“Are you sure it’s okay? A crying baby in the middle of the night is going to be hard for them to listen to until we get our house built,” Lily worried as they went inside the kitchen from the back door. The kitchen was completely empty as they walked through it to the club room.
“I’m going to lay John down then go see Beth and Razer…” Lily came to a stop in the kitchen doorway, staring in surprise at the club room.
Blue balloons were everywhere. There was a cake and food sitting on the bar counter, and the pool table was filled with presents. All The Last Riders, Sex Piston and her crew, Willa, and Beth standing with Razer filled the room.
“What’s going on?” Lily asked, staring up at Shade.
“They decided not to listen to me and threw you a baby shower,” Shade complained with a grin.
Pleasure filled Lily’s face. “I just have to ask; did you make anything?”
Shade left her side and going behind the counter, he pulled out a motorcycle with a stuffed teddy bear at the wheel. It was made out of diapers.
Lily released a giggle of laughter. “It’s a masterpiece.”
“No. John’s my best work so far, but give me time. I get better each time I make something.”
* * *
“Where do you think you’re going?” Shade glided the towel over his wet body.
As Lily paused while putting on her lipstick, he felt her eyes slide over his body in the bathroom mirror. His cock began hardening at the desire easily visible in the violet orbs.
“I’m going to work.” Her jaw was set determinedly as she stiffened at the bathroom counter. She was ready to get into an argument as to why she couldn’t go.
“Who’s going to watch the baby?”
“I am. He’s going with me. The store’s never really busy, and I can breastfeed him in the back room.”
“Are you ready to go back?” Shade rubbed his wet hair with the towel.
Lily’s eyes went to his abdomen. “Yes.” She licked her bottom lip.
His cock lengthened at her concentrated stare. He hadn’t fucked her for two weeks, wanting to give her time to recover from having her adoptive father kidnap her and then her breakdown.
“Okay.” Shade tossed the towel into the hamper, walking into the bedroom to get dressed. Lily’s look of disappointment followed him.
Taking out a pair of jeans and socks, he pulled on the jeans before sitting on the bed to put on his socks.
Lily put on her white sandals. She was wearing a pale pink dress, looking as pretty as the sunny, early summer day outside.
Shade reached for one of his boots, tugging it on. As he stretched for the other one, Lily kneeled, handing it to him.
“Can I ask you something?” The troubled look in her eyes warned him that it was a topic he had avoided since she had returned from the hospital.
“No,” he said sharply.
She lowered her gaze to the floor.
“Eyes to me, Lily.” He reached out, snagging a tendril of her hair and gently tugging it.#p#分页标题#e#
She did as told, scooting forward until she was kneeling between his thighs.
“I am not going to have any more lies between us; do you understand me? So don’t ask me questions I’m going to answer with a lie.”
“Why did he hide from us? As mean as he was, we would have welcomed him home. He was our father.”
Shade reached out to cup her cheek. Lily hadn’t asked about Saul before, and Shade was certain it was because her mind hadn’t been ready to hear the answers. Lily’s gentle soul still fought to forgive and understand evil, even after it had nearly destroyed her. She had been pushed to learn to defend herself, not because of her own needs, but because of the love she had for John and him.
She was feeling strong, which was why she wanted to return to work. Shade thought it would be good for her. There was no danger for her there anymore. With Brooke in the hospital under armed guard, Merrick Patterson had resigned as pastor, returning to Georgia to be with his son. Apparently, Brooke had gone to Georgia long enough to drop her child off with his grandmother before she had returned to Kentucky.
Brooke would never understand the love Lily felt for him. Hell, he hadn’t believed Lily loved him as much as he did her until Brooke’s revelations the day at the doctor’s office. That day had showed that his wife was able to look past the man he had been. Brooke had also underestimated Lily’s strength to do what it took to keep her family safe and happy, which was why he hadn’t touched her in two weeks.
She was stronger, so he would talk to her that night. He didn’t want her submissive to him if she was only doing it to please him. He would miss that aspect of their relationship, but he would suppress that side of himself if she was doing it only to make him happy. She’ll avoid the conversation, but it’s one we are going to have, Shade thought determinedly.