“Hey, boy. Good to see you, too. Give mama kisses.” She leaned down so Runner could give her a few kisses on her cheek.

They sat on the oversized couch and Alexander put on Casablanca as Runner sat back down, anxious for some food to be thrown his way. Alexander, being a total sucker for that dog, fed him the occasional piece of sushi when Olivia wasn’t looking.

“I love this movie,” Olivia said, her mouth full of yellowtail.

“I know.”

“You do?” she asked, scrunching her eyebrows in confusion.

“Yeah. You mentioned it once and I just kind of remembered,” Alexander replied nervously.

“I don’t remember that. Oh well,” she shrugged.

Olivia hadn’t told him how much she loved the movie. Not since she was a kid. Alexander remembered sitting in the living room of his family’s house with Olivia when they were younger and they would always watch Casablanca. Olivia couldn’t understand what was happening in the movie, but she always loved the look on Ingrid Bergman’s face when she looked at Humphrey Bogart. It was the look of true love.

She smiled at Alexander, leaned over, and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.

He turned to look at her, his grin touching his eyes. “What was that for?”

“Nothing. I just love this movie.” The look on Alexander’s face at her words made her heart melt. She stared at him, their eyes not breaking from each other for several long moments. Runner walked over and started licking Olivia’s hand, making her laugh. “Silly dog,” she said, returning her attention to the sushi feast sitting in front of her.

They finished their dinner just as Ilsa asked Sam to play As Time Goes By. Alexander snuggled up next to Olivia, laying down next to her on the couch, his front to her back, and he sang along with Sam.

Olivia giggled as he kissed her neck. There was something so familiar about what they were doing, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. It was as if she had been there before, had watched that movie with Alexander before, and he had sung those words to her before. But that couldn’t have happened. She had only known Alexander for a few months. She shook off the feeling and settled in to watch the remainder of the movie.

Gently caressing her stomach underneath her tee shirt, Alexander shifted Olivia onto her back and hovered over her, gazing into her deep brown eyes, not saying a word.

“What?” Olivia asked, trying to break the tension.

“I just like looking at you. You’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Olivia blushed and turned her head to stare at the flat screen television, not really paying attention to the movie.

“Look at me, Olivia.” She continued to stare at the television. “Come on, Love. Don’t you realize how beautiful you are?”

She faced Alexander. “More beautiful than Plastic Surgery Barbie?”

He let out a laugh as he nuzzled against her, inhaling her scent. “Much more beautiful than her. Your beauty comes natural,” he pulled back, gazing deep into her eyes. “She probably shelled out millions of dollars to look the way she does.” He leaned down and kissed her lips softly. “Why do you get so shy when I give you compliments?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t take them so well, I guess. I mean, I’m not the most hideous thing on the planet,” she laughed. “But, look at you. You’re fucking hot.”

Alexander laughed. “You think so, do you?”

“Hell to the fucking yes. You could have your pick of any woman out there who I’m sure wouldn’t put you through half the drama I put you through…”

“Yes. But I want to be with you, Olivia.” He trailed soft kisses along her collarbone. “It’s you, Olivia. It’s only ever been you,” he whispered quietly.

His words caused an overwhelming sensation to surge through Olivia’s core. She wrapped her legs around Alexander’s waist and pulled his head to hers, crushing his lips with her own.

He pulled back briefly. “What made you change your ways, sweetheart?”

Olivia looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

Alexander rolled onto his side and Olivia followed, facing him, as he continued to caress her body from her hips to her shoulder. She loved his touch. Even a simple innocent stroke sent heat throughout her body. “I mean, when we first met, you mentioned how you always did the no strings attached thing. So why me?”

Olivia raised her hands to her face and covered it, not wanting to talk about her feelings. Her feelings petrified her.

“Look at me, Olivia,” he demanded, pulling her hands away from her face and clutching them in his own. “I’m just trying to figure out what makes you tick. That’s all.”

“I could ask you the same question, Alexander,” she replied.

He smiled. “Well, that’s easy. I was waiting to find you. And once I did, I knew you were someone I wanted to get to know more than just a quick fuck.” His words were actually true. He had been waiting to find his Olivia. “Your turn, Miss Adler.”

“I don’t know, Alexander,” Olivia exhaled loudly. “I don’t know if it was any one thing. We kept running into each other randomly. It was almost like someone was sending me a sign. And there was this feeling I had. I was so comfortable with you after spending just a short time with you. That’s why I told you all about my parents’ deaths. It normally takes me forever to open up to anyone, but there was something about you. I felt as if I had known you my entire life.”

Alexander growled as he flipped Olivia onto her back. “Oh, darling. I felt the same way.”

Olivia looked into Alexander’s eyes and did her best Ingrid Bergman impression. “Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time.” She reached up and grabbed his face, forcing his mouth to hers, their tongues doing a frenzied dance. Olivia’s body was on fire, her passion for the man on top of her at a fevered pitch.

He worshiped her body, caressing and nipping from her neck down her sternum, lifting her shirt over the top of her head. He gazed into her eyes, the dominating man she was so accustomed to, nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a look of affection, or maybe, just maybe, something more.

Alexander pulled her nipple into his mouth, sucking tenderly. Olivia let out a quiet cry.

“Do you like that, my Love?” He looked up at Olivia briefly before he moved to the other nipple.

She moaned again, bucking her hips, her body alert with sensation.