Page 41 of Shadow

“I wanted to play outside, and it’s fucking raining.”

He laughed and reached over to tousle her hair. “Baby girl, I’m not afraid of a little rain. Are you?”

Her eyes grew wide. “You would do that? Play in the rain with me?”

He winked as he shut the truck off. “As long as there’s no thunder or lightning, I’ll get dirty in the rain with you, baby girl. Especially if it involves my cock down your throat after I’ve chased you.”

“God. I don’t know if I want to do that or some kind of take-down play.”

Ripley laced his fingers through hers. “Is it up to you?”

She bit her lip in a way he found adorable because it meant she was wrestling with her answer, then said, “No, Sir. But the whole knife in the alley thing was really hot earlier so I’m kind of hoping for a continuation of that energy.”

Ripley chuckled and shook his head. Sometimes he thought she might be more twisted than he was. “Good girl. Filthy girl, but good girl. Let’s go inside and say hello to our friends. We’ll play a little later.”

It had been too long since he’d played with Olivia the way he wanted to tonight. He intended to savor every moment. The build-up in the alley, and spending part of the day spanking her was just a taste of what he had in store for his girl later.

But first, he wanted to make sure everyone knew they were a couple again. Though, technically, nobody really thought they were a couple before. Everyone who knew they were sleeping together assumed they were just fuck-buddies. And maybe that’s all they had been, but he’d always wanted more with her. He was certain they would be good at doing life together if they were given the opportunity.

Ripley held her hand as they walked into the club and stood in line to sign in at the registration desk.

He only let go long enough to sign the guest list and flash his ID. When Olivia had done the same, he tangled his fingers with hers again. He couldn’t explain the need to be connected to her through physical touch as much as possible, but the thought of letting go was unfathomable.

When they made their way into the dungeon, he led her to a couch where he sat and pulled her into his lap instead of letting her sit next to him.

“Glad to see it didn’t take you two long to get back together,” Gage Allard said when he approached.

Olivia blushed and buried her face in Ripley’s neck, and he stroked her hair.

“I’m glad too, Gage. I was prepared to wait her out as long as it took, though.”

She smiled up at him and then looked at Gage. “Hey, handsome. It’s good to see you again. Thanks for letting me in last night.”

Gage plopped onto the couch next to them and grinned. “You’ll never not be welcome here, Olivia.”

Olivia frowned and looked at Ripley then back to Gage. “I thought Peter said you had to go to New York.”

Gage chuckled. “I leave first thing in the morning.”

“What are you going there for?”

Gage shrugged. “Personal business.”

Ripley took that as code for whatever secret work Gage was still involved in. But Olivia seemed satisfied with the answer and changed the subject. “I like the changes you’ve made here. I promise not to stay gone so long that I don’t recognize the place again.”

Gage winked, then raised his arm to wave at someone. Ripley didn’t recognize the older woman who approached, but Olivia jumped up and hugged her.

“Edith, it’s so good to see you.”

Edith squeezed her tight then stuck her hand out to Ripley.

“You must be… Boomer? Ripley? Which one do you hate being called?”

Ripley gave Gage a glare. “If I tell her, is she going to pester me and call me that?”

Gage howled with laughter. “Nah. Not Edith. She’s not an asshole like me.”

Looking at Edith, Gage said, “Call him Ripley. Then tell me why the hell I never realized you liked Olivia’s Dungeons and Dragons shit.”

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