JENNA: * Shortly after Jo and Shane's return from Jawaii, a sunny afternoon finds them in the front yard again, Jo lazily practicing with her knives while the sheep wanders idly nearby. It appears totally unconcerned by its master's activities, concentrating more on the grass around her feet, and Jo doesn't pay it any more heed, aside from stumbling over it once in a while.

JUSTIN: * Shane's not too far from Jo, as usual. He's sitting under a small tree near the front of the house enjoying a book -- even if he's enjoyed the same small handful of books at least a dozen times each over the last several months. His need to read seems to overcome the familiarity, though how many more times it'll be able to is anyone's guess. He glances up to watch Jo for a moment and smirks as she stumbles over the grazing sheep yet again. "Careful, Jo. I'd hate to have to explain to Elise and her husband what happened to our sheep if you trip and skewer it."

JENNA: "Just think, they'd know exactly what to get us as a gift the next time they felt obligated." Jo shoos the sheep away (it protests) and goes back to her training. "I'm pretty sure they eat their sheep sometimes. We could always say we wanted mutton." She's about to go through another sequence when there's a rumbling from down the path, and she glances curiously toward the sound -- which turns out to be coming from a rather large wagon. She arches an eyebrow for a moment, then her expression clears.

JUSTIN: * Shane is about to answer when he hears the sound of the approaching wagon, and he instead gets to his feet to get a look. "Well, I wasn't expecting any company," he says in quiet puzzlement, tucking his books under his arm and approaching Jo while his eyes remain on the path. "Especially not a wagon full of company. Did you order something from Alberta or Geffen, Jo?"

JENNA: * Jo shakes her head with a lazy shrug, not about to give out anything she might know. "Dunno how I'd have done that without you around to fill out the papers," she remarks, watching as the wagon makes a ponderous turn, spooking the sheep, and stops in front of them. The driver looks down at them both interestedly. "Veribaent?" he asks, as his two assistants spring down to start pulling down the tarp.

JUSTIN: "That's us," Shane answers (it's true enough), tugging his hat down off his head and arching a brow curiously. "Might I ask what this shipment is?" He certainly isn't about to sign for anything he didn't order, but it's possible someone randomly decided to send them a very large present. If highly improbable.

JENNA: "Already paid for, sir," the man says agreeably. "I'm just dropping it off." He holds out the clipboard, and Jo watches as the two men continue unwrapping the tarp to reveal what appears to be a mountain of books. "Armand Hester sends his regards, yeah?" the man remarks.

JUSTIN: "Armand Hester?" Shane arches a brow again, taking the clipboard and glancing it over. His eyes widen slightly at the list of items thereon, and his head snaps over to look at the stacks of books being uncovered in the back of the library. "By the gods." He forgets about the clipboard, tucking it under his arm with the likewise forgotten book, and hastily runs to the back of the wagon to look over the items himself. "My books! Jo, these are all my books!"

JENNA: "Are they?" Jo says idly, folding her arms and looking at the wagon again. She's trying very hard not to look smug, but it's honestly rather difficult. "I wonder how that could have happened." The men look at each other for a moment, then the driver scratches his head. "Well, now, we can help you unload these a bit, but we've got another job come morning, so it'll have to be quick."

JUSTIN: * Shane is already up in the back of the wagon, searching through the stacks to make sure his favorite and most treasured books are among the many piled around him. "Help? Help -- yes, yes we could use help, at least getting them into the house." He seems to recall the clipboard then, and he sets his lone book down on one of the stacks to quickly scribble down a signature for the men, handing it back to the one in the driver's seat. "We'll be very grateful for it, won't we, Jo?" He's too excited to immediately comprehend her earlier statements.

JENNA: "I don't want to do it by myself, no," Jo remarks, and the driver nods, barking an order to the other two to start carrying things in, which they do -- under Shane and Jo's direction. Even with the massive pile of books, the three men appear to be quite efficient, and it really isn't more than an hour before the wagon's emptied and the books are in untidy piles in the library and the hall. (The sheep, in the meantime, has been taken back to its pen.)

JUSTIN: * Shane's participation in the moving process is very energetic, almost to the point of getting in the way, but when they're finally alone again he still can't seem to settle down. He walks from stack to stack, circling through the house from hall to library to living room and back again, finally coming to rest beside Jo. "This is /amazing/," he says, and it's obvious he means it. "Armand Hester... that's that store owner in Juno, isn't it?" They've met on at least a couple occasions, on Jo's insistance. "I wonder how he..." He trails off, turning to view the woman with a whole new degree of suspicion and awe. "Jo?"

JENNA: * Jo, who is boredly flipping through one of the books on the top of the stack, glances up at him curiously, putting the book down. "What?" she asks blankly, by now having all but forgotten her role in the retrieval of the books, as she's been working on unloading them. As to putting them on shelves, she's waiting for directions.

JUSTIN: * Shane grins broadly, thinking her ignorance is just another tease. Her words outside make a lot more sense now, and he lunges at her, snagging her around the waist and picking her up in a heartfelt hug. "Jo, you are a devil /and/ a saint -- I don't know how you do it." He whirls her about before finally letting her feet touch the floor again, but he immediately moves in for a very emphatic kiss.

JENNA: * It doesn't take Jo very long to figure out what he's talking about, and she covers her inital confusion by returning the kiss with a great deal of enthusiasm. "I have my ways," she says agreeably once they've parted, leaning against him comfortably for a moment. "Armand was more than happy to save the books from eternal storage," she says. "He said he'd send along some kind of bonus with the extra money, so there might be new stuff in there. I dunno."

JUSTIN: * Shane squeezes her enthusiastically, nuzzling at her hair. "Mm, there is -- plenty. Enough to keep me busy for months, if I pace myself." He kisses the top of her head loudly and squeezes again. "And to think I doubted you. Next time maybe I'll think twice before telling you not to do something." He looks past her at the stacks of books and almost rubs his hands together in glee, instead rubbing them at her back. "It'll take all day to get these put away. You don't have to help if you don't want. You've done enough already."

JENNA: "Mm, I don't mind." Jo pauses, then leans up to kiss him briefly. "Just tell me where to put them, and I'll put them." She peers around at the stacks, making a quick note of what she's getting herself into, then shrugs and looks back at Shane without changing her mind. "Nothing better to do, after all."

JUSTIN: "Nothing better than books!" Shane agrees immediately, looking back to her with a cheeky grin. "Except maybe you, but it's a tough choice." He kisses her forehead lightly and lets her go, moving toward library to start with the closest ones. "They'll need to be alphabatized by author, then by book title," he glances back at her in thought, gnawing at his lip, then shrugs and continues. "I'll write you out a reference chart. That way you can match by appearance. Is that all right?"

JENNA: * Jo doesn't seem to think much of this solution, but she shrugs and lets him do as he will, already well aware she won't be particularly useful in this venture. At least, she supposes, she can help sort the books into some semblance of order.

JUSTIN: * Shane finds a piece of paper and a pen and quickly sketches out a diagram for Jo to use, with every letter done in every variation he can assume will be on the books, and leaves it on one of the endtables in the small library. "Ones on the left come first. If you're unsure of something, just ask and I'll let you know what to do with it." He gets immediately to work himself, grabbing books and setting them on shelves.

JENNA: * Jo regards the list for a moment with skepticism, then turns to the stack and starts working -- much more slowly than Shane. She manages to go a few hours before her mind goes somewhat numb, and the indecipherable letters begin to blur together. It's at this point she decides it's time for a break, and she wanders over to one of the armchairs, setting the paper list aside and curling up to rest her eyes a bit. She finds herself unusually weary, however, and her rest has an unfortunate side-effect -- she's asleep within minutes.

JUSTIN: * Shane continues to work for quite a while after Jo's already zonked out, not noticing her absence with his mind focused on arranging and alphabatizing everything. Eventually the lack of movement and sound from behind him does seep into his brain, and he finally realizes she's no longer in the room. He walks into the adjoining living room, around stacks of books, and spies her off to the side. He snorts quietly, but can't help a slight grin at the sight, ambling over to lean against the arm of the chair and pet at her hair. "Enough work for one day, Jo?"

JENNA: * Jo stirs at the sound of his voice, opening one eye and sitting up slowly, expression crabby -- and somewhat groggy. "My eyes hurt," she mutters, scrubbing at them as if in illustration. "I don't know how you can look at those pages all day." She makes to get to her feet, fumbling for the list again.

JUSTIN: * Shane takes her searching hand and tugs on it, helping her up. "Practice," he says quietly, and retrieves the sheet of paper, only to fold it up and set it on the nearby endtable. "I told you you didn't have to help," he reminds her, but he leans down to kiss her cheek. "Come on. It's dinner time, anyway. I'll finish this up in the morning."

JENNA: * Jo nods agreeably, though she isn't feeling particularly hungry, and lets him pull her upright. "Mmph," she says, and leans against him, wrapping her arms around his middle and nuzzling for a moment before she starts moving in the direction of the dining room.

JUSTIN: "Mmph," Shane echoes her, and ruffles her hair a bit. He leads her along as they makes their way to the kitchen, only wiggling his way out of her arms once they've reached their destination. "Hadn't really thought about what to cook, but I'll whip up something." He ducks into their storage, rummaging around for a few minutes before he reappears with an armful of items.

JENNA: * Jo wanders out of his way, leaning lazily against the counter and watching him as he goes about his business. "I'm sure it'll be fine," she says, pushing away and ambling out of the room to plop down at the dining room table. "I don't think you've ever made anything that caused me pain."

JUSTIN: "If ever I made something that caused you pain, I assure you it would be on purpose." Shane turns to smile at her over his shoulder, then gets back to work, sorting things and getting out the tools he'll need. "If anything," he says idly, "my food is a benefit to your health."

JENNA: * Jo sniffs, letting her head drop to rest on her arms. "At least I'll know, if it ever happens." She watches him as he works, fixing him with the same observant stare she uses when he's reading. Though cooking is a slightly less mystical art to her, it's still interesting to watch him fuss over it.

JUSTIN: "Mmmhm." Shane begins to chop up the various vegetables and meats he's selected from the batches he's brought over, and it doesn't take him long to get everything arranged on a pan. The oven is already heating up for the job ahead of it, and while he waits for it to finish he gets a pot of water on the stove to boil water for one of the other dishes. "Everything look all right to you so far?" He turns to arch a brow at her, aware of her watchfulness throughout the procedure.

JENNA: "It looks like food," she answers agreeably in her usual, neutral way. She gets to her feet and ambles into the kitchen, snagging a glass and getting herself some water. She peers over his shoulder a moment, then trots back to the table and takes a long drink.

JUSTIN: * Shane shakes his head with a smirk, deciding it'll be more productive -- if mildly -- to wait and ask her about the finished product. He gets the main course into the oven and covers the pot on the stove, then grabs a glass of water for himself and wanders over to lean against the frame of the archway. "Should be done in twenty minutes. If you want to lay down, I can call you when it's ready."

JENNA: * Jo shrugs, finishing off the water and stretching her arms out across the table. "I'm fine here," she remarks, leaning her head against her arms and letting her eyes close. She's admittedly not all that sleepy, but she doesn't really feel like moving, either.

JUSTIN: * Shane smiles a bit, pushing from his spot to set his glass quietly on the table. He circles around behind her chair, setting his hands against her shoulders and kneading while he leans over to kiss the back of her head. "So when did you do it? Meet with Mr. Hester, I mean. It couldn't have been while I was with you, I'd have overheard."

JENNA: "Mmn.." She turns her head slightly, so that her voice isn't quite as muffled by arm and table. "Long line at the bank last time we deposited, remember? Went out to get some air?" She grins faintly. "Sprinted over there as fast as I could, even over the bridges." She grins again and turns her face back to the table, yawning. "You'd have been proud of me."

JUSTIN: "Would have?" Shane leans over again to kiss her shoulder where he'd been rubbing. "I /am/ proud. Running over bridges, for me? I'm just sorry I missed it." He cracks a grin of his own and kisses her neck before leaning up to continue the massage. "Quite an act to follow. I'm not sure how I'll be able to return the favor..."

JENNA: "Wouldn't worry about it," Jo answers comfortably, giving a long stretch under his ministrations. "Sure you'll think of something." Payback is really the last thing on her mind at the moment, mostly pleased that the whole thing came together as well as it did. Even at her best she isn't quite able to sprint across bridges, but she did take them as fast as she could manage.

JUSTIN: * Shane smiles slimly, reaching a hand over to half stroke, half tug her hair. "I'm sure I will," he agrees, then decides it's best to let her relax and enjoy the attention. The massage continues for the next twenty minutes, covering her shoulders and back in their entirety, before he reluctantly finishes to go check on the food. It's done cooking, as expected, and it only takes him a couple minutes and a few trips to set the table and get everything to the dining room. "First we eat, then we rest, and /then/ we see if I can't get a start on that 'making it up to you' business."

JENNA: * Jo sits up with a lazy grin, arching an eyebrow at him with interest. "That sounds ... just about right." She straightens in her seat, looking over the food with interest, sampling it absently as he serves it out, though waiting for him to settle in before she really starts eating.

JUSTIN: * Shane doesn't keep her waiting long, dropping into a chair by his glass and serving himself quickly. "So, as good as usual I hope?" He arches a brow in her direction, putting the serving spoon back into the pot and lifting his utensils. "You're my only critic, so I have to make use of your opinion." He grins, biting a bit of meat off the end of his fork and chewing on it quietly.

JENNA: "I'd let you know if it wasn't," Jo informs him, tucking right into the meal with her usual ethusiasm. With the food before her, her appetite quickly returns, and she's silent for some time, concentrating on the meal. She does finally slow, trotting to the kitchen and back for another glass of water, and settles into her seat to continue at a more sedate pace.

JUSTIN: "Phase One nearing completion," Shane notes aloud, and mostly to be silly. He shovels the remains of his food around, picking at them with greater and greater delays between bites, and sips down the last of his water. "Phase Two should be easy for our well-trained experts." He pushes his plate away and stretches, slouching back in his chair with a content sigh.

JENNA: * Jo stretches lazily, finishing off the last of her water and looking boredly over the dishes. "Want any help with those, or are we waiting 'til morning?" She's feeling entirely too lazy to do dishes, herself, but if they must, they must.

JUSTIN: * Shane considers the dishes for a moment and shrugs, getting to his feet to start collecting them. "I think they can soak overnight. I don't recall Phase Two having anything to do with work." He smiles and starts ferrying them back to the kitchen, setting everything down and filling the sink with hot water.

JENNA: "Sounds good to me," Jo says cheerfully, getting to her feet and giving a long, comfortable stretch. "Doing dishes can be relaxing, but.. not that relaxing." She stands at the table, waiting idly for him to return, and grins suddenly. "So what's your grand plan for paying me back, then?"

JUSTIN: * Shane dries his hands off from getting the dishes all submerged and then walks over to meet her by the table. "Well, I had a couple things in mind," he says in a quiet, insinuating voice, tucking an arm around her waist and suggesting their move to the bedroom. "They may not have the shock factor that your wagon full of books had, but I think you'll find them plenty enjoyable nonetheless."

JENNA: * Jo arches a brow, turning slightly and reaching up to kiss him briefly. "If that's the case, maybe I have a request." She then settles into his grip, letting him steer her into the bedroom. She's tempted to do something provoking, but she's had her fun for the day, and it's only fair to let him have his way.

JUSTIN: * Shane makes a curious noise, arching both eyebrows at her. "Well, if you have a request, so much the better." He scoops her up and carries her through the bedroom door, shutting it with his foot for that extra feeling of privacy. They're already alone, but it doesn't hurt to reinforce the notion. He gently deposits her on the bed and steps back until he's by the door, turning the lock with a small grin. "So, what would you have me do, Jocasta dear?"

JENNA: * Jo leans back on her elbows, eyeing him up and down thoughtfully for several moments as she considers how to frame her request. Eventually she decides there's no way she can do it without embarrassing him awfully, and she straightens again to lean on her hands, mouth twitching as she tries not to smile too much. "Take your clothes off?" she asks innocently.

JUSTIN: * Shane shrugs his shoulders. "Well, yes, I was planning on it." His brow furrows a bit, however, as he analyzes her expression. "You mean right here? Now?" He's rarely been naked in front of her for longer than a few seconds at a time, and they both usually end up suitably distracted by the end of those few seconds. "Jo, that's a bit... I mean, you'll... you'll /laugh/." His cheeks go a bit red.

JENNA: * Jo utters a deep, heart-felt snort. "Shane, I very much doubt I will laugh." She leans forward again, expression somewhat predatory. "I happen to know already you have a very nice body -- and for once, I'd like to get a good, long look at it." She lets her gaze rake his still-clad body -- as if in demonstration -- then turns her eyes to his face, eyebrows lifting.

JUSTIN: * Shane's lips twitch in a nervous grin. He doesn't buy all that talk about a very nice body -- it's servicable, that's all, he keeps in shape for work. "Well, I suppose, if you insist... But if you try to embarrass me, I tell you, these clothes are coming right back on." He gives her a stern, warning look. Or at least what he hopes amounts to one. The best place to start is at the top, of course. She's seen him without his shirt on at least a thousand times, nothing to hide there. He slowly plucks at the buttons, doing his best not to look like a bewildered sideshow act.

JENNA: "I have better things I can do if I'm just trying to embarrass you." Jo sniffs faintly, watching him a quiet, fascinated intensity. It's true she's seen enough of his bare body to know it's a treat for the eyes, but she isn't lying when she says she'd like a better look -- before she's too occupied to enjoy it. "Besides," she murmurs. "You get to see me on full display all the time ..."

JUSTIN: * Shane plucks out the last button of his shirt and gently wiggles his way out, muscles flexing and moving in a wholly enjoyable way for his audience -- not that he has any idea such a thing excites her. It's just moving to him. "Well, that's because you like to lie around naked," Shane says with a smirk, tugging his arm from the last sleeve and tossing the shirt aside. "I guess I just can't shake my addiction to clothing like you can."

JENNA: * Jo gives another, faint snort, eyes busy roaming his body as it comes uncovered. "I'll have to help you out with that ..." Her gaze flicks lightly upward to his face for a moment. "You're coming sunbathing with me next time." Then she lazily returns her attention to the show, wholly unable to keep her expression neutral.

JUSTIN: * Shane snorts quietly, arching a brow and playing with his belt to stall for time -- time to work up the courage to expose himself so blatantly. "Am I, now? I suppose there's no room for negotiation there?" He grins a little, still a bit nervous but at least genuine, and finally work his belt free from the loops on his pants, letting it drop. Without the additional support, the waistband of his pants sag down enough to expose his underwear and a bit of hip. "You know you wouldn't see me, anyway, if we're both lying with our eyes closed."

JENNA: "I don't keep my eyes closed /all/ the time." Jo sticks her tongue out at him, tossing her hair impatiently -- she knows he's stalling, and she supposes she understands why, but all the same ... "And I know you wouldn't either, so don't go pretending." She leans back on her hands again, folding one leg over the other.

JUSTIN: * Shane smiles an innocent, boyish smile. "Well, it's easier to watch when you're a few feet away." Which, he supposes, is why he's doing what he's doing right now. And speaking of which. His hands undo the button on his pants and work down the zipper, revealing more of the shorts he wears beneath. Unlike when they're lying on the bed, it takes very little encouragement to get his pants off, gravity all too happy to grab them and yank them down around his ankles. He kicks them away, lest he trip himself, and considers his body for a moment. "How's the show so far, Jo?" He looks up at her with a small smile, hooking his thumbs in the waistband of his undershorts and giving them a teasing tug or two.

JENNA: "Can't complain," Jo remarks, letting her gaze rove idly over him -- top to bottom and back up again. "But I wouldn't say you're finished yet." She unfolds her legs and scoots closer to the edge of the bed, attempting to rein in the temptation to go over and tend to his shorts for him. That wouldn't be entirely fair. He's supposed to be doing the work, here. "Saves a step later, after all," she grins at him.

JUSTIN: "I suppose there's truth to that," Shane says agreeably. Nothing for it, now. In one fluid motion, he pulls the last remaining article of clothing past his hips, and it falls to the floor silently. His cheeks flush immediately, and he looks a little lost over what to do now. Pose? Recite poetry? He's just glad Jo's still fully clothed and he's entirely too nervous to get excited -- otherwise he'd have even more to be embarrassed about. Jo undoubtedly wouldn't see what there is to be embarrassed about. He turns around slowly to let Jo see every angle, then stops facing her again, eyebrows arching questioningly.

JENNA: * Jo gets lazily to her feet and ambles over to him, still looking him over with great and somewhat predatory interest. She walks in a circle around him, taking him at her own pace, and lets her fingers trail thoughtfully over his skin. Once she's traveled the full circuit -- twice -- she stops in front of him and reaches up to curl her arms around his shoulders, pulling him into a slow kiss. "Very nice," she says upon releasing him.

JUSTIN: * Shane returns the kiss with a smile, though the blush in his cheeks has only increased. "Well, I suppose there's no harm in you approving." He just hopes he can keep himself together, otherwise his plans are going to be over before they begin. "Now then, Jocasta," he takes a few strands of her hair in his fingers and twirls them idly, "any other requests, or do I get to start Phase Three?"

JENNA: "That'll do," Jo says archly, letting her hands fall to her hips and looking up at him questioningly. "Is there anything I need to do to get Phase Three started?" she asks, plucking idly at her own clothes, though she expects he'll want to deal with them himself.

JUSTIN: "Only to lie down and relax," Shane says in a soothing, suggestive voice. "Clothing might get in the way of things, so I'd really have to suggest their removal." He smiles in an innocent manner and walks around behind her, as if inspecting the clothing in question. "Mm, yes. Definately won't do at all." He presses gently up against her back and reaches around her, very slowly popping out the first button of her shirt, starting from the bottom. "I hope you don't mind if I help."

JENNA: "Mmn.. no arguments from me," she says, returning the pressure against her back by leaning lazily against him. "I'll be happy to let you do all that yourself." She arches back slightly, reaching one hand up to touch his face and run back into his hair. The other, meanwhile, joins his hands at her shirt, though she doesn't toy with the buttons so much as with his hands -- though not enough to get in his way.

JUSTIN: * Shane kisses at her neck, grinning as he watches his own hands making slow, leisurely progress up her shirt. Each button is like an event in and of itself, revealing an inch more of her bare skin with every released bit of cloth. "You know," he says calmly -- which is a lie in itself, as he's entirely enthusiastic on the inside, "I don't know if I've ever openly complimented you on your beautiful body. The shape, the feel... And I've yet to meet a woman with a more appealing skintone." Another couple buttons go, and he can start to make out the bottom of her breasts peeking out from under the shirt. There he stops, lowering his hands to rub across her stomach and start undoing the button on her pants.

JENNA: * Jo grins, fingers tickling softly against his palm when his hands briefly leave her skin. "I got the feeling you sort of liked it," she murmurs, giving a soft sigh at the pleasant touch of his hands. "But it is nice to hear you tell me," she adds, letting her other hand slip down to rub at his neck and wondering idly if he'll have any more to say about it.

JUSTIN: * Shane smiles, lazily drawing her zipper down and watching the waistband of her pants loosen with each centimeter. "If I told you every time I was thinking it, you'd never have a moment's peace," he says quietly by her ear, nibbling lightly at it as long as he's in the viscinity. His fingers explore within the newly loosened waist of her pants, gently nudging it down her hips until the clothing falls down her legs.

JENNA: "Ahhh," Jo sighs pleasantly, lifting her hand to join its counterpart behind his head. "Is that the case." She takes a step back, out of the pants, just far enough that she can kick them aside. She stays there a moment, pressed tighter against him, just long enough to be noticed, then she shifts to give him a little more space, eyes closing. "I get the feeling I should be telling you more often," she remarks, mouth twitching in a slight grin.

JUSTIN: "Would you, now? I doubt that." Shane wraps his arms around her waist in an embrace, tight enough to be taken seriously, loose enough to keep things comfortable. As it is, the whole experience is getting his body noticably excited, no matter his efforts to control it. His fingers trace up her front to deal with the last few buttons, continuing to maintain the same casual laziness until the last is undone and her breasts are gently released from their restraint.

JENNA: "Maybe I will," Jo retorts, though most of the conviction behind the statement is lost as her eyes slip open again to watch his hands finish tending to her shirt. A continuation of her grin is the only reaction she has to the state of his excitement, signs of her own far less prominent. She lets her arms drop reluctantly from him in order to facilitate the final removal of the shirt, sliding her hands back briefly to stroke against his ribs and waist.

JUSTIN: * Shane pays her newly exposed skin a brief visit with his hands, but he has bigger plans in store for the woman -- ones that will involve a lot more touching of a lot more skin. He scoops her up and turns to lay her out on the bed, leaning over her to kiss at her waist briefly before giving her hip a gentle, but firm pat. "Roll over. Time to give you your present." He grins dangerously, knowing that what's to follow will cause her no shortage of wonderful, pleasurable torment.

JENNA: * Jo gives him a momentary, suspicious look, a dozen possibilities flashing through her mind before they're discarded as preposterous. She turns obediently, however, resting her head on her arms and wriggling slightly out of apparent impatience. She almost asks just exactly what she's in for, then changes her mind, deciding to let it be a surprise -- if it isn't what she's already guessed.

JUSTIN: * Shane takes a moment to enjoy the view -- especially the impatient wiggling -- before he flexes his fingers and prepares to go in for the kill. He stops just short of touching her, though, a memory popping in out of the blue from the back of his mind. Months ago he'd purchased some massage oils from Alberta in preparation for just such a situation, but the opportunity never presented itself with their frequent jobs, and they've been collecting dust in a drawer all this time. "Ah -- hold a minute, I'll be right back." He gives her thighs an assuring squeeze and slides off the bed, disappearing to a corner of their room to rummage where he'd hid the items.

JENNA: * Jo blinks in surprise, lifting herself up slightly to watch him go with arched eyebrow. Interruptions are highly unusual at this point in the game -- and also highly suspect. "Just what're you up to?" she asks mildly, trying not to let her body's impatience creep into her voice. She is, after all, genuinely curious.

JUSTIN: * Shane grins broadly, realizing she still hasn't caught on to his plans at all. As far as she knows, he was about to get straight to the point. "You'll see," is all he says, finding the bottles (ornate and terribly expensive), grabbing one, and hurrying back to the bed. "You just stay right where you are." He crawls back onto the bed behind her, kissing his way up her leg, then sits back on his feet while he unscrews the top of the small, crystal container. The scent that rises from it is muted, but pleasant, and according to the woman he purchased it from it gets stronger as it heats up. And it heats up from friction. Leaning over her, he lets a modest amount of the liquid drip across her back, for starters, then recaps the bottle and sets it aside.

JENNA: "I'm not going anywhere ..." Jo's shoulders twitch slightly as the liquid strikes her back, but she realizes what's going on almost immediately and relaxes down again, a sudden grin flitting across her features. "I /see/," she remarks, voice once again muffled against her arm, and she closes her eyes to let him work.

JUSTIN: * Shane grins with unbridled excitement, feeling like a big, aweseome secret has just been let out of the bag. "And fairly soon, you'll more than see," he says with glee, and he does immediately set to work. At first he concentrates on spreading the smooth, silky liquid evenly across her back and shoulders, pausing to let her move her hair before covering her neck as well. This accomplished, the massaging itself begins in earnest, a much more sensual affair than the preview she had in the kitchen earlier, though for the meantime he does confine himself to her upper body. As advertised, the oil warms pleasantly under his ministrations, and the aroma begins to fill the air around them, strong enough to be appreciated, but not so much as to be overwhelming.

JENNA: "Mmm.. that /is/ nice," Jo murmurs, giving a long, luxurious stretch when there's a brief pause, then relaxing into the bed again. "You've snuck off shopping without me again," she remarks, though with the pleasant results it can hardly be a complaint. "Have to let you do that more often."

JUSTIN: "I'm not a complete failure at shopping," Shane says quietly, with a lazy grin on his face. "As long as I know what I'm looking for." And he certainly knew what he was looking for when he bought these. He works his hands over her upper arms, then back to her shoulders and down her sides, all her skin slick and shining in the dim light of the lamps. His fingers knead and squeeze all the way to her hips, and it's here that he releases her and grabs the bottle again. He uncaps it and lets the liquid drizzle across her comparitively dry -- though no less gorgeous -- butt, several drops landing on her legs as he attempts to stop the flow and screw the top back on the bottle. Without missing a beat, he immediately begins to spread the oil around again, just as he did with her back.

JENNA: * Jo can't contain a startled quiver as the liquid strikes her backside, then a soft, almost embarrassed giggle as the massage continues southward. Her fingers curl into the blanket beneath her, an effort not to react too strongly and bring things too quickly to an end. She draws in a breath and lets it out again slowly, unable to contain another, soft shiver.

JUSTIN: * Shane can't miss the shivers, as slight as they may be, while he hands are pressed so intimately against her skin. And if anything, they simply encourage his behavior. The 'massage' as it started is quickly deteriorating into a wholly erotic affair, much more fondling and groping than the careful, therapeutic kneading of knotted muscles. As it is, there aren't many left anyway, and the only tension comes from her shivers and stretches. This change of purpose doesn't bother him in the least -- and judging by the reaction of his partner, the feeling is mutual. After he's caressed her backside for the dozenth time, however, he finally lifts his hand from her. "Time for the other side," he says with forced calm. His own excitement would be fairly obvious were she to look, but he doesn't want things to spiral. Not yet, not until he's done.

JENNA: * Jo makes a sound somewhere between pleased and disgruntled -- as much as she dislikes the idea of the attention stopping, she knows the next step will be equally pleasant -- if not more so. She gives a much put-upon sigh, rolling over and grinning at him as she rests her hands behind her head. "If you insist," she says, and if she takes note of his affliction, her only reaction is to grin a little bit wider.

JUSTIN: "Oh, but I /must/ insist," Shane says with a smirk, and he picks up his bottle to continue the process on this fresh expanse of skin. "I assure you it will be worth the effort." He dribbles the liquid across her thighs and waist, trying not to stare too hard (for his own good), and then sets it aside to spread the warming oil around. He takes extra care with her legs, actually trying to get in some proper massaging before he becomes distracted by her flesh yet again.

JENNA: * Jo utters a soft squeak as the liquid trickles across her skin, and she leans her head back with a slow exhalation as he starts working it into her skin. "I think I can take your word for that," she murmurs, trying not to squirm insistently into his touch -- at least, not too much. All her efforts, however, can't contain the odd shiver or two, nor can they stop her breathing from getting rougher as he goes.

JUSTIN: * Jo's obvious attempts to contain herself bring a very satisfied smile to Shane's face, and it's therefore only a matter of time before his massage ends -- to be replaced with blatant, unexcused fondling, interested in seeing just how far he can push her before they both give in. Her hips and thighs get the majority of the treatment, slowly working north, but before he continues the migration upward he first gets a fresh supply of oil to do the job with. He sprinkles it across her stomach and chest, scooting up closer between her legs to reach this last remaining bastion of dry skin. A brow arches on his face as he begins the treatment, and he turns his eyes up to her face with a devious grin. "Looks like I'm not the only one excited."

JENNA: * Jo is forced to bite down on a moan more than once as his behavior continues, body giving a final quiver when he pauses. "That's the general idea.. isn't it?" She rears up slightly on her elbows, face clearly flushed. She grins, lifting her legs slightly to squeeze her thighs around him briefly. "I'd be more worried if I wasn't.. don't you think?" She squeezes him again.

JUSTIN: * Shane shivers involuntarily, face blushing with some embarrassment. Clearly her squeezing isn't helping him to maintain his charade of calm collectedness. "You... have a good... point," he murmurs, turning his eyes back down to watch his hands as they slide about her stomach and chest, fondling with abandon. It's getting to be about as much as he can take. Leaning over, he presses himself down against her to kiss and suckle her flesh, hands slipping beneath her to wrap her in a tight embrace. The last of his willpower is spent in seeing how many seconds longer he can keep from just thrusting himself into her and losing it completely.

JENNA: * These even more intimate attentions are more than enough to wrench a soft cry from Jo's throat, body arching helplessly to meet his mouth. Her hands find his back and shoulders, eventually traveling up his neck to tangle in his hair, even as her legs curl tighter around him as if to draw him in. It's a test of endurance she willingly fails.

JUSTIN: * Shane believes this is a strong signal that the massage is well past over, and without needing any further encouragement he ceases the teasing and gives her what they both want. A wash of relief blows through him as their mutual excitement finally mingles, but he has little time to bask in this sensation -- there are better sensations to be had. The oil that is glistening all over Jo's body is quickly getting all over him, as well, but he doesn't mind in the least, finding the entire thing most exhilirating. He quickly finds her mouth with his and devours all her cries and moans in a passionate kiss that assures the night is only just beginning.