"No," Reinette echoed, fully prepared to continue to trade the easy word. She had just moved to examine the first bag when she was aware of noise and movement behind her, and the feel of Jack's body and the length of him pressed against her back. For a moment she closed her eyes. This was a part of her life that had been allowed to fall dormant in the time after Jack left. Because initially, that was precisely how it seemed. He had left for, how had she said?
A grand adventure.
She felt no need to take someone to her bed to prove a point. It was not that way between them. So that in the end month was layered onto month and the last time anyone had been so close to her? Other than Louis' single fumbled attempt at a physical renewal of their relationship some ten months before was the night that followed Jack's day.
"Intriguing, because that does not feel like no, Jack. It feels like yes."
She had not said his name enough, she thought. Since coming here. She needed to say it more. He needed to hear.
And so she was at a crossroads. To reject him now would be detrimental. Reinette knew that. To fall into it without questions could all too easily be read as false, or pity. She would have to be natural, even if this necessarily was not.
The truth would have to be somewhere in between. Reinette turned slowly, white fabric catching where he stood close.
Her fingers reached to splay over his own where he held part of the robe.
"Just one bit of fabric. Hardly a corset. I can manage, I think."
no subject
A grand adventure.
She felt no need to take someone to her bed to prove a point. It was not that way between them. So that in the end month was layered onto month and the last time anyone had been so close to her? Other than Louis' single fumbled attempt at a physical renewal of their relationship some ten months before was the night that followed Jack's day.
"Intriguing, because that does not feel like no, Jack. It feels like yes."
She had not said his name enough, she thought. Since coming here. She needed to say it more. He needed to hear.
And so she was at a crossroads. To reject him now would be detrimental. Reinette knew that. To fall into it without questions could all too easily be read as false, or pity. She would have to be natural, even if this necessarily was not.
The truth would have to be somewhere in between. Reinette turned slowly, white fabric catching where he stood close.
Her fingers reached to splay over his own where he held part of the robe.
"Just one bit of fabric. Hardly a corset. I can manage, I think."
Her gaze flickered upwards.
"What else might you help me with?"