The Art of Love

"Not One Word"

Dinner had been perfect. Attention to every detail had been laid and the meal was nothing less than five star. She had indulged and drank the rich red wine that had been served and was now contemplating another before Kerem spoke up. "I think I'll enjoy a cigar in the library and watch the boats from there...care to join me?" She looked into his dark nearly black eyes and nodded while he pushed away from the table and walked to her to help her out of her chair. The man was nothing if not a gentleman with impeccable manners and too much charisma. As he bent slightly over her she couldn't help but inhale his scent which was a mixture of musk and bergamot and sandalwood. Since she was a child she had a penchant for fragrances and spices and flowers and somehow knew the ingredients of food and perfumes she had never tasted or worn. It was a knack that she had secretly loved about herself. There weren't too many things that she could call her own really but her writing and this gift were a couple of them. He smelled fresh and clean and warm and sultry. She cleared her throat as she stood up and proceeded him out of the room. When the butler opened the double doors to the library which was opposite the dining room she smiled at the immensity of the room and the rows and rows of books of every conceivable subject. She could live here and never bother with the outside world again. It was as if she had closed her eyes and walked into her own personal dream. "Asli...ah Asli?!.... earth to Asli?" She turned toward the irritating man that was interrupting her fantasy come to life and frowned at him before he passed her a snifter glass of what appeared to be Cognac. "Have you enjoyed this fruit of the gods before?" She took the glass and brought it to her nose and let the aroma fill her nostrils. It was amazing as she assumed it would be but she never had imbibed before. "No...I haven't had the pleasure". Kerem came closer and quickly came up with a toast... "to our host, a wonderful meal, exceptional accommodations and of course to my beautiful roommate". He clinked her glass before she could comment on his cheeky choice of words but couldn't help herself giving up a small smirk as she lifted the glass to her nose and breathed it in and then let the glass touch her lips. She tipped the glass back and let the warm gold liquid slide down her throat. She wasn't well versed in liquors but she had read enough about a variety of subjects in her young life and knew exactly what to do and what to expect. Even so, she was overcome by the taste and the warmth that quickly spread through her body. As she looked back toward Kerem she saw him staring back at her and holding her gaze while he licked his lower lip and smiled at her. "What's the verdict-worth the wait?". She raised her eyebrows and allowed a soft smile to spread across her face and nodded. "Yes...definitely worth the wait. I can't imagine enjoying this drink anywhere else. Certainly not back home...or what once was home". Kerem nodded his head and extended his arm out to let her walk by and select one of the winged back chairs to sit in. As she had noted earlier, ever the galant gentlemen. She wondered about him before she looked up to see him staring at her as he set his glass down and then took a seat himself. He looked around the room and then noticed a chess set atop a an end table. He stood up and retrieved it, brining it back and setting it in between them on the low glass table that held a small vase and a few delicate flowers. He quickly removed the flowers and asked. "Black or white? -ladies choice". She cocked her head a little to the left and said "how do you know if I know how to play? I didn't drink cognac before today-maybe I don't play chess?" He didn't stop setting up the chess pieces or even bother to look up "ah ah, my powers of perception are never wrong Asli Hanim. You are sophisticated but not entitled, intelligent but not arrogant, warm but not needy and ....dare I even say it....a fierce competitor. If you weren't you would not have survived Yigit Kaya". She stared at him and blinked a few times wondering how she should answer but in the end simply said "white".

Kerem noticed everything about her. She was tall and svelt but not without curves. She was conservative in her attire but her clothing was fine and elegant. She wasn't a fan of the overdone makeup look with false eyelashes and shimmery highlights on her face. She was intelligent and reserved. He could see the wheels turning in her head even if she didn't say a word. She was a puzzle that he intended to solve wether or not he should was another story. Watching her enjoy the cognac was a pleasure for him. Seeing her put the glass to her lips each time made him think crazy thoughts that he had no business summoning up. He was attracted to her. Not only because she was earth shatteringly beautiful, although that didn't hurt, but rather her poise and intelligence was too alluring to pass up. As he watched her swipe away an errant strand from her face she caught him staring. She raised her brows and asked "are you ready to loose Kerem bay?". His attention was brought back into focus "no...I don't like to loose...so I don't". She huffed and nodded her head making her hair swirls around her like a silk wrap... "we shall see about that. Why don't we make a wager?" She looked him in the eye and brought her lips together in a soft pout. "And just what shall we wager Asli Hanim?" She let her eyes wander around the room before returning back to his. "The looser must go to our hosts bedroom and snoop around for information on why I'm here and then report to the winner". He felt his face harden at her insane request before he responded "you do know whose house this is don't you Asli? Our host is gracious but he is not known for being merciful". She wrinkled her nose and stared back at him. "Besides it is not a fair wager. If you win I must do the snooping-which is insane and a death wish...and I don't  loose. If you loose you will do the snooping, which I gather is what you are itching to do anyway. In reality you get what you want either way- this is not a fair wager". She lifted her head as if offended and made her first move. "Then you come up with a wager". She issued the challenge and sat back in her chair waiting for him to make his move. He nodded slowly and then looked back at her and said. "The winner takes the looser on a tour of the house, a private tour-after hours of course and if we come across anything interesting it will be by sheer accident". When he saw the smile that made her face come to life he felt a tightness in his chest that made him offer back a small grin. If he wasn't careful with this job he was on as a favor to his mother and her son,it might prove to be more dangerous to him than to anyone else. Whatever happened between them-as he was sure something would-it would be with no strings. He didn't intend to build a future in a world where men like his father and Fabri wrought havoc on innocents. His father's blood ran through his veins and he wouldn't bring another life into this world that would suffer because of it. Asli was a beautiful woman whom he could appreciate with all her attributes but something told him that if he got in deep with her there would be no coming back from it.