Dreams (Part One) (Dreams #1)(28)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

“I doubt it.“

“Then you think of something, damn it!“

His brows rose. “You’re really on edge, aren’t you? Here, let me see that slicker of yours.“

Wordlessly she handed it to him. A few minutes later he had it spread across a fairly smooth stretch of stone. He used his windbreaker to add some width to the sleeping surface, and then he sat down on top of the slicker and began removing his damp shoes. When he looked up to see what was keeping her from following suit, he smiled and held out his hand.

“Honey, this is as good as it’s going to get tonight. Come on down here, and we’ll try to get some sleep.“

“I won’t be able to sleep a wink tonight.“

“Sure you will. Take off your shoes and get your feet dry. That will help.“

She let him remove her sport shoes, and he was right. Things did seem more bearable when her feet were dry.

When he was finished, he lay down, tangled her legs between his and cradled her, spoon-fashion.

“I don’t think I’ll ever go into a cave again as long as I live,“ Diana vowed.

“This wasn’t my idea.“

“Don’t remind me.“ She turned and gave him a quick kiss. “I’m sorry for having gotten us into this mess.“

“It’s not so bad and it’s not your fault. No one could have predicted that storm.“

“It was a surprise, wasn’t it?“

“Damn weird, if you want to know the truth.“

“Don’t say that. I’m nervous enough about this cave. Don’t start implying the storm is some sort of supernatural event. I already know I’m not going to be able to sleep a wink.“

Five minutes later, Diana was sound asleep.

Colby stirred beside her, trying to get comfortable. He stared into the blackness above, aware of how weak the flashlight beam was becoming. He wouldn’t switch on the other one unless Diana awoke. As long as she was sleeping this soundly, she wouldn’t miss the artificial illumination.

Never in all the years of growing up in Fulbrook Comers had he ever seen a storm as bad as the one that was blowing tonight. The wind seemed to have intensified in the past half hour. It was blowing with enough force now to send sprays of water off the falls straight into the main cavern. If it got any worse, he and Diana would both be soaked to the skin by morning.

Common sense told him they would both be dryer and far more comfortable in the back of the cave.

Colby sat up and looked down at Diana curled up beside him. Her tawny hair was tumbled around her shoulders and her lashes looked very long lying against her cheek. He was just beginning to realize how very important she had become to him lately. His obsession with her had not ended when he’d finally gotten her into bed. A part of him was starting to wonder if it would ever end.

Just what he needed, he thought wryly – an independent, assertive, opinionated career woman. A woman who’d never had children of her own but who felt qualified to lecture him on how to handle his own son.

But he wanted to know the rest of her secrets. He felt as if he’d only peeled away one thin layer of her complex personality. He needed to learn so much more about her.

First things first, however. His primary task tonight was to shield her from the storm. Another spray of water sailed in through the entrance.

Colby got to his feet and reached down to lift Diana into his arms. He picked up the flashlights and started toward the inner grotto.

Sometimes a man had to ride roughshod over a woman’s fears for her own good. With any luck she wouldn’t wake up until morning.

7

Diana came partialiy awake , dimly aware of a dream that was fading rapidly. She couldn’t remember any of the details, but she was awash in a gentle sea of wistful longing and deep, aching sensuality. She felt a little sad but did not understand why. She was also aware of a distant glimmer of hope, but she didn’t understand that, either.

She waited for the dreamy state to subside, and when it didn’t she shifted languidly, wondering why the bed seemed so hard tonight. Then she felt the weight of a man’s leg lying across her thigh, and a vague recollection of the day’s events surfaced.

She managed to get her eyes open just far enough to see the reassuring beam of the flashlight. It was definitely on its last legs, but she didn’t have the energy to reach over and switch on the backup light.

“Colby?“ she whispered sleepily.

“It’s all right,“ he murmured drowsily, cradling her closer. “I’m right here.“ His palm stroked over her breast and he dropped a kiss onto her shoulder.

Diana closed her eyes again, feeling safe and secure in his embrace. The wistful longing within her intensified, melding with the sensual warmth that was spreading through her limbs. She turned toward Colby, instinctively trying to get closer. Her arm went around his lean waist.

“You feel good,“ she muttered. Her hand moved along his back, savoring the hard, contoured muscles. “Warm and strong.“

“You feel good, too. Soft. Very soft. Sweet.“ He kissed her again, a sleepy caress on her brow and then the tip of her nose. She felt his body growing taut.

“Colby?“ She slid her foot between his legs, and he instantly tightened his thighs, chaining her.

“Sweetheart,“ he breathed just before his mouth found hers.

Diana parted her lips for him, inviting him into her warmth and then there were no more words.

Colby’s kiss grew suddenly fierce with a hunger that Diana responded to instantly. She welcomed the fierceness in him, knowing that it would never be used against her, knowing that with this man she was safe.

Passion flared without any warning, sweeping Diana into the heart of a swirling storm that seemed as intense as the one howling outside the cave. Colby’s arms tightened around her. He rolled onto his back and pulled her with him.

Then his hands locked in her hair.

She felt him lift himself against her, and her hands slid up under his shirt. She loved the feel of him. She couldn’t get enough of it. Her whole body was beginning to sing with the joy only his lovemaking could give her.

She wanted to join with him, become one with him, love him.

When he unbuttoned her shirt and tossed it aside, she reacted in kind. His shirt landed on the cavern floor beside hers. He fumbled with her pants, his hands gliding warmly over her curving bu**ocks as he swept the last of her garments from her body.

She slid down along the length of him, and he began to breathe heavily as she stopped long enough to drop tiny kisses here and there across his broad chest.