Page 43 of The Viscount's Code
“What do you think it means?”
Hope tried to push away the disappointment that filled her at his words. She hadn’t realized how much she had been hoping that he was here to see her – and for more reasons than to talk about this never-ending clue.
“Mariana, my love, has filled my heart. She has left me so light and feeling warmth,is essentially what it means,”she murmured. “It’s a love song, about the love a man has for a woman,” she said. “It begins with him believing that he cannot have her, but in the end they find a way to be together.”
“A happy love song. How rare,” he said.
“I prefer happy songs.”
“I am baffled as to how the song can have anything to do with this treasure hunt,” he said, and Hope tapped a finger against her lips.
“I have an idea, actually.”
“You do?” he said, spinning around quickly, and Hope had to hold back her smile at the excitement that covered his face. He was so sullen most of the time that when he did show another emotion, it was far more fulfilling to see.
“I do,” she confirmed. “What if it is not thewordsof the song, but the notes?”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe together in a sequence they will provide a pattern, one that could lead to us solving the clue,” she said, twisting her hands together as she wondered whether he would think that her idea was foolish. “Or perhaps they might lead to a message in the books?”
He stopped, hands on his hips as he stared at her, his eyes widening, his face brightening in what Hope could only describe as akin to joy – an emotion she had hardly ever seen on Anthony.
“Hope,” he breathed. “That is—that is genius.” He rushed over toward her, his hands gently gripping her upper arms as he lifted her up, and before she even realized what was happening, his arms were wrapped around her and he was spinning her around the room. She laughed at his exhilaration, and when he finally placed her back on her feet in front of him, she was breathless – and for more reason than being sent in circles.
“I could kiss you right now,” he said, the smile still on his lips, and Hope realized that she would like that more than anything.
“Then do so,” she said, swallowing hard as his eyes lost their glee and became heavy and hooded.
“I—”
He seemed frozen to the spot, and Hope didn’t think she could stand for him to deny her, so before he could do so, she stood on her toes, leaned forward, and pressed her lips against his. He froze for a moment before he responded to her with even more intensity, his mouth hard and unrelenting as he did more than accept her kiss. His arms, still around her, pressed her close against him, and Hope wound her hands into his hair, craving him with the same need as to breathe.
The kiss seemed to last an eternity, each of them drinking in the other’s presence with complete abandon. As their lips moved together, she began to remember the night before and the whisper of his breath on her neck, the warmth of his body pressed against hers, and the way that he had whispered her name.
When the kiss finally ended, they leaned back and looked at each other with a mixture of surprise, confusion, and longing. In that moment, nothing else mattered, and the world seemed to stand still. All that existed was the two of them. No riddle, no past, no secrets, and no family forbidding them from one another.
Hope had taken her hair out of its pins and plaited most of it, but tendrils had loosened around her face and Anthony now tucked one behind her ear, his eyes solemn and serious as he stared deeply into her eyes. Hope’s breath caught and her entire body was filled with need – for him. She wasn’t sure how to tell him so, but then he seemed to decide for her as he lifted her up and then placed her back on the bed. His arms framed her head as he kissed her again, and Hope found herself opening to him, accepting whatever it was he wanted to give her – or take. For she wasn’t sure what it was about him that so called to her, but she couldn’t help but want to return that joy to him once more.
“Hope,” he murmured, before leaning down and kissing her again. She arched up toward him, knowing what she wanted but unsure if she should take it.
“Anthony,” she whispered, evoking the same response.
His hands cupped her hips, lifting her as he slowly slid the nightgown up her body, his fingers stroking her calves, her knees, her thighs. Then his hands were on her waist, and he stopped for a moment, fingers digging into her flesh.
“What it is?” she asked breathily.
“You’re beautiful.” He kissed her again, before nibbling down her neck until her collarbone, and she jumped slightly when his hand cupped her breast. He lifted his head, looking down at her before he asked, “Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I shouldn’t, but… I do.”
“Everyone in your life will tell you that you shouldn’t,” he said, and then brushed a light kiss across her lips. “And they’re right. I am not the man for you. I cannot give you what you need for your future. But I can give you what you need right now.”
She wanted to ask just what he meant by that, why he considered himself unworthy, but then their gazes met and the thrumming between her legs became more insistent than any other question.
“Which is?” she managed, her voice barely more than a whisper.
“I will not make love to you, for I cannot ruin you like that. But, if you let me, I will make you feel things you have never felt before.”
