But she went to the couch and picked up a fringed shawl;

Looked over her shoulder at him;

And put on a CD ... a tabla played quick rhythms while a string wove a high melody.

She moved a little clumsily as she worked her way into the rhythm.

Then she moved across the floor more strongly, picking up the beat in a sharp hip movement.

Now her hip held the base beat while her bare feet developed variations.

She smiled at him and lifted the shawl above her head

Her feet and hips holding the beat, shoulders and arms weaving rhythms ... the music filling the arch of her back.

Her arms turned and wound above her head as she leaned back from the flicking jerk of her right hip.

She leaned further back, shaking the cloud of auburn hair behind her, took the shawl over her head and behind her ...

her shoulders weaving with the rhythm, breasts and ribs outlined.

Still moving across the floor, she came upright and changed her hip movement to a sinuous movement that flowed with the top string melody.

Now it was her feet that held the beat as she began to turn in circles, her skirt flaring around her.

He realised that she was no longer aware of him ... all she knew was the music passing through her.

She was dancing for herself.

He sat back and watched ... felt the music flow over him ... its sinuous rhythm stirring inside him.

The melodic line moved a little higher ... her hands began to flutter and her shoulders to quiver.

Her quick feet held the beat as she shimmered and spun.

He stood and opened his arms to her.

Still turning, she moved closer to him.

She slowed as his arms closed around her ... catching the music in his heart.