Page 8 of Shadow's Surrender
“You actually wore a jacket and tie—I’m impressed.” Eli chuckled.
“You better be—I don’t wear this pansy shit just for anyone.” Shadow replaced his empty flute with a full one from another waiter’s tray.
“I know, dude, that’s why I’m feeling honored as fuck. Mom and Dad are here. They’d love to see you.” Eli craned his neck as he looked around the room.
“I’d like to see them too—it’s been a while.”
Shadow owed a lot to Eli’s parents: They opened their home to him after his mother’s murder. Social Services wanted to send him to a foster home, but Patricia and Robert wouldn’t hear of it, so he stayed with them for the next few years. After graduation, he made a beeline to the Insurgents and he never looked back. Eli’s parents always extended an invitation to him for holidays and Sunday suppers, but as the years went by Shadow saw less and less of them, preferring to spend his time with his real family—the Insurgents.
“Brooke!” Eli yelled, and a pretty brunette in a short poufy dress turned around and then walked toward them.
That’s her name.Shadow lifted his chin at her. “Hey … nice party.” He took a sip of the bubbly stuff.
“Thanks.” Her eyes skimmed over him. “I never would’ve recognized you.” She gave him a toothy smile.
He didn’t answer and his gaze darted again toward the blonde who was now walking to the patio doors.
“Did you get any hors d’oeuvres?” Brooke asked.
“Not yet. I think I’ll get another drink.”
Brooke’s eyes slid from the full flute back to Shadow’s face. “You don’t like champagne?”
“It’s fine, but I’m more of a whiskey guy.” He finished his drink and tipped his head at her and said, “I almost forgot to congratulate the both of you.” Then Shadow clasped Eli’s arm. “I’ll catch up with you later.” He set the empty glass on a table and walked toward the patio.
She stood by a tree, staring out at the pond in the distance. The flush on her cheeks was berry pink, and the sunlight filtering through the branches made her hair glisten like pale gold. All at once, she turned toward him and he was blown away again by her loveliness.So damn sexy. I’d like to bury myself inside her.The tight fit of her dress accentuated her perfectly rounded breasts, and his gaze lingered on them before slowly trailing up to her face and falling on her lips. Plump. Pouty. Hot. Perfect for wrapping around his cock.
For a brief moment their eyes locked, and then she looked down, smiling slightly. Shadow shoved one of his hands in the front pocket of his pants and kept his gaze fixed on her. The woman looked back up at him from beneath her lashes, the tip of her tongue skimming the top of her lip.
Fuck.Shadow handed his glass to a passing waiter and started toward her. She turned away, her gaze returning to the distant pond and trees.
“Can I get you a drink?” he asked as he stood next to her.
“Excuse me?” She whirled around, feigning surprise.
Yeah, baby, I’ll play the game.“I asked if you wanted a drink.” He moved in closer, and the scent of spiced vanilla swirled around him.
“Yes, thanks.”
“Yo,” Shadow said, motioning a waiter over. “We need a couple of drinks here. A Jack for me.” He cut his gaze to her. “What can I get you?”
“A vodka cran,” she said to the waiter.
Her voice was soft, warm, and a little deeper than he expected. Sexy and damn arousing. He stepped closer until her bare arm brushed against his suit jacket. He tilted his head down, and her gaze flew up and met his as the corners of his mouth tugged up slightly.
“Are you friends with Brooke or Eli?” Shadow asked.
“Brooke—we went to college together. What about you?”
He made a mental note that she didn’t move away from him.
“Eli. We’ve been buddies since high school. What’s your name?”
“Scarlett. You?”
“Shadow.”
Her forehead crinkled a little. “That’s an unusual name.”
