Shadow: Cerberus MC Book 3 Read online

  Table of Contents

  Marie James

  Copyright

  Extras

  Acknowledgments

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Epilogue

  Need Signed Paperbacks?

  Kincaid: Cerberus MC Book 1

  SINdicate: Cerberus MC 1.5

  Kid: Cerberus MC Book 2

  More From Marie James

  Marie James

  Copyright

  Shadow

  Copyright © 2016 Marie James

  Editing by Mr. Marie James & Hale’s Harem Betas ;)

  Cover design by Kari Ayasha of Cover to Cover Designs

  EBooks are not transferrable. All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded, or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Extras

  Cover Model: Travis DesLaurier

  Cover Designer: Kari Ayasha of Cover to Cover Designs

  Acknowledgments

  Here we go again!!

  I’m humbled each and every time I get the opportunity to write this section!!

  Loads of love to my husband who suffers through editing and reading each one of my books even though it’s not really his “cup of tea.” Thank you, babe! Without you, I’d have no direction.

  Brit, what can I even say? Thank you for keeping me grounded and on track, even if your writing schedule for me is super tight and almost unreasonable.

  BETAs! Ladies, your guys are my foundation and keep me on it!! Brenda, Diane, Amanda, Tammy, Shannon, Gloria, Charlie, Jessica, Kim, and of course Brittney. Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into each one of my books! Your dedication is priceless!

  Kari Ayasha, as always lady you rocked this cover! Can’t wait to work with you again!

  Give Me Books and all the blogs that help them, I’m forever grateful for your dedication to getting my name out there and sharing each one of my releases.

  Special shout out to Clayr Catherall and Sylvia McElroy for your relentless pimping!! You ladies are the best!

  Readers! Without you where would I be? Probably curled up in the corner crying! Thank you for your continued support and giving me the opportunity to get my stories out into the world!

  Prologue

  “Fancy seeing you here, Darlin’,” I whisper into the neck of the familiar female.

  I see her smile, turning her head slightly toward mine.

  “Shadow,” she says softly as if she’s seen me before now and was waiting for me to come to her.

  “Let’s dance,” I say grabbing her hand and walking her out to the small dance floor.

  I met Misty Bowen months ago when several of the Cerberus MC members traveled to Denver with Kincaid, our president, to help find his cousin’s abducted girlfriend. She was working in the front office of the school Josie worked at and was abducted from. Being there was routine for me; part of my job was to canvas the area and see if anyone had seen anything unusual leading up to the kidnapping.

  What wasn’t routine was my heart skipping a beat and my cock thickening in my jeans at the sight of the young, dark-haired beauty answering calls at the front desk of the elementary school. Not one to deny myself, I pursued her relentlessly in my down time in Denver, finally catching her a few days before the mission ended in finding Josie alive, tied up in a closet in a meth den. It was actually Misty who called and gave me the heads up that a little girl came and reported her parents for keeping a woman tied up in their house.

  She was the consummate, attentive lover, keen on any suggestion I made. Now, we’re back in Denver for Josie and Kaleb’s wedding. I’m slow dancing with the girl I never thought I’d see again. To be honest, I’m an asshole, and I haven’t given her much thought since the last time I climbed out of the hotel bed, leaving her asleep without so much as a kiss on the cheek.

  Seeing her now with her dark hair pulled up high on her head leaves me with a little bit of regret, wondering if I should have handled things differently. She’s gorgeous in her conservative, black dress as we sway to the music. I came to this wedding with every intention of finding a chick to take back to my room, but I also never considered that Misty would be here. It’s perfect, actually, because I know she’ll be willing to accompany me without much of a fight. This gives me more time with her body than if I had to woo some other chick tonight.

  “I guess I should have expected you to be here,” I say into her hair as I lead her around the dance floor. “I know you and Josie are friends.”

  She nods. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I didn’t think the rescuing bikers would come back though.”

  “We always show up for family,” I say in explanation.

  The song fades from one song to another more upbeat song, one I wouldn’t be caught dead dancing to. “I’m gonna grab a drink, Darlin’. I know you’re not old enough, but you want a water? Coke maybe?”

  She grins mischievously. “I’ll have a martini.” I cock an eyebrow at her. “I turned twenty-one last month.”

  “Martini it is,” I say wrapping my arm around her waist as we make our way to the bar.

  We drink. We dance. We stumble into my room in the hotel a few hours later.

  Through the haze of alcohol, I clumsily remove her clothes; licking, kissing, and sucking every inch of her body that comes close to my mouth. She does the same.

  She was shy and reserved the first time I managed to get her under me, but in a matter of days, I managed to turn her into the minx she is now, pawing at my clothes.

  “Fuck,” I groan when she bites my nipple just a little too hard.

  I pick her up and toss her on the bed, undressing myself to avoid further injury to either one of us. I grab the condom from my wallet before shucking off my slacks. I’m sure I pop a button off my white shirt in my haste to get it off my body.

  I stare over at her, legs spread wide, hands groping at her full breasts.

  “Damn, Darlin’,” I say walking to the bed and tearing at the condom wrapper with my teeth. “Don’t get started without me.”

  I crawl between
her legs; the shift in the mattress causes me to lose my balance. I fall to my side, but right myself quickly. I pick up the rubber that bounced out of my hand and begin rolling it down my throbbing cock, watching Misty’s face. Her eyes are hooded, and looking down to the apex of her thighs, I can see her arousal glistening in the low light of the room.

  “Goddamn it,” I spit when the thin latex tears in my fingers.

  “What’s wrong?” she purrs.

  I rip the ruined condom off my cock and sit back on my heels, hands on my thighs. “That was my only fucking condom.”

  She shakes her head. “I’m on the pill,” she pants reaching for my dick, stroking it in long firm pulls. “I haven’t been with anyone since you.”

  I pull her hand off me, but rather than tell her that’s not going to happen, the bourbon changes my mind. I spread her legs and line my bare cock against her entrance.

  “Yes,” she begs.

  I thrust into her in one stroke, loving the way she encapsulates me. Hot, tight, perfect pussy quivers along my length as I lean over her. Slanting my mouth slightly, I kiss her sloppily. She doesn’t seem to mind and gives just as good as she gets.

  I feel her legs wrap around my hips, and I plunge even deeper. I can feel her breasts shifting and moving from the pounding, relentless drives of my hips.

  Her whimper is the first sign of her impending orgasm, so I grind my hips, rotating my body against her clit. Nails dig deep into my back as she clenches around me. I swallow her cries of ecstasy and give her mine as I explode inside of her.

  “Fuck, Misty.” I kiss her again. “This pussy is going to be the death of me.”

  She nips at my chin as I pull out of her and flop on my back. My breathing is erratic, and I hate the way the cold air hits my dick so soon after leaving the warmth of her body. I hear my cell phone chime a text. Looking at the bedside table, I see that it’s after two in the morning. Only important shit hits my phone this late.

  I reach into the pocket of my slacks and pull my phone out.

  Kincaid: Wrench is in town. Get your ass over here.

  Kincaid and Emmalyn are staying at Kaleb and Josie’s tonight, and he has a pretty good sixth sense about shit like this, so I know he’s not just being overprotective with his girl.

  I climb out of the bed and begin pulling my clothes back on. Once dressed, I lean over Misty who still has a sated smile on her face.

  “I have to go, Darlin’.”

  Her smile falters slightly before she tugs her lips back up. I lean in and take her dark nipple into my mouth, sucking it to a stiff peak. I mentioned I’m an asshole right? I need to make sure that she’s down to meet up again should I find my way back to Denver anytime soon.

  I kiss her long and hard before walking out of the room to make sure my club president and his woman are safe.

  Chapter 1

  This is my last year to work as a teacher’s assistant at Little Elm Elementary School. I’ve worked here part-time for the last two years helping just about anyone who needs it at the recommendation of my college counselor. She insisted that the school would not overlook my dedication when it came time for new teacher hires after I graduated.

  I wasn’t able to get a position for the spring semester, after my graduation in December, but I’ve been assured that the newly slotted second-grade teacher’s position is mine when school begins in the fall of next year. My hard work has paid off. Not only am I graduating early from the University of Colorado, Denver early, but I will be willfully employed at a job using my degree.

  I would be even more excited about the news I got this morning if it wasn’t for the queasiness I’ve been suffering with for days now. All of the running around I’ve been used to has become even more of a task.

  The sight of my packed lunch on the table in the teacher’s lounge makes my stomach roll. I barely make it to the restroom before the breakfast I ate this morning comes back up. All of the symptoms are there. I’ve had it in the back of my mind since I realized my period was late two weeks ago that I’m probably pregnant.

  I’ve ignored the insatiable hunger that is always followed up with nausea and sore breasts long enough. My hands tremble as I wet a paper towel and run it over the back of my neck. If in fact I am pregnant, I can’t ignore it any longer.

  I throw the wet paper towel in the trash and rinse my mouth out. I head back out to finish my day, but I know I’ll be heading to the store to get a test for confirmation on my way home.

  Ugh. I don’t even want to think of home right now. Living with my parents while in college was their brilliant idea. If I’m honest, I know I can’t afford to live on my own. I only work part-time, and teacher’s assistants don’t get paid that much. I’m lucky to get paid at all since most internships aren’t paid positions. I’ve been saving, but I don’t have enough money to support myself and a baby.

  My extremely religious parents are going to lose it when they find out. I dread that conversation more than knowing I’m twenty-one, single, and pregnant. My thoughts wander to Morrison Griggs, or Shadow as he’s known in the motorcycle club he’s a member of.

  I had to get a copy of his license when he came to the school to speak with teachers about Josie Bennett’s abduction last spring. Even big scary bikers are required to show ID before entering the school and roaming the halls. I’m certain that had I not been up front, I would’ve never learned his real name.

  He asked for my phone number on his first visit and used it often during the weeks the investigation was taking place. I knew he was never going to be a permanent man in my life, but his charm and those gorgeous blue eyes of his were impossible to resist. I yielded eventually.

  Best sex of my life hands down. I’ve had a handful of partners since starting college as a way to rebel against my parents for controlling every single aspect of my life. After graduation, they let up on me some. I used every opportunity to find some freedom, mostly in the form of indifferent sex.

  When I ran into him again at Josie’s wedding, I knew exactly how the night would go. I knew I would enjoy the hell out of his body and the effortless way he controlled mine. I also knew I’d regret the sight of his back when he left me alone in the room, just as he did the times before. There was never an expectation of more. There was hope. I’d hoped on more than one occasion he would find something in me he couldn’t live without. It never happened.

  I cherished every second we spent together. That’s why I lied to him when the condom broke. Yes, I’m one of those girls. I didn’t want him to get up and leave. I didn’t want to lose a second of the short, precious time we would have together.

  I can remember the disappointment in his drunken eyes when he confessed it was his only condom. He began to pull away from me; so I told him I was on birth control. Obviously, if the baby I’m sure is growing inside of me is any indication, I wasn’t. I’ve had every intention of getting on the pill, but never made it a priority, a glaring mistake.

  The rest of the day drags by, but luckily I don’t get sick again. Today at lunch is the first day I haven’t been able to alleviate the queasiness.

  I head to a pharmacy across town, not taking the chance that I would run into anyone from school, or heaven forbid someone from the church. The information about me buying a pregnancy test would make it to my parents faster than I can make it home myself.

  A quick in and out is all it takes to buy an overpriced stick that will determine my entire future. I can’t imagine myself as a mother. I was struggling with the idea of being responsible for twenty children in a classroom, and I get to send those kids home at the end of the day. Other than working in the nursery at church, I have absolutely no experience with babies. I’ve never had to deal with a fever or midnight feedings.

  I wrap my purchase tightly in the bag the clerk handed to me and shove it to the very bottom of my purse in the zipped compartment I never use. Walking up the front walk of my childhood home is daunting. Both of my parents’ cars are in the driveway,
and I know they will be able to tell what is going on the second I step through the front door, even though nothing has changed about my appearance since I left for class this morning.

  “You’re later than usual,” my dad says as I try to sneak past the living room.

  See what I mean?

  “I chatted with the principal after work today,” I lie. I hate the simple lie, even though I know they will grow in number in the coming weeks and months.

  He nods and turns back to the TV. I scurry out of the room.

  “Oh, Misty?” I turn back and peek my head around the corner.

  “Yes, sir?”

  “The pastor called. The youth minister is sick. I told him you’d be there this evening to lead the youth group.”

  “Okay,” I answer less than enthusiastically. I’m exhausted, and I know I’m about to be emotionally devastated, but there’s no refusing my father, especially when it has something to do with the church.

  Twenty minutes later I’m crumpled on the floor in a sobbing heap. My life as I know it will now completely change. I’m not referring to motherhood, but the fact that when my parents find out about the baby, they will kick me out and cut all ties. Premarital sex is blasphemous. A baby out of wedlock? Unforgivable.

  I can’t call Shadow. The man didn’t want me after he was done using me, why would he want a baby?

  I hate knowing I’m going to have to make one of the most difficult decisions of my life shortly, and I honestly have no clue which way to go.

  Chapter 2

  “Fuck,” I mutter as my hand slips with the wrench, and my knuckles slam against the bike.

  I pull my hand away and wipe the blood that begins to bubble to the top. I can’t focus, and everything seems to be going to shit.

  I feel like the clubhouse is off the rails, and my position as the VP doesn’t make much of a difference if the Prez is okay with what’s going on.

  Kid has a damn seventeen-year-old here; Kincaid has moved his woman in. Things are changing, and I’m not sure it’s for the best. It’s never been this way before. Yeah, we’ve had club pussy that comes and goes, but women have never been a permanent fixture.