EXTRACT FOR
Horny Couples
(Darren G. Burton)

Outside night was descending early due to the storm. Ridge poured a couple of wines and they snacked on some cheese and crackers as they stood beside the oven, drawing from its warmth while waiting to get the fire started. Although the wine was chilled, the alcohol sent tendrils of warmth through Zoe's body the more of it she drank. By the time they'd consumed two glasses each the kindling was ready to use.

Zoe put on a pair of oven mitts and withdrew the tray. It smelled of baked pine. She took the tray into the living room and scooped out handfuls of the twigs and placed them in the hearth. Ridge tore up an old magazine he'd found in the pantry to use as tinder. He stuffed scrunched up clumps of it amid the kindling and lit it with a match. The twigs snapped and cracked and caught alight. When the kindling was burning nicely, Zoe carefully placed several logs on top and, when they caught alight, put on several more.

Ridge went to the kitchen and returned with two more glasses of wine and a bag of marshmallows.

Zoe smiled. "This reminds me of school camps. Roasting marshmallows. Except we didn't get to drink wine, just Coke."

She took her glass from Ridge's outstretched hand and sipped some wine before placing it on the floor beside her. She was sitting on the leopard rug, absorbing the fire's warmth. They had the kitchen light on, but apart from that all light was coming from the ambient glow of the flames. It painted the walls and ceiling in hues of red, orange and yellow. Beautiful.

Ridge had kept aside two pointed sticks. He jammed a marshmallow on the end of each and handed one to his fianc?. Together they nestled in close to the fire and roasted the sweets. When Zoe's was browned enough she removed it from the fire, blew on it a couple of times, then took it into her mouth.

"Yum," she said with a grin and washed it down with a sip of wine. Immediately she placed another marshmallow on the end of the stick and dangled it just above the flames. "This is fun."

Ridge sniggered. "I could think of some other things to do that would be even more fun."

Zoe shot him a knowing look and smiled slyly. "Oh, yeah. Like what, sexy one?"

Ridge didn't respond for a moment. He waited until he'd eaten his next marshmallow, then put down his stick and wrapped his arms around her. They kissed again...