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Been agonising whether to post this now or spend more time tweaking but I'm away next week so it'd mean a long old wait and after all your support I wanted to get it up sooner…

It's great if you're still reading this far. I'm still learning so apart from loving your reviews they are a massive help in motivation to develop my writing… So this chapter is thanks for all your comments and opinions. Hope it's ok, enjoy xx

…"Do you trust me Ruth?"

Her voice soft, "What do you think?" Said without missing a beat.

Ruth didn't see the sadness that flashed through his darkened eyes. He lent back and through a misty gaze he replied, "I think that there was a time Ruth, when I wouldn't have needed to ask."

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…Ruth felt a stab of pain, still wrapped in his arms, she took a moment to think through her answer.

Turning her head into his shoulder and avoiding his searching eyes she replied, "It's hardly a yes-no answer, not with us." She paused, adding with a sigh, "There've been lows between us but for all we've been through and perhaps because of it, when it comes down to it, it'll always be you that I trust. Her last though aired with sad contemplation, "In fact maybe you're the only one I can trust."

His tense body sank into relief. A bridge of trust, albeit perhaps a wobbly one, had over time seemingly negotiated the abyss that had separated them since her return.

Whispering softly his thanks he sank his arms around her smaller frame and was rewarded with her fingers pressing through his cotton shirt and reinforcing their hold.

Now burrowed in a secure embrace, a silence settled, stilled, they no longer swayed to the façade of music. Their source of content now found in the weight and security of the other's hold.

Ruth's head re-nestled into the support of his shoulder. Her eyes floating shut she inhaled the soft sent of aftershave seeping from his skin. Relishing the warmth his body provided and the tickle of warm breath that wisped at her ear, she savoured the feeling and began to drift away to its welcome comfort.

Moments passed and feeling Harry murmur a contented sigh her senses were left to absorb everything that was Harry. His sweet scent, steady breathing and the regular constant thump of his heart against hers seemed to possess the ability to soothe her soul. The soft trailing touch of his thumb swept small soothing strokes over her back and it was then, just as she was becoming lost to waking thought, that she heard his horse breathy tone, spoken so softly to her ear that for a moment, she doubted its reality.

"I could stay awake… just to hear you breathing."

Ruth began to ease the weight of her head from his shoulder but when Harry continued and she recognised the recital, she resettled and saying nothing, listened with heart crushing anticipation.

"…Watch you smile while you are sleeping…" He lowered his lips, the light touch of them grazing the nape of her neck, "while you are far away n' dreaming," Goosebumps seared her neck.

Tipping his head back he lightly draped the back of his fingers over her cheek bone, tucking a stray lock behind one ear and catching his eye she saw the humility washed within them.

Returning his head back and next to hers, his steamy breath began to ignite burning chills down her spine. He continued with words still spoken in whispered tune, "I could spend my life, in this sweet surrender…."

His lips pressed faintly to her skin, "…could stay lost in this moment, for-ev-er ."

Ruth's arms stiffened, partly necessary to hold her up and partly to increase the weight of his chest with hers.

His lips began to trace her jaw, the suggestion of stubble catching her cheek "…where every moment I spend with you, is a moment I treasure."

Unable to distinguish if this counted as a serenade or declaration Ruth was either way, currently stripped of any thought that didn't comprise of the love she held for the man now holding her.

Trailing idol fingers through her hair his temple rested with her and the void between both wanting lips narrowed to but a fraction… "Don't want to close my eyes, don't wanna faall asleep…" He leaned back, waiting for her eyes to flutter open till he continued. Abandoning the hint of tune, his voice dark and husky, he savoured the slow delivery of his sentiment, "...because I still Love you, and Ruth, I don't want to miss a thing."

Ruth, who'd been adrift in his eyes since she'd found them, was speechless. Harry, with only love looking back at her, drew his head to hers, his lips a hairsbreadth from hers.

"Harry I-" the tremble of her words almost enough to connect their lips.

"Shh," he soothed, tipping his head in with hers he captured her lips.

His lips were soft, caressing leisurely with hers. Her head left dizzy with desire, he edged his lips away.

Noses brushing, Ruth was desperate to finally say those buried words. Uttering in a shaky voice, "Harry I Love you, I do… so much."

Holding her like she was made of gold his eyes drew open and he peered into her tear clouded eyes.

"Oh Ruth," he sighed. Grateful that this time he wasn't dreaming.

A tear ran down her cheek and with the brush of his thumb, Harry caught it. "You're crying" he said, pointing out the obvious with sad concern.

Ruth sniffed and through tears she smiled, "It's ok."

Harry took his time, slowly lowering his head back to hers he repeated his kiss, his loving lips exploring hers gently as Ruth's small hand slipped to the back of his neck and ploughed lightly through his short golden hair. Their lips parted and Ruth sighed with satisfaction as they surfaced for air.

Ruth's mind was lost and expression a blissful daze but through the fog managed to murmur a thought through their brushing lips, "A date."

He retreated slightly, "What?"

Still a little breathless she replied, "Defiantly class this as a date." Both broke into a shared smile and soft laughter. Making the most of the lightened atmosphere Harry casually re-gathered Ruth up in his arm and savoured the opportunity to keep her there.

Harry ventured, his hand still soothing over her back, "It's taken us a long time to get heretogether."

A sight chuckle escaped her, "Harry, long isn't the word… We make The Great wall of China look like a picket fence in comparison."

Agreeing he released a breathy laugh. "I suppose."

Twisting her neck so her breath pricked his neck, barely a whisper was needed to be heard. "Harry?"

"Hm?" His reply now soaked in such content, she barely heard him.

"It's-erm, It's late..." She whispered faintly.

"Oh," the sudden thought of leaving instantly deflated him, "Should I -"

Her mouth lifted to briefly cover his and cut him off. Lips sweeping up his jaw she mouthed to his ear, "Come to bed." To which Harry's breath staggered with surprise.

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Silently leading him by hand he followed up the stairs. Ruth managed but one foot on the landing before she felt hot wet lips melting into the nape of her neck, open mouthed kisses travelled up her neck wilting her of strength. Turning to face him one hand at the back of his neck, she drew him in for a passionate kiss, a kiss that flushed both with a growing ache.

Ruth's fingers slid the knot from Harry's tie and with Harry pressing her to the wall she blindly trailed her fingers over his shirt as she worked on removing all that still stood in the way their desires.

Petaling kisses up her neck his warm hands slid from her waist up under her blouse and a quiet moan of pleasure rose through her. A puddle of clothes gathering around them Harry, breathing heavily and face buried in her neck, was unable to stop the line of soft kisses he planted there but uttered between them, "Ruth… I need… you to be sure."

Ruth, still braced between the wall and Harry, slipped her hand slowly to his belt buckle and as his head broke up to look at her. Beneath smouldering eyes and with a playful tone she replied, "I'm sure… Tonight I figure we can start to make up for ten years of lost time..." Dragging his belt from its loops with one smooth slide, she added, "Not that we can make it all uptonight but…" She teased biting her lip.

"Oh Miss Evershed," he growled throatily whilst reversing a giggling Ruth into her bedroom, "that sounds like a dangerously fun challenge..."

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The End… :-P