And then…
Oh, that stung, and Bella couldn’t help but wince from the sharpness of the pain.
Greg stilled his progress, his expression one of true concern. “I’m so sorry.”
But the sting of it had subsided and Bella shook her head. “No, I’m fine.”
“You’re perfect.” He leaned down and kissed her, and when she opened for him, he thrust deeper inside her.
Oh! Bella arched her back at the most amazing sensation of him filling her completely.
“Yes, my love,” he whispered against her lips before kissing her again.
And then… Goodness, did the bed just move?
Greg glanced toward a porthole on the wall above them and he grinned. “I’d like to think I’m responsible for shaking your world, but it seems we are moving. The ship that is.”
The ship was moving? It must have stopped raining. It must have…
Greg threaded his fingers with Bella’s, halting every other thought in her mind as he began to move within her, just like he’d done with his finger; but this was even more wonderful, even more thrilling. Their hands clasped together, their gazes locked, Bella had never felt more at one with anyone in her life. And she never wanted it to end.
He moved inside her, stroking her in and out, in and out, the rhythm making her core pulse as she reached for that precipice that was so very close. If he’d just…
And then he did, and she fell completely over the edge as wave after wave of passion washed over her. “Oh, Greg,” she breathed out, tightening her hold on his hands.
He thrust inside her, more insistent than he had been before and then he too fell over that edge with her.
“Dear God, Bella.” Greg dropped on to the bed beside her and drew her against him, her back to his front, and he curled his arm around her middle, holding her tight. He pressed a kiss to her hair. “You are magnificent.” His voice rumbled over her along with the most joyous contentment.
She snuggled even closer to him, but Greg grasped her hip with his hand.
“Careful, my love,” he said. “Keep that up and I’ll never be able to let you leave this bed until we get to Scotland.”
Bella couldn’t help but smile at that threat. She turned in his arms, letting her fingers brush against the smattering of dark hair on his chest. “That wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”
Greg pressed his lips to hers and Bella sighed. His hand slid down her back and then he gently squeezed her bottom. “If I thought I could entertain you like this all the way to Edinburgh, I wouldn’t have had Simon get you those paints.”
Bella giggled softly as she pushed up on her elbows to look down on him. His green eyes held such affection and her heart swelled just looking at him. Goodness, there was no man in the world more handsome than Greg Avery, not with the way he looked at her, not with the way he made her feel. And he would be hers forever.
“No, no, no.” She shook her head and the tips of her hair brushed against her breasts making her feel wicked and wanton all at once. “You can’t take back those paints. They were the sweetest gesture and…” She had gone her whole life trying to hide her painting whenever possible, but she’d never have to do that with Greg. She could be exactly who she was with no reason to hide. He accepted her and loved her and... “I love you, Greg.”
“And I love you.” He lifted his hand to her cheek and softly caressed her. “I don’t deserve you, but I will cherish you every day of my life.”
Bella frowned at him. If one of them didn’t deserve the other, she was the one who didn’t deserve him. After all, she didn’t know of a single man in London who wouldn’t care about the circumstances of her birth. “You are the most wonderful man in the world.”
“I’m hardly that.” His soft smile faded away. “You deserve the truth, my dear. It isn’t right for me to know all of your secrets but to keep you in the dark about mine.”
Oh, goodness. Bella’s belly twisted at hearing those words. Things had just been so perfect. What sort of secrets did he have? They couldn’t be worse than hers, could they?
“You don’t have to look quite so terrified.” Greg shook his head. “Nothing that will affect our future, it’s just…”
“It’s just what?” she asked softly.
“I have made a number of foolish choices in my life, choices that have pained me and changed the man I was.”
Choices that changed who he was? Who had he been?
“And I’ve spent the last several years trying to be someone else. Someone who is sensible and steady and—”