Chapter 14 – My Lady Soul
I've always knew we end up together,
Right from the very start.
I believe we will make it forever.
It's written right here in my heart.
You're my, you're my, my lady soul.
You warm my heart when I get cold.
Oh, you are my, my, my, my lady soul.
You are my life, you make me whole.
My lady soul.
(Part of the song My Lady Soul by the Temptations)
This is a light hearted chapter, no mission, no danger just two people getting to know each other before facing painful memories. It will take another 2 chapters to get though the Israel side of my story. Hope you like this chapter. Please review, love reading them. Special thanks to Taliahah, your kind words often help me get a chapter finished. I have never been in Israel so if I made a mistake in my story please correct me.
Québec (Canada) and Tel-Aviv (Israel) are 9123 kilometers from one another and have a seven hours difference. The direct flight had lasted about 14 hours, Eyal and Sharon had talked during most of the flight. Eyal had truly enjoyed his stay in Québec City. Pleasantly surprise by the cultural and art scenes, he had express his intention of returning to get to know the City better. He realise Québec could also be a "safe city" away from Mossad and the spy world, not much cloak and dagger in Québec and best of all off agencies radars.
Sharon would have like for them to talk about their stay in Israel but she was careful of letting Eyal set the tone for this visit. She like seeing this other side of Eyal Lavin: a caring, sensitive man that could be quite funny and had quite a way with her teenager's. Sharon had love the boys against the girls' moments during their stay in Québec. Not one word about spying, terrorism or the Team. Had Eyal purposely not mention those subjects or was it that he had truly let go. She hope the latter but guess it was a bit of both.
They landed at David Ben Gourion (TLV) in early morning.
Getting out of the plane, Sharon breathed deeply, closed her eyes and tried to shake off the inner turmoil that was getting to her. The humid heat and view of her surroundings brought back the memories of her accident. Eyal immediately put his arm around her shoulder to comfort her. "Sharon, I'm here, you're safe with me."
"Eyal love your chivalrous nature." Sharon snuggling closer to him.
"Chivalry is overrated" Eyal stated.
"If I remember my history lessons, 'Chivalry was the behavioral code of conduct for men of a higher status all throughout the middle ages. It particularly pertained to men of nobility, or military men…. Chivalrous men had three main responsibilities: a service to their king or to God, a service to their people and their faith, and a service to their lady or all women in society.' It's totally you. Women love it, you're good at it and often exploit it!"
"Did you just say it is OK for me to service all women in society" Eyal looking at Sharon with eyes wide open and quite a grin across his face.
"Figure of speech, that was in the middle ages, now women prefer a little more exclusivity. Believe me; been there, just got out of it and not going there again!" Sharon taking the neck of his t-shirt, drawing his face close to hers and plating a light kiss on his lips.
"Mrs. Welby, you really have a nice and subtle way of presenting a turn on and then a direct upper cut turn off" Eyal squeezing her against him.
They breezed through passport validation and security, both being well trained at that task. It was a bit more complicated for Sharon's baggage. Eyal only had a carry on but Sharon had checked in a small luggage. The problem was that her baggage was nowhere to be found.
"Sharon, your baggage what did it contain?" Eyal was worried.
"It's OK Eyal, I have everything important with me. There was only clothes and beauty products. Nothing to ID me with. Don't even want to go through the paperwork to retrieve it."
"Well I'd prefer you'd fill it out, really don't want to attract attention to us. Not to worry I can get us through quite fast."
"Hope you know somebody because I seem to recall Israeli bureaucratic systems can sometime cause a little bit of frustrations. Proving not everything is better in Israel." Sharon putting her hand on his shoulder and winking.
"You're wrong, bureaucratic systems are supposed to be a long and a boring process. So as I see it, we are the best at that"
"Witty Eyal, very witty! Let's get it done."
Eyal true to his word had them out of the airport quite quickly.
On their way out, Eyal put his hand on Sharon's eyes "Follow my lead, I have a surprise for you." Guiding her to the airport parking, stopping and asked Sharon to open her eyes and waited for the reaction.
"Eyal, this is a 2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster. It will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds and can hit a top speed of 217 mph. Another friend or your car?"
"Another friend, though you'd like it. You have a thing with cars, where does it come from?"
"It's a MI-6 thing everybody there has a love for nice cars. James Bond films have that fact right. Every time we had a party of any sort there was lots of very nice cars. There is nothing like going wide open throttle - rapid pulse, heavy breathing, increased blood flow, all physical effects of a fear-arousing event. Perfect to calm nerves after a chaotic mission. There is also the physiological relationship between sexual arousal and going fast, sure Mr. Lavin, that's more your take in having very nice cars"
"I'm hurt that you would think that of me, my Lady"
"Eyal, you're hurt because I'm reading right through you and not falling blindly for the very very nice and fast car!"
"You want to do the honor, Mrs. Welby" Eyal dangling the key at Sharon.
"No, you know where we are going, but I'm taking a rain check."
Eyal had rented a suite at the Dan Panorama Hotel. He had chosen this hotel because just crossing the road fronting this hotel leaded to the Mediterranean great beaches and soft sands.
"Eyal, didn't you tell that you had an apartment here, why the hotel. I'm sure it's lovely hotel but I don't need the five stars treatment. Your apartment would have been just fine."
"It's rented to a friend for a couple of months. The hotel is perfect for our present situation, it's a neutral location. I also planned a couple of day for us, no family or friends to visit. We're 'officially' arriving two days from now. Since we've met it has been quite intense, though it could be nice to take a couple of days to get to know you better and you me. That is if it's OK with you, easy to call and say we took an early flight."
"Love the way you think. You're quite a secretive planner Mr. Lavin! You're right some down time would do us good." Sharon placing her hand on Eyal leg, relaxing and enjoying the drive.
"We should stop and get you some clothes, the basics at least"
"The hotel should have a boutique where I can buy those basics and they promise my luggage should be here in a day or two, so don't want to buy too much."
"OK, the hotel it is. I was thinking, today, we could, just take a stroll on Shenkin Street. It is one of the most popular streets in Tel Aviv, either for shopping, just for a coffee or light lunch. Tomorrow being Saturday, it would be wonderful day to walk around and explore West Jerusalem, much fewer cars and no buses. It's a pedestrian's dream and the quiet is good for the soul. Walking in the Jewish Quarter on Shabbat has always been special to me. Would love to share it with you."
"I remember Shenkin Street, it was the bohemian quarter of the city. There was a wonderful coffee house Cafe Tamar and I also got some of the best Sunflower seeds ever at an AM:PM. Ouf… that's going to bring back memories. And for me Jerusalem's Shabbats were like a blanket of quiet that is pulled over the city. I always compared it to having big snowflakes falling on Christmas Eve. Love that inner peace feeling that just comes within." Sharon remembering her short stay in Israel.
"Shenkin's changed quite a bit since you were there last. The new and modern now replace the old and old fashion but Café Tamar and the AM:PM are still there. Café Tamar is one of my favorite place and you're right it will bring back memories, always does for me. You sure you're up to it."
"Yes Eyal, 'Moral wounds have this peculiarity - they may be hidden, but they never close; always painful, always ready to bleed when touched, they remain fresh and open in the heart.' It's a quote from Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo. It's been a long time since I read Monte Cristo but those words illustrated so much hurt that they stuck with me. I now realise how much truth they really carried!"
"Look Sharon, today, it's me and you nothing more. I just want to get to know you and try to show you a side of me, the man not the spy. The memories and painful wounds will come soon enough. For the next 48 hours I'd like to explore why I was drawn to you the first time I met you. You OK with that"
"More than OK and if you weren't driving I'd hug you to death."
"Never mind a hug, if I'm to die I prefer being kissed to death"
Sharon hit him hard causing the car to swerve a bit.
"Hey love, careful. I have a fine piece of VERY expensive BORROWED technology in my hands."
"Eyal, being on the getting to know you mode, like to know where the 'My Lady' comes from?"
"It a song that came to mind the first time we were alone together, 'My Lady Soul' from the Temptations. The words kind of expressed the way I was feeling and from there you were 'My Lady'."
"I know the songs" Sharon sang a bit of it 'You warm my heart when I go cold. Oh you are my lady soul. You are my life, you make me whole. Sharon squeezing Eyal arm.
"Girl, this drive IS definitely taking too long!"
They finally arrived at the hotel and stopped at one of the boutiques to get some clothes for Sharon.
"Eyal, don't laugh because my question might be a little silly but is it still true that in religious Jewish neighborhoods women are expected to wear sleeves below the elbow and skirts below the knees. Since we are going to Jerusalem tomorrow and will be walking through the Jewish Quarter on Shabbat, I'd buy the appropriate clothes or a shawl I can wrap around myself"
"Not a stupid question. That just that kind of thinking that draws me towards you. See, I'm used to being the one to mention those particulars but with you they comes up before I have a chance to think about them. It is sometime quite annoying at that it seems like it's me talking. For your clothes, for tomorrow, just dress modestly and casual."
"Eyal, we have that kind of a job. Isn't it basic protocol to at least know the culture of the people or country we're dealing with on a mission or to turn an asset? Don't think I have something special"
"Being with a multi-agency team, you've rarely worked alone and always with the best but believe me newbies and normal ops are not always that thorough. And you do have something special, believe me!"
"Well if that the case, so do you my pal. OK now let's stop the mutual back slapping and get me some clothes. Your country, I'd like your suggestion, please."
Sharon had to admit that Eyal had a good eye for size and style. Even if the clothes were a lot more on the feminine side that what she usually wore, all the piece and accessories Eyal chose for her fitted perfectly and she felt good in them. Except maybe the somewhat very tiny black bikini Eyal had insisted she try one. It fitted but to Eyal disappointment, she did not model it.
"You're very good at this, I'm impressed, now, except for that bikini, which ensemble is you favorite ?"
"All of them, we're going to take everything you tried and liked"
"No we're not, don't need that much stuff Eyal. My baggage is coming in tomorrow, remember."
"My country, my decision. A gift from me to me, love seeing you in nice feminine clothes."
The staff were following the conversation actively, their heads seem to be following a tennis match. Not often a girls argues to such a gift.
"Sababa, I give in you win. Toda raba Eyal" Sharon wanting to give Eyal a kiss on his cheek but he twisted and their lips met.
"You're welcome, first time you mentioned a Hebrew word. How much Hebrew do you know?"
"I forgot quite a bit but I still remember the basic; Hello: Shalom, Good: tov, Yes: ken, No: lo, Please: bevakasha, Thank you: toda, Thank you very much: toda raba, Fine: beseder, OK: sababa, Excuse me: slicha. When you get mad or frustrated and resort to talking Hebrew I caught some words but don't think it would be appropriate to repeat them now." Sharon eyed Eyal with a sly smile.
"Don't repeat those words period, you could get in trouble, especially in front of my mother" Eyal laughing, paying for the clothes and gently guiding Sharon to the checking counter at the hotel.
Stepping into their room Sharon was stunned "Wonderful suite Eyal, I feel like a queen in her palace. This view of the beach is stunning. You're spoiling me, this place, the clothes, and the car, think I could get use to all of this. Be careful you might be creating a monster."
"What can I say, I like nice things and having someone that I can truly enjoy them with is a rare occasion. I'm not spoiling you, consider this rare perks of our non-traditional job.
"Eyal, you're seen to everything for me but what about you? I don't feel right accepting all of this, too much one-side for my liking."
"Well, since you're asking, before we go street shopping, let's shake the jet lag with a shower. You could finally give in to showering with me….!"
"Hummmm I think I just got an idea. OK, I agree for us doubling up for a shower but you've got to follow my rules."
"Your will is my command My Lady"
"Let's change into clothes that are comfortable, we're going to play a little game" Sharon was giving Eyal a very sly smile.
Sharon had slip on the black bikini and pull one of Eyal T-shirt over it. Eyal had just taken off his sport jacket and was now in a T-shirt and jeans.
Sharon swiftly handcuffed Eyal, put her iPhone on speaker and chose a soft music.
"What's this" a startled Eyal eyed Sharon
"My rules remember. Now listen carefully. If we are to take a shower together, you have to first undress me without the help of your hands and eyes. You take off one piece of my clothes, I take off one piece of yours" Sharon reached up and put a blindfold on Eyal eyes.
"You're kidding me!"
"Nope, you in? You can always change your mind but no twosome shower!"
"Come here, you do realize I'm very well trained to get out of perilous situations."
Eyal put his tied hand over Sharon and started his task. The bikini bottom came off quite quickly, easy just bite and pull down. Sharon slowly unbuttoned Eyal jean making sure to let her fingers make contact with his skin. The jean fell to the floor. He walked out of them.
"Lady, you're not making this easy for me!"
"That's the point, Mr. Master Spy, that's the point"
Eyal was feeling the heat. Being this close to her and under a t-shirt trying to unclasp a bikini top was proving more of a challenge than he bargained for. 'Stay focus Lavin, you're seen worst. Control the situation, breathe in, breathe out, and work the problem'. He decided to attack the T-shirt. It came off easily since it was quite oversized for Sharon.
Sharon slowly and suggestively pulled down his boxers.
"Playing real dirty are we?"
"You strike, I counter strike and you should know that an effective counter strike has to destabilize the adversary. A tactic tested in the field many times!" Sharon smiling at him
"You're good, but my tradecraft is a bit better"
Taking another try at the Bikini top, pulling down the tin shoulder straps and then pulling down the Bikini without unclasping it did the trick!
"Seems I succeeded" Eyal taking off the blindfold just before Sharon pulled off his t-shirt, the only piece of clothing left in their game.
"Get those cuff off fast before I hurt myself trying" Eyal whispered to Sharon
As soon as Sharon had unlock the cuff, Eyal picked her up and laid her gently on the bed.
"Hey, it's a shower that is the end prize of this game" Sharon smiling at him
"You're no longer in charge Mrs. Welby. Let's sweat a bit before we take that shower"
"You're call Mr. Lavin!"
Waking up with Sharon still asleep on his shoulder, thinking of the events that had led up to their present position brought a smile to his face. It was new for him to get lost in the spur of the moment, not being the initiator and most of all having genuine fun. Feeling her stir, he venture "Ready for that shower now" while kissing her head lightly.
"Think we should take a rain check on that shower. Did you see the time, better we each take a quick shower. If we want our little stroll on Shenkin Street to be heat bearable, we should get ready now."
"You're right but I'm holding you to that shower, let's take a rain check!" Eyal lifting Sharon chin and giving her a gentle kiss.
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Their outing on Shenkin Street brought back lovely memories for Sharon. Yes it had changed but the soul of the place was still there. She remembered three carefree girls shopping, stalking out boys and getting revved up about a party or dance. But in the end they were spies, had a job to do and reality had had quite an awful ending. Sarah death still haunted her to this day. She wasn't alone, Eyal had not gotten over Sarah death also. He sometime had habits that reminded her of Sarah. She wished that she could share these thoughts with him but sense that he wasn't ready.
Being with Eyal was more than she expected. That man had a way with her, his smile and tender manners had totally won her over. There was another side of him that she knew was darker but she could go there too. It was less noticeable on her but she could relate to his darker side. She didn't know one master spy that didn't carry one. The problem with Eyal is that he didn't accept his dark side as a tool for being a successful at his job but he viewed it more as a curse poisoning his chances at a real life. She knew the task of getting him to understand her views would be great but it was worth trying.
Their last stop was at Tamar Café. They surprise themselves by ordering exactly the same thing: bagel with cream cheese and a hardboiled egg.
Eyal look at Sharon and said "Sarah" Sharon nodded. It was Sarah that had introduced Sharon to this unorthodox mix. She was now guessing it might have been Eyal that had past it down to Sarah. He had such sadness in his eye that she couldn't help but cup his face and kiss him as she would one of her children that had just hurt himself. She knew a kiss would not heal his pain but at least it might help.
They returned to the hotel with quite a lot of stuff, spices, clothes, gifts and lots of sunflower seeds.
"What is it with sunflower seeds? Can't see what people like in those seeds, seems waste of time eating them."
"Eyal, you mean to tell me that you never, even as a kid, experienced the sunflower seed kick. It was cool to eat sunflower seeds. The act of using your teeth to crack the seed, tasting the salt, discarding the shell, then the end game eating the seed; it was just plain fun, addictive and best of all drove parents crazy. Try it" Sharon putting one seed in Eyal mouth.
"Now gently crack that shell, spit out the shell and chew on the seed."
"I might need you to show me how it is done" Eyal putting a seed in Sharon mouth.
When she discarded the shell in a bowl, Eyal grabbed her by her wait and kiss her deeply.
"You learn fast Mr. Lavin, see what you missed out on" Sharon putting her arms around Eyal neck and resting her head on his shoulder. "Eyal, I'm really feeling the effects of the jet lag, think I'm going to take a nap before supper.
"Not a good idea to sleep, let's hit the beach, relax in the sun, take a swim. Swimming season is over but there are still lifeguards on the beach and today is a beautiful day. You being from Canada and swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, the cooler temperature shouldn't be a problem. Promise you'll feel better than with a nap."
"Hum, OK, but let's take the swimming part out of that equation. Me and water don't mix well together."
"Do you mean I've stumble upon a weakness of yours. You were born next to beaches, your daughter is a national level swimmer and you're telling me you can't swim."
"I can swim a bit but I never was comfortable around water. Love the beaches but not the water. When I look down at shallow water, the darkness that's beneath the surface just creeps me up."
"Well I promise the beaches in Israel will be especially nice to you. Get dress, my turn to show you how to really have fun.
She wasn't kidding when she had told him that she didn't like water. He sense her tense up as soon as they got near the water. Remembering how she liked to cuddle, he just put his arms around her and walked her slowly into the water. He teased her by splashing her lightly then picking her up and sitting in the water with her. He even got her to swim a couple of short laps.
"Eyal, why don't you take a swim, I know you'd love to. I can have a run on the beach. Like that we can both put in a training in for today."
"OK, just stay close, don't want to have to rescue you in my swimming trunks!"
Sharon shot him a look and started her run and him his swim.
It's was getting a bit cooler so they headed back to the hotel.
"Eyal, don't know what are your plans but I'm beat. We should have gotten some shut eye on the plane but we kind of talk our ears out! Now I'm paying for it! Sorry to be such a spoilsport"
"Wonderful day and wonderful company, no plans for tonight. Have experience on my side, kind of figure we'd be out of it. You have two choices: Wine and dine at the hotel's restaurant the 99 Hayarkon or room service."
"I'm tire but I prefer to wine and dine at the restaurant, relaxing to music and maybe a couple of dances."
"Then it's a date, let's get dress. Thought you said you were beat, dancing really?"
"For me singing and dancing is like dessert, always place for it. You up to it" Sharon tapping Eyal shoulder.
"Always ready to please a lady" Eyal making her twirl a bit.
The restaurant wasn't too crowded, soft music and there was some dancing.
"What you would suggest Eyal?"
"Well the Sea fish Shishlik in tomato vinaigrette grilled vegetables and potato chips is a favorite of mine."
"You can stop there, that sounds delicious, sold!"
As there were getting ready to take a first dance, a girl tapped Eyal's shoulder and said softly "Eyal Lavin, I'm very disappointed, you're in town and haven't called me." It was then that she saw Sharon "Sharon Welby is that you? What are you doing here? God, it's been a long time since I last saw you!"
Eyal was surprised "You two know each other"
"Seems we all know each other." Sharon responded with a sly smile. "Michelle, care to join us?"
"I'd love to, I'm waiting for my date. He called to say he would be a little late so seems we have time to catch up. Sharon, you look wonderful and Eyal always charming and getting sexier every time we meet."
Eyal shifted feeling quite uneasy but still flashed one of his best smile to Michelle.
"Well Michelle, you look a lot better than the last time I saw you" Sharon looking at Michelle in a teasing manner.
"Maybe it's because I was wearing the head of a goat and as I recall you were the back end of that same goat"
"Well it worked, think it was the first and last time they extracted a goat from a mission. Come to think of it we never returned the mascot costume" The two girls were now laughing nearly hysterically.
"Hey care to fill me in?" Eyal was still uneasy.
They both responded together "Sorry under need to know restriction"
Michelle added "But let just say I never had so much fun in a dangerous and such an unpredictable mission. Your girlfriend here has the most unconventional ideas but it worked. We were extracted just in time dressed as the mascot of a soccer team: a goat!
"My girlfriend?" Eyal looking at Michelle
Michelle responded in a whispering tone: "Eyal, reading people 101 remember, we're all well trained in it. You're usually quite a cruiser. The fact that you're uncomfortable and sweating, by the way it's adorable on you, make me conclude that my friend Sharon, here, is not just a one night stand. Beside, knowing Sharon, she doesn't fit the profile. So you two are likely on a mission or dating. Since I'm a romantic at heart, I chose the dating side of things"
"Déduction logique Watson" Sharon added and again both girls started laughing.
To that a young man arrived and capture Michelle's attention. "My date has arrived, Sharon here is my card, please call me, really like to chat with you. And you Eyal still love that scuff beard of your, so erotic… real sorry to see that you are taken, but if ever you're free, Sharon has my card." Michelle winking at Sharon.
"How about that dance Mr. Lavin or has this meeting made you a bit too gun-shy too dance?" Sharon was extending her hand to Eyal "Eyal are you OK, you're dancing beautifully but something isn't right. Want to talk?"
"Sharon, you must know that me and Michelle … Sharon stopped him and continued
"Eyal, I'm not a ten year old girl, you don't owe me an explanation. I know how you operated but I also know you surely were always, well most of the times, a perfect gentlemen. Your past is your past, I can't change it but if I'm with you now is that I trust the man you are. I don't know how I'll react when you have to use that wonderful charm of yours to conclude a mission or turn an asset but we'll cross that bridge when the time comes. Besides loved to see you squirm, think I'm going to like meeting you're past acquaintances."
Eyal lifted Sharon chin and kissed her lovingly. They were interrupted by Michelle again "Guys, get a room"
"My dear, we were just going there, care to join me Mrs. Welby?"
"Ah the real Eyal Lavin is back, no more jet lag, I feel great, thinking we could take that shower we put on hold"
"Let's go" a smiling Eyal saying his goodbyes to Michelle while pushing Sharon forwards…
To be continues…