Page 156 of Burn Like An Angel

“Want me to fasten it?”

Nodding, I hold out my wrist for him. “Please.”

The chain slips easily around my wrist, fitting like it was made for me. I’m still a little flabbergasted. No one has ever bought me jewellery before, and this is exactly my style.

“Perfect.” Xander fastens the small catch. “Now you’re shackled to us for life.”

“Is this some kind of proposal?” I laugh.

“No.” He rests back in my lap. “Just a reminder.”

Smiling to the others, I murmur my thanks. They both take seats, their expressions pleased. I bury my fingers in Xander’s hair, gaze focused on the unique present.

The simplest of gestures mean even more coming from him. It was worth getting out of bed just to see his features soften and his eyes slide shut now that I’ve approved of his gift.

Sighing as he relaxes, it’s clear that Xander is perfectly content with me touching him. Lennox watches his best friend’s behaviour with a perplexed look.

“Well that’s just fucking bizarre.”

Eyes still closed, Xander flips him off. “Fuck off.”

“Since when did you become a cuddler, Xan?”

“Since now, shithead.”

I try not to disturb Xander with my silent laughter, accepting a beer from Lennox. He and Raine are sharing the other sofa, clinking their beers together.

“I’m not sure when I last had a drink.” I lift my own bottle. “This is going to taste so good.”

“You literally doled out contraband for over a year.” Lennox frowns at me. “You never drank any of it?”

“Well, no.”

Raine sighs in pleasure as he sips his beer. “Seems like a waste of power to me.”

“Agreed.” Lennox nods.

“Neither of us should be drinking on medication,” I point out.

Raine swallows his mouthful. “I don’t care right now.”

Taking a long draw, I savour the lightly fizzing liquid. I’ve never been much of a drinker, but something about this feels triumphant. Like we’re celebrating living long enough to share a pack of beers.

“Did you get the sour cream pretzels?” Raine asks.

Without answering, Xander plucks them from our pile of snacks and tosses them at Raine. They hit his chest. He hums happily, tearing into the snacks with gusto.

“So freaking good,” he mumbles around a mouthful.

Lennox wrinkles his nose. “That’s the worst flavour.”

“Then I don’t have to share with you. Win-win.”

Lennox starts the movie, but I’m too focused on the silky-soft tresses weaving through my fingers. I comb through Xander’s hair before repeating the action, measuring and studying each platinum strand.

Having him so relaxed around me feels like a privilege. A couple of nights ago, he even slithered into bed with Lennox and me. The three of us tangled together without uttering a word. It felt so natural.

“Have you ever been on a first date before?” I whisper to him.

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