His hand slid forward from behind, rubbing her crotch through the thin material of her shorts. The place he was rubbing teased her flesh with a brief touch before sliding back, not giving her a full caress, only a promise. Lily moaned, unable to help herself. He slid his hand back and forth until her butt was pushing back against his hand and her arms circled his neck.

Shade leaned forward, rising to his feet with her thighs clenching his hips as he carried her back to his bedroom. He opened the door, and then closed it with his foot. Bending down, he laid her on the side of the bed before rising and standing between her spread thighs.

He turned to the bedside table, turning on the small lamp. The light switching on was like one going on in her brain, asking herself what she was doing.

In a split second, she had turned and scrambled off the other side of the bed, breathing heavily. Her breasts lifted and fell with her erratic breathing. Pushing her hair back from her face, she noticed where his attention was directed.

“Cut it out, Shade.” Lily blew out a deep breath, unconsciously rubbing her tummy. “I can’t do that.” She motioned to the bed.

“Why not?” he asked, staring at her in amusement. His eyes dropped to her hand’s tell-tale movements.

Lily quickly dropped her hand to her side. “Because I’m not ready yet. I haven’t made my mind up if I want to and…” she paused, “I’ve always planned to wait until I was married.” Lily lowered her eyes to the floor. “It means a lot to me,” she finished lamely, aware her face showed her embarrassment.

“I see.” Shade walked toward the door, opening it for her.

Relieved, she walked toward the doorway. “Thanks, Sir.” She gave him a relieved smile.

“No problem.”

Lily gave him a curious look as she went through the doorway, surprised and a little hurt. She hadn’t expected him to take it so well. Was he planning on finding sex elsewhere if she didn’t? It wasn’t like he would have to search far.

Morosely, she followed him up the stairs to their bedroom where she showered and changed while he used the shower in the hallway. She had to grit her teeth when they went downstairs for dinner and he actually whistled.

Evie had fixed a huge roast with all the fixings. Lily ate as she watched Shade talk to the others at the table. It took her by surprise to see that someone was missing.

“Train isn’t back yet?” Lily asked with a frown.

“Who are you worried about? Killyama or Train?” Rider questioned with a grin.

The whole table cracked up. Lily wanted to throw something; they just didn’t understand the abrasive woman. She wanted to think that underneath Killyama’s gruff attitude lay a sweet woman, but there wasn’t. That was Sex Piston. Killyama was as fierce on the inside as she was on the outside. Lily actually liked that about her; she was loyal and she wouldn’t take anyone’s bull. Her best feature was the one that had saved her life—she would protect anyone she cared about.

The door opened and closed with a slam. They all sat watching as Train fixed himself a plate, piling on food and then sat down at the table.

“Well?” Rider asked.

“Well what?” Train asked with a glare.

“How did it go?”

“How the fuck do you think it went? The woman is a fucking lunatic. She thought I would let her drive my bike.”

“What happened when you told her no?” Lily asked, dreading his answer.

“She tried to climb in front of me. I almost wrecked my bike.” He tore the top off his beer, taking a long drink. “When I brought her back here to her car, she actually thought I was going to fuck her.” He shook his head in disbelief.

“What happened when you told her no?” Lily asked apprehensively.

This time Train remained quiet.

The shocked silence had Train lifting the beer to his mouth, finishing it in a long swallow. Lily tried to smother her laugher, yet she was unsuccessful.

“Did you manage to tame the bitch?” Rider asked with a smirk.

At that, all hell broke loose. Train’s fist flew out, hitting Rider in the jaw and knocking him backwards, toppling the chair and him over. Lily screamed, standing up from the table, about to go to Rider’s aide, but Shade took her arm, pulling her away.

Train threw himself on Rider when he attempted to stand up. The two fought on the floor, throwing their fists viciously at each other, striking whatever body part they could reach while Viper and Nickel tried to pull them apart.

“Stop!” Winter yelled. “You two are scaring Lily.” Everyone except Winter froze, looking at Lily in trepidation, waiting for her to have one of her panic attacks.

Beth relaxed first, familiar with Winter’s machinations. Lily’s twinkling violet eyes had the other members turning to Winter suspiciously. She shrugged, sitting back down at the table, and then continued to eat. Lily joined her with the others gradually retaking their seats, as well. Finally, Train held his hand out to Rider, helping him to his feet. Both returned to their seats to finish their own dinners.

Gradually, the atmosphere relaxed and no one else dared to ask about either of Train’s rides.

Lily and Beth cleaned the table, leaving Winter and Ember to do the dishes. Shade, Train and Rider began a game of cards while several others began a game of pool in the corner of the room. Since everyone was behaving well, Lily lingered downstairs, talking with Stori. When Raci and Jewell came down, though, Lily knew it was time to disappear.

As she passed the card table, Shade reached up, pulling her down to sit on his lap while he continued to play cards. Lily’s back was to the room so that she was unable to see what was going on behind her. She relaxed against Shade, looking down at his cards. Someone put some music on and she heard them moving the furniture so they could dance. Lily was determined to go upstairs when they finished the hand they were playing. When Shade won, she clapped for him. Then they began another game.

“Do you want to play?” Shade asked.

“I don’t know how,” Lily said regretfully.

“I’ll teach you.”

The next hour Shade taught her how to play. Rider got up from the table, going into the kitchen and then coming back with beers for the men, placing a soda in front of Lily.

“Unless you want a beer?”

“No, thanks.” Lily opened the soda, taking a drink. A moan sounded behind her back and she started to get up.

“It’s your turn,” Shade reminded her.

Lily took her turn, trying to ignore the escalating moans.

She forced herself to watch their game. From the sounds behind her it was too late to leave anyway. Gradually, the moans died away and Lily was able to concentrate once again.

She was winning steadily with a pile of cash sitting in front of her. She couldn’t help thinking of the people at the church it would help this close to Christmas.

She scooted her latest winnings into the pile sitting in front of her.

“Sucker.” She grinned at Train across the table.

“Beginner’s luck,” he mumbled, dealing another hand.

Lily looked down at her cards, stifling the grin that threatened to break loose.

“Can I join?” Jewell came up behind Train, circling his neck. He reached around to pull her down onto his lap and then he dealt her a hand.