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"You’re very kind, to have any sympathy at all for her I’m sure I wouldn’t"

"What about William?"

"He ran off before they could arrest hi to commission a runner to find him"

"I don’t want that," Catherine protested "I want theree to whatever you ask," Poppy said "But why? After what that dreadful man did to you--"

"William was a victim, as surely as I," Catherine said earnestly "He was only trying to survive Life was brutally unfair to hi far better of it than he did"

"But I had Harry And I had you and your family"

"And Leo," Poppy said, a smile in her voice "I would say you have hio through life as an observer, he’s certainly been pulled back into the stream Because of you"

"Would you mind if I ed her froainst Catherine’s "I’ that ould be eternally grateful if you would ine who else would dare to take hiht supper of toast and broth, Catherine went to bed and dozed for a while, waking every now and then with a fearful start Each ti in a chair by the bed, her hair gleao back to the apart to seeer," came the soft answer

The next tiazein the contours of his handsome face, his serious blue eyes His shirt was partly unbuttoned, revealing a shadow of chest hair Suddenly desperate to be held against that hard, strong chest, she reached for hi his arainst the pilloith her Catherine luxuriated in the feel and scent of him "Only I," she whispered, "would feel so safe in the arms of the wickedest man in London"

He made a sound of amusement "You like them wicked, Marks An ordinary led closer, her legs tense beneath the bed linens "I’m so weary," she said, "but I can’t sleep"

"You’ll be better to I promise" His hand settled on her hip, over the covers "Close your eyes, love, and let me take care of you"

She tried to obey But as therestlessness and irritated nerves, a sense of dryness that permeated to her bones Her skin clamored to be touched, scratched, rubbed, but even the delicate chafing of the sheets was enough to lass of water, and she drank thirstily Heraway the euished the laht depressing theinto one co need In the darkness, Leo’s entle, and she couldn’t prevent her own exaggerated response His hand ca the tip already hard beneath the veil of muslin

"It sometimes happens with opium smoke," Leo said quietly "Later with habit, it decreases But when you first try it, it can act upon you this way As the effects leave your body, your nerves start screa for more of it, and the result is … frustration"

As he spoke, his hand cupped her breast, his thuht bud She felt the sensation everywhere, strea her legs and arms She panted and squirmed, too desperate to feel embarrassed by her own muffled cries as his hand slipped beneath the covers

"Easy, love," Leo whispered, caressing the taut plane of her stoentle on her swollen flesh, stroking and parting and entering, sliding easily into theand willful, everyhim to stroke deeper, harder

Leo bent his head and kissed her throat The tip of his thumb rested just above the little spot that burned hite fire, ers stretched her It sent her into spasroan from her, and she clutched the back of his shirt in her fists until she felt the fine linen begin to rip Breathing hard, she let go of the shirt and stay He stripped off the ruined shirt and hushed her with hisher with exquisite care, while she whimpered and stiffened Another burst of fire, a series of deep shudders, and she opened her thighs as he slid his fingers in When the last vibrations had faded, she lay heavily in his arht, Catherine pressed against hi that she must relax, he would help her, he would take care of her, and she sobbed openly as she felt his over his shoulders and cupped her botto deep into the tender chalice He did not find a rhyth and nuzzling The pleasure broke over her in waves, asp in relief

"Take ain

"No," Leo said gently, turning to pin her to the ht We’ll have to wait until your judg, most of the opium will have worn off If you still want "

"I want you now," she said, but he held her down and pleasured her with histhe pluhten with the pre body was tucked comfortably behind hers, one arm beneath her neck, the other draped across her middle She loved the feel of him, vibrant heat and hened in others Although she was careful not to move, Leo stirred and murmured

Slowly she reached for his hand and drew it to her breast Leo began to fondle her before he was even awake His lips touched the back of her neck Feeling hiainst his intruded between hers, as his hand slid down to the light fleece of curls

She felt the taut pressure of hi into the moisture He pushed partway inside her and stopped, while her flesh, swollen fro him

His soft, amused voice tickled her ear "Mmmn … you’ll have to try harder, Marks We both know you can take asped

With a sy and adjusted her position Her eyes closed as she felt him slide inside her

"There," he whispered "Is this what you want?"

"Harder … harder…"

"No, love … let entle with you Just for now"

Hehand sliding back between her thighs He took his time, and she had no choice but to let hi as he courted her, stroked her Pressing love words and kisses against her neck, he sank , and he gently urged her even higher Her shaking hand went to his hip and gripped the flexing surface

"Don’t leave me Please, Leo"

He understood As her wet flesh clenched around hi at the hardness, he puo And at last she knew the feel of his release, the way his belly tightened, the tre of a powerful man rendered helpless in that ulti together and watching as the dawn seeped through the parted curtains

"I love you," she whispered, "so dearly, , he went to drag on his trousers

While Leo sluiced his face at the washstand, Catherine reached for her spectacles Her gaze happened to fall on Dodger’s empty basket by the door, and her smile dimmed "Poor weasel," she murmured

Leo returned to her, instantly concerned as he saw her watering eyes "What is it?"