A/N: Well, my darlings, we've come to the end of this story. Thank you all so much for your kind words and support! Also, this chapter is the reason this story has an M rating. I tried to not get too carried away, but we all know that these two have little to no self-control when it comes to certain…activities.

Chapter 8

Cora sat on the edge of her bed for several minutes, her heart hammering against her ribcage at the thought of her husband being hurt. He had put himself in harm's way—had been injured—and all out of his love of her. She fought back tears as guilt once again washed over her at the way she had reacted.

She had made up her mind to go downstairs and see about him when she heard muffled voices coming from his dressing room. Hurrying to the door she pressed her ear to the wood, straining to hear the conversation between Robert and his valet. Evidently news of the brawl had reached the downstairs staff, and Carson was expressing his deep displeasure at his lordship having been involved.

"If you had seen the way that scoundrel had looked at her ladyship, and the liberty he took by daring to touch her, Carson, you'd feel differently." She could hear the barely-contained emotion in Robert's voice, and felt her own throat close at his words. "I couldn't just stand there; though heaven knows I wish now that I had. And not because of my injuries," he said hurriedly, and Cora could just imagine the look of disapproval on the valet's face. "I embarrassed her, and she's furious. As I suppose she has every right to be." Cora's heart broke at his words, and it took every ounce of inner strength she possessed not to burst through the dividing door and beg his forgiveness.

After what seemed like an eternity, she heard Carson bid Robert goodnight and the clicking of the lock as he closed the door behind him. She suddenly found herself overwhelmingly nervous, afraid of how she would be received. He'd have every right to send me away, Cora thought to herself. Taking a deep breath and bracing herself for rejection, she knocked lightly on the door before pushing it open.

"Oh!" Her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped, tears momentarily blurring her vision as she beheld her husband. Blruises had formed underneath both eyes and across his nose, and his right hand was swollen and bandaged.

"Cora?"

"Robert," she whispered, hurrying to him and taking his injured hand in her own. "Oh, my darling. Are you alright?"

"I suppose, all things considered," he answered, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. "Though I'm sure I'll be feeling it a great deal more come morning."

Cora found that she couldn't speak around the lump in her throat. She brought his hand to her lips, placing feather-soft kisses to the back of each finger. "I'm so sorry," she whispered between each kiss, her eyes never leaving his. Was there something he had missed?

Robert watched in silence, his mind struggling to comprehend what was happening. She had been angry with him less than two hours before. Now she stood before him kissing his hand, endeavoring to take away his pain.

She moved from his hand to his face, kissing the bruises under his eyes and the scratch on his cheek. Her work completed, she looking at him imploringly. "Can you ever forgive me?"

"Whatever for?" His eyebrows drew together in confusion.

"For the way I acted." She placed one hand at the nape of his neck, the other still cradling his injured one. "For taking my anger out on you."

"You had every right—"

"No. I didn't." She ran her thumb along his jawline. "I was irrational and hateful. You were only trying to protect me from that lecherous man. You were hurt. And all because of me." She closed her eyes briefly. "I had no right or reason to feel embarrassed or angry. No right at all to react as I did. But, I was frightened, Robert. I know what Livingston is capable of, and I was terrified of what he might do to you."

Robert brought her hand from his neck, placing a kiss to her palm before settling it over his heart. " I would gladly walk through fire if it meant that you were safe, Cora." His eyes searched hers for understanding. "I would do anything necessary to make certain that no harm came to you."

Any words she might have said ran dry at this, none of them seeming adequate enough to express the overwhelming and all-consuming love she felt for him. Instead, she once again kissed his injured hand before taking his face in hers, capturing his lips between her own. He immediately responded by encircling her waist and drawing her close.

Ending the kiss as the need for air became too great, Cora led him to the bed and pushed gently on his shoulders, silently instructing him to sit down. She took several steps back, her eyes never leaving his. She slowly loosened the ribbon that held back her hair, allowing it to fall round her shoulders. She noticed Robert's breathing becoming heavier, and bit her lip slightly to cool the grin that wreathed her mouth. It thrilled her that she had such an effect on him; and after what he had told her, she wanted nothing more than to provide him with as much pleasure as she possibly could; to our every bit of the love she felt for him into this one act.

She gathered the hem of her nightdress and drew it over her head, throwing it to the side. Robert gripped the edge of the mattress, and Cora raised her eyebrows at his evident arousal. "I see someone is excited," her voice was low and seductive.

"You have no idea how beautiful you are," Robert whispered, his eyes sweeping over her partially-naked form.

She rewarded him with a brilliant smile before reaching around to undo the button of her drawers. She let them slide to the floor and kicked away before slowly walking toward her husband. She plucked at the buttons of his nightshirt, releasing them quickly, running her fingers over every inch of newly exposed skin. Robert lifted his hips to enable her to rid him of the garment, and removed his own underwear in the process. She eased him back onto the bed and stretched out beside him. She looked at him for a moment as she threaded her fingers through the hair at his temple before kissing his bare shoulder. She moved to lie partially on top of him, running her hand slowly down the length of his torso before wrapping it gently around his arousal. She peppered kisses across his neck and clavicle as she stroked him. She could feel and hear him respond to her attentions, guttural sounds escaping his throat as his hips bucked against her hand. Knowing she gave him so much pleasure increased her own need, the pulsing between her legs becoming more and more difficult to ignore.

"Cora." Robert's voice was thick with desire, "As glorious as this is, much more and you'll have me spending before I've had the chance to return the favor." Not waiting for a response, he expertly rolled them over until he hovered above her, the fingers of his left hand making their way to her center. Her neck arched back as his fingers slipped inside of her, immediately causing her to lose the ability to form a coherent thought.

"Robert," she breathed, her eyes fluttering shut. "Oh, God."

Cora neither knew nor cared how or when the tables had turned as Robert's touch worked to bring her to the edge of ecstasy and then over. And when he entered her a moment later, she could not quell the euphoric cry that rose from deep within as he began to move against her. She brought her legs up and around his waist, her heels digging into his buttocks, encouraging him to penetrate deeper. He buried his face in her neck, his breath deliciously hot against her skin as he gasped her name.

Her hands trailed a path up the expanse of his back, her nails scraping lightly as she traced the contours of the muscles that rippled beneath his skin. Her fingers eventually made their way into his hair where they tugged gently, eliciting a sound of appreciation from her husband. His movements became more frenzied and, just when Cora thought she could hold on no longer, she once again felt Robert's fingers between her legs, fondling just above where he entered her. She cried out in release, feeling his body go rigid as she contracted around him. He gasped her name once more as he relaxed, his arms wrapping around her tightly he moved them to lie on their sides before Cora rested her head on his chest.

"Mmmmm", she exhaled, her heart rate beginning to return to normal.

"Indeed," Robert murmured as he ran his hand over her hip and side. "You were amazing, my darling."

"You weren't so bad yourself." She giggled as she shifted slightly, brushing her lips against his in a gentle kiss.

"I love you," he whispered suddenly, and Cora felt her heart leap. She knew his words to be true-had known he loved her before Robert himself had realized it-but she still relished it each time the sentiment passed his lips.

"And I love you," she returned, molding her body into his as she draped her arm across his waist. "My darling, Robert," she whispered as she kissed his chest. "My one and only love."