Read Online For Everything by Rae Spencer - Free Book Online

chestnut locks off her face.
    She twisted, crying out again.
    He grabbed her shoulders and shook slightly. “Lily!”
    She cried out again, her body shaking even more at his touch.
    He pulled her up and into his arms. “Lily, wake up,” he practically shouted, stricken by how her body shook.
    She jerked awake. Her head flying back as she tried to scramble away from him, terror shining from her dusky eyes.
    He released his hold on her shoulders. “Easy, Lily, I won’t hurt you.”
    She gasped for breath, staring into space as she dragged her legs to her chest trembling violently.
    “You were having a nightmare.” He stroked her cheek, catching her tears.
    She just continued to stare through him. He pulled her into his arms, her knees bumping his chest. “Lily, you are safe, no one is going to hurt you, I promise.” He rubbed his hands along her back, “it was just a bad dream.”
    She rubbed her head against his shoulder. No, it wasn’t a bad dream, it was - a memory.
    The terror slowly receded from Lily’s mind, her body easing, his strength surrounding her, comforting her. She knew she had to move away from him, there was no point in accepting his comfort; he would be gone from her life soon anyway.
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you,” she whispered, trying to pull away from him.
    “You didn’t bother me.” Clay held her tighter, refusing to let her move out of his arms.
    “Please, I am fine.” She struggled against his arms desperate to put some distance between them.
    He pulled her tighter to him, his lips in her hair. “No, Lily, talk to me, tell me what happened.”
    She slid her hands to his shoulders, pushing against them as hard as she could, but he didn’t budge, didn’t release her. She squeezed her eyes closed, fighting fresh tears. “Please, leave me alone.”
    He wreathed his fingers into her hair as he kissed her forehead. “I can’t.”
    “This wasn’t supposed to happen,” she mumbled, twisting away from him, trying to slide backwards on the bed.
    He watched her face, her cheeks flooding with color. “What wasn’t supposed to happen?”
    “You… me…,” she sniffed, rubbing her nose, “stupid….”
    “Stupid?” he asked.
    “A mistake,” she looked up at him through teary eyes, “it shouldn’t have happened.”
    He tilted her head back. “Why?”
    “Because…” She struggled against his arms again. “Please, let me go.”
    “No,” he whispered, tightening his hold, “talk to me, Lily. Tell me what happened.”
    She shook her head.
    “Please,” he whispered, laying his forehead against hers. “ Tell me why you have such nightmares, and about your scars. Tell me what happened. I want to know, I need to.”
    She pushed hard against him and he loosed his arms. She shifted back on the bed until she leaned against the headboard. “I can’t. Just forget about me, I will leave soon and we will never have to see each other again.”
    He leaned forward, cupping her elbows, pulling her back into his arms brushing her lips with his. “Never see each other again? What if I don’t want that, Lily, what if I want to be with you?”
    Her head flew up, staring at him. “Be with me, why?”
    He stroked her cheek. “I care for you. I manipulated Don and you into this week because I wanted a chance with you.”
    She gasped. “What…?”
    “I wanted you. I have for a long time.” Clay brushed his lips over hers again.
    “You made a mistake,” she whispered.
    “Why?” His tongue traced her lips.
    “I can’t be with you.” She lowered her head, not wanting to look into his tawny eyes filled with something she didn’t dare believe in.
    He caught her chin again, gently pulling it up so he could see her eyes. “Yes, you can.”
    “No, I can’t,” she cried, jerking her head out of his hands.
    “Why?” Clay asked.
    “Why?” She repeated.
    He smiled gently, his fingers tracing her lips, “Because you have scars? I care how you got your scars Lily,