That whole 'floating on air' saying was actually rooted in truth, Juno thought to herself. Who knew?

Her fingers and toes felt all tingly and she seemed to have a permanent half smile on her face. Sure, she'd kissed boys before, but this…

This kiss was something else altogether.

It was tender, and dangerous, and out of the ordinary, and totally outside of her rather staid, rather methodical personality. Juno had never been swept off her feet, she'd never fallen for someone so quickly, and she'd certainly never lost her head over a guy, which she rapidly seemed to be doing with this stranger.

But that kiss…

She grinned again and Juno swore she could feel her toes curling in her shoes as she remembered that first touch of his lips to hers… the feel of the wind whipping around them, dancing around them in an ever increasing circle of power… the feel of his powerful arms around her…

If she weren't such a pragmatic person, Juno would swear there were just mystical forces at work in that circle that they had stood within.

"So." Juno said after she began to feel her feet touch the ground again. Now that they were walking away from the powerful draw of the stone circles, she could feel the magical energy draining away and thought it might be best to address what was clearly an oversight in Jamie's good judgment. "You kissed me."

"You spotted that, did you?" Jamie said, shooting her a sly grin and pressing her hand in his. "I was hoping that had slipped past you."

"I did, with my awesome powers of observation." Juno joked back. "I can be quite perceptive at times, you know."

"Did you mind?" Jamie asked, half jokingly and half seriously. "I just… I couldn't…"

Juno threw him a mock stare and tried not to giggle at his hangdog expression. "Mm." She said noncommittally while trying to think of what to say. "Did you feel that?" She asked after a moment. "It was like some weird swirly energy the minute we stepped into the center of the stone."

Jamie nodded. "I did feel something. I don't know that I'd describe it as 'swirly', but I felt something." He paused and looked up to the sky. "Though, to be fair, that feeling might have just been the serious desire to lay one on you, rather than some mystical energy force."

Juno looked at him and he shrugged apologetically. "Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of magic." Jamie verbally backpedaled while Juno watched him. "But I'm thinking my manly desires were the major force behind my actions there."

Juno giggled at his words, all tension from the previous moment evaporating into the rapidly disappearing sun. "Honestly. Very commendable. So, basically you're admitting that it was just your horny desires rather than some magical power that forced you upon my unsuspecting lips.

"Pretty much, yes." Jamie said with a broad grin.

"Excellent." Juno smiled. "Good to know."

"I just thought I better take advantage of my rogue status while I still could." Jamie said with a winsome smile.

"You aren't the rogue." Juno reminded him. "You're the sidekick, remember?"

"The sidekick doesn't get the girl, though." Jamie argued, his lower lip pouting slightly. "And I very much want to get the girl in this scenario."

Juno nearly stumbled when he said that. She stopped and turned to face him, almost afraid to break whatever spell he must be under, despite what he said about magic. She looked down at the ground and pushed a rock around with the tip of one shoe. "How can you say that about me?" She whispered, unable to believe that he could feel for her even an iota of what she felt for him.

Jamie took a finger and used it to tilt her chin up so that her eyes met his hesitantly. "Easily." He said simply. "Very easily."

"You don't know me." Juno argued.

"Yes. I do."

"Hardly."

"Enough."

"You could have anyone." Juno tried again to divert his attentions away from her – a classic defense mechanism she had employed for so many years, she wasn't even sure she could ever 'turn it off'.

"No, I couldn't. And I don't want 'anyone'." Jamie replied calmly. "Just you."

"Just me today." Juno blurted out. "Who knows about tomorrow?"

"Who does know about tomorrow?" Jamie agreed. "But I'd bet ten to one odds that tomorrow I'll feel even more strongly about you."

"How can you say that about me?" Juno repeated herself and Jamie rolled his eyes slightly at her self deprecating words.

"Juno?"

"Yes?" She replied quietly.

"As I've said time and time again… hush."

Juno hushed for about seven seconds before she began again. "But I'm…" Juno began and Jamie quickly ducked his head, pressing his lips to hers again, effectively silencing her protestations.

"Beautiful." He whispered when he pulled away slightly. "And persistent in believing you aren't worth anything." He kissed her cheek, and then trailed his lips up to her temple, pressing another kiss against her warm skin. "When you are worth so much."

"Were you ingesting hallucinations of some kind? And why didn't you share?" Juno joked, trying to lighten this obviously intimate moment.

Jamie scoffed and pulled back, his hand still resting warmly on the back of her neck. "You told me a while ago that you trusted me, right?"

"Right." Juno agreed grudgingly.

"Then be quiet, and trust me. I know what I'm doing." Jamie said in a commanding voice, tucking her hand in his again and leading them back towards the road where Thor was parked. "I really do."

I trust you alright, buddy, Juno thought to herself. It's myself I don't trust.

And I certainly don't trust that lightning bolt I feel every time we touch, Juno thought darkly.

I really, really don't trust that.

1005 / 15473 / 50000

before . after