The evening chatter traveled up from the dining room in its usual manner, more professional than full of fun. A small nip of evening chill in the hall sent a spider over Frankie's skin, and she rubbed her arm in a half attempt to warm the skin. As he placed a hand on the small of her back, a warmth spread through Frankie as just a memory of all they had done that day. The ache between her thighs throbbed with the memories with each step. Looking up at Xavier's beautiful, rough face, his gaze shifted to her own and softened. As he stared into her with such interest, she felt completely naked in front of him, vulnerable, and safer than she ever had. There was something between them from the moment they had met, and she knew deep in her bones, he felt it too.
The room silences as Xavier an
