mouth hanging open, and Train was right behind them, crushing a bag of chips in his hands.
“I was just showing Evie an exercise I learned in my pole class,” Lily said, jerking her leg down from the pole and straightening her skirt.
“Could you show me that move again? I have a few pounds I need to lose,” Train asked seriously.
Lily didn’t miss the threatening glare Shade gave him as he set the drinks down on the side table.
She went to get one, picking an orange soda. Before she could take a seat, Shade pulled her back down on his lap. This time she didn’t try to wiggle away, afraid she would spill her drink.
As she got settled, Stori came down the stairs dressed in a bunny outfit that was even more suggestive than Jewell’s. She began dancing with a member from Ohio—who Lily wasn’t really familiar with—and the biker put his hand on her butt, grinding her closer to his hips.
Lily looked away, seeing Jewell and Train resuming their dancing. Evie and Cash also started dancing.
“You never told me you knew how to pole dance.”
Lily turned bright red. “My gym at college taught an exercise class using the pole.”
“Lord have mercy,” Shade muttered.
Lily couldn’t help herself, laughing at his expression as she playfully hit his chest. Shade’s hand went to the back of her neck, tugging her head down to his and catching her mouth. She relaxed against him, letting him have it. When his tongue slid between her lips, her head fell to his shoulder; Shade moved slightly until he leaned her backward against the arm of the couch and he was above her.
Her arms slid around his neck as she thought about the fact she was actually kissing him with the other couples in the room. They were in a dark corner and no one was paying attention; nothing more was happening than what she had seen at the few parties she had attended. This time, however, she was part of the couple necking in the corner.
Before she had time to think any further about it, Shade’s hand flattened against her flat stomach then slid up to her shoulder, raising her back up to a sitting position. “Let’s dance.”
“Okay.” She got to her feet and they went to the dance floor, spending the remainder of the evening dancing.
The rest of the members spent the night continuing to go between the two floors. Beth and Winter both showed up a couple of more times before eventually telling her goodnight.
“Night,” Lily told her sister.
Beth and Razer had turned to go, but Beth turned back, giving her a tight hug. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so happy.” Beth’s voice sounded tight.
“I’ve had fun,” Lily said. “I’m going to use the picture of Rider to blackmail him with later when he’s bugging me at work.” Beth had taken a picture of Rider dressed as Tarzan as he did the dishes upstairs and had texted the picture to Lily.
“You do that. Just don’t tell him who sent you the picture.”
“I won’t.”
Shade was talking to Train and Evie as Lily yawned, finally growing tired.
“I’m going to bed. I have to be up early to go to the church store.”
Everyone told her goodnight, and then Lily went into the bedroom. Her mind played back over the evening as she changed into her pajamas and went to the bed, stretching out over it.
She was almost asleep when Shade quietly came to bed not long afterwards. When he reached out underneath the covers, pulling her to his warmth, she didn’t pull away. She just let her body sink against his, falling asleep with a tiny smile on her lips.
It was funny how one simple Halloween party had given her hope for the future.
Chapter 23