“Eat a cracker first.”

Lily’s trembling fingers tore open a pack of the crackers, removing one. She nibbled on it slowly then ate another.

Shade ate the large burger and fries he had bought for himself, watching her as she struggled to eat her soup and crackers. Gradually, her appetite returned, and she began to eat more.

Shade finished eating then set a chocolate shake in front of her. It would give her some much needed calories. During their lunches over the summer, he had asked for whoever made their lunch to make her a milkshake a couple of times a week because he enjoyed watching her enthusiasm when she received the delicious treat.

She started to cry as she drank it. “I hate you.”

“I know.” Shade removed his sunglasses, letting her see his remorse. She wasn’t ready to hear the words yet, but he wanted her to see that he hadn’t wanted to hurt her.

She quit eating, sitting there with tears coursing down her cheeks, turning her face away from him.

Shade stood, picking her up and carrying her to the bed where he laid her down. “Sleep, Lily. You’ll feel better when you wake up. You’re exhausted.”

Lily closed her eyes, curling into a small ball with her hand under her cheek, and Shade sat down on the bed next to hers as she gave a shuddering breath. When her body went limp and her breathing slowed, he stood up and took the blanket off his bed to cover her.

He leaned forward, brushing his lips across her cheek before lying down next to her, easing her back against his chest with his arm across her waist.

“Sleep, baby. I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

* * *

She slept the rest of the day and into the night. Shade was sitting in the chair at the table when she woke, sitting up in bed.

“What time is it?”

“Ten o’clock. You’ve slept six hours.”

“Oh.” Lily brushed her hands through her hair.

“There are clothes for you in the bag. Go take a shower.” He had purchased the items he had thought she would need before he had picked her up.

She picked up the bag he had placed on the bottom of her bed and then went into the bathroom without a word.

As she showered, he made sandwiches then ate his while she took her time in the bathroom. He had gone to the grocery store after he had rented the hotel room to purchase food he could make himself without having to cook, and the mini-fridge was stocked with enough food for several days. He had no intention of leaving Lily alone in the emotional state she was in.

Shade opened his mouth to demand for her to eat, but she forestalled him, holding up her hand. “I’ll eat.”

Pacified, he lay down on one of the beds and watched television, feeling her eyes on him while she ate.

When she was finished, she threw away the trash and the empty milk carton. “Will you take me back to my dorm now?”

“Later. Come here.”

Getting up, she went to the phone on the bedside table instead of listening to him. However, before she could place a call, Shade jerked the phone from her hand then tugged her down onto the bed. Lily froze as he lifted and adjusted her until she was lying on the bed with her head on the pillow.

“I’ll take you back in the morning in time for your eight o’clock class.”

“I want to go now,” Lily said between clenched teeth.

“Too bad.” Shade lay down on the bed next to her, adjusting the pillow until he could see the television.

“You’re unbelievable. You think you can do anything you want,” she said resentfully.

When Shade ignored her, turning the volume up, Lily crossed her arms over her chest. He felt the silent waves of her hurt hitting him as she lay there stiffly, making sure she didn’t touch him. Eventually, though, she was drawn into the old black-and-white movie and ended up falling back asleep before it was over.

Shade rolled her closer to him, pulling up the blanket to cover the both of them before turning off the television. He left the bedside light on, not wanting her to wake up in the dark. She had been through enough traumas lately without having to wake to old nightmares.

In the morning, he rose early to shower and dress. Then, going to the bed, he stood staring down at the woman who had captured his soul with her violet eyes.

“Move it if you don’t want to miss your class.”

Lily got up from the bed, following him outside, and neither of them said anything as they drove.

Shade went through a drive-thru, getting her breakfast and handing it to her before continuing back to her campus. She was finished eating by the time he pulled up outside her dorm.

Opening the door, she slid out of the truck, slamming the door behind her without saying a word to him. Shade watched her until she stepped inside her dorm, and then he drove away despite not wanting to leave her. He wanted to stay and walk her to class.

He snorted at himself. He had never walked a girl to class when he was in high school or college, arrogantly believing it was lame. It was funny how the inconsequential moments of his youth had come back to bite him in the ass.

* * *

When Shade showed up the rest of the week, taking her to his hotel room every evening, Lily quit trying to argue with him and didn’t speak a word to him once. He learned he couldn’t wait in the truck for her; instead, he stood under a tree which had a view of both the front and back doors of her dorm.

Security approached him the second day, which he thought was bullshit. They should have noticed a hell of a lot sooner. He handed a card to the nervous guard and told him to leave him alone, and the security guard moved away, placing a call to someone Shade was sure was his supervisor. Five minutes later, the security guard was in his car and driving away. One advantage of doing certain jobs for the government was they made sure to keep him happy.

Friday, he waited in the truck. She had learned by then that there was no hiding from him.

After she climbed into the truck without him having to even get out, he put it in gear then drove away from the campus. She was still giving him the silent treatment, but she was about to break her stubborn silence in a few seconds.

He didn’t slow down as he neared the hotel, going straight past it on the road which would take them to Treepoint.

“I don’t want to go home for the weekend. I have a test Monday.”

“Your books are in your backpack. You can study at home.”

She sat with her arms crossed in front of her chest, fuming all the way to Treepoint. Shade could put up with her anger, though. At least she wasn’t being as lifeless as a fucking doll.

When he came to a stop in front of her house, Lily’s hand immediately flew to the door handle. Sliding out of the truck, she gave him a hateful glance.

“Enjoy your Friday night!” Slamming the door, she walked toward the house, her ass bouncing angrily up the walkway.

Shade jerked the truck door open and quietly came up behind the furious woman. When she unlocked the door, he propelled her forward with a hand on her arm before shutting the door behind them.

“What are you doing?” Lily tried to jerk away from him, dropping her backpack on the floor.

“Doing something I’ve warned you repeatedly about,” Shade said grimly, jerking her to the couch where he took a seat then yanked her over his lap.

“What?”

Shade firmly smacked her ass.

She tried to throw herself off his lap, but he placed a hand on her back, preventing her from getting away from her punishment. Then she kicked her legs, which earned her another smack across her bottom and caused her dress to slide up her thighs.