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"Alright."

Suddenly, Katherine notices cold sweat invading her hands from nerves. Her composure has vanished, and she's surprised to realize that something as common as what she wants to propose to Jodie feels so important and transcendental to her.

"Well, I know we haven't been dating long, Jodie, but we spend almost every night together, most at my penthouse and others at your place, and it seems absurd to keep doing this," she says and suddenly falls silent, searching for words to continue.

Jodie jumps in.

"Are you asking me to live together? Is that it?" she asks, her heart about to jump onto the table.

Katherine focuses her blue eyes on her and nods.

"Yes, exactly that, but at my penthouse, not at your place," she feels the need to clarify.

Jodie bites her lips to contain the laughter threatening to overtake her.

"Are you implying something?" she asks, and air from her laugh escapes through her nose, infecting the hotel owner.

"Let's say I'm tired of taking cold showers," Katherine shoots back, and they both let the fit of laughter possess them until they relax.

"That was a low blow," Jodie finally says.

"Did it work?" Katherine asks.

Jodie stands up and sits on her girlfriend's lap, wrapping her arms around her neck.

"Can I think about it?"

"Come on, honey, really?" Katherine says, and this time it's Jodie's turn to smile.

"No," she says and gives her a chaste, soft kiss on the lips, "actually, I don't have to think about it. I want to live with you."

Katherine's hands slide across her cheeks, and the blue of her eyes darkens when she focuses on her seriously before kissing her, as if the world were about to end and Jodie were the only thing she needs to keep breathing.