The rhythmic drumming of rain against the glass was the only sound in the drafty room, save for the occasional whistle of the wind through the cracks of the old house. You shivered as the mountain chill began to seep through the walls, but the cold didn't last long.

Joel appeared through the shadows, a heavy wool blanket draped over his arm. He spread it over the bed with a practiced tenderness, the added weight bringing an instant, cocoon-like warmth. As he climbed in beside you, the mattress groaned softly under his weight.

"Ellie said she’s good," he whispered, his voice a low rumble that vibrated against your skin. He slid an arm around your waist, his large hand splayed across the small of your back as he pulled you flush against him.

"Are you, though? I can head back down, find another quilt... I'm sorry about the furnace. I swear I'll have it fixed by morning-"

You cut off his rambling by pressing two fingers gently against his lips. You knew he’d been spread thin between the Jackson patrols and the new construction plans; the man carried the weight of the world on his shoulders even when he was off duty.

"It’s fine, Joel," you breathed, your fingers lingering to brush a stray lock of salt-and-pepper hair behind his ear. "I have everything I need right here."

Joel’s gaze softened, a quiet intensity sparking in his eyes. He shifted, hovering over you just enough to reach out and click off the bedside lamp. The room turned into shadows, save for the jagged flashes of lightning that periodically illuminated the sharp lines of his face.

Even in the dark, you could feel the gravity of his stare, his focus dropping to your lips with a hunger that felt different tonight. When he finally leaned down to claim them, it wasn't the desperate, hurried heat you were used to after a long day on the trail.

This was slow. Devoted. It was a kiss that tasted like a promise.

His fingers slid down to find yours, his calloused hand intertwining with your own as he pressed his chest against yours. You broke apart just long enough to catch a jagged breath, a soft, breathless giggle escaping you that was caught and swallowed by his next kiss. His grip on your hand tightened, his fingers flexing against yours against the mattress, anchoring you both in the quiet storm.