Courtesans - English version

14 Desire and heart

Zevran's hand suddenly flung open the door, the handle banging against the wall.

"And did you see that bloke on stage who snuck up after the dancers?"

Dina waltzed in with carefree laughter. "You mean the one who moved so strangely?"

"Sure, he thought he was better than the professional dancers, shaking his backside like that!" Zevran didn't hesitate; he stuck out his bum and strutted around the room, flapping his arms like a chicken.

"Oh, stop it! You make me laugh so hard!"

"Why? Didn't he do it exactly like this? And then... like this!"

"Oh, please, Zevran, stop it!"

Her laughter slowly turned into stomach-aching giggles, and she threw herself onto the bed.

Zevran obeyed, but tilted his head, as if something had just occurred to him while watching Dina. Then, he lay on his stomach beside her, propping himself up on one elbow and observing her.

Dina giggled a bit more before her laughter faded into a quiet, sparkling-eyed smile. The candlelight illuminated the man's sun-kissed, golden skin and blonde hair. Perhaps it was the almond beer she had drunk downstairs, but Dina didn't hold back; she ran her fingers through his dark blonde hair.

"I would die for a kiss from you, Dina."

At the sudden confession, she looked from his hair to his eyes, she saw that he was staring at her lips. She bit them.

"I wish I could say that your kiss is an addiction. I wish you could see what I see, those perfectly shaped lips, just begging to be kissed, in all their bare beauty."

"Zevran, you're making me blush..."

"The blush of your cheeks and the nakedness of your lips are worth more than a hundred jars of carmine."

"Stop it..."

"Has anyone ever told you this? No? Fools! Because you're like a freshly picked juicy pear from a heavenly pear tree; once you take a bite, you want more, and you want to devour it all..."

"Zevran, don't say such things...!"

"Or like a chalice filled with red wine, intoxicating."

"Enough, enough with the flattery...!"

Although Dina's words were meant to stop him, her voice was soft, and she was sure that Zevran could see the fire in her eyes that said, tell me more.

She let her gaze linger in his, then sighed. "So, the rules are the same as before?"

"I don't change my word every minute, my dear."

"Then tonight... could we just talk...?"

Zevran raised an eyebrow and propped himself up a little higher. For a moment, he seemed uncertain. Then, suddenly, he smiled obligingly, jumped up, pulled the blanket off the bed, and fluffed the pillows.

No problem! The lady wants to talk, so talk we shall!"

"What are you doing, Zevran?"

"Making the bed. For the talking!" He looked at her as if that had been his plan all along.

"Are you... mocking me now?"

Zevran straightened up. "Heavens, no! I would rather endure having my tongue burnt out with hot iron than mock you even once! Please, don't even think that of me!"