The Bachelor's Bed by Jill Shalvis Read Free Book Online Page A

smile. “I’m trying to remember that.”
    From outside came a distant clap of thunder. Lani jerked, thrown by the harsh sound. “What’s that?”
    â€œA summer storm is moving in.” He glanced out the window. “We’ll get some rain I hope. And some relief from the heat.”
    Lani had an aversion to storms, one that went bone-deep. Goose bumps rose on her skin as the sky lit yet again. A twenty-year-old fear goaded her. In the guise of saying good-night, she wrapped her arms around Colin and hoped he’d hold her back.
    He didn’t.
    â€œâ€™Night,” she whispered, gripping him tightly as a crack of thunder hit.
    Letting go of him was difficult, for he’d felt warm and strong and wonderful, but she could feel how rigidly he held himself. Trying not to take it personally, she backed off and plopped down on her bed, just managing not to flinch when lightning flashed again. When the following thunder boomed and the windows rattled, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
    She really hated storms.
    Colin hadn’t breathed, not once since she’d touched him.
    She swallowed her silly fear. “Colin?”
    â€œâ€™Night,” he muttered finally. And then he was gone.

4
    T HE STORM came and raged, and Lani tried to be strong.
    She dreamed, long haunting visions of things best forgotten. Her mother, warm and loving, smiling as she placed Lani’s hand on her rounded belly, letting her daughter feel the little sibling just waiting for his or her time. Her father, laughing with delight as he twirled her around and around on their lawn.
    In her sleep, Lani sighed and smiled.
    And then came the images of their sightless faces after the car accident that had killed them both, twenty years before in a wild, unexpected summer storm.
    Thunder rattled the windows. Lightning bolted. Lani lurched up, a scream on her lips, but it died, replaced by a gasp of shock at the shadow that sank to her bed.
    â€œWhat is it?” came a deep voice.
    Colin. He’d come. He was rumpled from sleep, hair tousled, eyes heavy. Chest bare.
    Offering comfort.
    And she needed it just then, oh, how she needed it.Before she could speak into the dark, chilled room, he lifted a hand and touched her face gently.
    It came away wet from her tears.
    â€œLani?” he murmured, bracketing her hips with his strong, corded arms as he leaned over her, his face close to hers as he tried to see her expression. “You okay?”
    In answer, she slipped her arms around that warm, hard body and tugged, needing him close, swallowing her last lingering sob as he resisted.
    Staring down into her eyes, he shook his head slowly. “You were dreaming.”
    Thunder resounded again and unable to control her whimper, Lani squeezed her eyes shut and tried to disappear.
    With a low, wordless sound of concern, Colin gave in and his wonderful arms gathered her close. “Just a storm,” he said quietly, stroking her hair as she curled into the warmth of his embrace. His rough jaw scraped lightly over her cheek. “It can’t hurt you. You’re safe here.”
    She knew that, but her fear was irrational, as was her need for him.
    The rain hit the roof with a drumming, driving force. Wind howled and shook the windows. The temperature had dropped, cooling the air. More thunder came, and lightning, too, but Lani, locked in the security of Colin’s arms, sighed. His mere presence soothed, drove back any lingering part of the nightmare.
    It was all in the past, gone, and it could no longer hurt her. Colin was here in the present, bending over her, whispering words meant to ease and soothe, and they did. But his husky, still sleepy voice also aroused and, despite the storm beating against her windows, Lani reacted to that. She needed him and yearned to feel needed in return. Without conscious effort, her hips rocked to his.
    Colin went utterly still.
    She should be mortified, at least sorry,