CHAPTER SEVEN
Grace heard Nick the minute he started moving about his rooms, and quickly pulled on her robe. She had waited up for him, sitting in bed attempting to read, then standing and pacing. The hour was late and Nipper had long since given up his vigil of watching her, and curled into a ball at the foot of the bed. He was now gently snuffling. Grace knew her husband must be exhausted, but she had to talk to him, to see if Harry had been found. Her head had filled with so many horrid scenarios that she was quite panic stricken over the fate of her cousin. Knocking on the door that connected their rooms, she waited.
“You should be asleep,” Nick said seconds later, upon opening it. He wore only a loose shirt, pulled from the waistband of his breeches. Grace felt her heart beat faster as she looked at him. The top few buttons were open and she could see the chest that last night she had been pressed against.
“Harry?” Grace whispered.
“We have made progress, Grace, but have yet to find Harry.”
Heart sinking, she followed him into the room, her eyes coming to rest upon the bed. It was large, bigger than hers and draped in a deep green cover. She then saw two chairs and a small table between, set before a fire that was lit.
“Would you like one, Grace?” He held a glass in his hand. She didn’t know what was in it but nodded. She needed something to settle her nerves.
“Sit,” he said, handing her the glass.
“Is he… dear God, I cannot say the words.” Grace took a deep mouthful from her glass then coughed several times as the fiery liquid hit the back of her throat.
“We are certain he is alive, and have several leads to follow, which my colleagues are doing as we speak. In the morning, Leo and I shall continue.”
He did not sit. He instead moved to lean against the fireplace and look down at her.
“How do you find out things?”
“We have informants, and know the right people and places to go to, to get what we need.”
She saw he was restless, his hands drumming on the mantle, tapping an impatient tattoo.
“I am so worried for Harry, Nick; what if he is hurt or—”
“Nothing can come of you speculating. Tomorrow we will know more.”
He drank the contents of his glass in one mouthful, then went to refill it.
“Are you telling me everything, Nick?” Grace stood and followed him.
“Of course.” He lowered his glass before facing her. “I would not lie to you about something this important.”
“I sense a restlessness in you, as if you are disturbed about something,” Grace said, moving to his side.
His laugh held no humor.
“Because the minute you walked into my room, all I could think about was lying you on my bed and making love to you again, Grace. But I do not want to do that until you are ready; I will not hurt you anymore.”
He wanted to lie with her again. Grace had not thought he would, now that the marriage was consummated. Her skin suddenly felt hot, her breasts full, and an ache had started between her thighs as she looked at her husband. His eyes burned into hers, intent, and then travelled slowly over her body.
“You want me?”
“Very much.”
“I should not want this,” Grace whispered, as much to herself as him. “Not after last night and not when my cousin is in danger… but I do.”
“I will not hurt you.” He was closer now, their bodies almost touching as he reached out one hand and cupped her cheek. “Let me show you how it can be between us, Grace.”
“I had not thought that we would—”
“Enjoy each other, feel passion for each other?” he whispered against her lips.
“Yes.” Grace sighed, as his lips covered hers in a slow, deep kiss that made her head spin.
“Relax, Grace.”
His hands pulled her close, then she was pressed against his hard body once more and hers sprang to life. She wanted more, so much more, that she lifted her hands, placing her palms flat on his chest.
“I do not know what to do, Nick.” Grace knew a great many things, yet no one had told her about this; the yearning she suddenly felt inside her for this man.
“Do whatever feels right.” His lips had moved to her neck, and his hands were stroking her body, one on her back, and the other over her ribs. Lord, it felt wonderful. Those sensations she had felt last night when he’d touched her breasts were starting inside her once more.
She rubbed one of her hands in a slow circle over his chest and felt his body tense, so she did it again, and then he was kissing her once more. This time it was hard, and Grace wanted more. One of her hands crept upwards and wrapped around his neck, her fingers tangling in the hair that curled at his nape.
“I want to take your nightdress off, Grace. Will you let me?”
She nodded while stepping out of his arms. She pulled it over her head and dropped it to the floor.
“You are a beautiful woman,” he rasped, his eyes devouring her. “I am glad that no one else realized what lay under those hideous clothes you wear, or many men would have knocked on your cousin’s door.”
“I should not do this; be feeling this way when Harry is somewhere out there—”
“Shh.” He closed the distance between them, pressing her into his body. “Whoever has your cousin, Grace, wants something from him; they will not harm him until they have it.”
“But what is it?” Grace looked up at Nick.
“I have a few ideas, but we’ll deal with that tomorrow.” He kissed her shoulder and the heat of his breath made a delicious shiver roll down Grace’s spine. “Now I want to make love to my wife.”
Grace gave herself up to his touch then, and the sensations he was creating inside her. Picking her up, he walked to the bed and pulled back the covers to lower her onto the sheet.
She watched as he ripped the shirt over his head and then lowered his breeches. His body was honed by muscle.
“Don’t be scared, Grace.”
“I’m not,” she whispered, running her eyes over him and coming to rest between his thighs. He was a beautiful man, fiercely aroused, and he wanted her. “Well, maybe a bit,” she whispered, remembering last night’s pain.
He lay down beside her and ran a hand over her body, his touch so light she sighed. It felt wonderful and she was soon tingling all over.
“Will you kiss me, Nick?”
“You ask much of me,” he teased.
His lips brushed hers as his hand touched her breast, stroking the skin and circling the aching nipple. It was heaven, and Grace could suddenly focus on nothing but the man who was creating this magic inside.
His lips moved to her chest, and then her breasts, licking the full curves and then taking a taut peak into his mouth.
“Oh, lord!” Grace cried. Her nails raked through his hair as he continued to caress her until her body arched in pleasure as the pressure inside her built.
“The pleasure has only just begun,” Nick said as he moved down her body, kissing and stroking her skin as he went.
Grace tensed when she felt his lips on her stomach.
“Don’t think, Grace, just feel.”
“But… dear lord,” she whispered as she felt his breath there, between her thighs. “Nick!” Grace cried as he licked her, his tongue sweeping the plump damp folds between her legs. He didn’t stop as her fingers gripped his hair, just plunged it inside her.
Grace fell back on the bed, fisting her hands in the sheets, as her heels dug into the bed. The sensations were exquisite. She moaned as he continued to take her to new heights, until she felt him stretch her, pushing his fingers inside. Then she thought no more, only felt, as her body shuddered.
“I need you now, Grace.” Nick’s body was suddenly blanketing hers, and then she felt him at her entrance, slowly pushing his way into her wet sheath. She tensed, and it was a bit tender, but soon that eased, and then he was deep inside her and Grace felt the delicious tension once again begin to build.
“Nick,” she whispered his name.
“You feel so good, Grace.” Bracing his hands on either side of her head, he looked down at her as he thrust in and out, his movements controlled and slow. “Tell me there is no pain.”
“No,” she whispered. One of her hands touched his face, mapping the contours of his cheeks and jaw. “There is no pain, only pleasure.”
Nick closed his eyes briefly, and then lowered himself to kiss her, his lips taking hers in a soft sensual dance that left her breathless. He thrust harder then, in and out until Grace felt the wonderful pressure inside her once more. She shuddered and then scaled the heights of pleasure with Nick following her seconds later.
He rolled to one side, taking her with him. Grace lay breathless with her nose pressed to his chest, one of his arms holding her close. It was lovely to be held this way, so close that she felt the thud of Nick’s heart against her body.
“Sleep now,” he whispered. “Tomorrow we will find Harry.”
“I shall return to my room,” Grace said, reluctant to leave him, yet knowing she should, as surely he had no wish to sleep with her in his bed.
“No,” was all he said, his arms pulling her in to his body. “Go to sleep, Grace.”
“But it is not right,” she persisted.
“Says who?”
“I—um.” Grace thought about that.
“Exactly, now hush and sleep, because I for one am tired.”
She didn’t fight him, because he was stronger and she wanted to stay here in his arms. Grace did not believe she would sleep though, as thoughts of Harry had returned now that she was no longer in the throes of passion. But surprisingly, she soon felt her eyelids flutter shut, and her last thought was for the man who held her. Everything had changed between them, but she wasn’t quite sure in what way, only that it had.