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Skirting the yard, Rip led her to the old stables "Turn around," he ers and then he wrapped it across her eyes, effectively blindfolding her The silk whispered over her skin Esme sucked in a sharp breath as he knotted it behind her head "John?"

"Trust ain He led her forward and Esme hesitantly followed

"There’s a step," heto help her

Ese and she stu her up into his ar her fingertips against his chest His heartbeat clipped along at a good pace Strange As though he was nervous

The door clicked shut and Rip shoved the latch into place Locking theh the sudden fall of darkness, Es Perhaps candles

"John, what are you up to?"

"You can take the blindfold off now," he said sied it free as he put her down, her eyes widening as she took in the rooone, replaced by a handful of tasteful carved pieces and a gold daly beckoning at so beyond Hundreds of small candles had been placed in old jars until she felt like she stood in the centre of a chandelier They tracked over every available surface and a path of them led toward the curtain

"What--What does it allthe roo room, with the old fireplace cleaned out and a pair of eht we needed a place to ourselves," Rip said, one hand resting on the low-hanging bea to scrutinise her expression "Yet it’s close to the house – nice and safe Just--" And here he stu up his cheekbones as his eyes dropped "If you wanted Thought the pair of us…"

The words trailed off

"I love it," she said, still turning in small circles She loved the Warren with all its hectic noise and laughter, but she had never had a place of her own Somewhere just for them

"You do?" He let out a relieved breath and followed her as she headed toward the curtain

"What are you hiding behind here?" She yanked it back and stared at the enormous white cast-iron bed, with its pristine pink-and-white quilt and the mound of fluffy pillows Candles trailed over the polished secretariat and the enorleamed in the wall Hot water, just for her

"’onoria ‘elped me pick all the cushions and fripperies," Rip ade all of this without ers over the soft quilt It was beautiful Perfect Candlelight blurred as happy tears flooded her eyes

"Remember those times Lena took you shoppin’ the last feeeks?" At her incredulous look, he laughed "Blade and Will ‘elped me with the ‘eavy stuff Tin Man too Only when you weren’t ‘ere though"

The shopping trips Traipsing throughfor the precise shade of cotton that she wanted for a dress Cotton that never seeht colour

"I can’t believe you were all plotting against led fro on her lips "How could I ever thank you?"

Again his cheeks coloured "You don’t ‘ave to thank ruffly "I like e of the bed, her velvet skirts whispering over the quilt She patted the bed beside her "Perhaps a kiss, to start with?"

Rip knelt on the bed, his hands clasping hers as he tuht war his skin "I won’t say no," he teased and leaned down to brush his lips against hers

Aching sweet and just as tender But it wasn’t tender she wanted, not now Her nails dug into the back of his hands as her fingers clenched, her thighs parting to welco harshly The obsidian glitter of his eyes reflected back a hundred candles Es around his heavilyhis head down, she kissed hi over his His hips gave a teasing little flex, driving her into the feather-softhis cheek and nuzzling his ear Her sharp little teeth worried at the fleshy lobe and he gasped, his hips thrusting hard, a sound al across his lips

"You like that?" she whispered, licking the imprint of her teeth

"Like it?" he shuddered "I love it"

Esme put a hand to his shoulder and shoved "Roll over"

He co hi amid acres of fluffy white-and-pink cottonher hands up under his coat, she slipped it over his shoulders, effectively trapping hi forward and untying the red scarf at his throat Her niers darted over the buttons of his shirt and as each inch of te her tongue around his nipples and worrying theh her hair, destroying her chignon Not to push her away or pull her closer, but simply to hold her As if he couldn’t quite decide what to do

She kissed his throat and then whispered into his ear, "I love you All of you Every wickedly delicious inch"

Rip’s arms curled around her and he held her close, his body stiff, as if he couldn’t quite believe the words Esers darting under his waistband

He sucked in a breath between his teeth "Es over the silky-soft feel of hi her so leaain and Rip threw his head back with a groan

"I’ll stop if you can’t control it," she whispered, "just letThen he nodded