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‘It’s a floor plan! Plans to turn three rooms into one master bedroom; one en-suite, one room a la Rose, and a new office for me.’ He leaned further over her, so he could flick to an exact page.

‘Where?’ She laughed quizzically, sure this was some abstract joke and already finding a million reasons she never wanted to leave this village or even this house.

‘Upstairs. This end of the house. Somewhere I doubt you have ever ventured.’ He shrugged, flicking over to another page of drawings and leaning in to plant a kiss on top of her head. Rose sighed a little with relief, knowing they weren’t about to up sticks and move anywhere.

‘And this is for us? Why?’ She queried, still a little unsure.

‘Because, my beautiful bride to be, as happy and cosy as we are down here every night, it wasn’t really ever planned as a love nest. It was a bedroom of convenience, so I could work and sleep without wandering far and disturbing Abby or my father, when he still lived in the house.’ He was back looking at the plans and shuffling papers around to find her the designers view.

‘And? What’s wrong with it?’ Rose smiled softly, a warmth flooding through her when she saw the hints of images with soft feminine decor and a blazing fireplace in among the sheets.

‘Something you once said got me thinking.’

She laughed, confused, and trying to think back to tit bits of conversation in her mind from the past several months.

‘I said I wanted to move into a bigger room?’ Rose couldn’t ever remember any conversations regarding the living or sleeping situations, as long as he was with her and snuggled close, she would live anywhere.

‘Not exactly...You said you didn’t really like being here without me. I figured that’s partly because you don’t feel like this could be your home. Is your home.’ He was gazing at her now, watching as she slowly moved papers around on the desk, trying to take it all in and decipher what half of it meant.

‘Rob. I’m still getting used to this place, it’s like the never-ending story, always expanding everywhere I go. Labyrinth in the north!’ She laughed as she again flipped a page, seeing more samples and colour schemes that mirrored her homely cottage perfectly.

‘You’re going to be living here as my wife. I don’t want to bring my bride back from our honeymoon to try and fit into my life. I want this house and this life to be as much yours as it is mine.’ He was fully staring at her now, watching her every move and waiting.

‘So, a new bedroom, and what is room a la Rose?’ She blinked up at him, catching his eye on her and the way he was smiling, sending shivers and warmth flooding through her once more with the sheer look of adoration.

‘That would be Abby’s title for it. You need room to work, paint and draw.’ He shifted from the desk, pulling her hand and beckoning her to follow as he got up and hauled her with him possessively. Turning at the door to stroke her cheek with his thumb and trace a gentle kiss across her mouth teasingly. As always Rose’s body reacted greedily and felt disappointed when he turned, taking her hand once more and leading her further into the house.

Leading her up the familiar stair, they turned left along the darker end of the house towards the less used rooms, which were mostly full of sheet-covered furniture and drawn drapes. He pulled open double doors at the very end of the long shadowy hall into a vast wide space of light and airiness which had her blinking her eyes to adjust.

Two matching huge windows were facing them and letting a huge amount of sunlight glare in at them, dazzling her vision with the sheer power of light. A huge stone fireplace was nestled against one wall to the right and someone had cleared and cleaned this space, so it was completely bare of all furniture, coverings and dust. And of course, clear of any window coverings to protect her eyes.

‘This would be the bedroom.’ He walked in, turning her around in an arc, letting her see the huge size and space and giving her a moment to let it sink in, it really was a huge space with a ton of potential. ‘Over there some fitted wardrobes and units. Maybe room for a sitting area; you know, our own living room to cosy up in. Whatever you want!’ He led her back out to the small hallway, to a door directly to the left of the space and effortlessly opened it. Another large room with equally large windows, again bright and spacious and completely blank, a cream canvas ready for a new purpose. This one was slightly less vast than the first and minus a fireplace. Rob let her go as he moved into the middle of the space, extending his arms and gesturing around him. ‘This would be split into two. A large en-suite with a huge bath for two. Spacious shower, twin sinks and vanities... His and hers! Plenty room for some water sports.’ He winked naughtily, leaning out to catch her hand, pulling her towards the center of the room with a suggestive twinkle in his eye. As soon as he had her close he pulled her body to mould his and butted his groin into her with a wink, Rose sighed and shoved him off playfully. With another grin, he turned back to showing off the room to her.

‘Would take in this space and one huge window here. The other window would be in your space with an internal hall running along over there, where the current entryway is, leading to your own little haven. Can only get to it from our bedroom that way, so no unwanted guests. Your own secret hideaway to work in peace and would keep noise to a minimum even when the house was full of people.’ He looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘Unless you wanted a bigger room? Then we have one across the hall, it’s not as big as this one, but still pretty huge if it was only for you and no bathroom.’ Rob regarded her as though waiting for an answer and extended his hand out to her when she made a move towards him. She shook her head, kissing him gently on the mouth when she was back in his embrace.

‘It sounds amazing.’ her eyes were filling up with emotion, completely touched that he wanted to do this for them, for her.

‘There’s more.’ He pulled her towards the far window, the one earmarked for her own private studio with a grin that was beaming, as though he was about to share the most wonderful secret. ‘Look out over there.’ Rob positioned her at the window in front of him and pointed out in front of her into the wilderness, her gaze following. The view across the fields was beautiful and amazing, the hills in the distance and the large forest to the right vaguely familiar.

‘Once they sort out the north forest. Cut back some of the foliage and remove a couple of trees then you will have an uninterrupted view of the back side of the cottage right there, baby.’ He pointed more directly at a tiny hint of her cottage peeking from behind a tree. Her hand drew to her throat, taking an emotional gasp and turning into him to throw her arms around him.

Such a thoughtful tiny detail. It meant so much more than he realised. Seeing that quaint dainty house even when she was not physically there would make life here perfect.

‘Thank you, Rob it’s perfect.’ Her voice was soft with gratitude and happy tears as she nuzzled into him, looking around again to catch another glimpse of her tiny haven. It really would be the most perfect view.

‘You will always have that place, Rose. I’ll even sign a prenup making sure that no matter what, it stays yours and yours alone.’ His deep voice and serious tone made her squeeze him tighter, her heart ready to burst with emotion. She shook her head, knowing that even if they ever parted, he would never take it from her. Her haven. Her heart. Rob knew how much she loved it.

‘What about your office and the room downstairs?’ She blinked up at him adoringly from her angle, unshed tears of happiness being swallowed down as she focused on the most gorgeous grey eyes in existence.

‘I need to keep some sort of bachelor pad in this place, for nights you turf me out. I’d rather a bed than a couch to toss and turn the night away in.’ He joked and kissed her quickly on the cheek.

‘Shut up, you daftie.’ She smiled, elbowing him lightly in the stomach as he laid his arms easily around her shoulders, her head nestling against him as she still stared at the beautiful view. This corner of the house was the one she could see when she stood tiptoe in her kitchen; so many months ago, that glimpse of the dark house and overgrown tree line. It warmed her knowing that from the cottage she would be able to see their own special part of the house and from here she could see her own special little hideaway.

‘I’ll move my office up across the hall. Keep it separate from our room so I don’t wake you when I have to work late. The rooms down there will stay as bedroom and a small sitting room for guests, like your parents. I want to keep close enough that I can still crawl into bed and molest you should I need a break.’ He chuckled, nuzzling into her neck from behind and sending sparks through her body.

‘Still have your priorities then!’ She giggled and then wriggled as his nuzzling became more of groping and nibbling and a hand tried to slide under her dress.

‘Always, my number one priority is molesting you.’ Rob spun her around, so he could catch her front on, picking her up to pull her legs around his waist and carrying her out of the room that way. Sitting high on him, with his hands under her butt, and her hands on his shoulders. Rose laughed and leaned down to kiss him a little more passionately, feeling that inner surge of satisfaction when he had to quickly put her down; unable to control himself and pinning her to the wall for an erotic kiss that left both panting and his hands up her dress. Rob wickedly manoeuvred her for a breathless quickie right there, dress still on and underwear pulled aside, mumbling in her ear about ‘christening their room’. He was good at long and slow love making, but equally good a five-minute speed sessions when the passion overtook them.

Finally, looking more flushed and ruffled than before, they walked out of the room, still pawing and kissing one another.

Pulling her back to the hall outside the doors, he stood in the wide space and motioned around them with one hand, it was darkened from lack of windows and a little dim.

‘The plans include this area too. Turning these rooms into one suite by bringing this area here to a close with an outer doorway. Once were safely tucked up in here we will have privacy, so you can wander about naked without worrying about anyone’s eyes except mine.’ He was looking at her in that devilish way again that brought a smile to her face. He had the knack for making her feel like the sexiest woman alive.

‘You’re sure you want to do this Rob? It’s, so much work and upheaval.?. So much money!’ Rose had to drag her eyes off of those wide, strong shoulders and inviting muscular body, still reeling from the passion of minutes ago and aching to be back in bed this very moment with him.