“Whoa there, that's not just for decoration, you know." He nodded to the silken material on which the beautiful object had rested.

On hearing those words, she braced herself. He'd already given her the most stunning gift she'd ever received in her life, and there was more!? Setting the brush down very carefully, she then shifted her attention to the silk within the packaging to pry it loose with her fingers. To her surprise, it unfolded out into what was quite clearly a garment of some sort.

After a Little rearranging, she found herself holding a very finely woven dress that was something reminiscent of an evening gown. The deep red colouring was interrupted in parts with intricate patterns of black thread work that formed the image of a long, black serpent wrapped around the wearers' body. It was long enough that it would fall just past her knees, and it was gorgeously slinky to behold.

"You bought me a dress?" she practically squeaked out the words.

“Sure! I mean, I'm not going to be the only one sat here tonight looking suave and sophisticated, am I?"

She clung to the new garment tightly with one hand before immediately flinging herself against him again and quietly burst into tears.

It wasn't quite the effect he'd hoped for.

“Er... Jan? You're getting my sweet new robes all soggy.” He lightly stroked his hand over her hair and planted an affectionate kiss within the strands. "What's wrong?"

She sniffed and squeezed him hard at the question. It took her a few moments to collect herself and wipe away some more tears against his chest. He was happy to fill in for her handkerchief, but found himself grateful that she opted not to blow her nose.

“I'm just really happy right now, ok?" she Lifted her head to look up at him and wiped away a fresh tear before it could escape down her cheek. "I don't think I've ever been this happy before."

“Really? Wow, then I guess I really need to improve my technique in bed."

"Jackass!" She Laughed and playfully swatted at his chest. "That's physical, and it's wonderful, and you're disturbingly good at it, if you must know."

“I must." He nodded.

“But I don't know; it's sometimes felt a little more like we're fuck buddies? I've wanted more than that for a while now. Longer than you know. I guess I thought I needed to make it up to you for how I was before all this happened to us. I mean, don't get me wrong here, I fucking Loved every minute of it. I've wanted to be your friend for a long time, believe it or not. I've been imagining what it'd be like to be with you since that day I caught you playing football with your shirt off."

“Really!? You mean that day when you came over and started aggressively flirting you were actually..." He trailed off as a look of dawning horror crossed his features. "Fuck! I am such an idiot!"

He lifted one of his hands from where it had settled on her lower back and clapped it to his forehead. It actually comforted Janette to see him feel that way about their actions that day. At Least she no Longer felt like she'd been the only person being an idiot. Of course, that still didn't excuse her actions that day, but it took a little of the bite from the sting.

“You were a sweet guy and I'd been someone who you had every right to be suspicious of. Although if you'd let me I'd probably have dragged you off into the bushes that day and had my wicked way with you."

Gregory paled slightly at that staggeringly huge missed opportunity. So she wrapped her arms up over his shoulders and pulled him in to a very deep kiss that had their tongues swirling against each other. It Lasted until Gregory finally pulled away after giving her almost-bare ass a little squeeze.

"Hey, I went to all the trouble of setting the table here and if we keep going down the smooching road then I'm going to wind up swiping it all away and fucking you on it instead. All that hard work going down the drain."

“I am definitely cool with that." Janette eyed him with mischief. "But I'm also really hungry. And whatever that bird is, it smells amazing. Before we eat, I just want you to know that the reason I'm happy right now is because no one's ever done anything like this for me before.“

“No one's ever taken you out on a date? Or given you a gift?" His eyes widened in disbelief.

"I've gotten gifts, like on birthdays and stuff. And I've been asked out a lot, but the guys I've been out with saw it more as a means to an end. No one's ever gone to this much trouble for me just because they like me."

“Well, I wouldn't go that far. I mean I think you're ok and all..." He flashed her a playful grin of his own and dodged her attempted swipe at his arm. "So let's eat."

With that, she nodded wholeheartedly. "Sure, just a sec. Gotta try my new dress. Turn around.”

"Man, I've seen you naked before. A lot. I don't think-"