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the only alcoholic beverage was wine that she certainly didn't skimp on. He'd only had a glass, so there weren’t drowsy effects beating down on him. He was used to seeing women eat like birds. This woman being comfortable enough to gorge on snack foods fascinated him.
    Halfway through the classic movie , Xander put his arm on the back of the couch, letting his fingers touch her neck. Sighing deep, Shalaine shifted to lean into his chest. He felt like they'd crossed an intimacy milestone. With him, it wasn't just about sex anymore; Xander wanted to blame the movies they'd watched for his change of heart. A part of him was starting to care about Ms. Shalaine Harper, more than the average fling, more along the lines of a good friend. A friend he didn't want to lose. He worried if she was happy or down at every moment and he tried to make her smile when the sad parts in the movies made her teary-eyed.
    He was even starting to care that there was nothing under that damn tree for her.
    It was past midnight and now Christmas and he wanted Shalaine to have something . She deserved that much.
    His thumb began drawing circles on her skin and he noticed the movement made her nipples perk. She was so gorgeous, her skin the color of rich chocolate, hair the shade of ebony that had a beautiful glow in the firelight. He yearned to touch it, to caress any part of her. Xander sagged deeper in the couch, pretending to get comfortable, but it brought him closer to her body. He was surprised she couldn't feel the emotions pulsing through his body. Or perhaps she did and that's what triggered this touchy-feely moment as she laid her hand on his chest.
    She yawned and stretched. "I don't think I can make it through another film , but I don't want to move either. I should get my lazy ass up and go to bed."
    "Oh." Xander tried not to sound bumme d. She was ready for bed and he would be stuck in the living room with empty arms again. Would she think him insane if he asked to hold her all night? Where is this sappy shit coming from?
    "I'll try to watch the rest of this one then go to bed ," she murmured and lowered her head on his chest. The fact that she didn't brush him off or shift away spoke volumes. Shalaine liked being in his arms and he liked her being there. He found himself making room not just in his arms but in his heart.
    His mother often talked of sparks flying and that was how she'd met his father. He'd long been a skeptic of their history of quick romance , but he'd never seen a moment of them being unhappy with one another. He didn't think this was anything other than his loneliness weighing heavy on him, but her company had been the best he'd had in a long time. That was something he didn't want to give up.

SEVEN
     
    Xander blinked and noticed the TV was on the main menu of the DVD. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the watch on his wrist. It was one-thirty in the morning. Shalaine was passed out beside him, hugging his body like a pillow. He stared into the low flames of the fire for a moment and decided to move her to the comfortable bed. After lifting her into his arms, he walked into her room and laid her on the thick comforter. He took the folded quilt from the chair in the corner and covered her with it, making sure her bare feet were tucked. He turned to flick her lamp off, but she grabbed his wrist, halting his movement.
    "Stay with me tonight." Her eyes were soft , just like her body had been as he held her tight.
    Xander twisted his wrist to grab a hold of her hand. "Are you sure?" What the fuck was that? Xander Christian didn't ask for surety; he just did things. Was he getting soft over the years, or was he just getting soft for her?
    A flirty smile spread across her lips as she looked at him. "Yes."
    Xander rose up and unbuttoned his shirt , aware that Shalaine's eyes were watching his every move. He kicked off his shoes, trying to remember why he had them on in the first place. Snowed in somewhere in Alaska, yet he