She leaned against the door, her breathing harsh, clenching her fists. She should not have let that happen. She should not have let him touch her. He made her vulnerable and look - look what a fool she made of herself.
She had believed his words. But they weren’t true! Couldn’t have been true. He had stopped.
She stumbled over to the bed collapsing, curling into a ball. What would happen tomorrow? Maybe he wouldn’t mind if she backed out of their deal.
****
Clay stared after Lily, not sure what happened. She had been so passionate, so needy one moment and the next afraid and withdrawn. She hadn’t even looked at him or responded when he called her name. She just walked out without any explanations.
He racked his brain. She asked if he was stopping. He hadn’t planned on stopping, but her tears startled him. Damn. What happened?
He climbed off the bed, walking to her room, intent on getting answers. The woman was going to explain herself.
He stopped outside her door, taking a deep breath. A strange sound filtered through the door, he listened. It was a sob. Lily was crying.
All other thoughts fled his mind. What did he do? Did he hurt her? He couldn’t help himself. He opened the door walking into her room stopping by the bed, whispering, “Lily, what’s wrong?”
He sat next to her on the bed, but she didn’t respond. He hated when a woman cried, but Lily crying tore him apart. He lay behind her pulling her into his arms.
“Lily, don’t cry,” he whispered, “please.”
She wrapped herself tighter into a ball, her arms covering her face.
He pulled her arms loose, forcing her body to turn toward him. Her body trembled, but he didn’t stop, slipping her leg between his, her head on his chest. He held her tightly.
“I can’t stand to see you cry.” His hand roamed over her back. “Please tell me why.”
She tried to move away. “No, Lily.” He held her tighter against him. “I won’t hurt you, I won’t press you,” his fingers tangled in her hair, caressing her head, “just let me hold you.”
He held her, offering comfort as her tears burnt his chest, until her sobs eased and sleep claimed her.
His mind raced as he pulled her tighter against him. He knew one thing, if he wanted Lily, and he did, he was going to have to find out what was wrong and fix it.
Chapter 6
Lily slowly woke, recognizing the feel of Clay next to her. She squeezed her eyes closed. He was going to demand explanations from her and she wasn’t ready to give them and probably never would be.
She lay quietly, hoping she didn’t wake him, trying to understand what happened. She needed to think. She carefully maneuvered out of his arms; grateful he still slept and snuck out of the room.
Once in the kitchen she put some coffee on, still wrapped in the towel. She picked her robe up off the floor putting it on, feeling more comfortable once her body was covered.
She made herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the little table staring out at the Seattle skyline. She didn’t know how to face Clay or what to say to him.
She was embarrassed. She enjoyed being with him, the way he touched her. The orgasm, well, that had been amazing. She wanted to move, he told her not to, but she couldn’t help herself, and he stopped.
She never had an orgasm before, but with Clay the passion, the need had been so natural. So wonderful. So beautiful.
What happens now?
****
Clay stood in the doorway watching Lily, not sure how to approach her or what to say. He headed to his room closing the door behind him.
She heard the door to Clay’s room close. She quietly went to her room hopping in the shower wishing the water would wash her away.
She dried off, dressed and blew dry her hair. Clay was meeting with his management team today to discuss
Distracteds
upcoming album. They were supposed to go over some merchandising ideas, the length of a tour, whether to headline or be a supporting band or both, plus various other things.
She was going shopping with the wives and girlfriend today. She couldn’t afford to buy the things the others would, but she might enjoy window-shopping.
She walked into the kitchen, Clay wasn’t out yet, she made herself another cup of coffee sitting at the table. She wondered if he was he avoiding her. Probably, not that she could blame him.
Clay walked out dressed and ready to go, glad to see she was also. He wanted to talk to her, but didn’t want to start something he couldn’t finish. Their conversation would have to wait until tonight.
“You ready?” He glanced at her.
“Whenever you are.” She stood, picking up her purse.
“Got everything?” he asked.
She nodded, walking over to the door, waiting for him. They left the suite and entered the elevator.
He turned toward her handing her something. “Here.”
She took the item, turning it over in her hand. It was a credit card. “What is this for?”
He grinned. “For shopping.”
“I can’t use this.” She handed the card back to Clay.
“Yes, you can.” He pushed the card tighter into her hand. “Your name is on the card.”
“How did you get my name on a card?” She jerked her head up, looking into his eyes.
“I had your name put on so you could go shopping.” He pushed the elevator button.
“That is very kind, but not necessary.” She tried to hand the card back again. She couldn’t spend his money. She wasn’t his wife or his girlfriend - she had no right.
“Yes.” Clay stared at her, his teeth clenching. “Take the card, Lily. Buy whatever you want, that was part of the deal.”
She flinched placing the card in her purse. She wouldn’t use the card, but she didn’t want to argue with him either. They exited the elevator and headed to the car.
She noticed his hand did not touch her like before. He didn’t get too close to her, either. Lily sighed. She should not have expected anything else.
She sat quietly next to Clay as they picked up the others. She greeted Sara and Melissa introduced her to Amy, Kevin’s wife, who was a cute petite brunette. Amy hadn’t been at the dinner or BBQ, but she was a sweetheart and she would be happy to spend the day with them.
****
Melissa frowned slightly over at Lily as they finished lunch, “Lily, you haven’t bought anything, how come?”
“Clay did give you a card, didn’t he?” Amy asked gesturing towards Lily’s purse.
“Yes, I haven’t found anything I wanted,” Lily hedged, her cheeks tingling.
Melissa leaned down whispering, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She glanced up at Melissa, smiling.
Sara stood looking at them. “Come on, let’s go, I want to get some shoes.”
Amy whispered in her ear, “Sara loves to spend Tom’s money.”
Lily giggled, standing as they headed out, going to another high-end store. They separated and she was glad, she didn’t want them asking her too many questions.
She wandered around, looking, found a pair of shoes she liked and tried them on. They were gorgeous, but far too expensive for her budget. She sighed putting them back.
“Nothing again?” Amy asked, stopping behind her.
Lily spun around, smiled at Amy. “Sorry, Amy, I am not much of a shopper.”
Amy hesitated but then nodded. “At the next store.”
“Perhaps,” she said as they once again headed out to another store.
Lily browsed around enjoying just looking at the items. She found a pair of silver earrings she could afford.
“Did you pay cash?” Melissa gasped, stopping next to her.
Lily spun around startled. “Yes.”
“Why?” Melissa’s hands rested on her hips as she waited for Lily to answer her.
“I wanted to.” Lily turned, picking up her little bag, hoping to end the inquiry.
“Is something going on?” Melissa walked next to Lily as she turned away from the counter.
“No.” Lily stopped.
“Then, why?” Melissa asked.
Lily sighed. “Please, it is no big deal.”
Melissa frowned, “Okay, if that is what you want, but Clay won’t be happy you spent your own money.”
She chewed her cheek. “He doesn’t need to know.”
Melissa stared at her. “Doesn’t he?”
“No, of course not,” she said.
Melissa motioned toward Lily’s little bag. “Clay is going to ask what you bought.”
“You ready?” Sara called, Amy standing next to her. “We have to go meet the boys for dinner.”
Melissa dropped the conversation, but Lily wondered if she would tell Clay she hadn’t bought anything.
They sat chitchatting then Melissa turned to her. “We are having dinner with the lawyer tonight. It should be fun.”
“Lawyer and fun in the same sentence,” Lily giggled, smiling over at Melissa. “That is an oxymoron.”
Chapter 7
Lily immediately spotted Clay speaking to some man she didn’t recognize when she entered the restaurant. She assumed he was their lawyer. Clay smiled. Lily smiled back hesitantly, walking over to stand by him.
“Did you have a good time?” His hand settled on her waist.
She glanced up. “Yes.”
Clay smiled, nodding toward the man he was with, “Mark, this is Lily, Lily this is Mark, our attorney.”
“Nice to meet you.” She held out her hand shaking his.
“A pleasure, Lily.” Mark smiled.
“Come let’s go eat.” Clay guided her to the table, talking with Mark. They had a long dinner with lots of chitchat, goofing off and lots of laughter.
Melissa came over and gave Lily a quick kiss on the cheek, before whispering something to Clay. She kissed his cheek and left with Scott.
Clay glanced over at her, a frown on his face.
Lily knew Melissa had ratted her out. She shrugged her shoulders at his expression as Amy came to say goodbye.
“You ready?” Clay asked his voice low.
He watched Lily as they sat in the limo, slightly angry. Melissa told him she hadn’t bought anything, except a pair of earrings, which she paid for herself. He didn’t care if she spent his money. He had wanted her to have a good time.
When they got to the hotel, he was going to talk with her. The girls were supposed to go shopping again tomorrow and he wanted her to buy stuff.
Lily knew Clay wanted to talk to her, but she didn’t want to talk to him. She walked to her room, closing the door behind her.
She sat on the bed, wanting nothing more than to go home. Her door opened, she turned her head watching Clay come into her dark room.
He stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame, watching her through the darkness. “Lily, we need to talk.”
“About what?” She looked out the window where she could see the moon high in the sky.
“About today, about last night,” he said.
“I would rather not,” she whispered.
He stood up straight in the doorway. “Why?”
She shrugged. “I am tired. Can we talk tomorrow?”
He took a few steps into the room, stopping at the end of the bed. “No, we will talk now. Why didn’t you buy anything today?”
“I did.” She pointed to the bag on the dresser.
He glanced over to where she pointed, not able to make the bag out through the darkness but knowing what she was pointing out. “A pair of earrings and you used your own money.”
“So,” she said.
“I gave you the card for a reason,” Clay snapped, walking around the bed.
She glanced at him, then down at the floor. “I am not comfortable spending your money.”
He stood in front of her. “Why not?”
She looked up at him, “I am not your girlfriend. I have no right to spend your money.”
He flinched. “Lily, this trip was on me including all expenses, anything you want.”
She gazed back out the window. “I don’t want anything. I don’t need anything.”
He gritted his teeth. “Don’t you?”
She snapped her head around. “No, is there anything else?”
He sat on the bed next to her, trying to see her face. “Yes, last night.”
“I would rather not.” She turned her head away. “We need to forget last night happened.”
“Can you?” he whispered, stroking the side of her face, “Lily, can you forget what happened because I can’t.”
She shifted on the bed, moving away from him. “It would be for the best.”
He gripped her chin, turning her face toward him. “I can’t. I need to understand.”
She jerked her face out of his hand. Standing, she walked away from him. She stood in front of the window, looking out into the darkness.
He walked up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
She trembled at his touch, closing her eyes as sensations skyrocketed through her body. She couldn’t pour her heart out to him; tell him the truth, but she wanted too.