<em>- Bo receiving pad &amp; pen from Mila, writing his questions, then passing pad &amp; pen to Nicci -</em><br/><br/>After taking his seat by the fire, Bo noticed the pad and pen sitting on the table across the room.  His eyes scanned to Mila and saw the folded up piece of paper on the small table next to where she was sitting on the sofa.  Thinking he had better grab the pad and at least begin to think of what questions he might ask, he shifted in his seat.  Just then, Nicci scooted back against the edge of his chair changing his focus.  He smiled softly at the back of her head, her hair, luxuriously soft rich mahogany strands, flowed like waves crashing over her delicate shoulders.   He took a slow sip of his drink as he flashed back to their kiss.  In his mind, it was a moment of pure awakening, when all of his senses had been seduced into her touch.  Like a parched mouth finding a cool crystal spring amongst the barren hills of a sandy desert, he was intensely eager to find his way back to that spring, to drink more fully from its life affirming waters.<br/><br/>He was thinking that he didn't want to stand so soon after Nicci had slid up against his chair.  Like a lion observing a nervous gazelle, he feared that any sudden movement might scare her off to perch elsewhere.  And some part of him was already developing a need for her closeness.  At the very least, he enjoyed the comfort of her presence.  But he would have to get the paper at some point, so perhaps a quick maneuver and retreat with paper in hand was the action that would be least likely to disturb.  Sitting up straighter, preparing to stand, he gently pressed the palm of his left hand against her back, just in case she was leaning enough of her weight against the chair for it to slide out from under her once he stood.<br/><br/>And as quickly as the action had begun, it was thankfully cut short as Mila's soft hand came into view holding the pad of paper with a pen trapped between it and her thumb.  Removing his hand from Nicci's back, he took the pad and pen from Mila's fingers, looking up into her inviting green eyes framed by her creamy smooth skin.<br/><br/>"Thank you, Mila.  That's very nice of you," he offered sincerely, fixing her gaze with his for just a moment before settling back into the soft leather.  As she turned to walk back to her seat, he risked a quick glance of admiration.<br/><br/>Crossing one leg over the other and resting the pad on his knee, he set his drink beside him on a small end table and held the pen thoughtfully.  The heat of the crackling fire warmed one side of his face and neck as he focused on the blank pad before him.  Words from his past, like honor, loyalty, commitment began to filter through his mind.  Finally, he clicked the pen and began to write.<em>"When would you lie to protect a loved one's feelings?"</em>Then, realizing that he wanted his second question to be a little lighter and more fun, he thought of one he had heard before, long ago.<em>"You are on a sinking ship.  There is one life raft with room for ONLY two.  There are three of you on the ship.  Yourself, your best friend that you have known and loved since you were children, and your new partner whom you have only known for a year but is your soul mate.  The decision of who goes on the raft and who stays on the ship is yours.  There is a 50% chance that rescue will arrive before the ship sinks, and a 50% chance that anyone on the raft will be consumed in the shark infested waters.  What do you decide?"</em>He hoped that it would cause some fun discussion and reveal a little something about each of his new family members.<br/><br/>Ripping the sheet of paper from the pad, folding it neatly one time and slipping it under his drink, he then handed the pad and pen down to Nicci.  "Your turn, my dear," he spoke softly as she glanced back toward him.