Cas sighed when Iris agreed that they were being reckless. The logical side of him was glad that they were on the same page, but he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed too. Hearing her say they should stop confirmed his suspicion that it was a bad idea, and affirmed that they weren’t going to be doing anything more that night. He reluctantly let his hands drop from her shirt into his own lap. Even though they were in agreement, it was going to take him a few more minutes to recover from the heat of the moment. His pulse was still elevated, and he shifted his weight awkwardly, wondering if he should hop back into the shower to cool off before he went to bed.

[color=#b97703]“I know you will,”[/color] he murmured, dragging his fingers through his still-damp hair. When it came to the decision he had yet to make, it wasn’t her support that he was worried about. He trusted that she would stand by his side no matter what. Really, it was the consequences of both options that left him trapped in a limbo as he struggled to choose what he preferred to do. Unquestionably, going back to the capital was the “right” choice, because it was his responsibility to succeed his father and take over the crown after he passed. By going back, he would also regain the authority to try to help the people of Aspiria beyond the capital. However, he was hesitant to return to a life in which he was nothing more than a cog in the wheel of the monarchy. He wanted to be more than that, to pave his own way rather than allow everyone else to turn him into their political puppet. He doubted he would be able to do that if he went back to all the people that he now knew didn’t care about him.

Disheartened by the thought, he was more than happy to change the subject when Iris teased him about being the reason for their near slip up. [color=#b97703]“In my defense, I only left it off so it would be easier for you to bandage my arm,”[/color] he objected, leaning into her side good-naturedly. [color=#b97703]“I didn’t know you wouldn’t be able to keep your hands off me.”[/color] Although, even if he had known the effect it would have on her, he couldn’t honestly say that he would have done anything differently. Now that he was no longer trying to keep his distance from her, the thought of crossing the line had passed through his head on multiple occasions. Just because it was a reckless idea didn’t mean he didn’t want to do it. The only thing that he stopped them from making poor decisions this time had been her grounding question.

When she offered to sleep on the floor so they could put some space between them, Cas shook his head, [color=#b97703]“You had a fever until just two hours ago. I’m not going to make you sleep on the floor.”[/color] Bending down, he picked up his shirt from where he’d left it discarded at the foot of the bed. [color=#b97703]“We agreed it was a bad idea, so I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself,”[/color] he assured her, sliding the garment over his head. As he smoothed it down over his torso, he turned back to her and smirked teasingly. [color=#b97703]“The only question is whether [i]you[/i] can stay away from [i]me[/i].”[/color]