Shaming: Shades of Cray, #3

By SHE

The popular magazine belongs to him—Crayson Carrington.
He controls everything, including my future as a budding columnist.
His reach knows no bounds, and his demands are never left unfulfilled.

Now those demands include me. 
I have no idea how I caught his attention. 
I should've been more careful. 
Now he wants to own me.

Perhaps even control me.
I should be afraid of the consequences.
Part of me feels ashamed.

The rest of me remains on edge.

As cray cray as it may sound,

I am anticipating the unpredictable twists that lie ahead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Writer S.H.E
• Release date: Aug 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781941342589

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

Shaming

Shades of Cray

Book Three

S.H.E

Copyright © 2020 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, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. For questions and comments please contact at [e-mail].

Table of Contents

The Series

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Other Books by the Author

About the Author

The Series

SHADES OF CRAY

Start the series from the beginning.

You don’t know what you’ve been missing...

SHAMED

SHAMEFUL

SHAMING

SHAMEFACED

Chapter One

Frankie...w-what are you doing here? My voice was a little more than a squeak.

I should be asking you that question, he replied, and I noticed the way his eyes darkened with disapproval.

I stepped off the elevator and struggled to stay calm, even though I was shaking in my shoes. There was no way this was happening. Okay, maybe that’s not the right word to use since I knew this day would come. I just never thought it would be today.

What are you gonna do, was whirling around in my head.

Frankie’s gaze was locked on mine, waiting for my response, and I quivered under his scrutiny. I felt exposed, vulnerable, and unable to draw myself away from the intensity of his eyes. What could I say? I was at a luxurious hotel in Virginia Beach, having an affair.

Go figure.

Cowardly, I dropped my gaze and stepped aside so an older couple could board the elevator. Those few seconds gave me just enough time to come up with an answer. By the time I looked at my husband again, my expression was carefully neutral. I was bored. I paused and shrugged before continuing. Since you and the girls were gone, I decided to treat myself to a night on the beach.

Alone?

His eyes never left mine and I prayed he couldn’t hear the guilt beating at my chest. I could see the doubt, so it took a great deal of effort not to squirm as I shrugged and added, Yes, alone. I got tired of waiting for you to take a break from working, so I decided to go on my own. With a hand at my waist, I made sure my lips twisted with attitude. Frankie knew staying at an oceanfront hotel was in my top five favorite things to do. He’d been promising me a weekend at the beach for weeks, so it felt good to be able to throw the fact he wasn’t a man of his word back in his face. I was on my way to get a massage. That much was true. I just so happened to step off the elevator and run right smack into my husband.

Are you here checking on me? I blurted the words out impulsively and hoped like hell he wasn’t. Of course my inquiry caused Frankie to laugh with ridicule.

Why in the world would I need to do that? He smiled and appeared clearly amused.

Okay, then why are you here? I was trying very hard to hold onto my composure. But this time, I allowed my eyes to follow the leather bag he’d lowered onto the polished floor beside him.

Frowning impatiently, he replied, We are here on business.

We? I mocked, as if I didn’t already know who we were. I guess she’d been standing around the corner waiting for her cue, because as I looked past Frankie’s shoulder, I spotted Haley.

Slut.

The skinny blonde made her way toward us, high-heels clacking against the highly-polished marble floor. Haley’s mane of curly hair framed a pale oval face that appeared flawless, even without makeup. She was smiling and didn’t seem at all surprised to see me, instead she appeared tickled at the discovery.

Anger churned at my stomach as I watched Frankie’s mistress swaying her hips in a black dress that had to be ninety percent spandex, the way it clung to her tiny waist and flat ass. Also the neckline dipped low, exposing creamy cleavage and the tops of her massive breasts. As she sauntered toward us in fire-engine red shoes, my stomach clenched like a tight fist.

What kind of business do you have here? I managed between gritted teeth. I thought you were in North Carolina?

We wrapped up our business early. Frankie’s gaze followed the direction of my eyes and lingered on his favorite employee as she sauntered in our direction. Haley and I were on our way back to Richmond when I received a call from a potential client, hoping we could meet this morning. There was no way in hell I was going to pass up an opportunity like this one.

Frankie owned a pretty lucrative medical headhunting agency and there was no denying he was good at what he did. I had heard his spiel many times before, persuading a medical professional to leave his current position for something far better. Haley just happened to be a kick-ass sales manager. Frankie reeled in the employees and Haley secured the jobs. They were a match...in more ways than one.

When she finally reached us, I turned and pinned a smile on my face. Haley boldly moved beside Frankie and her cotton-candy painted lips curved in a slow, teasing grin. Hello, Piper. I’m surprised to see you here.

Not as surprised as I am. I laughed and tried to ignore the feeling of uneasiness shaking me.

Her smile turned plastered before she tilted her head and looked adoringly at Frankie. My husband, a stocky man, was confident in his skin. Haley being several inches taller than him, in high-heels, didn’t seem to bother him at all. We’re meeting in the business office, she said as if I was no longer standing there.

Frankie nodded in approval, before returning his attention to me.

It sickened me the way they were flaunting their affection for each other as if I didn’t matter..., like I didn’t have feelings...as if I didn’t already know the two of them were screwing.

I’ll be checking out after my massage. When will you be home? I asked.

Haley jumped in before my husband could respond. We’ll probably be late. She smirked.

I didn’t ask you. I countered, smiling, and I loved the way the sharp tone of my voice caused her to jerk back as if I had slapped her. Haley just didn’t know how tempted I was.

We’ll be heading back, right after our meeting, Frankie assured me.

Meeting? Haley leaned in, her arm brushing against Frankie’s chest. Did he really think I was that stupid to believe he was at an oceanfront hotel for a meeting? They were having an affair.

As if I was one to talk.

What kind of meeting? blurted out my mouth.

Wow! What’s gotten into me? I couldn’t believe I was questioning Frankie. By the look on his face, he was equally surprised. Frankie believed since he paid all the bills and provided his family a comfortable lifestyle, I had no right to question anything he did. For years, I knew my place and stayed in my lane, but I no longer wanted to be that woman.

The elevator chimed, and the doors opened. I looked over, and as soon as I spotted the tall gorgeous man exiting the car, I froze.

You’ve got to be kidding me!

Oh my, it’s Crayson Carrington! Haley shrieked like a star-struck teen. Pleasure to meet you, she added with a warm smile, extending her hand in greeting.

With a wink, he replied, Good afternoon. Crayson leaned forward to kiss her hand and my husband’s mistress was practically creaming in her panties.

I glanced up at his distinctive profile, and my heart lurched, traitorously, at the sight of him. He was tall. Six-three. With heels, the top of my head reached his chin. Crayson had a chiseled body and was sexy as all get out, with deep dimples and a scrumptious mouth. He was one hundred percent virile male, and knowing the things I knew about him made me struggle to breathe.

His mesmerizing gray eyes traveled from Haley to Frankie, before they collided with mine.

Mr. Carrington. Frankie Murphy. It’s a pleasure to meet you.

I heard my husband’s voice, and yet all I saw was Crayson. As the two shook hands, the millionaire’s eyes never left mine.

Breathe Piper, for heaven’s sake, breathe.

Hello Mr. Carrington, it’s good to see you again, I said and gave a warm smile, hoping he would play along.

Piper, right? Crayson picked up my hand and I nodded, pleased to see he had gotten the hint. It’s always a pleasure to see you.

I don’t remember the air ever crackling with this much electricity. It probably had something to do with him standing there, head tipped to the side, staring down at me. Discreetly, I looked through my lashes at the most delicious man I’d ever seen. Chiseled jaw, smooth olive complexion, long, dark blonde hair. But, it was his large gray eyes that held me enthralled. Those luminous orbs were mesmerizing and electrifying.

I don’t know how long we stood there, staring at each other, with Crayson still holding my hand—probably only a few seconds—before Frankie cleared his throat.

You know my wife?

I jerked out of the trance. Frankie had walked up behind me, bending low to murmur near my ear. I didn’t miss the possessiveness in his tone. By the annoyed look on Haley’s face, neither had she.

I’m a writer for his magazine, I explained.

And I make it my business to know all of my employees, Crayson began. I turned and looked at him again as he added, dimples flashing, In Piper’s case, I never forget a beautiful face. A sinister smile curved his mouth that had me ready to jump into his arms. You should be proud to know your wife’s column has become quite popular.

Really? Frankie’s brow rose with surprise. I had no idea.

That just proved how little my husband knew about me.

Crayson nodded as he continued. Me and thousands of other readers are all looking forward to reading next month’s issue. Crayson winked. Blushing frantically, I momentarily dropped my head before raising my eyes to silently thank him. His praise warmed my cheeks and caused my heart to soar at a moment that could have turned out to be one of my lowest.

Frankie’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me closely, but nothing in his gaze gave the slightest clue as to what he was thinking. She’s always been quite talented, he said, nodding his head with approval.

A compliment from Frankie? I was so not expecting that.

Thank you, I said softly.

Reaching up, Frankie lightly rested his hand on my shoulder. Mr. Carrington, are we ready to get this meeting underway?

Crayson nodded. Yes, of course.

I looked from one to the other, curiously. What meeting?

Darling, I told you I had a meeting, Frankie reminded, and it was the first time he’d referred to me by the endearment in a long time. I’d rather he didn’t. When he reached down for his bag, I realized it was his oversized briefcase, not an overnight bag.

My eyes widened as I digested his response, and then I was certain the color had drained from my face. What in the world were the two of them meeting about?

Crayson must have sensed my anxiety, because he turned to me and explained. I decided to open a small clinic at the magazine. I reached out to several medical employment agencies for assistance in making that happen.

Frankie and my boss?

Millionaire Crayson Carrington.

The same man who I’d been having an affair with for weeks, was going to partner with my husband? It was too much. Shaking my head, I looked away and noticed Haley was watching me curiously.

Pull it together Piper.

Are you joining us? Crayson suddenly asked and his hot gaze lingered, sending my heart slamming against my ribcage. By the time I realized he was just playing along, Frankie had intervened.

No, my wife was just on her way back up to her room. He grabbed my hand, holding it possessively.

I slipped away from his grasp. Actually, I was on my way to my massage appointment.

Crayson nodded approvingly. Enjoy. I hear the deep tissue massages are amazing.

I’ll keep that in mind, I replied and smiled as