Red Phoenix

know you like them. They sound different when they’re unplugged, but we need to be able to talk.’ He nodded towards the Szechuan food. ‘Fits the generally spicy theme. Peppers for the food, Peppers for the music.’
    ‘How do you know what music I like?’ I demanded. I glared at John and he shook his head, innocent.
    ‘I had Leo go through your CDs.’ The Tiger’s golden eyes sparkled with amusement. ‘He said you have one of the most distressing collections of trash that he’s ever seen.’
    ‘That can’t be right,’ John said through a mouthful of noodles. ‘Leo said that my CDs were the most distressing collection of trash he’d ever seen.’
    ‘No, Turtle,’ the Tiger said patiently. ‘That was your vinyl he was talking about.’
    ‘You are quite correct,’ John said. ‘Shame I threw away my eight-tracks. Leo is quite incapable of appreciating the subtle harmonics and delicate nuances of truly fine Western heavy metal.’
    ‘But do you have to play it so damn loud ?’ I said.
    ‘Nuances.’ He grinned. ‘Wait till we have Simone off to school and I can turn the bass up to where it belongs.’
    ‘You are very scary sometimes, you know that?’ He just grinned over the noodles. But I knew what he was thinking: good.
    It was very late when we returned to our room. We quickly changed out of the fancy clothes and into something much more comfortable; him in his black cotton jacket and pants, me in a flowing long top and matching trousers.
    The desert sky was full of a million brilliant stars. We sat on the balcony together and warm candlelight flickered in the room behind us.
    ‘How long have we known each other, Emma?’ he said quietly, his arm draped around my shoulder and his other hand holding mine.
    ‘I don’t know, let me think. I started part-time with you end of the year before last. I changed to full-time beginning of last year. Just over a year and a half. Is that all? It feels like forever.’
    ‘It does, doesn’t it? It seems like there’s never been a time when I didn’t know you.’ He pulled me into his lap. I leaned back and put my head on his shoulder. He wrapped his strong arms around me. ‘It’s as if we’ve known each other forever.’
    ‘I know how you feel. I feel the same way. Maybe we’re soulmates or something.’
    ‘Could be.’ His voice vibrated through his chest. ‘That was one of the toughest battles I have ever faced.’ ‘What was?’
    ‘Simone and Leo wanted you to come full-time almost immediately. Simone particularly made my life complete hell. She wanted you there all the time. I should have listened to her.’ He ran his mouth over the side of my neck, then pulled away slightly to speak softly into my ear. ‘We could have had more time.’
    ‘I don’t want to go back. I want to stay here forever with you.’
    ‘That is the fate of the ruler,’ he said, his voice soft and sad. ‘Our own happiness always comes second. We have so many people who rely on us. We must care for them first.’
    ‘You’re right. There are people relying on us. We are so lucky to have had this short time together. I am so privileged. Not only have I met you, but I’ve gained your trust, and your love, and your promise.’ He kissed the back of my neck and I shivered. ‘There isn’t a thing in the world that I want for myself right now.’
    He unbuttoned my shirt, gently pulled it over my head and threw it aside. He put his arms back around me and his grip tightened. He kissed the side of my throat, then over my shoulder.
    I turned on his lap so that I was side-on to him. I gazed into his dark eyes; they glowed in the starlight. I ran my fingertips over his high cheekbone and over the edge of his jaw. He watched me without moving. I reached behind his neck and pulled his long braid towards me. I undid the tie holding it and combed it free with my fingers. I nibbled lightly along the edge of his jaw then ran my mouth down the silken skin on the side of his throat. I pulled away slightly to speak into his ear.
    ‘I changed my mind. There is something I want for myself, right now.’
    He studied my face intensely. ‘I have no idea what you are talking about. Please come inside with me and explain in complete and accurate detail exactly what you would like for yourself, and I’ll see what I can do.’
    He moved his face closer to mine and our lips met. We pushed into each other. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in. He rose and carried me