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‘Are you totally without scruples?’ she demanded tensely

‘Yes’

Ram could always be relied on to be blunt And she could always be relied on to respond to him She could smell his warm, spicy man scent and her body was already on fire for his touch She could smell the soap from his shower and knew his hair would still be damp—

But her decision had been made

She climbed back into bed

Ram hummed as she settled her head onto the pillow ‘The fact that you’re pulling the sheet up has not escaped my notice’

‘I have work to do tomorrow, Ram, and some of us need our beauty sleep’

‘But not you,’ hewith a lock of her hair

‘Ram…’

‘Do you seriously want e?’

‘Why don’t we talk? Tell me about your day’

‘Like an old married couple?’

‘No, like friends—like friends who care about each other and want to share the good times and the bad’

‘Talking of bad Do you really want this relationship without sex?’

‘That’s not bad, it’s just different’

He laughed ‘Are you sure you’ve thought it through?’

‘Not completely’

‘I’d never have guessed,’ he said dryly ‘So, ould rock your boat, Mia? Let’s just say so things further?’

‘An old-fashioned courtship ht be acceptable’

Ram hummed ‘Like someone to read poetry to you?’

‘Are youme?’ she said suspiciously

‘Not at all,’ Ram exclaimed ‘As if I would’

But she had only relaxed on the pillow for averse

‘“Ah Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire to grasp this sorry sches entire, would we not shatter it to bits—and then remould it nearer to the heart’s desire?” Oly ‘That should do it’

She stared at him blankly

‘You should read more poetry,’ Ram insisted

‘And you should go to bed Your brain is clearly overheating’

‘Like other parts of my body,’ he complained, ‘but as you won’t help me out—’

‘Help you out?’ Mia shot up ‘That’s ed sex toy’

‘But you are,’ Rarin

‘Get out of here!’ Mia exclai her pillows at his head

‘Delighted to Oh, and I’ve arranged some time for us tomorrow—or, should I say today—so we’ll make a start then, shall we?’

‘A start on what?’

‘Our courtship…’

Was it her fault the weddingbell?

Was Ram serious?

Hmm Time would tell ‘So what form will this courtship take?’ she said suspiciously

‘We’ll take a walk Look at the scenery Gaze at the sunset Stare into each other’s eyes—we can even share a little music’