“I’m seeing to your needs, Leo.” She lay down next to him, dropping the cloth on his stomach.
“You’ve forgotten to clean the most important part.” His voice had grown uneven.
Her hand gently moved over his cock, fingertips exploring his length. Her thumb rubbed over the tip.
“Jesus.” Leo thought he might explode, and she’d barely touched him. He’d never be able to bathe again without thinking of this moment.
Her fingers curled around his cock, rubbing up and down his length with slow, even strokes, punctuated with a gentle squeeze. “Like this?”
“Yes.” The word came out in a moan. When she cupped his balls again, fondling them in her hand, Leo’s head fell back on the pillow.
“No moving,” she reminded him, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to his stomach while stroking him.
“I promise, Georgie. Not a muscle.”
To Leo’s shame, he lasted approximately as long as a boy of fourteen. She muffled the sound of his release with a kiss, while her clever hands caressed him. As he lay there panting, Georgina took the cloth from his stomach and cleaned him off.
Leo grabbed her hand to keep her from leaving. “That might be the best bath I’ve had in some time.”
Georgina giggled. A lovely, musical sound. One he wanted to hear for the rest of his days.
She pulled the quilt over them both, molding herself to his side. A winter storm had started outside, bits of ice and snow hitting the window. The fire hissed as moisture dripped down the chimney. His fingers found her braid and loosened her hair so the mass of golden curls would spread across his chest.
“I love you, Georgie,” he whispered to her. “I love you.”
EPILOGUE
“Mama!”
The sound of her son’s footsteps rang against the deck of the ship as he made his way over to Georgina’s place at the rail. The sun glinted off his dark head of curls, the blue of his eyes like that of the ocean before her. She could see land in the distance. England. Damn it. She had so been hoping she would never have to return. But a wager was a wager.
“What is it, my love?”
“Papa is green again.” Daniel made a horrible face.
A shadow loomed over her son. “No. Not green, Daniel. A much lighter shade.” Leo’s arm slipped around her waist.
Pale. Washed out. Not green. She would have compared the color to milk which had spoiled.
“Did you have some tea?” Her fingers brushed along his jaw. He’d kept the beard because she liked it.
“I did. Which is why I’m out here with you instead of below.” He reached to pull Daniel closer to him with one hand. “I’ll be very glad to get off this ship, though the crossing has been much quicker than my first.” He kissed her cheek. “Thank you for compromising.”
She and Leo had indeed been married the same week he’d finally walked out of Lilian’s guest room and made his way down the stairs with little assistance. Her parents had objected to Leo until they’d caught sight of Daniel and discovered that Leo, bastard or not, was the son and brother of a duke.
The news earned Georgina not only a smile but an actual embrace from her father.
The Barrington was nearly finished. The remainder of the details, which were minor, would be overseen by Schuller while Leo and his family spent a long-overdue holiday in London. The hotel was nothing short of spectacular. There was already a waiting list for membership to the exclusive gentleman’s club housed within the hotel. A chef had been hired for the restaurant. They would be back in time for the grand opening, hopefully with actual Barringtons in tow.
She and Leo had played poker to determine how much time they would spend in New York and London, respectively. Georgina had won several hands but lost at the end. A year in New York, followed by six months in London. They’d adjust as time went on, but for now, Georgina thought it the best solution. Leo missed his family, and he had a variety of business enterprises which required his attention, including Elysium.
Georgina had married a very wealthy, ambitious man.
Leo’s hand flattened over the small mound of Georgina’s stomach. He touched the tiny bump frequently. Sometimes speaking directly to her mid-section rather than Georgina. She found it all vastly amusing. As did Daniel.
“We’ll stay for a time at the Averell mansion. Tony will insist. But we should find a house of our own.” Leo nuzzled against her neck. “I’ll sell Beechwood Court.”
Georgina nodded. She no longer wanted the estate. Not after what had happened there. The memories of Harold had faded, but she doubted they would ever be gone completely. Clarissa was still Lady Masterson but would need to remarry. The estate was bankrupt and would revert back to the Crown without an heir.
