Free Highland Fling by Shelli Stevens Page B

before dawn.
    But it had been several months now since he’d been in that situation or even had a woman, and with Delonna’s soft, perfumed body so close to him, his cock was once again reminded of the fact.
    Yet somehow, through the entire movie and the wind gusts shaking the house, he kept himself from touching her. He’d told her the ball was in her court, and hadn’t lied.
    Her hand on his leg had him jerking in anticipation, but her accompanying words disappointed.
    “I’m going to head to bed. Thanks for the whisky and company.” She hesitated, then brushed a kiss against his cheek.
    Unable to stop himself, he caught the back of her neck and pulled her head back down. It was a short and sweet kiss. But it was a chance for him to touch her lips with his own again. To taste the hint of Earl Grey and whisky, and to hear her soft sigh of pleasure. But with a willpower he himself could never summon, Delonna pulled back and stood up.
    “Good night, boss boy,” she said softly.
    His lips twitched into a half smile. “G’night, Lana.”
    And then she was gone, soft feet padding down the hall before the door to her bedroom clicked shut.
    He finished his tea, grabbed their mugs and placed them in the sink, and went to bed himself.
    The buzzing of his phone woke him up. Disoriented, he managed to surmise that the room was in complete darkness, and the light from the bathroom that usually shone under his door was missing.
    It sank in that the power must’ve just gone out and his cell had buzzed as it stopped charging. Still in a groggy haze, he reached for his cell and glanced at the time. Nearly four thirty in the morning.
    Closing his eyes again, he willed himself to fall back asleep. Another massive gust of wind rattled the windows and the house shook slightly. The sound of waves slamming into the beach accompanied the soundtrack of the storm.
    It relaxed him, and kept him awake for a bit, because he loved a good windstorm.
    The faint knock had his eyes opening and his brows drawing together. Had that come from outside his room or perhaps something against the side of the house?
    When he took too long to decide, the door swung open and Delonna stepped into his room.
    He sat up, his frown deepening. “Everything all right?”
    She didn’t answer, but just darted across the room and climbed into his bed. Her bare feet were cold from the floorboards, brushing against his leg as he scooted over to make room for her.
    “I hate storms. It’s stupid. I know it makes me a wimp,” she rambled quickly.
    “No, not at all, luv. It’s fine.”
    “It’s not fine, it’s embarrassing.” She shook her head. “I was eight when there was a bad windstorm, and a tree smashed through my bedroom. It missed my bed by just a foot.”
    Shock pricked. “ Shite . I’m sorry, luv. Thank God it missed you. With that happening, I’m surprised you don’t have a raving phobia of storms now.”
    “I don’t really. Only now and then, when it’s particularly bad. Then the fear can flare up a little. Like it has tonight.”
    He pulled her close, stroking a comforting arm down her back, and ready to let her go if she tried to pull away. But she snuggled closer, pressing her palm to his chest and her cheek to his shoulder.
    “Thank you.” It was almost a whisper, but he’d heard it.
    He turned his head to kiss her forehead lightly and her body relaxed even more against his.
    “There are no trees to fall on my house,” he reassured her. “Just a bit of waves that might make it onto my porch.”
    “I know.”
    Another gust of wind rattled the house and he sensed her flinch in the darkness.
    “Tell me something else about your childhood.”
    In the darkness, he could sense her frowning. “My childhood was all right, but stressful moneywise.”
    “Moneywise? You were a child, why even concern yourself with such things?”
    She gave a short laugh. “Kind of hard not to when your house is foreclosed on and you’re essentially