Brienne and Jaime danced far more dances than any other couple on the floor. Even Sansa and Gendry retired to the table before they did. Brienne had always loved dancing, even though the one and only time she had ever attended a ball, all the young lords had conspired to mock and ridicule her. Renly had saved her that night, taken her in his arms and swept her away like a prince in a fairy story. But just being near Jaime made the memory of Renly Baratheon pale in comparison. Brienne still loved and admired Renly, of course, but she was in love with Jaime, and that made a world of difference.
Halfway through the evening, the music stopped and the guests were encouraged to return to their seats so that Bran could address the entire gathering.
Brienne felt warm and breathless by the time Jaime escorted her back to their table. Sometime during their absence, Bronn had reappeared. He had taken Brienne's seat and was now harassing Sam.
"All I'm sayin' is, maybe you should be out there dancing with your lady. The girl's had a hard life, and with two whiny brats to run after, she deserves to have a little bit of fun."
"I'm afraid I'm not much of a dancer," Sam said, almost stumbling over the words. "Besides, I think it might not look right for the Grand Maester to be making a fool of himself in front of half the realm."
"Why not? These two idiots have been making fools of themselves all night," Bronn said, cocking his head in Brienne and Jaime's direction.
"We haven't been making fools of ourselves," Jaime argued. "We've been dancing."
Bronn turned his full attention to Jaime. "Yeah, like I said, making fools of yourselves."
Under different circumstances, Brienne would have been annoyed with Bronn, but she was simply too happy to be bothered by his words. Her arm was still wrapped around Jaime's, her heart was beating wildly, and everything else in the world seemed wholly insignificant. Although Brienne knew she was allowing herself to get caught up in the excitement of the feast, she didn't particularly care. She'd never been happier, and she was perfectly willing to forgo all her anger and all her doubts for just one night. It had been a long time since she'd allowed herself such a luxury.
"Perhaps Lord Bronn is just jealous," Brienne said. "Perhaps he doesn't know how to dance, or maybe he just can't find a partner."
Bronn snorted. "Been doin' more than dancing while you two were out there being ridiculous."
"Yes, I've heard. You've been trying to find yourself a wife."
Jaime choked in surprise. "A . . . a wife?"
Bronn leaned back in his chair, offering Jaime a look of challenge. "What? Don't think I can get myself a wife without your girlish good looks? I've got a title and a castle now, and a coffer full of gold. I can have any woman I want."
And the strange thing was, that was probably true. By Westerosi standards, Bronn was now quite the eligible bachelor, and there were probably more than a few ladies hoping to catch his eye before the feasting was over. It was a sobering thought.
Jaime just shook his head and escorted Brienne to the other side of the table, seating her at the very end so that she didn't have to sit next to Bronn.
When the hall finally fell silent, Bran began his speech. Although his voice was as dispassionate as ever, he managed to present a compelling argument for the need for additional aid from those present. More than a month earlier, when Tyrion had first announced plans for the feast, Brienne had been skeptical of the whole idea, but now, she was glad that the plans had gone ahead. Not only would the celebration benefit the people of Westeros, but it had also given her a chance to get closer to Jaime.
Bran's speech was blessedly brief, and when it ended, dessert was served, though not everyone intended to stay for it.
"I've got another kind of dessert in mind," Bronn said as he rose from his chair. "And you." He nodded toward Jaime. "If you do fuck her tonight, I want details in the morning. I've got a bet to win."
Brienne's cheeks flamed with heat, and she stared blindly down at her plate, refusing to meet Jaime's gaze.
Bronn disappeared from the table before Jaime could reply, and he and Brienne sat there in awkward silence, Bronn's words weighing heavily between them.
It was Jaime who spoke first. "Just ignore him. Bronn likes to get people riled up, you more than most."
But Brienne couldn't do that. "I don't want to ignore him," she said as she dragged her eyes away from her plate and looked up at Jaime. "He's right."
And it was true. Bronn was right. About everything. She wanted Jaime Lannister more than anything else in the entire world, and he wanted her, and there was no way they were going to be able to keep their distance tonight.
Jaime stared at Brienne for a long moment, his eyes narrowing in confusion. "He's right? About what?"
"About tonight. About what I want, and about what you want."
The look of disbelief on Jaime's face made Brienne suddenly doubt herself. Had she read him all wrong? Had he been lying when he'd said that he still wanted her, that he loved her?
Brienne's resolve faltered, and she began to backslide. "That is, of course, unless you don't want to. Because if you don't—"
Jaime pushed his chair away from the table and instantly stood. Brienne looked up at him, afraid that he was about to abandon her.
But that wasn't Jaime's intention. Instead of abandoning her, he offered her his hand and said, "I think we should take our leave."
For a moment, Brienne couldn't even move. Her whole body was numb except for the warm rush of heat that had settled between her legs the instant Jaime had spoken. Without thinking, she slipped her hand into his and allowed him to escort her from the table.
Brienne wasn't entirely sure what she was doing. She knew she'd had too much wine and too much excitement and that both were clouding her judgment, but it made little difference. She wanted Jaime Lannister. She loved Jaime Lannister. And for better or worse, she couldn't deny herself any longer.
Jaime led Brienne toward the Tower of the Hand, no doubt intending to take her to his chamber for the night. It was for the best, really. Brienne was Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and it would be unseemly for her to entertain a man in the White Sword Tower. The truth was, it didn't matter where they spent the night, as long as they spent it together.
By the time they reached Jaime's chamber, Brienne was trembling all over. Jaime had been silent since they'd left the hall, but then, so had she. There was so much to say, and yet, nothing left to say. They'd both made their desires abundantly clear, and now, it was just a matter of time before they fulfilled them.
They stopped outside Jaime's door, and he finally let go of her hand. He reached for the door handle and turned to look at Brienne. "Are you sure about this? If you've changed your mind—"
"Open the door, Jaime. Now."
That was all the encouragement that Jaime needed. He pushed open the door and took a step back, allowing Brienne to precede him into the room.
Brienne's heart beat an unsteady rhythm as she entered Jaime's chamber, her eyes instantly fixating on the bed. Her feet faltered, and she stopped dead still, suddenly overcome with emotion. She had yet to even tell Jaime how she felt about him, though she suspected he already knew, that he'd always known.
Brienne listened in anxious silence as Jaime closed and locked the door. He moved up behind her, laying his hands against her bare arms and drawing her close. The cold of his metal hand sent a shiver down Brienne's spine, but the heat radiating from his body was more than enough to warm her. Without a word, Jaime lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss against her neck.
A soft sigh escaped Brienne's throat as her eyes fluttered closed and she leaned into him. There was a tenderness to Jaime's touch that hadn't been there the first time they'd made love, and it made her heart ache. Even though it had been more than half a year since they'd last been together, Jaime seemed determined to take his time, but Brienne wasn't sure she could bear it. Her hunger for him was ravenous, and she didn't know if she had the patience to take things slowly.
Brienne pulled away, turning around in Jaime's arms before he could stop her. She leaned in closer, intending to kiss him, but the love and adoration she saw in his eyes stopped her cold. Jaime Lannister loved her. She could see it as clearly as the sun in a cloudless sky. And she loved him. And maybe, just maybe, it was finally time she told him.
But before Brienne could say a single word, Jaime asked, "What's wrong?"
"There's . . . there's something I need to tell you."
Jaime dropped his hands to his sides, letting Brienne go. "I'm sorry," he said in a wounded voice that nearly broke her heart. "I know that I'm not worthy of you. I know that you've taken a vow—"
Brienne reached out and took Jaime's hand, the words dying on his lips.
"When you showed up here two months ago," she said, "alive and relatively well, I swore to myself that we would never find ourselves here like this again."
Jaime tried to pull away, but Brienne held him fast.
"But I can't stay away from you, Jaime Lannister. Gods know I've tried. But I can't. I love you. Despite everything. Despite the pain and the heartache and the misunderstanding, I love you. And I don't want to deny it a moment longer."
Jaime stared at Brienne in stunned silence, his eyes glassy with disbelief as he searched her face. "Do . . . do you mean that?"
Brienne's heart thudded against her ribs. She knew she was taking a chance by making herself vulnerable again, but she didn't care. She had been alone for far too long, and she was tired of keeping Jaime at arm's length. She loved him. And it was cowardly for her to keep denying it.
"Yes, I mean it," Brienne answered. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't."
Jaime's hand tightened around hers, and she could feel just how much her words had meant to him.
"What about your vow?" he asked. "The vow you took when you became Lord Commander of the Kingsguard."
"There is no vow."
Jaime's eyes narrowed in confusion. "What? What are you talking about? How can there be no vow?"
"Bran did away with it. There is no longer a vow of celibacy for anyone in the Kingsguard."
A sharp breath escaped Jaime's throat, something between a laugh and a sob. "If that's so, why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"You didn't need to know sooner, did you?"
Jaime shook his head, a half smile curving his lips. "I . . . I had no idea. I thought . . . well, you know what I thought."
"Yes, I know. That's what I wanted you to think."
Jaime slipped his hand from Brienne's and rested both his arms around her waist, holding her lightly. He stared into her eyes, the smile fading from his lips, his tone turning serious. "I love you, Brienne of Tarth. You know that, don't you?"
"I do."
"I—"
But Brienne was certain there was nothing left to say. She didn't want to hear Jaime qualify his love for her or try to claim that he loved her more than he had loved Cersei. And so, instead of letting him have his say, she snaked her hand up behind his neck and drew him to her, kissing him with a passion born of eight long months of loneliness and heartbreak.
Jaime's left hand trailed upwards, his fingers entwining in her hair while his other hand nestled at the small of her back. Brienne could feel his arousal pressing against her sex, and it instantly intensified her need.
Without thinking, Brienne slid her hands down Jaime's chest and began unfastening his leather tunic, desperate to rid him of his clothing. His fingers glided down her back, struggling to free the laces of her gown, but with only one working hand, the task was nearly impossible. Brienne knew she would eventually have to undress herself, but first, she wanted to remove as much of Jaime's clothing as possible.
Brienne freed the last fastener on Jaime's tunic and pushed it off his shoulders and down his arms, forcing him to let her go. She took a step back, grabbing the hem of his undertunic and lifting it over his head. By the time she was done, Jaime was standing there in only his boots and breeches, looking up at her with so much desire in his eyes that she thought her heart might ignite.
"Brienne," he said her name through ragged breaths. "I want you. I want you now."
A purely feminine thrill coursed through Brienne's veins. She had never imagined a man saying those words to her without mockery in his tone. But Jaime's words were sincere. He wanted her. He needed her. He couldn't wait a moment longer.
Brienne stepped back, needing to put some distance between them if she was ever going to free herself of her gown. For the briefest moment, she saw fear flit behind Jaime's eyes, but as she reached behind her to work the ties of her dress, he seemed to understand why she had backed away.
Jaime retreated as well, sitting down in the chair beside the bed to pull off his boots.
Brienne tore her eyes away from him, finding the sight of Jaime Lannister in all his half naked glory far too distracting. She turned toward the window, her eyes losing their focus as she pulled at the laces that bound her in her gown.
Brienne had never been particularly graceful when it came to feminine things. Put a sword in her hand and she was as lithe as a fairy on a dewdrop, but ask her to unlace a dress and she was as clumsy as a newborn foal. She pulled at the ties of her gown with numb fingers, somehow managing to tug them free. Then, she yanked the fabric over her head and discarded it without a care. In another moment, she was out of her corset, shoes, and stockings. When she finally turned around to look at Jaime again, she was wearing nothing but her shift.
The breath caught in Brienne's throat the instant her eyes found Jaime. He was standing beside the bed now, completely naked, and her gaze slowly drifted down the length of him, taking in every last inch of exposed flesh. Although he was not as muscular as he once had been, he was still undeniably masculine. Her hands itched to touch his broad chest, to run down every line and curve, savoring the feel of him beneath her fingertips.
Brienne's pulse quickened as her eyes traveled lower, finally settling on his manhood. It was already hard and eager, and she had no doubt of his desire for her. Brienne almost forgot how to breathe as she continued to stare, imagining what Jaime's cock was going to feel like inside her.
Jaime laughed softly, and Brienne's eyes shot to his face.
"You know it's rude to stare, don't you?"
"I wasn't staring," Brienne said, the heat rising in her cheeks. "I was just making sure that you were equipped for the task at hand. I know you've been through a great deal, and I wanted to be certain that you were up for the challenge."
Jaime laughed again, a sly grin pulling at his lips. "I can assure you, Lord Commander, that I am more than up for the challenge."
Brienne's skin flushed even deeper. "Don't call me Lord Commander," she snapped. "Not here, not now."
Jaime moved a step closer, cocking a brow in question. "Oh, does this mean I finally have permission to call you Brienne?"
"If you don't, I'll throw you out of this room right now."
"It's my room, or had you forgotten?"
She had forgotten. She'd forgotten everything. Jaime's nakedness was doing unsettling things to her, and she could barely think straight, though she refused to admit it.
"No, I haven't forgotten," Brienne said, inching her chin a little higher. "But that doesn't matter. I'm still stronger than you, and I could toss you from this room if I wanted to."
Jaime chuckled lightly, his gaze lazily drifting down her body. "But you won't because you have other plans for me this evening." He met her eyes again, and the desire she saw there was enough to steal every last word from her throat.
Jaime took another step forward, closing the distance between them. Brienne held her breath, waiting for him to kiss her, but he didn't. Instead, he reached forward and began tugging at the hem of her shift. It was awkward for him, with only one hand, so Brienne decided to help. She grabbed the other end of the fabric, and together, they lifted it up over her head and tossed it on the floor.
The next time Brienne's eyes met Jaime's, they were both naked. He stared at her for a long moment before allowing his gaze to drift lower. Brienne could feel his eyes caressing her body, and it robbed her of all her senses. He took his time exploring her bare flesh, lingering at her breasts before moving lower. His attention soon fixed on the nest of golden curls between her legs, and she was tempted to tease him about how rude it was to stare, but she never got the chance.
Before Brienne knew what was happening, Jaime's eyes found hers again, and an instant later, he was kissing her.
Brienne's head swam with the headiness of the kiss, and she was suddenly unsteady on her feet. Jaime's arm slipped around her back, holding her in place, while her arms encircled his neck, clinging to him for dear life.
Jaime devoured her mouth, kissing her as if they'd been separated for years, not months. When Brienne could no longer breathe, she broke away, but Jaime refused to relent. He forged a trail of wet, hot kisses down her throat, and Brienne threw her head back with a wanton moan, losing herself in the feel of Jaime's mouth against her skin.
He moved lower still, grazing her collarbone with searing kisses before stopping to worship her breasts. Brienne curled her fingers in his hair, holding him close, silently begging him to stay there forever. But Jaime had other ideas. He continued southward, kissing her abdomen and swirling his tongue in her navel. Brienne giggled at the sensation. She was embarrassingly ticklish, and Jaime knew just how to torture her.
Before another moment passed, Jaime was on his knees. He kissed a path straight to Brienne's sex, delving his tongue between her folds and making her squeal with delight.
Brienne's hands moved to Jaime's shoulders, desperate to steady herself before her legs buckled beneath her. It had been ages since Jaime had kissed her like this, and she'd almost forgotten what it felt like. Her whole body quivered with need, and her skin flushed with heat.
"Jaime! Oh, gods, Jaime!" she cried as she squirmed against him, desperate to make closer contact.
But her pleas had the opposite effect. Jaime pulled back and stared up at her with a self-satisfied smirk. "Yes, Lord Commander?"
Brienne wanted to slap him, but there was absolutely no way she was going to do anything to alienate him at that moment. Jaime could call her whatever he liked, as long as he kept pleasuring her.
Brienne struggled to catch her breath. When she was finally capable of speech again, all she could manage was, "Jaime. Please."
Jaime's smile widened. "As you wish, my lady." He leaned forward and kissed her again, exploring her warmth with the most exquisite tenderness.
Brienne trembled as Jaime teased her, tasted her. He drove her to the brink of ecstasy with surprising swiftness, and Brienne was sure she was going to come. But Jaime wasn't ready to let her take her pleasure just yet. Without warning, he pulled away, blazing a path of fiery kisses upward, over her stomach, across her breasts, and straight to her mouth.
Brienne gasped as she tasted her own arousal on his lips, the sensation sending a course of heat straight to her sex. She wanted nothing more than for Jaime to pick her up in his arms and carry her to the bed, but she stood an inch taller than him and weighed nearly as much, and she knew there was no way he could fulfill that particular fantasy. But when Jaime broke the kiss and took her hand, gently leading her toward the bed, it was more than enough for Brienne.
Without a word, Brienne lay down on the mattress, resting her head against the pillows and waiting for Jaime to join her. For a moment, he just stood beside the bed, towering above her, examining every last inch of her body with fevered curiosity. Although Brienne longed to explore his body as well, she simply couldn't tear her eyes away from his face. She was fascinated by the way Jaime looked at her in moments like this. The love and desire she saw in his eyes made her feel like a woman, a real woman, and that was more precious to her than anything else in the world.
When Jaime's eyes finally met Brienne's again, they were so full of longing that it took her breath away. Never breaking her gaze, he lowered himself to the bed and lay down beside her, turning so that he could draw her close. In an instant, his hand was in her hair and he was kissing her with a blinding passion.
Brienne finally allowed her own hands to explore his body, her fingers hungrily mapping out every valley and plain, trying to memorize each line. It had been far too long since she had been this close to Jaime Lannister, and she didn't know how long any of it would last. They might spend the rest of their lives together, or they might never lie with each other again. Although Brienne hoped for the best, she had to be prepared for the worst, and she was determined to savor every last moment they had together.
Jaime deepened the kiss, delving his tongue into Brienne's mouth and making her whimper with need. Instinctually, her hands slipped between them, skimming low across his waist and down between his legs. Without thinking, she wrapped her fingers around his cock and gently began to stroke him.
Jaime groaned into Brienne's mouth, and she felt a spark of satisfaction. She knew she had surprised him, and she wasn't the least bit sorry. She enjoyed giving Jaime pleasure, just as much as she enjoyed receiving it.
Brienne tore her lips away from Jaime's and peppered a line of warm, wet kisses down the side of his neck while her fingers continued to toy with him. Jaime moaned softly, and Brienne nipped at his throat, causing him to shiver. She was careful not to leave a mark. Although the entire keep probably knew what they were doing at that very moment, she didn't want to give the castle gossips any more fuel for their fire.
Soon enough, Brienne was urging Jaime onto his back, burning a path of fervent kisses down his chest. She stopped at one pert nipple, pulling it into her mouth and playfully flicking it with her tongue. The first time she and Jaime had been together, she hadn't been quite so bold, but she'd spent the past month imagining what it would be like to have him in her bed again, and she wasn't about to waste the opportunity now.
Brienne trailed her kisses lower, over Jaime's abdomen and down across his pelvis, coming dangerously close to his hardened cock. She gazed up toward the top of the bed, not at all surprised to find him staring down at her in breathless anticipation.
With casual ease, Brienne glided her fingers up the length of his shaft, gently running the pad of one thumb around the tip. "What's my name?" she asked, her tone just daring him to call her Lord Commander again.
Jaime swallowed, then struggled to speak. "Brienne . . . my Brienne."
Brienne's pulse thrummed in her veins, and her heart welled with emotion. My Brienne. She didn't think she had ever heard anything more lovely in all her life. Had Jaime's mouth been just a bit closer, she would have kissed him. But as it was, she was a great deal closer to another part of his anatomy and she was just as desperate to kiss him there as she was to kiss his lips.
Unable to say a single word, Brienne dragged her eyes away from Jaime's face and turned her attention to his cock. His flesh was engorged with blood, standing fully erect between his legs, just waiting for her to take it in her mouth. It had been a long time since she and Jaime had been in this position, but Brienne hadn't forgotten how it all worked. She wanted to taste him. She wanted to please him. There was nothing she wanted more.
Brienne slid her fingers to the base of Jaime's shaft, leaning forward to place a single kiss against the tip. Jaime hissed in a sharp breath, and had Brienne not known any better, she would have thought she'd hurt him. But Jaime had taught her more than enough to know that the sound wasn't a sign of pain but a sign of pleasure. He liked what she was doing to him, and he didn't want her to stop.
Growing bolder, Brienne kissed him again, this time allowing the tip of his cock to slip between her lips. She gently swirled her tongue around it before taking it in deeper, enjoying the sounds of ecstasy pouring from Jaime's throat. She took her time pleasuring him, sucking and licking and teasing until he was whimpering beneath her.
Brienne knew that she was driving Jaime to madness. And she knew, if she didn't stop soon, he'd lose himself long before he was able to make love to her properly. Even though Brienne had no aversion to swallowing his seed, that wasn't how she wanted their encounter to end. She wanted Jaime inside her, needed him inside her, to quench the fire that had been burning there for far too long.
Brienne ran her tongue up Jaime's length one last time before breaking contact. She sat back on her knees and looked up at him again. The eyes that met hers were glassy pools of light, and she wanted nothing more than to drown in them.
Brienne didn't have the strength to tease Jaime any longer. She could have forged a path of seductive kisses up his stomach and along his throat, but her need was far too urgent for that. Their eyes still locked, she slid up the bed, covering his body with her own, her hand going to the back of his neck to pull him closer.
In a single heartbeat, their mouths were joined together in a searing kiss and Jaime's fingers were gliding along her flesh, caressing and exploring and stoking the flames of her desire.
Brienne could feel Jaime's manhood hard against her stomach, and she was tempted to simply rise up on her knees and impale herself upon it. But that wasn't the way she had imagined being with Jaime again. She wanted him to take her as a man takes a woman. She didn't want to be in control. Not tonight. Another night, perhaps. Tonight, she wanted to feel dainty and small and feminine. She wanted to feel like a woman.
Brienne eased herself down onto her back, bringing Jaime with her. Suddenly, he was poised between her legs, his cock grazing her entrance and setting her whole body on fire. But Jaime seemed in no hurry to enter her. He was too busy kissing her mouth, too busy exploring her naked flesh. Brienne was already so close, and she didn't know how much longer she could last. She nudged her hips upward, forcing the tip of Jaime's shaft to slip between her folds, and he groaned plaintively.
Never breaking the kiss, Jaime surged his hips forward, thrusting into the deepest recesses of her warmth. Brienne gasped as she arched off the bed, reveling in the feel of Jaime hot and hard inside her.
As Jaime started to move, his lips slipped to her neck and Brienne's hands drifted to his shoulders, her fingers digging into the taut muscles beneath. She wrapped her legs around his waist, eager to draw him in even deeper.
In that moment, all of Brienne's doubts disappeared. Suddenly, there was no betrayal, no heartache, no tearful night left standing alone in the yard at Winterfell. No, there was just Jaime, holding her and loving her and making all the bad memories fade away. It was as if no time had passed at all. It was as if they were still back in her chamber at Winterfell, making love for the very first time.
Jaime quickened the pace, his breathing matching the frantic rhythm of his thrusts. Brienne could tell he was close, so very close. She tightened her grip on his shoulders, desperately striving for her own release. A familiar tension was building deep within her womanhood, and she knew it was only a matter of time before it finally broke.
"Oh, Jaime," Brienne cried breathlessly. "Please, Jaime. Please."
Jaime kissed a path up toward her ear, mumbling against her neck, "I love you, Brienne. Oh, gods, how I love you!"
And that was all it took, a few impassioned words whispered in the most intimate of moments. In an instant, Brienne shattered around him, mewling like a kitten, gasping for breath. She could feel Jaime throbbing inside her, her walls pulsing around him as she lost herself in the ether, barely conscious of her own existence.
Brienne didn't know how long it was before she drifted back to earth, but eventually, she was aware of Jaime's movements again. He was driving into her with breathtaking force, and before she knew what was happening, he roared in pleasure, losing himself inside her.
Jaime collapsed against Brienne, his body trembling softly beneath her hands. She traced her fingers upward, entwining them in his hair while she cradled his head between her breasts. Although Jaime always made her feel like a woman, Brienne was far from delicate, and she was able to bear his weight without any difficulty. It felt good to hold him close. He hadn't moved since he'd climaxed, and she could still feel his manhood pulsing inside her. It was a warm, satisfying feeling, and Brienne never wanted it to end.
But it did end. It had to.
Another moment passed, and then, Jaime pulled away, slipping out of her. He raised up on one elbow so that he could look down at Brienne. His hair was damp, and his face was flushed, and she didn't think he had ever been more beautiful.
Jaime looked like he wanted to say something but was struggling to find the words. Brienne knew there was nothing left to say. The truth was, now that their passions had been spent, she feared that reality would come crashing back down on them again. And that was the very last thing Brienne wanted. For one night, she just wanted to pretend that there was no strife between them, no uncertainty. For one night, she just wanted to lose herself in Jaime's arms and forget that the rest of the world existed.
So instead of waiting for him to speak, Brienne drew him to her again, kissing him softly. When she finally broke away, she said, "Thank you, Jaime."
He shook his head. "No. Thank you, Brienne. I—"
But she couldn't let him finish. She kissed him one more time before encouraging him to lie against her again. They wrapped their arms around each other, and Brienne sighed in contentment. It was not long before they were both fast asleep.