Page 62 of A Shade of Evil

I don’t even think and drop his hand and push back my chair, rounding the table to sit on his lap, wrapping my arms around him and pressing my face to his chest.

His arms lock around me and as he dips his face into my hair, I whisper, “We need each other.”

This is the moment when my life changes forever. I am going nowhere. I realize that now. He has crashed into my life andbecomemy life. He is my wild adventure that I am desperate to continue. We shouldn’t be compatible, but we are. It appears that chalk and cheese do go together and make something wonderful.

I love being with him. He heightens every sense I possess and offers me some I don’t. He is everything I’ve been searching for and everything I thought I didn’t want. He is—everything.

We sit hugging for a while and then he whispers, “You need your sleep. It’s close to one in the morning. Tomorrow will be a busy one.”

I groan. “I must be at work at eight and I’ve done nothing for the campaign at all.”

He laughs softly. “I wouldn’t say that. The dance was pretty convincing, and I’m guessing you have a greater understanding of my business now.”

“You thought I was good?” I raise my eyes and he kisses me softly and whispers, “Don’t go getting any ideas about a career change, though. I’m happy with the one you have, although we may have to revisit that later.”

“Why?”

“Because it will demand more of your time away from me, and I’m not sure I can live with that.”

“Asshole.” I smack his hand away and he grins.

“Come on baby, I’m taking you to bed—to sleep.”

We walk from the room hand in hand, and it’s kind of nice. As if we are a proper couple now. It makes me laugh, which is an odd reaction after I’ve been told that someone is out to get me, harm my family and I am now imprisoned by the mafia. Mind you, the way my life is going, this is just another day at the office.

“What’s so funny?” he asks, a gentle smile on his face and I grin. “I was thinking we’re like a proper couple now. Does that mean you are my boyfriend?”

It’s almost ridiculous thinking of a man like Shade Vieri as boyfriend material and he raises my hand to his lips and whispers, “Get used to it baby, but not too used to it.”

“Why not?” My heart falls, sensing this is just a temporary position, and he spins me around into his arms, his dark eyes heavy with lust, as he whispers, “The way I’m feeling now you won’t be my girlfriend for long. You’ll soon be my wife.”

I stare at him in amazement, the dark night sky a backdrop to the most life-changing moment of my life. It’s almost poetic as from the shadows emerged a man of such darkness, he is even named after them. My husband. My deliciously dark husband and I can’t help the huge smile that reveals I am more than happy about that.

“You do realize my mom won’t like you.” I add, and he shrugs.

“I can live with that.”

“My father will despise you.”

He nods. “He’ll come round.”

“My brother will be fascinated by you.”

“That goes without saying.”

“Then there’s my uncle.” I laugh softly. “We both know what he thinks about you already.”

He reaches up and drags my lips to his and whispers, “I don’t give a fuck what any of them think. You are mine and there is fuck all they can do about that.”

He kisses me long, leisurely, and slow. As if we have all the time in the world and I really hope we do. Any time I spend with him is worth a lifetime with someone else. He is the star in my darkest sky, showing me the way. He is bad to the bone, and I love every dark, jagged edge of his soul. I have fallen into depravity, and I am more than happy about that.

* * *

The alarm soundsand it’s still dark outside.

“What?” I sit upright and stare around me in confusion, the unfamiliar room looming out of the shadows, slowly reminding me of where I am and who with.

A low groan beside me tells me I wasn’t dreaming and the fact I’m still aching between my thighs reminds me of the hot sex we enjoyed until we passed out just an hour ago.

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