A Code of Love (The Code Breakers 1) (28 page)

“Too much has happened today. I don’t know if I can be gentle tonight. Do you understand?”

Henrietta moved again.

He was ready to plunge into her. He needed to slow down, to be gentle. Where had all his expertise, all his highly practiced skill as a lover gone?

She scattered kisses on his cheeks and neck, then turned toward him and pressed her breasts against his chest again, driving him close to the brink. “Cord, I want you as you are tonight. I don’t need gentle. I need you.” She kissed him passionately, thrust her tongue into his mouth. “I want to be loved by you. Don’t deny me.”

“Oh, darling. I want you, as you can feel, but I’m afraid of hurting you.”

Her green eyes were ablaze with desire. “Cord, please.”

His blood heated and pulsed with Henrietta’s need for him. “I’ve waited a long time for you, Henrietta Harcourt, since Lady Chillington’s ball.”

He lifted her carefully and lowered her to the bed. Her hair fell across the counterpane, streaks of fire shining in the candlelight. Her face was flushed, but whatever she saw in his eyes made her smile widen in pleasure. She opened her arms. “Come, Cord.”

He tore off his boots and shirt and tried to gain control of his rampant need to sink into her wet heat. Henrietta, waiting in a linen shift was more stimulating than any other woman in a silk negligee. “Do you know how many times I’ve imagined this, you just as you are now?” he asked.

He lay on his side next to her. He brushed her thick, glossy hair away from her neck. He sucked on the delicate whirl of her earlobe, gently twirling the pink, firm skin with his tongue. The idea of exploring Henrietta’s firm, pink womanhood enflamed him. He thrust his tongue into her ear and fingered her nipple.

“Darling, you’ll have to tell me if what I do hurts. I only want to bring you pleasure.”

She was restless and breathless. “Cord, everything you’re doing is pleasure.”

“Will it hurt too much to take off this damned nightgown?”

“It’s difficult to raise my arms but if you help me slip the nightgown over my head, I’m sure we can manage.” Her lips curved in a small smile. Henrietta was a natural temptress.

His hands shook like a callow youth when he tried to unbutton her nightgown. The dainty pearl buttons were difficult to pull through the embroidered buttonholes. Frustrated, he looked up at Henrietta watching him. Her eyes dilated with passion. He wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck and brought her close to thrust his tongue into her soft mouth.

She ran her hands through his hair.

He got the last button undone on the nightgown. “If you sit up, I’ll slip the nightgown over your head without dislodging your bandage.”

He circled her chest with his arms to lift her gently to a sitting position. He felt her wince from the pain, but she didn’t complain.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” He spoke tenderly, trying to be a gentleman, to pretend he was in control.

“I don’t feel any pain.”

A rush of exultation shot through him. He threw her nightgown on the floor. She had a muslin bandage wrapped around her pale chest. The bandage lifted her breasts. Her pink, ripe nipples jutted above the bandage. He bent and took one of the coral nipples into his mouth and sucked.

Henrietta gasped then squirmed, pushing her breast into his mouth.

“Let me help you lie down.” Slowly he moved her lower on the bed and came down next to her. He trailed kisses along the bandage. “I don’t want you to ever hurt again.”

He suckled the nipples of each breast until Henrietta moaned and writhed, lifting her hips off the bed. He ran his hand down her smooth, soft abdomen and cupped her mound. His finger explored her opening, into her wetness. He inhaled her sweet, muskiness. “Oh, God. Hen, you’re ready for me. He put his finger inside, gently expanding her tightness.

She was hot and wet and he was going to explode if he didn’t enter her soon.

Henrietta whimpered his name and pushed against his hand. He put a second finger in her and slowly imitated the rhythm he would pleasure them both. He licked each breast while he maintained a slow languorous rhythm in Henrietta’s hot body.

A panting Henrietta pleaded with him in a low, guttural voice. Close to the edge, she made mewing sounds that pushed him close to losing control.

“Darling, let yourself go. I’ll catch you.” He rubbed her nub with his thumb as he kept the rhythm of his two fingers.

“Cord, Oh, Cord.” Her voice filled with wonder.

He could feel her spasm around his fingers when she found her release. Her whole body trembled against him. She was magnificent. She continued to shudder. He kissed her gently on the forehead and cheeks, trying to restrain himself from plunging into her warmth.

“Cord, I need you.”

“Darling, let me take off my breeches.” He jumped off the bed and quickly stripped off his pants.

Henrietta giggled. But when she looked down on his jutting erection, her eyes grew round. “Oh, my.”

He couldn’t help but be pleased by her astonishment. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I know you’ll be gentle.”

He lowered himself on top of her, holding all of his own weight with his arms. Nestled between her thighs, he slowly entered her. She was wet and tight and he was having difficulty moving carefully when he wanted to thrust and thrust until she screamed his name.

“You’re perfect, Henrietta.” He pushed forward until he felt the resistance. “I’m sorry, darling.” He broke through the barrier.

Her hands tightened on his neck, her breathing hitched.

“Are you okay?” His voice was rough, but he was hanging on to his control by a thin, very thin thread.

“I’m fine, really.”

Recovering from whatever discomfort she had initially experienced, she moved against him, against his slow, cautious pace. He kept a gentle rhythm until she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him into her passionate vortex. Her need drove them to a frenzied pace.

When he felt her spasm around him, he spilled his seed in one powerful plunge.

Breathless, they gazed into each other’s eyes, both shocked by their intense lovemaking.

“I had no idea.” Her hair was disheveled, her lips swollen, her eyes soft with passion from their lovemaking.

“Me either.” He kissed her gently on the lips then her chin and neck. He worked his way toward her earlobe when he felt her body relaxing. “And what a delicious surprise you are.”

“Oh, Cord, you were perfect, too,” was the last thing she said before she fell asleep.

He shifted to his side on the bed next to her. Her breathing slowed as she snuggled deeper then turned on her side, her round bottom pressed against him. He wrapped his arm around her bandaged chest and pulled her closer. She was a perfect fit. He explored the smooth skin on the curve of her hip. He wanted to suck on the indentation of her soft, womanly curves.

She sighed and moved closer to him, against his hardening erection.

He couldn’t believe his response to this woman. He had just experienced an extraordinary orgasm and was ready again. He wouldn’t act on his burning need, because she was tired and would be sore but these gentlemanly thoughts didn’t lessen his bodily hunger. He stroked her hips, wanting her.

“I love you Henrietta Harcourt. Tomorrow I’m getting a special license and a ring. You can’t escape me again.”

Her response was a snuffle.

He didn’t want to leave her yet, but he didn’t want his aunt to find them. He wouldn’t embarrass Henrietta or his aunt. He needed sleep. He hadn’t slept for two nights. Hopefully, Ash had spread the rumors at Matilde Bertram’s ball tonight that Isabelle’s murder was the work of a crazed past lover.

He ran his hand down her smooth hip one last time and, unable to resist, cupped her soft buttocks. His probing finger sought the tempting fissure between the shapely globes, insinuated into the warm moist area. Henrietta moaned and moved against him in her sleep. He couldn’t begin anything, but he was having difficulty resisting his need to be back in her welcoming body.

Henrietta was the only person in his entire life who had been able to distract him from his objective. He had come to her room to obtain the codebook or at least that was what he told himself. He had really come for a good fight with the code-breaking hellion.

Finally their fighting had ended in the way he had fantasized. Would Henrietta understand that their skirmishing and sparring had been the fire of their passion?

He should have gotten the codebook from her before she fell asleep. His future wife would bristle at the invasion if he took it out of her reticule while she slept. Not the way to begin their marriage. She and the codebook were safe in his house. She couldn’t get into any trouble when he went to the offices at Abchurch. He’d be back by the time she awoke.

He bent over to kiss her one last time. She slept soundly and didn’t stir when he pulled the heavy covers over her. He would keep the new Countess of Rathbourne too busy in bed to have time for meeting spies in Hyde Park.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Henrietta longed to sustain the dream. Her body was relaxed, languorous, heat radiated between her legs. She reached for Cord, but he faded out of her embrace.

She stretched under the sheets, not wanting her dream to end. Memories from last night surged into her consciousness. Last night wasn’t a dream. She and Cord had made love. Cord had been all she imagined as a passionate and tender lover. She rolled over to touch him, but found instead a cold, creased sheet.

On the periphery of her awareness someone pounded on the door.

Where was Cord? The knocking persisted. She pulled herself to a sitting position and winced at the tug of pain from her ribs.

“Lady Henrietta, I must speak with you.” Brompton spoke through the door.

Her heart fluttered and her stomach clenched in fear. Brompton’s unexpected appearance at Rathbourne House could only mean one thing. Uncle Charles was in trouble. Henrietta pulled the covers up to her neck, hiding her nakedness. “Come in, Brompton. What’s happened?”

A flushed maid opened the door to the bedroom.

Brompton didn’t enter the room but stood at the doorway. “Edward is missing.”

Her brain went numb. How could Edward go missing? She struggled to understand. Edward was never alone. Gus and Mr. Marlow were his constant companions.

“How?” Her voice echoed in her head, as if she stood at the end of a long tunnel.

“He and Mr. Marlow went to the Serpentine to sail boats. Edward had run to retrieve his boat in the wooded area that skirts the lake. After a few minutes when Edward didn’t return, Mr. Marlow went into the woods to look for him. He searched everywhere but Edward had disappeared without a trace.”

Brompton stared at his feet after his speech, aware of her state of dishabille and this irregular circumstance. “Mr. Marlow took Gus back to the woods to see if he can lead him to Edward. And I’ve come straight here.”

“I must get home.” She pulled the counterpane around her and stood, oblivious to her shocking lack of propriety. Edward… She couldn’t allow herself to think about her sweet, baby brother. She needed to do something.

“Brompton, go downstairs and find Lord Rathbourne. I must speak with him.”

She dressed quickly and strode down the stairs. The pain in her ribs now a minor irritation. She and Cord would find Edward. Cord would know what to do with the codebook to end the threats to her family.

Brompton and Sloane were at the bottom of the stairs. They stood silent when she descended.

“Lady Henrietta.” Brompton moved forward. “Lord Rathbourne isn’t in residence. Sloane will send an urgent message to Hyde Park and his office.”

“Is Lady Euphemia at home?” She asked.

“I’m sorry. Both ladies have gone on their social visits. I cannot say when they will return,” Sloane said.

“Tell Lord Rathbourne to meet me immediately at Kendal House. Tell him my brother has been kidnapped.” Her voice choked around the words.

Brompton gently took her arm. “Come, Lady Henrietta, let’s go home. With Tom and Mr. Marlow out searching for him, perhaps we’ll have word by the time we get home.”

Henrietta rode in silence to Kendal House. Her heart thumped, her mouth was dry, and she had an incredible burst of energy surging through her body. She needed to control the urge to panic or she be of no help to Edward.

She had to use her highly developed skills of deduction to find Edward’s abductor. The men who killed Isabelle had taken Edward to obtain the codebook. There was no other reasonable conclusion. She would give them the damn codebook. She would give them anything to save her brother.

When she arrived at Kendal House, Mrs. Brompton rushed out, her arms open.

“Oh, my poor lamb. How could this happen?” She folded Henrietta in her beefy arms. “We’ll find him. Don’t worry.”

Henrietta paused for a brief moment in the warm embrace, then summoned her strength to pull away. “Any word from Tom and Mr. Marlow? Any messages?”

“No messages and nothing from Tom or Mr. Marlow, but I expect them soon. Shall I get you tea?”