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[nineteenfortyfive]

[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.

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[ 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. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[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.]

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[ 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. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[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.]

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[ 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. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[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.

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[ 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.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[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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[ But he knows nothing was ever as easy as this. Nothing came as naturally as speaking to Claire. It's like a fire was lit the day he married her and all it's done is manage to burn brighter and more fierce. Destroying the notion of any other lass in it's path. ]

Ne'er with you, Sassenach.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Another smile for him in place of things she can't say. As her fingers work through his hair, she lifts a red curl about her index finger.]

Your hair is the most stunning shade of red, you know. [No shortage of gingers in Scotland, but his is gorgeous. Nothing to do with the man it belongs to, of course.] I can see it even in this light.

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[ He really could not say how many women have touched his curls in the past. Likely a large number, but somehow when Claire does it there's a different feeling behind it. One that courses through him like a bolt of lightning he's certain. ]

Dinnae believe I've had a woman compliment my hair before.

[ Mostly because it is quite common here. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

But you've not been without compliments, surely. Or am I the only one privy to the gossip of the kitchen maids and servants?

[Young and old, they all had an opinion about Jamie. All favorable, and mostly all about his appearance. She can only imagine the looks on their faces when the news reaches them. Likely long before they set foot back into castle Leoch. Jamie, the most handsome young man in the area, wed to the sassenach.]

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[ He's not saying he's been without compliments. But the lasses he has spent time with don't spend too much time talking to him about his hair. Neither do the ones he just knows in passing. But he's not sure he knows what she's speaking of. Not really. ]

All they'll have is their clash now.

[ If you're going to fit in, Claire, you've got to know how. ]

They certainly wilnae be gettin' the specifics from me.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Claire shakes her head with a laugh.]

What?

[Sometimes it's like he's speaking another language entirely. Because he is.]

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Their clash. Their gossip.

[ She's lucky he went to school in Paris. Sometimes it seems like she's speaking her own language herself, but sometimes he can make sense of it. Especially when he's familiar. ]

What do they say? Should I be worried?

[nineteenfortyfive]

No. They were all good things, if not a little crass.

[She's done a good job of combing his hair back with only her fingers, and then her hands move to his face, on either side. He'll come to learn she likes touching his face. Most kisses, at least, involve a touch to his cheek.]

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Have ye been talking crassly about me to other lassies, Sassenach?

[ He has come to terms with the touching. He likes it. Though she has absolutely no problem making the first move with him when she likes there's that gentle part of her. The one that combs her fingers through his hair and strokes his cheek. The one that looks him right in the eyes when he's inside of her. It leaves Jamie feeling like he's gone and left his body. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[It shouldn't be so easy to look him in the eye at all times. Every time she does it, she sees something new, something that makes her... happy, simply. At ease. Just like now.]

Never. Sorry to disappoint you.

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Ah. So, ye just listened then did ye? I see.

[ Poking fun at her has become a lot easier. But he knows that she'll usually always have a response of some sort. Something to lob back to him without even breaking a sweat. His wife is mouthy like that. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

Mrs. Fitz had some detailed expectations of what was under your clothing.

[She grins at him, fingers playing with the hair by his ear. She might not be making that one up.]

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[ He wasn't quite expecting her to offer up that information. But then again that's just Claire for you. Constantly finding ways to kick your feet out from underneath you in the most interesting way possible.

It's difficult to say, but he certainly looks confused by this. ]

Truly?

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Oh, that face. Hard to believe sometimes he was a mercenary, a solider in a war. Claire laughs, having to turn away, and covering her mouth with her hands so she doesn't wake up the whole building.

And yet? No answer.]

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[ He wasn't the best mercenary money could buy, Claire. He's allowed to be confused and a little nervous when she informs him that Mrs. Fitz is going about talking to people about what goes on underneath his kilt. He's never going to be able to look her in the eyes again. He's certain.

When she starts to laugh he frowns. More confused. ]

Ye just being cruel now. Did she say those things?

[nineteenfortyfive]

And betray my own sex? Shame, Jamie.

[Though the increasing laughter might clue him in. She can't look at him.]