“Your belly begins churning?” he suggested.

He felt her nod against his body.

“What a shame there's nothing to be done about it.”

“How long to Livorno?” she asked.

“A few more days,” he replied. “We passed Gibraltar the day before

yesterday, and the winds are favorable.”

At the mention of wind, Katerina groaned and hid her face in his neck. A sensation of moist softness suggested her lips on his skin.

“Love?”

“Hmmm?” her voice vibrated against his throat.

“Did you kiss me?”

“Hmmmm,” she hummed again.

“I must say, your illness hasn't dimmed your ardor, has it?”

Katerina didn't respond. Confident at last that he treasured her passion, she touched her lips to him again, taking a flirtatious bite, one that might just leave a mark.

“Oho, is that how it's going to be?” he asked.

“Please?” she begged, leaning back to flirt with wide, brown eyes.

Who would have guessed her shattered heart could learn to trust at all, letalone so quickly? She's made such marvelous progress. It humbles me, Christopher thought as he tossed aside Katerina's undergarments to reveal her slender curves—now noticeably fuller as she had learned to care for herself.

“How beautiful you are, my darling,” he told her as he reclined beside her on

their bed, attempting yet another seduction. He had complete confidence in their

mutual success. “Look at this lovely face.” He reached for her slowly, and instead of recoiling from his hand, she leaned her cheek into it. His other arm slid beneath her, pulling her up against him. She leaned forward and boldly pressed her lips to his, kissing him tenderly and letting her tongue snake out to

taste his lips, then easing between.

Christopher let her explore, enjoying how comfortable she had become in

bed with him. She nibbled his lower lip and then pulled back, looking deeply into his eyes. He caressed the uneven skin on her back.

“Don't do that, love,” she said, grasping his hand and pinning it on her hip.

“Why not? I want to embrace you.” He slipped his hand from beneath hers

and headed for her back again.

“I'm not very nice back there,” she insisted. “This skin is much smoother.”

She guided him to her front, planting his wandering fingers squarely on her breast. “Hmmm,” she hummed as he caressed her nipples, “taste me here.”

Christopher allowed himself to be distracted by one of his favorite parts of her body, lowering his mouth and tugging one sweet peak and then the other.

Katerina squirmed and sighed as Christopher played with her breasts. He's so good at this. I still feel like a hussy, but how can I complain? She lay back, enjoying the surges of pleasure while running her hands up and down his arms,

his shoulders and his back.

Her world narrowed down around her until only Christopher seemed real.

Only his touch connected her to the world.

Parting her thighs for her husband, she let him know where she wanted to be

touched. He stroked the dark curls and then gently opened them, easing his fingers into the dewy folds, and, having found the opening of her body, sliding

deep.

“Ahhh,” she sighed.

“You're very wet and eager tonight, aren't you, darling?” he asked, pulling back so he could push inward again.

“Oh yes,” she moaned.

“Would you like a climax?”

“Only one?” she pouted.

He laughed. “Have I spoiled you so badly? Wonderful. What about two, one

now, one later?”

“Perfect.” She looped her arms around his neck while he slid his fingers gently in and out, building her pleasure higher. He found the swollen pearl of her

clitoris and circled it with his thumb.

She arched eagerly into his caresses, wanting the release he had promised.

Christopher did not disappoint. He worked the little nub until Katerina

wailed with pleasure and clamped hard on his encroaching fingers.

He kissed her sweetly as the peak faded.

“Well, love,” he said, sliding his fingers out, “would you fancy a new