Loving Shade Read online

  Tara begins to ask something when I curl my arm around her shoulders, twirl with her and nudge her to the chairs.

  She slides onto a lounge chair while I lie by her side, my back to Chad, partially blocking her view.

  She sneaks a peek.

  “What are you so curious about?” I ask, smiling.

  A small grin creases her lips.

  “I’m not.” She searches my eyes for a moment. “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing,” I say, chuckling.

  “You think it turns me on?”

  I nod.

  “Uh-huh.”

  The light is faint, but even so, I can tell she blushes.

  “It doesn’t.”

  “You’re such a bad liar, Tara Hart.”

  She purses her lips into another smile.

  “Does it turn you on?’ she asks, running her hand inside my shirt.

  “Uh-huh,” I mumble, biting my lip. “There’s nothing wrong with that. She’s hot,” I say.

  Her eyebrows tilt up before she softly slaps my chest.

  “Hey,” she says, chiding me. “He’s hot too,” she mutters.

  “Exactly,” I say, laughing softly. “They look good together.”

  She pushes up on her elbow and glances at them over my shoulder. I swivel my head and sneak a peek too.

  “That must be a hell of a blow job,” I say, registering his transfixed face.

  Jokingly, she slaps my chest again and nudges my face back to her.

  “Stop staring,” she mutters.

  Her chest slides on top of mine as my back hits the pillow.

  “Is she going to be okay?” she asks, locking my eyes, brushing my lips with her fingers.

  “I wouldn’t worry about her. I’m more concerned about him,” I say, flicking my gaze in their direction again, taking in the view.

  His shirt is barely clinging to his shoulders, his pants down all the way, her hands on his muscled legs.

  His erection slides smoothly in and out her mouth. He groans with pleasure.

  “Shade...” she hisses at me under her breath.

  My eyes shift back to her.

  “It’s definitely him that I’m worried about...” I joke, playfully.

  A different expression slides onto her face, her smile withering away.

  “You don’t know,” she says quietly. “She’s going through a divorce right now. And she hasn’t been with another man since she got married.”

  “That, I can tell,” I say, taking another peak at them.

  Chad’s hand is buried deep in her hair as he guides her head against his thrusts.

  She glances at them again.

  “They couldn’t hear you if a full speed train made a stop by the pool,” I say, observing the smooth movement of his hard flesh entering Maya’s mouth. “Seemingly she hasn’t sucked a cock since she got married,” I say, amused.

  “Shade.”

  A chuckle vibrates in her throat.

  I pull her into my arms.

  “Don’t worry, baby. She’ll be fine,” I say, serious this time.

  Her eyes delve into mine. She rolls her hand onto my face, her eyes locking mine.

  We freeze for a few seconds, emotion flashing through her eyes.

  “What is it, baby?” I ask, nuzzling her hair.

  “You make me feel so good,” she murmurs.

  “You too, baby.”

  ”I never thought that I’d ever say this to anyone,” she murmurs, “but I can’t imagine my life without you.”

  Her voice is soft and sweet.

  “You don’t have to imagine your life without me, baby,” I say softly as well, and then I kiss her tenderly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  A smile rolls to her lips, yet sadness spills over her eyes.

  “Things will be fine. You’ll see.”

  I turn to my side as my lips find hers as she curls her arm around my neck.

  12

  TARA

  The blood runs faster in my veins as he slides one hand into my hair, the other running up between my thighs. His mouth crashes onto mine, plucking my breath out of my lungs.

  Maya’s soft and muffled moans echo in the background.

  I glance in her direction as Shade peels the dress off me.

  “Relax, baby,” he murmurs, his low, raspy voice spurring goosebumps on my skin.

  His hand moves between my legs, his tongue sliding smoothly into my mouth. Quietly, I start to moan, vibrating with pleasure.

  Tightening his grip on me, he swirls his tongue against my neck, leaving soft kisses here and there. Grazing my shoulder with his teeth to distract me, he slides his fingers into me.

  “Shade... we’re not doing this,” I say, breathing shallowly, hearing the pounding of my pulse in my ears.

  He smiles.

  “Yes... we are,” he says, calm, and unequivocal.

  “But...”

  “Shh.”

  He looks down at my naked body, a grin curving his beautiful lips.

  “You have your heels on, so you’re not completely naked,” he says concessively, a playful smile reaching his eyes. “You’re a beautiful puttana...” he mutters, and my cheeks catch on fire. “My fucking beautiful harlot,” he adds after a pause, smiling endearingly.

  “You get away with a lot Shade Hennessy. You’re the only man I know who can make these words sound lovingly,” I say, laughing softly.

  Lasciviously, I roll my hips against his touch, soaking his fingers with my arousal.

  I fling my gaze away.

  Not far from us, buried under Chad’s athletic frame, Maya seemingly gets the best fuck of her life. Hands glued to his butt, she squirms under his body while he sensually moves in and out of her.

  He grabs a fistful of her hair and starts to ram into her harder while she shudders under him. He keeps thrusting into her, every roll of his hips spurring moans on Maya’s lips.

  A sweet pull tugs inside my belly.

  “Straddle me,” Shade says, his lips curled into a naughty smile.

  He grips my waist with both hands before he sets me astride on his bare chest. His lips crash onto my clit.

  “You’re fucking crazy...” I mumble, pulsing pleasure barreling through me.

  He swirls his tongue against my flesh, firing up thousands of nerves, fueling the storm between my legs. Earnestly, I push against his mouth, no longer caring that we are not alone.

  The orgasm breaks through me within mere moments.

  Panting, I look down at him.

  “Good?” he asks.

  “Uh-huh...” I say, smiling from ear to ear.

  A gust of wind blows in my hair, sweeping a few locks over my eyes. He brushes the tresses away from my face, lifts me up, only to lays me down as he rises from the chair.

  He peels his pants off and tosses them on a nearby lounge chair.

  Looking up, I take him in, his well-built frame, long chiseled thighs, and shredded abs.

  He rolls me on my back and slides on top of me, burying me under him. The head of his erection presses against my entrance. My center begin to clench, ready for him.

  “Tell me what you want,” he mutters, smiling teasingly.

  “I need you deep inside me...” I say, sinking my nails into his back, holding his gaze, and drinking in his face and grin. “Now,” I say, urgency flashing through my voice.

  He seizes my lips with a hard kiss, his tongue plunging into my mouth as he drives his cock into me.

  I hold onto him as he cuffs my neck and lifts my hips, slamming me with power. I come, wrapped in lust and pleasure, his grip hardening on me while relief spreads across his face as well as we’re both coming.

  Embraced, we move, until we slowly scale down, our lips locked into a deep, spellbinding kiss.

  TARA

  “Better?” he asks nuzzling my neck.

  I slip my fingers into his hair.

  “Way better...” I say, smiling. “It’s been a long week,” I murmur.
r />   “For me too,” he says as he pushes up to his elbow.

  He stretches his hand to the side, pulls a big towel out of a stack sitting on the side and wraps it around his waist.

  He catches sight of my gaze as I drag it down on him.

  “What is it, baby?” he asks, his lips curling into a lazy smile.

  He gives his pants a shake until the metallic lighter drops on his palm.

  He slides a cigarette between his lips, lights it up and takes a drag off it.

  “Um...What was I saying?” I mumble.

  He grins.

  “Nothing... really.”

  “Oh, yes... The week dragged on as I was waiting for you to come back,” I say.

  He lifts his cigarette to his lips, inhales and lets the smoke out in a soft stream.

  “That’s not what I wanted to hear,” he says, the cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth.

  He fishes his clothes off the ground and hurls them on another chair. His fingers travel to his lips again as he takes another drag while leaning back against the pillow.

  “Okay... you really want to hear the truth?” I ask.

  “Uh-huh.”

  Sliding closer to him, I cup his bulge through the towel.

  “I missed you being with you, Shade. All the time. I missed this,” I say, grinning as I squeeze his bulge passionately. “Is that good enough for you?” I ask, stroking him.

  “Mmm-hmm,” he says, his eyes flashing an amused smile before he flicks his gaze up and I hear footsteps behind me.

  Swiftly, I peel my fingers from his groin and glance over my shoulder.

  “Chad?” I singsong.

  Rushed, I cover my chest with a towel and roll to my back to face him.

  A pair of low slung jeans clad his legs, the lean, hard muscles of his torso shifting beneath his skin.

  “Where’s Maya?” I ask, glancing behind him.

  “She’s taking a shower,” he says, running his hand through his hair.

  My eyes shift to the black tattoo stretching on his arm.

  “Is she okay?”

  “Yeah... she’s fine,” he says, a mysterious grin creasing his lips.

  “We’re about to order food,” he says. “Do you want something?”

  Shade looks at me.

  “Yes… Okay,” I say.

  Shade pushes out of his chair and joins Chad before they both head inside.

  As they stroll in, Maya walks out.

  Shade keeps walking while Chad pulls to a stop in front of her.

  Smiling, he brings his fingers to her face, lowers his mouth and kisses her, tenderly and softly, like no other man has kissed her before.

  Mesmerized, she looks at him, her fingers splaying on his torso as he kisses her again.

  They stay glued for a moment longer before he tears away from her and vanishes inside. Her eyes follow him, and sure enough, he glances back at her and gives her a soft wink.

  She waves at him and spins around, her face beaming with a smile.

  Wrapped in a robe, she scurries to me, her eyes glinting with glee.

  Claiming a seat next to me, she clamps her hand over her mouth.

  “Oh, my God,” she mutters, slowly shaking her head.

  I grin as well.

  “How is he?” I ask, as if I needed more clues.

  She looks at me, ecstatic.

  “He’s a sex God,” she says, fanning her face with her hand.

  “Is he?” I ask teasingly.

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “If I had to draw the perfect man I couldn’t come up with someone better than this. For one, he’s hot. Okay, that’s obvious. Secondly, he made me hot as hell. And then, he reads my mind. I don’t need to say much or ask much. He gives me exactly what I need. That’s a nice change from you know who… ” she says, rolling her eyes.

  “So I glean you like Chad,” I say, smiling.

  She flashes a full mouth grin.

  “Like him? No, no... I fucking love him. He is tender and affectionate. He’s perfect,” she says a shadow sliding onto her face, killing her smile. “But I know what this is, and I try to manage my expectations. I know he has to fly back tomorrow. And there’s an ocean between us. Not to mention that he’s in school. And he is so young.”

  “So is Shade.”

  “Yeah, I know,” she says softly, sounding a bit disheartened. “It was different with Shade. He was ready for you when he met you. He was probably looking for someone like you. He knew that you were the one for him the moment he had laid his eyes on you. That’s why he grasped so much of you right from the beginning.”

  “What makes you think Chad is different?”

  “I don’t know if he is or isn’t. I know he likes me as much as I like him. He is open with me, and he doesn’t play games, but this thing between us is not something he has counted on. The fact that we have such a great chemistry together must’ve taken him by surprise as well. So it is what it is. I am grateful for every moment with him. This will go down as the hottest sex encounter ever.”

  She combs her fingers through her hair and looks away, going silent for a moment, different thoughts flowing through her mind.

  Her smile withers away as she turns her eyes to me.

  “I mean… Even now...” she says and pauses, her voice breaking a little. “Have you seen how gently he kissed me? As if he meant it... As if I mattered to him. And I’m no one to him. And he is nothing but a stranger to me. That’s so much more than what I got all these years.”

  I gently rub her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry, Maya.”

  13

  SHADE

  I light up a cigarette as Chad climbs back into the car, his eyes harboring a mountain of regret.

  The limo pulls away, moving slowly onto the tree-lined street. The front yards are empty, and the houses sleepy as the summer afternoon rolls over the people’s homes.

  He glances over his shoulder one more time. Maya’s gone. She just vanished inside her mother’s house.

  “Fuck, man,” he says quietly.

  He looks tired, his eyes still burning.

  Running his hand through his hair, he brushes it all back.

  “I’m gonna miss her,” he murmurs, looking out the window, nostalgic.

  I study his face.

  “Have you slept at all?”

  He flicks his gaze to me and starts rubbing his eyes.

  “Not a fucking wink. She had quite an appetite. And she wasn’t fussy or apologetic about it either,” he says, his lips curving into a lazy grin.

  I smile around my cigarette.

  “Yeah... I got that. I thought she was gonna suck your balls off,” I say, tearing my cigarette away from my lips and laughing softly.

  “Fuck off, Hennessy,” he says with a mellow voice.

  He balls up an empty cigarette pack and hurls it at me.

  I duck out of its way, laughing.

  “You really fucked her mouth, man.”

  “Mind your fucking business... Perhaps, I was inspired by you,” he says.

  Smirking, he raises an eyebrow at me.

  He picks up the pack that bounced off the seat and rolled on the floor and throws it at me again.

  My hands shoot up in the air.

  “Okay, okay. I’m just teasing you, man,” I say, catching it. “You’ve made her really happy,” I say with a different voice. “And she must’ve done something right, or you wouldn’t be so affected by her after a night of fucking.”

  He glances out the window again.

  “I really liked her. She was sweet and hot and straightforward about what she liked or didn’t liked,” he says as he shifts his gaze back to me.

  I let out a stream of smoke before I speak.

  “She has the experience of a failed marriage. She knows real life. Once you face that kind of shit, things get real pretty fast and you no longer want to play stupid games. I have no doubt what she showed you last night was genuine.”


  A few moments of silence stretch between us.

  “That’s why it’s so hard to pull away from her...” he murmurs. He pauses for a moment, pondering over something. “After you left to move back here, it dawned on me why you dropped out of school. I’m right there at that point, man. And don’t get me wrong, it’s not the school. I like it,” he says. “What kills me is waiting to get out of it and finally do something on my own.”

  “That time will come,” I murmur, distracted by the buzzing of my phone.

  I sweep it off the seat and glance at the message.

  Elia: You need to come home. Roger and I need to talk to you. Her words feel like a punch in my chest.

  “Yeah. Speaking of the devil,” I mutter absently.

  “Things okay?”

  “Not a bit,” I say.

  She’s up to something–– I can tell, but this seems to be different, or she wouldn’t have Roger involved. She always tried to keep him out of our little squabbles.

  She never wanted him to know our little story, or learn more about the dark side of our relationship, or witness our dysfunctional dynamic.

  This was our understanding–– our little dirty secret. But now that our alliance has been broken, all bets are off.

  A shiver runs down my back.

  Perhaps that’s what this is.

  What else?

  Things have been calm lately. I’ve played my part. I’ve done everything I could to stay out of trouble. I’ve kept my promise, and for a moment, I thought that she backed off. She almost fooled me.

  I should’ve known better.

  Silently, I turn my eyes to the window, my mind sifting through scenarios.

  Chad and I split ways an hour later. He embarks on a flight, heading home, while I reluctantly, order the driver to take me to my parents’ home.

  Minutes later, the limousine slides past the iron gates and rolls smoothly onto the gravel road. Flushed with lights, the house brims with voices and music, several cars sitting in the front.

  Okay. This is interesting. Why would she want me here when there’s a party in the house?

  My ride pulls to a stop in front of the main door. I climb out and stride to the entrance. The backyard comes into view the moment I walk in.

  Strings of colorful lights hang from the trees while tables sit on the lawn. A chocolate fountain is set in the middle, children surrounding it. I recognize a few family friends. There are a few new faces and young couples.