Chapter 27
“We should get some sleep,” Bert said eventually, noting the time. “Tomorrow’s another shore excursion. We need to be alert.”
“Agreed.” Mary rolled to the drawers and pulled out her pajamas. She then rolled into the bathroom and closed the door. Once inside, she looked into the mirror. She no longer saw just a woman in a wheelchair, but a woman in love with a man who loved her back.
“I’m going to talk to headquarters,” he called out.
“Sounds good,” she replied, knowing he would be on his computer for a while.
She washed her face, moisturized, brushed her teeth, then wiggled around in her wheelchair, first undressing and then getting into her pajamas.
When she emerged, Bert smiled, set his laptop down, and then headed into the bathroom, kissing the top of her head on the way.
Mary stared at the bed as she wheeled closer.
The bed was big enough for both of them, but barely.
They’d shared it last night, though they had claimed to start on their own sides.
Tonight, there was no pretense of separate sleeping arrangements.
They were together. They’d admitted they loved each other.
Sharing a bed was the natural next step.
She sighed, then wheeled beside the bed and put on the hand brakes. Once in place, she hefted out of the chair and, with minimal difficulty, sat on the side of the bed. She then turned at the waist and, using her hand, positioned each leg on top of the mattress.
Before she was able to get into place, the bathroom door opened, and Bert walked out. His gaze met hers, and he walked closer. He was in a T-shirt and loose boxers, and she just stared at all his male beauty on display.
“Can I help you get comfortable?”
She nodded slowly, even as uncertainty filled her. The only person who’d ever helped her in bed after she’d finished with rehab was her mother. Other than that, she did everything herself.
“Will you give me directions?”
She heard the same uncertainty in his voice, but knew his came from being afraid of hurting her. “You won’t hurt me, Bert. It’s just like when I’d transfer to the sofa and sit next to you. But I’ll scoot back, and you can guide my legs to follow so that I’m sitting up in bed.”
They worked quickly and easily together. She used her strong arms to shift her torso back to the headrest. She watched his hands on her legs and wished she could have felt them fully. The only sensation she felt was a slight tickling as though a feather was gliding over her thighs.
Once in place, he secured the cabin, turned out the lights except the ones on the nightstands, and climbed into bed next to her.
With their backs to the pillows piled up behind them, he pulled his laptop onto his lap.
There was nothing new from Sadie, so he closed his tablet and set it onto the nightstand.
Mary placed her hands in her lap and twisted slightly so her gaze could roam over his face.
He was so beautiful… the quiet man who knew what to say to her.
The strong man who knew how to be gentle.
The introvert who stood up for her, not wanting her to remain in the shadows.
“Bert, about what I said earlier. About my concerns.”
“You don’t have to explain—”
“I want to.” Mary’s expression was earnest. “I need you to know that I meant what I said. I love you. I want to be with you. I’m just... scared of disappointing you.”
Bert reached out and cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheekbone.
“Mary, you could never disappoint me. Whatever happens between us, however our physical relationship develops, we’ll figure it out together.
With no judgment, no pressure, no expectations except honesty and care for each other. ”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because I mean it.” Bert leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers. “I love you. All of you. Whatever that looks like, however we discover what works for us, that’s what I want. Not some theoretical perfect version, but you. Exactly as you are.”
Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. “How did I get so lucky to find you?”
“I’m the lucky one. You make me better. Make me braver. Make me want to be the kind of person who deserves you.”
“You already are that person.”
They kissed, slow and sweet and full of promise. When they finally settled down to sleep, Bert curled into her side like he belonged there, his arm wrapped protectively around her.
“Bert?” Mary’s voice was sleepy, already fading toward dreams.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for fighting for us. For not being scared away by complications.”
“There’s nothing to be scared of,” Bert said, meaning it. “You’re worth fighting for, Mary. Worth everything.”
Her only response was a soft sigh as she drifted off to sleep.
Mary woke slowly, awareness creeping in through layers of sleep.
The ship rocked gently beneath them, morning light filtered softly through the curtains, and Bert’s arm was wrapped around her waist, his chest warm against her side again, their bodies fitted together like they’d been sleeping this way for years instead of just days.
Neither of them moved. Mary held perfectly still, afraid that shifting would break the spell and remind Bert that they were supposed to be taking things slow and careful.
But she didn’t want slow right now. She wanted the weight of his arm across her body, the steady rhythm of his breathing against her neck, and the solid presence of him surrounding her.
“You’re awake,” Bert murmured, his voice rough with sleep.
“So are you.”
“Have been for a while.” His arm tightened slightly, pulling her closer. “Didn’t want to move and wake you.”
Mary turned her head until she faced him. In the dim morning light, Bert’s face was soft with sleep, his hair mussed, his blue eyes dark and warm as they met hers.
“Hi,” she said, feeling suddenly shy despite everything they’d admitted to each other.
“Hi yourself.” Bert’s hand came up to cup her face, his thumb tracing her cheekbone. “Sleep well?”
“Better than I have in years.”
“Me too.”
They lay, staring at each other, the moment stretching and crystallizing into something that felt monumental.
Mary could see everything she felt reflected in Bert’s eyes…
love, longing, hope, fear, determination.
All of it right there on his face, completely open to her in a way that made her chest ache.
Then he kissed her. It started soft and gentle… a good morning kiss that was sweet and tender. But it deepened quickly, heat building between them as Mary’s hand slid into Bert’s hair and his arm tightened around her waist, pulling her flush against him.
This was different from their previous kisses. Those had been declarations, admissions, the first tentative steps into new territory. But this was need and want and the knowledge that they belonged to each other, and they’d finally stopped pretending and could just be.
Bert’s hand slid from her face to her neck, his thumb stroking the pulse point there, and Mary made a small sound in the back of her throat that seemed to undo him.
He rolled, careful not to jostle her too much, until he was half over her, his weight supported on his forearms but his body aligned with hers in a way that made her upper body nerves light up, and her legs feeling a slight pressure from his.
“Mary,” he breathed against her lips, and there was so much in that one word.
“I know,” Mary whispered back. “I know.”
They kissed as though they had all the time in the world. Just the two of them, learning the taste and feel of each other, discovering what made the other gasp or sigh or press closer.
Bert’s hand slid down her side, careful and reverent, and Mary arched into the touch, wanting more but also knowing they couldn’t.
Not yet, not with so much unresolved between them and a mission to complete.
But she wanted to. She wanted to explore where this heat between them could lead and find out what their bodies could do together.
She wanted to stop being afraid of disappointing him and just trust that they’d figure it out.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Bert rested his forehead against hers. “We should stop.”
“We should,” Mary agreed, making no move to pull away.
“We have to be at breakfast. Keep eyes on Diane and Colin.”
“I know.”
“But I really don’t want to stop kissing you.”
Mary laughed, breathless and happy. “Me neither.”
Bert kissed her once more, quick and sweet, then rolled away with visible reluctance. “Okay. We’re getting up. We’re being professional. We’re remembering we have a job to do.”
“Right. Professional.” Mary watched him climb out of bed, admiring the way his sleep shirt pulled across his shoulders. “Very professional.”
“You’re not helping,” Bert said, but he was grinning.
They moved through their morning routine with the kind of careful coordination required by the small space.
Bert went first, showering and shaving while Mary organized her clothes for the day.
Then they switched, Mary maneuvering into the bathroom while Bert checked his phone for updates from Logan and the team.
She went through her routine with practiced efficiency. The shower was blessedly hot, and Mary took her time, letting the water ease muscles that were slightly sore from sleeping in an unfamiliar bed and the stress of the past few days.
She was just finishing when she heard Bert’s voice through the door. “Hey Mary, Logan sent an update. Sisco and Sadie have looked at the first batch of photos—”
The bathroom door, which Mary could have sworn she’d latched properly, swung open.
They both froze.