Clary rubbed her eyes, slowly waking up.
Jace was sat reading in the arm chair opposite the bed. Clary sat up and watched him for a few moments. She looked at his hands; his long, fine fingers made for playing the piano. She studied each rune on his muscular arms - a faded healing rune, strength, agility, angelic power. Her gaze slid up to the beating pulse in his throat.
"I think you'll find staring is rude," he said, putting the book down. He met her gaze; his golden eyes shining brilliantly.
"Sometimes I just can't help myself," Clary replied.
"Ah, of course as I am so beautiful and you do love me so much," he said, walking across the room and leaning down towards her. His warm lips slowly brushed hers, then parted them. As they kissed Clary felt her heart pounding against her chest, aching for more of him, every muscle in her body beginning to relax. Just as slowly as he leaned in, Jace drew back and stroked her hair.
"We're leaving to meet Luke and the others soon," he said in a soft voice, Clary could hardly focus after their kiss, but his suddenly persuasive tone tugged at her attention "You don't have to come if you're too tired,"
Clary couldn't face the thought of missing out on anything else.
"No, I want to come, besides I'm feeling better," She saw the hope in Jace's eyes disappear.
"I thought you would say that,"
"I'm not as breakable as you think I am, and I'm stronger than you -"
He cut her off, finishing her sentence for her "I know, I know, you're stronger than I think too. I just worry about you, training all day then coming out hunting with us..." he hesitated "You may have the others fooled, but I can see that you're worn out. All the new runes you're secretly using aren't helping either," He brushed the back of her neck where she had made a Stamina rune only a few hours ago.
"I promise I'll slow down on the training" Clary vowed with her fingers crossed behind her back. "But I really want to come out tonight" She leaned towards him and, using the only power of persuasion she had left, she wrapped her arms around his neck and began to kiss him once more.