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Sage had heard the sharp intake of breath from the girl and chuckled softly. He knew he wasn't normally one to hang all over her like that....but he really did love her, and he wanted her to know. He really couldn't help himself. His face softened slightly when she spoke up, smiling softly at her as she responded, just curled up happily with her. He could stay like this forever ...right here, warm, and safe, with someone he loved more than anything. More than himself. He noticed her gaze flick to his lips and the back again, his lips curving into a soft smile. She could take him, and he'd be perfectly happy with it. They didn't need teasing and extravagant ways to get intimate. They were already intimate. And if they were going to just go slow, be together, show their love ...that was more than ok with him. |
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Jora watched the way Sage’s expression softened as he smiled at her, his warmth making her feel safe and cherished. She had never seen him quite like this—so open, so vulnerable. It made her heart flutter in a way she couldn’t explain. The way he held her, how easy it felt to be in his arms, made everything else fade away. Her gaze couldn’t help but flick to his lips, and she felt the pull of something unspoken between them. But Sage didn’t push. He didn’t rush her or try to make things move faster than she was ready for. That was one of the things she loved most about him—he was patient, giving her space without ever making her feel like she was waiting for permission. He wanted her, but he respected her pace. “I love you,” she repeated in a whisper, almost without thinking, her voice soft and steady as she traced small circles on his chest. There was no need for words that didn’t feel right. They didn’t need extravagant gestures to prove what they shared. Being here with him—wrapped in the simplicity of their connection—was enough. "More than anything," she added, her eyes meeting his. In that moment, she didn’t need anything more. They were already exactly where they were meant to be. |
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Sage had sort of blinked over at her, surprised at her next comment. Not because he was surprised she loved him or anything....he just hadn't expected her to say it again. But it was certainly nice to hear, he could admit that. He felt a light blush cross his face, just barely tinting his cheeks, and he hummed softly, just moving to tighten his grip on her slightly. "I know," he mused softly after a moment, the unspoken message of gratefullness for her behind the words he'd said. He really did love her ....and he was so, so grateful that she'd decided to love him back. To take the step to help him, support him, get to know him. To open up to him. And to be there when he opened up to her. They could be vulnerable together and still feel totally safe and loved. Like he wasn't anything less than her for doing work like he had. To her, he was perfect...and he couldn't thank her enough. |
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Jora felt her cheeks warm, a soft blush that she tried to hide by lowering her head slightly. But the smile tugging at the corner of her lips was impossible to ignore. She had to admit it felt nice, hearing it out loud. Sometimes, she needed to hear it, to know he was as certain of this as she was. What he didn't realize was that she was just as thankful for him. For his strength, his tenderness, his willingness to let her in. She didn’t need him to be perfect—she just needed him to be him. And she was so grateful he was. For all the work he’d done to get here, for everything he'd shared with her, for trusting her with his heart. She didn’t know where they were going or what came next, but in this moment, she didn’t need to. All that mattered was that they were here, together, and that was enough. |
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Sage noticed the girls cheeks tint up a bit, but he didn't press. He didn't really want to tease her about it at the moment....whatever they had going on now was just fine. It was just nice to lay there, the warmth of their affection for each other swirling around them lazily. He knew their road ahead may not be easy....but he was willing to keep fighting, if it was with her. Even if it was only for her, he'd fight. For as long as he had to, to give her the best life he could give her. And then some. That's what he wanted. He wanted her to be happy. Nothing else really mattered, he supposed. |
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Jora lay there, quietly, the soft beat of Sage’s heart against her ear the only sound in the air. She could feel the warmth of his presence, the simple yet profound comfort in his silence. He didn't say anything about the blush that crept up her cheeks, and for that, she was grateful. There was something peaceful in the way he just accepted her, in the way he didn’t push for more when it wasn’t needed. It made everything feel… steady. She knew that life wouldn’t always be easy, that challenges would come, maybe even tear them apart at times. But as she lay there with him, she wasn’t afraid. If Sage was by her side, if they stood together, she felt like they could face anything. She didn’t need grand gestures or promises; the simple truth of his words — that he would fight for her — meant more than anything. She would fight, too. For him, for them. It wasn’t about the battles ahead; it was about this moment, this feeling that wrapped around her like a safe place. As long as he was here, she could take on whatever life threw their way. Because with him, she wasn’t just surviving — she was truly living. And that was all that mattered. |
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Sage was content to lay there for a while, just soaking up her warmth and presence. He did enjoy it ...there Wasnt anything better than just curling up with her somewhere warm and happy and safe. He'd never take any of those things for granted. After a while though, he did grow somewhat bored. He was used to an active lifestyle....he couldn't just lay around all day. He has too much energy wound up in his muscles to do that, however much he liked it all. He sort of shifted a little bit after a while, growing restless but not really wanting to get up. It was a strange combination, he supposed, but he did need to keep himself busy, at least part of the day. |
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Jora lay beside him, feeling his restlessness stir, though she could sense the effort it took for him to hold still. She'd been content, too, in the quiet, basking in the warmth of their shared space. But she understood his need for motion—knew it all too well, how the energy of a restless spirit could settle into a body, making it itch for something, anything, to do. She didn't move at first, watching him shift subtly, his muscles flexing as if they were testing their limits. A small smile tugged at her lips. "You can only lie still for so long, can't you?" she teased softly, her voice gentle as a breeze. It wasn’t that she minded the stillness. But there was something about his energy, his constant motion, that sparked a sense of excitement in her too. Even in moments of rest, she could feel it—his restlessness was like a current, pulling her along. "What’s on your mind?" she asked, already knowing he wasn’t one to sit idly without reason. "Need to find something to do?" Her fingers brushed lightly against his arm, a subtle reminder that she was there, present and waiting for whatever he’d choose to do next. |
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Sage sort of huffed out a heavy breath of air in response to her comment, shaking his head and burying his face into her chest with a groan. "Unfortunately not," he sort of grumbled, shifting back after a moment to roll onto his back with a sigh. When she spoke up, he looked over at her and grunted with a small shake of his head. "No idea," he noted. "I just can't sit still any longer," he mused with a soft chuckle. She seemed fine with it, so he wasn't too worried. Though, he did recall their teasing from earlier...if she was still up for that he would be too. At least, it would keep them warm and in bed but stilla active enough. He sort of chuckled to himself for that thought, finding it rather rediculous. Certainly amusing, to think that after not wanting to bed anyone for so long he liked it with her this much. |
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Jora smiled softly as she felt Sage’s breath against her chest, the weight of his body comforting despite his grumbling. She stroked his hair gently as he shifted away, watching him with a raised eyebrow when he rolled onto his back. His admission made her chuckle lightly, a knowing gleam in her eye. She wasn’t surprised—he had that restless energy about him, always a bit too much for stillness. “Sounds like you need something to do,” she teased, glancing over at him with a playful smirk. Her mind wandered to their earlier banter, the heat still lingering between them. If he was still game, she could definitely keep up with the teasing. There was something about being tangled up with him like this that just felt… right. She could tell he was thinking the same thing, and the thought of it made her grin. The absurdity of it all didn’t escape her either. A few days ago, they wouldn’t have even imagined it, and yet here they were, so comfortable and in sync. She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. “Well, I’m all for keeping things warm... if you're up for it.” |
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Moderate Temperatures and Overcast
