Chapter Thirty-Two
Damian woke in the same manner as he had the day before. Except this time, he was naked, as was Georgie, and he was not at all concerned that she would be embarrassed to come alert with a leg across his thigh, her hand on his belly and head on his chest.
It truly was the best way to start the day.
Well, not the best.
Carefully he slid from beneath her and rolled Georgie onto her back. He then leveled himself at his side, arm bent and elbow against the mattress for support so that he could study and admire her.
Never had he experienced a lover who was so responsive, or ready for him the first time he touched her. He’d nearly spilled his seed right then. Of course, he’d been aching with need for nearly three days and was about ready to explode before he had her unclothed.
Georgie would likely find her sister as soon as they arrived in Greenock so their time together was limited to today and hopefully tomorrow. Then, it would be only a matter of days before she set sail for Italy and he would never see her again.
The very idea caused an ache deep in his chest that Damian had never experienced before, and one he was afraid to examine too closely.
Last night had been frenzied, passionate and all consuming, but he had not taken the time he would like, but he would this morning.
Damian slipped a hand around her waist, leaned in, and kissed her bare shoulder, then up to her neck and along the jaw, as he inched closer to her.
“Good morning,” Georgie whispered.
Damian grinned. “I hope I did not awaken you.”
Georgie chuckled. “Did you think to seduce me in my sleep and have your way with me?”
“No. I want you fully awake.” He pressed against her so that she could feel the length of him.
She sucked in a breath and Damian took his time caressing and kissing her breasts, then skimming his fingers lower until he reached the apex of her thighs.
Damian stroked and teased, not letting her find her release.
Her moans grew louder and then she grasped his shoulders, her fingernails digging in as her hips lifted, searching for the release he intentionally held back.
“Please, Damian.”
He bit back a grin and sent her over the precipice.
Georgie arched and cried out and when she finally settled, he joined her in one thrust. Her walls tightened around him, just as they had last night and it was all he could do not to let go but prolong and enjoy so that she could find her release again and with him.
When she tightened around him and her fingers once again bit into his shoulders, Damian let himself go just as she cried out and barely left her in time before he spilled his seed onto her stomach.
That may have been too close and as much as he would have loved to have been in her, Damian did not want to leave her with child.
As his heart slowed and he rolled away from her, Georgie turned her head and smiled at him.
“That was lovely.”
“Yes, it was,” he chuckled.
Oh, he was going to miss her when she was gone.
How could one aggravating, adorable, and desirable woman have wormed her way into his heart in only six days. Had it been six months or even six weeks, he would ask her to marry him, but only a fool married after knowing someone for so short a time, no matter how compatible they were as lovers.
*
With reluctance, after Damian washed her belly, she rose and dressed for the day, then retrieved her watch from her satchel.
They had left Liverpool fifteen hours ago, and depending on how quickly the steamship was able to travel, they could arrive in Greenock in nine hours or she might have another night with Damian.
As anxious as Georgie was to see Grace, her heart ached at knowing her time with Damian would soon come to an end.
She was not ready to be separated from him. She wanted more time. She needed more time and not just for intimacy, but…Oh, she wasn’t certain, but her heart ached with knowing how little time she had with Damian.
“Do you think someone will know where to find Fisher and Grace?” she asked Damian as he tied his cravat. She much preferred him in an open linen shirt and trousers, if he must be clothed.
Goodness, his body was magnificent.
“We will ask at the Chisholm Shipping office.”
“Oh, I hope it is that easy. I have already dragged you all over England and now into Scotland. I would hate to have come all this way and still need to search for Grace.”
Damian chuckled. “You did not drag me all over England. There are many parts that we did not visit, but I am not sorry for where we did travel.”
“You are just saying that because I allowed you to seduce me.”
“I believe you are the one who introduced the topic in the first place, but again, I have no complaints.” He then leaned in and kissed her.
“Nor do I.”
She stared into his blue eyes, wanting and needing things that she could never have. Nor should she. And, if she bothered to give any thought to her actions, she’d be shocked that she became the lover of a man she had known only five days.
There were words for women like her. None that she would repeat, but if anyone else learned, they would not hesitate to give her those unpleasant titles.
“Shall we see if there is any breakfast available in the galley?” he asked.
“Yes,” she answered as her stomach grumbled.
He waited by door and when she joined him, he arched an auburn eyebrow. “Your bonnet,” he reminded her.
Ah, yes, he was afraid that she might suffer a sunburn. She returned to the table where it had been left then tied the ribbon beneath her chin and joined him again before they returned to the deck where a sailor directed them to a small dining room where the captain and officers took their meals.
He stood when they entered then gestured for Damian and Georgie to take a seat. A breakfast of eggs, cold ham, and bread were placed before them.
“When do you think we will arrive in Greenock,” Damian asked.
“Likely not until tomorrow,” the captain answered.
If she were still wondering where Grace was, such news would have set her on edge. As that was not the case, she was quite pleased that she would have another night to share abed with Damian.
“The piston in the engine is sluggish, irregular. The engineer is not yet concerned, but we are not going to risk increasing steam or speed until the situation has been resolved.”
She was not concerned with when they would arrive because it would still be before Grace could sail to America, yet she grew slightly nervous given the stories Damian had told of the two steamships that had failed and caused injuries and death.
“So, it could take even longer to reach Greenock?” Georgie asked,
“It is possible,” the captain answered. “I would rather our voyage leisurely than risk the ship, passengers, or crew.”
“As would we,” Damian agreed.
“Chisholm suggested that you might be interested in a tour of the ship for a better understanding of a steamship.”
“Yes, I would.”
“Then I will take you myself.”
Georgie noticed that the same offer was not made to her, and likely because she was simply a female, and, for a change, she did not mind.