Severus Snape A Soul Undiminished

Chapter 14 - Blush

Severus looked back up from his wine, swearing he could feel the heat radiating from the lovely woman's face, which had turned several deeper shades of red.
"Are you not feeling well? Perhaps the wine is not to your liking after all..." he smirked in mock concern. Severus saw her place the back of her hand on her checks and forehead as if to cool them, and he wondered if perhaps she was feeling faint.
"No," she insisted, "I'm just not accustomed to drinking so much wine. I'm just a little flushed. I'll be fine," she continued as she absently took another drink.
He smirked, "Wonderful. Perhaps a recess is in order, regardless. It would appear that you are as much a mystery to me as I am to you. And as much as I would like to...rectify that, we have all day to do so."

Sirana's face was on fire now...or at least she thought she could smell smoke coming from her ears. She could see through his banter easily enough, as it was skillfully humorous and teasingly suggestive, but it still both delighted and embarrassed her. She was not delicate flower, wilting in the sunlight, and admittedly, she had always been a passionate woman, drawn to the passions of others...professionally and personally. She felt that draw to Severus, and wondered how such a quiet, almost expressionless man could exude so much passion, as if it radiated from his aura. Her late husband had been a sweet, loving soul, and although he seemed to thrive under her passionate demeanor, he lacked much of his own. He was content to pass the days in each other's company as contented companions, while lovingly offering her unwavering support for her own passions, she thought reverently. This man in front of her was a different sort of animal...a horse of a different color, she mused. She could feel her passion equally matched, if not exceeded, in his nature.

"Yes, a break would be nice, but one thing first...you said that we have all day to figure out my mystery...Does that mean we 'only' have today?" she asked. She thought that she could imagine seeing his face blush almost imperceptibly at that, and wondered briefly why, until she thought about the possible interpretation of her own question. She took another sip of wine.

Severus thought about her last question, and he knew what she meant, but a part of him imagined she was asking in a way that meant that she longed for them to retain each other's company for even more time. After he saw her take another sip of wine, thinking she must have realized her unintentional innuendo, he refilled her glass without asking, topping of his own. He rose and offered her his had formally. She took his hand, looking a little unsteady as she rose, and he was grateful that he had made the offer to assist her standing before she actually required it. He smiled inwardly, finding it endearing that she was so unaccustomed to a single glass of wine.

He escorted her over to the living room, each with their full goblets in hand, and he was a bit intrigued as to what the second glass might do for her mood. She was smiling warmly up at him, and she asked him in good humor, "So, you might need to remind me where it is that I should sit, as I may have forgotten the agreed-upon arrangement."

'Cheeky devil,' Severus thought, reminded that the last time they sat in his living room she was on his lap. He couldn't help but adore her flirtations mood, and as they reached the sitting area, he sat his glass down on the small side table. He then took her glass from her and sat it down as well, al the while holding her hand, unwilling to break contact. He used he now free hand to wrap it around her waist, pulling her to him.

He almost lost his control in not letting a laugh escape when she asked him, tongue-in-cheek, "How are we supposed to dance if there is no music?"

He released her stepped back, and retrieved her glass of wine, handing it to her. "Please, what here for just one moment." With that, he left to his study, returning with what appeared to be a small record player. He arranged it on a corner table, turning it on, and carefully set the needle to a specific groove in the disk. He turned and retrieved her glass, once again setting it down next to his, then resumed the position they were in before her question.

This chapter was accidentally deleted. I'm working on typing it back in.