Page 87 of A Seaside Escape
Greg was broad and muscular, taught and olive-skinned. His jaw angular and covered in stubble which drew her eyes towards his goatee and up to his lips. His tattoos made him even more masculine, if that was possible, and that made her ravenous for him. Greg smiled and shook his head as he stroked her face.
‘Why are you smiling?’ she asked nervously, her eyelids fluttering.
‘I’m just looking at you and thinking that I must be the luckiest man on the planet right now.’
Mallory felt her cheeks heat under his appraising gaze and he ran both thumbs over her lips as he focussed his attention on her mouth, ‘You truly are beautiful, Mallory. So very sexy. And you just don’t seem to realise that. Your curves, your skin… I mean you’re just… so beautiful. I can’t put into words how much I want you.’
She smiled up at him, her heart nervously fluttering in her chest. ‘You did a pretty good job with words right there. But… maybe if you can’t… can’t find words… just show me?’
He bent to kiss her, once again his hands slipping around her back and unfastening the clasp of her bra. He slid the pretty blue lace down her arms and it was thrown to join the rest of their relinquished clothing. As he caressed her tenderly, she let her eyes flutter closed and relished the overwhelming sensation of his touch and her legs weakened.
It all felt so strange, so different, but so amazingly good. He pulled her back with him on to the bed and settled himself beside her. He took her mouth once again in a deep, lingering kiss.
He pulled her beneath him and stroked her hair, muttering his love for her. Their kisses became deeper and needier. Breathing became ragged as their hands explored each other and their bodies became one.
Fighting the urge to close her eyes, she gazed up into his face but his expression troubled her. His brow was furrowed and there was fear where there should’ve been love. It was as if he was expecting to wake from some cruel, tormenting dream.
She placed her hands on either side of his face as he moved. ‘Greg,’ she gasped, staring intently into his eyes, ‘I love you and I want you… and I mean forever.’ Tears escaped her eyes as the verbalisation of her true feelings for this soft-hearted, rugged man struck her once again. Her words were the only catalyst he needed as he cried out her name in sheer ecstasy, taking her with him.
They held onto each other as their bodies shuddered in the immense afterglow of the pleasure and love they had shared.
‘Mallory, I love you so much, please don’t cry,’ Greg gasped as his heartbeat began to calm. He wiped away her tears as he clung onto her.
She smiled and kissed him as he stared at her worriedly. ‘I’m not crying because I’m sad. They’re happy tears.’
‘I didn’t hurt you?’ he asked, his breathing slowing.
‘No, not at all, you were wonderful. Making love with you was just… amazing. I’m just so very happy that we got here after everything we’ve been through.’ She stroked his cheek as relief became evident and his features relaxed.
‘No regrets?’ He was clearly still waiting for her to get up and leave or say she had changed her mind.
She had thought of a way to drive the point home. She pulled herself up so that she was looking down at him, took a deep breath and spoke, ‘I want you to move in with me, Greg.’ She exhaled quickly, feeling relieved to finally speak the words she had been thinking since the accident had nearly torn them apart for good.
He sat bolt upright and his eyes widened. Taking her face in his hands, a myriad of emotions washed over his face. ‘Are you serious?’
Locking her determined gaze on him again, she smiled through her drying tears. ‘Is that a yes then?’ she asked with a raise of her eyebrows. ‘I’m perfectly serious.’
‘Hell, yes I’ll move in!’ He grabbed her into a strong embrace and they tumbled backward into another lingering, passionate kiss.
*
Two days later, Greg pulled up outside Mallory’s place in the Landy. It was packed to the gunnels with his belongings.
Mallory came out to help him unload leaving Ruby waiting on the chair by the window, her little face alive with excitement as she waited for her new canine housemate. Angus sat in the passenger seat wagging his long tail frantically, almost taking Greg’s eye out in the process.
Greg climbed down from the car and ran around to scoop Mallory into his arms. ‘I’m so bloody excited about this!’ He spun her around.
She clung on, laughing with her head back. ‘Me too. I just hope it all fits in.’
‘Well if not, we’ll have a mega car-boot sale, eh?’
They carried box after box into the cottage and Greg regaled Mallory with all the positive things the letting agent had said about his house. They stopped to kiss or embrace at every possible opportunity and when they had finished, they collapsed onto the sofa and snuggled together out of breath.
‘Guess what?’ Mallory suddenly remembered her news. ‘Brad and Josie are definitely coming for New Year!’
It hadn’t taken much persuading to get her friends to agree. Josie had pretty much squealed in delight down the phone when she had heard all of Mallory’s news.
‘Fantastic. I know how much it means to you to have them here. It’ll be great to have them share Hogmanay celebrations with us… inourhome.’ He squeezed her gently. ‘I can’t wait. They’ll be able to come over and see me play and then we can have a wee celebration back here.’ He kissed her for the millionth time. ‘Fancy a wee bit of Christmas shopping this afternoon?’
‘Sounds like a plan.’ She jumped to her feet. ‘I think I’ll go shower and get ready. You coming?’ She slipped her top off one shoulder and bit her lip seductively as she held out her hand. He didn’t take much convincing and grabbed it.
As they walked past the lounge window overlooking the water, Mallory gasped. ‘Greg! It’s snowing.’ The snow was beginning to blanket the ground in front of the house and turn their view into something usually seen on Christmas cards. ‘It’s perfect.’ She smiled as Greg slid his arms around her waist whilst they stood, watching the feather-like flakes float to the ground.
