Faerie Fire

So It Begins

Damien made sure she had his phone number for work purposes of course, before she left. She got her schedule from Tony. For the first couple weeks it was mostly weekday evenings helping working on the set. When the show opened in July it was going to be weekend shifts running the ticket booth. Her flower shop job was day shift during the week, so it wouldn't effect that in anyway. She just needed to get to South Point and check out the times for the Aerial classes. She'd do that tomorrow. It was already almost time for dinner and Rune was coming at seven.

Rune, her heart caught fear, and anxiety and longing. What was wrong with her? How could she be obsessing so quickly over not one, but two complete strangers.

As Cassandra talked excitedly about the upcoming performance, Tempest only heard tidbits of the conversation. Her mind was everywhere at once. Summer had just become alot more complicated than originally anticipated.

"Earth to Tempest." Her mom's voice broke into her tangle of intrusive thoughts. She shifted her focus.

"Yes? I'm sorry, I zoned out."

"Yeah? Does it have anything to do with that hickey on your neck?" Tempest hand instinctively went to where Damian bit her shoulder. Her mom laughed.

"Oh, so it was your shoulder, I was close."

Tempest scowled, "You were messing with me, he didn't leave a mark did he?" Cassandra laughed.

"No boyfriends all of Highschool, and now you have two vying for your affection. Apparently, Damien got farther than Rune, but then I was within sight the whole time so maybe he's less respectful when mothers aren't around."

A text alert conveniently interrupted the awkward track this conversation was taking. Tempest checked her phone. Damien already?

Damien: Your radiance quite overwhelmed me, I appologize for not properly introducing myself. I should have had more self-restraint.

Tempest smiled. She was not complaining about his forwardness. But she kind of felt like things did eacalate rather quickly.

Cassandra laughed. "Well he certainly didn't waste any time did he?"

No... he certainly did not. He was not playing the long game for sure. He knew what he wanted and went straight to the heart of the issue.

"So... what are we having for dinner?" maybe if she changed the subject, her mom would leave it alone.

"You're not full from that meal you just had?" apparently not. Tempest sighed in disgust.

"You two didn't leave us alone long enough for foreplay, and even getting our pants off mom. So no, my hunger is not yet satified."

"I have a couple steaks we can grill, if you haven't had too much meat yet today." she smirked, "And you can make that strawberry salad to go with it. That'll make it a little more balanced."

The rest of the walk was filled with more bad s*x puns and banter. The two returned home and as soon as they entered the kitchen the subject was dropped and the meal prepared and enjoyed.

As they were cleaning up, at seven o'clock exactly,the doorbell rang.

"Well, he's very punctual. Looks like it's time for desert?" Her mom teased.

Tempest ignored her and grabbed her denim Jacket by the door, slipping it on and pulling her long curly, golden locks from out of the collar tossing it back. She opened the door as she called sarcastically back over her shoulder, "Gooebye mom, I love you, don't burn the house down."

Cassandra laughed and called back "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"That's not very restrictive!"

Rune stood at the door dressed more casually than he had earlier stifling a laugh at their discourse. Tempest shut the door and blushed slightly. That cold chill caressed her skin again and that insistent voice in her mind once again claimed him as hers.

"That was a much less formal exchange than earlier." He said in that beautiful European accent.

"Yes," she sighed audibly, "Well, she's been a bit annoying this afternoon. But I'm sure she has good intentions..."

The arm behind his back gracefully moved forward to reveal a beautiful, red, longstem Rose tied in the center with a dark blue ribbon. Tempest accepted the gift and brought it to her nose, inhaling the scent. The sweet smell filled her nostrils. She peacefully exhaled and sighed.

"It's beautiful! I love roses." He smiled.

"I may have made some inquiries this afternoon while I was running some errands." Rune held out his arm, offering her to take it so their walk could begin. She slipped her right arm around his left, clutching the precious rose in the other hand.

"Was this one of the errands." she gently waved the rose in the air, before letting it return to her side as they walked.

"No." He stated proudly, "That was clipped directly from my rose garden. Which, I might add, is in full bloom right now, and is said to be one of the most beautiful rose gardens in the region."

She laughed. She had seen pictures and articles from that garden for years, each year it seemed to gain more fame, and more beautiful additions to its majesty. The flower shop in town carried some of the famed roses, from the nursery on that estate. Her eyes twinkled with delight.

"Oh really," She teased. "are you trying to seduce me into coming to your house?" He laughed.

"If I was seducing you, you would be in my bed by now." His tone was slightly in jest, but had an heir of danger and seriousness mixed in. Yes, Please... her inner voice purred. He paused, as if she had said it audibly, leaned in close and whispered in her ear stroking her back along her spine. "All in good time, my Flame, all in good time." Her eyes widened in disbelief, was he responding to her thoughts or just being cocky? "Besides, I think I may have some competition."

His eyes were full of challenge, longing, and a hint of jealousy. Her heart sank... Damien... were things already about to get complicated?