Page 37 of The Viscount's Code
“How?”
“I switched out the pages. It was painstaking work, and if the books were worth anything, I have likely ruined them, but at least I know that your father won’t come chasing after me. Us.”
Her lips parted as she raised her brows. “That is ingenious.”
“Most people would call it duplicitous.”
“You had good intentions.”
“I do.”
“What do we do now?” she asked, her voice a whisper.
“Now?” he said. “We sleep.”
CHAPTER14
When light hit her eyelids, Hope raised her arms above her and to the side, stretching to greet the day – and then froze when her right hand collided with something solid. Something…warmand solid.
Anthony.
Just as she was about to sit up and scoot away from him, his arm reached around her, settling heavily overtop of her, and he pulled her in and up toward his body, his chest hard and warm against her back.
Hope’s breath caught as she stilled. Was Anthony still sleeping? He must be. For not only did she know he would never allow himself such contact with her if he was awake, she was also aware that sleep had eluded him long into the night, as he had laid there rigidly beside her. It seemed cruel to wake him from his slumber now that he had found it, even though she knew he would want to get on the road soon.
And also, it felt… nice. Warm. Comforting, to lie in his embrace. She was sure he would be horrified with himself if he knew what he was doing, but maybe, for these few moments… she would simply enjoy it.
His hand was resting against the bare skin of her wrist beneath her nightgown sleeve, and he began to absently stroke her, his thumb making small circles. It was the lightest movement, soft and smooth, but it had her entire body on edge, making her feel warm and… tingly.
His body was wrapped around her from behind, and she couldn’t help but nestle her bottom in closer against him, enjoying this rare show of affection – and then she felt something hard and straight nudge against her back.
Was he… no, but he couldn’t be… well, maybe he was.
Hope might be innocent when it came to experience, but Cassandra had shared stories with them, and coupled with some of the books they so scandalously and secretly read in their book club, she knew more than most young women of the relations that occurred between men and women.
But Anthony didn’t feel any affection or desire for her – did he?
“Hope,” he murmured, his hand moving higher on her body, until it brushed against her breast, her body’s reaction shocking her, the neediness rushing over her as she tried not to move against him for more. His head dipped, his lips nuzzling against her neck, and she couldn’t help but lean into his touch, arching her neck to provide him with better access.
She had no idea if he was awake or asleep anymore, but at this moment, she no longer particularly cared. Even if hewassleeping, it was her name on his lips, meaning he was not as unaffected by her as he let on.
But she had to know – was he doing this because he was dreaming, or was he purposefully seducing her?
She wasn’t entirely sure how she would react if he was.
Hope turned in his arms, causing his hand to splay across her back as she held her body just slightly away from him, knowing that if she pressed into him, this could go further than she bargained for.
His eyes were closed, but he was moving, his lips toward hers, seeking her out – and she thought she just might let him find her.
* * *
Anthony was havingthe most wonderful dream.
Typically, the only vivid imaginings he had were nightmares he’d prefer to forget. But tonight... tonight he was dreaming of a beautiful blond woman in his arms, one who was soft in all the right places, who was innocent yet far too willing. Who made him forget all the reasons he wasn’t going to allow himself to be with a woman, especially one who would expect not only commitment, but even worse – love. Affection.
In his dreams, however, he didn’t have to worry about that. He could hold her tight, caress her, run his hand over the softness of her breast. He ran his lips over the long expanse of her neck, feeling her pulse beat rapidly beneath his touch. And then, when she turned to face him… that was when he crashed his lips down upon hers.
He drank her up, tasting her plush softness. She was hesitant at first, but the more he coaxed her with his touch, the bolder she became, until she was as much of an aggressor as he. And oh, he had never been so affected before, had never had a woman, especially one like her, so sweet and so loving, in his arms, giving what he knew she had never before offered another man.
