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Loweringinwhite wine When I looked up, his broere raised

"Lush," he ed ets cold"

The food was divine Any doubts I had about Dee’s cooking abilities vanished Throughout our little lass of wine I also ate everything that Daes

And by the time I stabbed the pumpkin pie withto believe that there washiht it--sort of--and I know damn well that Daemon could if he wanted to

Maybe he just didn’t want to

Cleaning up dinner was a strangely intimate experience Our elbows brushed several times Amiable silence descended as ashed the dishes, side by side My cheeks felt flushed My thoughts ay too giddy

Too much wine

I followed Daee box to the living rooe of the couch, I foldedno clue what he was up to

Daereen-needled branch and poked me with it "I think we have a Christ the parade, but I think Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving special is on, and, well, that’s not too bad"

That was it The lu it this ti from the couch, I raced out of the rooed my throat as I wiped underthe staircase His eyes ide, pupils luminous I tried to turn away, but he quickly envelopedarms "I didn’t do this to make you cry, Kat"

"I know," I sniffled "It’s just …"

"It’s just what?" He cupped led from the contact "Kitten?"

"I don’t think you knolike this means to"I haven’t done this since--since Dad was alive And I’m sorry to cry, because I’m not sad I just didn’t expect this"

"It’s okay" Daeedet it Good tears and all"

There was so in his arms And I wanted to deny it, but for the first tiiant Rubik’s Cube he had to crack or if it was the healing rabbed a handful of his shirt and held on He ht he kne much this meant to me, but he really didn’t Daemon would never know

I liftedhis sht his lips to mine and kissed hi all the way to my toes I pulled back, breathless "Thank you I really ers overthe last of my tears away "Don’t let anyone know about hed "All right, let’s do this"

Tri a Christmas tree with an alien was a different experience He moved the recliner out fro in the air along with twinkling lights that weren’t plugged in

We laughed A lot Every so often I’d get choked up when I thought of Moht

Daemon dropped silvery tinsel on my head while I plucked a bulb out of the air "Thanks," I said

"It kind of fits you"

The scent of artificial pine filled the living rooiant I grinned at Daereen it al to be his bulb

I placed it right under the twinkling star

It was al on the couch, thigh against thigh, we stared at our masterpiece The tree was a little tinsel-heavy on one side, but it was perfect A rainbow of colored lights shiliood" He leaned in toShe has to have everything the same color, but I think our tree looks better It’s like a disco ball"

Our tree I s the sound of that

He bu this"

"I did, too"

Daemon’s lashes lowered Man, I’d kill for a set of those babies "It’s late"

"I know" I hesitated "You want to stay?"

A single brow arched

That hadn’t coht "I don’t mean that"