His harsh words had her straightening from the pole.

“Oh, yes, there was. There were three little girls who were like sisters. When my mother would finally crash and sleep, she would take me to a babysitter. I know my mom didn’t pay her; she spent all her money on anything other than me. I was raised with two beautiful little girls. They loved me enough to see that I had food to eat, that I had toys to play with, that I had a normal touch. They would hold my hand constantly when we went out. They were constantly afraid they would lose me.

“We would sit on the playground and pretend that we would run away when we grew old enough. Vida was sweet and sensitive. She loved animals. She wanted to live on a farm. Sawyer was more adventurous. She wanted to have fun. She chose Disneyland, and I wanted to see the Northern Lights.”

“That was why you wanted to go to Alaska,” Shade wondered aloud softly.

“I had the farthest to run,” she said softly. “That night we were looking through those books must have triggered a memory. My mind was trying to remind me of my past. A past I don’t belong to any more than I belong here.”

She stood straight, standing on the top step, looking down at him. “You thought I was a young, innocent woman, that I’ve never touched alcohol. You don’t know that I was sold for pocket change. I’ve done things which make me sick. How can I belong anywhere when I know how disgusting I am?”

“Lily, look at that house behind you. I built that house for you—every room, this porch, these steps, is for you, for us and the children we will have.” He put every ounce of the passion and love he felt for her in his voice so she would understand her past wasn’t a burden she had to carry alone anymore.

“I love you. When I say it, I don’t say it lightly. I say it because, when I look at you, I see an angel who God let slip through His fingers to leave behind just for me.

“Lily, you belong. You belong to me. You will always belong to me.” Shade walked up the steps, sweeping her up into his arms. “Always.”

He took her to the front door of their house, carrying her inside and slamming the door behind them. Reaching beside the door, he balanced her while he flipped on the lights.

Lily stared around the living room filled with furniture. “When did you do this?” she asked, seeing the furniture they had just picked out the day before.

“While you were in church tonight. The brothers and I busted our balls getting this done while you were gone.”

“How did you get the furniture delivered so fast?”

“I threatened Leonard, but I also gave him a big tip,” Shade said ruefully.

“We did good,” Lily said, trying to wiggle down so she could look closer at her house. “Let me down; I want to see the kitchen,” Lily said, exasperated.

“Later. I’m going to show you the bedroom first.” His gave her a wicked grin, and she grinned back, laying her head on his shoulders.

Shade took her upstairs to the bedroom where the door was already open. He carried her through, setting her down in their new bedroom. There were candles set in various places throughout the room, giving it a soft glow, and the bed was made up with the covers pulled down. On the bed was the present she had bought Shade the day before.

“Beth made me promise to have it on the bed waiting for you,” he told her when her eyes fixated on it.

“What time is it?” Lily asked.

Shade glanced down at his watch. “Eleven-thirty.”

“That’s close enough. I think it’s time I gave you your Christmas present,” she said mischievously.

Lily went to the bed, picking the package up, and then headed toward the bathroom.

“Wait, I thought you were going to let me open it?” Shade asked, confused. If it was meant for him, why was she taking it away?

“I will. Give me ten minutes.” Lily disappeared into the bathroom.

Shade took his clothes off while she was in the shower then laid down on the bed to wait for her. The bathroom door opened some time later, and he saw his wife standing in the doorway.

“That is the best present I’ve ever had. Come here and let me open it.” His intense eyes didn’t lift from the gift she had bought him.

The white lace corset she was wearing had no straps. It hugged her chest in sweetheart cups which pushed her full breasts up and showed how tiny her waist was in comparison to her flared hips. The lace ended just above the tiny white lace panties.

Lily slid into the bed next to him, her shy eyes going over his naked body.

“Come here.” Shade put his hand behind her neck, drawing her closer to him.

His mouth went to her breasts, grazing against the top.

“I don’t get a kiss?” she asked playfully.

Shade lifted his head, giving her a brief, hard kiss before returning to her breasts.

Lily burst out laughing. “You can’t do better than that?”

“Angel, these breasts are … I’m trying to think of a word that’s good enough to describe them.” His hand went to the tiny hooks that went down the lace corset, unfastening them. When he finished, he spread the corset apart. “Fucking magnificent.” He pushed one globe up, finding the tip with his lips. He sucked just the tip of the nipple into his mouth before releasing it. His hand then went to the other breast, grasping it before he lowered his mouth to the tip, sucking it into his mouth then releasing it. “Fucking gorgeous.”

“I take it you’re a breast man.”

“All men are breast men,” he replied, looking at her tits in awe. They were as good as her ass. It was hard to choose. Of course, since she was his wife, he didn’t figure he had to.

Lily stretched before her arms reached out to him. Shade bent down, covering her mouth with his, giving her the kiss she had wanted. She needed gentleness and tenderness from him, and Shade felt it as if she was screaming it at him.

Lily had pictured her dream wedding since she was sixteen, so she had to have envisioned her wedding night, as well. Shade wanted both of her dreams to come true. That morning, he had given her the wedding day she wanted; now he was going to give her the wedding night.

He parted her lips with his tongue, seducing her with the wildness of his taste and the gentle glide of his against her own. His mouth then went to her neck, exploring her flesh with tiny flicks of his tongue while his hand slid up her thigh, gliding straight to her pussy, finding her nub and rubbing it with strokes that were already close to making her climax.

“Shade, I need you,” Lily moaned, one of her legs rubbing against his as she tried to tell him what she needed.

“You’re not hot enough yet.” Shade moved his mouth to her breast again, taking her nipple back into his mouth.

“Yes, I am,” Lily disagreed.

Shade traced her opening, finding her damp yet not nearly enough to take him. Lily was an innocent to desire. When he touched her, she always laid still, never touching him back. He wanted her to see that making love was different than having sex.

Her hands left his shoulders, exploring every inch of his skin, discovering his body. He trembled when her lips grazed the flesh at the base of his throat as her fingers explored his muscles, smoothing over his body.

She grazed his nipples with her teeth and stroked his back when he shifted to lie between her thighs. He gently slid his cock deep within her, feeling her palms slide along his ribcage, circling his waist and holding him tight.