over the fabric , her eyes wide.
Radeem turned to Tahj . “Uhh…I need forty Abbas to pay for them.”
Tahj’s head spun . “Forty Abbas!”
“I had to give my friend some compensation.”
“But forty Abbas? That would pay for a whole new wardrobe and food and board for a week.”
Radeem shrugged, still holding his hand out.
“Some friend,” Tahj grumbled, pulling out a drawstring pouch and handing him the silver coins. “I’ve been gone a little over twenty-four hours, and I’m almost out of money.”
Radeem accepted the money with a smile and turned to leave, counting the coins again into his palm, seeming unduly satisfied with their tinkling.
“Forty Abbas,” Tahj muttered when the door closed. He laid the new clothes out on the bed and started to remove his shirt.
“You’re not getting changed in here!” Bashea s queaked.
Startled, he asked, “I’m not?”
“Not in front of me.”
“Oh, come on, my sweet .” Tahj smirked. “We’re engaged, remember?”
Seeming f lustered, Bashea turned away when he proceeded to pull his shirt off. Tahj just laughed and shifted to dip his hands into a basin on a stand by the fireplace. He splashed the water on his face and chest, glancing over to where Bashea still stood by the window, her back turned, though peeking from time to time.
Bashea shut her eyes, trying not to think about the raw twist of muscle she had glimpsed as he had removed his shirt. “W-what about me?”
“You can get changed. I won’t look.”
“What?” She spun around, but finding his chest was still bare, dropped her eyes, nervously stammering, “I-I’m n-not g-going to change with you in here.”
“Fine. Then you can change after I leave.”
Despite his undressed state, Bashea looked up at him desperately. “But they believe we are to get married. If you go out there, and I stay in here to change, they’ll suspect something.”
“No, they won’t. Women always take forever getting ready,” he rejoined, slipping the fresh shirt over his head.
“Not me,” she responded indignantly.
“Well, what’s it going to be, Bashea?” he asked, sounding exasperated. “Do you want me to stay, or do you want me to go?”
“Ugh!” she cried in frustration, her face hot with suppressed rage. She took one of her shoes off jerkily, nearly falling off balance. “ Get...out of here !” She winged one of her shoes at him, and Tahj dodged it. He just had time to duck out the door before the other shoe hit it.
* * *
Everyone at the small kitchen table looked up at the loud bang of the door, followed by the sound of the second shoe battering it. Tahj lifted his shoulders apologetically. “Lovers’ spat.”
Faraz came over to put his arm around Tahj and usher him in. “My Talia and I had plenty of those. That’s good,” he whispered confidentially. “The feistier they are out of bed, the more fun they are in bed.” He jabbed an elbow in Tahj’s ribs.
Then she ought to be incredible, Tahj thought wryly. He grunted and then chuckled along with his host, feeling uncomfortable. His eyes searched the room for Radeem, but Jessmyn stepped forward, taking his hand and leading him to the table seductively. “You know, there are many men who choose to have a multitude of wives,” she offered.
“Uhh…” Tahj didn’t quite know what to say to that one. He had always thought it was strange when men took a number of wives. He hoped to find one very special woman to spend his life with, as his father had. Tahj sat down, and Faraz’s two other daughters came to sit next to him, too, rubbing their hands over his arms.
“You’re strong,” Dariya said, and the others giggled. Tahj felt Etti’s hand slipping lower on his thigh and shifted nervously. By the time Radeem came out, he felt like he had been fighting back three panthers. To his relief, Dariya and Etti rose to fawn over his captain, leaving him with only the one pair of wandering hands to deal with.
Tahj glanced
Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy