"So when you let me in,

You let me justify my own reward.

You put your hands on me,

and I will learn the words, I didn't know before."

- Katatonia

- So, which one would you choose, Edgar Linton or Heathcliff? Charles asked.

They were sitting on the table of the same Italian restaurant he had taken Leonore once. The storm was still raging outside, but inside it was cozy and warm. They had dined very well indeed, and even if Alice had not eaten much, she had enjoyed every course, and especially the different wines they had tasted.

Now that Alice gazed at her, laughing at his question, Charles could tell that she was a bit tipsy. This was interesting, for he had not seen her like this before.

- That's like asking to pick between Rhett Butler and Ashley Wilkes, or Levin and Vronsky, Alice laughed.

- So, it is a hard choice?

- It changes by the day, Charles. And by my age. When I was fifteen, I would've gone for Heathcliff, but now? Edgar Linton isn't that bad. Is it wrong to want safety, something enduring? Unearned love?

- All love is unearned, is it not? Charles mused.

Alice sipped her wine, and took a spoonful of her tiramisu.

- True. So, which one are you, Charles? Are you Rhett or Ashley? Vronsky or Levin? Heathcliff or Linton?

- Can't I be both?

- I think that you are, indeed, she giggled. Vronsky's passion and Levin's manners in one man. And that's exactly why I…. like you so much, Charles.

I like you, she said.

The words cut Charles' heart, for she still had not said the word love. How many times had he said that he loved her? And she still wouldn't, not after everything, not even if Charles had felt it in her mind when they had touched.

So, he was Levin, of course. For Vronsky would have pushed away the plates and the silverware, the flowers and the candles, and taken her on this table right now. And Alice would have breathed the words of love in his ear. But Levin, he sat quietly and waited, constantly, never giving up hope.

She looked at Alice, her swan like neck, her high cheekbones, her proud posture that made her look regal. She had changed into a burgundy dress, that revealed her collarbones and shoulders, and the deep color made her skin look like ivory. She had wrapped a scarf of same colour to her head, like a turban, to hide the stubble, and it gave her an exotic look, like she was a princess from the 'Tales from a Thousand and One Nights'.

- And you, Alice? Are you Melanie or Scarlett? Kitty or Anna?

- You know it is not so simple. We are real people, Charles, not characters. You can't simplify a person like that.

- This isn't fair, Alice. You asked the same from me just a minute ago.

- And you didn't give me a straight answer either, Professor! she mocked, You tell me, which one am I? For you have touched my mind, and therefore you should know.

Charles gazed at Alice's eyes, which had candle light and too much wine in them, and sighed.

He remembered the first times she had seen Alice in the coffee house, and tried to talk to her. She had been so shy, so quiet! And she still had that side that searched for solitude and kept her distance to other people. But the more he learned to know her, the more he begun to suspect there was a Scarlett hidden inside of Alice. She had that flaming spark of life and passion, he had tasted on the forest of their minds.

- You are Scarlett, my dear. Aren't you?

- Scarlett, wishing she was Melanie, Alice laughed. I'm in between, as are you Charles. Prisoners of our status, manners and upbringing, holding back our instincts and needs.

- You know I would not hold them back, if I didn't have to, he said and felt his voice had turned husky.

- Charles… she pleaded and hid her eyes by looking down.

She didn't have to say it out loud, he knew what she meant.

Let's not go there.

Let's not talk about it, for there is nothing we can do to change it.

But Charles was not going to accept this was how the things were. By God, they were both telepahts! If they could not touch for real, there was always the next best thing.

- Do you trust me Alice? he asked.

- With my life.

- Good. For I have a plan. I want us to try something.

- What is it? she asked, and and he heard the suspicion in her voice.

- You said you trusted me, now have faith.

- I'm not an optimist by nature, Charles. My nature is to doubt, to be scared.

- I won't let anything happen to you, you know that, he reassured.

- Alright, Charles. What do you want me to do?

- I need you to let me in.

- In, like… in my mind?

- Yes. Let down your guard, and let me in, Alice. I know you have secrets you don't want to tell me, and it is fine. I promise, I won't pry, I won't go digging in the dark corners. I just need you to let me touch your mind.

- You promise? Not to spy? her voice was still edgy, and there was fear in her eyes.

- I promise. Besides, you are strong enough to kick me out anytime. Now, just look into my eyes, and let me in.

He placed his fingers to his temple, and concentrated. He felt his thought surrounding hers, and gently pushed the wall, she had built to protect her mind, but it didn't give in.

- Just relax, he whispered. I'm not going to hurt you.

He saw, how Alice closed her eyes, and breathed out.

Slowly he began to sense how she stopped blocking him, and let him in.

And there he was, in her head now. She gasped, as she felt his feelings, his love, his desire, but Charles didn't bother to hide them.

He was curious, for he sensed the secrets she was keeping, like there was a basement with a locked door in her mind, and he felt drawn to that door. But a promise was a promise, he looked away from her secrets and concentrated.

He sent an image to her mind.

He didn't want to be Ashely now, he wanted to be Rhett. And thus, he sent the image of what he wanted to do with her, if only they could.

She was standing naked in his arms, and he was kissing her. His breath was on her lips, his hands on her hair. He was pulling her near, and her uncovered breasts brushed against his shirt.

Charles heard as Alice breathed in sharply.

His thoughts lit a fire inside of her, he knew, a fire they both had in vain tried to suppress.

And now he knelt before her, pressed his face to the bare skin of her abdomen. His lips nibbled her skin gently, he moved his hands to caress her sharp hipbones, and kissed her navel - with his tongue. His lips were hot on her cool skin, as he sucked her navel, and he let her feel his desire, pressing his palms tight on the skin of her hips.

He moaned, and the air he breathed brushed her skin.

Downwards, he let his lips taste her skin, his kisses wandered slowly downwards.

And then, his tongue was there.

- Oh! Alice gasped, and opened her eyes.

She pushed Charles away from her mind in a heartbeat, and he winced.

- Charles! You shouldn't have, she breathed.

Alice's cheeks were burning, and she looked down, to her empty plate. Her hands still shaky she picked up the glass of wine, and raised it to her lips.

- I'm sorry, Alice. I scared you, he breathed.

His mouth was dry and voice husky, his heart beat like a bass drum.

- No, it's alright. I'm alright. You just took me by surprise, that is.

She looked up to his eyes. She was aroused, he could tell, and it made him bold.

- Alice, I have wanted to kiss you there, since I first laid my eyes on you.

She sipped her wine, no more like gulped it, and Charles saw her trembling.

- I think we should leave, she said, her voice no more than a whisper.

- I think so too, he said, and smiled.