Temptation

Elsbet stirs, snug in her bed, unaware of the storms brewing in the wizard she loves, and the wizard who loves him. She has wondered about this Lucius and if Severus would ever bring his friend along to meet her; she's so glad he finally did. He is very much like she imagined him...charming, regal, attractive and quite polite. She likes him.

Her alarm, which sounds like a tree full of songbirds, wakes her before the sun rises. She could have slept another hour or two, but she has to be at the coffehouse early today. Sitting up in bed, she wishes Severus had stayed...she enjoys fixing his breakfast...

Elsbet's eyes flutter and Snape sits back; both are clearly drained. She slips her hand out from under his, places it on top of his hand for a moment, then pats his hand weakly. "What did my Sensei say?" He smiles faintly and tells her not to be concerned, then tells her she needs to sleep. "But--" he strokes her damp hair and shushes her, chuckling softly. She always wants to know what the messages are, but he knows it's far too dangerous. Telling her would defeat the purpose of all that work he's done in her mind...

Sleep comes to her quickly, as it usually does, and Snape finds himself looking...