Just a bit of fluff in this one. But I couldn't resist ;-) I hope you enjoy! Back to serious int he next chapter, I promise. Meantime, leave me your thoughts.

Sam tackled the next morning with an energy that Christopher hadn't seen in her for months. She had his breakfast ready for him before he had even finished dressing. And once they'd eaten, he helped her clean the kitchen sensing that she had other things on her mind. He was checking the morning post when she appeared in the front room, fully dressed and clutching a handbag. "I thought I might look in at Mrs. Martel's."

"Sshe makes draperies, doesn't she?"

"Yes. And slip covers. Thought if I had some fabric ideas, I could begin to think about a new paper for the walls."

Christopher looked up at the walls and the paper that covered them. "Yyou don't like the wall coverings?"

Sam's face fell. "You don't want me to put new paper on the walls?"

"Erm... nnot that exactly. Jjust... bit expensive. Let's start in one of the other rooms? Leave this one for later? "

Sam pressed her lips together as a small frown appeared over her eyes. "But I thought... you said I could..."

Christopher dropped the post on his desk and crossed the room. Taking Sam in his arms, he held her gently. "And you can. Paint the other rooms, have drapes made, recover the furniture... but having the paper redone will be a bit of a mess and... well, expensive. That's all. I've a decent income but pockets not lined with gold Sam. And I do want that time away with you this summer."

He felt her relax, the nervousness draining from her. "Well, I suppose I could work with the colors that are already in the paper."

"That's my girl," he said as he gave her a tender squeeze. As she pulled away, Sam look into his eyes. "My poor Christopher. I really am upsetting your routine, aren't I ?"

Gazing back at her through hooded eyes, Christopher took a moment to respond. "Nneded upsetting, Sam. I wasn't living, just existing. Yyou... you're the light in my life now. Aand you make me very happy."

Her smile lit the darkest recesses of his soul. She beamed at him, shining her light on him and filling him with an overwhelming sense of well being. Overcome by his emotions, Christopher claimed her once again with his arms. "Christ Sam, yyou know I'd do anything for you, don't you? You know I couldn't bear to be without you, that if you are hurt it hurts me too? "

She nodded at him shyly. He planted a peck on the tip of her nose and stepped back a step. "Now, you have an engagement at the Draper's and I've got an appointment with a rather large stack of post. I'll see you later and you can tell me all about the lavish changes you are making to my humble abode."

She grinned at him happily. "Not too lavish; I wouldn't be comfortable with that."

"I know," he replied. "And I do want you to be comfortable in our home."

"Our home," she echoed. "I like that."

"Good," he winked and then turned her to face the door. "No, off you go."

Sam gave him a highly suggestive glance over her shoulder as she walked through the door, making Christopher suddenly warm. He was tempted to follow her and pull her back inside to follow through on that glance, but decided to let her go. He'd collect on it later.

Sam returned from her shopping full of disappointment. The few pieces of cloth she had seemed rather drab and dreary but Christopher watched as she moved around the room, setting each cloth on a table or other surface so she could step back and consider it as a suitable addition to the room. Finally she looked up at him, catching him watching her with a slight smile on his face.

Grimacing, she pointed at the collection of fabrics. "So what do you think?" She asked.

"Beautiful... lovely," he answered, his gaze never leaving her face. To his delight a blush crept up her face and she looked down demurely momentarily. "I meant the fabric, Christopher. You know, you really are becoming quite a lecherous man. I never suspected that about you before, although I knew you enjoyed a glance or two at particularly stunning women."

"None more stunning than you, my love. So I suppose that means you never saw the glances I gave you?"

"I did, a time or two. But I couldn't really believe it was anything more than... I don't know, just approval of my dress or something?"

Christopher's mouth turned down in a heartfelt grin. More of an appreciation of what was in the dress, he thought. "Or something," he replied in a rakish tone that Sam had never heard from him before.

"Oh, you really are getting to be quite randy, aren't you?"

He stepped closer to her. "I can't help it," he said quietly. "You've captivated me completely; can't think of anything else."

She grinned shyly at him. "I have?"

"Yes," he said as reached for her hands. "Seems I'm in a constant state of readiness with you around."

"Readiness?" She asked with sparkling eyes. "Well, it's good to be ready, isn't it?"

"Always," he said as he leaned in to capture her lips. As she led him upstairs a few minutes later, Christopher had several thoughts. There were the lascivious ones as he watched her bum on the steps just ahead of him, there was the marvel that she should be so interested in these afternoon trysts with him, and there was wonderment that he was capable of said trysts. My god, old man; you'll go to an early grave at this rate. But as she stood on the top landing for him to meet her, he decided it wouldn't be such an awful fate for him.