Previous: Psych 101

Joss reluctantly let go of his hand but pulled her wallet out of her purse. “Only if I can cover the tip for the delivery person…” She looked at him and squinched her nose, her lips curling in a smile, “…my love.” She whispered.

James reached into his inside pocket with his now free hand, pulling out his wallet and flipping it open. He slipped his thumb over one of the cards, sliding it out and offering it to her. “That's a fair exchange. For now. Pussycat.” He half scrunched his face up. “Not sure that works, still trying to figure out a pet name.” Rambling.

She took his card and put the information in, then his address. She then took his wallet from his hand so he could drive and slid the card back in, laying it on the center console before settling her arm back next to it her fingers lightly finding his hand again. “Pussycat?” She chuckled. “I'll try to think of one you like using.” She added, her free hand tucking her phone and wallet away.

“Minou?” French for pussycat. Maybe that was better. “Thank you.” He looked down where he placed his wallet for a moment before returning his eyes to the road, turning left for home rather than right for Carmine's.

Joss looked at him. Gazed. “Yes. Minou.” She whispered. “I like that one. A lot.” She blushed and looked out the window, then back to him. “I think I might…hold off on looking at houses…until someone wants to look at them with me…” she offered softly.

“Good, Minou it is then!” He was emphatic, although he wasn't sure how she would take it until she agreed. Then she mentioned looking for houses. There was a momentary internal flail, then calm, then happiness. It was quick, but Ella and Seeley had obviously seen something they hadn't. “Are you sure? We've barely met, barely been dating, but… Sure.”

She cast a glance at him and smiled. “Not right this second. When you're ready. It just…doesn't make sense to me to buy a house and then potentially move elsewhere. But…I'm ready when you are.” She said confidently.

He bobbed his head from side to side. “No, that makes sense. Even if we don't know how this relationship will go.” He had a full body shiver. “But that's part of the fun, isn't it?” He turned to look at her, watching the road out of the side of his eye for a few moments before looking back. “I can see spending a night at mine, or me spending a night at yours until one of us moves in before we look at houses.”

“I believe this will go better than we would have expected before we began.” She said softly, tugging on her hair with her free hand. “I look at you and I see…so many things. So many beautiful possibilities. And…I love being around you. Spending time with you. Even if tomorrow you decided you didn't want me anymore, the past few days have been the happiest days I've known.” She blurted quietly.

“Yeah,” Jimmy said, “I think the Booths are a good judge of character, so they wouldn't have put us together if they didn't think it would work between us.” He gave her hand a slight squeeze, wiggling his fingers between hers. “I see things in you I didn't think I'd have. Someone who is happy with me as I am, not wanting to make me something I'm not. Someone who'll help me become… The best me I can be while being… The best you, you can be.”

“I love you the way you are. I'd never ask you to be something you're not.” She played lightly with his wiggling fingers and then squeezed, her fiery hair partially obscuring the view of her face. “You already make me better, Sir.”

“That's all I ask. Well… Maybe… You'll see. We'll see.” He found a space on the road to park the car, holding the brake. “I need my hand back.” He slipped his hand out of hers and finished the parking job, turning the car off and facing her. “I'm glad we make each other better.”

She relinquished his hand and smiled, leaning slightly on the center console as he faced her. “I can't deny what my eyes see, even if my education says it shouldn't be possible. I'm glad too.” She replied tenderly. Fingers tugged in her hair, then reached to softly touch his face.

He smiled, leaning into the hand for a few moments before stopping. “Let me show you my humble abode.” He reached for his door, dropped out onto his feet, then walked around to open her door and offer her a hand out. “It's small, but it's mine.”

She took his hand as she got out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. A sideways glance at him, a timid smile on her lips. “That's all that matters, that it's home.” She replied.

He closed the door behind her, poking the button on the clicker, then leading her inside the lobby. “Sorry, no lift here, it's all stairs but I'm on the second floor so it's not so bad.” Narrow stairs too, so he gestured that he would follow.

“Nothing wrong with stairs.” She said brightly, heading up at his gesture. Even in the departments that didn't see much action per se, rare was it for anyone who went out to the field to not be in shape. Her hair flounced lightly as she made her way up the stairs.

Having her go up first meant he'd be able to watch her as she walked up the stairs in the guise of being a gentleman. Of course, he was *actually* being a gentleman, it was just a perk. He followed her up to the second floor, then took her hand once he reached the landing, leading her to the end of the corridor, the last door on the left. He pulled his keys from his left pocket, opening the door, letting them in as it opened. “Welcome home.” For once, he was succinct.

Wooden flooring, a large TV with a couple of consoles underneath, furniture, a balcony with floor to ceiling windows, a bedroom at the back and a tiny kitchen off the entryway. Every part a bachelor pad.

She had a feeling he was watching her backside. Not that she minded. Having someone who enjoyed her body and the way it looked made her feel good.

She looked around as they went into his apartment, then looked over at him. “This is very nice. I love the floors.” Her attention zeroed in on the consoles. “Oh gosh, what games do you like to play?” She asked as she knelt, looking over the offerings.

He positively beamed when he realized she understood games. “A bit of this, a bit of that. Medal of Duty, Call of Honor, Ultimate Utopia, Veloce Motorsport… You can see I have a bit of a collection.” A case rack sat next to the TV, a stack of blue and green cases held in place. He was fastidious about putting the discs back where they belonged when he was done.

There was a controller for each machine sat on the table in front of the couch. “I don't usually get as far as inviting anyone over.” But he had a spare in the TV unit for each. And a couple of retro machines tucked away.

“I love Ultimate Utopia!!! The whole series, but I also play Seacenter, Awareness…the whole Younger Tomes series really.” She looked over at him with a smile on her face.

“I hope you invite me over more, Sir.” She blushed, straightening and walking over to stand in front of him. Her chin lifted a little so she could meet his gaze.

“I can see myself inviting you over more.” He looked down on her and leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead, then further down to kiss her on the lips.

It really wasn't long until the food arrived. There was a knock at the door. “Damnit, hold that thought.” Then opened the door to bring the boxes in.

“Oh good…” She breathed with a laugh, smiling and bowing her head slightly as he kissed her forehead.

Her lips were busy against his when the knock sounded and she took a moment to catch her breath when he stood to answer the door. She went to her purse and pulled out the money for the tip, standing slightly behind and beside him, tucking it into his hand. Then she waited to take the food from the delivery person.

Jimmy took the boxes and passed them to Joss, slipping the money into the delivery girl’s hand as he finished taking them off her. “Kitchen’s that way.” He gestured to the door off the entryway and closed the outside door once the transaction was complete.

He removed his jacket, hanging it on the coat hanger he used for the occasion by the door, leaving it on the hook. Then his tie, same hook. “There’s plates in the cabinet,” he gestured to one of the upper cabinets in the kitchen where he stored his flatware.

Joss moved into the kitchen and got down two plates. She then rather quickly located the silverware drawer and got out cutlery for them both. She placed them on the table and set out the food.

He had a huge pile of food on the plate. Just right for him. He gestured through the small kitchen to the dining area beyond, a small alcove with a table and 4 mismatched chairs. “Shall we?” He’d already stuffed a meatball in his gob, just as he finished talking.

Joss was in awe at the portions of the food they'd ordered but she put only about half of her piccata and salad on her plate. She liked to eat but there was no way she could tuck away that much food. “I'd love to.” She said softly as they made their way to the alcove. She put her plate on the table and then sat, taking a bite. “Oh wow, this is good tonight.”

Jimmy could almost always be seen eating *something* around the office. Noodle, a grinder, fries, a packet of chips, whatever he could get his hands on. So the amount of food didn't phase him, although he only had half of it to start with.

“Carmine's is always good. Never had anything bad from there.” He piled chunks of his meatballs onto a slice of garlic bread and took small bites, chewing slowly, savoring the mix of tastes.

Joss, while eating lots, was hardly seen eating at work. Even during her lunch. She tucked into her food, not saying anything for a bit as they ate, but then her eyes came up and watching him for a moment, smiling at him clearly enjoying their meal, before she looked back down once more to continue eating.

Her cheeks were pink, her smile timid but serene. She was enjoying her time with him…as she had every moment from the first. “Definitely will have to eat there one night.”

He looked up as she spoke, seeing the flush in her cheeks, and one eyebrow rose slightly, almost imperceptibly. “Want to show off your new… Boyfriend?” A quirky grin spread across his lips. He couldn't figure out if it was the right word or not, but it was an almost-fit, so it worked for the moment. “Maybe we can find you one of those leather choker things, or a chain, or something. Go shopping together.”

“I feel like boyfriend might not be adequate in a relatively short frame of time.” She murmured honestly, looking up at him slightly through her lashes. Her cheeks turned pink and she smiled. “I'd like that. A lot.” She nodded, then held her fork over the small table, a piece of veal piccata on it… “Want a taste?” She asked softly.

Jimmy chuckled at that assertion, gazing right back into her eyes. He stabbed a piece of his chicken saltimbocca and lifted the fork, changing his mind once she offered her veal. “Certainly.” He leaned over and wrapped his mouth around it, pulling it off the fork and chewing, savoring the flavors before swallowing.

“Mmm. Veal, a delicate touch of lemon, salt, pepper, something alcoholic… White wine? I can see the capers, pasta, and parsley, so they go without saying.” He offered up his fork. “Would you?”

She leaned over and smiled, wrapping her lips around the chicken. She pondered it as she chewed, humming lightly.

“Sage. Some sort of cured…bacon? No. Hm. White wine. Prosciutto! Marinara, of course, but…mn. Oregano. Salt. Pepper. Garlic.” She said once she was done chewing. “It's delicious. I've never had it before.

He was a little shocked. He'd never met anyone with a similar appreciation for food, or the similar ability to pick individual items out from the whole ensemble. “Impressive.” Smart, witty, cute when flustered, willing to call him Sir, able to pick out flavors, a gamer perhaps? What else was she hiding in that beautiful package?

“I consider myself a forensic foodologist, what's your excuse?” He chuckled, his grin plastered across his face as he sat back in his chair, looking into her eyes.

Joss gave him a soft smile as she met his gaze. “I love to eat and I did abroad.” She replied. “Germany though. I could swallow all the brats I wanted but I couldn't swallow my syllables enough to effectively communicate in German.” She chuckled.

“That and I often helped my mother cook. She often made me taste the spices I added so I knew what flavoring was being put into the mix.” She squinched her nose at him.

“Mais vous êtes d'accord avec le Français.” He'd been practicing, but he still felt like he was a little rusty. “Not sure I've had much German cuisine. Brats, sure. I mean, who hasn't?”

He paused for a moment to stuff another mouthful in, chew, and swallow. “My dad skipped out, so my mother taught me everything I know. I love to cook.”

“I like the way you speak it.” She replied, then laughed. “Brats are everywhere now. Especially during football season.” She took one last bite of her veal and then leaned back, full. “We seem to have a lot in common, Sir.” She murmured.

Seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, it made Jimmy beam brightly in return. “That's a good thing. Can't fault a good brat, although I'm more of a baseball fan than football.” He pushed his food to the side, satiated for the moment.

“That can only be a good thing. Could you imagine a relationship where there's nothing in common? Two people together only because of the sex.” He stared into her eyes, almost pointedly, as if he'd had one of those relationships in the past, or knew people with that sort of relationship. “What would they do for the rest of the day?”

“I find that when a relationship is focused on sex it seems to be all the couple do in order to take away from flaws and habits that they might not otherwise tolerate in another. Then there's the release of feel-good hormones and chemicals during the act of coitus that can make even a couple at odds feel positively enough to stand one another's presence despite strong feelings of dislike under normal circ–” She stopped and blushed.

“Sorry. I'm rambling again, I think you meant it as a rhetorical question, no?” She asked, tucking a strand of fiery hair behind her ear.

Jimmy sat and grinned while she rambled. Nodding in all the right places, letting her continue. Until she cut herself off in realization. “You're allowed to ramble. Yes, I did, but I've known a couple or two that has gone 6 months in that sort of state. Not for me, I'd rather have someone I can share experiences with. Like this.” He gestured to the food on the table.

Joss tugged on her hair. “I know you said I could, but it's…I still try not to.” She shuddered and closed her eyes. “It uh…it's habit to try not to. That I even do it with you is…a good thing.” She opened her blue-green eyes and looked at him, then to the food. “Yes. One night we'll have to cook together for dinner.” She agreed. “I just…like being with you, period. I feel…calm around you.”

He reached over the table to push her food to one side, then, pulled her hand away from her hair, placing it on the table with his own over it. “That will be good. And calm is good. Very good. Let yourself go.” He wasn't letting go of her hand.

His blue eyes gazed into her blue-green eyes with a glimmer of humor. “Shall we put this in the fridge for another time?”

She wanted to tug the ends of her hair. Hell, when he had pulled her hair, that tug had been like a mild sedative. Just enough to make her brain and her mouth stop rambling. She nodded. “I can clean up, Sir…but, loathe though I am to part for a few moments, I'll need my hand.”

Jimmy held on to her hand for a few moments longer after she mentioned it, still gazing into her eyes. Not distracted, entirely, but trying to look like he was. Then he released her hand and looked away. “Oh, sorry. Got distracted.”

She blushed again, smiling sweetly as she stood and took away their plates. She carried them into the kitchen. Any food was put back in its proper container and then she put everything away in the fridge.

She then put the dishes in the sink and began to wash them, drying them and putting them all away where she had gotten them from.

He pushed his chair back from the table, standing and turning to watch her as she worked to put the food away, then followed her into the small kitchen area. He slipped between her back and the other side, pressing against her back and wrapping his arms around her, placing his head on top of hers.

“This is my place, I should be looking after you, not the other way around, Joss.”

She smiled as she felt his arms come around her, leaning back into him as her own arms lifted and came to rest atop his. “It was no trouble, mon coeur.” She replied quietly, content and happy in his arms like they were.

“You already take good care of me so far, Sir.” She added tenderly.

“Oh?” He tilted his head down to the side, looking around hers, letting her lean back against him so he can see her cheeks. Whether they're flushing. “I'm glad that you think so.”

He slipped his hands out from under hers, moving to the side and taking her hand to take her to the couch. He sat down, pulling her down beside him, then placing an arm around behind her waist. “I'm not even sure exactly what I do.”

Joss was indeed blushing. She followed with him as he led her to the couch. She leaned into him and smiled up at him. “Well. You treat me nicely. You speak kindly to me. You're romantic towards me. You compliment me. And when you kiss me, your lips reaffirm all the ways you are good to me. Should I keep going, Sir?” She asked with a soft laugh.

Jimmy started to flush. The more she said, the more he blushed. “I… Try…” He reached up with his free hand to slide his fingers through her hair, turning his face to hide in her hair and placing a kiss on her head.

“You do very well, Sir. Consider me swept off my feet.” She chuckled, leaning to his fingers in her hair, to his kiss. She pressed closer, nestling in against him and smiling softly, her fingers gently, timidly tracing over his chest.