Shamed: Shades of Cray, #1

By SHE

After the success of my first featured magazine article,
I am invited to join the publication's exclusive social club. 
I meet a man I know only as Sir. 
His identity is a mystery. 
However, once the blindfold comes off, his identity is revealed.

My life will never be the same again. 
Overcome with shame, I try to resign. 
But billionaire mogul Crayson Carrington will ruin me if I do. 
I love my new career, so being blacklisted isn't an option. 
Accepting his terms means that life will never be the same again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Writer S.H.E
• Release date: May 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781941342510

SHE

S.H.E is a girl with a delightfully wicked imagination, and a weakness for alpha men. Thank goodness she has one of those sexy creatures at home, providing all the hands-on experience she needs. S.H.E is an indie author who runs her own business and loves every exciting moment of her journey. Her ultimate goal is to create naughty tales that leave her readers breathless. S.H.E loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers. Come visit where you’ll find delicious updates on her next sexy tale, or you can email her at [e-mail]

Book preview

Shamed

Shades of Cray

Book One

S.H.E

Table of Contents

Shades of Cray

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

Other Books by the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ISBN: 978-1-941342-51-0

Copyright © 2020 by S.H.E

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

For more information, contact the author at [e-mail].

Shades of Cray

Shamed

Shameful

Shaming

Shamefaced

ONE

On Friday morning, I placed the article in senior editor Marlene Ross’s in-box and returned to my seat. Two hours later, the suspense was killing me.

Short, petite, and beautiful, Dixie Mann came rushing back to her cubicle after a quick trip to the ladies’ room and asked, Have you heard anything?

I swung around on my chair and gave an exaggerated eye roll. No, nothing.

Don't worry, she replied. It's such a brilliant idea that she’ll have no choice but to love it.

I sure hope so, yet the more I thought about my article, the more I started to second-guess my decision. Oh, God! Why did I write a story about a woman getting off using a silver bullet? What in the world was I thinking? I might as well pack up my desk and quit before my boss fired me.

Piper!

I jerked on the seat when I realized Dixie was leaning against my desk's edge. I’m sorry. Did you say something?

I said... Boss Ross is going to love the concept. She leaned close and whispered, Girlfriend, you had me squeezing my thighs together. I bet Marlene’s in her office, playing with her va-jay-jay as we speak.

Cupping my mouth, I couldn’t help but laugh. And it felt good. Who knows? Right now, Marlene’s panties might be down around her ankles and her thumb stroking herself. Damn, I hoped so.

Dixie gave me a reassuring smile. Relax. Everything is going to be fine. You managed to explore your freaky side. The readers are gonna love that.

I shook my head and frowned. I’d like to be called a lot of things, but freak isn’t one of them.

My coworker arched a perfectly waxed eyebrow at me. Why not? That way they’ll be anxious for your next article.

I forgot I’ll have to come up with new material. I groaned. It was hard to write about sex when you’re married to—goodness—a minute man.

You gave the column a fresh new approach, Dixie said and then winked.

Dixie gave monthly sex tips for couples. That was one area she didn’t seem to have problems with. Up until a month ago, I was recommending romantic meals for two.

My eyes drifted over to the large wooden door at the end of the hall. What’s taking her so long to read it? I mumbled impatiently.

That’s Boss Ross for you. She likes to make you sweat.

I just wish she’d hurry. My heart was pounding in my throat.

Dixie gave me a sympathetic look then returned to her cubicle and I forced myself to return to work, only I couldn’t concentrate. If Marlene didn’t like my first article, my career at Independent Woman Magazine, which spanned six months, would come to a screeching halt. And I couldn’t allow that to happen.

Stupid! Stupid!

I don’t know why I had agreed to take over the column after Carly up and quit without a moment’s notice. By taking on the challenge, I had risked everything.

My job at Independent Woman magazine had been my first step toward independence after five years of being a stay-at-home mom. There was no way I could go back to just being nothing more than Frankie’s wife and the mother of identical twins, Michelle and Morgan. No way. With a long, deep sigh, I set aside my fears and returned to work.

At noon Boss Ross finally buzzed my desk. Somehow, I managed to walk over to Marlene’s door without my knees buckling and gently knocked.

Come in.

Stepping into her office, I found her reading my article behind her desk.

While Marlene wasn’t looking, I peered under her desk to see if her panties were resting at her ankles by chance.

Damn, no such luck.

Sit down, she ordered in her raspy, authoritative tone. You would think I’d be used to it after six months, but I guess some things take longer than others.

I walked over to the wooden chair facing her desk and lowered onto the seat while I tried to read the expression on her face.

Marlene, a plump brunette in her late fifties with round eyes, glasses, a thin nose, and a wide mouth, was attractive in a cool, restrained sort of way. She wore an expensive navy-blue suit with a silk cream-colored blouse as usual. While I waited for her to finish reading, I folded my hands on my lap to keep them from shaking.

"Interesting title. Curious. I thought you were planning to write about learning how to cope after a bad breakup." She didn’t even bother to look up as she spoke.

I was... but I thought this topic would be much more interesting.

Why? she asked. This time her blue eyes glared from across the desk.

Nervously, I rolled my tight shoulders. I’m just like millions of other women—curious about one thing or another, especially regarding sexual satisfaction.

Marlene gave me a long, thoughtful expression, then again lowered her eyes to my article. I took that moment to take a deep breath and prepared for her next question.

I waited for what felt like forever for her to finish reading. When I didn’t think I could stand the agony a second longer, Boss Ross looked up from the pages and removed the eyeglasses from her face. This article’s a daring approach.

Under her heated gaze, I felt myself slumping on the chair. Daring... well..., My voice trailed off as I tried to think of an alternate topic for the column. I guess I could—

I love it.

"Did I hear her right? I searched her eyes. Did you say you love it?

Marlene leaned forward over her desk. I sure did.

Wow!

She reached down for my article again. "Now, I’m curious. What made you decide to write this?"

Because I’m that woman. There was no way I could say that aloud. She was right. I had intended to write about life after a bad breakup. Still, while spending another lonely evening at home, I pulled out my silver bullet for a bit of self-gratification. Later that evening, when I sat in front of my computer, my fingers seemed to have had a mind of their own.

I stretched my long legs, trying to shake off my nervous fear. I thought about the millions of women across the country who would identify with the article.

Smart move, Marlene replied. "That’s what we like to see around here, writers finding ways to connect with our readers. Well done, Murphy! I want you to follow up with something similar next month. In fact, I think we will rename your column Curious."

My mouth fell open. Had I heard her right? She wanted me to continue writing about things women were curious about exploring. Uh..., hello, one of those women would be me.

Marlene glanced down at the desk, then up at me again. Congratulations. Your article will be in next month’s issue, and every month after as long as they’re this good.

I could have screamed for joy. Any doubts about writing about self-gratification were long gone. Thanks, Marlene. Thank you so much.

She simply nodded. "I shared your article with upper management and even Mr. Carrington was impressed. If you keep writing like this, you’ll have a long future ahead of you here at IWM."