Noble followed her dutifully; he was glad that his palms were dry, and not betraying his nerves. "Gin's my favorite," Noble answered; when they came to the drink cart, he rested his free hand on her hip, extremely aware of all the layers that separated them from their mutual goal. Now that he was here, in her aunt's home — it did not seem like very many layers after all.

He kissed her earlobe; there was no reason that the drink could prevent them from starting some intimacies now.