A surprising amount of Duke's life could be summed up as a series of checklists comprised of tasks, accomplishments, and acquisitions. Sometimes several were done within a day. Obviously some took longer. For now, the three check marks he was most grateful for centered around Jennifer's location. She was, in order of accomplishment but not in importance: On his boat, in his arms, and in his bed. Which, if he was going to be honest (and he wasn't going to be that honest any time real quick) was precisely what he had wanted from the first day he had brought her back to Haven. That he had almost given up on her - on them - was more of a testament to her value than to his record of being able to meet goals. After all, Jennifer Mason was not a trifling sort of woman. He had no such illusions of her being some sort of sacred virgin, but hell, when she said something you could depend on it. Her words and actions came from a unique merger of mind and heart. If you were lucky, skillful, and smart - but mostly lucky - you could win her heart. And hers was a heart worth winning.
He decided for now to just carry a box of random and curious crap along with her bag that seemed filled mostly with bathroom necessities and some seriously adorable lingerie he looked forward to removing. He was in the mood to entertain the notion that she wouldn't need her trunk full of clothing and he only briefly mused on just how the hell she had lugged the thing around on her own. The boxes of books would have to wait until later as well. What he really wanted to focus on was how to make sure this heart worth winning was solidly won.
Flowers and candy were not going to work. They would be appreciated and they were not going to work. Although, if she gave even the slightest hint of being into it, he would be only too happy to pluck the petals of a dozen roses, scatter them on the sheets and make love to her until petals were found in uncomfortable places. He was willing to bet he could show her a few tricks with chocolate syrup that would have her gasping and moaning his name at octaves she hadn't thought she could reach before. But, that was more of a recreational checklist. What Duke needed was a task list that would culminate in the rarest, most exquisite, and unquestionably purest of acquisitions he had ever got his hands on: Jennifer Mason.
He would start by taking her away from Haven just briefly. Giving them both some breathing room as well as time to get to know one another a little better. He would take her out to sea. Just the two of them in their own world for a day or two.
When he got back below deck, there was only a flash of agitation that she was not in his bed anymore. That she was in his shirt instead was satisfying enough. So was the image of clothing - still mostly hers - scattered on the floor of his room and the bed being a delightful damn mess. Her hair was adorably rumpled too. And the still tired smile and flushed cheeks - was she actually blushing? - were more sights he could get used to.
"Mind if I bring your stuff back?"
It was a question mostly of courtesy. Partly from contrition. He smiled slightly at her gentle, smiling, and sincere "Thank you." and sat down on the edge of the sofa, holding his arms in invitation and grateful when she settled onto his lap.
She felt good there. Really good. And being in her arms felt like home after spending too long unsheltered. Her petite frame made her a lightweight in his arms. The fact that her eyes and smile betrayed every gentle thought she had toward him and every lingering doubt she had about herself and the two of them made her the most solid thing he'd felt in a long time.
"I'm an idiot," he murmured, and was glad when she kissed him instead of agreeing or disagreeing with him or questioning what he meant by that. Whether he thought he could let her go or keep her, he was an idiot for thinking it was his choice. Because when he felt her fingers in his hair again, and then her hand caressing his neck he knew that he would follow her anywhere. Another movement of her hand and he could feel her pulling out of the kiss. He could see through his eyelashes that she was watching him. Her eyes were smiling. So was her mouth. He took a moment to breathe in the scent of her, and to steady his heart. Her forehead rested against his for a moment and he admitted to himself that he could pretend all he liked that Jennifer was his to keep but the truth was that he was hers, body and soul. He admitted it to her too, though he wasn't ready yet to know if she recognized it in his look or not. You didn't tell Jennifer Mason things like that. You showed her every day you were lucky enough to have her.
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