I feel my breasts bound flat to my chest underneath the cotton of my shirt. The crispness of the starch in my collar rubs against my soft feminine skin. I hope none of them see the grimace on my face as I reach up to tug the collar away. It wouldn't be so bothersome if I hadn't been overly warm all day. The fans the women used on myself and the other men in the group cooled me, but not nearly enough.
I enjoy and revel in the sound of the music playing, watching light-skinned women in sheer fabrics sway their hips. I know their skin is light because they spend their days in the camp, entertaining the men until the night air hits and it's possible for the trading to actually begin.
I smile to myself because the men around me don't realize what they are really dealing with. I'm not a mere merchant looking for scarves and blades to take to the store at home. Nor is my co-owner merely my friend. He is my husband.
I wonder what they'd think of they knew what was underneath the cottons of my shirt and trousers. They excuse my long hair and my silence in the fact that I am a young American boy. After-all, my co-owner also wears his hair long and speaks in a low, soothing voice.
I take another sip of wine and stare into the eyes of the dark haired beauty before me. She offers me more wine and I place my hand over hers as she moves to pull away. She looks down and I know she knows. I lock eyes with her, almost in a panic, but her face smoothes out just as quickly when one of my male compatriots tells her to treat the guests with the honor they deserve.
I move my hand away from hers and the glass and she reaches out to caress my face. She smiles and leans forward to press her lips to mine. The softness and sweetness of her mouth is nearly unbearable and she pulls away.
"Please forgive me for my fear, Sir. I was lost in my own thoughts. It won't happen again."
The men around me laugh and ask if I've ever even been with a woman. I lie to them.
"No."
They laugh and call the woman back.
I scramble further back into my chair. I fear they will discover the fact that I am much less the man than even they think I am.
Gently swaying, her ample hips come into my field of vision and I slowly raise my gaze. I brush my thoughts across the soft exposed flesh of her tummy and up through the thinly veiled cleft between her breasts. I settle my eyes on the beautiful jewels around her neck, imagine pressing my lips against her pulse, remember the softness of her lips, and then lose myself in the depth of the brown of her eyes.
I forget my fear as silently those beautiful hips find their way to taking a seat on the floor next to my chair.
I'm nearly certain that the whole room watches as I take a sharp intake of breath, her hand resting on my thigh. I look around, but the men are engrossed in the belly dancers and the only pair of eyes vaguely interested in me are those of my husband. I watch the twinkle in his eye before he turns back to the other men and he leaves me to my own devices.