Page 18 of Ra (The Scarab Prophecy #1)

Dr. Weaver had glanced away, but now swung her feet off her desk and planted them on the floor before leaning her forearms on her over-sized desk.

She pinned Abasi with an intense stare before slowly raising one eyebrow.

“You seem very comfortable questioning me, Abasi. Is that something you’d like to continue doing? ”

There was just enough danger lacing her words for Abasi to immediately back off his line of questioning. “No, ma’am. I do not mean to offend. I simply worry for Azenath. We’ve all made our choices willingly. She’s completely unaware of it all.”

Dr. Neti Weaver smiled ever so slightly as she sat back again. “There is no reason for concern. Azenath will have her own decisions to make.”

~~~

Azi looked at the cell phone in her hand, its screen clearly showing that her call had ended.

“Well, I guess that’s that for now,” she said.

She powered off her laptop and with a sigh left her office on the way to her kitchen to find something other than sugar to eat.

As she came down the stairs and into the living room, she smiled.

Ra had stretched out on the sofa and fallen asleep.

Azi took a moment to look down at him, admiring his appearance.

“It’s a shame you’re not really human,” she whispered, before she left him sleeping soundly and went into the kitchen.

Azi dug around in the fridge and took out several cheeses, a large pepperoni, black and green olives, dates, golden raisins, hummus, sliced red peppers, spiced mustard, and black pepper crackers.

She set her chopping board on the granite counter top, laid out a large platter, took her phone out of her pocket and started her play list for a little background music.

Glancing back toward the living room, she decided to risk it, and took a bottle of red wine from the cabinet above the fridge and poured herself less than half a glass.

She drank it down in a couple of gulps, then poured another, fuller glass and began slicing up all the ingredients for her snack platter.

As she sliced and arranged, she sipped her wine, and sang along with her favorite music, even dancing to a few songs, while holding her glass in the air.

It didn’t take long for her to finish slicing and arranging all her ingredients on the platter, and shortly after, Azi, her snack platter, and her wine were all on the sun porch, just off the kitchen, singing, dancing, eating, doing her best to let the stress and strangeness of the last couple of days slip away.

She dipped another slice of pepperoni and cheese into the spiced mustard and popped it in her mouth, followed by a black olive topped with hummus and olive oil.

She hummed along to a song as she chewed and swayed her hips.

Bopping along with the rhythm of the music.

She lifted her wine glass to her mouth and took a sip to wash down her food.

She sighed happily and danced in a slow circle, sipping from her wine glass again, startling suddenly and almost choking when she came face-to-face with Ra as she almost completed the circle.

“Is that wine?” he asked, standing so near to her that she could feel his body heat as she coughed and hacked, trying to catch her breath.

Finally, she managed to overcome the wine she’d inhaled going down her wind-pipe. “What the hell, Ra? You made me choke!”

“No, I almost made you choke. You recovered. Is that wine?”

“You know it’s wine. Why are you asking me ridiculous questions?” she grumbled, popping another piece of pepperoni and cheese into her mouth as she glared at him.

“We do not drink wine,” he said, angling his head questioningly.

“You do not drink wine. I do. Occasionally.”

His gaze narrowed, but he didn’t object. Instead he made a show of allowing himself to slowly take in her body from head to toe and back up again. “What are you doing?”

“I’m eating.”

“That was not eating. Though, you are eating as well.”

“Huh?”

“That movement. And what is that?” he asked, looking around the room as though he’d find something he didn’t expect to.

“Dancing? I know your people had to dance in some form. What is what?”

“That sound. Is that music? Is that what music has come to?”

“It is. And I like it. So if you don’t, you should go back into the living room.”

He stood there for a few moments, even closing his eyes to better appreciate the sound of slow jazz pouring from her phone. “No. No, I’ll stay. I like it, too.”

Azi turned her back to him and reached for another piece of cheese, this time pairing it with a green olive and spiced mustard.

Just as she put it in her mouth and began chewing, his face appeared right beside her ear, looking over her shoulder, just like he’d done while looking at her computer with her.

“What are you eating?”

“I’m just snacking. Cheeses, pepperoni, some vegetables, and hummus.”

“I want some.”

“Help yourself. I made plenty in case you did.”

“How thoughtful!” he said, reaching around her, his arm brushing her breast as he made a few choices, then instead of stepping clear of her to put the food in his mouth, he leaned his head over her shoulder to take the bite. “Mmm. Yes, delicious.”

“It’s just occurred to me that you’re speaking to me again. I thought you weren’t going to talk to me anymore.”

“Why would you think that?” he asked.

“Maybe because you said you’re not talking to me anymore.”

“I just meant at the moment, not forever. Forever is a long time, you know. And I’d get lonely. No one else knows who I am.”

Azi picked up her wine and took a sip.

His eyes watched her like a predator watches prey.

“Would you like some wine?”

He shook his head slowly.

“Would you like some more food?”

“Eventually.” His predatory gaze didn’t shift as he slowly reached out and took the wine glass from her hand, setting it on the table beside the platter of food, then took her hand and turned her toward him.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice hushed.

“I like the way you danced. I wish to learn.”

“I’m not sure I can teach you. I’m not very good.”

“I’m sure you’re mistaken, or humble. Either way, I have no doubt you can teach me.”

He reluctantly allowed his focus to drift down her body to her hips again, waiting for her to sway them back and forth again.

“Give me your hands,” she said, her voice hushed again.

He looked up at her quickly, then held his hands out for her.

She placed one of them on her side, between her waist and her hip, then held his other hand in hers as she moved closer to him and began to slowly sway back and forth, moving her feet in time to the music, to slowly turn them in a circle.

Ra looked down at her feet, following her movements until he got it right, then he focused on her hips, moving his in time with hers, until he was successful at that, too, then he met her gaze, smiling brightly. “I’m doing it!”

“Yes, you are. And very well.”

“I like this dance much better than those we had before.”

“I’m glad it pleases you.”

He smiled again.

After dancing to another song, he seemed to lose interest in perfecting the dance, and focused more on the nearness of their bodies. As they moved in perfect rhythm, his arm curved a little further around her waist, pulling her just a little closer.

Azi looked up at him, her heart thudding in her chest as she soaked in the heat of his body, the scent of his skin, and the look in his eye. “Should we be doing this?”

He canted his head just enough to show his amusement with her question. “What are we doing, Azi?” he asked.

“I’m not sure, yet.”

“We’re communicating.”

“Is that what this is called?”

“Music, dance, it’s all a form of communication, story telling. Isn’t it?”

“I never considered it, but I suppose it is.”

“What are you learning from dancing with me?” he asked.

“That I shouldn’t be dancing with you.”

Ra laughed heartily, but he didn’t miss a step.

“Seriously, it’s not fair for me to be taking advantage of you like this.”

“Do you believe that you could take advantage of me if I didn’t wish it?”

“Yes. You’re very naive about the modern world.”

He leaned forward and put his lips at her ear. “Rest easy, dear Azi. No matter the year, matters between men and women are never so very different that they can’t be recognized. Besides, isn’t it me that asked you to teach me to dance?”

Azi nodded as his breath tickled her ear.

“There is a reason I don’t like other men looking at you, Azi.”

“And that would be?”

“You make me feel things I didn’t expect to feel.”

“I find it hard to believe that I make you feel anything other than maybe a little relieved to not have to tackle all this alone.”

“Understand me, Azi. I am interested in you the way a man is interested in a woman. Not simply because it’s you I met when I first arrived.

I need you to understand that this is more than I ever expected.

This is not me simply feeling grateful, or wanting to be with you because you are guiding me through this period.

It’s you. This is about nothing but you. ”

“I’m only human, Ra. Why would you be interested in me at all?”

“So, am I, dear Azi.”

She turned her head to look at him quickly, and their lips were only a hair’s breadth apart.

She swallowed as he stared at her lips. Then her breath caught as he pressed his lips against hers.

Azi closed her eyes and kissed Ra back, allowing his tongue to stroke hers as his hands slowly moved up her back to hold her tightly against his body.

Their kiss lasted for the remainder of the song, his hands coming up to tangle in her hair and cradle her head as he kissed her.

Slowly Ra’s lips left hers as he kissed his way across her jawline to her neck, where he nibbled her soft skin, pulling a moan from her.

He smiled as he worked his way back to her lips and kissed her again, this time pausing to look down into her eyes.

“What?” she asked.

“I’m waiting,” he answered, not looking away.

“For what?”

“A sign.”

“What kind of sign?” she asked, hoping he’d pick up where he left off.

Ra kept looking down into her eyes, her face cradled in his hands.

Azi, growing ever impatient, leaned toward him, her mouth reaching for his as her hands at his waist pulled him near.

Ra grinned as she kissed him. “That kind of sign,” he whispered as he lifted her in his arms and carried her back to the living room.