Work Text:
Yusuf had taken Quynh with him to seal a deal about grain for their horses. Yusuf hoped that by having Quynh by his side instead of Andromache, the deal wouldn't turn into a fight like the last time, when one of the dealer's men hit on Andromache.
"Morning, Nico," Andromache yawned. She had used the morning to sleep in. "Any food left?"
"There is some bread left," Nicolò replied. "And honey."
Andromache walked over to the table to make her breakfast. When Andromache sat down to eat, she looked at Nicolò, who was sorting out in his books. Nicolò had decided to sell some of his books from Europe to a bookseller around the corner. European books were always in high demand in the Far East, and Nicolò always had the best books, so he could charge extra money whenever he sold his books.
"If you sell your books," Andromache said. "What will you read on the next leg of our journey?"
"I still got some books from France," Nicolò replied. "It gives me the chance to brush up on my French, too."
Andromache ate the rest of her bread before licking her fingers to get all the honey of them.
"There is no need for that," Andromache said. "Everyone knows that you speak and read more languages than I have forgotten."
"Thanks," Nicolò replied. "But you got other talents, Andromache. Talents I don't have."
"Very kind of you," Andromache replied. "Do you know what you need, Nicolò?"
"No," Nicolò replied. "Please tell me."
Nicolò stood up and picked up the stack of books before placing them on the kitchen counter. Then he sat down next to Andromache with a glass of water.
"A new challenge when it comes to languages," Andromache said. "What about learning Sanskrit?"
"Sanskrit?" Nicolò asked intrigued. "Where do they speak that?"
"In the area of Bharat," Andromache replied. "Are you up for the challenge? I promise you will learn more than just the language."
"Of course I am," Nicolò replied. "But how?"
"Give me a moment," Andromache replied as she stood up. "I got the right book for that."
Nicolò looked in disbelief at Andromache.
"You owe a book?" Nicolò asked surprised. "An actually real book?"
"Yes, I do, and yes, I have read it more than once," Andromache replied. "Be back in a moment."
Nicolò looked after Andromache as she walked into the room she shared with Quynh. One of the good things about this house was that they got two rooms so that they could have some private life.
"Here it is," Andromache said. "I want it back when you got your own copy of it."
Andromache handed Nicolò a red book that showed clear signs of being read repeatedly because there were loose pages in it.
"Thanks, Andromache," Nicolò said. "Do you want me to repair it for you?"
"You can do it once you have learned Sanskrit. See it as your reward," Andromache replied. "Now, open the book."
Nicolò nodded before he opened the book, but just as fast as he opened the book just as fast he closed it again and blushed. It made Andromache laugh.
"Andromache?" Nicolò asked. "What kind of book is this?"
"Kamasutra. It will broaden your horizons in ways you can never imagine. Just ask Quynh about it," Andromache replied with a smile Nicolò only had seen on Yusuf's face whenever they had sex. It was actually a bit scary if you asked Nicolò. "Have fun reading it."
Andromache took her blouse.
"Be back when the others are," Andromache said. "Oh, and Quynh and I will make dinner tonight."
Andromache ruffled Nicolò's hair before she left him with the book.
When the front door opened again, Nicolò, who was sitting on the floor in the small living room, quickly sat on the book, hoping he wasn't blushing too much.
"Hi, Love," Yusuf asked. "Missed me?"
Nicolò nodded and looked over at Andromache, who was trying very hard not to laugh at the look on Nicolò's face.
"Yes, I did," Nicolò replied. "Uhmm, how did it go with the deal?"
"We got the grain we need," Yusuf replied. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," Nicolò replied. "Nothing at all. I promise you. Everything is just fine."
Nicolò looked over at Andromache once again, and this time Yusuf saw it.
"Andromache?" Yusuf asked. "What have you done this time?"
"Nothing, I just gave Nicolò a new book," Andromache replied. "Come Quynh, let's leave the boys alone. They got something to talk about."
Andromache placed her arm over Quynh's shoulders.
"We'll be back at dinner," Andromache said. "And with dinner."
Andromache then directed Quynh towards the front door.
"I let Nicolò borrow our copy of the Kamasutra," Andromache whispered. "And by the look on his face, he has been looking at the pictures. A lot."
Quyhn laughed as they left the house.
"Nicolò?" Yusuf asked really nervous as he took Nicolò's hands in his. "Are you okay?"
"No, no, I promise," Nicolò replied. "I just read... It's..."
Yusuf looked at Nicolò's face and noticed that Nicolò was biting his lips. It was something he only did whenever he was sexually aroused.
"Let's go into the bedroom," Nicolò said. "There, we can talk."
Nicolò got up and took the book before he took Yusuf's hand. Yusuf went willingly with Nicolò, who shut the bedroom door after them. When Andromache and Quynh returned a couple of hours later, they heard noises coming from Yusuf and Nicolò's bedroom.
"Looks like we will be eating alone tonight," Andromache said. "Again."
"You only got yourself to blame, Andromache," Quynh replied. "It was you who gave them the book."
"True," Andromache replied. "Well, once they got it out of their systems, things will be back to normal again because they are still young."
Little did Andromache know back then that things would never get back to normal again when it came to Yusuf and Nicolò's sex life. In fact, the Kamasutra would be a constant companion in Yusuf and Nicolò's sex life.