The next couple of weeks were mainly focused on rehabilitation. Greg was healing quickly and Mallory was relieved to discover that the bruising was subsiding rapidly.
The people in the village had figured out that they were an item on account of the number of times they had been caught having a sneaky kiss when they thought no one was looking. The villagers smiled and chatted about it together. When people thought she wasn’t really listening she heard murmurs of, ‘Isn’t it lovely that they finally sorted themselves out?’ and ‘Don’t they make a handsome couple?’
Feeling relieved at her decision to stay, Mallory began to relish her surroundings. She decided she loved Clachan Seil and all it meant to her and moving away simply wasn’t an option any longer. She stopped seeing the negative about the place and began to really make it her own home.
Greg stayed over a lot whilst he was in the throes of the healing process. It was beginning to feel like their house.
Mallory phoned Renee at the end of November to inform her of what had happened. Renee had cried and Mallory thought at first that this was due to anger or upset at the betrayal of her son’s memory.
But eventually she had sighed and said, ‘Oh Mallory, Ryan, Cara and I said as soon as we met Greg that he was the one for you. It was so clear how much he thought of you. It was so obvious to us, sweetheart. I’m so very happy for you. We all are. But promise me the two of you will come out and visit? And please don’t lose touch because you’re worried about how awkward things will be. They won’t be at all awkward, darling. You are and always will be a part of this family. We all love you dearly.’
Mallory had cried and cried at hearing such kind and heartfelt words from Renee. She was relieved to have got it out in the open with Sam’s family and she felt that she and Greg had everyone’s blessing.
*
December 2015
Early December was an exciting time.
Plans to open her new shop in the new year were coming along well and she was looking forward to getting it up and running. In addition to this, the joy of Christmas lay around the corner and how wonderful it was to be spending it with Greg, in her lovely home, near the beautiful bridge over the Atlantic; her favourite place in the whole world.
Saturday December third and Greg was almost back to his former self apart from a scar on his head, one on his lip and slight shadows under his eyes.
He had been with Mallory to buy a Christmas tree and it was standing in the corner of the lounge ready to be decorated with a combination of their respective ornaments.
Greg had brought over a bottle of sherry and Mallory had put on her Spotify Christmas playlist that she would happily listen to in June – she loved Christmas songs so much. Greg poured them a wee dram and they began to go through their boxes of tree ornaments. They squabbled jokily over whose were better, but Greg knew that Mallory’s were much more tasteful, although he wouldn’t openly concede. His were bright, garish and mostly, if they were both honest, ugly.
The battle didn’t end there, however. Greg was placing his ornaments on the tree in prominent positions with a wry, playful grin and Mallory, using her womanly powers of subterfuge, was removing them and placing them at the back of the tree, hidden out of sight. Greg caught on to this fact quickly and decided to make a tactical move himself, which involved grabbing Mallory around the waist and wrestling her to the ground to tickle her until she relented and allowed him to place the gaudy ornaments where he chose. Once finished they sat back on the sofa to admire their handiwork.
‘This Christmas is going to be so special, gorgeous,’ Greg announced to Mallory as they snuggled together on the sofa. ‘Are Josie and Brad coming up?’
‘I think they may come up for Hogmanay. I can’t wait for my first real Hogmanay.’ Mallory was filled with excitement just thinking about it. Greg turned to Mallory, his melted chocolate eyes filled with desire. ‘Do you know what I’m looking forward to?’ He stroked a finger down her cheek and brought his face close to hers until they were almost touching. Their relationship had remained – albeit reluctantly on both sides – in the realms of celibacy since their first kiss in the hospital after the accident. Greg’s wounds had been healing and neither had been prepared to rush things and ruin what they potentially had; but in that moment things changed.
Her breath caught as she was willingly trapped by his gaze. ‘What?’ She felt her temperature begin to rise and her heart rate increased.
His breath was warm on her lips and she noticed his breathing had changed. ‘I’m looking forward to unwrapping you on Christmas morning and kissing you all over.’ His voice was a deep, low whisper as he leaned closer still and rested his forehead on hers.
Desire clenched deep within her and she placed her hand on his chest where she could feel his pounding heart. She kissed him deeply, her tongue dipping into his mouth. ‘Why wait until Christmas morning?’ Their eyes remained locked. She wanted him… now.
His wonderful full mouth turned up at one side and he stood as he took her hand, pulling her to her feet to meet him. ‘Come with me,’ he whispered.
This time her temperature soared as the need for him coursed through her body. He led her to the stairs and, still holding her hand, made his way up to the bedroom.
Once inside the room he pulled her into his arms and gazed down at her, his eyes hooded with avidity. He cupped her face in his hands and lowered his mouth to almost touch hers again. ‘I’ve waited for this moment since the day I met you.’ His throaty voice still no more than a whisper, his sweet breath danced over her lips.
His hands slid down her back to her bottom, turning her insides to liquid. ‘I want to savour this. I want to savour you, Mallory. I love you with all my heart, but I want you with every inch of my being.’ One hand travelled up her body and into her hair, but his lips still didn’t touch hers. There was only an electric current running from his words down her body and into her soul. She brought her hands up to touch him, his chest was firm underneath his T-shirt. She smoothed her hands over his torso and he closed his eyes just for a second, breathing deeply as if struggling with self-control.
When he opened them again his eyes locked on hers. She wanted desperately to kiss him but she, too, was enjoying the spark between them; the anticipation. Slowly he let his lips connect with hers and he inhaled sharply and deeply. This first kiss was the promise of what was to come.
Her hands slowly slid up over his shoulders, around his neck and into his hair. His kiss became more urgent and his tongue sought entry into her mouth. She opened for him and welcomed his tongue with her own, caressing and tasting him.
He groaned as he ran his hands down her back to squeeze her bottom, pulling her closer. She could feel how much he wanted her through the fabric of her jeans. Her hands fell to the hem of his T-shirt, where she began to lift it up over his taught body, sliding her hands over him as she did so. He raised his arms and stooped for her to remove it and cast it aside. She lowered her face to his chest where she kissed his tattoo and he breathed out a rush of air and stroked her back as his head rolled backwards in sheer pleasure.
As they undressed each other, their eyes remained locked on one another. He traced the line of her collarbone with his fingertips and bent to place kisses where he had touched her. His kisses moved to her neck and she gasped and grabbed onto him, desperate to be closer.
They stood in just their underwear devouring each other with their mouths and eyes.
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… in our home.’ 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.