Divine Phoenix(Divine Creek Ranch 10)(79)

“Okay. Can you sleep?”

“Yeah, but I need to move. If I fall asleep in this position, my neck will be really stiff in the morning,” she said as she shifted. “I’ll bet I’ll be stiff all over by morning, after that workout.”

Clay grinned, thinking he’d have body parts in the same condition come morning. She turned and plumped up her pillow, scooted back, wiggling her ass until she was as close to him as white on rice. Yeah, he’d definitely feel the same way but for a different reason.

“Is that okay?” she asked as she finally settled.

“Keep on wigglin’ as long as you need to, baby,” he murmured as he turned and spooned her, his body still tingling with satisfaction. He knew it was only a matter of time before his cock stirred again with her warm, silky form pressed up against his. He kissed her shoulder and squeezed her tight.

Yes, I’m going to miss this like hell.





Chapter Nineteen




“Lily?”

Lily looked up from the fashion magazine when her name was called and smiled at the stylist. Grace had been a great source for a referral, judging by the looks of Madeleine’s Day Spa. Leslie, her stylist, led her back to her chair and talked with Lily as she brushed out her hair.

Because she hadn’t had it cut in so long, she had no idea what sort of style she wanted, as long as the extra weight and length were gone. After determining the amount Lily wanted removed, Leslie wrapped the ends carefully with several rubber bands, so the length she cut off would stay in a nice neat bundle for donation.

In total, she cut off about eighteen inches then Leslie shaped and layered what remained. Forty-five minutes later, Lily walked out a new woman, still with long hair, but it only reached her shoulder blades now. The layers fell in waves that framed her face and shoulders, and for the first time in forever she felt…beautiful.

At the jewelry shop, she entered through the back door and waited for Clay’s reaction as she walked up to her workbench. “Hi.”

He got up and took the few steps to her and lifted the ends of a long reddish-brown lock from her shoulder. “Lily, you look like a model.”

Heat crept up her cheeks as he kissed the lock and laid it on her shoulder and then snuck a kiss from her lips. Lily couldn’t resist kissing him back but glanced at the door. “Careful, Tabitha will see.”

“I don’t care.”

“I do. I don’t want her to quit. I get the impression this job and her cats are all she has. She may be cranky but she’s reliable and you need her here. I really want to go to that sleepover, even if I do have to work on Saturday.”

“I sympathize, but I still don’t care.” Clay pressed his warm, sensual lips against her collarbone above the neckline of her top. She loved the sizzles that raced through her body when he kissed her there.

“I’d still like to adhere to the standards you set, even if the rule doesn’t really apply anymore. I don’t want to rub this in her face. My heart tells me that’s a bad idea.”

“Okay, but I doubt she appreciates your consideration.”

Lily smooched his welcoming lips one last time, whimpered in frustration, and then turned to put her purse away. He caressed her ass, and she recalled how it felt when he’d awakened her with his hands stroking all over her that morning.

As he’d roused her, she’d turned to him and had encountered the solid, hard, length of his cock pressed against her abdomen. He’d made love to her slowly and sweetly as the pearly dawn brought light to the darkness outside.

Afterward, he’d been careful to give her the robe she’d left lying on the floor to cover up with before she left his bed. Desire to eradicate the tattoo had grown exponentially ever since. She was definitely talking with Grace and Maya about tattoos that weekend. Her only concern was the lengths the artist would have to go to cover the mark up.

She went out to greet Tabitha and let her know that she was in the workroom and then returned to her bench and put on the work apron Clay had ordered for her. She lined up her tools as she perched on her stool and went to work on the latest personal jewelry orders.

“How is that design coming along? The one for the ring we talked about the other day.” She noticed that the drawing he’d kept on his bulletin board that had frustrated him was gone.

She saw Clay’s slight grin as he kept his eyes on his work. He seemed to weigh his words carefully before he finally spoke. “I’m going to start on the first piece soon. I have some orders that are ahead of it, but I’m itching to begin. I’m also going to start the last step on Lydia’s statue soon, too.”