After months of waiting for this moment neither of them wanted to stop the kiss once they began. What started off quite tentatively soon grew heated and when they fell back onto the bed together the movement broke them apart allowing them to catch their breath and look into each other's eyes.
"Hi" Jess spoke, his voice a cracked whisper.
"Hi" Rory replied, suddenly shy.
Jess planted a playful kiss on her nose before sitting up pulling Rory up beside him. Lacing his fingers through hers, watching how they fit together, like tangled spiderwebs. He gathered his thoughts, not wanting to screw this up, knowing that the next words they spoke could easily break this spell.
"Read anything interesting lately?" he asked her casually.
"Not really. You?" she replied, somewhat amused, not sure where this was going.
"I read a particularly interesting piece this evening actually. Unknown author, unique style. Little bit rambling for my liking but they got the message across so I'll forgive that." He watched her face to gauge her comprehension of his words.
"Is that so? I thought you'd be a fan of rambling seeing that you like Kerouac so much." Rory teased in response.
"Let's just say it was equally memorable and leave the comparison to Jack at that." Jess felt himself relaxing properly for the first time since he'd spotted her in Doose's market earlier that evening.
"Did you have any margin notes you wanted to share with me?" Rory tried to continue with the pretence but was quickly becoming nervous all over again. Coming here, kissing her like that, surely that had to mean something but she knew there were other details to sort out too.
Jess leaned forward to kiss her again, this time only briefly, but it was a gentle, reassuring kiss that helped to calm her nerves, and his too. He took a deep breath and decided to just put it all out there on the line. That's what she'd done by giving him her letter, he owed her at least a fraction of the same.
"I understand why you didn't write me or call me. I won't lie and say I wasn't disappointed that you didn't. Luke threatened to take the phone away at one stage cause he was sick of me checking it all the damn time. I kinda wished he had cause you never did call. Things were complicated. I understand that. I missed you, especially in those first few weeks. It's not like I've got any friends here. I came back here for you and then you were gone and I had nothing. I thought I'd moved on. I met Shane. It's not like we were soulmates or anything but it was a good distraction while it lasted."
"While it lasted?" Rory queried.
"I would've been here tapping at your window sooner but I had something I had to take care of first." Jess met her eyes and when they darted from his gaze he already knew the answer to his next question.
She could see the way his eyes changed, darkening suddenly as he realised there was still something Rory needed to take care of herself.
"First thing tomorrow, I swear to you. I'd already decided to but it was too late to go over there and I can't end it over the phone. He deserves better than that." Rory confessed.
"Okay then," Jess began to rise from the bed to leave.
"Where are you going?" Rory asked him.
"I want this to be right Rory. I want us to start out without blurred edges. I need to go now."
"Okay," Rory nodded in understanding.
"Don't be thinking this is easy for me, walking away from you. Right now I'd like nothing more than to..." he stopped himself mid sentence, knowing he'd already revealed too many cards tonight.
"I'll call you tomorrow when the edges are clear." Rory promised.
"Okay."
"Okay."
Rory followed him the few short steps to the window. Jess turned and wrapped his arms around her, folding her into his chest as he rested his chin on her head, taking in the scent of her. He loosened his hold for a moment allowing himself a moment to look into her eyes, to be certain he wasn't imagining the intention there. He released her completely, kissing her on the forehead before opening the window once more and stepping out into the cold night air.
"Goodnight Rory."
"Goodnight Jess."