It was a bitterly cold winter’s day when Kiti decided to surprise Steve on his birthday. She arrived at his door in a long, warm winter coat from London Fog, deep cherry red in colour, and carrying a bottle of Drambuie with which to toast the event. She nervously rang the buzzer for his apartment, and waited to hear his voice for the first time. They’d been talking to each other online almost every day for the past few months, but this would be their first time actually meeting each other. She smiled as she thought about that first kiss and touch. So much anticipation she could practically feel her heart beating even through her thick coat. Her voice was tremulous as she answered his “Who is it?” query. 

“Kiti,” she almost stuttered, as her nerves threatened to overwhelm her. 

She heard a rapid buzz as the door was unlocked for her, and when she reached for it and swung it open so that she could pass through, his voice sounded from the intercom once more. “I’ll be right down to meet you, wait there!” When this was followed by an abrupt thunk, she pictured a door hitting the wall, as he made good on his word. The whine of the elevator sounded almost before she had reached them to await his arrival. She began to bite her lip and felt her throat grow dry as she watched the numbers above the elevator door count down. She started to turn and run, but it was too late, the elevator doors were opening, revealing the two of them to each other.

His smiling face almost made her nerves melt away. He reached out his hand and pulled her into the elevator to join him, looking down at her as if amazed that she was actually there. The elevator doors closed, and he pushed the button for his floor absentmindedly. He bent down and kissed her softly on the cheek as the elevator began to rise, taking them closer to his place and their night together. Still, not a word had been exchanged between the two of them, and they were at his floor. The elevator doors slid open again, and the two of them stepped out of the car in unison, before he began to lead the way to an apartment with an open door.

The first thing to catch Kiti’s eye as she entered his place was the large marble fireplace, which occupied the centre of his living room wall. She could see some birch wood laid in readiness in and beside the fireplace, and was pleased that he remembered the wood whose scent she most enjoyed. She’d stopped just inside the door, to take in her first sight of his place slowly and, after closing the door, Steve came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her bare neck as he watched the delight grow on