Stella gave a soft gasp of surprise as he wrapped his strong arms around her small frame and held her back against him in a tight but gentle hug. Slowly tilting her head back, she looked up at him and smiled shyly at his very generous compliment. "I love you too Claude...Thank you, I am very happy to have your help. It's the best I can get," she whispered quietly. As he returned to the work of tightening up the laces, Stella bit her quivering bottom lip as a thought crossed her mind.<br/><br/>Parting her lips as a sigh escaped between them, Stella decided to give it her best shot and hope he wouldn't be angry at such a forward comment. "Claude... I don't mind... If you... Want to be a little more relaxed about having to control yourself around me..." she said softly, picking at the threads in the dress nervously as she basically gave him permission not to have self-control around her, in the politest way possible that is.