Then Came You (The Gamblers #1)(77)

Alex was awakened by the annoying twitch and kick of Lily’s legs. Grumbling, he sat up in the darkness, rubbing his eyes. “What’s the matter?” he muttered, yawning deeply. His head whipped around as he heard a low, keening cry beside him. “Lily? Dammit, what…” He bent over her, while she writhed against the pillow. Her body twisted, her small fists knotting around handfuls of the bedclothes. Incoherent words fell from her lips in between her agitated gasps.

“Lily.” Tenderly he swept the hair back from her forehead. “Shhh. You’re dreaming. It’s just a nightmare.”

“No—”

“Wake up, sweetheart.” He would have continued to speak to her, but then he heard the name she had whispered during her sleepwalking at Raiford Park. He’d thought it was Nick, but her voice was more distinct now. It dawned on him that she was repeating a woman’s name.

“Nicole…no…no…” She wept with dry sobs, her hands reaching out blindly, twitching against the hard muscle of his chest. She was shaking with fear, or perhaps misery.

Alex stared down at her with a mixture of compassion and wild curiosity. Nicole. He’d never heard the name from any of the Lawsons. It had to be part of Lily’s mysterious past. Stroking her hair, he lowered his lips to her forehead. “Lily, wake up. Easy. You’re all right.”

She jerked against him, her breath stopping as if someone had thrown her to the ground. Alex gathered her close, wrapping her in his arms. Suddenly she burst into tears. Whatever he had expected, it was not this, the pitiful sobbing that expressed a grief too deep to put into words. He froze in amazement. “Lily.” He tried to soothe her, running his hands over her trembling body. Her weeping was oddly chilling. He’d never heard such a broken, unearthly sound. He would give anything, promise the sun and moon, anything to make her stop. “Lily,” he repeated desperately. “For God’s sake, don’t cry like that.”

It was a long time before she quieted, nuzzling her wet face against his chest. Alex wanted to talk then, wring explanations from her. But she gave an exhausted sigh and fell asleep with unnatural suddenness, as if the tears had drained every last bit of strength. Dumbfounded, he stared down at the bundle in his arms. “Who is Nicole?” he whispered, though he knew she couldn’t hear. “What did she do to you?”

Her small head rested heavily in the crook of his arm. Stroking her dark hair, he felt his own tension begin to recede. But it was replaced by something far more disturbing. He was amazed by the protectiveness he felt. He wanted to take care of her, this spirited woman who had made it clear that she didn’t want or need anyone’s help. He knew she couldn’t be trusted with his heart, but somewhere along the way he had already given it to her. She had turned his life upside down. She had changed everything.

He loved her. The simple truth was astonishing, but undeniable. Fervently he pressed his lips into her hair, his body rife with uncontained, anxious joy. He wanted her bound to him with words and promises, with everything he had that might hold her. In time she might come to care for him—it was a risk worth taking. It would be wise to find out more about her, delve into her past until she was less of an enigma. But he wasn’t wise, he was in love, and he wanted her as she was. He’d been careful and responsible all his life. For once he would cast aside logic, and do as his heart prompted.

Lily stretched and shivered comfortably. Blinking her eyes open, she saw a delicate blue and white ceiling illuminated by the morning light. Slowly she turned her head and found Alex’s translucent eyes trained on her. His tawny shoulders rose above her as he prevented her from pulling the sheet over her exposed br**sts. He said good morning with a lazy grin, and asked how she had slept.

“Quite well,” Lily said warily. Last night she’d had strange, troubled dreams. She wondered if she had disturbed him in her sleep—she wondered why there were no questions and suspicious glances.

“I was afraid you’d slip away before I woke,” Alex said.

Guiltily she averted her gaze, recalling her stealthy departure of yesterday morning. “I don’t have anything to wear,” she mumbled.

“Of course.” Deliberately he inched the sheet downward. “Keeping you without clothes has definite advantages.”

Uncertain of his playful mood, Lily tried to retain the sheet. “I would appreciate it if you would send someone to my terrace for a gown and some things…my maid Annie will know what to collect…and…” Her dignified manner collapsed as he stripped away the white linen and pressed her thighs open. “Alex,” she said with a faint protest.

His hands played lightly over her body. “I like to hear you say my name.”

“You can’t mean to,” she said breathlessly. “Not again.”

“Why not?”

“It must be unhealthy, or some such thing—”

“Very,” he said, cupping his hands over her delicate br**sts. “Addles the brain.”

“Does it really—” she began in worry, and then saw that he was teasing her. “Alex!”

His warm, smiling mouth lowered to her br**sts. Lily felt him wedged intimately high against her thigh. Her senses clamored in response, and she made no protest as he pushed her arms and legs wide and mounted her. He kissed her lips and pressed forward, easing deep inside her, moving with luxurious ease. Hesitantly she flattened her hands on his back, her palms resting on the flexing of muscle beneath the taut skin. She drew her legs up higher, clasping his h*ps between her knees, and he plunged sharply in cl**ax, his breath striking the side of her neck in a single exhalation. His body tensed and shuddered, and then he relaxed with a sigh.