#vincentxmc

He is dressed in a different black and green suit matching a black mask covering half of his face, his eyes and his mouth being the only parts of him you can see. And when you realize, you are lost in the tones of green in his iris. 

“You look stunning, Y/N.” He takes your hand in his. ”Exquisite as always, ma chérie.” Vincent brings it closer to his mouth and you can feel his breath against your skin, making your heart beats faster than already were, what you thought that was impossible. Your breath gets caught in your throat when he looks deeply into your eyes for long seconds. Oh, he is enjoying this for sure. Vincent must know the effect he has on you, playing with your feelings like this. He finally kisses your hand, caressing your skin before leaving it. You recompose yourself, calming your agitated breath.

“And you look handsome as always, Mr. Karm.” You hoped that you would get him by surprise complimenting this way, but he just smirked at you, studying your face carefully. You hear that a calm song stars playing in the background and you see couples dancing in the middle of the ballroom. “May I have this dance?” You extend your hand to him, failing to hide your playful smile.

He chuckles and nod, leading you to the center, where the other couples were. Vincent started leading the both of you around the ballroom and you followed him, dancing to the beat of the sound, moving your bodies in sync. You felt him getting closer to you, feeling his chest against yours. You weren’t the only one, his heart was beating fast too, you could feel it. He just could hide it so perfectly.

You try to look at everything around you but Vincent. You can feel his eyes on your face, trying to make you look at him while you are dancing. You are dying to say how you felt these years away from Paris, how many times you wanted to stop everything you were doing to catch the next flight just to see him. You were a fool to think that being away from him again would be better for you, that your feelings for him weren’t real. It is your chance to do it and if you don’t do it now, you know that later you won’t have the courage. It should be something so simple. You love him and that’s it. When you are with Vincent you just feel like you can finally be happy. And then you look at him again, smiling, a bright and contagious one that makes Vincent smile back at you. It is now or never.

“Why don’t we take a walk in the garden, Ms. L/N?” You were about to talk to him, but he does it first. Vincent is serious now, you can see that something is bothering him. You have never seen that expression on him, and that left you worried. You nod and he offers his arm and your hand holds it, feeling his tense muscles covered by the suit.

Both of you leave the crowded room to arrive in the beautiful garden of the mansion, filled with an amazing smell coming from the colorful flowers and large trees. You and Vincent walk around it, still connected to each other, admiring the different plants.

“There’s something that I have been wanting to tell you for some... years.” You chuckle to yourself, how were you able to keep this in your heart for so many time? “Until that party, I threw after the flooding ended, I was going to stay in Paris, I didn’t want to leave like I did the other time.” You look at his face, Vincent is looking directly at you and then you noticed that you stopped walking.

“You needed to tell me something important that day, but you never did it. I remember how anxious you were, darling, with your hand trembling when you tried to talk to me.” He smiled when the memory of that party came to his head, he was about to tell you how he felt on that day.

You wanted to tell him everything he makes you feel and why you didn’t stay in Paris, but there’s only one thing you want right now, that you have been dying to do. You got closer to him, in slow steps. Vincent noticed what was about to happen and his hands went to your face, taking your mask gently from you, showing your features. And so you do the same on him, finally seeing him. His hands go to your waist and he lowers his head, quickly closing the space between the two of you with a passionate kiss that both of you have been wanting for years. You hold firmly the piece of the suit which covers his shoulder, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. When air is needed, Vincent pulls away, reluctantly, placing his forehead against yours.

“I love you, Vincent.” You whisper, feeling so nervous but relieved to tell him this after years. “I’m sorry for being away for so long. I thought that my feelings for you would disappear if I got away, but I was wrong. I have fallen for you hard, Mr. Karm.” You open your eyes to see his green eyes staring at yours.

“When I said that you intrigued me, Y/N, it wasn’t a part of the game you thought I was playing.” He takes your hand in his, caressing your skin, making you feel shivers down your spine with his touch. “You are a brilliant woman and everything is so captivating about yourself.” He never felt this nervous before, you could clearly see it “I... I love you, Y/N.”

And with that, he pulls your body closer to his one more time to capture your bottom lip in his. You feel his tongue in your mouth as the kiss gets more heated. Your hands go to his chest, feeling the fast beating of his heart as his hands go lower, to your hips. You smile between the kiss, making him break it. Vincent looks at you without needing him to ask for you to understand what he means.

“I’m just happy... and also, we looked like teenagers making out.” You make him chuckle. Vincent kisses the curve of your neck gently and grabs the masks that were forgotten on the ground, helping you put yours. After wearing it, he holds your hand.

“Let’s go back to the party, ma chérie, unless you want to go to a more private place. We indeed stayed away from each other for a long time.” He flashes his playful smirk at you while you get back to the ballroom. And there is the Vincent Karm you know and love.

“We can have a party of our own later, what do you think, Mr. Karm?” You try to get in his game.

“Good idea, my dear. I suppose I will have to wait for the afterparty.” He winks at you and kisses your cheek before you get back to the masquerade. Vincent is finally letting himself be happy after so many things he lived. He, years ago, couldn’t tell that the person he would fall in love would be an American journalist that saved his city many, many times, one even from his own hands. Now he can let everything to the past and lives the present next to his loved one, after so many obstacles between the two of you.

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You can go to my masterlist to read more of my vincent karm series and my other stories!

“Relax, ma cherie.” He brings his hand up to caress your hair. "We are not even dancing and yet you are already tense.” You take a deep breath and look deep into his eyes, giving a slight nod.

Your right hand is intertwined with Vincent’s left one up in the air. Now your left one goes to his shoulder while his right hand continues around your waist. You try to not to think about making a wrong move, but that only makes you more nervous.

Vincent is now humming the rhythm of a song as he starts leading you around the room, slowly at the beginning. Everything was going fine until you accidentally stepped on his feet.

“Careful, darling.” He muffled a groan and continued to dance with you.

“I’m so sorry.” Your hand gripped tighter on his shoulder, anxious about doing that again.

You and Vincent got back to the pace you were before the little accident. You were trying to follow him and you thought that now it was certainly going we. He gave you a nod, affirming it was indeed going fine until so and you were trying not to hurt him again with your heels.

Your heart starts beating faster of just staring at him, you are so lost in his eyes that are looking right at yours. He gives you a small smile and you give it back to him, bringing your body closer to his.

The pace is getting faster but you don’t realize that you are actually dancing well. Your boyfriend thought that now you were getting good at it, so he decided to spin you...

Not a good idea.

You lost your balance and held the closest thing you saw - his arm -, surprising him and making Vincent go to the floor with you. Your face was red, you could feel the heat in your cheeks. 

“Shit!” The only word it was heard while falling on the ground next to him.

“I should have warned you about the spin.” He turned his head to face you and you held his body, hiding your face in his chest, both of you were laying on the fluffy rug of Vincent’s living room.

“Yes, you should’ve.” He gently holds your chin and makes you face him. “Can we just stay here together instead of dancing?” 

“The offer is tempting, my dear, but you were going so well... How about we just dance to one more song?” Vincent helps you get up.

You nod and wait for him to let a song start playing because he knew his singing always distracted you. And then you are back to your old position again, dancing to the rhythm with him and trying to look like you have been doing this for years.

Before dropping his hand of your waist and spinning you, Vincent warns you about it, making it much easier, with no accidents this time. You didn’t even step on his feet again, or worse, made him fall with you.

Now you are finally getting all this waltz thing and you are doing great with your very patient and handsome teacher.

With one final move, he spins you over again and he holds your waist and back after it, making you lay on his arms and have your face so close to his. You can hear his heart beating faster like yours and both of your breathing. Dancing so close to him was a new experience for your relationship, something intense even with you making some wrong moves a few times and embarrassing yourself.

The music finishes and you are not worried about all this situation like you were before because of Vincent, who is now kissing your lips with passion. He picks you up on his lap and you sit on the couch with you on the top of his body.

Breathless, the contact is broken and you just lay your head on his shoulder after leaving a kiss on his neck. He gently pulls your hair to make you face him one more time and now your lips are touching his. Vincent doesn't waste more time, you can feel his tongue in your mouth.

He lays you on the couch and stays on top of you. Vincent’s hand goes under your shirt, resting on your belly after going to your breasts. You moan in the kiss, making him groan and bring his body closer to yours, you could feel how excited he was getting in his pants.

Seconds before the situation getting heavier, you hear the main door being opened followed by a bark.

“Oh, hi.” You and Vincent turn your heads to see Eugene looking surprised at the way both of you are on the couch. “I thought you weren’t here yet...” You manage to get out off Vincent’s hold and then greets the red-headed man. “Vincent was just teaching me how to dance,” you say.

“Oh, yeah. He was teaching you to dance, oh, I know.” He said ironically and the rest of the sentence echoed in the hallway, where Eugene was going. He left you and your boyfriend alone to go to the kitchen and soon Esteban ran to the room after seeing that Vincent was home. 

Vincent fixes himself and you were about to get next to him again when Esteban jumps on the couch and goes to Vincent’s lap, wanting to be pet by his owner.

“Looks like Esteban stole your place, Y/N.” He chuckled and there was that signature smirk of his.

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You can go to my masterlist to read more of my vincent karm series and my other stories!

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He had you on top of the dining table at your apartment. Your legs wrapped around him, already feeling his hard member through your underwear and his expensive suit. Vincent leaving open-mouthed kisses and bites on your neck, making you moan when he hit a sensitive spot.

“Do you really want to do this, Y/N?” He stopped and looked at you deeply, you saw the lust in his eyes. “You know there is no turning back after this.” And there is the smirk again.

“You sure are full of yourself, huh? Maybe I won’t even like it.” You said ironically while kissing his jawline.

“Is that a challenge, Miss L/N?” You felt the vibration of his deep voice while you trailed your kisses down to his neck.

“Maybe, Mister Karm.”

His hands went to your thighs and he got you on his lap. Vincent stopped in the middle of the hallway and asked you where your bedroom was. After your answer, he closed the door behind you.

You were gently placed in the middle of the bed and he got on top of your body. Vincent looked at you like he was asking permission before taking your dress off. You nodded. You want this.

His warm and huge hands touched your body while taking the piece of clothing out of it. After throwing it on the ground, he just stopped for a few seconds and admired your body in a dark red lingerie.

“Beautiful.” Vincent murmured in your neck, making you blush.

He started trailing kisses from your jaw to your breasts, making a pause there and taking your bra off. You whined in frustration when he didn’t pay attention in the area, just continued his kisses down on you.

He stopped right in your underwear and your breath got caught in your throat. He looked at you and at the same time, you lifted your hips a little, making it easier for him to take it out.

Vincent carefully parted your legs and positioned his face between them. You could feel his breath, heavily against your clit. He didn’t take long and soon you felt his tongue on your clit, kissing it in gentle movements, making you arch your back, wanting more of him.

With one hand on your thigh, the other went to your entrance, feeling your hot wetness. While sucking your clit, he places one finger on you. Even with your mouth opened, it doesn’t let any sound get out. After a few strokes, he adds another one. And the hand which was holding you went to your hip, forcing you to not move so much.

Your hands go to his soft hair, pressing his head closer to you, wanting him to fasten his actions. You look down at him, his green eyes already facing yours while his mouth and fingers do wonders inside you.

“Fuck.” You moan and take your hands away from his hair. “Vincent- shit. Stop.” Even feeling that your legs are a little bit weak, you manage to sit on the bed.

“Something wrong, my dear?” With one final lick on your clit, he lifts his head up to look properly at you, the mess he made of you. He smirked at the view of your naked form in front of him, with drops of sweat falling from your breasts to your belly. He was desperate to feel you.

Vincent gets up and you do as well, getting closer to him. Helping him put his suit on the ground.

“I need to come with you inside me.” You whisper in his ear and move your hand to his cock, through his pants. “And you are fully dressed, that’s not helpful.”

He groans at your words. Such a dirty mouth, he thought.

You tried to take control but he finished taking his clothes off alone, slowly, making you almost beg for him to be faster. But you wouldn’t do this. You wouldn’t give him this pleasure.

He was finally naked in front of you, making you leave unconsciously a sigh of relief. Vincent chuckled and positioned himself on top of you, pressing his body against yours and kissing your lips hungrily. You feel your taste in his mouth.

When he fully entered inside you, he buried his head in the crook of your neck. You arched your back and pressed your hips against his, wanting more friction. Your hands went to Vincent’s back, digging your nails into his skin, leaving marks.

Both of you moved your bodies against each other, increasing the rhythm of the thrusts. He left another bite on your flesh, one in a place that everyone could see. He didn’t care anymore about all that was happening in your lives at the moment, he just wanted you, at least once. And you are his, at least tonight.

His hand finds your clit and makes circles around that sensitive area while making love to you. And you feel your high coming until you can’t take anymore.

Vincent doesn’t stop. He strokes inside you a few more times, wanting to feel you come undone below him. And you do. Your body trembles and you moan his name, letting all the tension go and feeling the pleasure he gave it to you.

He groans in your neck when he feels you clenching around him and after a few more thrusts, he comes inside you. He catches his breath and gets out of you, getting up and taking the condom off him.

You stay on the bed, wondering if he will stay or not. If you could feel your legs, you would go to the bathroom, where he is right now. But he comes back and to your surprise, he is still naked. Vincent is holding a towel and cleans the mess he made of you.

Soon, he lays on the bed next to you and holds you like he has never done before.

“Are you feeling fine, ma chérie?” He buries his head in your hair, smelling your scent, one of your favorite flowers.

“Yes, Vincent.” You couldn’t contain yourself anymore, so you smiled at him. A genuine one. And he did the same, to your surprise. This is something you wouldn’t even think of doing two years ago. You were happy to be with him tonight. Even after everything you found out earlier. “Thank you.” You whispered, falling asleep in his arms.

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You can go to my masterlist to read more of my vincent karm series and my other stories!

Paige held her eyes closed for a moment, desperately hoping she was hallucinating.  However, when she opened her eyes the slip of paper left on her desk with her latest assignment still read the same: Vincent Karm, CEO Karm International, EPD: ASAP.  Not only did they want her to do an interview with Vincent but, they had the expected publish date set to as soon as possible?!

This is ridiculous! Paige thought to herself as she balled up the paper in her hands and flung it into the waste bin.  As if working for my ex isn’t awkward enou- Paige’s eyes narrowed Raphael! He had to have something to do with this!

Shouldering her bag, Paige left her cubicle and stormed into her boss’s office.

“Where is Raphael?”  Paige demanded closing the door behind her and taking a seat.

“Well, hello to you too Ms. Turner.  Please, do sit down.  I’m fine, thanks for asking.” Her boss replied sarcastically as he tried to adjust his combover so the bald spot was concealed; he wasn’t fooling anyone.

Paige just glared at the man expectantly, waiting for him to answer her question.

With a dramatic eye roll her boss explained, “Raphael is not in the office.  He is in Italy where he will be working with the City of Love: Rome office for the next two weeks.  And yes, before you ask, he had everything to do with your latest assignment,” he held up his palm to stop her from interjecting as he continued. “Don’t blame Raphael though, it was the only way.”

“The only way what?!” Paige asked not only angry but curious now as well.

“The only way Karm would agree to an interview.  He asked for you specifically when Raphael reached out to him.  He said it was either you or no interview; he only expects the best quality writer, not some subpar newbie.  His words not mine, not that everyone here doesn’t know you are our best writer.”  He replied relaxing down in his chair and folding his hands together over his abdomen.  “Listen, Paige, Raphael wants this article.  He is the boss and what he says goes.  I got your flight all set -”

“My flight?! Why do I need a flight to do an interview in Paris?!” She interrupted, jumping out of her seat.

“Well, here is the thing.  Vincent is currently vacationing in Vermont.  He was gracious enough to start the interview this week and supply you lodging at his cabin.  Which works out great because we don’t have to worry about covering hotel expenses now.” He said as he straightened in his seat.

“Vermont?!  I have to fly all the way to America to do this interview and you think I am just going to share a room with Vincent Karm for however long this takes?!”  She spat gesturing wildly with her hands which often happened when she was upset.

“You won’t be sharing a room with him.  He rents out his cabin as a bed and breakfast when he isn’t there.  When he is, he likes his privacy and has the place to himself.  You will have your own room.  If you share a room with Vincent Karm, that is none of my business and all on you.”  He said as he started typing on his computer, clearly losing interest in this conversation.

“I cannot believe this… I’m taking the day off and going home.” Paige stated as she grabbed her bag off of the floor, turning towards the door.

“Paige, like I said before you are our best writer.  However, if you don’t plan on making this interview happen, don’t bother showing up tomorrow.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as her hand hovered inches above the door handle.  Through gritted teeth she asked, “When is the flight?”

“Thursday, 8:45 am.” He answered, a certain smugness in is voice.

With that Paige opened the door and stormed out of his office going only to her desk to collect her coat, scarf, and gloves before heading towards the exit.  Before she reached the exit, she turned on her heels and walked back to her desk, reached into her waste bin and pulled out the crumpled ball she had thrown in there earlier, shoving it into her bag before heading back to her apartment.

Rain pelted the window of the plane as Paige scrolled aimlessly through her social media feed before she had to put her phone on airplane mode.  She was desperately trying to distract herself from the thought of having to spend a minimum of three days with Vincent Karm.  She didn’t hate the man, she didn’t even dislike him; he just made her feel uncomfortable.  She hated feeling awkward in her own skin.  Vincent had that effect on her, along with some other effects she’d prefer not to think about.  They definitely had a history together and Paige didn’t know what to make of it.  They worked together once.  She didn’t like to think about the events of Kat, her best friend’s, death.  But, truth be told, without Vincent’s help her killer may have never been caught.  

I shouldn’t have kissed him.  Why did I initiate that kiss… I was just caught up in the moment.  I mean, yeah, it was good.  Okay, it was a lot better than good but, still it was a mistake.  I just made everything awkward for myself.  In my defense I didn’t invite him up!  Even though I wanted to…

Paige’s internal fight was interrupted when the stewardess came to offer her a pillow and a blanket for her flight.  Her bosses may have been too cheap to get her a hotel room but at least they splurged and booked her a first class ticket.  

Paige gratefully accepted both luxuries she was offered and made herself comfortable.  She felt her eyes grow heavy, as she hardly slept due to anxiety and last minute packing.  The last thing she remembered thinking to herself before she was lulled into a dreamless sleep was, This change in timezone is going to be the death of me.

When she awoke her mouth was so dry it felt like her tongue was sandpaper.

I wonder if this is how Whiskey feels all the time, she thought idly as her mind wandered to her cat who she left in Leo’s care.

She stretched her arms above her head and rolled her head side to side hoping to alleviate the twinge she felt in her neck.

She still had 4 hours left in her flight but she was surprised by how long she was actually asleep for. She stood up to open the overhead compartment where her carry-on was stored.  She pulled out her laptop and pressed the call button before sitting back down.  Before her computer had even booted up completely, an attendant showed up. She politely asked for a bottle of water.  She drank half the bottle then she opened up the document she was working on.

By the time the plane had landed she had a basic outline for what she wanted to get out of the interview and had played roughly seven games of solitaire.  She lost every time.

She gazed up at the enormous cabin in front of her.  It looked as if it was right out of a travel magazine that featured log cabins in the woods, only double the size.  

No wonder this place can be used as a B&B when he’s not here.  It’s huge! She thought as she hitched her duffle back higher up on her shoulder.

As she walked up the driveway, a fresh layer of snow crunched beneath her boots and she heard barking coming from inside.  She felt her stomach sink as she heard the cab pull away, fighting back the urge to chase after it despite the driver’s lack of social skills and noxious B.O.  She had tried so hard to just avoid Vincent for the past couple of months but, all of that ended here as she reached the front door.  She grabbed the bronze knocker and tapped it two times on the door.  The barking, which had subsided, picked up again.  A smile played on her lips as she remembered how much Vincent adored his four-legged companion.  So much so, he had portraits of him in multiple locations.  She mentally chastised herself when she realized what she was doing.  She had been avoiding Karm for a reason.  She was here for one purpose and one purpose only: get the interview done and leave.

The door opened and she was pleasantly surprised when she saw who opened the door.  The red-haired man smiled enthusiastically at her as he gestured for her to come inside from the cold.

“Eugene!  I’m so glad to see you!” Paige expressed genuinely as she embraced Vincent’s employee.

“I was so happy to learn that you were coming!” Eugene replied clapping his hands together. “Vincent is just freshening up before dinner.  Let me show you to your room, Ms. Turner.”

“Thank you, Eugene.  I would appreciate that, it’s been a long day.” She stated as she shed off her winter coat and scarf and placed them in Eugene’s outstretched hands.

As Eugene hung up her belongings,Paige heard Esteban before she saw him slowly making his way towards her.  He gave little snorts as he tried to get to know her scent.  

“Esteban, assis.” Eugene said in a firm voice to the pug, who immediately sat down.  “ You can pet him if you’d like.  I don’t believe you’ve met Esteban before.  He is Vincent’s pride and joy.  He is also quite well behaved, when he feels like it.” The man stated with a soft laugh.

“So, you’re Esteban.” Paige said as she crouched down to the pug’s level and began to scratch behind his ears. “I’ve heard good things about you.” she told the dog as he opened his mouth allowing his tongue to hang out as he panted, clearly enjoying the attention.

After a moment of acquainting herself with the pug, she followed Eugene to her room.  The room was spacious yet cozy.  A queen sized bed with a antique looking quilt was at the center of the room.  In the corner, an arm chair was placed next to a bookshelf.

“There is no wifi here but you can plug your laptop directly into the internet via the telephone jack by the desk.  If you need assistance, I would be happy to help.”  Eugene explained.  

While inconvenient, Paige was not completely unfamiliar with the technological throwback.  She glanced at the clock;  Eugene told her to take her time making herself feel at home and he would come get her in a half hour for dinner.  Taking advantage of the time she had; Paige began to unpack.  She grabbed her laptop and placed it on the desk, letting out a relieved sigh that she remembered to pack her chargers with the correct adapters for American outlets. She just finished connecting her computer to the internet when she heard a knock at the door.

She didn’t realize that it had been a half hour already but, she figured Eugene must have finished dinner early.

“Come in Eugene!” Paige called still on her hands and knees under the desk, making sure the cable connecting her computer to the wall was secure.

She heard the door open and the sound of dress shoes on the wood floor, muffled once they reached the ornate area rug.

“Actually, I figured I would let Eugene finish up in the kitchen and that I would fetch you myself instead.”

Vincent’s voice deep and smooth was a shock when she had not been expecting it.  Paige, in her surprise, tried to stand up quickly but ended up hitting her head on the underside of the desk.

“Ouch!” Paige yelped as she held the back of her head as she got to her feet and turned to face Vincent.

“Are you okay? Would you like me to get you some ice?” Vincent asked, his eyes wide with concern.

His sincerity shocked Paige.  She figured he would laugh at her expense for being so clumsy, especially after she had denied his advances after their kiss.

“No, I’m fine.” Paige stated tersely.  “Thank you though...” she added after a minute, recognizing that she had no reason to be rude to the man.  It wasn’t his fault that she felt so awkward, after all.  

Although, it is your fault for being so damn attractive.  Must you look so good in a three piece suit?!  

“If you’re sure, Ms. Turner.” Vincent stated his eyes still searching to make sure she was in fact okay.  “Well, I wanted to welcome you and tell you to make yourself at home.  I apologize for being unavailable when you first arrived.”

“I got to meet Esteban in your absence, he’s quite adorable.”  Paige stated.

A small hint of a smile played on Vincent’s lips so briefly that Paige wasn’t entirely sure it wasn’t her mind playing tricks on her, or a side effect of bashing her head so hard.

“Thank you for saying so, Ms. Turner.  I am very fond of my canine companion.”  Vincent responded.  A smirk formed and Paige knew the smile she had caught was real.  “Dinner is ready if you are.  You must be famished after your flight.”

“I am, thank you.” She sighed at her shortness with him.  This trip was going to be very painful if she didn’t learn to get over her awkwardness with Vincent.

Thankfully dinner went by without a hitch and, despite the pounding in her head after her incident with the desk, she actually… enjoyed herself.

Vincent was unwilling to talk business at the dinner table and after dinner her jetlag was catching up with her.  The two mutually decided that they would begin getting to work the next day.

Paige had changed in to her pajamas and was about to get into her bed when she heard the soft rap of knuckles against her door.

“Yes?” She called out while she took a makeup wipe to her face.

“Is it okay if I open the door?” Vincent’s voice resonated through the door.

“Umm, just a second...” Paige answered hastily tossing the used makeup wipe in the trash and hopping into bed and pulling up the covers.  She wasn’t prepared to have Vincent Karm see her in the flannel short shorts she was wearing to bed.   “Okay, all set.” she announced as she ran her hands over her hair, rolling her eyes at herself. When did she begin to care so much about how she looked in Vincent’s presence?

The door opened barely more than a crack and Vincent stuck his head in the opening.  “I just wanted to see if you needed anything before bed.” Vincent spoke softly.

Paige was about to answer when a tan blur came hurtling onto the bed to her.  Esteban circled twice then plopped down with a grunt.  

Vincent gaped for a second at the scene that just unraveled.

“Esteban!” he chastised the dog.  “I am so very sorry!  He is never like this with anyone…” Realizing the dog was paying him no attention, he questioned whether he should enter the room and physically remove the dog.

Paige let out a soft giggle.  After the long day she had the pug’s presence was welcome.

“It’s okay, Mr. K-” Paige began but was cut off.

“Please, call me Vincent.” He stated firmly, a trace of something Paige couldn’t identify in his voice; almost sadness.

“Okay, Vincent, but you have to call me Paige then.” She replied hoping that the room was dark enough that he couldn’t see the blush rising to her cheeks.   “And If it’s okay with you, I’d actually prefer that he stay.” she continued.

She laid a hand on the sleeping pug’s back.  Having Esteban there sharing a bed with her was nice.  It helped her feel more at home, as she was used to sharing her bed with Whiskey.  

“If you insist.  Did you need anything else?” Vincent asked, still perplexed over the odd behavior of his four legged companion.

“No, I have everything that I need,” She answered while trying to stifle a yawn.  “Goodnight, Vincent” she stated signaling he was free to go and that she was ready for bed.

He gave her a quick nod and pulled the door closed until the the latch clicked.

Vincent stared at the doorknob, mentally berating himself for being so hesitant and reserved.  His confident facade had faded and he half-wondered if this was how Raphael felt all the time.  It was uncomfortable to say the least.

He requested her in hopes of finding out whether or not the tightness he experienced in his chest was still there when he saw her.  A mere thought of her made his heart jump as he recalled how challenging she had been, protective of those she loved and cared for.  

Several months and an ocean apart had done nothing for the overwhelming intensity of what he felt for the woman on the other side of the door.

Who is here to do a job.  He reminded himself.  

It broke his heart to hear her call him what everyone else did, by his surname.  She used to call him Vincent and he never once asked her to do so.  That he had to ask her, after everything they had gone through, hurt and twisted in his gut like a knife.

He had seen the faint color in her cheeks when she asked for him to call her by her first name, in turn.  He should have just suffered through the annoyance of being called Mr. Karm if it meant she was comfortable.  

He found himself envious of his own dog, both because he wished he could be so open with affection and because Esteban was the one sleeping next to her.  Keeping her warm and safe.

He suddenly found himself longing to be the one next to her.  Vincent wondered what it would be like to wake up with his arms around her, her head on his chest as she slept.  To see her face at peace, something she deserved after the past few years.

She couldn’t know what he felt for her; he couldn’t allow her to find out.  Not yet, at least.  She was here to do what Raphael asked her to do. He couldn’t scare her off by letting her know that months, even years if he counted his time in prison, had done nothing to soothe the ache in his chest that came with every thought of her.

“Goodnight, Paige.” Vincent said softly to the door before heading to his own room to get ready for bed himself.

When Paige awoke she felt surprisingly refreshed.  While she was normally an early riser, waking up well before sunrise, the time on her phone revealed that it was almost noon.   She looked down at the bed to find that Esteban was no longer with her.  Eugene or Vincent must have retrieved him earlier in the morning to let him out and give him his breakfast.

She freshened herself up and dressed before she left her room to go find Vincent.  She wanted to get on with her job.  The faster she finished her article, the faster she could leave.  Then, maybe, she could fall asleep thinking of something other than Vincent Karm in bed only a few doors down from her.

Paige found Vincent in the living room, his eyes glued to his laptop, wired much the same way as hers for internet.  He was holding what smelled like coffee, steam wafting from the ceramic mug.

“Ah, you’re finally awake.”  He glanced at her before he took a sip from his mug, eyes scanning the screen again.

“That’s twice now, that I’ve left you waiting for me while I was unconscious.” Paige said, taking the offered cup and plate of food from Eugene, who silently slipped in and out of the room with ease.  She mouthed a thank you to the manservant as he left the room.

“Yes, well, hopefully this isn’t as...traumatic as the previous time.”  He said softly; if anyone from her time in Paris was aware of her suffering from her friend’s death, it was Vincent.

“I wouldn’t call that whole night traumatic.” She replied.

She kept her gaze firmly planted on her plate of food as she realized what she just said.  She stabbed a piece of egg with more force than she expected, the metal making a sound against the porcelain.

She was afraid.  Afraid to face whatever happened between them months ago, afraid of the feelings she harbored for the man who once tried to take over Paris.  The gut wrenching frustration with herself from earlier in the week came back but she was determined to push it aside.  She was here for one thing: his side of the events of the floods.

You were supposed to get here, do the interview, and leave.  No flirting. No awkwardness. But no, you had to go and screw that up, Paige.  Damn him.  Damn him for being...attractive and caring and a hell of a good kisser beneath that devilish persona.

Paige cleared her throat after a sip of coffee; it was probably one of the best homebrews she had, second only to Kat’s.  And the food was delicious, even for simple breakfast fare.

“What time did you want to start?  Is there a place you’re most comfortable?” She asked, eyes darting up just to see Vincent’s back to her, that he had shifted to face his computer again.

Thank goodness.  That meant she had a little time to hide the creeping flush across her cheeks.

“I was actually hoping we could take a walk.  Vermont this time of year is simply beautiful.”  He stated as he closed his laptop and turned to face her.  “If that is okay with you of course.” He added and something flickered in his eyes; hope.  

She was being hard on him, she realized; it was only fair for her to concede.  Plus, he was agreeing to do this interview.  Vincent, while used to being in the limelight, remained very private.  This interview was meant to be candid; he agreed to open up, to the readers yes, but primarily to Paige.  

“Sure, that would be fine.  I’ll go put on something warmer and grab my recorder.” She told him as she turned to head to the kitchen to place her dishes in the sink.

Once she was finished changing she met Vincent by the front door.  He was throwing an emerald scarf over his dress coat.  He was dressed impeccably as always despite the fact that they were going for a walk through the snow.  Paige noticed his choice in footwear; a pair of black leather Hermès boots.  If her time with TJ had taught her anything, it had taught her just how much he probably spent on those boots.  

“All set?” She asked as she began to realize for the first time this trip they would be completely alone together.

“Ready when you are.” Vincent answered simply.

The pair exited the cabin together the snow made soft crunching noises beneath their boots.  

It was pretty mild in temperature, at least for winter in North East America.  Paige had checked the weather forecast before her plane had taken off the day before and there was talk of a storm.  With the weather as temperate as it was, it didn’t seem possible for more than a light flurry.  Paige took her recorder out and pressed the red button.  She began asking some basic questions as she would with anyone to ease them into the more in-depth material she was looking for.

She continued to ask him questions; he pointed to various parts of the property while he answered.  Paige nearly had everything she needed for now.  She would work with what she got from the interview once she got back to her room.  After that, she would figure out where the gaps where and see what she needed to add.  At that moment, only one question was left for her to ask.

“What motivated you to even help save the city?” Paige began, looking over at Vincent when she asked the question. “ You clearly were trying to push boundaries the night I was arrested, considering you basically summoned me to your cell.  What possessed you to break out of prison to help?”

He inhaled, a little sharper than he probably meant to.  “One of those answers I can’t give.”

“On the record, then.” She specified.

“I couldn’t stand the idea of some base destroyer taking the city from me, from anyone.  Paris is the city of love, of light.  Of hope.  It was, and is, a refuge for artists, for musicians, for those who felt they didn’t belong elsewhere.”

He continued his train of thought and she waited until he finished before she turned off her recorder.

“And off the record?” She asked, her heart beating in her chest like a drum.  He clearly had something to hide and she would find out what.

His adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, hesitating in his words.  A first for Vincent Karm.

“I couldn’t stand seeing you in agony, after that night.  I told myself I would find a way to help so you would never have to feel that pain again.” He replied with nothing but sincerity.

This was not something she had either expected or prepared for.  A silence lingered between the pair as she was at a loss for how to respond to this earnest expression.  

“So, why Vermont?” She asked for the sole purpose of changing the subject and breaking the awkward silence.  

“Honestly?” He asked as she looked at him expectantly, urging him to tell her.  “I have a weakness for maple syrup.”

Shocked by the utter simplicity of his answer Paige began to laugh, trying to cover her mouth to stifle herself.

“What?” Vincent said with a grin, amused by her laughter.  It had been awhile since he had seen her so at ease and carefree.  “Nothing compares to freshly tapped maple syrup!”

“Oh, so Vincent Karm has a sweet tooth, huh?” She asked teasingly, finally managing to get her laughter under control.

“That shouldn’t surprise you, considering the company I’m currently keeping.” He replied smoothly with a small grin making eye contact with her.

Yet again, the slightly awkward tension returned.  She knew her cheeks were turning pink but, whether it was from the cold or his compliment she couldn’t be sure.

Is he flirting with me? She thought as she hoped her blush wasn’t obvious.

“You know what my favorite part of winter is?” She asked as she stopped in her tracks to stick her gloved hands in the snow.

“What?” Vincent asked in reply, eyebrows raising slightly.

“This.” She stated as she pelted him with a snowball.  

His eyes widened as he realized what had just happened, that maybe he should have seen coming.  

“Paige…” He began.

“Yes?” She replied with a laugh.

“This is war.” He stated calmly as he bent down, forming a snowball of his own.

The snowballed arched, hitting Paige square in the shoulder, causing her to squeal in surprise.  It became an all out brawl, snowballs thrown back and forth between the pair.  Vincent’s deep chuckle mixed with Paige’s girlish laughter and shrieks of delight.

Paige felt a snowball hit her on the back of her neck and icy fragments were sent down the collar of her jacket.  She yelped against the cold on her flesh.

“Oh, you’re going down, Karm!” she cried as she dashed toward him.

As she neared the man, she stepped on a patch of ice hidden under a layer of snow.  She felt herself slipping and reached out for Vincent to steady herself.  She grabbed hold of Vincent’s arm but only managed to pull him down with her.  When they fell, he took the brunt of the impact, only to have her land on him.  They both stilled for a moment, realizing just how close their faces were to each other.

Paige felt her mouth go dry as Vincent took her hand placing it over his chest.  She felt his heart beating rapidly through his jacket and coat.  Her eyes locked on his, realizing this gesture was very unvincentlike.  It was unlike him to put himself in such a vulnerable position when he was so used to being in control.

Unable to maintain eye contact, her eyes drifted down to his lips, not that that was much better.  She knew he wanted to kiss her but she couldn’t let that happen.

“I want to but… I… I can’t do this again.” her voice barely above audible.

“Kiss me or be hurt again?” he asked, his voiced pained.

What if there isn’t a difference between the two.  There wasn’t with Raphael.  Paige thought to herself.  She was both scared that they had been so close to kissing and disappointed that she couldn’t allow herself to let it happen.

“...I don’t know.  But, when I do, I’ll tell you.” She replied her voice still soft.

She shifted off him and stood, brushing excess snow off of her before offering Vincent her hand.  It was the least she could do, considering she was the reason he fell in the first place.

They made it back to the cabin cold and wet from all the snow that they threw at each other.  The heat of the indoors warmed their cold skin as they both remove their outerwear.  

Paige excused herself to her room with the excuse of wanting to get some of her ideas down while they were still fresh.  As soon as she got to her room, she turned on her computer and set herself down to write.  All she could think about was Vincent, and not the things she needed for her piece.  

Like his emerald eyes and his lips, small but soft.  Or how she had never truly seen him smile until now.  Or laugh without a darker meaning behind his words.  This was a different side of him, the man beneath the metaphors and sinister intent.  A man who owned a house in Vermont strictly because of his taste for maple syrup.

That’s why he wanted me to do this interview.  Who else but the person he helped to capture an image other than the one he’s known for?

Paige opened her work document and set about transcribing her audio files.  

Vincent watched Paige disappear into her room before noticing Esteban in an armchair, the pug watching him in turn.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Vincent muttered.  

Esteban gave a whine, his tail wagging lazily from side to side.

“She needs her space, you can cuddle with her later.”  Vincent walked over and scratched the dog behind his ear.  

His clothes still held the chill from outside but that chill had followed them inside and clung to the air.  Had he been too forward?  He knew she still hurt from Raphael, from going too fast too quickly only to find out his jealous streak ran far deeper than she originally thought.

It hurt, to hear her words.  That she would deny herself what she wanted.  What they both wanted.  But she needed to decide that for herself, in time.

He hadn’t forgotten how her light brown hair smelled, how beautiful the freckles across her nose were, or how endearing the flush across her cheeks could be.  But for her to be so close, in that moment, and not be able to…

Vincent let out a breath through his nose and cast his gaze back down the hall.  She would be busy for the rest of the day and it was probably best if he let her be.

A shower would do him good.  He needed a clearer head.  Maybe hot water would at least remove the chill he couldn’t seem to get rid of.

He left a trail of clothes behind him after he closed his bedroom door and made his way to the bathroom.  The tile was warm under his feet; heated floors were a necessity in such a climate.

He hissed when he entered the shower, finding the water to be too hot.  Or, maybe he was just too cold.

It wasn’t like him to be so...open with his intentions, at least with most people.  Then again, Paige wasn’t “most people” and she often demanded for him to be straight with her.  She did from the start.  She had earned that much from him, certainly.  

She earned my bloody heart without even trying.  Vincent thought darkly.

Vincent began washing his hair, his thoughts of earlier coming back.  She reached for him rather than flail helplessly and he hadn’t wanted her to fall; he was hoping they wouldn’t fall at all.

He expected to catch her, to hold her against him for the briefest of moments before letting her go.  He fell with her instead.  It wouldn’t do for her to hurt herself or, worse, have a concussion.  It was purely instinctive for him to hold her so he took most of the impact.  He doubted he would have done it a few years ago.  

He thought of Paige again, her laugh as she threw a snowball at him, her hazel eyes glancing down at his lips, her weight on him.  He wondered what it would be like to kiss her, to press his lips to her neck, to her warm skin, and show her that the pain she seemed to anticipate would never come.  Not if he could help it.  

He swallowed hard as he rinsed his hair.  He thought back to the night they first kissed.  She straddled him, grabbed him by his tie, and kissed him hard and long and sudden.  Very few had ever gained the upper hand with him so easily.  He was used to women throwing themselves at him but this...was something else entirely.  It was, for the first time in a long time, genuine in its passion.

Or so he hoped.

He remembered how close they were that night, how close they had been just under an hour ago.

Vincent finished the rest of his normal routine before he shut off the water and dried off.  He wrapped the towel around his waist as he went to peruse his closet for a clean set of clothes.  Once he was dressed, he returned to the living room to pick up where he left off on his emails.

Paige ate dinner quickly, barely making eye contact with anyone before dashing back into her room.  She felt awkward, watched, and she didn’t mean to be so closed off; the relationship of an interview went both ways.  But every time she even thought about approaching Vincent again, fear gripped her gut and she was left resorting to small talk and no eye contact.

The following morning, she curled up on the couch in the living room.  Esteban was on her bed down the hall last she knew, enthusiastically chewing a well-loved banana toy.  Eugene and Vincent were discussing something near the study; the conversation darted between English and French, and she distantly wondered if they did that in Paris as well.

Paige skimmed what she had so far of the interview, catching snippets about weather and generators and gasoline.  She glanced out the window to see Eugene placing several orange gasoline containers in the trunk of the black sedan warming up.  She switched to her internet browser to check the forecast; the storm had two paths, it seemed, but the pattern was unpredictable and no one wanted to make a call, it seemed.

She went back to working on the interview, forcing her eyes to focus on the screen as she heard soft footsteps pass by on the way to the kitchen.  He had paused and it took everything in her to not turn her head and look at him.  To get up from the couch and brush her lips over his, to give in to everything they both wanted.

She still didn’t have an answer for him.

The wind started to pick up just as an emergency weather alert went off on her phone.  The notification stated the storm predicted to hit tomorrow evening had gained strength and had shifted directly towards the area where they were staying.  

Paige felt nerves begin to stir in her stomach as she looked out the window realizing how little she could make out through the falling snow.  She worried about Eugene, who had left a little under an hour ago with four bright orange jugs to get gas for the generators in the event the cabin lost power.  It was getting dark and the wind was whipping the snow around creating large drifts outside of the windows in Paige’s room.  

Esteban, who was curled up at the foot of her bed for most of the afternoon had woken up from a nap.  His ears went back as he let out a few soft whines; he was clearly not a fan of the storm.

You and me both little guy. Paige thought as she rubbed the dog behind the ears and reciting calming incantations in efforts to soothe him.

The lights flickered briefly before the power went out all together.  

Paige gave a yelp in surprise as the sudden shift to darkness.  She felt Esteban shift beneath her touch.  Paige pulled her phone out of her pocket the light providing only enough illumination to see directly in front of her and nothing else.

“It’s okay Esteban.  You’re a good boy; everything is okay.” She whispered.

“Paige?”  Vincents voice echoed down the hallway.  “Are you alright?”

Vincent arrived in the doorway holding a flashlight, which was a lot more useful than her phone.

“Yes, just a little startled that’s all.  I thought the generators were supposed to kick in only a few seconds after the power went out…” She began but trailed off.

“They are.  They must have had even less gas than Eugene and I had expected.” He replied.

“Shouldn’t Eugene be back by now?  Do you think he’s stuck in the storm?” Paige felt panic rise in her gut.  She already lost someone dear to her; she couldn’t bare to see any of her other friend’s get hurt.

“I was on the phone with Eugene when the power cut out.  The storm hit town before it came here and they closed the roads.  Eugene made it to a hotel but even if the roads were open it wouldn’t be safe for him to drive.” Vincent stated in a calm voice.

“As long as Eugene is safe.  I guess the heaters won’t be working with no power, huh.”  It was more of a statement that she was hoping Vincent corrected her on rather than a question.

“No, they won’t.  But I will get a fire going in the front room and there are plenty of blankets.”

Paige gave a weak nod, wishing she wasn’t as anxious as she was.

“I’ll get the fire started.  I brought you a flashlight, would you mind bringing some blankets for us?”

“Yes, of course, I can do that.”  Paige responded, taking the flashlight Vincent held out for her.

She gathered the quilt from her bed and a few more she found in the trunk at the foot of the bed.  The case closed with a sudden thud after she pulled out the covers, startling her for a moment.  Paige carefully made her way down the hall and into the living room, arms filled with blankets and flashlight balancing precariously atop the pile.

In less than an hour, the pair was sitting in front of a fire, each wrapped in their own blanket.  Had the situation not been as stress inducing as it was, Paige actually would have enjoyed this.

Despite the warmth that the blankets and fire provided, a chill ran through Paige and she wasn’t entirely sure it was completely due to being cold.  Her involuntary shiver caught Vincent’s attention.

“Are you still cold?” Vincent asked with genuine concern.

“Only a little but the fire is very nice, it helps.” Paige stated hoping he accepted the answer without further questioning.

Vincent, who was sitting next to her, moved closer to her.  Their arms were now resting against each other.  “Is this okay?” Vincent asked gently.

Paige nodded in reply as she continued watching the fire.

“I...I’m sorry about before, by the way.  And about my behavior this whole trip.  I’ve been cold toward you and it was unnecessary.  The truth is I’m scared.  Terrified really.”

“I terrify you?” Vincent replied maintaining his calm but clearly hurt by her confession.

“No, no, you don’t terrify me!  I’m just not sure I can handle getting hurt again…When I was with Raphael…” she trailed off but Vincent let her collect herself without interupting.  When she found her words, she continued. “When I was with Raphael, I really thought I was happy...for a while.  Until I realized that I was probably the farthest thing from happy I had ever been, up until Kat died that is.”

“Paige, you’re shivering, let me get you another blanket-”  Vincent rose to grab another blanket from the pile.

“No!” She reacted, reaching out and grabbing his hand, startling the man “I’m sorry, please, don’t leave. We’ll just sit closer if that’s okay.”

Vincent sat back down and Paige shifted, instead positioning herself between his legs with her back against his chest.  She could feel the warmth emanating from his body, feel his heart beating hard against her back, and she felt his breath hitch as his arms wrapped around her waist tentatively.

“Okay?” He asked.

“Warmer already.” She replied; it was the furthest thing from a lie.  She continued now that she was warmer, “I should have listened to your warnings about him… you are the only one who ever told me the truth about Raphael.  I guess now would be a good time to say ‘I told you so’”

“Paige, I would never say that to you.  Especially over something that has so deeply affected you.” He said sternly. “And, you don’t have to apologize.  You came here to do a job and I am sorry if I complicated things for you.  I have been wanting to kiss you from the moment you arrived, and yesterday I realized I pushed the boundaries farther than I should have.”

It was at Vincent’s apology that caused her to realize Raphael was the exception, not the rule.  Yes, he hurt her, but that didn’t mean Vincent would hurt her.  She was so upset at Raphael for holding her back in their relationship and now she wanted something, wanted Vincent, and she was holding herself back.  She was no longer with Raphael; if she wanted something, she could go for it.  Should go for it.

“You have nothing to apologize for either, but, thank you.” She rotated slightly so she was sitting slightly sideways toward him, one leg bent, her knee resting near his. “I’m definitely warmer sitting like this.  But, there is one part of me that’s still cold.  My lips.  Can you help me warm them?”  

Vincent leaned in, allowing her to come in the rest of the way.  As she felt his lips against hers she knew that one night was not just a fluke.  Kissing Vincent was like no other kiss she ever experienced.  The effects of the kiss radiated throughout her entire body sending warmth to every inch of her despite how frigid the room was.  Their kisses became deeper and more desperate until they ended up in a position similar to when they fell on the ice.  Vincent allowed her to be on top of him; be in control, set the pace.  Eventually they both fell asleep, a tangle of blankets and limbs intertwined.

Paige woke up warm despite the coldness of the room.  Vincent, still asleep, was holding her close to him; keeping her warm.  The weight of his arms around her made secure, happy.  A rush of emotions engulfed her at all she had shared with Vincent last night both emotionally and physically.  Memories of the kisses they shared last night flooded back to her.  

Paige smiled, realizing she had been brave enough to follow through with all of the desires she had regarding Vincent.  Well, not all of them.  A blush spread across her cheeks thinking about the one thing they hadn’t done last night.  Neither of them had wanted to move too fast.  However, the desire was there last night and it was back again now.  Especially with her body so close to his, feeling him pressed up against her.  His morning condition was of little help, which she noticed when she shifted her thigh slightly.  She watched him as he slept.   His hair was tousled from sleep and she realized she had never seen him look more peaceful or relaxed.

The wind was still pretty strong from what she could hear and she was so nice and warm.  She closed her eyes and let herself drift back off to sleep; a pleasure she more often than not denied herself.  This morning though, wrapped in Vincent’s arms, she allowed herself this small pleasure.    

Vincent woke with a start.  It took him a moment to wake up and realize that he was finally able to do what he only was able to imagine.  He was able to wake up with Paige in his arms.  He would be lying if he hadn’t wanted this all along when he first learned City of Love: Paris wanted an interview but, after the way Paige acted after their snowball fight lead him to believe this would never happen.  He was extremely glad that he was wrong, which was a first for him.  

My God, she’s beautiful.  He thought to himself as he ever so lightly brushed a strand of her hair away from her face tucking it behind her ear.  

As much as he hated the idea, he had to disentangle himself from her and get up.  He needed to check on Esteban and see if Eugene had tried to get in contact with him at all.  Cell service was not very good; texting was possible but took awhile.  

He pressed a kiss to Paige’s forehead before peeling back the covers.  He was careful not to wake her, replacing the covers so she wouldn’t get cold.  As he went about his business, his mind kept playing last night’s events.  He was hardly complaining; in fact he wouldn’t mind a repeat incident once Paige woke up.  To hear her open up to him and realize that she trusted him enough to let herself be vulnerable with him was… everything.  

Vincent fired off a text to Eugene, hoping his message would send before his phone battery died.  He placed the phone near the window to make the best of the poor service, only made worse by the storm.

On a positive note, the wind had begun to die down.  Snow was still falling but not with the intensity as it had been throughout the night.

Vincent walked into the study and turned on his laptop.  It had been charging when the power went out; it still had a decent charge left to it and because it was wired directly to the phone jack, he still had internet access until the computer died.  The joys of archaic American technology.  He tried to check the weather but the only updates were claiming the storm was dying down.

He was startled as Paige knocked on the door frame.  She was wrapped in one of the thick fleece blankets they had slept with and she held a mug in each hand.  He could see steam rising from each.

“I put the kettle over the fire to heat the milk.  I’m sure it’s not the best quality but it’s warm.”  She said as she offered a mug of steaming hot chocolate to him.

Vincent took the mug from her and took a deep sip, savoring the warmth of the beverage.

“It’s too cold in here.  Come back in front of the fire with me?”  Paige asked a hint of shyness in her voice.  As if despite all that they shared last night there was still a part of her that was afraid he would turn her down.

Vincent shut his computer and grabbed Paige’s free hand in his bringing it up to his lips to brush light kisses over her knuckles.  Hand in hand they walked back in front of the fire and wrapped themselves in each other as they watched the snow fall outside the window.

“Beautiful.” Paige stated as she was captivated by the wintery wonderland outside.

“Yes, beautiful.” Vincent replied, looking only at Paige.

Paige turn to look at Vincent, a blush rising to her cheeks.  She opened her mouth to speak but, before she could the lights flickered on.

“The power’s on!” She squealed in excitement as she wrapped her arms around Vincent’s neck.

“And look who’s back.” Vincent stated as he held Paige with one arm the other pointing to the window.  Paige followed his arm to the view of the driveway, a black sedan visible on the crisp white snow.

Esteban barked, running in a circle before jumping onto the nearest piece of furniture to look out the window.  His tail wagged as he caught sight of Eugene getting out of the car.

Paige turned to place a kiss on Vincent’s cheek once Eugene was hidden by the trunk of the car for a moment and untangled herself from his arms, as much as she didn’t want to.  “I’m going to make breakfast, I’m sure he’s exhausted.”