Norman's hand held mine the entire way from the elevator to my room. My eyes widened when he pulled a key card from his pocket and opened the door. Chuckling, he ducked his head to whisper in my ear. "Duffy didn't think he should keep your spare key since-"

I giggled and pulled him inside. "Can I trust you with it, Norman?" I asked as the door clicked shut behind us.

He nodded and yanked me into his body. "I think I'm up for the responsibility." Our lips met and I grinned, remembering earlier during the scene.

"Kind of think you're up for almost anything." My eyebrow quirked.

We ended up on the sofa, wrapped up in one another, one kiss bleeding into another. After one more heart pounding kiss, he pulled back and smoothed the loose hair away from my face. "We can slow down." He whispered, his blue eyes shining down at me. "There's no rush. Have all the time in the world."

My heart lurched. He clearly wanted MORE. So much more than friendship. More than FWB. Norman wanted US. "You want a relationship?" I could hear the uncertainty in my own voice.

He nodded and held me. "I know you don't think you can, Jessa. I know your default is cut and run." His finger traced my lips. "You're afraid. Don't let that fear hold you back from me." I felt like crying. "Let's try. Come on, Jess, give us a chance."

I nodded. I had to try. I fought against the voice in my head. A voice that sounded eerily like my late mother, warning that I sucked at relationships. Reminding me of my less than stellar marriage. That my choices sucked. It warred with what I saw in Norman's face. His sincerity. The way he was with his kids, how he was still so playful. I had to trust him, us, this.

"Then," he said, voice quiet, "tonight, let's just sleep together. I mean, really just sleep. I wanna hold ya, Jessa. That's enough for right now."

I smiled and led him into the bedroom. I'd given my study materials back to Duffy and was happy that I'd packed some pretty, if practical night clothes. I used the bathroom first. Removing my makeup, brushing my teeth, braiding the extra hair so it could be roped away from my face, and then I dressed for bed. I came out to see Norman standing shirtless in front of the window. Still wearing his jeans, I leaned against the bathroom door frame to study him.

"I can feel you staring." He whispered, not turning.

I licked my lips. "I'm wondering why you don't do more self portraits." He cocked his head to the side, listening. "I'd damn sure buy a copy of what I'm looking at now."

Norman chuckled and turned. "Give it to ya for free." Winking he passed me with a soft kiss on my temple. "Be back in a sec."

"There's a spare toothbrush on the counter." I said, moving to the open curtains. While he got himself ready for bed, I shut them all, even leaving the bedroom long enough to shut the ones in the other room. When I came back he was opening the door and letting the light spill out into the semi-darkness I'd created.

"What are you doing?" He asked as I rechecked the curtains framing the bed.

"Since that accident you had, the light bothers you." I turned and found him studying me like I had him. "Don't want your first morning with me to start with pain."

His smile was so easy and sweet. "You're something else, aren't you?"

"That's the rumor." I laughed as I turned down the blankets. I saw he was stripped to his underwear. "Let's get comfortable."

He pulled the blankets on his side down, after turning off the bathroom light. I'd left my laptop open on the bedside table so it wasn't completely dark. We mirrored one another getting into bed, and met in the middle. Pulling me to lay curled into him, with my face cradled on his chest, felt so damn natural. We fit so well together. I didn't even notice as we both started drifting off, that's how effortless it was.

Simple. Sweet. I guess both words really did work with Norman Reedus.