Have a sip of some sizzling hot coffee......

A Play of Emotions …………..

She was thankful to him that he took her side and spoke in her support. She had felt like a puny feather in a storm when he had suddenly taken up for her. There was joy in her heart in the realisation that she wasn't totally alone and the joy multiplied when he had come to rescue her.

It was getting late. She stood watching the cloudless night from her window. Her fingers rested on the wall as she felt the cool breeze caress her cheeks. Her fingers moved ever so slightly as she shivered. She thought she should see him before the day was out. Yet she remained where was, unsure of what she should do. Where would he be at this time? Would it be right to go and seek him out at this time? Her hair fell and lifted against her neck as the wind played with it. She quickly moved her head because it reminded her of how he had lifted her hair from her shoulder and let it cascade through his fingers. Why did these annoying thoughts keep plaguing her? Why did they give her comfort and yet disturb her so much?

She left her room and walked through the corridors on bare feet. The silence was absolute and the only noise present was the jingling of her anklets. Her footsteps faltered as she began to doubt the sanity of her decision. But her heart ……..? It egged her on. Why did her heart do exactly what her mind forbade her from doing? And why did she always so foolishly listen to her heart?

She thought she should knock before she entered his den. Still she didn't. Instead she opened the door slightly and took a peek. Nobody seemed to be inside. She closed the door softly behind her. She ran her eyes round the expanse of the room and realised that he wasn't there. She felt relief and yet her silly heart was disappointed. She went to a pillar to get a better look beyond.

She stopped dead in her tracks. Her heart began to hasten its beats. She saw him in the centre of room doing his work-out. She stood mesmerised as he moved around. His torso was bare and his muscles rippled as he smoothly moved his hands around. There was a sheen of perspiration on his body that made his skin glisten. She couldn't take her eyes off him. Her hands went to the thin white curtains that were pulled to give him privacy. She pulled it slightly to get a better look. Why did she want to see him more and more? He turned quickly and she let the curtain fall. Aghast she hid behind the pillar. Why on earth did she do that when she had come to meet him? Why was she uncertain all of a sudden? Her hungry eyes forced her to turn to look at him yet again. He continued with his exercising, refining each movement and toning up his sinews.

The doves crept in through the windows, flapping their wings. But he was oblivious to them. He seemed to be used to them. One brave bird flew to him and settled on his shoulder. She felt a twinge of envy at seeing the bird sit so comfortably on his shoulder. Did the bird crave his touch just the way she did? She remembered how his hand had brushed hers and stayed in contact. She hadn't wanted to break that connection. It had made her feel warm all over. She gasped at her wayward thoughts and her heart raced on.

She shuffled her feet as she leant against the marble pillar. He heard the scraping and stood still.

"Who's there?" he called.

She was suddenly frightened and didn't want him to see her. Her mind wondered why. Hadn't she come here to thank him? Then why was she shying away from him? Her senses were heightened and she didn't trust her disloyal heart anymore. Her heart controlled her eyes and it would be easy to read her. She turned away and stood close to the pillar. The curtain clung to her cheek. Oh dear! She would be found out. Her earring was snagged in the diaphanous material. She tried to unentangle it. She knew he was walking towards her and she didn't want to get caught. The curtain blew away and she let out a sigh of relief. The pigeons flew up once again their wings making a noise with their fluttering. She took her chance and took quick steps towards the door. But her anklets rang sweetly like little bells.

He heard that musical sound and knew who was there. There was an instinctive need to find out why she was here. He always liked it when she was near him. As he moved to round the pillar, something flicked his shoulder. He stopped short. A earring hung on the curtain. His fingers prised it free and he looked at it as it lay on his palm. So she was really there and what the hell was she doing …… playing hide and seek? He looked around slowly and carefully. He saw her standing behind the pillar well hidden. It was her unruly dupatta that rolled out and gave her away. It was such a pretty pink colour. He smiled slightly. Pink suited her. He hid in the shadows waiting for her to make a move. She darted across thinking it was safe and that she would reach the door soon enough. As she rushed forward, his arm snaked out and caught her wrist. She tried to pull away but he dragged her to the centre of the room. He wanted to get a better look.

In the dim light, her eyes shone as she looked at him doubtfully. She tried to escape but he had shackled her to him in a strong hold. He looked down at her. She looked at him trying to calm herself. She seemed afraid. He wondered what the matter was. He lifted his hand and showed her the earring she had lost. She looked at it and turned pink. He must think she was snooping around. She lifted her head to say something, when she found him really close. He traced the shell of her ear and stroked her lobe. She closed her eyes as she was flooded with awareness. Her head fell forward but he put a hand under her cheek and traced her jaw from chin to ear. The finger then moved downwards to the base of her neck. She thought he would feel the drumming of her pulse. She was breathing fast and her mouth opened to let out tiny gasps. His hand tilted her head as he tried to hook the earring into her soft lobe. But the hole was difficult to find. He bent his head to get a closer look. She was so close to him, she could get the musky smell of his body. She seemed to drift towards him just like that dove. His cheek scraped her magnolia soft cheek. The rasping of his stubble drew a gasp from her. She turned to flee. She didn't trust herself anymore.

"Wait!" he cried.

She stopped and he went over to her. He cupped her cheek and lifted her face to him. Her eyes were like transparent pools of liquid gold. He drank in deeply…….. for he knew that she was going through the same upheaval that he was ………………