After dinner, Shade, Train, and Rider began a game of cards while several others played pool in the corner of the room. Lily and Beth cleared the table as Winter and Ember started the dishes.

The brothers were behaving themselves, so Lily couldn’t make an excuse to disappear upstairs. However, when Raci and Jewell came back downstairs after changing, Shade read her intent to leave.

As she passed the card table, Shade reached up then pulled her down to sit on his lap while he continued to play cards. He made sure to seat her so Lily’s back was to the room, unable to see what was going on behind her.

She relaxed against him, looking down at his cards. Nickel put some music on as Crash moved the furniture so they could dance.

When Shade won, she clapped for him, and Shade motioned for Rider to begin another game.

“Do you want to play?” Shade asked.

“I don’t know how,” Lily said regretfully, her eyes filled with disappointment.

“I’ll teach you,” Shade offered. True to his word, he spent the next hour teaching her how to play.

Rider got up from the table, going into the kitchen and then coming back with beers for the men, placing a soda in front of Lily.

“Unless you want a beer?” he joked.

“No, thanks.” Lily opened the soda, taking a drink.

Raci’s moan sounded behind their backs, and Lily started to get up. Shade didn’t have to turn to see who had moaned; he was familiar with all the sounds each woman made when they fucked.

“It’s your turn,” Shade reminded her, trying to distract her.

Lily took her turn, and he watched as she tried to concentrate.

Shade wished Raci would hurry and climax before Lily couldn’t take it anymore and darted from the room. Nickel liked to play around with the women before they came. Shade was going to beat his ass if he ruined his plans.

Lily was winning steadily with a pile of cash sitting in front of her. Shade could see the little wheels turning in her brain on how many people she could help at the church store with that wad of cash. She had already sweet-talked him out of two large donations at Thanksgiving.

She scooted her latest winnings into the pile sitting in front of her.

“Sucker.” She grinned at Train across the table.

Shade smiled at her gloating.

“Beginner’s luck,” Train mumbled, dealing another hand.

Shade was going to give him an extra IOU for his performance. He knew it was killing the brother to deliberately lose.

Lily looked down at her cards, unsuccessful at stifling the grin which threatened to break loose.

Shade rolled his eyes. The woman was a lousy poker player.

“Can I join?” Jewell came up behind Train, circling his neck. He reached around to pull her down onto his lap, and then he dealt her a hand.

“Ante up,” Rider said. His own acting job wasn’t going so well.

Shade threw him a threatening glare at his lackluster performance.

“I don’t have any money. How about we play for favors?” Jewell’s hand went to Train’s lap.

“Okay with me. I need my room cleaned,” Train teased, pulling at her top.

Jewell playfully hit his shoulder.

“Okay with you, Lily?” Shade asked, his arm circling Lily’s waist, using the movement to kick Train under the table. He changed his mind; the brother wasn’t getting the extra IOU. He wasn’t going to get any at all if Lily left before the game was over.

“I’m in,” Lily said.

“I don’t like that vindictive look in your eyes, but I’m in,” Rider agreed.

Lily looked expectantly up at Shade.

“Are you sure you want to play?” he questioned her, soothing his conscience by giving her a chance to leave the table.

She nodded eagerly, and that was all his conscience needed.

“Deal,” Shade said.

Train dealt the cards.

As Lily gazed down at her cards, still smiling, Shade rolled his eyes again.

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 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.” 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 Jewell read hers out loud. “An hour of fucking.”

She was about to throw it into the pot when Lily spoke up.

“Uh, excuse me. It’s nothing personal, but I don’t want that.” Lily shook her head.

“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 she was so excited. He scooted her forward an inch. The woman wanted to bust his balls even when she was in a good mood. Shade almost hated to spoil her good time, but then eased his conscience by telling himself he would show her a better one.

He leaned forward, making his move.

Minutes later, Shade grinned as he raked his winnings across the table to set them in front of himself.

“I’m done for the night. Good game,” Shade lied.

He lifted Lily off his lap so he could rise to his feet. Then he reached down onto the table, stacking his papers and 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.” He shook his head at her. “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.” Shade ruthlessly used her honesty against her. Thank fuck he didn’t have that problem.

Lily reluctantly followed him downstairs, lagging slightly behind. He held the bedroom door open for her then closed and locked it when she stepped reluctantly across the threshold.

“Shade…” Lily began.

“Take off your clothes,” he said sternly.

Lily didn’t move.

“So you don’t plan to keep your word?” He lifted a brow, keeping his face impassive.

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. He found the one he wanted and 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…”