“You’re mine,” she said, her voice trembling. “And I am yours.”
“Yes.”
His possessiveness came over him again. He led one hand behind her neck to keep her close so he could see her eyes, and the other on her hips to bring her closer to him again and again.
His movements lost all control. He plunged into her, letting go recklessly. He was neither civil nor gentle. He was claiming her completely. The only thing he heard was the movement of the carriage, her moans, his growls, and the sound of their bodies meeting.
This surge of pleasure rose inside him. His body was throbbing with need, and he was getting to the point of no return, where he just couldn’t stop. He looked at her and saw the same tension inside her, ready to snap. She, too, pushed against him, her nails digging into his shoulders. And then,
“Gerald!”
He felt that sweet pressure around him, gripping him tight again and again. He fell, tumbling into her arms, into his release, into bliss.
“Bella!” he groaned against her skin.
For a while, he just breathed, unable to control his body. His forehead fell onto hers, waiting for his breathing to come back to normal. Then he left soft kisses on her forehead, down her cheeks, to the side of her mouth. His hand caressed her hair, completely disheveled now. She nuzzled closer, her face soft and sated.
“The drive to Brighton is five hours, more or less,” he said teasingly.
“I wonder how we are going to occupy our time,” she chuckled softly.
“Mm,” he murmured in her ear. “I think we can entertain ourselves somehow.”
He kissed her lightly, smiling against her lips. He was finally found. He was no longer alone.
EPILOGUE
There were subtle changes before she even saw anything, just a slight shift in the air, the feel, and the smell of it. And then it was as if the sun was shining a little brighter.
Arabella was glued to the window of the carriage as they drew closer to Brighton. She was vibrating with excitement, and though Gerald had managed to take her mind off the long ride using mischievous ways, she was getting more agitated as they moved closer.
“We are almost there.” Gerald left her side and sat across from her.
“Why did you move there?”
“I want to see your face when you see it.”
“See what?”
“Just wait,” Gerald smiled enigmatically.
He was quite surprised when Arabella had told him that she had never been to the sea.
“Gerald, I have seen the sea in paintings and books, so it’s not like I haven’t seen,”
Arabella didn’t finish her sentence because the carriage turned, and there it was. Whatever she was imagining, whatever her mind had conjured, didn’t even come close to what she was looking at.
Her jaw slackened, and her hands lay motionless on her lap. Before her very eyes, a vast blue unraveled like a carpet made of ever-moving, shimmering thread. She had never seen such a thing before.
“There it is,” Gerald said softly.
“I stand corrected. This is the most magnificent thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“I’m happy you’re captivated, you would hate it in Brighton if you didn’t.”
“Captivated? I am mesmerized.”
“Mesmerized? So would you say that you are very lucky that your husband has bought a beautiful house here so you can see this mesmerizing view every day?”
