Page 90 of Forever Fickle

“Can I say something terrible?” she asked playfully, biting her lip and looking into his eyes.

“Anything…”

“I wish we were at my place, just so we could lay on the couch and hold each other. I miss my favorite spot,” she admitted, touching the spot between his muscled shoulder and chest.

“Can I say something terrible now?” he chuckled, smiling tenderly at her.

“Of course.”

“I planned on sneaking into your room later, just so I could hold you.”

“You did? Jammies and all?”

“Every… single… night…” he said playfully, punctuating each word with a kiss that made her laugh aloud into the stillness of the night. “Jammies and all, my love.”

She buried her face against his chest, as the two of them laughed knowingly, hugging each other, and just happy to be there together. It was these stolen moments she treasured and realized that was why he’d brought her out here.

Not to see the gardens or steal a kiss in the alcove, but because he needed to reconnect with her as much as she needed this moment with him.

A shiver escaped her, and she felt him tense.

“Are you cold?”

“Very…” she admitted, smiling. “And suddenly tired.”

“I bet you are…” he chuckled knowingly. “I’m hoping everyone is tired, so no one hears me padding down the hallway barefoot – in my jammies.”

“They’ll be in for a surprise,” she smiled.

“Yep. I’ve got very sedate, completely un-sexy ones, so we aren’t tempted in the slightest. Cotton pajamas, I promise. I just want to hold you… until we are married,” he grinned. “Then it’s game time!”

Karen met his smile happily and hesitated.

“Full confession time?”

“Sure… and then we’ll head in,” he countered, as Karen shivered again.

“I did the same,” she admitted, looking at him and feeling her face heat up with embarrassment. “I got some flannel, completely un-sexy pajamas, so we aren’t tempted… and some satin ones, in case we are…”

Jace’s eyes widened slightly as he closed them, his jaw clenching.

“Karen, do not wear the satin ones… please…” his voice broke as he whispered the words aloud without looking at her. “I’m just a man and this is tough enough as it is.”

“I was going to wear the flannel, I promise.”

“Keep the satin for our wedding night – or any other night afterwards, Tinkerbell…” he hesitated, cracking open an eye and looking at her. “I’m soooo going to regret asking this – but what color are the satin ones?”

He let out a pained smile.

“Black.”

“Ohhhh gosh,” he breathed, freezing as he looked up at the sky, drawing in a few pained gasps, as he sat there unmoving. “And the flannel?”

“Baby pink with little roses on them…”

Jace cursed softly, bolting up from the seat and walking a few feet away with his back turned to her. He stood there, his arms crossed, for several moments… making her feel bad – yet inordinately proud – that he had such a reaction to something so simple.

“I can do this…” he said quietly, his voice firm. “I’m glad you told me because I’m a very weak man when it comes to you, Karen.”

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