The night breeze that met her as soon as she left the bathroom was welcome. A towel embraced her curves, pearls of water still running down her peachy shoulders. The heat of the day had cooled down a bit and given way to a pleasant evening.
Walking to the balcony, which had its doors open, she looked down at the Nile – observing some long boats floating on its waters. The outlook was beautiful in its calmness and awoke musings about times long gone. What had that river seen? What secrets did it hold? How many slaves had worked with the river's gift? How many Pharaos called it part of their kingdom?
It was Aesop’s voice which called her back to the present.
“You are lovely.”
Turning to her right, facing Aesop’s sitting form, she grimaced playfully.
“You like to say it, and I believe you to think it true, but I doubt it. At least I think you are overstating my ‘loveliness’.”
The Potions Master folded the letter he had been writing at the desk. His face was neutral, despite the smile trying to force itself on his lips.
“I don’t tend to exaggerate, Katherine. As charming as your lack of self-awareness might be, as frustrating is it to convince you of my truthfulness.”
She approached him slowly, kissing his bristly cheek once at his side.
“I don’t doubt your truthfulness. How could I when you look at me, - kiss me, - touch me the way you do?”
Her words dipped his eyes in the dark glimmer of intensity.
Strong capable hands found their way to her towel-covered waist after a short journey from her hips upward.
“Those words conflict with your previous ones, in which you accused me of overstating.”
“They do not, since I also made clear that I acknowledge you might truly believe your own words.”
Her knowing grin coaxed a smile out of him, before he decided to put on a mask of feigned seriousness.
“Ah, Mrs. Sharp thinking one's husband delusional is not a good omen.”
She laughed – a laugh the Ex-Auror counted as one more coin in his treasure chest.
“My husband isn’t delusional; he is merely biased.”
Opening the towel, he let it fall from her frame; taking in her naked allure.
“That he is.”
His confirmation was accompanied by eyes roaming the landscape of her physical being.
“Before you get any ideas, I’d like to go out and get some good Egyptian coffee.”
Her melodic voice he heard, but the meaning behind her words was confusing to him. It was late and she had just finished taking a bath. He had expected them to spend the night in their room, reading on the balcony, just like she usually preferred. His brows furrowed.
“It’s late and I know you’re not fond of the Hotel bar.”
He was right – she wasn’t. The English-run hotel they were staying at might’ve been luxurious, but it also came with other guests which liked to take in her every move; something she was not eager to face while enjoying a hot beverage with her husband.
Picking up the towel and walking towards the closet, she began to choose a dress which she could put on after the underwear she had already placed on the bed before bathing.
“I wasn’t thinking about going down to the Hotel bar. I saw that lovely coffeehouse today that belongs to Asim – the friendly man we met at the market yesterday; the one who reminded us so much of Abraham. He said he keeps it open till late. Let us take a look and enjoy the coffee I have been craving for a while now. It’s not too late, let us go.”
Her enthusiasm and pleading brown eyes made him give in.
What Katherine wants; Katherine gets.