The Fire Is So Delightful "Devil's Run," he said as they stood, side by side, staring up at the mountain. "Oh! Sounds scary," she said with mock fear. An act. He smiled at her. Two could play this game. "It is," he said, turning to face her and doing his best not to smile or start laughing. "Only the best of the best dare to try it." Her eyes lit with that special sparkle he found fascinating. "The best of the best, heh?" she looked at him and then looked away, hoping to hide the twinge of a smile that pulled at her lips. "So you haven't tried it yet." He choked back a laugh with a cough and shot her a look. Touché, he thought. He said, "Actually, I'm the only one to make it down still standing." They turned towards each other, breathing heavily with excitement. His hands came up to her arms and rubbed from her shoulders down to her elbows and up again. Her long raven hair whipped over her shoulders and flew past him. He took a step closer, leaning closer, his warm breath caressing her ear. "A race?" he asked, his eyes closing as her scent wrapped itself around him. Her face turned into his, her breath scalding his flesh. "A race?" she repeated a little breathless. "Hai." His lips coming close but not touching her cheek. She pulled back, a smile teasing her lovely face. "For what results?" "If I win..." he began. "Yes?" "You spend the night here, on Earth," he said. "With me." She was quiet, which he thought was good because that meant she did not reject his offer right out. The smile froze on her face. Her heart stopped-- and then began to beat wildly. "And--" she licked her lips, "If I win?" He thought for a moment and then smiled. "If you win," he said, leaning into her, just a bit, "Then I will spend the night with you," he whispered close to her lips, so close to her sweet lips. She pulled back laughing. "And will your prince not miss your presence? Will he not wonder where his general has wandered off to?" His heart soared and he smiled. She had not rejected him! "Endymion has only to look at the beautiful princess I am with now to know where I have strayed to," he whispered, trying to move closer. But she turned and walked towards the mountain. She was quiet for several moments, and he feared she would say 'no'. And then she turned back to him, her face serious. "I accept your challenge," she said softly, "and the terms under which you offer it." ********* The cold wind extended its icy fingers for her, caressing her face and body, though she was stuffed into several layers of clothing. She looked down at the slope, a twinge of excitement racing through her veins. 'Who would win this race?' she wondered. 'Where would you like to spend the night?' her heart questioned back. "The first to reach the bottom wins," he said, coming up behind her. She turned, startled out of her reserve. He flashed her a smile. "Oh and one more thing: no magick." And then he disappeared, flying down the slope without another word. She looked after him with shock, which melted into amusement. He was eager, she thought with a smile. "Very well, General," she whispered into the wind, "If that is how you wish to play this game." She waited, several more minutes, studying the slope she was to ski...and him. He held himself very well on the snow. Again she felt that twinge of excitement. "Easy," she said to herself adjusting her goggles, her gloves, checking the fastenings on her skis. Finally she stood up-- And then she was off. The wind slapped into her like a brick wall. The snow fled beneath her. And it was in no time that she had caught up to him. It was a rush... but then, everything with him was a rush. They held, side-by-side, flying over the frosty powder with elegance and excellence. ********* Down at the small lodge, a long blond-haired young woman looked out a window and saw the two flying bodies racing down the mountain. A body came up behind her, leaning into her lithe body. "He is a fool to take her on the mountain," he whispered in her ear. She leaned back, smiling. "I would not worry about Mars or General Jedite," she whispered. "She's holding back now, though why, I can not guess." "Holding back?" he asked, sounding amazed. But she nodded her head solemnly. "She is used to skiing much larger mountains than that little one right there." He began to laugh, and pulled her closer. ********** "A tie then," she said, turning around and falling down, sitting in the snow to release her skis, and look up at him. Her smile washed away when she realized he was frowning. "You held back!" he accused, standing over her. "Wh--what?" He turned away, striding away. Away from her. She struggled to her feet, calling after him, but he refused to answer. "Jedite, wait! Please, wait!" She was surprised when he finally did stop, near the entrance to the cabin. She almost ran into him. "Please," she repeated, panting. He whirled again, this time to face her, and the fury that burned in his blue-gray eyes both excited and frightened her. "You purposely threw our race," he said in a tightly controlled voice. "Why?' And then his face softened and he looked like a confused little boy-- a look that went right to her heart, as much as she tried to deny it. He stared at her, his beautiful eyes asking questions that she did not have the answers to. He whirled away then, not running away again, but refusing to look at her because the sight of her, of her beautiful face and gorgeous body, hurt him. "Is the thought of spending your night with me so horrid that you would compromise our race to avoid it?" he asked softly, his head lowered and looking away. "You did not have to agree to the terms if you did not want to accept their consequences." "No! That's not it!" she cried reaching out to touch him, but then pulling back. Just as well, for he whirled around, his eyes burning into her soul. "Then what is it?" he spit out, looking at her accusingly. "I-- I-- we--" she looked down and took a deep breath. He took a step closer, reaching out to grab her, his fingers cutting into her arms just below her shoulders, forcing her to look back up at him. "That's it," he said harshly. "That's it, exactly." His warm breath burned against her face, and she whimpered noiselessly. "No," she whispered. "Why can't you just admit that you don't want me?" he asked, the hurt note in his voice unavoidable. "Why?" "B--because," she said, closing her eyes tightly and taking a deep breath. She reopened them, large pools of shimmering violet washing over him. "I never admit to something that is not true," she said softly. And then she whirled, her hair flying out behind her, cracking like a whip against his face, streaming like a banner of glory as she raced back the way they had come. She didn't look back, not once, though he never took his eyes from he fleeing form. ********* "Want some more?" the long blond-haired young woman asked, holding up a kettle with a huge inviting smile. The raven-haired girl smiled up at her. "Thanks," she said, holding up the warm mug for more hot chocolate. "Would you like to talk about it?" the blond asking, sitting down next to her on the couch. The raven-haired girl smiled, placing a hand on her friend's knee. "Thank you, but no, I'd rather not." The blond was persistent, however. "Talking about it might make you feel better, and who better to talk to? After all I am--" "V?" a male voice called from the other room. "Come help me hang this mistletoe!" 'V' rolled her eyes but smiled at the raven-haired girl. Winking she got up and left with nothing more to say. The raven-haired girl went back to staring at the fire. There was something calming about watching the flames like the air around them. Something satisfying about seeing the tiny forks of flame lash out. Something soothing about the crackle and hiss and sizzle as another log fell victim to the heat. "May I come in?" She looked over her shoulder and then turned back to the fire. "You live here," she said, taking another sip of cocoa. He smiled, even though she didn't see it, and took a cautious step just inside the door. And they stayed like that for five full, nerve-rackingly quiet minutes: her staring at the fire, drinking small sips of cocoa, him staring at her, drinking in gulps of her beauty. "I'm sorry," he said finally, breaking the silence. She threw a look over her shoulder, one eyebrow raise with a saucy question. "For?" He took a step farther into the room, daring to cross the matted floor and stand next to her. "For accusing you. For not believing in you. For lov--" He broke off suddenly and she turned back to the fire. "The fire is so beautiful," she said softly, staring at the flames. She looked back up at him. "I heard a saying once that has always stuck in my mind: 'Those who play with fire, may get burned.'" She looked back at the fire again, a small smile on her lips. "I am like fire," she said in a far-away voice. He knelt down on the floor before her, taking her hand in his. "Fire can be very delightful, also," he said in a hoarse whisper. She smiled, squeezing his hand. "What I am trying to say is, if you insist on this-- this-- what-ever this is, you may get hurt." She paused, looking for the right words. "You may get burnt." He smiled back up at her, lifting her captured hand to his lips and placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles. "I have already been burnt," he said softly. "Here," he added, placing her hand flat against his chest. She could feel the beating of his heart against her palm. It excited her. She could feel her own heart racing in her chest. She smiled, a tear forming in her violet eyes. "I, too, have been burnt," she whispered, swallowing hard. She raised his other hand and placed it between her two breasts. He could fee the beating of her heart against his palm. It excited him, too. And then the two pulsating hearts synchronized and beat as one. The blond-haired man looked up into the large violet eyes he adored with surprised wonderment. The raven-haired woman looked up into the blue-gray eyes she had come to worship with love. They smiled, drawing together as if some invisible force was pulling their bodies towards one another. "I love you," he whispered before his lips sealed over hers.