Jane didn't appear to have moved a muscle when Kurt returned from disposing of the condom, and he grinned as he slid back into bed next to her. "I have to admit," he told her as he gathered her close, "this is one activity I thought I would not be experiencing on our honeymoon."
Jane smiled blissfully as she cuddled into him. This was one activity she had thought she would never get to experience with him. That he didn't want her in that way any longer. "Well, I hope you're not too disappointed," she teased.
Kurt chuckled as he wrapped an arm around her. "Only by the fact that we have to leave this bed soon to get dressed for dinner." He ran a hand up and down her spine, smiling when she shivered a little and pressed closer to him. Clearly, he wasn't the only one who would be more than happy to remain here.
"But just think how happy you'll be to return," Jane shot back without missing a beat. At least she hoped he would. That it had been as good for him as it was for her, and he would continue wanting her. He certainly seemed happy now. She drew idle patterns on his chest as she waited for him to respond.
Kurt stilled Jane's hand as her featherlight touch caused desire to begin coursing through him again, bringing it to his lips to press a kiss to it. "You are definitely not leaving this bed for the rest of the night once we get back," he promised in a gravelly voice, relieved to see her passion matched his own. None of his fantasies had even come close to the reality of how good they were together.
They lay there in silence together for some time before Jane glanced at the bedside clock. "I suppose we should get up and get ready," she said reluctantly.
"In a minute," Kurt said, not willing to let her go just yet. In fact, it was almost ten before they managed to extricate themselves from one another and begin getting dressed. The dress code was business casual, but Kurt reluctantly donned a tie when he saw the dress Jane had picked out to wear, a long-sleeved dress that was modest enough to cover most of her tattoos and yet still incredibly sexy. Or maybe it was the wearer who made it that way. "You look beautiful," he told her as he zipped the dress up for her.
"Thanks," Jane said as she turned around and fiddled with his tie, making several adjustments until she was satisfied.
Kurt grinned at her. "Keep practicing, and you'll have your wifely duties down in no time."
"Wifely duties," Jane repeated in a tone of voice that any sane man instantly knew spelled trouble. "And what, exactly, do you consider those to be, Mr. Weller?"
"Oh, you know . . ." Kurt matched her mock serious tone. "Allow me to escort you whenever you feel like going out for a night on the town. Eat enough of the dinners I fix you. Let me make love to you on occasion. Things like that."
"Hmm." Jane pursed her lips, pretending to think about it. "You drive a hard bargain, but I think I can agree to those terms. We'll give it a trial run at dinner tonight and see how it goes."
"Fair enough," Kurt agreed as his smile widened. The scene was already going to be set for romance, and he could be charming when he put his mind to it. This was going to be like taking candy from a baby.
He kept his hand on the small of Jane's back as he escorted her into the dining room, and pulled out her chair for her at their table. Jane smiled at him as he took the seat across from her, suddenly nervous despite the intimacy they had just shared. The fancy table settings, the candlelight . . . it all felt surreal, and even though she was dressed up enough to fit in, she felt out of place. This was something meant for a couple sharing their hearts and not just their bodies.
Kurt had no such reservations. He'd had his share of dinners in fancy restaurants, and while he wasn't instantly at home, he didn't feel out of place either, and his self-assurance gradually put Jane at ease. He picked up the wine list almost immediately, studying it carefully and consulting Jane on the ones he thought sounded the best, and once they had narrowed it down to two reds that he thought would pair well with their steaks, he made the final selection.
Their dinner was a three-course meal, and not only did they choose the same main course, they each opted to start with a salad with cranberries and macadamia nut praline. Jane's eyes closed as she took her first bite, and an expression of pure bliss descended on her face. "Mmm. This is . . . Can you make something like this? Can you teach me to make it?"
"Absolutely," Kurt assured her. He didn't have a recipe, but he would damn sure be finding one first thing when they got back. He would walk to the ends of the earth to get it if he had to, just to see that expression on her face again. With any luck, he could put it back on her face after dinner.
Jane grinned at Kurt as she took a sip of her wine, but it quickly faded. But not because she was unhappy. Quite the opposite, in fact.
"Jane?" Kurt asked as her expression turned serious, and she began idly running a finger around the rim of her wine glass. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing." She smiled at him and reached across the table for his hand when that didn't reassure him. "It's just . . . I suddenly realized that I'm . . . happy. Really, truly, honest-to-God, bone deep . . . happy. I can't remember ever feeling like that before. And I know it's a terrible time to be saying that, with everything that's going on, but—"
"Jane." Kurt turned his hand in hers and squeezed hers tightly. "I'm happy too. More than I've been in a long, long time. I . . ." He choked back the words he wanted to say, thinking it might be too soon for them. He needed to show her how he felt, convince her he was going to be around for the long haul. Prove he was worthy of her trust and love after all he had put her through. "You make me so happy."
Color tinged Jane's cheeks, and she smiled at Kurt shyly before turning her attention back to her salad. They chatted companionably about a variety of light topics throughout the remainder of the meal, and when Jane couldn't decide between the crème brulèe and a chocolate mousse, Kurt gallantly insisted they order both and split them.
She couldn't help but notice that he gave her the bigger portion of both when they arrived, and she laughingly protested. "I'm going to get fat in no time at this rate."
"Hardly." Kurt gave her a pointed perusal that set the blood thrumming in her veins. "You've put on a few pounds since we got married, but you could still stand to gain a few more. Besides . . . I intend to see to it that you burn off all these calories tonight."
Jane nodded seriously. "I suppose I could use a nice long walk after this meal." She laughed at the look of mock disbelief he shot her. "What? You did say we'd explore the place after dinner." She glanced at the bookshelf behind them. "Maybe we should start by picking out books to read when we get back to the room?"
Kurt bit back a chuckle. He loved that Jane felt comfortable enough with him now to tease him like this. He'd missed this playful side to her personality. Even if it was entirely clear to him that, like him, the only thing she was interested in reading was their responses to one another. "That's a good idea."
"Nothing like drifting off to sleep to a good book," Jane agreed, thrilled to see that warm twinkle back in Kurt's eyes as he looked at her. She'd seen flashes of it here and there since her return in unguarded moments, but his guard was down now, and the look lingered. She hadn't realized just how much she'd missed it until it returned for good.
"Oh, I can think of one method that's better than a book," Kurt assured her in a gravelly tone. "It guarantees an excellent night's sleep, in fact. Maybe you'll let me . . . demonstrate?"
"I think that can be arranged," Jane said as they rose from the table, and Kurt instantly reached for her hand. "After we change into comfortable clothes and explore a little." She wanted to savor the anticipation of their next encounter, enjoy simply being with him without any worries hanging over their heads, for the first time since they had known each other. For the first time that she could remember.
As soon as they left the dining room, Jane leaned her head against Kurt's shoulder, and he dropped her hand to wrap an arm around her waist. "I like this," she said contentedly as they walked. "Being married, I mean. Not just the sex, but . . . having someone to come home to. Talk to. Do things with."
The loneliness in that statement tore at his heart, and Kurt silently vowed that Jane would never experience it again. "Me too," he assured her. He furrowed his brow as if he were deep in thought as he looked at her. "Although, I have to admit, the sex may be my favorite part," he teased.
It wasn't, though. Not even close. It was the cuddling afterwards, the companionship and laughter. The sense that he'd found something precious he hadn't even known he'd been missing. "Dammit."
Jane came to an abrupt halt and looked up at him worriedly. "What is it? What's the matter?"
"I just realized Rich was right," Kurt said sheepishly. "He really did do us a favor. But he's going to be insufferable when he finds out we've figured that out."
Jane chuckled. "As opposed to how he is now?" She smiled when Kurt tilted his head, acknowledging the truth of her words, and then grew serious as she thought about it. "I think I'm going to thank him. He won't be expecting that, and it might catch him off-guard. Take some of the wind out of his sails."
Either that, or make him more impossible than ever. Not that it mattered. "We'll do it together," Kurt told her, smiling at her look of surprise. "We're partners, remember?" Something he was gaining a new and deeper appreciation of than he'd ever had before. Which was as it should be, since they were partners for life.
"Partners," Jane echoed, snuggling a little closer to Kurt as they made their way back to their room.
Kurt unzipped her dress for her before heading into the bathroom, and when he came back, she was curled up on the rug beside the fire in just her underwear, staring into the flames as if mesmerized. "Hey," he said as he swallowed a bolt of lust at the sight, expecting her to be dressed. "I thought you wanted to go out." She wouldn't be going anywhere if she didn't put some clothes on soon.
"I changed my mind," Jane said as she watched the fire crackle. "It's so warm here I don't want to move." She held out a hand. "Come join me."
"Hold on a sec," Kurt told her. He grabbed the comforter off the bed and folded it in half, and Jane shifted as she realized his intention, moving out of the way so that he could lay it down in front of the fireplace, creating a makeshift bed for them. She laid down on it, and he stripped down to his boxers and grabbed a condom off the nightstand before moving to join her, laying the condom within easy reach and settling in behind her spoon fashion.
Jane smiled as Kurt wrapped his arm around her, and she laid her head back against his shoulder. "I see you came prepared," she commented, making a mental note to see a doctor about a more permanent solution to birth control when they returned home. She had a feeling they were going to need it.
"Boy Scout motto," Kurt teased back as he nuzzled her neck, feeling his blood rush south as she shivered and wiggled back into him.
"You were a Boy Scout?" Jane gasped out. God, it was amazing how much he could arouse her with such a simple touch. She was torn between wanting him again immediately and wanting to learn more about him. Curiosity won out, and she rolled to face him.
"For a few years," Kurt told her with a fond smile of remembrance. "Until I got sent away to military school." He nodded to the fire behind them. "My favorite part was the camping trips. We'd roast marshmallows on a fire and make s'mores, and then tell ghost stories."
"That sounds like fun," Jane said wistfully. She was glad Kurt had some happy memories of his childhood. She wished she had even one. "What are s'mores?"
"You've never had a s'more?" Kurt propped himself up on one elbow, realizing even as he asked what a silly question that was. "Never mind, of course you haven't. We should make some while we're here. We need to go to the store tomorrow anyway, so we could pick up all the ingredients. Can't have you going through life without ever tasting one."
"I'd like that," Jane told him. "Wait, why do we need to go to the store?"
"Well," Kurt said sheepishly, "that box of condoms is pretty small. I was thinking we'd probably need a few more before this week is over. And if not, we'll definitely need them when we get home."
"Actually, I was just thinking about that," Jane commented. "I'd like to talk to a doctor about more long-term birth control options, so we don't have to worry about them. But we should definitely—" she leaned over to kiss him and took advantage of his preoccupation to flip him onto his back, grinning down at him as she placed her hands on his chest, "—definitely make sure we have enough while we're here."
"I like the way you think," Kurt said as he snaked a hand behind her neck to pull her down for another kiss, deftly unsnapping her bra as he did so. She shrugged it off her arms and tossed it aside without breaking the kiss.
They were both breathless when they finally drew apart, and Jane sat back on Kurt's thighs as her gaze raked over him appreciatively. He had made her feel sexy and wanted and cherished earlier, and she wanted to return the favor.
She cupped his cheek, smiling when he turned his head to press a kiss to her wrist, before her fingers traced a path down his jawline to the faint scar where the shrapnel had nicked his jugular. "I was so scared that day," she murmured as she pressed an openmouthed kiss to the spot. "You were the best friend I had, and I thought I was going to lose you. And it would be all my fault."
"Jane." Kurt pulled her down to him and ran a hand up and down her spine tenderly. "You didn't. And it wouldn't have been."
That was debatable, but Jane didn't argue, sitting back up and turning her attention to the next scar she could find, a jagged white line on his bicep that she was guessing had come from a bullet. She gave it—and all the subsequent war wounds she found—the same treatment as she worked her way down his body, asking him to tell her about each. She removed his boxers as she went, and by the time she finished he was panting, clearly more than ready for her.
She knelt at his feet and removed her own panties before crawling back up his body to straddle his thighs once more. Kurt fumbled for the condom to give to her, and she ripped it open, but didn't immediately put it on, taking him in her hand and stroking him, gently at first and then with more pressure. "Jane," he groaned when he felt himself getting close, reaching a hand down to stop her. "I want to be inside you when I come. Let me—"
"I'm ready," Jane assured him as she applied the condom and raised up, reaching a hand between them to guide him into her and sinking down oh so slowly. She took a deep breath once she was fully seated, resting there a moment to allow them both to bask in the sensation of being so intimately joined, before she began to move.
Kurt's hands came to rest on her hips as she placed her hands on his chest and began writhing over his body, but he allowed her to dictate the pace until he couldn't restrain himself any longer, surging up into her with a desperation he was powerless to control. He had never needed any woman more, their connection feeling as much spiritual as physical. He came first, breathing out her name as white light exploded behind his eyes, and she followed a second later, collapsing onto him as her inner muscles clenched around him until they were both spent.
They lay in companionable silence for quite some time before Kurt gently lifted Jane off him to go dispose of the condom. She still hadn't moved when he returned, and he gently kissed her forehead as he lifted her in his arms and slid her beneath the sheets before returning the comforter to its rightful place and joining her.
She immediately curled into him until there was no space left between them, and her breathing evened out so much he thought she was asleep. He was just drifting off himself when she sighed. "Jane. What is it?"
"I was just thinking," she murmured. "As happy as I am right now, our relationship is going to make a lot of people unhappy." Like Nas. And Keaton. And Shepherd.
"Not necessarily," Kurt countered instantly, though he knew she was probably right. He didn't even want to envision Nas's reaction when she realized they had consummated their marriage. "And if it does, that's their problem. We're the ones in this relationship, so our opinions are the only ones that matter."
That was oversimplifying the problem, but Jane let it slide. She didn't really want to worry about any of that now anyway. This was her honeymoon, and she was in the arms of the man she loved, and she had never been happier. "We're partners."
"That's right," Kurt agreed. "And whatever problems arise when we return, we'll face them together. All of them." Her days of having to fight alone for everything she believed in and everyone she loved were over. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Now get some sleep."
Jane shifted until her head was resting on his chest and she could hear the beat of his heart, and fell asleep with a smile on her lips, the two of them so tangled up in one another that they couldn't tell where one left off and the other began.
They were together, and they were in love, and they were determined not to let anyone steal their newfound happiness away.