He pulled Caroline's face closer and returned her kiss deeply. Locking eyes with her, he gathered her into his arms and pulled her on top of him, resting one hand at the small of her back and the other in her hair. After a long, drawn-out kiss, he pulled away just enough to say "You wanna put our minds to it right now?" with a grin.

"Say, are you saying you have a mind to ravish me here and now?" Caroline pretended shock but only for an instant then grinned wolfishly.

"Help me get outta this dress then and let's have us a nice coupling," she requested then added, "Coupling. That's another more proper word for fucking in case you didn't know."

It had been a long time since they had done this and she only had good memories of it. They'd been good together.

This time with Caroline was different. Instead of the hot, stagnant temperatures from the night of their last encounter, the room was almost alive with the chill that tried to seep in through the walls. It lent a sense of urgency to the whole process of getting Caroline out of her dress. But Brendan and Caroline took their time, and got warmed up soon enough from the heat of their lovemaking.

In fact, Brendan had sweat beaded on his brow by the time he rolled off of Caroline. After staring at the ceiling for a minute, he ran his hands through his hair, exhaled slowly, and eased the covers over them both. Then he turned on his side and nestled Caroline in the crook of his body. "We are good together, ain't we?" he said with a smile, leaning over her to kiss her cheek.

This might not be an everyday occurrence, and it might never happen again for all he knew. He was content to revel in the present and enjoy Caroline's company while she offered it.

In fact, Brendan had sweat beaded on his brow by the time he rolled off of Caroline.

Caroline sighed in contentment as she just laid there. It was even better than last time, in her opinion. Course last time it had been hotter than hell.

After staring at the ceiling for a minute, he ran his hands through his hair, exhaled slowly, and eased the covers over them both.

"Why, thank ya," she smiled.

Then he turned on his side and nestled her in the crook of his body. "We are good together, ain't we?" he said with a smile, leaning over her to kiss her cheek.

She had always enjoyed cuddling after sex. It did not have the intensity but it was pleasant, make that sweet.

"We are, damn right," she nodded, "And we can keep it like this too. Who needs marriage, I'm happy like this. You n' me."

"Good. I'm glad you're happy." Brendan trailed his fingers through Caroline's hair. "I reckon I better keep stayin' at the Wigfalls as long as I can. Not that I don't want to be here with you," he said hastily. "But even though we're good together, sometimes we'll want space. Right?"

Truth be told, sometimes he did want to leave the Wigfall Boardinghouse. With Mary's flirtatious comments and Jemima and Hector's yelling, sometimes it was a wonder he didn't go crazy. But the food was good and he had his own space he could retreat to.

If he took up rooming with Caroline again, neither of them would have a place of their own. And although they were good together, they also didn't see eye to eye on everything and would invariably butt heads. Maybe living apart would keep them from having quarrels.

"Good. I'm glad you're happy." Brendan trailed his fingers through Caroline's hair.

Caroline looked up at em with that sparkle in her eyes, "And it's yer job to keep me that way too, hon!"

"I reckon I better keep stayin' at the Wigfalls as long as I can. Not that I don't want to be here with you," he said hastily. "But even though we're good together, sometimes we'll want space. Right?"

"Yeah, my boss would not like it if you moved in regular. He'd make you pay rent or something I'm sure of it. He's a real son of a bitch, that one," she frowned.

"Least I know Jemima won't steal you away from me at that Wigfall place," she went back to grinning.

Brendan chuckled and leaned over to kiss Caroline's neck teasingly. "I'll make you happy whenever you want." He slid his arm around her and caressed her side gently.

Caroline agreed that it would be better for Brendan not to move in, considering the stinginess of the saloon's current owner. There were times when Brendan missed Matilda Devereaux. Not that he'd ever known her very well, but still, the saloon was different under Fortner's ownership. Good thing Ralph, Caroline, and Messalina, were still there.

"Least I know Jemima won't steal you away from me at that Wigfall place," Caroline said with a grin.

"Jemima? Lord, no." Brendan shuddered, then yawned and snuggled deeper underneath the blankets. "Don't say her name again or I'll have nightmares. I'd rather dream about you." He pulled Caroline closer and closed his eyes. 

OOC: Good place to wrap this one up? I'll be brainstorming more plot ideas for Brendan in the meantime.