It was a warm night and the moon blazed down brightly on the earth below. Nearby, night birds and owls hover from tree to tree and crickets and grasshoppers filled the night with shrill, insistent sound. 
 “Something is missing,” he said as he sipped from his brandy.
 “What is missing?”
 “Excuse me,” he said and went into the sitting room. Moments later, she heard music drifting out of the stereo. “That’s better,” he said coming back to the terrace. 
 She started to hum the song softly while he shook his head gently to the rhythm.
 “What a waste,” he said and stood up.
 “What’s a waste?”
 “The music is too good to be wasted, don’t you think so? Let’s dance.”
 “No, no, no.” she cringed back. “I don’t want to dance.”
 “Oh come on, let’s dance.”
 “I don’t know how to dance,” she lied.
 “No problem. I’ll teach you,” he said and pulled her up.
 “No, no, please. I don’t even like the music,” she lied again.
 “That’s even better. You learn to dance with music you don’t like, come.”
 She looked at him with imploring eyes. “Okay, okay, what if I plead tiredness, will you leave me alone?” 
 “Are you tired then?”
 “Yes.”
 “Good. Good music and dance help loosen up the muscles and fight fatigue. It’s a very good exercise and powerful elixir before bed. Come dance with me, my angel,” he said and pulled her into his arms. He put his arms round her slim waist, and holding her close, he began to rock her to and fro to the rhythm of the music. She held on to him, shaking and shivering like a leaf in the wind. As the music progressed, she gradually she began to relax.
 “You’re not such a bad dancer, after all,” he teased her.
 She buried her face in his chest. “Thank you,” she muttered.
 “I wish I could hold you just like this forever,” he whispered into her ears, nibbling at her earlobes. 
 She shot him a quick look. Her innocent forget me not eyes piercing through his heart. 
 His heart did a summersault. “Oh come on, don’t look at me like that.”
 “What? Like…like how?” she asked, pouting out full, luscious and inviting lips. 
 “Like this,” he kissed her softly. 
 The moment his lips found hers, she melted. All the bottled up feelings and unleashed passion came to fore immediately and consumed them both. As his tongue probed further and further, his hands explored every nook and cranny of her body, sending her whole world up in flames. She pressed her breast against his chest wantonly and held him tighter. Her whole body was on fire. She needed him desperately like she has never needed anyone before. She wanted him to love her, to go on kissing her, to hold her and never let her go. One of his hands started fumbling with the button on her skirt. Soon, he had it open and she heard her skirt drop on the floor with a gentle whoosh, but she didn’t mind. She was past caring. The combination of good music, good food, and wine was a lethal one and for once in her entire life, she threw caution and conscience away. She could feel him lifting her up and carrying her into the bedroom. But the moment her back touched the bed, and as he fumbled to get out of his shirt, something snapped in her subconscious mind and she remembered who she is. 
 “Stop it,” she cried, pushing him away forcefully and jumping out of the bed.
 “What …what is it?” he asked perplexedly, frowning. “I …I thought you needed me.”
 She bent her head and covered her face with her hand. “I …I don’t know what got into…me. I’m … I’m sorry.” 
 He was still puzzled. “Sorry for what?” 
 “I’m sorry to lead you on. But …but I’m not that kind of girl.” 
 He scratched his hair. “I …I don’t understand.”
 “Gosh! I feel so ashamed of myself.”
 “Come on, come off it,” he could hardly believe he was almost there. “I …I thought you loved me, I mean, I thought you wanted it.”
 “Yes, I thought I did too, but…but …”
 “But what?” 
 “We are not yet married. We are not supposed to be doing this,” she blurted out.
 “But we’ll be getting married soon. So what’s the problem?”
 “Then let’s wait until we are married.”
 He bit his lips. “I see.”
 “I’m sorry.”
 He stood up from the bed. “Me too.” 
 “Gosh, I feel so ashamed of myself. I’m going to bed, goodnight,” she turned and left the room without a second look. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him.