A/N: I'm SO sorry this update has taken so long - I hope it's worth it!
She is absolutely ravishing.
He lies back on the bed, trying not to look too self-satisfied while studying the slight figure curled up next to him. His attention is drawn to the light silk material covering her from shoulders to ankles, yet somehow leaving little to the imagination. Her bosom is barely concealed by lace tulle and his fingers are itching to pull the ribbons on her shoulders..
He strokes her bare arm. Maybe-
"I ought to be getting back." She seems lost in her own thoughts, gaze fixed on the embroidered bedclothes. She refuses to look at him.
"We've got time." He pulls her towards him, ending any further contemplation with a demanding kiss. One hand in the small of her back presses her closer, while his other hand tugs unsuccessfully at the tiny ribbons on her shoulder. She flinches.
"They're decorative-"
He pulls the straps delicately over her shoulders, letting his fingers drift down...
"You're going to rip the - oh GOD..."
...followed by his lips, first sucking lightly then jerking his tongue over the most sensitive part...Meanwhile his hand creeps up her leg, slowly pulling the chemise up, enjoying the feel of silk stockings and bare skin underneath...
...She makes no sound, yet her hand clenches his bicep, fingers digging in and sure to leave a mark...He knows exactly what to do next...
He rolls onto his back, taking her with him until she is straddling him.
"Richard? What-"
"Trust me."
She tenses as he guides her on top of him; he hears the muffled cry as he moves his hips...
...she props herself up on her elbows to change the angle, giving him a wonderful view of her bare breasts...
oh God...Richard, I...
...as she slides up and down, controlling the rhythm...
I...I'm going...
...the Countess of Grantham, all but naked, moving frantically on top of him, begging for release...
...faster...that's IT...
...that thought excites him more than anything, so that when she finally arches her back and cries out, he loses any semblance of control and abandons himself to the sheer ecstasy of it...
She is still leaning over him, flushed and trembling slightly. He meets her eye and smiles, his gaze seeming to drift inexorably downwards...The smile becomes a self-satisfied smirk...
She moves her weight off him, giving him a quick glimpse of silk and bare skin before stepping off the bed to adjust her chemise. He watches her wrap her corset round her chest and fasten each busk in turn. She twists round to pull the laces, frowning when the corset doesn't tighten as intended.
"Let me." He bounds off the bed and moves towards her.
"I can manage."
"These things are not meant to be done on your own." She reluctantly consents to his help, studying him sideways in the mirror as he sorts through the tangle of laces at her back and evenly pulls on each crisscrossed set.
"Where did you learn to tie a corset?" He meets her eye but ignores the impertinent question. "I know this is just another routine for you, Richard-"
"What? Tying a corset?" He tugs the pull loops to nip the corset in at her waist.
"You know what I mean." She gestures vaguely towards the bed.
He reaches round her waist to tie the loops together, wondering how much to tell her. "I don't know anything about a routine, Cora-" he releases her with a chuckle "-you're the one who's married."
"I'm the one who will be affected when someone finds out." She retrieves the rest of her clothes from the floor and continues dressing.
"Who will find out?" He nonchalantly picks his tie up and stands behind her in the mirror to knot it. "Who will care? The aristocracy is awash with affairs. If that was all it took to sell papers-"
"That's beside the point."
"Then what is the point-" He glances at her in the mirror; her eyes are wet with tears. "Cora - I'm so sorry."
He has made people cry before -usually crocodile tears from people hoping to avert publication of their sins. But this-
This is different. He pulls her into his embrace, feeling her start but not resist. His hand runs soothingly up and down her back while listening to her:
"My maid will know..."
"Your maid will be loyal to you. Let me know if there are any difficulties."
"...my chemise is probably ruined."
He recalls the image of the chemise bunched up round her waist, and her jerky movements on top. He could buy a new chemise...and stockings...He takes a deep breath, forcing his thoughts back to the present situation...
"I'll be more careful next time."
"Next time?" She looks up at him incredulously.
"I'm keeping a man on here. You need only telephone."
"And what about afterwards?" She pushes against his chest to move away from him. "What about when you've finished with me and moved on?"
"I would never do that."
"Oh for heaven's sake, Richard!" She rolls her eyes. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Richard." Her flash of anger surprises him. He sees her trying to control the tears again and feels a lump in his own throat.
"Do you trust me?" He pauses, waiting for an answer. "Surely you trust me - or you wouldn't be here."
"I trust you," she answers in a small voice.
He steps closer and kisses her quickly. "I won't hurt you." He speaks softly, enunciating every word. "Whatever happens, I won't see you hurt."
She nods slightly, not looking at him. There seems nothing more he can say to convince her of intentions.
"I really do need to get back to Downton."
"Cora-" His fingers lightly trace over her hip. "Telephone me. Any time." He kisses her. "I need you."
She winds her arms round his neck, gradually deepening the kiss, and he finally realises exactly what she wants from him...
Love.
She wants to be loved.
A/N:I don't usually write M-rated stuff, so any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you once again to Miss Pixie Way for her beta'ing job.
And...I know there's a time jump in this chapter. I will fill in the gaps (from Cora's POV) next chapter.
In case anyone's interested - area codes weren't introduced until at least the 1950's (although earlier in US), so I thought the most discreet way of Cora contacting Richard (rather than using a manned Telephone Exchange!) would be him keeping someone at Haxby, who could then contact his boss.