"Sinful Pleasures Opens Its Doors" -(Repost)

Standing before the doors to the shop, she gazes up at the sign for a moment before entering. Carved into the mahagony sign, the words "SINFUL PLEASURES" capture the eyes of all who pass by, while underneath in slightly smaller letters is written "Gourmet Chocolatiers". A smile appears as she muses the appropriateness of the sign. Chocolate, for centuries, was a pleasure reserved for royalty and the extremely rich. Only with the transplantation of the cacao plant and the subsequent development of plantation-style farming was it made available for the common man or woman...add a bit of sugar, perhaps a little milk, and thus the "food of the gods" became the treat of the common individual.

Removing a key from it's place within her purse, she inserts it into the lock on the door, giving both key and doorknob a slight twist. A quiet >click< of the tumblers and the cheerful jingling of the small bell positioned just above the door announces her entry into the noticeably cooler - and quieter building. Once inside, even the slightest breath will carry the rich unmistakable scent of chocolate directly to the pleasure centers of even the most jaded customer's brain.

But far more than simple milk chocolate can be found here, oh no. For the better part of a month now, she could be seen carrying a notebook around with her wherever she went. Often she could be observed writing notes within its pages, notes that would be quickly covered should she even sense someone attempting to see what it was she was writing. Within the walls of Sinful Pleasures can be found chocolate in a multitude of glorious forms. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate...and the flavors! New ones added almost daily! One could find maple fudge, strawberry fudge, chocolate mint, chocolate covered fruit of nearly every shape and kind. There was even an entire selection of chocolate liqueurs . Chocolates with a hint of rum..or brandy....and so many more, all wrapped neatly in little colored foil packages emblazoned with the calligraphic "SP" that has become her trademark.

Also found within these walls, are syrup versions of many of the treats found elsewhere in the shop. Suitable for adding additional flavoring to one's coffee, milk, cakes...or for those of a more..creative...bend to their minds, bedroom activites.

All this and more goes through her mind as she steps behind the counter and places her purse underneath. Taking her apron from it's place on its peg by the door to the backroom work area, she slips it about her neck, reaching behind her to tie it in place.

There is an old saying: "Chocolate is a substitute for sex..". If that is accepted as true, then this shop could be considered a mindless, savage orgy of the senses...

Sinful Pleasures indeed..

Just before the "Gourmet Chocolatiers" was about to close for the night, Colonel Wil Savage turned the handle of the front door and entered the shop. The strong intoxicating smell of the chocolate washed over him like a rogue wave.

He took a few steps inside and allowed the door to slowly swing closed behind him. He looked at the woman behind the counter and smiled, "I think you should charge just for the privilege of enjoying the smell of your shop."

He took slow steps across the wooden floor and looked at the variety of chocolates in the glass cases.

"Perhaps you could help me. I would like something that no woman can resist. Something delicious, addicting, and romantic."

He moved closer to the shop owner and leaned toward her. "Do you have anything like that here?"

"Detailed by you in this very shop?" He removed his shades and his deep blue eyes looked into hers as he repeated her sales line. "In that case, I can't imagine them being anything but delicious."

He put a finger on the glass and ran it along in a horizontal motion as he perused the delicacies being displayed so artfully. He knew that if this woman gave such care to display of her product, the care given to the product itself would be extraordinary.

"I'm ashamed to admit that I have not really been a chocolate aficionado, so I have a lot to learn and must rely upon your expertise." He put the end of his shades against his lips and looked them over one more time. "The lady certainly doesn't have to worry about her waistline, so the choice is wide open. "Do you have anything with a brandy filling??

Wil reached out and took the creamed filled chocolate from her slender fingers. He put it to his lips and bit into the chocolate; his deep blues never left her dark green eyes as his teeth sunk into the delectable sweet and his mouth savored the brandy-flavored cream filling.

A smile ran across his face.

"That is absolutely to die for." He looked at the chocolate-covered cherry with the liquor filling. "If I may try that one also."

He put the new chocolate to his lips and bit into it, releasing the delicious filling into his mouth.

"Oh my. I think you are turning me into a lover of chocolate." He put the remainder of the chocolate into his mouth and licked off his fingers. "But the real mystery is . . . how you manage to remain so slim and sexy with all this temptation surrounding you?"

He wiped his fingers on the napkin she used to select the chocolates. "I see that I now have a difficult choice to make."

"A sampler package of the two I've just tasted would be perfect, something like twelve of each in alternating spaces in a box" I'm sure she will love it."

He was quiet for a moment, realizing that it's nearly time for her to close the shop. "So you like physical activities" If it wouldn't be too much of an imposition, perhaps sometime you can show me where to hike around here."

Colonel Savage took the box of chocolates with a smile, "Thank you so much. You've been very helpful." He reached into his pocket while looking at the pricing for the chocolates, then counted out the correct amount.

"I'm sure the lady will enjoy these very much," he said while putting the coins into her hand.

"Oh, and I'll see if I can find some of those hiking trails. It sounds like it's the perfect season to get out and get some exercise."

He put his shades back on and took a step back. "Thanks again for your help."

He turned and walked to the door.

Glancing back towards the kitchen, she sighs softly, eyeing that pile of pots and pans that have thusfar steadily refused to give in to the magical nature of Rhydin and to disappear...

With the rapidly approaching holiday season, business in her little shop is soon picking up. The number of days increase that she often finds herself arriving for work long before the sun rises over the distant eastern mountains....and leaving long after it has already descended into the west. Her confections and treats barely have time to rest upon the display shelves before they are bought up by customers seeking to get all their necessary supplies in preparation for the annual visit of trick-or-treaters..

The weekends prove to be her "safety valve". Bright and early each weekend morning, her slender form can be spied jogging along the various hiking trails scattered about the land....though in her mind, she is a million miles away.

Snatched back to the present by the sound of a familiar voice, she draws to a halt before him, a look of momentary surprise appearing in her emerald green eyes before being replaced by one of recognition. Leaning forward ever so slightly, she props herself up by placing her hands upon her thighs which thankfully due to her habitual morning jog, managed not to disgrace the spandex biking shorts she normally wore while jogging. At least she'd managed to color coordinate the racer-back top as she'd stumbled out of bed. A flick of her head causes the ponytail in which she'd placed her hair to fall over one shoulder.

"Well hello again!" she laughs softly, straightening to stretch ever so slightly, "Yes, I actually do exercise...it helps to keep me sane!" A playful grin appears upon her lips as she gazes curiously back at him.

"Oh it's pretty random...mainly depending on how I'm feeling when I get here each morning or how my week's been.." she smiles. Glancing over at the tree, she giggles as her gaze returns to meet his. "I think I could be pursuaded to take a short break...wouldn't do for me to run myself into the ground so early in the day." Wandering over towards it, she reaches down and brushes a spot off on it before taking a seat. "Just don't think I'm going to go giving away any of my receipies..." she grins.

Shaking her head with a soft giggle, she reaches up to brush a lock of hair back into place before glancing over at him. "You'd best be careful...otherwise with so many visits to my shop you'll need to run forever to work off all the snacks..." A playful grin graces her lips, a mischevous twinkle dancing in her dark emerald green eyes. Truth be told, one could only work for so long before it began to become maddening....and this interesting stranger had brought a breath of much needed fresh air into her otherwise monotonous (to her) week...

"Never be too trusting of strangers.." her mother had been fond of telling her, constantly worried that there were all sorts of miscreants hiding behind every bush just waiting for their chance to commit some form of mischief, and as charming as Wil was, he was still a stranger to her when it was all boiled down to the bare facts. "A smooth Stranger at that.." she thinks to herself, feeling his hand upon her shoulder.

"A ship hmnn....,' she smiles, leaning forward to dislodge his hand, "You never struck me as the seafaring type..."

Arching a brow, she glances curiously at him. His words are confusing" at least in light of his earlier claims. Only after his clarification does it all begin to fall into place. "A'space ship" I've heard talk about the inn of them' but I've never really seen one up close." A slight smirk forms upon her lips. "Not like we have a space ship parking lot outside of the inn."

Turning slightly in her seat, she watches as he lifts his gaze skywards. "No, I've never been there, though I've sat many a night looking up at the stars and the moon " it can be rather relaxing at times." She replies softly. "Yet another of my many 'release valves". Much less messy than beating someone senseless with a rolling pin if not quite as satisfying?" she grins.