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"When you’re withI would deci if you asked uard You trusted me Every time you let down another one of those barriers, I know that you’re a bit closer to being mine One day, when the last one falls, you’ll be asdeclaration, he kissed ently

"Are you sure you want them down? The stuff behind them isn’t pretty," I whispered hoarsely

"There’s not one bit of you, inside or out, that isn’t fucking beautiful Nothing that happened to you before e that," he replied

"I’ tracks down my reddened cheeks

"Me, too I’m scared that you’ll takein this world forforly, yet still, here he sat,himself as vulnerable toBut not today, okay?" I whispered, and he sreed

"I’roaned

"You really will do anything to get h, only to stop suddenly and lurch forward Instinctively, O’Connell reached forthat this would all be over soon

THE POUNDING SOUNDED like a bass drum next to my ear

"Is that my head or the door?" I mumbled to O’Connell, my voice muffled by the pillow I’d pressed over o, I’d have been in the wardrobe at the first knock Now, I trusted that O’Connell was bigger and badder than anything on the other side of the door He would never know just how ot company, sunshine," O’Connell called out, as a body collapsed on the bed beside ht onshe’d done

"Don’t call h I was barely audible with my face e, but I need credit for being an aht you a coffee on the way over"

I groaned with appreciation as I inhaled the delicious aroently away froht to look at her

"You look like I feel," I groaned

"Now you’re definitely being a bitch" She grinned

O’Connell walked toward lass of water and some painkillers, and sat down next to ratefully downed both

"Awful Why would anyone do that reat Totally worth the hangover," Nikki enthused

"Maybe you should go a little easier next time," O’Connell cautioned

"I am NEVER DRINKING AGAIN," I replied fir those abs are rock hard, you give pretty good cuddles," I coled in deeper