“I still prefer New York, but London has it’s perks,”
Rolling her eyes; Jess gave him a look of yeah right as she took a sip of the scotch in her hand, leaning against the handrail as she faced him. “One day…” Jess started, moving her hand under his shirt, and pulling him closer against her with a teasing smile. “… we’ll finally bring you over the dark side,” she finished, though; kept her arm around him as she leaned her head against his body, listening to the soft pitter-patter of his heartbeat as he told her about his birthday never feeling like it was his own; she let her unbandaged hand moved to his scar on his abdomen again, letting her thumb trace against it. She still couldn’t believe his sister would… do that. How could you hurt your own family? Despite everything her own sister had put her through; physical harm was never a part of that. Anna wasn’t capable of hurting her. Well… emotionally yes, but physically no. Jess knew that part of her sister would always love her… just… a very deep part… inside of her. Or maybe she was kidding herself and holding on to false hope. But Anna was her family and would always be. Jessica could never see her in the wrong. Family was family.
A gentle grin met her features as he kissed her, making a soft moan escape her lips. Though his next words made her heart beat faster. He loved her too. Part of her never wanted to leave this moment. For the first time in a long time, Jessica was truly happy. For years she had pushed herself away from anyone who could get closer to her. She kept her own friends at bay, and never let any relationship move past a few weeks. How Kai got past all her walls and found his place in her heart… she would never understand. But she knew he was there now. In all honesty; perhaps the reason Jess let it go on this long was that she never subconsciously thought it would work. They were… just so different. But somehow… it worked and now she didn’t want to let him go. Though along with the feeling of pure happiness was this fear. This internalized fear that she had always had with anything she did… with any person she allowed herself to grow closer to. It was the reason she hadn’t gotten close to anyone for years. She had a fear that her sister would do something and it would break her again; as Anna had done with Lyonrad… like her sister had done with her friendship with Andy… with Valerie. Perhaps over the years, she had convinced herself that she wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t worth getting invested because it would just end up hurting her. Killing her a little more inside. But for some reason, she had finally found someone that made her feel the opposite. She felt safe in his arms and honestly, she didn’t want to leave.
Moving her head away from his chest, she smiled as he told her he needed to tell her something. Slightly confused, though she took another drink. “Let me guess… you were trying to audition for the burlesque club off 21st street but you didn’t make the cut?” Jess teased. “Don’t worry… I’m sure we can find a strip club and move up from there,” she added.