Evelyn found herself sprawled out on her bed early one morning. Slowly opening her eyes, she blinked the sleep away before looking up and seeing the ceiling fan silently going. It was a terrible blistering hot day. Usually the heat never bothered Evelyn, but this morning it did. All she wanted to do was shut her eyes and sleep away the day.

Then…

She looked over and saw him.

He must of taken his shirt off, but laid in his slacks across the bed with her. His eyes shut and sleeping peacefully. Staring at him, she remembered the evening before. She was returning home from the library when a group of men began to harasses her. Most of the time she was careful about walking alone at night, but these men just wouldn't quit. They followed her, trying to lift up her skirt, calling names and laughing. She could smell whiskey on their breath as she quickly hurried down the street towards people. That's when she heard a gun sound. Screaming she spun around and saw all the men run away. Confused, she looked around in the darkness before he stepped forward. His pistol raised and his wide blue eyes studying her.

Evelyn looked at him completely speechless.

"Ummm…thank you."

The man put his gun back before shaking his head.

"It was nothing…"

His accent sounded rich and deep. Right away Evelyn's interest was peeked. Walking forward, hearing her shoes click against the cobble stone, she cleared her throat and called out after him.

"Excuse me?"

The man turned.

He was tall, at least six feet. Extremely thin and lanky. His skin was a golden tan and his hair short and dark. The one thing that stuck Evelyn was his beautiful blue eyes. Blue was very rare in the desert, most of all on people like him.

Evelyn stood there, feeling her stomach twist in knots.

"Ummm, would you like me to buy you a drink?"

She couldn't believe what she was saying. Most of the time she kept to herself and wasn't so forward. For all she knew this man could be just as dangerous. Usually men like him were.

"Sure."

His voice was smooth and somewhat cracked. Walking towards her, Evelyn got a much better look. He let out his hand.

"Beni Gabor."

"Evelyn Carnahan."

They briefly shook hands before Evelyn began walking beside him. She knew a pub further down that wasn't that crowded or wild at night. In fact whenever Jonathan was visiting she brought him there for dinner. Walking in silence, only their footsteps sounding off the stones, Evelyn kept glancing at him. He seemed very on edge, scared and to himself. Finally Evelyn decided to break the silence.

"Are you Hungarian?"

Evelyn then wanted to slap herself for being so rude. Beni glanced over at her and let out a small somewhat weak smile.

"And Irish."

"Irish really? That's why you have…"

"Blue eyes, yes…my mother was from Ireland…I often get comments on them.

"I hope I didn't offend you?"

Beni shook his head.

"It takes a lot more to offend a man like me…now you sound English."

Evelyn softly smiled as they approached the lights and voices from the open pubs and houses.

"English and Egyptian."

"Interesting…"

Evelyn smiled before they found the pub. It wasn't that crowded and the two got seats right away. Sitting down, Evelyn ordered a nice iced tea, while Beni ordered whiskey.

"You don't drink?"

"Oh no, I do drink…but not very well."

Evelyn began to blush as Beni grinned. The two sat in silence for a few moments, looking at everyone else before Evelyn spoke up again.

"What brings you to Cairo?"

"Traveling, going from place to place, wherever there's money."

"Do you work here?"

Beni grinned again.

"More or less."

"Oh…so you're a …"

"Thief, yeah…that's what everyone calls me, I like to think that I'm just a traveling man finding his way in the world."

Evelyn dropped her eyes before their drinks were served. She really didn't know if sitting with him was such a good idea after all.

"Have you…well always been like this? What about your family?"

"They died when I was very young, I joined the French for a brief period of time and served for a few years, now I just go from place to place…using my cast knowledge of the land."

"You were a Legionnaire?"

Beni nodded.

"Wasn't that great…saw a lot of awful things."

"I'm sure…"

Both drank their drinks before Beni gazed over at her.

"And you?"

Evelyn nearly choked on her tea. Quickly wiping her lips she looked across at him.

"What about me?"

"What's your story?"

"Well…I'm a librarian at the Museum Of Ancient History, I've worked there for nearly seven years now."

"Interested in history are you?"

"Oh very much, I'm my one true passion…I find so many stories of the past enthralling."

"And your family?"

"Well my mother died when I was just twelve, we lived here since the desert reminded my father so much of her…I have an older brother, he traveled a lot but I've stayed here since my father past away a few years back."

"And you like the desert?"

"Oh very much so…I don't think I could live anywhere else."

"Ever thought of returning to England?"

"Oh from time to time, I just love my work so much."

Evelyn then eyed Beni's golden necklaces.

"Religious?"

Beni looked down slightly amused.

"Oh I guess you can't known too many languages, nor have too many religions."

"Languages, you speak more then one?"

"Oh I know about five or so…pays to be a traveling man like myself."

Evelyn smiled before asking for a sip of his whiskey. Beni smiled sliding the glass over towards her as she began speaking in one of the random languages she learned as a little girl. Within seconds Beni knew what it was and returned her answer in the same exact language. Evelyn laughed with amazement. Never before did she think some traveling thief would know so much.

The two sat together, ordering a few more drinks and began to laugh. Evelyn started to slowly relax and found Beni somewhat charming then anything else. After her fourth drink, she broke out in a giggle fit and had to be helped out by Beni's arm. Walking together, Evelyn couldn't seem to stop talking. She went on and on about archeology. How one day she would leave this place and see the world. Doing what she always wanted and proving everyone wrong.

Then everything became a huge blur.

Now waking this morning, Evelyn felt her head slightly ache and her throat feel dry. Thinking back at what happened, she cursed herself for drinking so much. Just then Beni's eyes opened and he stared at her. Right away Evelyn crossed her arms over her chest. She was wearing a thin nightgown with her hair flowing down to her shoulders. She know how extremely un lady like this was, and felt embarrassed. Beni rubbed the side of this stubby face, and coughed. Sitting up, he blinked before looking at her.

Evelyn then froze in terror.

Had she really spent the night with him and invited him inside? Right away her eyes widened.

"Don't worry we didn't."

"Huh?"

"We didn't do anything, you past right out once we got inside."

Evelyn felt as though he had been reading her thoughts. Dropping her eyes she felt her cheeks turn bright red.

"Jesus…I've never done this before…"

"I wish I could say the same…"

Beni slid off the bed and grabbed his shirt which was tossed on the floor. Throwing it on, he crossed the room and poured himself a glass of water. There he stood, leaned against her dresser and looked out the window.

"Nice view."

Evelyn quickly searched for her blouse before looking up at him.

"Did you undress me?"

Beni looked over at her.

"I took your blouse and skirt off, you had your slip underneath…it's a nightgown right?"

Evelyn lowered her eyes again and thought she would die. Often she did sleep in just her slip, most of the time she served it as a nightgown due to the sticky growing heat this past few months. Sitting there she shook her head. What her parents would of thought, seeing her recovering from a night of drinking with a complete stranger.

Evelyn found her blouse and slipped it over her shoulders to cover herself better. Finally she looked up at Beni who's gaze had returned to the window. Silently he drank his glass of water. Slowly she slid off the bed and felt an awful wave of heat against her. Knowing he really wasn't looking, she took off the blouse and threw it to the floor. Joining him, she poured herself a glass of water and stood beside him.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

Evelyn stared out her window, which over looked some of the buildings and streets of Cairo. A million times she looked out this window while living here, and never before did she refer it as being beautiful. But standing there, with the morning's heat clinging to the air, she really did notice now nice it looked during this time of the day.

Looking off, she sighed.

Then…

Beni's hand gently touched her.

Evelyn's eyes went down to her arm where Beni's hand rested. Taking a second, she felt her heart begin to race. Slowly looking up, she saw him staring down at her.

"But it isn't as beautiful as you…"

He leaned down to kiss her when Evelyn pulled away.

"Hey who do you think I am?!"

Beni just looked at her, a little stunned from pulling back.

"You can't use one of those lines that work for the local whores…I'm not like that!"

Beni quickly shook his head.

"Of course your not…I didn't mean…"

Evelyn suddenly wanted him out.

"I think you better go."

She stood back and pointed towards the door. Beni stared at her before setting his glass of water down and nodding.

"I'm sorry…'

He muttered before quickly leaving and shutting the door behind him. Now alone, Evelyn stood a second to gather her thoughts. What just happened here? She knew she had been to harsh, but she needed to stand up for herself. She wasn't like the women in this city, she felt different. She knew Beni was nothing more then just a street thief, and looked at woman as though they were all the same. Crossing her arms, she went to the dresser and put her own glass down.

What really just happened? Standing there, she felt uneasy and somewhat guilty about the way she threw him out. Maybe he was just trying to make a pass and get the better of her. Or maybe he really did mean it? Rolling her eyes and calling herself stupid, she sat on the unmade bed and sighed.

Maybe it was the fact she was a virgin, and never once kissed a man.