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gave a watery chuckle. "You know I hate Scotch."
    "Yeah, I know."
    * * * *
    Frankie wiped the tears from his eyes as he followed Xavier. Damn he'd missed him. The sexy older man, with his broad shoulders and kind grey eyes, always listened to him. Not like Rob. Rob, the asshole who Frankie learned too late just wanted a man to wait on him hand and foot. Xave never got upset if he forgot to cook dinner or left his clothes on the bathroom floor.
    He'd certainly never hit him.
    Maybe three years of living with this wonderful man as a roommate had ruined him for other men. He'd only moved in with Rob because he was worried he was going to make a fool of himself over his Xavier. He'd rather cut out his heart than tell Xave how desperately he'd loved him since day one. He settled on the couch, turning to face his friend before he spoke.
    "I know I told you Rob was 'the one', but would you mind if I moved back in here?" It was pathetic, but damn, he'd rather live with Xavier then anywhere else. Hell, if that were all he ever got in his life, it would be enough. He would make it enough.
    "What happened?"
    He knew then, Xavier wasn't going to let it go.
    Biting his lip, he carefully pulled off his shirt. He heard Xavier suck in his breath as Frankie held his. He knew how bad it looked. Lurid bruises covered his stomach and chest from the beating he'd received earlier. The last time he let that jerk touch him.
    Long fingers brushing across his skin made him gasp from the heat of Xavier's touch. How many nights had he stayed awake longing for that man's fingers on his skin?
    "I'm going to kill the fucker." His voice was so quiet Frankie thought he'd heard him wrong. His gentle, sweet, Xavier sounded vicious. In three years living together he'd never heard the kind man do more than show minor annoyance.
    He never cursed.
    Never.
    Looking into those familiar grey eyes, he saw true rage.
    "Xave?"
    "Where is he?"
    Shit .
    Frankie slid across the couch, wrapping his arms around the man he had come to care for so deeply. It was the only way he knew to keep Xave in place. "I don't want you to get arrested. I'm here now and I'm not going back to that bastard. I swear." He moved until he was straddling Xave’s lap, forcing Xave to face him eye-to-eye. "I'm sorry I left," he said in a softer voice.
    "Why did you leave? I could tell you didn't love him."
    Xave’s big hands cupped Frankie’s hips, holding him in place.
    "I-I thought you might want to have the house to yourself. I heard you tell someone on the phone that you were going to start dating." He swallowed the lump in his throat. No matter how he phrased the next part it sounded bad. "I didn't want you to not date because of me. No guy is going to want you if you come with baggage. I didn't want to be your baggage."
    He only wanted good things for Xave. Always. If it took him leaving for his friend to find the love of his life, Frankie was willing to let him go even if it ripped out his heart.
    "Frankie, what am I going to do with you?" He was gently wrapped in long arms and pulled close until he sprawled across Xave’s sexy, muscled body. Frankie let out a contented sigh and settled his head in a convenient crook between his roommate's neck and shoulder. If only he could stay here forever. Shit, Rob's touch had never felt half this good and they'd had sex.
    Even if his boyfriend hadn't turned into an abusive asshole, Frankie doubted they would've lasted. The thought of spending Christmas away from the man he loved had torn him apart. It was time to face the facts. He was willing to stay until Xave threw him out. He would take any scraps of affection tossed his way, like a pathetic stray following this wonderful man about, begging for love and a good home.
    "You're not baggage," The deep voice rumbled against his ear. "You're an amazing person with a big heart. Rob doesn't deserve you, and if he dares show himself here I will beat the crap out of him myself."
    He nuzzled against