For the story I never finished last Spring into Summer...

...Perhaps if Spring ever rears her lovely head, I might be motivated to finish that short story but until then -

Like a school girl with a crush,
she'd admire the way he refused coffee,
and chose hot chocolate instead.
Not simply because it matched her preference
but because he was acknowledging and
LISTENING to his inner child.

Sugar, instead of caffeine, was what he required.
Often, he reminded her of why she was who he desired;
"Sweet enough to ignite my daily life
and pure stimulant enough
that no other needs to be acquired".

She'd simply smile,
and think quietly to herself,
"Soul-mates encompass the land of lovers."

She stopped thinking twice about
his intention for compliments
a long time ago.

She Knew Better Now
to just sit back
and absorb the temptation of his voice.

It was that long ago
he taught her how to indulge fully and properly
in his edible delicacies of description;
"A real cook wants you to appreciate his art,
not his kitchen nor the preparation."

More simply put,
his compliments quickly became
the marshmallows in the cocoa that was her life.