Page 44 of The Viscount's Code
A low moan escaped her throat in response, and then he was moving down her body, his lips leading the way.
“Anthony?” she said, questioning, her pulse quickening, but he ignored her as his strong hands came to her thighs, lifting them so that her legs were wrapped around his shoulders. Before she had time to completely realize what he was doing, he leaned in and flattened his tongue against her, the sensation so strong that Hope jumped. He reached up, tracing his hands down her arms until he gripped one of her hands within his, as comforting as any caress could be. His tongue continued to move against her center until Hope forgot all of her worries, all of her reservations, as all she could focus on was his tongue against her, his hand covering hers, and his other fingers which now reached below his mouth and were massaging her from within.
Hope’s body became fluid, relaxing into Anthony and all he was doing to her as his mouth moved faster, until, as much as it was the best she had ever felt, she also wasn’t sure how much longer she could take it.
Anthony continued to work her with his tongue, and Hope arched her back, unknowing when this would end and whether or not she wanted it to. She laced her fingers through his hair as she had before, but this time she tugged on it, asking him for something but unsure just what it was.
He kept her open as he continued until, just when she was on the brink of collapse, waves of pleasure began running through her, as it seemed like her soul had come apart from her body and was floating above her.
When she finally opened her eyes and came back to herself, Anthony was planting kisses up her thighs, until he pulled her nightgown down over top of her legs and settled himself on the bed next to her as Hope tried to catch her breath.
It took a moment for her to turn her head to look at him, unsure if she should be embarrassed or… completely satisfied.
“How are you?” he asked lowly, meeting her eyes, his simple, caring question bringing tears to Hope’s eyes and ridding her of all of her reservations.
“I am… wonderful,” she said, her answer bringing a small, smirking smile to his face, and she realized that he had been worried about her response.
“Good,” he said, his tone light. “That was my aim.”
The languid comfort that had spread through Hope’s body slowly began to dissipate as she became very aware that Anthony hadn’t received anything out of this… and if he said he wasn’t going to make love to her, then did he expect something else from her? Panic gripped her as, despite the books and conversations she and her friends secretly enjoyed, she had no idea just what she was supposed to do.
“Anthony, I—”
Somehow, he seemed to understand what she was thinking, for he turned to her and traced a finger down her cheek.
“That was for you. I need nothing in return.”
“But—”
He shook his head against the blankets. “I know I shouldn’t have done that but…” He looked away for a moment, and Hope saw the tick of his jaw, the slightest of red coloring his cheeks. “You do something to me,” he muttered, and Hope raised herself on an elbow to look at him, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze anymore.
“I never meant to…” she began, but he shook his head.
“Of course you didn’t. It’s not your fault. It’s mine,” he said. “I should have had more restraint. I should have—”
“Anthony.” Hope could hardly believe that she was the one providing reassurance. She had never seen this side of him before – a vulnerable side, that showed her there was more beneath the prickly exterior he presented to the world. “I will remember that forever. Thank you.”
CHAPTER17
As much as he was no innocent youth in his first sexual encounter, Anthony had some difficulty looking Hope in the eye the next morning.
It was not so much what they had done – make that, whathehad done – but what had come afterward. He had allowed her to see how affected he was, how much she made himfeel. At one point, she was practically consoling him.
It was the very reason he never should have done what he did. He was in too deep.
But he couldn’t have properly described the sudden need to touch her, to taste her, to make her understand that she was his to take.
Even though it was all kinds of wrong.
The three of them sat together now at the breakfast table, Hope looking up at Anthony every now and then, her cheeks turning pink each time she did before she quickly lowered her head and returned her attention to the porridge in front of her. Reeves would be a fool not to sense that there was something between her and Anthony, and if there was one thing the man was not, it was stupid.
“What will you do now?” Reeves asked.
“If you don’t mind, I thought we would remain here one more day, studying the books and making sure we have the clues solved correctly. We are also going to attempt your theory,” Anthony said. He also wouldn’t mind spending more time with the man who knew him better than anyone else on this earth save his mother, but he didn’t want to say that aloud. “Then we can begin our return journey tomorrow.”
“Very well,” Reeves said. “You are welcome to stay as long as you wish.”
“Thank you, Reeves,” Hope said softly, smiling at him and he nodded in return before looking between the two of them. “I think, if it is all right, I shall take a walk in the woods around the house while you work?”
