Drake smirked. "its not a nickname, he just calls me that when he's annoyed with me" informing her, as Ralphie shook his head. "she's Ness's friend, you shouldnt be hitting on her" before smirking. "Kirk was the sucker though, scene stealer every time.  he'd been floating in space if it was me"  Drake shook his head. "okay, topic change and we are not ladies, and "holding his hand out as they walked. "nice to meet you, Drake Steel" Ralph raised his hand in a half wave. "Ralph Anderson or Ralphie if you want" 

Xaven shook his head. "no, i wasnt there, i wanted to be, trust me but Marcus had us on the road long before i came awake enough to know.." he'd stopped talking then.  he looked up at her. "you could, trust me on this cause i do, for not being there, for that crappy excuse for a text" he watched her step closer, taking his hand she'd notice he ran a little more warm then before as he let her pull him to the couch, which he sat and sighed, looking down. "means i want to tell you why i couldnt be around you, why it was best i leave but if you saw.."shaking his head, squeezing his free hand into a fist. "you'd truly, for the first time hate me" looking up at her at her question as to why he kept repeating that she should hate him. "because you should and i do.. i know you dont like it, and i know.. im sorry for that as well, its just.. its not easy, Marcus left after a year and we are pretty much learning as we go on this" shaking his head, but her tracing along his life lines was calming. 

when she stopped he looked at her as she moved his hand to her waist while she turned around to face him, and hearing her say she kept loving him, he stared into her eyes, nodding his head. "of course i have and do, there's never been anyone else, no one else could come close to you" hearing she wanted to kiss him, his own heart began beating like a drum, pounding away.  she might or might not notice a scent around him,  Musky, woodsy even.  he couldnt help it, he hadnt really thought to train himself in controlling that, as he'd never been turned on before, in five years.. and now, he was and it was flowing freely so to speak. "i dont want to hurt you again" bringing his other hand up, leaving one on her waist he caressed and cupped her cheek, sliding it down her neck. "you cant begin to imagine how i've wanted to touch you again, but im afraid of hurting you"