The morning after

[noteasytobepink]

Clarice was a heavy sleeper, when she wasn't having nightmares. It came of never knowing when she'd get a good night's sleep again. Still, she was not a still sleeper. That meant she rolled and twisted some in the night; her frozen peas slipping down between herself and Bill some time around three in the morining.

And well, she shifted where her head was resting too. Next to his on the pillow, his shoulde,r his chest. It was probably past dawn when she settled with her head on his belly, still asleep.

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[noteasytobepink]

She chuckled and did her damnedest to make it a difficult decision. This meant nibbling from his earlobe to his neck while he was debating! Had to make sure he didn't forget her while he was eating after all...

...

"Yeah, hate to get all sticky again after a bath. Terrible idea." She slid slowly from his lap and went to fetch her own plate.

[no_andy_taylor]

She did make it hard! He even reached out and grabbed her hand as she was getting up to leave, giving her fingers a squeeze before reluctantly letting go.

"Wouldn't want your hard work t'go to waste by lettin' it get cold, either," he pointed out.

[noteasytobepink]

She gave him a sweet, sweet smile when he caught her hand. It was very touching really. "And yeah, there is that too. For the good of all involved I just will hold off for a bit."

She'd even sit down across the table from him!

[no_andy_taylor]

He missed her closeness, but having her sit across from him meant he could look over at her and give her smiles.

Tucking into his breakfast, he 'Mmm'ed in approval.

"Good breakfast."

[noteasytobepink]

Sitting across from her also meant she could run her toes up and down his leg as she ate!

While smiling innocently and eating her own meal of course. "I try. Have to make up for the junk we ate last night with something vaguely healthy right?"

[no_andy_taylor]

His smile quirked into a grin when he felt her touch on his leg.

Chuckling, he forked up another piece of toast.

"Sugar counts as healthy?"

[noteasytobepink]

"I added the sugar to yours under duress!" She waved her fork at him cheerfully and ate her own, sugarless, French toast. "There was some incredible pressure to bend to your whim on that..." Yep, she was sticking to that story!

"But under the sugar it's healthier."

[no_andy_taylor]

"With the sugar it's delicious." He grinned. Healthy, shmealthy.

"Let's me know I can get away with stuff now, though."

[noteasytobepink]

"Oh, is that a challenge?" she asked, arching an eyebrow at him. "Should I be aware you're going to try to get away with things? Should I resist?" Or just be highly, highly amused?

"Careful lover, think over your answer well. If you try to push things too hard I may start trying to drag you running with me, and I won't start out easy."

[no_andy_taylor]

"What? I didn't say that," he replied, with as much innocence as he could.

"'Course I'm not gonna be tryin' to get away with nothin', I'm a nice guy, remember?"

Polishing off his eggs, he worked on the last few bites of his toast.

"Besides, I know what you could do t'me if I did." Forced running would only be a start.

[noteasytobepink]

"Even nice guys aim to be spoiled every once and a while," Clarice noted wisely, though her toes were inching up to stroke above his knee now.

"Am I really so terrifying?" BRIGHT SMILE!

[no_andy_taylor]

"Spoilin' doesn't count as gettin' away with stuff." In his book, anyways.

Chuckling he shook his head.

"I wouldn't say terrifyin', more... intimidatingly scary. I've seen you beatin' up on those dummies out back, an' just don't want that t'ever be me."

[noteasytobepink]

"Hmmm, and he's already picturing an abusive relationship. I'm hurt." She teased from across the table. "And I'll try to juggle honest spoiling with 'getting away with stuff' as it comes up I guess?"

[no_andy_taylor]

"Not at all, I'm workin' ways t'keep it a good one." Knowing and actively trying not to make her mad was a good thing, yes?

"That sounds like a great plan t'me."

He'd been spoiled a lot already this morning, and he gave a contented sigh as he finished his breakfast and pushed the plate away; settling back in his chair.

[noteasytobepink]

She grinned and settled her feet in his lap when he finished, why not after all? "Mmmm, so you agree we may be headed for an actual relationship? Not just a few days of fun?"

[no_andy_taylor]

It took him a moment to reply, but it wasn't hesitation, just a pause to try and get together what he wanted to say.

"I would like t'be, yeah. This has been great, but all kiddin' aside, I ain't just after fun."

He gave a short, nervous chuckle as he thought about his own words.

"Not that I'm gonna run out an' buy a ring an' start namin' the kids, or nothin'." He didn't want to scare her off! "I just... I'd like t'start somethin' here, an' see where it goes."

[noteasytobepink]

"Okay...some things we need to keep in mind." Because some things simply needed to be remembered. "I am a dimension hopping hero lover." That was important!

What else to say though? She ran toes along his thigh again, thinking. "It's not by choice. Right now I'm pretty sure I ended up off the radar somehow, but that probably won't last." Nothing ever did.

"I don't know what it's like if I get reeled in; the last time I jumped without the Talus, well, it was when my world ended and that started my career in other realities so to speak. I might have time to say goodbye...I probably won't. You may turn around one day I simply went away between one step and the next. Could you handle that?"

[no_andy_taylor]

Her touch was distracting, but he caught most of the last of what she said.

There was another pause as he considered that, because yeah, right now he was taking it for granted that she was here and would be.

It made him think of Starla, and how she had been here one day, and then off in California making the decision to stay there the next. At least Clarice was being honest about it and giving him warning; he still wasn't sure how he'd handle it.

But, he still wanted to take what he could get while it lasted. If she was willing to give it a shot, he could, too.

"I don't know what's goin' to happen, or how long we've got t'make this last, but I still would like to give it a go."

[noteasytobepink]

"Alright," she accepted his word on what he wanted. She'd go with it. "One last thing..." One very last thing she promised!

"I've never actually had the leisure for dating. Lovers, yes, partners, sure...but not the actual peaceful world dating thing. Let me know if I screw up?"

[no_andy_taylor]

His smile warmed at that, flushing just a touch.

"Well, darlin', I ain't the most experienced here, either. I've done it, but I think my 'confirmed bachelor' thing says how well I managed it."

That's not to say it was all his fault things didn't work out with others.

"There's gonna be a learnin' curve, but I'll tell you 'bout any screw ups, if you point out mine?"

[noteasytobepink]

"Alright, then I'll try my best Bill." Her smile softened into something gentle and a bit wondering because...well. Yeah, this was a first for her. Entirely a first.

"Granted, I'm told the make-up sex when one or the other of us screws up may be worth it..."

[no_andy_taylor]

He returned her smile, feeling good about all of this.

"That may be true, but I sure as hell ain't complainin' 'bout the sex now."

Maybe they'd save the make-up sex for a special occasion.

[noteasytobepink]

Feeling good was about what they were aiming for truth told.

That and a hell of a lot of fun on the way!

"Mmm, well you do know how to flatter don't you?" Her smile slid into a smirk and she lifted her arms above her head in a lithe stretch. It pleased her that her shoulder barely pulled at all when she did so, ah, but her shoulder wouldn't be of interest to Bill now would it?

[no_andy_taylor]

No, his attention was definitely focused a bit lower.

She was very flexible, and well, with her towel only covering her waist it meant a nice view for Bill. Which meant his head was tilted slightly and he'd forgotten that they were having a conversation, and so didn't say anything.

[noteasytobepink]

Frankly there wasn't a girl out there that wouldn't appreciate being found so very...distracting. The look on his face went miles for her ego all told.

"Biiiilllllll..." she drawled after her stretch. Ah, hell, she'd lost him truly hadn't she? There was nothing for it but to stand up slowly and lean across the table to kiss him. "You spaced on me babe."