Eternal Flame.

The smell was different outside this Christmas Eve. It was a fresh and new scent, the frozen air was full of oxygen and it slowly awakened life in Genovia. A few sheer white snowflakes twirled through the dark grey cloudy sky, fluttering around like butterflies and landing softly on the frozen grass and glistening treetops.

The grand, Majestic stone Castle was silent, covered in darkness, all the towers seemingly painted black on the background of the dark midnight sky. By the looks of it, all the drapes, blinds and shutters in the castle were shut, but if one looked very closely, from one window came a stream of soft, flaming and yet sparkling light.

Inside the grand suite where this window was located, a fire was burning in the fire place and in the corner was a Christmas tree that was as high as the ceiling, lit by hundreds of sparkling little lights. The ornaments were gold and dark red, the tinsel glittering gold, all reflecting the light of several burning candles that were standing on a table right next to the tree.

Right before the fireplace, on a dark green sofa, were two people. If one didn't know who these people were, and got the chance to study them, their outfits would draw his immediate attention. The woman was dressed in a long, velvet dark red dress. It was embroidered in silver and golden thread, multicoloured glass beads and spangles. The dress clung to her and outlined her body, emphasizing her perfectly round figure, pulling slightly on her hips and thighs. It fell from her upper legs as if it was a fluid, waving gently, covering her feet and dark red satin high heels. Her necklace was simple but elegant, one single diamond resting between her gracious collar bones. The skin of her chest was smooth and if one looked very closely, there were traces of miniscule sparkles on it. Her short hair was perfectly into style, her dark golden locks were brightened up with sun kissed highlights and she wore it safely tucked behind her ears. The ears that held two sparkling, diamond earrings, small but unmistakably present. Her nails were long, perfectly manicured; shiny, clear nail polish accentuated her natural beauty and one single ring was glittering on her finger.

In her left hand she loosely held a glass of red wine, the flames of the fire reflecting in its surface. Her other hand rested on her lap most of the time, calm, relaxed, but every once in a while her finger would draw shapes on the soft fabric of the sofa. The figures she drew were round, perfect circles, with no real beginning or end.

She glanced aside at the man next to her as she took a sip of her wine. He was about the same age and he stared calmly into the fire. By the looks of it, this man was in great physical shape. His back was straight, his arms firm, and the look in his eyes was vital and full of energy. He too was sipping from a glass of red wine, letting the fluid dance on his tongue before he swallowed it. His suit was unmistakably of a good quality, the shade seemingly black but in reality dark grey. His tie matched his silk shirt, both having the exact same shade of midnight blue, but his collar was loosened a bit, as if he had just tugged it to get more air. And it seemed as if he didn't realize that he was being observed.

Clarisse smiled to herself as she moved her gaze towards the fire again, earlier this evening she had known they would end up like this, together once more, bathing in the warmth of a fire. Like they had done a few nights in a row now. They sought each other's company without speaking about it, without confronting the other, without even joking about it. They just sat there, often lost in silence, yet they were talking without words.

Not until a few months ago it hadn't been like this, this warm, this pleasant, this exciting. It hadn't been like this, but it had changed after their midnight talk in late summer, when there was finally no other soul around. Looking back now, that evening had been the turning point and it felt as if there was no way back.

They had always been friends, yes, with a mutual sense of interest, perhaps, but before that night there wasn't this strange tension between them. Back then she didn't feel just as sparkly as her Christmas tree right now, with nerves that seemed to be doubled in sensitivity, and back then she hadn't even stopped to think of attempting to grow closer towards him. But she had. Intentionally so. And she knew she had hit target, she sensed it, it was sizzling in the air like a threatening thunderstorm.

Truth was, she had neglected her feminine side for too long. And to say that she didn't enjoy his reactions to her when she spoke directly to him, touching her hair doing so, was a lie. She would always deny it, even under torture, but she knew he was watching her when she pulled her hands through her hair, when she touched her lips with just one finger, yes also when she deliberately caressed the skin of her chest. She felt his gazed burning upon her skin as she walked in front of him, it even made her walk differently, her hips swaying just that little bit more and her lips curving in a careful knowing smile. He saw it, all of it, of that she was sure, he watched her every move with eyes that seemed to caress her. It was thrilling beyond belief, to feel the admiration of a man once again, and it was, to say the least, addictive. And, as any addiction, she needed more and more from this thrill to continue to feel satisfied. She needed more…

"…Fire," she said softly.

He glanced aside. "Excuse me?"

She coughed, she couldn't believe she had spoken out loud. "Fire…I mean, fire has always fascinated me. It's so powerful at times. Look at it Joseph, look…"

He glanced at the fire, quickly, then back at her. "Yes, powerful. Beautiful too."

She blinked slowly, the flames reflected in her eyes and he inhaled deeply, breathing in her sweet scent. She smelled differently this evening, it was a new perfume she was wearing. Usually she would wear light scents, something with flowers and citrus fruit, reminding him of a rainy morning in springtime. But this scent he smelled right now was more oriental, spicy, all right darker if he had to name it something. It was an enticing scent, yet subtle, as if it was inviting him to lean in closer to fully appreciate it.

"I mean…" she said as she inhaled deeply, shifting a little so her shoulder brushed his. Her scent became suddenly stronger, enveloping him. "…The individual flames, how they play so dangerously together." Her voice was soft, dreamy. "One minute they're connected as one bright light, co-mingled, burning brightly and with great heat, crackling, throwing off sparks and embers… and then moving away to burn by themselves for a while."

He followed her gaze towards the flames, looking right into it, drifting along with the soft tone of her voice. Suddenly he saw what she was describing, he'd never looked at fire like this. Everything miraculously revealed itself when he was with her, she brought that out in him, the realization of things that seemed meaningless until then.

Then she became quiet and rested her head against the back of the sofa, leaning a little so her hair almost tickled against his head. Almost. He felt her though, regarding the little distance that was still between them. He even felt the warmth of her body on his skin, despite the staggering heat from the fire.

He hesitated to speak but then decided to do so. "Almost as if it's just too hot," he said, moving his eyes towards the Christmas tree. Avoiding the source of heat. "Almost frighteningly so. The individual flames are just too hot and too dangerous to be able to get too close." He lowered his hand so it came to rest on the sofa, right next to hers. Instantly she stopped drawing shapes and she looked down on their hands, not quite touching but reaching out.

Silence fell and she exhaled slowly through her mouth, feeling how her body was starting to tingle all over. Her stomach was fluttery, her head dizzy as if she were in freefall. She placed her glass on the table next to her.

"And yet, single flames don't really make a fire - they need each other to create warmth - to make anything burn," she whispered, turning her face towards him. Although he didn't look at her she could see it in his face, the reaction to her carefully picked words. He was trying to resist her, a realization that had always amused her, but suddenly out of nowhere it tickled her. She too could play this game, only better, so help her God…

Oh, she could think of countless reasons to ask him to leave right now. Maybe because of the wine, but probably because the electricity that sparkled in the air, she slowly leaned down towards him to take off one of her satin shoes. Her smile was relaxed as she rubbed her toes, stretching out her leg in front of her. The other shoe followed suit, falling to the floor.

He glanced at her from aside as she bent down, staring at the view that was suddenly exposed to him. She was perfectly round, creamy, luscious all over. Then he moved his gaze towards the floor, seeing her dark red high heels on the soft carpet. He didn't comment on her change of position, his body, along with his voice, seemed to be frozen.

Then, slowly, she shifted in her seat so she could tuck her legs underneath her, her upper body turned in his direction, her elbow resting on the back of the couch, her face leaning on her hand. She sat there for a while, watching him with a small smile, only seeing him, his posture, his head, his hands, his suit.

He swallowed, clearing his throat. His heart started pounding in his chest by the realization. Clarisse, Queen of Genovia, his employer, was flirting with him. And he should walk away right now.

She smiled, bringing her hand to her mouth, slowly biting the nail of her index finger. When she inhaled to speak he did look at her. She smiled at him with that bright, innocent smile. That rapturous smile, combined with her low voice made it almost impossible for him to breathe. "It's almost like two lovers who are afraid of being burned by the heat between them to do anything to stoke the fire -- and yet somehow it never seems to burn itself out. The embers are always there... "

He could only nod. His mouth was dry, annoyingly so, so he brought his glass up to his mouth again, finding out that it was empty. He never even realized he had finished his beverage.

"More wine Joseph?" she asked, extending her hand to accept his glass. Her finger brushed his hand as she took it away from him.

"No," he said, his voice hoarse. "No, I always drink only one glass."

"I noticed that," she said, "why is that?"

He coughed. "One is enough."

She shook her head in an amused way. She leaned backwards to grab the bottle of wine that was standing next to the couch on the side table. "I think you're afraid to lose control," she said as she filled his glass. She returned to the same position, offering him the wine with a glitter in her eye that he'd never seen before. She was breathtaking.

"There's a good reason for it," he said, his voice low. He shook his head slightly as he accepted the crystal glass. "It's my job to…"

She leaned backwards again to pick up her own beverage, to return to her position right away. "It's Christmas Eve Joseph, you're not working. Cheers." She raised her glass at him and took a sip.

He chuckled softly. "But I…"

"You don't give into temptation very easily, do you Joseph?" she then asked, lowering her glass. He was about to comment without knowing how when she continued. "Don't you ever get tired of always doing the right thing?"

"Tired of it?" He smiled. "Maybe I just realize that things can happen to people when they're tempted. Things that could be...dangerous. Things that can't be taken back."

"Touché," she nodded. "But to feel and to act are two different things."

He took a sip, ignoring her satisfied smile. "True."

Silence fell and he took a few sips, tasting how the wine melted on his tongue. It was a spicy wine, powerful, sweet but not too sweet. As always, when it came to Clarisse's taste for the good things in life, it was perfect. He coughed when he suddenly felt her index finger stroking his hand. The touch was as light as a feather but he felt it shooting through his entire body.

"What's your weak spot Joseph?" she whispered, removing her finger. "I'm trying to figure it out, you always seem so strong and unbreakable."

He shifted in his seat, feeling how his heart started beating in his throat now. Then he looked aside, staring straight in the dark blue sparkling eyes of the woman he had desired for so many years. "You're a tease, you know that?"

TBC...soon...