justgo | IC CONTACT.

Tess- [ It's a quiet, gruff little murmur just after she's pulled back from that teasing kiss. He hates it when she does that, yet loves it just as much.

Joel says nothing as he looks down at her, watching her, wanting to imprint this moment to his memory, his pulse kicking lightly in his wrists beneath her fingers. It feels like nothing's changed, and Joel doesn't know whether he should feel happy or guarded. ]

I'm up for anything right about now.

[Lower back pressed against the edge of the table, Tess tilts her head at the suggestion, can't help but raise a brow. The kiss was nice, she'll admit to it but it's the way Joel acts after it that has his attention more than that.

She drums fingers against his skin, waits to see if he'll move.] Anything, huh? Maybe that trim can wait, then.

I'm not going anywhere anytime soon, Tess, and I reckon neither are you.

[ The trim can definitely wait. Because Joel's not moving back, not unless she nudges him to. He's just fine where he is with her close, with her fingers drumming on his wrists, her warmth and familiar scent right where she is.

The nail of his thumb quietly drags down the outside seam of her jeans, a soft scratching along the ridges in the taut fabric. ]

Unless...

I figure I would've been gone by now if I had plans. [There's a hum as she crosses her ankles, eyes sparing a glance down to where his thumb is, has been. It's nice enough, plenty intimate but there's still room for space if either of them need it.]

You got something in mind?

Do you?

[ He'll counter her response with one of his own mostly because it's been some time since they were this close, since they playfully snarked with one another, simply had a moment alone. His lips skim the crown of her head, his legs spreading to better balance his weight.

Joel moves a hand from the table, the one he had teased her jeans with. His fingers follow the bottom hem of her shirt.

Baby steps. ]

Always asking me for a plan. [Her head shakes, slow and short as she closes her eyes. Letting out a small breath at the touches, Tess settles her fingers around the edge of the table, waits as he moves.

Lifting her gaze in the quiet, the corners of her lips draw back in a smile, slight.] You know, we got a proper bed for this sort of thing.

Thought you might wanna make use of it.

Never needed it much before now did we?

[ And a pair of strong hands have moved down to grip her behind the thighs, pulling her up off the ground, away from the table. Pulling her up flush against him. Good thing he had been 'healed' by someone capable or else he wouldn't be able to lift her or do much of anything with the internal damage he had suffered weeks ago.

Counter tops, the wall, couch-- yeah, who needed a bed when they had so many other options available? ]

[Like a one-two motion, Tess is letting go of the table, bringing her arms up so she can lace fingers against the back of his neck. Teasing the ends of his hair, she lets out a slow breath when he gets her close, head shaking.]

You got me where you want me, Tex. [Now the question of if she'll be behave is in the mix, not that she's promising much. Legs wrapping around his waist, Tess leans up to bite at his chin.]

Sure you can handle it?

I sure as hell hope I can. [ He has a hand splayed over the small of her back, his other grasping the side of her thigh. Slowly Joel begins to move them to where their room is. ]

If not- [ A muffled sound of dry humor is breathed out against her jaw. ] -reckon it might be about time for me to retire.

You, retire. [A snort as she tangles fingers in his hair. Turning into the touches she nuzzles against him, kisses the side of his head.] I'll believe it when I see it.

[At the least, she reaches back to push open the door to their room.]

Give you plenty of opportunity to find yourself a nice buck.

[ Even now they're still working together, not a beat missed, no direction needed.

He gets her to the bed and climbs onto the mattress with a knee, dipping it beneath their combined weight. His lips find the base of her throat, slip a kiss to the skin dipping between her clavicle, his hands working between them at the buttons of her shirt.

Slow. Baby steps still. ]

A bu- nice to see your sense of humor's still just as bad. [She likes it, but.

Legs loosening once they get onto the bed, her hands are sliding down to his collar, fisting the front to keep him close when he comes in.

Nosing through his hair, she pressed a kiss to the top of his head, fingers reaching out to scratch at the skin under his shirt. There's a pleased hum if anything as she shifts, feet flat against the bed.]

Do I hear you complaining?

[ His lips travel up along the tendon of her neck, and then he nips when he feels her nails dragging over the sensitive skin of his lower back. A heavy exhalation of breath against her; there's no way to put into words how good it feels to have her so close again, to be able to breathe her in, feel her, hear her.

As his lips touch over the pulse in her throat, Joel pauses. Still too damn good to be true, to feel the kick of her heart so steady and so sure. She's so warm, skin soft over lean muscle and slender limbs. He can only murmur her name as an arm slides underneath her, wrapping to pull her up against him. His weight settles to balance on his knees and an elbow.

Joel's missed this, missed her. ]

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