Divine Phoenix(Divine Creek Ranch 10)(35)

Chapter Nine




Life with Lily settled into an increasingly distracting though comfortable routine in the following weeks. Clay was awakened from a sound sleep late one night in November. At first, he thought it was the wind blowing outside but sat upright when he heard Lily’s pained yelp. The house was peaceful as he climbed from bed, pulled on his pajama bottoms, and padded down the hall to her closed bedroom door.

He stood quietly at the door, and heard no other noise, so surmised that she had been dreaming. While debating whether he should leave her alone or go in a check on her, she whimpered again. The sound touched his heart, and he reached for the doorknob without hesitation. She struggled with the bedclothes and he gently pulled them from her grasp as he sat on the edge of the bed closest to her. The moonlight shone on her face and sympathy filled him at the low cry that erupted from her throat. She sounded hunted, terrified.

“Lily.” He placed a hand on her hip and waited, worried about startling her awake.

“Please. No. It hurts.”

That’s enough of that. There was no way he could allow her to relive her husband abusing her again. Those days were done.

“Lily.” He increased his grip on her hip just a little and stroked her shoulder. “Wake up, baby.”

Her arm lashed out, and he caught her hand a split second before her fist made contact with his chest. She stilled suddenly, and in the moonlight he saw when her eyes opened. She gasped and sat upright. Part of him wanted to pull her shaking form into his arms. His attraction to her was growing daily, and he wasn’t sure that he could be that close to her, comforting her, without her knowing how he felt about her. “Clay?”

“You were having a nightmare.”

“I did? I did,” she reiterated, answering her own question.

“Yeah, and it looks like you were going to fight back for a second.” He liked that thought. She exhaled in relief and sagged back against the pillows. The movement drew his attention to the bountiful cleavage displayed by her pajama top, which had come unbuttoned in her struggle. His eyes lingered on her satiny flesh as she caught her breath from her slumbering struggle, and she eventually followed his gaze down to her chest.

Wordlessly, she grabbed the edges of the top and pulled them together, fastening the button. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” She gazed at his bare chest and bit her lip as though she was nervous. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Lily shook her head and picked at the covers he’d laid over her lap. “No. I hope the nightmares stop eventually. It’s all in the past now. I’m sorry I woke you.”

“I don’t mind. Think you can get back to sleep?”

Lily reached for the lamp and switched on the light. “Eventually. I think I’ll read for a little while.” She reached for the romance novel he’d bought for her, which was resting on her bedside table.

Clay leaned forward and gently pecked her forehead. “Okay. Don’t stay up too late. I want you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed tomorrow.” Possibly because he was sleepy, the disjointed thought of her workouts popped into his mind. She spent time each day exercising, which seemed to make her happy, and Clay was pleased to be around her, enjoying the visual fruits of her labor. She held herself more confidently, and the workouts enhanced her curvy figure, much to the torment of his libido.

“Don’t worry, Clay. I’ll be moving my tail for you in the morning.” She clamped her lips and popped her hand over her mouth and looked embarrassed. “I must be sleepier than I thought. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

Clay smiled and patted her leg, turning away as he rose, so she wouldn’t see his stiffening cock as he escorted his ass out of her room. “That’s okay, Lily. We’re both tired.” He glanced back in time to watch her knock her fists lightly against her forehead and grinned that he wasn’t the only one with an inner conflict. “Get some rest. Don’t forget we’re meeting with Jack and Adam tomorrow.”

“Okay.” In the hallway he looked back one last time and caught her ogling his ass. Oh, yeah. I’m definitely not the only one.



* * * *



The following morning, Clay and Lily were waiting in his truck when Jack and Adam showed up in Jack’s black SUV. Clay smiled at her, noticing the slightly nervous tremble in her hands as she reached for the door handle. She was concerned about being able to afford the repairs to the house and was afraid that Jack and Adam would quote an enormous sum to get the work done. Clay knew otherwise. Jack would never gouge a client.

Clay went around to her door, helped her down and grinned when he heard a little baby coo. “Looks like you get to meet Mrs. Warner, too.” Lily grimaced, and before she could say anything, he softly added, “Don’t worry. I didn’t tell her husbands that you think she’s ‘nutso’ or anything.” She got in one sharp jab at his ribs before he turned to smile at Jack.