Lily smiled at his compliment.

“But what about the pay?”

“I have enough money for the both of us.” He held up his hand before she could interrupt. “But, since I know you want your own money, I’ll ask the brothers to each donate enough to pay your salary for the year.”

“I couldn’t ask them to do that.”

“You won’t; I will. Anyway, I already have a couple of their IOUs.”

Lily stepped out of the corner, giving him Jewell’s IOUs back. “Don’t forget to ask the women members,” she reminded him.

“I won’t. Feel better?”

Lily nodded then bit her lip.

“What?”

“There is a family who comes into the store. They have two kids. Could the father have my job? I know there is a wait list, but since you said my job is extra, could you?”

Shade groaned. “Give them my number.”

“Okay.” Lily happily went toward the door.

“Lily, we aren’t finished. Come here.”

She let out a loud sigh. She had apparently forgotten the issue that he had saved for last—the most important one to him.

She started to go back to her corner, hesitating, but then she walked back around the desk, coming to stand next to him.

He stood up, causing her to lean backward until her hands went behind her back to press against the desk.

“I think I’ve also figured out what it is about me that’s setting your nerves off.”

“You have?” Her eyes widened as she stared up at him.

“Yes, I have. You see, sometimes when a woman wants a man, her body lets her know by becoming … How shall I put it delicately? Horny. Yes, that’s the word I’m looking for. You’re horny.”

“I’m not horny!”

“I can prove that’s what’s bothering you,” Shade said smugly, leaning over her, pressing her back against his desk. His hand went to her thigh, bringing it up around his hip. “And I can fix that problem for you, too.”

“How can you fix the fact that you’re an arrogant ass?”

“I can’t, but I can fix it where you won’t care,” he said confidently, sure about his ability to satisfy the woman whose breathing changed the second he drew closer to her.

His mouth covered hers, cutting off her smart-aleck reply. She immediately opened hers wider, letting him take what he wanted, and she needed to give him.

He slipped his hand under her skirt, pushing it up to her waist, and then he stepped back, pulling off her panties. Lily didn’t even tense, lifting her leg to help him slide them over her shoes.

He then went to her pussy, finding her wet and needy, her clit engorged and begging for his touch. He stroked it and Lily pressed herself harder against his hand, trying to get him to exert more pressure.

Shade lifted his mouth away from hers. Gasping for breath, Lily ran her hands through his short hair, drawing him closer to her. His hand left her cunt, lightly snapping the waistband of her skirt against her taut stomach before sliding her loose shirt up, exposing her matching purple bra.

Shade tugged her breasts out of her bra, his eyes gazing down at her taut, pebbled nipples. Then he bent over, sucking one into his mouth and laving it into a pointed tip.

“Am I still bothering you?”

“Not so much,” Lily moaned as he teased her nipple.

Shade rose, standing straight. His cock was about to burst his zipper as he went to his belt buckle, unbuckling and unzipping his jeans.

Lily froze on his desk, fear coming to her eyes.

“Eyes to me, Lily.”

He leaned over her, seeing the fear disappear to be replaced with need then acceptance. Her face and breasts flushed as her desire built.

Shade placed the head of his cock between the lips of her pussy, and she lifted her hips to help him slide deep within her, opening herself to him without reservation. His hard hands on her hips held her to the desk, pinning her in place.

He began sliding his cock back and forth against the outside of her cunt, butting up against her clit, giving her the stimulation she needed until she was writhing as her climax played out.

He continued to hold her tightly, careful his cock didn’t slide into the sheath he wanted to desperately thrust himself inside.

Her scream was stifled by his mouth as his cock pulsated his release against the outside lips of her pussy.

She was still trembling as he reached over his desk, pulling several tissues out of the box. She lay across the desk, looking up at him with wonder as he gently cleaned her before throwing the tissues into the trashcan. He then helped her into a sitting position before cleaning himself and zipping his jeans back up.

Lily pushed her breasts back into her top then pulled her shirt back down to cover herself.

Shade gently grabbed her jaw, tilting her head back to give her a brief and gentle kiss, silently thanking her for the dream she had been willing to give up for him.

She didn’t want to have premarital sex, and Shade was aware of how important her convictions were. He didn’t want her breaking it for him, but he had taken it a step further than petting, hoping it wouldn’t rub her conscience too raw. It was the best he could do since he wasn’t a fucking saint, even though he felt like one right then. It was a miracle he had been able to stop himself from thrusting inside of her.

Stepping back, he started to help her to her feet.

“Ready to go back to work?”

Lily nodded happily as she slipped off the desk. She was almost around the desk when she turned back, looking around the floor.

“What are you doing?”

The resignation in Shade’s voice had her looking swiftly to his eyes, a flush coming to her cheeks.

“I was looking for my panties.” Her eyes swept the floor again.

Shade pulled his hand out of his pocket. “These are now mine.” He then pushed the panties back into his pocket. It was the least he deserved until he could get his hands on the red ones.

She blushed as she stared at him. Shade knew what was going on in her head. The thought of her working the rest of the day without underwear was going to be an added perk to his workday, though.

It was short-lived when he read the intention in her violet eyes.

She went through the door and was reaching back to shut it when he said, “By the way, while you’re at the house getting another pair of panties, could you get me a cup of coffee? Please.”

Lily’s only response was to slam the door.

Shade grinned at the closed door. He might need to call Viper and tell him to hold off on buying a new coffee pot.

Chapter 63

Shade took a drink of coffee, ignoring the others sitting at the table as he waited for Lily. She had stayed after church to ask Lucky if she could run the church store. She had been talking excitably about it that morning as she dressed, confiding she was nervous about asking the pastor.

Shade had turned onto his stomach on the bed to keep her from seeing him roll his eyes. Lucky was going to accept her offer so fast she would be fortunate if she didn’t get whiplash.

He was able to see clearly out of the diner window. He hadn’t liked the thought of her alone with Lucky. He didn’t worry that Lucky would try anything with Lily, though; his principles were too strong for that.