Silence, only the rain drops falling down. The sneakers were
tapping on the cold asphalt, moist due to the unexpected
rain. Her hair got wet, and a tender smile stretched on her
face, granting her eyes a special sort of glow.
It was one of those typical cold October days.
Gray.
Rainy.
Decorated with clouds.
Perfect.

Finally, the real winter had come, or was it only the fall
spreading its feathers from above...
She kept on, the tapping of her sneakers on the path
becoming faster. The intersection, in which she will turn
back home, is not far now.

She took a deep breath, sipping with thirst the cold, fresh
air outside. She loved the morning, the chillness, the
beginning of the day before it really started.

That's it, she thought, not long now, she could see the top
of the cypress, the naked branches of the plum tree next to
it. The tree as though bent under the heavy burden of the
drops, greeted her every morning, every evening.

The small wooden gate screeched whenever she opened it. The
fragrance of the grass, fresh from the morning dew drops.
She was living in a small hose, a little less then three
months, and she had fallen in love with it. With the red
roofing tiles, the space in it, the garden with the roses,
the evergreen cypress and the plum tree, which's fruits, so
swore the neighbors, became sweeter ever since she moved in.


She was a nice addition to the neighborhood, said the
whispers among the tenants, beautiful, kind, well-mannered,
sweet eternal smile on her lips. Rumors coming from more
nosy owners, claimed she was "involved" with that fellow
they saw visiting her every once in a while.

She heard it all. Smiled in light of the good things, and
ignored less friendly gossip - attributing it to the human
curious nature. On occasions even said that love may be
blind, but the neighbors are defiantly not.

White rose was placed on the windowsill. Single. Her lips
cured to a smile as she inhaled its scent.

On a small note, attached to the rose was written:
"Don't make plans for tonight. I have a surprise for you"
And signed "Yours, You know who"
And she knew.

She called him immediately, he didn't answer, knowing her
curios character well.
He knows me too well, she thought, curios as a cat, as she
closed her mobile phone. They met each other on the net, in
a chat lobby. Few months later they met face to face. Even
then, on that first meeting, there was a click. They've been
friends ever since.

She stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, wearing
black lace underwear, pondering on what to wear. Eventually,
deciding on the naughty look, she took out a pair of black
tight like second skin pants and a light blue sweater to
soften the black.
Her waist-long hair she gathered to a braid. Slight make-up
- lipstick to protect her lips from the cold wind, and
earth-toned eye shadow to bring out the blue color of her
eyes.
Once finished, grabbed her backpack, car keys and stepped
out the door.

She walked in the class-room, where her first lecture was to
be held. It was the first day of the fall semester, in her
first year of university. Between classes she made
acquaintance with some of her schoolmates for the next three
years. Morning hours slowly passed, interrupted only by the
fall-rains which knocked on the windows.

Traffic was busy as usual on this Friday, as though the
whole city had decided to go out to the streets. Instead of
the usual fifteen minutes, it took almost twice as much for
her to get home. As though it wasn't enough, it started to
rain heavily, and she broke her umbrella the day before.
Murphy Law she thought. Not letting anything taint her
spirit, not today.
She ran the short distance from the parking to the entrance
door. A bright red rose was attached to the door, again with
a note.

"Almost given up waiting for you"

Not signed.
She opened the door, and stood still - complete darkness.
Automatically she sent her hand to the light switch. Nothing
happened.

Dropping the backpack and shoes, she noticed a light at the
end of the hall.
She walked straight, blindly probing through the darkness,
her eyes slowly adapt to the pitch blackness.
Candles, in the thousands, created a path going up the
stairs to the second floor. She looked on the floor, just
now noticing that it was filled with red and white rose
petals.

Just below the feet there was a folded paper;
"A candle light reveals so little, concealing even less.
Follow the marked path"

Curious, she approached the staircase. On the first step she
found another folded paper;
"Sweater comes off"

Okay, she thought, I'll play the game... She took off her
sweater, throwing it on the floor - away from the candles.

She began to climb up, on the third step - a note;
"Shirt - off"

Since not wearing any, she ignored the instruction. Sixth
step another instruction;
"Pants - gone"

She obeyed, and the pants were left on the handrail. As she
climbed further, her pulse grew, so did her curiosity, of
course. As she anticipated, on the ninth step she found
another note;
"Socks... you guessed it - off!"

Again she did as she was told. The rose petals were like a
carpet beneath her bare feet, softening the coldness of the
floor. Three steps higher and again;

"Mo more bra and panties"

She reached the top of the stairs. The candle light escorted
her to her bathroom, and the petals forming a distinct arrow
pointing in.
She walked inside the room, and amazed by the beauty
revealed to her eyes.
The mirrors on one of the walls reflected the candles on the
small wooden shelves just opposite them. She nearly missed
the little white note;
"Spread your hair" She did so, her heart beats with
excitement.

The candle-path ignored the shower, leading straight to the
tub, then widening, surrounding with light and shadows, the
tub which was filled with hot water. On the tip lied a
beautiful white rose;
"Since already dressed in light and shadows, why not try the
water?"

The water, as it turned out to be, were warm and pleasant.
The fragrance of roses in the shadowed room filling her
sole, the tunes of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonnet were heard
in the room as she closed her eyes, and sank in the large
bath.

She thought she heard steps in the room and opened her eyes.
Two towels now lay on the side of the tub, on them an
invitation, all it said was:
"Bedroom"

Leaving the bathroom, she used the towels to dry her hair
and body, and then threw them aside. Her heart beating ever
so loudly, she walked the short distance to her bedroom.
The bed was made with black silken sheets, which appeared
out of no-where, the blanket was folded backwards, inviting.

"Stop" A command was heard "Don't turn around" Soon after,
when she tried to do just that. "Close your eyes" She
obeyed, nodding. Footsteps again, this time from behind.
A naked, wonderful warm body clung to her, and she almost
opened her eyes instinctively, but then a hot set of lips
suckled her mouth. The kiss bewitched her, so passionate.
And the tongue! It was playing with hers, caressing,
arousing... her hands wrapped around his body, telling her
that he was wearing only light and shadows as well.
She moaned in his mouth.

He sucked her lower lip, and she could feel the flow of
passion going through every part of her, creating a pool of
wetness between her legs.
His hands tightened her hips, and his hardness pressed
against her stomach.
Her head tilted backwards, exposing her neck to the touch of
his lips, and tongue.
He feed from her breasts, sucking the nipples till they
turned hard.
She felt she had been lifted,
And then the soft sheets beneath her back,
And finally... him.
He turned her, so she will be on top, and in one single
motion penetrated her.
Her eyes opened, no was could she keep them closed any
longer.
It was him!

He moved her on him, feeling her closing like a tight fist
around his erection.
She straightened to a sitting position, holding him inside
her. He sat with her, feeding from her breast.
She moaned, and began moving on him, riding him.
He went up to her lips, to that wonderful mouth that filled
is dreams for months.
She lost grip on reality, her fingernails scratched his
back... her muscles tighten.
She screamed his name.
At that same moment he reached his climax, bursting into her
body. Exhausted, she clung to him as they began to catch
their breath.

"Happy birthday to you" He whispered to her.
"Thank you, you've made it very special to me" She whispered
back.

They fall asleep holding each other. Her head leaned on his
chest, listening to the sound of his heart beat.
"I love you" She murmured just before falling asleep,
unaware that she spoke them out loud.
"I love you" He smiled down at the sleeping beauty between
his arms.