Perfect Picture [The ShadowDance Club 7] (Siren Publishing Classic) (7 page)

She hadn’t even considered where she was or how little she was wearing, she just played. The music picked her up and swept her out to sea on a wave and she felt like she was just along for the ride. She didn’t know how long she been sitting there playing, completely immersed in the depth of the emotional release but she suddenly became aware of someone standing behind her just a second before she felt Noah’s warm hands caressing her shoulders.

When her fingers stilled she felt his warm breath against her ear. “Don’t stop,
cara.
It’s yours you know? I made you a promise one night a long time ago…and this is my way of showing you that I will always honor the promises I make to you. Play for me, love.”

* * * *

Noah had come awake the minute Ilaina picked up his shirt and made her way out of the bedroom. Watching her pull the fabric to her nose and inhale his scent had sent a shot of pure erotic lust straight through him. It was one of the most sensual things he’d ever seen a woman do. He’d waited several minutes before grabbing a pair of boxers and going down the hall to find her. When he’d seen her in the room running her fingers over the piano he had recently purchased just for her he’d been stunned at the scene unfolding in front of him. He’d stepped quickly into the next room and grabbed a camera that he knew was set to take low light shots silently before slipping back into the room.

Standing back in the shadows he’d taken pictures as silvery moonlight filtered through the windows and waltzed over her dark hair still mussed from their love making. There were just no words to describe how beautiful she was. If he had set up the scene he wouldn’t have been able to make it any better than this. The sensuality of the lighting, the musical setting, and the woman herself—the entire scene was beyond description. He knew he’d save these pictures and show them to their children one day. He wanted their children to understand that her beauty had shone from the inside and that what the public had seen was merely the beautiful wrapping.

When she sat down and started to play it was if she’d been transported to a whole new plane. The music had been hauntingly familiar and had taken him several minutes to remember it was from an old movie they’d watched on television during their senior year of high school. He couldn’t remember the name of the movie but he did remember how she had cried at the end. He’d teased her and she’d smacked him with a pillow and then giggled.

Seeing her sitting there wearing nothing but his shirt with the moon as her spotlight lost in the music was hands down the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He could only hope the camera had captured the essence of the moment. After he’d taken several more shots he set the camera off to the side and walked up behind her. Encouraging her to keep playing he simply stood behind her and let her love of the music fill him as well.

Feeling the passion she had for the music reminded him of his passion for capturing beauty on film. He knew she was planning to start a marketing business and he hoped she’d be interested in helping him promote his gallery and studio. He had used various public relations firms but had never worked with anyone who he’d felt really understood his love of photography. Noah knew Katarina Lamont was talking to Ilaina about a couple of collaborations for her web design business so perhaps he needed to work with both women.

Noah set those thoughts aside because this moment was about cherishing his time with his woman as she enjoyed a gift he’d given her. She’d hesitated briefly when he’d first touched her, but he was pleased when she’d quickly settled and returned her attention to her fingers moving so effortlessly over the pristine ivory of the keyboard. He smiled as she once again let the music wash over her. He watched her reflection in the windows as she closed her eyes and in a flash of insight he saw that same the expression on her face as he stood back watching as she rocked their child. It had been a brief glimpse into the future and he chuckled to himself because he knew, somewhere in the night, Níyol Red Cloud was smiling at her success.

Lainy was stretched out on the sun-warmed rocks surrounding the waterfall pool in the gardens behind the Lamonts’ beautiful home listening to her friends chatter about all things children and Dom related. It had been almost a week since she’d spent the night at Noah’s and even though they had spoken on the phone nearly every day she hadn’t actually seen him since he’d kissed her good-bye at her front door the next morning. He’d stayed long enough to make sure she’d made it inside safely and then he’d driven away.

Sure, she had told him that she had a ton of work to do this week, and it had been the truth. But she still had worried that he was deliberately putting distance between them again and that was frustrating and disheartening. The majority of her frustration was because she knew she shouldn’t care.
Cripes, this is exactly why I have avoided this kind of relationship drama forever. It’s too hard to navigate and it’s exhausting as well. And I don’t have the time or energy to get my heart broken again.

“Hey, girlfriend. You gonna answer my question or just sit there staring off into space drooling about Noah Drummond all day?” Kat’s voice cut through the fog and jolted Lainy back to the moment.

“Shit. I’m sorry, I was indeed lost in thought, but I’m not copping to it being about Noah. And just so you know, I’m withdrawing my nomination of you as Hostess of the Year for that crack. Now, what did you ask me?” Lainy knew her smile let the others know she was teasing and she was glad they had all fallen into this easy rapport.

Jenna Matthews quickly muffled her bark of laughter with her hand when the baby she was breastfeeding jerked at the sharp noise his mother had made. Jenna had been Kat’s best forever and since Kat’s marriage to her brothers they were now sisters-in-law as well. She and Colt Matthews had been married only a short time, but from what Lainy had heard, they had known each other for years because he’d been a Navy SEAL assigned to the same Team as Jenna’s brothers, Alex and Zach. Looking over at the tiny woman it was hard to believe the trauma Lainy knew Jenna had endured. After being raped by a member of her brother’s Team that had been welcomed in to the Lamonts’ home to recover from an injury, Jenna had spent years hiding that fact because the man had threatened to kill one or both of her brothers. But the young woman her brothers had nicknamed “The Warrior Fairy” had become a martial arts and self-defense expert. Lainy had heard that several of the subs at The ShadowDance Club had recently begun pestering her to start teaching self-defense classes. Lainy planned to take advantage of those as soon as they managed to persuade the new mother to get started.

“Jesus Christ….uh Superstar….focus already, Lainy.” Kat was laughing and looking up into the trees. “Shit…crap….well fuck it, I give up. Probably the video has already been broadcast by Spies-R-Us anyway.”

Rissa balanced her small plate of fruit on her rounded belly and smiled at Lainy. “Oh yeah, Kat is toast. This whole place is wired for sight and sound. My Mitch is a techy genius and if you fart out here he’s gonna know what you had for lunch yesterday.” Looking up into the same trees, Lainy watched Rissa smile and then speak to oblivion. “See lover, I’m a much sweeter sub than Kat.” She then turned to her friends and whispered, “Well, smarter anyway. My feet ache and I’m angling for a massage later.” Within seconds Rissa’s phone vibrated on the table beside her and when she picked it up, the beautiful red head leaned her head back and burst out laughing. “Well, it seems I’m going to get that foot massage after all…and more according to this message. So, ladies, I’d say the sight and sound systems are working just fine.”

“Message received and thanks for the warning. Now, back to Sister Silence over there.” Kat waved her hand toward Lainy and then continued, “What’s up sweet cheeks? Not getting enough? Because God knows I know that can send a girl in to a funk.”

Lainy was just staring at her with her mouth dropped open when Kat’s phone started ringing. When the little blonde dynamo glanced at the screen she swore, “Frack.” When she answered using her sweetest voice all of the women burst out laughing. “Hello, husband mine…..no, I did not say I knew that from personal experience….no, I did not say that either….are you fu—I mean, seriously?” Lainy watched Kat closely as her new friend continued listening to whichever one of her husbands had called. Suddenly Kat’s face was flushed, her breathing rapid, and she’d let her eyes drift closed.

Tori Bartell leaned over and whispered in Lainy’s ear. “Watch her closely. That will be Alex on the phone and he’s going to make her come using nothing but his voice and words. He does this to her when they’re dancing as well. From what I’ve heard, you brother Collin can do the same thing to Layla. Oh shoot, maybe that was too much information, sorry for that. I swear I used to have better personal boundaries, but Kat really is a bad influence.” They both snickered just as Kat’s soft moan filled the air.

Several minutes later Kat seemed to have caught her breath and had laughed about how satisfying her “punishment” had been. Lainy found herself enjoying the company of the woman and that alone was a surprise. For years she had been surrounded by the cutthroat competition of fashion and advertisement modeling and she’d learned early on that women weren’t particularly nice to one another. Hell, most of the time they were downright vicious, so Lainy had a deep appreciation for the friendships she had formed since moving back to Colorado.

Kat seemed to have re-focused her attention on a young woman named Sally. From what Lainy had gathered the woman was involved with one of the Doms at The Club and she also headed up The Club’s housekeeping, which from what she was as hearing was a monumental task. From the sound of things, Sally had taken over The Club’s housekeeping unit when it had been rife with challenges. And in short order the young, single mother had turned it into an efficient and well-operated part of The Club. Sally’s efforts had earned the respect of both Alex and Zach in the process. Kat’s grin turned almost feral as she inquired, “So how are things with Cort?”

Lainy was about to feel sorry for Sally until she shot back, “Kat, I’m warning you…I love you like a sister, but you better keep your match-making-mitts outta our business or I’ll sing like a canary.” Lainy noticed several of the women freeze and she wondered if maybe she’d let down her guard too soon when Kat turned and burst out laughing. Judging by Kat’s reaction she didn’t mind being called out by Sally and that alone was enough to further endear the women to Lainy.

Kat’s snorted, “Well, damn. No need to get your panties in a twist,” sent all of the women, Lainy included into howls of laughter. And for the first time in years she really felt like she
fit in
and it was so liberating.

They discussed the fact that her brothers and their new wife were supposed to be returning in the next week. Lainy knew her brothers had wanted to be gone longer, but Layla was anxious to get back. After all the work she’d done for the new motel, she wanted to be there for all of the preparations for their grand opening which was fast approaching. When Lainy had talked to Layla on the phone she hadn’t been surprised to hear her new sister-in-law’s comments that her brothers’ different definitions of “down time” was a challenge she was quickly getting tired of dealing with. Lainy was sure it was her middle brother Collin who was causing the most trouble. Collin was the strictest of the three Doms and was also a total tight ass in Lainy’s opinion. He was absolutely brilliant, richer than God thanks to his wildly successful software and game development business. But his tendency to “over plan” everything wouldn’t be all that fun on a honeymoon if you asked Lainy. But she was looking forward to working with him professionally because his recommendations alone would likely gain her several clients.

Personally, Lainy would be relieved when they returned because the recent emails she’d received from her stalker led her to believe he might have figured out where she was hiding and the thought of him showing up in Climax was more than a bit terrifying. She’d actually considered mentioning it to Noah, but hadn’t felt comfortable with that prospect just yet. Maybe she should ask these ladies who they could recommend to review her home’s security system.

Looking around at the women chatting amiably, Lainy noticed Tori seemed be fading quickly. “Tori, are you ready to go? I’d be happy to give you a ride home. I’m not really comfortable having you driving when you are obviously awfully tired.” Lainy had known Tori’s husband Trace her entire life and she didn’t think there was a nicer man to be found. He’d already lost one woman that he’d loved dearly, Lainy wasn’t about to risk him losing another.

When Tori blinked her eyes in Lainy’s direction it was obvious the sleepy woman was trying to focus on her face. “Oh, well, yes, that would be nice, thanks so much for the offer. But I probably better call my husband and see what he has planned.” All of the women snickered when Tori’s phone started ringing. Lainy could tell from Tori’s end of the conversation that Trace was already on his way so she smiled and waved at her sweet friend. Excusing herself, Lainy gathered her things intending to head up to the house.

Leaning over close to Jenna, Lainy asked, “Who would you recommend to review a home’s security system?” At Jenna’s startled look she quickly added, “I haven’t had any trouble, well, not really. But I’ve been dealing with a cyber-stalker for a while now and…well, he likes to allude to the fact that he knows where I live, so I’d just like to make sure my family is safe.”

Jenna smiled. “I know you think you said all of that quietly enough that I was the only person who heard it, but I can assure you that is not the case. And I’m also sure you’ll be getting more help than you bargained for and probably in fairly short order, too.”