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She chuckled at that. "Only if you want to," she said, squeezing him tight again.

She straightened up, looking him in the face again. "You're not supposed to do anything you don't want to do." She wasn't talking about the particulars of compromising when in a relationship, that wasn't talk for early stages. Sherry was referring to the basics of comfort and happiness.

She may have taken it the wrong way, for half a second. Sherry would admit to nothing, and any blush or shock that may have tried to appear on her face was covered with a smile when he explained what he meant.

"This," she said, leaning in to hug him again, one arm wrapped around his back, her head resting on his shoulder, "is enough. More than enough. You don't have to make up for anything." The low rumble in the back of her mind seemed to disagree with that statement, and while Sherry acknowledged Armagnac's opinion, she also ignored it.

"Like I said, I've already forgiven everything," she was fidgeting at this point, absentmindedly, hardly noticing it was his shirt she had in her fingers, "I just want you to be happy and honest and... I'm worried I'm dreaming this all up." She sighed, not quite sure of what she was trying to say. "Having you close is more than I could ask for. I'm happy. And that's enough." It was also extremely sentimental, and the raw emotion that was trying to well-up from inside almost caught her off-guard again.

"I mean, we can do other stuff, if you really want," she said, trying to keep her emotions in check and realizing far too late what that could sound like. "Like dates and things. I think I'd like that."

Sherry sighed again, the pleasantest of shivers running down her back when he touched her neck. She had to resist the urge to squeeze him tighter; she'd noticed his flinch. Part of her wondered if she shouldn't back off, physically anyway. He'd always flinched from her touch, and she'd always liked to think he was that way with everyone, not just her. It was almost impossible to know. And now that he was there, she really didn't want to let go of him. So close, so warm... it was utter selfishness, really. While he had been the one to pick her up, and he was rubbing at her neck all on his own, she still felt selfish about it. He couldn't know just how much she enjoyed it. He couldn't know just how personal she considered the back of her neck, especially since the scarring. It was probably selfish to sit there and not tell him such things. She should probably --

"You," she began, afraid to move for spoiling everything, "have no idea how happy I am right now." She knew what he meant, but she also knew how she felt. And that... "You should watch what you say, or I won't be letting you leave." She was only half joking. She'd already made it clear she didn't want him to leave that night, after all.

She was caught off guard by his confession though. "What?" She shifted, just enough that she could see his face. His first time? "You don't have to worry. I'm not an expert or anything, myself." Now she nervously fidgeting with his shirt. "I've been on dates and stuff, but that was before, and I've certainly never-" asked anyone to sleep in my room. She didn't even bother to finish the thought. She was blushing and it was sinking in that maybe it was too far. She just...was almost afraid to let him leave.

"I like you, you know. You. I don't need fancy things or dates and I certainly don't want them if they make you uncomfortable. Even this," she removed her arm from around his back, "if this makes you unhappy..."

"Then that's good," she replied. Not to mention it was exactly what she wanted.

When he flustered at her reaction, she looked away, too. She hadn't meant to make things awkward, she just really hadn't expected that. Or well, maybe she had. She really didn't know what she'd expected. She probably should have guessed, though, or at least not seemed so surprised. But no. She'd gone and made him uncomfortable and--

It was her turn to blush. "I, uh," at least she didn't have to think about it too long, "never asked anyone to sleep over. In, um, any context. Not like...that... or this." So this was what it was like to have your foot in your mouth. Jeez. Maybe this was too far. Really. She...she had no idea what she was doing.

So it was probably a good thing he had a hold of her arm, of her. Or she might have left him in that room. Or at least gone to sit in the chair. But she couldn't. So she squeezed him tighter, using the hug as an excuse to hide her face.

"All the time you want, it's yours. Because I really like you, too, Jake. A lot."

"Different?" She smiled at him, one of those small and thoughtful smiles, and she probably went a deeper shade of red. It was easier not to look at him while he looked at her. "Yes. I suppose you are." He was a fair bit rougher around the edges, and certainly much more of a jerk to her face at times than she would have pursued before. But he was also warm, and quiet, and trusted him, despite him being a jerk to her, but there had been all those times... He was right. He was different than other guys she'd dated. So was she. Heck, life was different.

Honestly, it was hard to think about the time before the island. That just wasn't her reality anymore. She was still clinging to him as she thought about it, comfortable in his arms. "Me? I, um, I don't really have many hobbies. Not anymore. Before Deus I suppose I did. I did things like listen to music and watch television. I worked as a waitress, and think I tried to take up watercolor painting at one point, but I wasn't very good at it. Before that I was planning on becoming a nurse. Nowadays I spend most of my time working, training, or studying. I like to help people. I intend to end up in the infirmary, on the helping side of things. I dislike liars and mangoes and coconut. My favorite food is waffles with strawberry jam and-" She laughed. Oh, dear. She was doing that thing where she just kept talking again. She should even be flustered. Or perhaps she should be. It was probably very appropriate.

"And I like you. You're a bit brash and rough, but you can be nice and quiet, warm and gentle. Like this. I like this. Which is why I want you stay..." She decided she really should just stop talking for a little bit.

She knew she'd gone and said too much again, she just knew it. She also didn't quite know what to say next. On that front, she was relieved when she felt his hands on her face.

There was more than relief as he kissed her. Warm contentment in heart swelled up, pushing aside the awkward nervousness that had been growing inside her chest. Contentment and happiness. This was more than she'd let herself hope for in a long while. She shifted, putting more of herself behind the action as she kissed him back.

Sherry smiled. "I like that, too."

She could still count each and every kiss they'd had. She was honestly having a hard time believing that he'd initiated not just one...but several by now. She loved every one. Sherry was loving every single moment of this.

If the interjection had been out loud, it would have sounded like a snort from a very large beast, to both of them. As it was, only Sherry heard it. We'll talk about it later. The lindwyrm didn't really respond, though the feeling of not-approval Sherry was picking up on was rather heavy.

With a sigh, she pulled her lips away from Jake's. "Definitely alright." Her own hand was lightly touching the side of his head. "You sure you don't mind staying? Even if I draw the line at kissing?"

She could see how it was a confusing suggestion, she really could. But it was still what she wanted. She seriously didn't think she was ready for anything else. Besides, she had a feeling Armagnac would throw a mental tantrum if anything else did happen. Sherry wasn't about to tell that to Jake, though.