Clary sat in the protection of Jace's embrace around the fire. Alec was drifting off leaning against Magnus' shoulder and Isabelle and Simon were talking softly; Isabelle, always one of tough skin and closed off emotions, was blushing leaning into Simon's words. Her intrigue, however, could not prevent her from yawning— exhaustion slowly taking over. Simon took that cue and helped Izzy to her feet. With a sigh, Isabelle, said, "We'll see you guys tomorrow. It's getting late."
Izzy's address woke Alec and the two of them followed Izzy and Simon, hanging back a couple steps. Magnus snapped the fire off and smoke rose into the air. Jace made a motion to follow them, but Clary's eyes thought differently.
"What are you thinking?" Jace saw the plotting in Clary's expression and was intrigued by her surprise.
Without hesitation, Clary unzipped the dress from her mother's wedding and let it pool at her feet. "I think I want to go swimming." They were by the lake after all, might as well make the most of it. Clary didn't wait for Jace's reaction, she ran straight into the lake and dove in, causing a small ripple around her. Her head appeared out of the water and Jace watched her in admiration, but was frozen in his place. Clary swam closer to the edge and gracefully threw her unexciting bra to shore, coincidentally at Jace's feet. Jace started at the white strapless bra at his feet and then stared back at Clary's bobbing head complimented by a smirk. It took him a second to piece together what she was implying and then stripped down to his black boxers and dove in after her.
Jace's head popped up a few feet away from her and a mischievous gleam speckled in his eyes. "What did you have to drink tonight?" Jace asked as he gripped Clary's waist closer to him.
"Absolutely nothing." She responded and twined her fingers into Jace's hair. "If anyone is a little tipsy, it's you." She leaned in to kiss Jace's lips, but pulled back abruptly, purposely teasing him.
"Don't play games with me, Clary. I don't know if I'll be able to handle it." His hands moved up inches on her waist and moved across her skin, lightly and excitedly, sending Clary into a fit of giggles.
Jace's efforts at tickling stopped momentarily. "Jace Herondale. Do not resort to tickling me. That's low." The smirk on his face expanded into a grin and then overtook his face as he held her up and pushed her to the point of silent laughter.
He stopped and allowed no time for her to catch her breath because he pressed his lips against hers and made her breathless in a completely different way. Clary automatically pressed her bare chest against his, causing a moan to voice from the back of Jace's throat. Clary's feet were no where close to the ground and hugged Jace's waist with her legs. Jace walked backwards towards the shore, ready to carry Clary onto the blanket and let things take their course there.
Next to the blanket where Clary and Jace had once been sitting with their friends, was a stack of two red towels, that were not there earlier. He laid Clary onto the blanket, pushed the Codex out of arms reach and looked down at Clary. She wore a grin on her face and a light in her eyes that made Jace forget what he was thinking and all rationale went out the window. Clary's voice was raspy from the laughing and breathless from the kissing, "I didn't realize you brought an extra towels." She was teasing him, egging him on to admit that he planned this whole thing.
A warm breeze swirled through the trees around them and ruffled a small piece of paper that sat on top of towels and an extra blanket.
Now I'm even for interrupting you earlier.
-Magnus
"Not me. Magnus." He added and grabbed something from the pocket of his pants that were forgotten next to them. He hovered over Clary and asked, "Are you sure you want to do this here? We could dry off and move this into the farmhouse. No one will see us and your mom and Luke are probably already occupying themselves—"
"Ew! Jace! I don't want to think about them having sex!" The horror on Clary's face brought a grin to Jace's and she smacked his arm. "And besides, people will hear us if we go in the farmhouse."
"And out here we have total privacy."
"No, but who do you know that likes to explore the woods at this hour just because?"
"I see your point and, although there are so many things wrong with this setting, I'm going to ignore them."
"Good. Now hurry up and kiss me, this breeze is making me cold." Clary tugged Jace down towards her so he covered her skin.
"Oh, I can tell." He grinned before he pressed his lips to hers and took the intensity up a level: tracing his lips over her cheekbones, her neck, to her collarbone, making Clary shiver for a whole different reason. Clary dug her fingernails into Jace's back like she did that night in Prague and Jace's fingers hesitantly traced over Clary's body, asking for reassurance even know, admitting his respect for her. Clary was quick in her affirmations and soon there weren't anymore silent questions, only heated skin and quickened breaths.