“What the hell?”

“I’m supposed to pretend you’re attacking me, aren’t I?” she asked snidely.

Shade’s good humor disappeared. He was going to paddle that ass, which was driving him crazy, when he managed to get ahold of her.

“Yes, but I want you to learn to stop an attacker, not piss them off.”

“As long as it works and I get away, that’s all that counts,” Lily said smugly.

“Is that so?” Shade said, placing his hands on his hips.

“Yes.” Lily kept facing him, not letting him have her back like she usually did.

“Did Kaley go home?” she asked, her eyes a turbulent, violet storm.

Shade had started moving toward her, but his momentum stopped at her words. “Yes.”

“Do a lot of women try to join?”

“Yes.” Shade was beginning to get her message of anger, giving her a wary look. He didn’t like the vindictive expression on her face.

“I bet that’s fun for the men. Don’t the women members resent the new members?”

“No. Why, are you interested?” Shade asked, making his move against her.

That time, her foot shot out, and she managed to nail him in the stomach, causing him to have to catch his breath from the force of the kick that had fucking hurt. He had always been careful not to hurt her, while the little witch staring back at him was filled with pleasure about doing what no one else had been allowed to get close to accomplishing.

Lily walked around the mat, gloating about her success. “You’re getting slow, Shade.” She bounced from foot to foot. “And, no, I’m not interested. You and the other men can have all the women in Treepoint who want to join your club. I won’t be one of them. I plan to find me a man who can appreciate one woman.”

“That’s a joke.” Shade said, deciding to make her angry enough to drop her guard.

“What do you mean by that?” Lily stopped bouncing.

“That you would ever let a man touch you. Tell me, how do you intend to catch a cowboy or any man when you have no intention of giving them anything? I bet Charles’s balls are blue around you, but I’m sure he finds one of his daddy’s waitresses to relieve him.”

“That’s not true. Charles is a gentleman.”

“He likes his cock sucked as much as any man,” Shade taunted.

“You’re disgusting!” Lily screamed at him, turning to leave the mat.

“What’s the matter, Lily? What really set off this little temper tantrum of yours?”

When Lily didn’t reply, Shade blocked her path, wanting the truth from her before she ran away.

“Move.”

“Make me. I’m already shocked as shit you haven’t run to your corner like a scared little girl,” he taunted, determined for her to face both of them with the truth. She was fucking jealous!

Shade almost shouted for joy. You were only jealous over something you cared about, something you didn’t want to share with anyone else. She had to care about him to be jealous, right?

“You’re a mean person. I hate you.” Lily slammed her hands out, shoving his chest and trying to make him move out of her way.

Shade wanted her to recognize her feelings for him; however, she needed to cool off in order to think about why she was so furious.

His foot went out, sweeping her feet out from under her, and she fell to her back on the mat.

“You lose. Again.” Shade looked down at her in triumph, unwarily standing over the woman.

He was about to reach down and give her a helping hand up when her hand reached up and viciously grabbed his balls, squeezing them in a vice. He fell to his knees as his hand went to his nuts, trying to jerk her hand away. Her hand tightened even further as she rose up on her knees, squeezing harder. Her satisfied smile widened at his pain-filled expression.

“How’s this work for taking the attacker by surprise? Are you surprised? Don’t underestimate me. I don’t like it.” Her hand twisted his balls viciously one last time before letting him go and getting to her feet.

“It’s un-cool to talk about Charles like that. It’s his private business, just like you and Jewell in your office. I don’t care who either of you fool around with,” she snapped.

Shade got to his feet, and Lily’s face paled as she came to her senses. He was done with her bullshit. He was going to keep his promise and paddle that ass, which had been tormenting him, and then he was going to fuck her to make sure his dick was still working.

She wasn’t stupid, though. She took one look at his face and took off running toward the stairs. Because his balls were killing him, the hellion managed to make it up several before he caught her ankle. He held her in a hard grip, not wanting her to get away.

Lily kicked her other foot out, balancing her hands on the upper steps and nailing him in the jaw. The surprise attack made him release her foot and she managed to escape him, going up the last steps to sling the door open. Then she ran into the kitchen and slammed the door in his furious face.

Shade had seen everyone in the kitchen staring at them before she had slammed the door closed on him. He gripped the door handle, wanting to rip it off. Instead, he turned it, opening the door with enough force it slammed against the wall.

The kitchen was full of members lined up for dinner, but Shade didn’t give a fuck. She was going to get the punishment she deserved.

He moved toward her then came to a stop when he heard a familiar voice.

“Lily?” Beth’s voice had both of them turning to the table where Razer, Winter, and Viper were looking at them in shock.

Razer and Viper both moved to the edge of their seat, correctly reading his expression.

Fuck, she was lucky.

Chapter 52

“Been working out?” Beth asked, her gaze going back and forth between Lily and Shade.

“Yes. I think I’m finally getting the hang of it.” Lily threw him a gloating look over her shoulder.

“That’s great. I was so worried about you after the diner, but I knew everyone would look out for you, and Mrs. Langley doesn’t have anyone. The doctor is going to release her in an hour. I’m going to spend the weekend with her, but I wanted to stop in to check on you.”

“I’m doing great. In fact, why don’t you stay here, and I’ll stay with Mrs. Langley? No one will think to look for me there,” Lily spoke in a rush, staring at Shade.

“Maybe when she’s better, but she needs skilled care after just having surgery.”

Shade smirked at Beth’s answer. His woman had thought she was going to get out of her punishment. Not fucking likely! He would bar the doors if he had to in order to keep her inside.

“I’m glad you showed up. I have another idea. Since we don’t know who was watching me, it makes sense for me to leave Kentucky. I can contact Penni and stay with her until the band she’s working for goes on tour.”

Shade lost his smirk at her quick thinking.

“I think that’s a great idea. I know you would be safe with Penni, and I can understand that it’s not comfortable for you to stay here.” Beth’s eyes went to Shade’s. She had no legitimate excuse for why she couldn’t go stay with Penni, and they both knew it.