Maari had just assured the woman is asleep oblivious to any efforts to awaken her.

“Who’s there?” a voice demanded from the bath.

Leeteuk touched the wall switch and flooded the whole room with light. Sora rose from the last step of the deep inset pool hastily yanking a short, silken rode over her wet body. Behind her, a smoky-mirrored wall reflecting the rear view of her. A twisted tangle of dripping hair slid down her back. She cocked her head, scowling and squinting.

“What do you want?”

Although he was dressed formally in traditional rode, kuffiyah and gold-braided ‘iqual, Leeteuk was still surprised the woman did not recognized him.

“We have met, Miss Kang.”

“You!” Sora’s squint went to open-eyed surprise. Reigning in her rambling thoughts, she hauled the edges of her robe tighter across her bosom. “Do you always invade the privacy of a guest’s bath?”

Leeteuk almost smiled at her delayed reaction. She was unaware that her efforts to cover her front side with the inadequate silk robe worked to her disadvantage by revealing a tantalizing outline of her backside and glorious legs. Disciplining the corners of his mouth, he kept his face straight and stern as he met the blaze of her eyes.

“You are privileged, Miss Kang. It is rare that any guest of my house is granted personal attention.”

“Well, pray don’t expend yourself on my account!” Sora countered as her fumbling fingers sought the tie belt dangling at her hips. A sudden shiver made her all the more aware of how vulnerably she was beneath the robe. Before him!

“My servants express deep concern at the length of your sleep. I have merely come to assure myself that you are alive and well and have come to no harm.”

A deep flush raised Sora’s colour. Her first thought upon awakening had been to enjoy the splendid tub again. Thank the Lord, she’d finished her bath before she’d heard the doors open without so much as a single knock. She’d only just manage to pull the robe that she had found in the batch over her wet body before the intruder appeared at the open doors.  

“I am perfectly fine.” She said a little stiffy, making a secure knot of the belt at her waist.

He made no effort to retreat and stood there openly admiring the curves of her bare legs. It wasn’t more leg than Sora had ever shown. It just seemed strange to do so in front of a man wearing more clothing than a monk.

“Do you mind,” she said pointedly.

“Certainly not. What man in his right mind objects to personal showing of work of art? You are an exquisitely formed woman.”

Sora narrowed her eyes at the complement. “So that’s the way of it, is it? Would you like to write a testimonial to Gold’s Gym in San Antonio?”

Familiar enough with the American culture, Leeteuk was not put off by her disclaimer. “The gift of a body as yours is the province of Allah, Miss Kang, not a gymnasium.”

“And you, sir, are laying it on thicker than corn syrup on a pancake. What are you doing here?”