Part 1: No Regrets(Divine Creek Ranch 2)(68)

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Heather Rainier

back to his room, tears spilling from his eyes. Soft lips touched his cheeks, kissing the tears away. A gentle hand feathered in his hair, speaking words of comfort to him.



Eli slowly awakened, clasped snugly in Rachel’s arms, his cheek against the gentle swell of her breasts, which were damp. His chest ached, and he realized he’d had that familiar dream again. It was not unusual to wake from the vivid dream crying, and he prepared for the gut-wrenching heartache that came when he relived that loss. She pulled his hair back from his face and wiped the tears from his cheeks. The pain was still there, but he felt comforted this time, just as he had in his dream. He felt the loss, but he no longer felt like he was alone in his grief.

He rested his cheek against her shoulder for a moment before sitting up in the bed. It was already daylight outside, and the clock on the night table read nine o’clock.

“Wow, we slept hard,” he murmured, sitting up and wiping his eyes with the heels of his hands. She gathered the sheet around her and straddled his thighs. Her eyes were full of concern for him. She brushed her fingertips over his jaw then leaned forward to hug him.

“Eli, you were dreaming. You cried as if you were in pain. Are you all right?” she asked as she looked deeply into his eyes.

“Yes, it’s a recurring nightmare. I don’t have it very often anymore, but when I do, it hits me hard. It’s very vivid.” He tried to smile for her.

“I didn’t know what else to do, so I woke you up.” She tenderly stroked his big shoulders.

“Thank you.” He was grateful she woke him so he didn’t have to relive the whole experience.

“Want to sleep some more?”

“No, you?” He nuzzled her throat and squeezed her curvy hips through the sheet.

“I’m good. Are you hungry?” She wrapped the sheet over her breasts.

“Starving. Did you still want to take a ride with me?”

“Of course!” she responded enthusiastically.

He grinned wickedly. “Then we’d better get out of this bed before I take you on a different sort of ride. Are you sore from last night?”



Her Gentle Giant, Part 1: No Regrets

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“I feel fine. A tiny bit tender maybe, but I feel wonderful, and I’m sure the shower will help. Do you want to talk about the dream?” she asked, looking into his eyes again, not with pity but with obvious concern for him.

He shook his head reluctantly. “Still too fresh. Maybe later, okay?”

Changing the subject, he grinned devilishly as he reached for her. “Right now, you’d better either climb off or climb on.”

She giggled and shimmied backward. “Nuh-uh! I need a shower! You can’t possibly want me first thing in the morning, all sleep crusted and morning breath-y.”

“Baby, I’ll take you any way I can catch you first thing in the morning.”

He reached out like he was going to grab her and pull her back under him.

She squealed loudly and stripped the sheet from the bed as she raced for the bathroom, giggling loudly.

The doorbell rang, and he let Kelly and Matthew in. His sister had considerately brought Rachel a change of clothing with her. He hugged Kelly and patted little Matthew’s back then took the clothing from her and went back to the bedroom. Rachel had just slipped back in, dressed in his bathrobe.

“Here are your clothes, babe.” Eli caught her around the waist.

“Although I like how my robe looks on you,” he murmured as he pushed the bedroom door closed softly. She smiled invitingly up at him, letting the front of the robe go to reach out to him. He slid his hands smoothly inside the robe, around her waist, and nuzzled her throat as she pressed against him.

“Mmm, you smell good. Feel better?”

“Cleaner, yes.” She sighed happily as he stroked her derriere and pressed her against his semi-erect cock.

“Wanna get messy again?” he asked playfully, growling as he nibbled her throat.

“Don’t you have company?”

“Yes, dammit.” He smacked her behind lightly. “Why don’t you get ready and I’ll take my favorite girls and nephew to brunch?”

“Sounds great! Give me a few minutes.”

Eli took them to brunch at Rudy’s and had fun talking with the girls and held little Matthew while Kelly ate.



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Eli took a closer look at his sister. “You look tired, sis. Was the baby fussy last night?

“Did you not sleep well?” Rachel asked. “Was the mattress not

comfortable?”

Eli thought he recognized the devious little smirk on Kelly’s face. “Oh, yes, when I was allowed to sleep.” She cooed at Matthew, giving Eli a significant look, which Rachel totally missed as she took a bite of eggs. Oh, shit. Eli felt his cheeks grow warm with embarrassment as he looked in Kelly’s eyes and shook his head, asking her silently to not say anything else.