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Shh, shh. [Claire laughs as she shushes him, both because she's replaying that noise he made and being attacked by his nose.] They'll think I'm doing all manner of things to you in here.

[Her nose is actually cold, chilled from the rain and pink from the chill, and she nuzzles it against his to steal his warmth.]

[ He hardly thinks that them listening on them now as they bunk for the night is any worse than them all congregating below on his wedding night. Though this time it's a little less sexual and a little more teasing.

But Jamie does smile because she's likely right. From the sounds he's made they'll probably very curious as to what's happening here. ]

Good. Let them. It'll keep them warm.

[ Jamie smiles and lets out a sigh as she starts to nuzzle. ]

Yer nose is ice, Claire.

[Her smile mirrors his own.]

Is it? I feel plenty warm.

[She tilts her head to give him a sweet kiss. She imagines that now and then he still hesitates or wonders if she might suddenly refuse him. So, she initiates it, and then begins to untie the stock knotted about his neck.]

But, if that's true, best you get cold, too.

[ The thought is never far from his mind. He knows that perhaps this wasn't her first choice. Coerced into this to keep her safe from Randall. There are nights when he doesn't hesitate and then there are nights when he watches and waits. Wonders what she'll possibly want. Or think. She's as mysterious as she is stubborn at times.

Her kiss soothes the worry in his expression. He smiles gently, but his face takes on a more neutral expression once she starts to liberate of him small pieces of clothing. ]

What good will come from both us bein' ice?

[ His brows rise as he looks at her questioningly. Still there's the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. ]

We'll just have to find out, won't we? [Silly. Claire tosses his stock aside and undoes a few buttons on his shirt, just so she can press cold fingers to his warm neck.]

[ He knows what she's getting at. But where would the fun be in just admitting that he knows. It's much better to play naive. To watch her as she goes to his buttons next with a curious expression.

The moment her fingers touch his neck though he wants to let out another sound. He bites his tongue instead and gives her a look. One she likely knows very well by now. ]

Careful. There are parts ye dinnae want to turn to ice. I'd be watchin' yer fingers, Claire.

I don't think I need to worry about that.

[She knows what goes on under a kilt. Or what doesn't. Not much in the way of undergarments in these times, but the wool tends to keep everyone warm.

Almost as an afterthought, her fingers leave his neck and reach up to brush some of his damp curls away from his forehead. Even when wet they want to misbehave.]

[ It's true. She's a long way off from what's under his kilt, but if she carries on the path she is he knows that she'll likely get there. Maybe with her impossibly cold fingertips. He can only hope that by the time they reach that area they'll have warmed in some way.

But she takes a detour and they slide up to push at his wet hair. His smile grows as he looks at her. Every time he looks right at her he'd swear his heart skipped a beat. His chest tightens and it's hard to breathe. ]

Ye dinnae do ye? Sometimes--[ He starts with a sigh. ]--when I look at ye I feel as though I cannae even breathe.

[The words make her smile grow. His attraction to her has always been obvious, ever since that day she tended to his wounded arm.]

That's not good. I don't need you falling off your horse again.

[Easier to tease than to think about how she feels the same.]

[ His chuckle isn't too loud, but it's deep. She always knows just how to get to him. What to say to bring him right back down. He's always tried to hide his attraction. Tried to for her sake. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable, but it's harder and harder now that they're married. It's allowed and yet he still feels wary at times. Like he's doing something wrong. ]

It'd be a worthy fall this time.

[ He lifts a hand to push some of her strands of hair back. ]

I feel as though I should get ye outta these wet clothes.

[Funny, she'd forgotten her clothes were wet with all this cuddling up to one another. A glance down and she can see the wool of her skirt is dark. Same with his kilt and jacket, too.]

Only if you allow me to do the same.

[It's not often that they have the privacy to undress one another. Just the wedding, really, and stolen moments with skirts and kilts pushed up. Even on the road they slept fully clothed, nestled close, but clothed all the same.]

I'd like to see you again.

[ It was safer to sleep that way while on the road. Ready to move if they must and ready to defend his wife as well. He couldn't very well do that properly out of his clothes now could he? Well, maybe, but it would be a wee bit more difficult with all the bits and bobs flying about. He would prefer to keep things covered and protected if that was at all possible.

But fair is fair. If he gets to have a look at her then she could should get the same. They have the privacy. They have the room. Jamie smiles slowly and nods his head. ]

Aye. Ye will. Let's get ye warm now shall we?

I believe you were the one that was cold. [Pointed out with a smile and another brief kiss to his lips. She'll have to get off his lap at some point, but she can at least push off his jacket from this spot.]

[ That quick wit of hers. He's always been attracted to it. Not afraid to bark right back. Another wide grin. He's not cold and she knows that. She's the one with ice for extremities. All well and good really. Because he'll be sure to warm them right up once given the chance. ]

True enough, Sassenach.

[ He doesn't fight her when she pushes his jacket off. He's certain she'll find he's very warm. ]

Ye ken the best thing for the cold? Body heat.

Oh, is that so? [She chuckles, finding him quite warm indeed, even as she unbuttons layer after layer. More things to be shoved off his shoulders until his chest is bare. He's quite broad chested--and Claire isn't shy about touching him, feeling the muscle beneath her palms.]

God, you're like a furnace.

Aye. I wouldnae lie to ye.

[ He watches her quick fingers make fast work of his buttons though. Going through all his layers until she has exactly what she wants. Though it does occur to him now that she's somehow managed to get what she wanted before him. Sounds about right. She's clever that way. Besides it's not like it's bad. Her hands are free to roam like this.

Difficult for Jamie to mask the sigh of contentment when she starts to touch. ]

Is that a good thing?

[ How dare you use words he's not familiar with yet, Claire. ]

[Sometimes she forgets that this is the only womanly touch he's known. She's his first. It makes her want to lavish him with attention, and so she does, hands sliding over his chest and shoulders, memorizing the lines and curves.]

It is. I won't feel the cold at all tonight.

[ Maybe he once had romantic notions of wedding himself to a virgin and the two of them both embarking on that journey, but he quickly learned that was foolish. He learned through Claire that marrying a woman with a bit of experience served him well. A woman that knew what she wanted and just how to get it. She was remarkable. ]

Good. I would hate for my wife to grow cold through the night.

[ Jamie's hand snakes around to her back to quietly pluck at laces. He's not subtle, but he doesn't announce what he's doing either. ]

[She lets him do as he pleases. There's no attempt to stop him, and she's more than happy to let him practice undressing her. At least, should she leave, he'll know what to do next time around.

Not a time for thoughts like that.]

Truth be told, I haven't felt the cold in some time.

[Not since they wed.]

[ As far as Jamie is concerned she will be it. The beginning and the end of everything. He'll love her forever. Everything inside of him knows that as well. Sometimes he worries she doesn't quite. Or maybe she doesn't believe him. Doesn't believe in his devotion. ]

You havenae? Good.

[ He leans in to plant a kiss on the side of her neck. ]

I am glad for that, mo nighean donn.

[ His voice drops to a whisper. ]

[Claire sighs, tilting her head, inviting him to kiss her some more.]

And you, Jamie? Have I been keeping you warm?

[Even if it's just her face pressed into the crook of his neck most nights.]

[ There's a soft hum from Jamie as he struggles to find words. Which always seems to be the case with Claire. Talking to women has never been an issue for Jamie. He's always done just fine, but Claire renders him speechless like this. He melts completely under her touch. ]

Aye. I feel as though my skin could burn you with a single touch, Claire.

[ That's how out of control she makes him feel. How warm she makes him at night. ]

[Her head lifts so she can kiss him. A little more forceful this time, her hand gripping the back of his hair, but just as brief. Almost as if she doesn't want to push too hard.]

You always know what to say.

[ Whenever she does push it always leaves Jamie's fingers and toes just a wee bit numb. Like she's sucked all the feeling right out of him. It's a curious feeling he's not been able to describe properly really. Other than sometimes he's certain she's pulling his soul right out of him. Especially when she kisses him like that. With all the force he puts behind a swing of his blade. ]

I do believe it is ye, Claire. Whenever I'm around you--I feel as though the words just flow from me.

[She's sure he's whispered plenty a sweet word to young ladies when getting that education in Paris. As he said, he was a virgin, not a monk. Claire looks up at him, smitten, and returns to combing back his damp hair with her fingers.]

I'm glad you don't hold it back.

[Even though she holds back so much from him.]

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