Caged Nightingale

Part 15-Atif

Oh it is on!

I am so hard thinking about her that it physically hurts. fuck. I am done. I've never seen anything like it.

She saunters out of the room, hips swaying seductively, like she knows I'm watching her walk away from me. As she reaches the door, she turns and gives me the most smouldering look I've ever seen just before she shuts it behind her.  she has the measure of me.  I guess two really can play this game.

i find her in the den an hour later.  she's curled up in the window seat, behind a curtain reading. She shifts her feet to make space for me to sit as I approach. But doesn't take her eyes off the book. I sit with my back against the window and turn to look at her.  She glances up at me; then back down at her book.

"About those fingers-" I say and grin at her.  She tilts her head to the side and waits, like she's expecting a punch line.

"Dont play games with me!" she says and gives me pointed look.

'Ok." I say.  " But just for the record: How many fingers was it!?"  And just like that a tense moment becomes a relaxed one. She laughs and mock hits me with her book. It's good to know she's not completly immune to my humour. 

We spend all afternoon talking. She's smart, sassy and gives as good as she gets when the banter gets going. But best of all I can see her relax in my company. She isn't guarded or wary of me and my questions.  She asks plenty herself.  I try to be as honest as I can -knowing I'm not the kind of man she usually associates herself with.

'Maybe you should call me Ayla" she says suddenly whilst we are eating dinner.

I look at her in surprise. 'changed your mind?' I ask lightly, not wanting to ruin the evening by letting the conversation become too serious.

'You're right!" she says thoughtfully, then licking some yogurt off her finger tips. I'm mesmerised straight away by the movement "if someone called me Ayla, I wouldn't even remember to respond to it. i'd give myself away immediately." she lifts her sleeve away from her wrist and continues to eat- but then stops when she realises I'm staring at her hand.  "Really? I've created a monster" she shakes her head and laughs with me in mock disgust.

We're sat on the vernda after dark, I know I'm dragging out the night, because I don't want it to end.  I've drunk 2 cups of tea, when I can't stand the stuff in the evenings.

'You said you wanted me from the moment you saw me," she says and i see the wary look she gives me " but you slept with another woman last week.' there is no humour in her voice- only concern.  'Then you told me about it, like it was nothing.'

'Would you have preferred me to have lied.' I ask with a tone of regret. I know what she's asking and i know she's right to question my capability for fidelity.  'In all honesty, I did it because I was being watched. I knew I would look less suspicious if I was with another woman. I wasnt married then.  I am now." I say without looking at her. The mood has become more pensive and the look I give her is serious for the first time this evening. 

She bites back a retort as if she's thinking better of it and then turns back to the garden without saying another word.

'my flight's leaving early." I say as I stand, I extend my hand to her and she takes it. 

Silently, we walk inside and I escort her to her room. I take her hand and kiss it before I leave her at the door and walk across the landing to the other wing. 
I don't trust myself to turn and look at her still stood there.