Shade reached into the nightstand drawer, pulling out his tablet. He was in the middle of the fourth game, shooting zombies, when the bathroom light began to blink. Shade turned off his tablet, moving closer to Lily’s side.

The light blinked again, but that time, it didn’t come back on. He unconsciously held his breath, hoping Lily slept through the blackout, but the lights hadn’t been out a minute before she jerked straight up in the bed, screaming in terror.

“Lily.” Shade spoke calmly to her in the darkness, giving her his voice to cling to in the pitch black. “The power went off. The generator will kick on in a minute. Just take a deep breath with me and let’s count.”

She couldn’t concentrate enough to count.

“Lily! Concentrate. Count with me. One … two … three…”

Lily finally calmed down enough to join him. “Four … five...”

Shade kept reassuring her that the generator would cut on and she was safe as she continued to count through sobbing breaths until the lights flickered briefly then came on. Then she turned to him, laying her head on his shoulder and crying in relief.

“I have you, sweetheart. Shh … I have you,” Shade promised, his voice thick.

While he soothed and rocked her in his arms, holding her tightly, Lily’s arms circled his neck. She burrowed closer to him, searching for comfort, which he gave her without hesitation.

Fine tremors shook her body while his firm hand stroked her back as he continued to rock her, repeating over and over soothingly that it was only a storm.

After she gradually relaxed, exhausted, lying limply against him and falling back asleep, Shade pulled her closer, rubbing her cheek with his.

“I’ve got you, Lily. Nothing’s ever going to hurt you again. I swear.”

Chapter 54

“Here you go.” Shade placed his laptop on the desk in front of Lily. She wanted to get started on the class assignments she had missed the previous week.

Giving her privacy, he worked out so she could be alone and concentrate.

Afterward, she didn’t even raise her head from the computer when he passed through the bedroom to take a shower. When he got out, he pulled on a pair of jeans, going barefoot and shirtless.

She was frowning at her assignment when he reentered the bedroom.

“Hungry?”

“A little, but I want to finish this.”

“Go ahead and finish. I’ll bring you a plate.”

“Sounds good, thanks,” Lily said absently.

Shade left the room to go upstairs where several members were in the kitchen, sitting around and talking after dinner. Shade made himself and Lily a plate of food, seeing Winter stacking the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.

“What did you get in trouble for this time?” Shade asked.

Winter looked at him with a dejected air. “I wouldn’t quit bugging the members to buy computers, so Viper made me pull the punishment when Rider told on me. He has over twenty motorcycles, and he got mad at me when I suggested he should donate a computer for every bike. The freaking tightwad!”

Shade looked over his shoulder at Rider sitting at the table with his arms crossed over his chest. The brother was sensitive over his bikes. He was notorious for being a cheapskate over everything other than the motorcycles he bought. Winter had been lucky to have pried open his wallet as much as she had.

Shade set the tray of food down to get drinks. He was walking by Winter when he came to a stop.

“Order the computers you need. I’ll cut you a check in the morning.”

The plate Winter was holding slipped through her fingers, landing with a thud in the dishwasher. Then she threw herself into his arms, hugging him.

Shade felt uncomfortable since Viper was watching from the table as his wife cried her ‘thank yous’ against his bare shoulder. He finally managed to break free, placing the drinks on the tray.

“No problem,” Shade said, heading for the basement door.

“Shade,” Viper drawled. “I see what you mean about watching your woman in another man’s arms, but for the amount of money you just forked over, I’m thinking of hugging you, too. I was going to break and buy them.”

Shade mock-shuddered. “I’ll pass, brother. Winter’s was enough.” He closed the door on Viper’s ‘fuck you’ gesture, chuckling as Winter smacked Viper on the back of the head for flipping him off. The price of the computers was worth seeing that sight alone.

He carried the tray into the bedroom, setting it down on the table in front of the television. Then he picked up the plate he had prepared for Lily and her drink, placing them in front of her.

“Thanks,” she said briefly, typing something on the computer.

Shade sat and watched the television while eating his own meal. Afterward, he sprawled out, relaxing and enjoying his day off from the factory. If anyone had asked him what his idea of contentment was, it would be having Lily close-by where he could see her whenever he wanted.

“Is the television distracting you?” Shade asked when she gave a frustrated sigh.

“No.”

Shade turned back to the movie, though his concentration was broken when her chair scooted back from the desk.

She stood up, grabbing her plate from the desk. “Do you need anything while I’m upstairs?”

“A beer would be great.”

He frowned when she left the room. Maybe her classes were turning out to be harder than she had anticipated. He would offer to help her, but she seemed to be in a grumpy mood and he didn’t think she would accept his offer.

She came back a few minutes later, empty-handed.

“Where’s my beer?” Shade asked.

“I forgot it.” She was flushed, looking down at her empty hands as if surprised nothing was there.

“I’m going to take a shower,” Lily said, grabbing her pajamas and then disappearing into the bathroom.

Shade frowned at her behavior. Standing up and stretching, he then carried the tray of dirty dishes to the kitchen.

He went through the kitchen door, hearing a moan as he entered. Looking toward the television room, he saw Bliss and Train were fucking on the couch. Lily’s behavior explained, Shade placed his dishes into the sink before going to the fridge to take a beer. Leaving the two to their fuck session, he returned downstairs to the bedroom, turning his movie back on.

Shade was taking a drink of his beer when she returned to the bedroom.

“It’s a little early to go to bed, isn’t it?”

“I have a headache. I guess it’s from staring at the computer screen.”

“Possibly. Will the television disturb you?”

“No.” Lily was about to climb into bed yet stopped, coming to stand in front of him instead.

“You need to let me go. I’m never going to fit into this club.”

“What makes you say that?”

“You know why.” She waved her hand at the beer. “Bliss doesn’t try to hide that you both have shared a relationship. She doesn’t want me here. She belongs here; I don’t.”

“You will.”

“No, Shade, I won’t. You’re only going to hurt everyone involved. I’m never going to adjust to your lifestyle. You’re not a one-woman man.”