Lily helped Beth and Winter with the dishes, trying not to blush when Viper walked into the room and threw Winter over his shoulder, leaving with her yelling at him to put her down. She winced in sympathy when she heard a loud whack from the other side of the door.
Beth took the dish from Lily, placing it in the dishwasher. “You doing okay with everything?”
“Yes.” From the hesitant expression on Beth’s face, she knew what subject she was referring to.
“Lily…”
“Not tonight,” Lily said hastily.
Beth sighed. “All right. On a brighter note, the bathroom is finally done and they laid the carpet, so Razer and I are going to spend the night in our new home.”
“I know. Jewell told me they delivered the carpet today.”
Lily dried her hands before going to the refrigerator. Opening the door, she reached inside and took out a bucket of Champagne on ice with a ribbon tied around the bottle. Turning, she handed it to Beth. “I wish you many years of happiness, sister.”
Beth took the Champagne bucket, her eyes watering. “Lily, I couldn’t have asked for a better sister. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” The women hugged.
Razer got up from the table, throwing down the cards he had been dealt. “Ready? I’m done with these card sharks. If I don’t leave now, Cash will be riding my bike tomorrow.”
He walked to Lily, pulling her close for a hug. “Thanks for the booze, lil’ sis. Thanks for the green, Shade. We’ll see you guys Sunday.” He grabbed a squealing Beth into his arms and Lily rushed to open the side kitchen door for them.
“You’re joking about the green, right?”
Razer winked on his way out the door.
Lily shut the door behind them, throwing the dishcloth at Shade.
He caught it midair. “What did I do now? Did I say anything about you giving booze to your sister?” Before she could say anything, he added, “I know, I know. It’s legal.”
Lily went toward the living room, taking a few steps forward before she realized she hadn’t escaped upstairs early enough and now the party was in full swing.
“I don’t think that’s legal,” Shade said from behind her as they watched Jewell giving Rider a blowjob while Train was sitting behind her, smacking her on her bare bottom.
Lily walked sedately to the steps, determined not to run. She almost made it through the crowded room before two stunning blondes, one short and petite and the other long and leggy, descended on Shade with smiles of welcome.
“We’ve been looking for you. Jewell said the kitchen was off-limits, and your room. What’s up? We’ve missed you, Shade. Hook us up with a room and give that flogger of yours a workout. The last marks you put on us are gone, we need a refresher.”
Lily didn’t think the woman would ever shut up, each sentence more damning than the last.
Lily’s fantasies, which had been burgeoning, withered and died.
“You can have the third bedroom on the left; no one is using it anymore.” Lily spun on her feet, heading back toward the kitchen. Shade caught her within a few steps, lifting her up into his arms, and then carried her struggling body back to the steps.
“Shade?” one of the blondes tried again.
“Cash!” Shade snapped.
“I’ll take care of it.” Cash ushered the women away from Shade, giving him room to pack Lily up the stairs.
Lily tried to get away as soon as they were away from the steps. When she saw she wasn’t going to get away, she froze in his arms. As soon as the door closed behind them, he set her down on her feet. Lily hurriedly moved away from him.
“Lily.”
Lily held her hand up, stopping whatever he would say. She sat down calmly on the bottom of the bed, facing him. “What do you want from me, Shade?” She could tell her blunt question startled him. “Are you wanting a platonic friendship, friends who have sex, or were you wanting me to fall in love with you? Exactly what do you want?”
“I told you. I want you.”
Lily nodded her head. Standing up, she went to the dresser, pulling out her ponytail holder and then started brushing her hair while looking at herself in the mirror.
“You don’t even know who you want.” Lily reached out and briefly touched the mirror she was staring into. Her lips twisted ironically. “You want me because you think I’ll be the perfect submissive for you. That weak-minded Lily can be guided and manipulated into being exactly what you want.”
She strode angrily across the room to stand in front of him, sinking to her knees. In perfect posture, she knelt with her back straight, her head lowered, her hair falling against her face. Her hands lay palm-up on her lap.
“I could be everything you ever dreamed of having in a woman.” Lily’s impassive voice didn’t show an ounce of emotion. “You and those women downstairs play games for a few nights a month, but I have dreams and they don’t include being your little pet.”
Lily got to her feet. “I hope you enjoyed that because I will never,” she pointed her finger in his chest, “ever do that again, you big jerk.”
Lily started to gather her pajamas.
“Those blonde Barbies are more plastic than the dolls.” She turned to look at his face as she was about to go into the bathroom.