Atem stopped into the deserted hotel corridor outside a pair of metallic lift doors. He shucked back his shoulders, then considered the stunned package cradled in his arms.

He grinned. "I think they enjoyed the show." God knows he had. That exist was had been the first wild thing he has done in ages. He read that that breaking loose every so often was a tonic for the soul.

Téa took him in, big blues eyes luminous with shock. Atem was starting to wonder if it was permanent till she smiled, then began to laugh. He had to chuckle too. Téa finally got her breath.

"I bet Serenity's still in shock." She shook her head in astonishment. "I can't believe we just did that." Then she frowned. "I can't believe you didn't warn me."

"You would have only argued." Atem pointed out.

She gave him that haughty look. "Maybe not."

Normally Atem wouldn't get involved, but the sight of an attractive on her own, a colourful bouquet sitting like a death sentence in her lap, had reeled him in. His heartstring had tugged him all the way into asking her to dance. He had enjoyed their time together even after her stubborn streak had made it clear she definitely was not 'the one'.

Once the elevator doors were shut with them inside it, Atem asked. "So, up or down?"

"To the lobby and a taxi….so, down." She answered.

"It's too early to go home."

"It is almost eleven."

"Are you tried?"

Téa's mouth twisted to one side. "I thought I was."

"How about joining me for coffee?"

"I don't drink coffee."

Atem raised a brow. How could he forget? If he wanted to go left, she would insist they go right. He persisted.

"How about something cool, then?"

"Tell you what, you can put me down first then I will think about it." Téa reminded him. That little detail had slipped his mind.

He lowered her and she brushed off her gown. The scent of jasmines and perhaps lilies lingered.

"I have to honest. I don't know how to take that invitation." Téa said. Atem scooped his hands into his pockets.

"We know we are not suited in a romantic sense, so you need not worry that we will somehow fall into bed. " Atem said. "We are tow responsible adults, who have mutual friends."

She thought about it for a while and said. "There is a coffee shop off the lobby. Guess I could enjoy one quick hot chocolate on the way out."

Surprised but pleased, he thumbed the lift button. "One quick on it is."

An elderly lady appeared and squeezed between them to hit the up button. "That shop closes at ten." She told them, rearranging a cerise shawl around a pair of robust shoulders.

"If you are after hot chocolate, I recommend Room Service. Best I ever tasted." The elder lady said. A lift arrived and the lady disappeared behind the doors. At the same time the next lift pinged going down.

Atem scrubbed his jaw. "Guess that does that."

"You have something against Room Service?"

He looked at her hard. He must have it wrong. "Are you saying you would come to my room?"

"Depends. Do you have one?" Téa asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do."

"We are both over twenty." She pointed out calmly. "Besides, you just finished telling me seduction is the last thing on your mind. In case you are worried, the same goes for me."

A couple of minutes later they arrived at the penthouse floor and he let her into the apartment. She crossed the Italian marble floor to sample the expansive harbour view that featured the Opera House's majestic shells.

"You reserved a whole loft apartment for the night?" She asked, moving to the far wall to inspect his favorite painting- a warm, brightly hued abstract. "Must have cost a packet."

Atem shucked out of his jacket and hung it on the hall stand. "I own it."

"Oh, you do not." Her sceptical face slid. "In this hotel?"

Making his way to the expansive black granite wet bar, he nodded.

"This is the sort of space I image movie stars hire." She murmured, taking it all in. "Do you actually live here?"

Atem picked up the bar's phone extension. "I have a house in the northern suburbs of Domino."

Making herself comfortable, she folded into the couch, the emerald of her gown striking against the beige suede cushions.

"I bet it's big?"

With a start, his mind skipped back. The line connecting him to Room Service rang in his ear. "Excuse me?" Atem asked.

"Your house." She said. "I bet it is big."

"It is comfortable." Atem answered. He ordered their drinks, then poured two ice waters.

"You look like you come from money."

"My parents were well off, but far from rich. When they died, eight years ago, I had to provide for my younger brother. So I pumped more energy into my law firm and at the same time invested well."

"You most have lucked out on some great choices along the way."

Frowning, he moved to join her on the couch. "You have a real thing for superstition, don't you?"

"Only certain ones." Téa answered.

"Like?"

"Spilt salt. You most throw it over your left shoulder for good luck and black cats." She said.

"Black Cats are usually bad luck, no?"

"If you stroke their heads three time. They are very good luck."

"Stopping her, he laughed. "You honestly believe that?"

"King Charles loved his black cat and had it guarded every minute. The very day after it died he was arrested and later beheaded for treason." Téa explained.

Atem handed her a glass of water, "Thank you…." She said.

"I didn't get your full name."

"Atem Mutou. Your last name is?"

"Téa will do. I hate my last name."

"It couldn't be worst than Mutou."

"That is a note from heaven compared to mine." Téa heeled off her silver stilettos. "My mother said not to worry because I could dump it when I got married." A feat she wasn't certain of accomplishing now.

"You could change it by deed poll."

"Drastic, don't you think?"

He grunted. Had she agreed with anything he said tonight? Atem pity the poor fool who fell in love with her.

"Statistics confirm both male and females are waiting longer to marry." He hid his grin behind his glass. "So you might get lucky yet."

She smiled sweetly. "So might you."

"So, you know I am a lawyer. What do you do for a living, Téa?"

"I am a teacher and love it." She smiled as if she had a secret. "Well most days." She sighted. "Teenage boys can be so single minded, sometime."

Atem raised his brow. He had one at home always bending the rules.

"Half are great with homework and focusing," She continued. "The other half thinks it is all fun and games." Atem thoughts rushed back to the kiss he and Téa had shared.

"Your students do they ever come to you for advice?" Yugi, his brother had mentioned one.

"A boy, strange as it seems. It has something to do with him and his girlfriend."

They finished their glass of water and placed the cups onto a nearby table. Meeting each others gaze, Atem lean forward losing to the strong urge of his desire and chased his lips onto hers.

Stepping back, Téa blinked several times. "I should go."

They both felt an attraction- hard, fast totally unreasonable. She moved to leave, but his hand snapped out to grasp her charm bracelet wrist. Téa turned around slowly.

"I don't want you to go." Atem stood up.

Her slender throat bobbed as she swallowed. "Why?"

Atem ground out, "You know why."

"We weren't going to do this." Her words came out in a whisper.

"I changed my mind." He had no other explanation. "I think you might have too."

To test his theory, he skimmed a palm up the silken texture of her arm. When she didn't move, Atem slid that hand around her waist.

"We are totally incompatible." As if drawn by a magnet, he lowered his head to her lips.

He murmured something against her lips, "I did not intend for this to happen."

She looked both anxious and decided. "This is purely physical, right?"

"Yes it is." Atem whispered.

"We agreed. We won't pursue this. I am not what you want. You are not what I need. We have no future." Téa whispered back.

"But we can have tonight." The next kiss left his breathing ragged and left her clinging to his shirt like a buoy.

When he let her surface, she looked over his shoulder, a little amazed.

"Atem, you have a painting of three butterflies on the wall."

"Do I?" He couldn't remember.

"That's good, three white butterflies together is very good luck."

"Have you heard the saying, make love three times before dawn and your life will be long and happy?"

Téa grinned "Think that is true?"

"Only one way to find out." Atem picked Téa up bridal style and carried her to his master bedroom.