Chapter Thirty.

After Urs held Fara in his arms, afraid to let go to sleep and wake up alone again.
‘I’m not going anywhere’ Fara told him as if in reading her mind.
‘You did before’ Urs reminded her.
‘That was then. This’ she looked at him, and touched his face, stroking it gently, ‘is now’
‘You’ll stay?’ he nervously asked, gazing down into her eyes.
‘For as long as you want me to’ Fara replied, smiling.
‘Forever?’ he asked, sounding hopeful.
‘One night at a time. For now’
‘Ok’ he sighed, ‘for now’ he moved her even closer.
Fara lay her head on his chest and let herself fall asleep.
Urs listened to her breathing. Stroking her hair. Thanking his lucky stars to what had bought her to his room tonight. He let out a peaceful sigh and slowly fell asleep at long last.
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Rowi and Seb made it back to the hotel just in time to see the sun come up. They stood in Rowi’s room, arms around each other, still slightly drunk, and watched it happen. Before climbing into bed to make love then fall asleep. Holding each other close. Rowi lay with her head on Seb’s chest and dreamed a peaceful sleep as did Seb.
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Cydalia and Carlos were on the short flight going to Cairo.
Carlos was nervous. He was having second thoughts about asking Cydalia to marry him. Not because he didn’t want to, because he badly did. He was just scared about what her reaction to his asking would be. He had hoped it would be a yes but until he asked he wouldn’t know for sure and that scared him the most.
‘Oh wow’ Cydalia swooned pointing out the pyramids.
‘We can visit…them later’ Carlos said.
Cydalia turned around and looked at Carlos, ‘A lot later I hope’ she winked, touching his face.
‘Your wish, is my command’ Carlos smiled back, feeling a little happier now, grabbing hold of her hands in his.
‘Oh, I hope so’ Cydalia beamed back.
Carlos found himself blushing and returning the beam.
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David and Dany were having breakfast in bed.
‘This, is the life’ Dany laughed as David fed her a strawberry covered in chocolate. She licked his finger.
‘Come here you…’ David pulled her to him, groaning.
‘My breakfast…’ Dany giggled as David placed the breakfast tray on the floor.
‘Later’ David promised, covering her body in tiny butterfly kisses.
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Urs woke up with Fara still asleep in his arms. He watched her sleep for a while before climbing reluctantly out of bed. He had a surprise to prepare for her. First he ordered breakfast. Champagne, scrambled eggs and strawberries. Then he set the scene. Lighting candles. Scattering rose petals on the bed and floor and ran the bath with scented oils. Placing on the side of the bath a small box. Then, he woke Fara by kissing her.
Fara opened her eyes. Saw Urs looking down at her and smiled, ‘Morning’ she yawned, reaching up to stoke his beautiful face.


‘Morning sleepyhead’ he smiled back, ‘hungry?’ he asked as Fara’s stomach grumbled, loudly. ‘Come on’ he took her hand, helping her out of the bed.
‘Where, are we going?’ Fara asked.
‘Bathroom. I’ve prepared you a bath’ Urs picked her up in his arms as he spoke and carried her to where he wanted her.
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Urs made Fara get into the bath. She lay back in the water, snuggling down to cover her nakedness. She felt a little self conscious now even thought Urs was still naked too.
‘Smells nice’ she commented, ‘joining me?’
‘Not yet. Now…breakfast’ Urs handed her a glass. He knelt down by the bath.
Fara took a sip, ‘Champagne?’ she asked.
‘Only the best for you’ Urs smiled, feeding her a strawberry.
He also spoon fed her the scrambled eggs. Once full, Urs handed Fara the small box, ‘This’ he nervously smiled, ‘comes with a question…’
‘Oh?’ Fara asked.
‘Yes’ he nodded. Fara waited, ‘I love you Fara’ he said.
‘I…I love you Urs’
‘Please…’ he gazed at her, ‘say you’ll marry me?’
‘Um…’ Fara dithered a little at this. She wasn’t expecting this. Not after the other day and everything that had happened. It was a surprise. And not one she was really prepared for.
‘Yes, or no?’ Urs prompted.
‘I only came to return your jacket…’ Fara nervously laughed.
She had delivered it, only to find the room empty. She hadn’t meant to stay but Urs had turned up and caught her.
‘Fara…’ Urs mumbled, feeling nervous now at not yet receiving a reply one way or another.
‘I wish…I wish I could say yes. I really wish I could’ Fara sighed, ‘but I can’t’ she finally said.
‘Why not?’ Urs stared at her, ‘you love me. You do. You told me’
‘I know, and I do. But…’ Fara sighed and looked away.
Urs cupped her chin and forced her to look at him again. She closed her eyes.
‘Open your eyes’ Urs whispered, his mouth close to her ear.
‘No’ whispered Fara.
‘Open your eyes’ Urs repeated, ‘and look at me’
‘I can’t’ she mumbled at him.
‘You can Fara. You can’
‘No’
‘You love me. Say yes. I know you want to’ Urs then urged her.


I can’t marry you. I can’t be with you’ Fara sighed finally opening her eyes to look at him.
‘Why not?’ Urs found himself asking again, moving his head away at this answer.
‘I know…Laura’ Fara whispered.
‘You know…’ muttered Urs, letting go of her chin now.
‘I know Laura’ she repeated louder now.
‘How?’ he stared at her, asking.
‘She’s my sister’s best friend’
‘Your sister…’
‘Best friend. Yes’ she confirmed.
‘You didn’t tell me…’
‘I didn’t know it was the same person. Until…yesterday’
‘Yesterday?’
‘I saw you together. Talking. Then I recognised…’ Fara’s voice tailed off.
‘You played me..’ Urs muttered, standing up. He grabbed a towel to cover himself up.
‘No…’ Fara protested.
‘You played me. For a fool’ Urs spat now.
‘No. I didn’t…’
‘Get out’ he then muttered.
‘No. Urs. Please…’
‘Get out’ he demanded now, ‘now’ he shouted when she didn’t move.
Fara slowly climbed out of the bath, covering herself with a towel.
Urs looked away. Not wanting to see Fara anymore. She gave a sob and then rushed from the room and though the connecting door and into her own room. Throwing her towel covered body onto her bed.
Urs closed the connecting door with a loud bang and locked the door on a still crying Fara.