Her own hands clutch at his shoulder and neck as she stretches up on her toes to better reach him. The feeling of the counter at her back makes her gasp against his mouth and pull him even closer, not caring one bit that some might say this is a little fast for a new relationship. They're already married and the both of them are intelligent adults; they can set their own pace. If right now that pace happens to be faster than the jump to hyperspace, then so be it.
Obi-Wan shifts until his thigh slides between her legs, moving his mouth away from hers to press open-mouthed kisses along her jaw and neck, sucking and scraping his teeth against her delicate skin. When he reaches her ear he pauses briefly before nibbling on it to breathe, "Padmé..."
The sounds she makes at the attention he gives her fluctuate between breathy moans and tiny pleading whines, her hands roaming over his shoulders while she tries very hard not to climb her way up him. It's difficult, though, so incredibly difficult when mere kisses and the sound of her own name can make her feel like this.
"Tell me what you want, Obi-Wan," she insists, using only a fraction of her Senatorial tone because frankly it's all she can manage. One hand slips beneath his collar, nails scraping gently as she caresses the skin there.
Shuddering at the feel of her nails and hearing her voice, Obi-Wan shifts to press his forehead against her neck, huffing out a laugh. "I'm-- fairly certain if we just-- keep going, we'll get there," he says haltingly, letting his hand slide from her back along her side and up, boldly coming to rest on the swell of her breast, his thumb stroking over her nipple through the fabric.
In the next instant, he shifts to murmur in her ear, "Let me take you to bed."
That touch fuels the fire burning within her and she arches against him, pressing herself more fully against him and squirming against the delicious length of him. He could have gotten her to agree to just about anything at that moment, but this--
"Yes," she practically purrs at his request before reaching down to take a handful of his shirt in her hand and give it a firm tug. "Now, please." Impatience, thy name is Padmé.
Her insistence matches how he feels, and something about the entire situation, despite being very serious, makes Obi-Wan start to laugh, even as he presses a kiss to Padmé's lips. "Your wish is my command, m'lady," he murmurs without pulling away, their lips brushing together with each word.
Regretfully, he has to reposition them both, shifting to sweep an arm behind her knees while he supports her back in a classic carry. She's no longer pressed against the length of him, but he uses the reprieve to gather some control, so this encounter isn't shorter than it should be.
The trip to the bedroom is swift, and he sets Padmé down in front of the bed, claiming another kiss as he does so.
Later, Padmé won't remember exactly how all their various pieces of clothing ended up where they did, or exactly how much of the morning they spent exploring this new part of their relationship, but those details just don't seem that important as she lays in Obi-Wan's arms, her fingertips tracing lazy patterns on his chest while they both catch their breath.
Stretching out her legs that still feel weak and unsteady, she settles further into the plush pillows. "I feel the need to inform you, my dear Jedi, that you are very good at that," she tells him quietly, her voice a little husky from how frequently she'd vocalized her appreciation of his skills.
Huffing a breathy chuckle, Obi-Wan draws his fingers up Padmé's spine, enjoying the feel of her body in his arms. He's not really sure how to respond to the compliment, though; oh, if it were an ordinary sexual encounter he'd give some glib thanks at the praise, perhaps make a joke about Jedi prowess. But...
Obi-Wan finds he doesn't want to cheapen the moment. It was sex (and quite enjoyable sex, at that), but it feels like more. It was a turning point for them - or at least for him - and now that he has the chance to really think on everything, he finds himself floundering in uncharted waters.
While his mind is going over the ramifications of this, his mouth decides to engage on its own. "You were wonderful as well, I assure you." His voice is soft and sincere, but there's a distracted quality that shows he's thinking of other things.
She smiles at the reassurance, but does notice that hint of distraction, something just slightly off catching her attention. Slipping her hand from his chest up to his cheek, she smooths the pad of her thumb along that wonderfully bearded jawline, the soft hairs tickling her skin.
"What is it?" she asks him gently, brow slightly furrowed. Her thoughts dance over the question of whether he regrets this step between them, but she discards it as quickly as it appeared; he'd wanted this as much as she, there's no doubt of that in her.
Her touch draws Obi-Wan out of his thoughts enough that he looks down at her, and he regrets that his ruminations have made her question any of this.
The smile he gives her is slight, and tinged with both awe and trepidation. "I love you." He says it as an explanation in itself, but goes on to elaborate, "This is a wholly new territory for me. I--" he laughs at himself, incredulous. "I have no idea what I'm doing right now. It's slightly terrifying."
Hearing him say those words... They're such simple things, each meaningless on their own, mere everyday occurrences, but when strung together by a particular person, they have the power to change the world. Her world has been irrevocably altered as well as his, and she wouldn't change that for anything.
"It is quite terrifying," she agrees, running her hand down his arm. "But I don't regret it. I want you in my life in every way possible, even if I don't know yet how that will actually work. But we'll figure it out, together." There's a conviction in her voice that shines through, the same strength that stands out in everything she sets her mind to.
The utter confidence she displays makes his heart swell, and Obi-Wan pulls her up enough that he can bend his head to kiss her. "I don't regret it either, I promise," he murmurs. "Once we return to Coruscant, I should warn you, I may be spending a lot of time at the Temple for a while. At the moment, I... I feel as if I'm going against everything I was taught, and yet-- not. We're taught to trust our feelings. And yet we're taught not to grow attached, to stay separate and impartial."
And here Obi-Wan's natural flirtation and playfulness finally comes back to the fore: he lets his eyes wander intently down the length of Padmé's body pressed against his, and he very deliberately strokes his hand from her shoulder blades to the swell of her backside, before coming to rest comfortably there. "And I'm not sure I could get any more partial to you, at the moment." He flexes his fingers slightly. "Well." He grins cheekily. "I probably could, if given a few moments."
A laugh bursts out of her at his cheeky dramatics, her adoration for this beautiful man only growing with each passing second. She pulls the edge of the blanket up to swat him gently in the face before letting it fall down over them.
"You're incorrigible," she informs him with amusement, before sobering slightly and sitting up just enough to prop herself up on an elbow to look at him properly. "I want you to do whatever you have to in order to be comfortable and settled in this new life. Whether that means hours at the Temple or whatever else. I know this is a huge change for you, even more so now."
Resetting herself so she's laying against him again, she gives a tap of her fingers against his chest. "Now, let's play a little game. You name something that worries you about this new adventure we're embarking on, and I'll offer a potential solution or insight that might help ease that worry. It can be absolutely anything, and then we'll switch."
He laughs as Padmé swats at him; this is what he wants, more than anything. This ease and closeness, both physical and emotional between them. Even as she grows more serious again, he doesn't tense up, because he knows no matter what, they can discuss things and share their thoughts. He appreciates that, while she might not fully understand the change this is to his entire upbringing, she is mindful and considerate of what he's going through.
Resettling his arms around her in a comfortable embrace, Obi-Wan thinks about Padmé's 'little game.' Besides his own emotional upheaval, there's not much he's been worried about before now. He finally settles on a real, but relatively mild, concern, to start things off. "I worry that, once we leave here, that at some point, we'll settle into our everyday lives and concerns, and...not 'lose', but we'll drift away from-- this." He motions to them lying in bed and then around the room, not meaning the physical aspect of their relationship, but the contentment and emotional closeness they've been sharing recently. "I was taught though - repeatedly, very, very repeatedly - to be mindful of the moment we're living in, and not worry so much about the future, because it hasn't arrived yet."
She nods slightly as he voices his concern, acknowledging it while turning it over in her mind. It's a legitimate concern, absolutely so considering their individually busy schedules and all the demands that will be placed on their time and attention. This closeness they're settling into isn't something she wants to lose either, but it appears he's providing the solution to the problem himself, whether he realizes it or not.
"Then perhaps that's a lesson we should incorporate into our life together," she proposes. "We'll make time in our schedules to just be together, just the two of us with no distractions, so we can reconnect and remember what's important. Even if that means having to actually schedule something to make sure it happens." Which will likely be the case at certain times, given how hectic her career in the Senate can be. Offering him as much assurance as she can, she adds, "I promise, if something makes it onto my calendar, I stick to it. I don't cancel appointments lightly, especially personal ones."
It's a plan that won't work miracles, but it might at least keep them heading in the right direction.
Hearing her say 'our life together' brings surprising happiness to Obi-Wan. While he doesn't want to lose how he feels now, he is looking forward to 'our life' not being so jolting in its unexpectedness. A steady foundation that he can rely on.
He laughs a little at the idea of actually having to schedule time together, although he's sure it will end up being the case, at some point. "I worry about how that conversation with your social secretary will go. We'll certainly give your handmaidens something to talk about."
That steady foundation is exactly what she aspires to provide for him. Whatever it takes, she's determined that their relationship, regardless of what it ultimately becomes, will not be something mercurial for him to doubt and dread. This thing between them will be as steady and strong as they can make it, even if that means having to put in extra dedicated work.
"My social secretary has a fondness for chocolate that she will be just fine with us capitalizing on," she informs him with a playful smile. "And having my ladies gossip about you is a good thing, it means they like you. It's when they don't acknowledge you that you should worry."
"Ah, bribery," he teases. "An arena of politics I'm well-familiar with. It's good to know at least some of your associates follow the more traditional roles." Obi-Wan winks at her, before pulling her in for another quick kiss. It's quickly becoming a problem, his want to shower her with physical affection. Not that he expects Padmé to be bothered by it, but at some point they'll have to exercise decorum around others, which may prove to be a challenge.
Settling down, he watches her compassionately. "And what about you? We're playing a game, remember. We can't quit without each of us going at least once. What worries do you have?"
She loves those little displays of affection, basking in them as if they were rays of sunlight. Composing herself around others won't be much of a problem, she's used to doing that on a daily basis, but when they're in private... Well, he might end up a bit surprised at how difficult it is for her to keep her hands to herself.
A few seconds of silence stretch between them as she thinks it over, wanting to reveal something equal to what he shared with her. "I worry that this, all of it, will negatively impact your relationship with Anakin," she finally admits, her tone conveying just how much the idea truly bothers her. "I know we discussed some things yesterday, but I don't want you to lose any part of what you have with him. I may not entirely understand everything that goes on between a master and padawan, but I had mentors growing up who I would have been devastated to lose. Even if it means I have to adjust my schedule and change some things in my life, I want you to still be able to honor your responsibilities to him."
Obi-Wan stills at her words, glancing away uncomfortably when Padmé offers to change parts of her life in order to help.
"I'm not just Anakin's mentor," he explains somberly. "I am also his councilor, and confidante, as much as I can be while still maintaining my role as teacher. I'm-- well, I'm his brother/father-figure. It's usually even more so when a Youngling is chosen as a Padawan, because they're trained from such a young age at the Temple, most of us don't remember our actual parents. While Anakin knew his mother, he's never had a father before, so it's mostly the same for him as well, in that regard."
Sighing heavily, Obi-Wan shakes his head. "I appreciate you offering to shift things to accommodate him, us-- I will probably take you up on that, but I want to discuss it before you do any such thing." He's firm in this. "While it may help, I don't want to-- to coddle him about it. He knows we're married. From the way he's been acting, this-- us-- 'getting together' seemed to be a foregone conclusion in his mind." Obi-Wan probably inadvertently made it worse by assuring him that that wasn't the case, but there was nothing he could do now to change it. Besides damage control.
"Honestly, I'm not sure if we should ease him into it, or just act as if it's natural, and just-- manage the fall-out." He says the last part sardonically. Between pressure at proving himself to be a worthy Padawan, and hormones pushing his already somewhat-volatile emotions over the top, navigating Anakin's moods has been an exercise in patience lately.
Having the role explained in such a way just cements in her mind not only how important Obi-Wan's relationship with Anakin is, but how much it must have hurt to lose Qui-Gon the way he had. To have someone like that torn away so suddenly, to have watched him die...
Leaning down to press a kiss to his chest, she moves just slightly so as to be able to press her cheek over that spot, effectively using him as a pillow. "You're a good man, Obi-Wan Kenobi," she muses softly, smoothing her hand along his side. "Ani's lucky to have you in his life." A pause, and then she adds, "I think the more normal we can make things seem, the better it might be? Not coddling him, as you put it, but not making hills into mountains either. Though I'm certain that's all much easier said than done."
Obi-Wan wraps his arm around Padmé's back as she lays down on him, his thumb absently stroking her side. He's not sure he agrees with her assessment of being a good man, but he tries, and most days that feels like it's good enough, so perhaps she's right. He's also not sure she's correct Anakin's lucky to have him - wouldn't it be better for him to be with his mother? To have a stable life for a while, in one place? Anakin's never really had safety before, and he's not going to get it as a Jedi, no matter how much they say they're 'keepers of the peace'; especially being Obi-Wan's apprentice, he's continuing the tradition of training for missions ripe with the possibility of violence and danger.
"We'll just have to wait and see," he finally says. "We can plan all we want, but I've found that interpersonal relationships tend to follow the same rule as a battlezone: No plan survives the first contact with the enemy. While I'm certainly not saying Anakin is an enemy... He does have a tendency to make even the best-laid plans go awry."
Sighing, Obi-Wan drops his head for a moment, staring at the ceiling. "I think I will call him. I was planning to, today or tomorrow, just to make sure-- well honestly, to make sure the Temple was still standing, he has a tendency to get cabin fever, if left to his own devices for too long. I'll try to feel things out."
"That's a good plan," she agrees with a little nod, rubbing her cheek against his skin. "And it'll be nice for him to hear from you; he'll know you haven't forgotten him." With Anakin being as young and emotional as he is, she worries about that too. He needs to know that he's still important to Obi-Wan.
"But since it's early morning right now on Coruscant and he's almost certainly not awake yet," she continues, "I think we should get cleaned up and go for a picnic. Neither of us got to eat much breakfast, and there are some spots I'd love to show you."
"Depends on what you mean by 'early morning,'" he mutters. "I'm not sure he's ever gotten used to the fact that there aren't still two suns dictating when night and day is. Up far too late, hates getting up when he should. Would serve him right if I woke him up 'on accident.'" He wouldn't, because it seems a bit too cruel to him - but the idea itself is funny, imagining Anakin's angry, semi-incoherent growls over the comm.
Yes, Obi-Wan is often Anakin's father-figure. But there are times they treat each other like brothers, with all the bickering and teasing and pranks that that implies. (That's the part Obi-Wan enjoys best.)
Reluctantly, Obi-Wan agrees. Partly because she's right about breakfast, and after their rather athletic morning, he's quite hungry, now that she's pointed it out. Helping her sit up so he can do the same, he can't help but tease, "And whose fault is it about breakfast? I made perfectly decent omelets. But you wanted a kiss instead."
His idea about bothering Anakin leaves her smiling; she's heard a bit about their antics together and they never cease to amaze or amuse. Seeing that side of Obi-Wan is a delight, though, and she finds that she'd like to see more of it in the future.
"Someone said that he loved me," she points out as she begins to climb out of bed, having no embarrassment or modesty issues whatsoever about her nakedness. "How was I possibly supposed to resist that?"
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"Tell me what you want, Obi-Wan," she insists, using only a fraction of her Senatorial tone because frankly it's all she can manage. One hand slips beneath his collar, nails scraping gently as she caresses the skin there.
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In the next instant, he shifts to murmur in her ear, "Let me take you to bed."
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"Yes," she practically purrs at his request before reaching down to take a handful of his shirt in her hand and give it a firm tug. "Now, please." Impatience, thy name is Padmé.
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Regretfully, he has to reposition them both, shifting to sweep an arm behind her knees while he supports her back in a classic carry. She's no longer pressed against the length of him, but he uses the reprieve to gather some control, so this encounter isn't shorter than it should be.
The trip to the bedroom is swift, and he sets Padmé down in front of the bed, claiming another kiss as he does so.
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Stretching out her legs that still feel weak and unsteady, she settles further into the plush pillows. "I feel the need to inform you, my dear Jedi, that you are very good at that," she tells him quietly, her voice a little husky from how frequently she'd vocalized her appreciation of his skills.
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Obi-Wan finds he doesn't want to cheapen the moment. It was sex (and quite enjoyable sex, at that), but it feels like more. It was a turning point for them - or at least for him - and now that he has the chance to really think on everything, he finds himself floundering in uncharted waters.
While his mind is going over the ramifications of this, his mouth decides to engage on its own. "You were wonderful as well, I assure you." His voice is soft and sincere, but there's a distracted quality that shows he's thinking of other things.
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"What is it?" she asks him gently, brow slightly furrowed. Her thoughts dance over the question of whether he regrets this step between them, but she discards it as quickly as it appeared; he'd wanted this as much as she, there's no doubt of that in her.
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The smile he gives her is slight, and tinged with both awe and trepidation. "I love you." He says it as an explanation in itself, but goes on to elaborate, "This is a wholly new territory for me. I--" he laughs at himself, incredulous. "I have no idea what I'm doing right now. It's slightly terrifying."
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"It is quite terrifying," she agrees, running her hand down his arm. "But I don't regret it. I want you in my life in every way possible, even if I don't know yet how that will actually work. But we'll figure it out, together." There's a conviction in her voice that shines through, the same strength that stands out in everything she sets her mind to.
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And here Obi-Wan's natural flirtation and playfulness finally comes back to the fore: he lets his eyes wander intently down the length of Padmé's body pressed against his, and he very deliberately strokes his hand from her shoulder blades to the swell of her backside, before coming to rest comfortably there. "And I'm not sure I could get any more partial to you, at the moment." He flexes his fingers slightly. "Well." He grins cheekily. "I probably could, if given a few moments."
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"You're incorrigible," she informs him with amusement, before sobering slightly and sitting up just enough to prop herself up on an elbow to look at him properly. "I want you to do whatever you have to in order to be comfortable and settled in this new life. Whether that means hours at the Temple or whatever else. I know this is a huge change for you, even more so now."
Resetting herself so she's laying against him again, she gives a tap of her fingers against his chest. "Now, let's play a little game. You name something that worries you about this new adventure we're embarking on, and I'll offer a potential solution or insight that might help ease that worry. It can be absolutely anything, and then we'll switch."
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Resettling his arms around her in a comfortable embrace, Obi-Wan thinks about Padmé's 'little game.' Besides his own emotional upheaval, there's not much he's been worried about before now. He finally settles on a real, but relatively mild, concern, to start things off. "I worry that, once we leave here, that at some point, we'll settle into our everyday lives and concerns, and...not 'lose', but we'll drift away from-- this." He motions to them lying in bed and then around the room, not meaning the physical aspect of their relationship, but the contentment and emotional closeness they've been sharing recently. "I was taught though - repeatedly, very, very repeatedly - to be mindful of the moment we're living in, and not worry so much about the future, because it hasn't arrived yet."
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"Then perhaps that's a lesson we should incorporate into our life together," she proposes. "We'll make time in our schedules to just be together, just the two of us with no distractions, so we can reconnect and remember what's important. Even if that means having to actually schedule something to make sure it happens." Which will likely be the case at certain times, given how hectic her career in the Senate can be. Offering him as much assurance as she can, she adds, "I promise, if something makes it onto my calendar, I stick to it. I don't cancel appointments lightly, especially personal ones."
It's a plan that won't work miracles, but it might at least keep them heading in the right direction.
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He laughs a little at the idea of actually having to schedule time together, although he's sure it will end up being the case, at some point. "I worry about how that conversation with your social secretary will go. We'll certainly give your handmaidens something to talk about."
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"My social secretary has a fondness for chocolate that she will be just fine with us capitalizing on," she informs him with a playful smile. "And having my ladies gossip about you is a good thing, it means they like you. It's when they don't acknowledge you that you should worry."
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Settling down, he watches her compassionately. "And what about you? We're playing a game, remember. We can't quit without each of us going at least once. What worries do you have?"
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A few seconds of silence stretch between them as she thinks it over, wanting to reveal something equal to what he shared with her. "I worry that this, all of it, will negatively impact your relationship with Anakin," she finally admits, her tone conveying just how much the idea truly bothers her. "I know we discussed some things yesterday, but I don't want you to lose any part of what you have with him. I may not entirely understand everything that goes on between a master and padawan, but I had mentors growing up who I would have been devastated to lose. Even if it means I have to adjust my schedule and change some things in my life, I want you to still be able to honor your responsibilities to him."
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"I'm not just Anakin's mentor," he explains somberly. "I am also his councilor, and confidante, as much as I can be while still maintaining my role as teacher. I'm-- well, I'm his brother/father-figure. It's usually even more so when a Youngling is chosen as a Padawan, because they're trained from such a young age at the Temple, most of us don't remember our actual parents. While Anakin knew his mother, he's never had a father before, so it's mostly the same for him as well, in that regard."
Sighing heavily, Obi-Wan shakes his head. "I appreciate you offering to shift things to accommodate him, us-- I will probably take you up on that, but I want to discuss it before you do any such thing." He's firm in this. "While it may help, I don't want to-- to coddle him about it. He knows we're married. From the way he's been acting, this-- us-- 'getting together' seemed to be a foregone conclusion in his mind." Obi-Wan probably inadvertently made it worse by assuring him that that wasn't the case, but there was nothing he could do now to change it. Besides damage control.
"Honestly, I'm not sure if we should ease him into it, or just act as if it's natural, and just-- manage the fall-out." He says the last part sardonically. Between pressure at proving himself to be a worthy Padawan, and hormones pushing his already somewhat-volatile emotions over the top, navigating Anakin's moods has been an exercise in patience lately.
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Leaning down to press a kiss to his chest, she moves just slightly so as to be able to press her cheek over that spot, effectively using him as a pillow. "You're a good man, Obi-Wan Kenobi," she muses softly, smoothing her hand along his side. "Ani's lucky to have you in his life." A pause, and then she adds, "I think the more normal we can make things seem, the better it might be? Not coddling him, as you put it, but not making hills into mountains either. Though I'm certain that's all much easier said than done."
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"We'll just have to wait and see," he finally says. "We can plan all we want, but I've found that interpersonal relationships tend to follow the same rule as a battlezone: No plan survives the first contact with the enemy. While I'm certainly not saying Anakin is an enemy... He does have a tendency to make even the best-laid plans go awry."
Sighing, Obi-Wan drops his head for a moment, staring at the ceiling. "I think I will call him. I was planning to, today or tomorrow, just to make sure-- well honestly, to make sure the Temple was still standing, he has a tendency to get cabin fever, if left to his own devices for too long. I'll try to feel things out."
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"But since it's early morning right now on Coruscant and he's almost certainly not awake yet," she continues, "I think we should get cleaned up and go for a picnic. Neither of us got to eat much breakfast, and there are some spots I'd love to show you."
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Yes, Obi-Wan is often Anakin's father-figure. But there are times they treat each other like brothers, with all the bickering and teasing and pranks that that implies. (That's the part Obi-Wan enjoys best.)
Reluctantly, Obi-Wan agrees. Partly because she's right about breakfast, and after their rather athletic morning, he's quite hungry, now that she's pointed it out. Helping her sit up so he can do the same, he can't help but tease, "And whose fault is it about breakfast? I made perfectly decent omelets. But you wanted a kiss instead."
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"Someone said that he loved me," she points out as she begins to climb out of bed, having no embarrassment or modesty issues whatsoever about her nakedness. "How was I possibly supposed to resist that?"
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