Fire and Ice Read online



  Fire and Ice

  By

  Sophia DeLuna

  *****

  PUBLISHED BY:

  Fire and Ice

  Copyright © 2011 by Sophia DeLuna

  Cover design

  Copyright © 2012 by Sophia DeLuna

  Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

  Footprints in the Sand (fantasy short story)

  Desert Wind (fantasy short story)

  Fénya and Elynor (fantasy short story)

  A Matter of Faith (fantasy short story)

  Hidden Secrets (science-fantasy novel)

  Once upon a Dragon (children's fantasy story)

  *****

  As always, a big Thank You goes to my friend and editor, Agota, for all her help, advice and encouragement.

  *****

  Fire and Ice

  The day started for Sarah as it usually did since she had moved here. Waking up alone in her bed, she got up early, dressed in shorts and T-shirt, and collecting her laptop she went to her favourite little place, the Beach Café. Being the first customer, as usual, she seated herself at her favourite place under the large sunshade in the corner. Without having to order, the proprietor, Marina brought her the usual iced tea, and after chatting awhile, they both went on with their tasks, Marina preparing the café for the day and Sarah opening her laptop, continuing to work on the latest novel she was writing.

  She loved the mornings at the beach when everything was still quiet, no tourists bustling about, and she could listen to the sound of the surf and the call of the seagulls, undisturbed, before tuning out her surroundings and concentrating on her work.

  She had been single for over three years now. Her last relationship had ended rather badly, and thus Sarah had been quite happy to live on her own for a while, but as time went by, she began to feel lonely despite all the new friends and acquaintances she had made here in town. But since she didn't want to actively search for a partner, she kept sticking to the routine she had developed, and satisfied her frustration about her solitary life by spinning wonderful happy-end-stories for the characters she created.

  This day, however, her routine was interrupted as the first customer approached the café. Just as Sarah was about to turn from her view of the calm sea to her waiting laptop, her eyes caught sight of a tall, raven-haired woman, and Sarah couldn't help following the well-toned beauty with her gaze as she entered the café.

  Shaking her head, Sarah scolded herself for her rudeness, and fixed her eyes on the screen, intending to finally start working on her novel. Alas, her eyesight seemed to have forsaken her as the letters on the screen turned blurry. Instead, as she closed her eyes, the image of the tall stranger seemed to have burned into the back of her eyelids, and remarkably clearly at that. Annoyed with herself, Sarah opened her eyes again, only to find her view magnetically drawn to the neighbouring table, where the raven-haired beauty was now just in the process of relishing a large ice cream cone with a sensuality that captured Sarah's attention.

  The laptop forgotten, Sarah stared mesmerised at the luscious lips and tongue savouring the ice cream with tantalising slowness. Feeling as if the temperature had suddenly increased by some 20 degrees Celsius, Sarah started to fantasise about what it might be like to be in the place of that ice cream, when suddenly the lips formed into a wide grin. Sarah froze. Flushing crimson, she shifted her eyes upwards and found herself gazing into the amused twinkling blue eyes of the stranger.

  “Uh ... sorry,” stammered Sarah.

  Just as the woman was about to say something, someone called out, “Hey Sam, there you are! Come on, honey, the bus leaves in ten minutes.”

  Sarah's face fell as she saw an energetic female with intensely red coloured hair dragging Sam with her, eagerly gabbing about the sights they were going to visit. Turning to Sarah, Sam winked at her in passing.

  Dumbstruck, Sarah stared after the pair. Why was it that all the beautiful women already had a partner? Couldn't she just once meet one who was single? Sarah thought resignedly. Nonetheless, she couldn't deny being majorly attracted to Sam, and thinking back at what she did with the ice cream, Sarah shuddered and blushed at the memory.

  “That was some hot chick, huh?” Marina startled Sarah out of her reverie.

  “Uh ... yeah,” stammered Sarah.

  “Too bad she's taken,” said Marina, and added grinning, “But I bet she's going to fuel your imagination. I'm already looking forward to your next novel, Sarah. Perhaps you can weave her in as a mighty heroine or a wicked seductress or something,” Marina chuckled as Sarah blushed again. “Well, I'll leave you to your fantasies,” she said grinning, and went over to the customers who had just arrived.

  Two iced teas and a sandwich later Sarah was completely immersed in the process of writing a new short story. Having scolded herself for being silly, but unable to persuade her brain to concentrate on working on the novel, she had finally resigned herself to humour her nether instincts by at least fulfilling her fantasies via writing. Thus, she had come up with a short erotic story, just for herself, in which the protagonist Sam had left the café with her little sister and returned in the afternoon to inquire after Sarah. When they met at the café the next morning, they didn't waste much time on talking but instead hurried to Sarah's house to indulge in a rather hot adventure, trying out all the fantasies that Sarah could think of.

  After having written yet another quite graphic scene that took place in the back-room of Sam's book store, Sarah shifted on her chair and concluded that she had better head home and change the battery of her laptop ... among other things.