The PinUp Coffee Shop

Happy New Year's

I apologize in advance for any typos or confusion, I am writing this very late in the night, and I am exhausted. But I wanted to give you a New year's extra. What a way to celebrate the end of 2020!!!

"Seven minutes to midnight," Clary leaned up against Jace's chest, her white beanie with the grey ball tickled Jace's nose. Her hair had flakes of snow in the bright red strands as they fell over her clad covered shoulders. She was wearing her emerald green trench coat that Jace had gotten her for Christmas, and her hands were bundled in her white wool gloves.

Jace in turn was wearing his black wool coat and the black and red scarf that she had gotten him. It was a solid black with writing in crimson along the hem that read: To Keep You as Warm as Your Arms Keep Me. He looked down and read it frequently feeling a sense of pride, despite having just received it days earlier. But every time he did look at it, he knew he was smiling like an idiot.

His arms were actually wrapped around her at that precis moment; her body folded into his, fitting together like the pieces of wood holding a dam. Perfectly. "Six minutes until we start our new year together." He tightened his hold on her, squeezing her to his chest. It made him pause and worry that he had compressed her to hard, but she giggled and tried to turn in his arms. He let her go enough to do just that.

She pushed aside the sides of his coat so she could wrap her own arms around his waist and press her ear to his chest. His heart was beating so loudly in her ear. It was calm and yet it was still beating faster than what she imagined was normal for other people but was a normal pace for his. She let her eye lids close and inhaled his scent of black pepper and cinnamon and sunshine. It was such a calming smell, she wished that she could have an essential oil or wax cubes made up of this smell and have them around her all of the time. "A year to start off in happiness and comfort," she clutched him in her arms tighter. The snow was falling all around the wind had picked up, biting at their skin, but it was nothing compared to the warmth they sent through one another.

They were surrounded by people in Times Square, but it was like it was just the two of them when they held each other like this. "A year of truth and love," Jace replied and his hand tangled into her curls.

"Five minutes until we spend a year in bliss." Clary looked up at him through her snow flecked copper lashes. Her eyes were bright and sincere. She was excited to be ringing in the new year, watching the ball drop as she stood next to the only man, she felt she could give her whole self to. The same man that made her feel like she was enough and deserving of love. The man that gave her these experiences of feeling like a child.

He was watching her when she looked at him, making her blush. She didn't always realize it when he was staring at her, but she loved the look she always saw in his eyes when she realized it. It wasn't just infatuation, but it wasn't just love either. There was something so much more about the power of his gaze. It was more intoxicating than drinking an entire bottle of bourbon. This was more powerful than any drug. That predatory but loving gaze of his was something that made her insides turn to water. She was like putty in his hands.

"Four minutes until we can celebrate the start of a year of us. Of me worshipping you every day." His voice was rough like he was swallowing gravel. And it had the desired effect.

She felt a shiver run over her and she bit her lip, raising herself a bit on her toes. Not close enough to kiss him, but close enough for him to feel her breath, warm on his face. "Three minutes until we bring in the new year with a bang." She smirked back at him, almost challenging him.

Clary saw his pupils blow up, almost swallowing the iris. "Maybe not exactly three minutes for that, but I can be patient until we get back to the house." He winked at her making her giggled and lean a bit closer. "But two minutes until I give you the new year's kiss that every girl dreams about. Plus, some."

She crinkled her nose in a mocking gesture. "I don't know about every girl," her eyelashes batted at him as she nuzzled her face into his neck and kissed the warm skin. "But two minutes until I get to return the favor."

Jace too leaned his head down so he could bury his nose in her hair and close his eyes and inhale her scent like it was the only oxygen he had access to. Her smell was sweet and floral, but so natural. She was a mix of minty lavender, to a pomegranate and jasmine. He couldn't quite pinpoint it, but he loved it.

"One minute until we see the start of a new year of nothing but us. You, Jonny, and me."

Clary flicked her gaze up at him, her eyes devouring him, scalding him in desire. "Thirty seconds," she whispered as she rose up higher.

"Fifteen." Jace leaned down and brushed his lips against hers but didn't press into her. His arm came around her waist tighter and pulled her body against his, so they were pressed everywhere. He barley heard her as she whispered five, he was too focused on the red of her lips.

And before the cheering had started, they collided, and it was like the light that flared around them; the fireworks erupting, and the cheering; was all for them. They were what was being celebrated, because a love like this was rare and beautiful. It deserved celebration.