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  Layla returned later with two other girls named Rabiah and Shamise. Rabiah was short but nicely built. Her hair was neatly braided in an intricate cornrow design and pulled back on her neck to form a ponytail. Shamise was just a tad bit shorter than the other young woman, with big brown eyes and a pretty face. Her hair was short and curly. “Prince Amon sent them here to keep you company while you dress for dinner,” Layla informed her.

  “That’s mighty nice of him.” She paused. “How do I dress for dinner?” Her knowledge in palace rules was sorely lacking.

  “Since tonight is a party night, the attire is traditional African garb.”

  “Sorry. I don’t own any.”

  Rabiah walked over to a huge bureau and opened it. “You do now, Ms. Romaine.”

  Charisma gasped and walked over to the bureau. It overflowed with costumes and party dresses.

  “Which one should she wear?” Rabiah asked Shamise.

  “The chartreuse will bring out her caramel coloring.”

  Their fluency in English surprised her. “Your English is better than mine.”

  “King Hakeem insists that we are all well-educated in many languages,” Shamise explained. “There are several schools on the compound.”

  “What about the blue?” Rabiah suggested. “It will show off her shape.”

  Shamise nodded. “Prince Shakir will like that one.”

  Charisma stopped ogling the clothes. “Why did you say that?”

  The girls giggled and said something in their native language.

  Layla corrected them. “It is rude to use language that our guest does not understand.”

  “Yes, Ms. Layla,” both said in unison. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” Charisma assured them. “The language is beautiful and I’d love to learn it some day. But if we are going to get along, I have to understand what you’re saying.”

  Rabiah agreed. “Prince Shakir has this thing for shapely women.”

  “A thing?”

  “Yes. He’s very good with the females around here. He is the one who ordered all these clothes for you. He chose the colors and had the seamstresses working around the clock to get them ready.”

  Charisma blocked out the last part. “How good is he with the ladies?”

  “Well, let’s just say he lost his virginity by the time he was thirteen. But he hasn’t given any of us the time of day in years.”

  “That’s because he’s saving himself for the right woman,” Layla replied in Shakir’s defense.

  Both girls giggled. “It’s a shame. He’s so fine.”

  “Hush, both of you.”

  Shakir is experienced with women and sex. So what? And he has screwed both of these young women. Oh well, his past is his own business. “I’ll wear the blue one.”

  Rabiah styled her hair while Shamise helped her with her makeup. Layla assisted her into getting into the dress, which fit perfectly. Charisma was surprised by what she saw in the mirror. “Prince Shakir has excellent tastes.”

  “You look like a princess,” Rabiah replied. “All of the men will be watching only you tonight.”

  “Will there be a lot of single men there?”

  Shamise nodded. “Lots. The Hakeems have a big family. Lots of cousins like Amon.”

  “Too bad Haji is already married,” Rabiah replied. “He is so handsome and tall. He was my first lover.”

  Charisma blushed at their open honesty.

  “Aren’t they a handful?” Layla asked.

  “Don’t listen to her. Like Prince Shakir, Layla is saving herself for someone special.”

  “So what’s wrong with that?” Layla asked.

  “Oh, nothing, but you’re going to be an old maid before you know it. Stop refusing the man.”

  Layla blushed deeply. “That’s enough. It’s almost time for dinner.” The two girls retreated.

  “We’ll see you tomorrow, Ms. Romaine. Have a good time at the party.”

  “Thanks,” Charisma replied. “I’ll tell you all about it the next time we’re together.”

  The girls left the room.

  “They are incorrigible,” Layla said with a sigh. “It’s time to go to dinner.”

  * * * *

  Shakir was not present, Charisma noted once everyone was seated in a hall filled with dining tables. Her aunt and uncle, the Edwards, and Robert sat at the King’s table, while she was led over to sup with the prince and princesses. Shakir’s two sisters Zahara and Thema were both pregnant and due to deliver within days of each other. They were both married to two very nice men who dutifully served and seen to their every need.

  “Father tells us that you are a photographer,” Zahara replied. She resembled Shakir. They shared the same dark eyes and high cheekbones.

  “Yes, princess. I’m a wild-life photographer.”

  “Why?”

  The question shocked her. “Because it’s fun.”

  “Aren’t there any eligible men in the United States to marry that are more fun than animals?”

  The others laughed.

  “I’m sure there are, but I’ve been too busy trying to get my career off the ground to find out.”

  “You found time for Mr. Edwards,” Haji piped in. He had been watching her through lowered lashes since she sat down.

  “He worked as my uncle’s aid back in Louisiana.”

  “That worked out perfectly well if you want to settle for safe and boring.”

  Why are they picking on me? “I’m not a settler. Besides, I’m still too young to get serious about a man.”

  “I was married at sixteen,” Thema said. “Ebo and I have been happily married for fourteen years.” Thema resembled her mother. She was heavy across the chest with big hips.

  “Why are you hens badgering Ms. Romaine?” Amon asked. “Shakir is going to strangle all of you.”

  “Where is that baby brother of ours?” Thema asked.

  “He went to town. He will be back later.”

  “He’s probably racing camels in the desert with those friends of his,” Zahara stated after her husband Chibale fed her some fruit.

  “He races camels?” Charisma asked her.

  “Yes, ever since he was a boy. He’s very good and he usually wins.” She paused. “He spends a lot of time in the desert but he’s afraid of snakes.”

  Charisma chuckled. “He’s what? He’s too big to be afraid of anything. I bet he can stare down a tiger.”

  Thema laughed. “That he could. He is stubborn like our father, but he’s still afraid of snakes.” All the other children agreed. “Our mother is the only one who can talk sense into Shakir sometimes. He has always been a bit wild.”

  Charisma relaxed. The heat was off of her as they shared their childhood memories with her.

  * * * *

  The sale of the two horses took longer than he expected. Shakir looked down at his watch. It was nearly nine and he had missed dinner.

  Mustafa patted the horse’s flank. “She’s solid.” He opened the horse’s mouth. “Nice strong teeth.”

  Shakir looked down at his watch again. Charisma was probably wondering where he was. She probably thought he was just being fashionably later or just being rude.

  “I’ll take them.” Mustafa signed the contract and then handed over a big bag of gold to Shakir. It was enough to fix more houses in the village outside the palace. Shakir put the document into his pocket and turned the horses over to their new owner. “You’re doing a good thing Prince Shakir,” Mustafa said. “The village looks better than it did before the war.”

  “Thanks.” He didn’t want any rewards. What he did, he did for his people. He closed up his office once Mustafa left and then he went back out to the stable and mounted his horse and rode like the devil was behind him back to the palace.

  There was a lot of laughter and music filtering through the palace when he entered. He’d take a quick shower, change and join them shortly. He peeped inside the ballroom. Young women were entertaining the crowd
with their native dances. He looked around until he spotted Charisma. She was in the center circle dancing with Layla, and she was wearing the blue dress. The sight of her hips undulating stirred the beast in him. Robert Edwards also watched transfixed. “Not good.” He dashed to his suite of rooms on the other side of the palace. A half hour later, he entered and was announced.

  “Prince Shakir has arrived.”

  * * * *

  Charisma stopped laughing. Shakir had finally arrived and entered the ballroom, dressed in a pair of brown slacks and a white shirt that was open at the collar. She didn’t realize how hard she stared until Layla nudged her. Damn, he has a great walk. People bowed at his feet and girls curtsied and giggled as he made his way over to his parents.

  “Nice of you to join us,” King Hakeem replied sarcastically.

  “Sorry I’m late father. Mustafa wanted to haggle but fortunately he finally left.”

  “You’ve missed dinner,” Queen Femi announced. “I put a plate aside for you to eat later.”

  He kissed his mother on the cheek. “Thanks mother. You spoil me rotten.”

  Haji agreed. “She sure does.”

  “He’s my baby. I nursed him and I can spoil him if I want to.”

  Haji arrogantly waved the words away with his hand. “Mama’s boy.”

  “So are you,” Femi teased.

  “I’m the eldest. I should be spoiled.”

  “I have your mama’s boy,” Shakir said in his own defense. “She still cuts your meat.” He stopped arguing with Haji and turned his attention to her. “Good evening, Ms. Romaine.” He bowed.

  “Good evening, Prince Shakir. Your family has been entertaining me with tales of your childhood.”

  He scowled. “Don’t believe them. I wasn’t that bad.”

  “Ha,” his mother replied from her seat. “He was a wild one.”

  Robert inched closer to her and kissed her on the cheek. “Your uncle said that you were pretty wild yourself as a child.”

  Charisma moved her cheek away. “My uncle gets nervous every time I leave the house.”

  “With good reason,” Julio said. “You drive like a mad woman.”

  The queen and the others close by laughed.

  “Enough talk,” Amon said. “There’s not enough dancing.” He grabbed Thema’s hand and pulled his pregnant cousin onto the dance floor. Zahara grabbed Shakir’s hand and dragged him away. Obviously she was smart enough to see that Robert was just trying to make her brother jealous. Robert led her to the dance floor. “You look beautiful tonight.”

  “Thank you.”

  “When did you have time to shop?”

  “I didn’t. I borrowed the outfit from one of the girls,” she lied. There was no way she could tell him that Shakir had the outfit made for her. Robert spun her around. Shakir watched. Their eyes locked. Charisma gulped. He didn’t look a bit amused at Robert’s little show of affection.

  * * * *

  Femi allowed her youngest son to escort her out of the side door and into the courtyard. She sat down on a bench and patted for him to join her. “You love her, don’t you?”

  “Who?”

  “Don’t play games with me, Shakir. It’s written all over your face.”

  He sighed. “Yes, but how can that be possible? I just met her.”

  “Sometimes one look is all it takes.”

  “But she’s spoken for.”

  “So it appears, but she’s not married to him yet.”

  “It would be wrong for me to intrude.”

  “Says who?”

  “The gentlemen’s code of honor.”

  Femi laughed. “Piss on the gentlemen’s code of honor. Your father wooed me away from my fiancé two weeks before we were to be married.”

  “Father did that?”

  Femi nodded. “He came to my house and demanded to speak with my father, confessing his love for me and the rest is history.”

  “You loved him, yet you were prepared to marry someone else?”

  “Yes, I loved him, but he kept his feelings to himself until it was almost too late.”

  “It might already be too late. They were just kissing at the table.”

  “Has she discussed any future plans that include Mr. Edwards?”

  Shakir shook his head. “She just said that she wants to be a photo-journalist.”

  “She can do that without him right here in Africa. She’s not afraid of snakes.”

  Shakir smiled. “You’re a very wise mother.”

  “I know. That dress she is wearing is very nice. It shows off her curves. She has big hips and a big behind which means she will bear many sons.”

  Shakir blushed.

  “You’re blushing. That means you have thought of her that way too.”

  “Yes, but…”

  “But what? Women like sex, too.”

  “Mother, I’m shocked.”

  “Why? I have five children. I didn’t do it out of wifely duties. I love sex. Your father is a very good lover.”

  “Should we be having this conversation?”

  “Yes, I know you are not innocent. The maids talk and giggle whenever your name is mentioned.”

  His blush deepened. “That was a long time ago. I have learned control. Besides, I have this little problem.”

  “So I’ve heard. All men should have such a problem.” She laughed. “The problem is all in your head. Have any of the women complained?”

  “No.”

  “You’ve been blessed and you don’t even know it.”

  He kissed her cheek again. “So you think I have a chance with Charisma?”

  “A very good chance. I don’t think that she is in love with Mr. Edwards. Her eyes lit up when you walked into the ballroom.”

  “She’s a very strong-willed young woman. We always argue and she takes too many chances. You saw her in the desert.”

  “She is a free-spirit. She will make your life interesting. Do not judge her by our standards. Have fun and enjoy life.”

  * * * *

  Shakir returned his mother to the party but before he could get to Charisma, he was pulled to the dance floor by Halima Lehmkuhl, an old girlfriend. “I don’t have time for this.”

  “Make some time.”

  Halima wrapped her arms around his waist and rubbed her pelvis against his. His penis jumped.

  “At least I know that you are still alive down there. You haven’t been around to see me in a long time.”

  “I’ve been busy.”

  She looked over at Charisma. “I just bet you have. She is an American.”

  “Yes, I’m aware of that.”

  “Rabiah said she was pretty. I had to see for myself.”

  “Rabiah has a big mouth.”

  “What’s her name? Is she a princess?”

  “Charisma, and no.”

  “Have you had sex with her?’

  Shakir stopped dancing. “What’s with all the questions?”

  “I’m just curious about the woman who has lured you out of my bed.”

  “Don’t blame her. I’ve just met her. She doesn’t know anything about us.”

  “Who is that man she’s kissing?”

  Shakir spun Halima around so that he could see. Charisma and Robert were out in the courtyard and they were kissing. “A friend.”

  “A kissing friend?”

  “Americans call it friends with benefits.” He paused. “Why are you torturing me, Halima? You broke it off with me, remember?”

  “That’s because you were screwing around on me.”

  “I was not.”

  “I don’t want to argue.” The music ended. Shakir walked away.

  “Where are you going?” Halima asked.

  “To bed. I have a headache.”

  * * * *

  Someone knocked at his door several minutes later. “Who is it?”

  “Haji.”

  Shakir got off of the bed and opened the door. Aton and Amon were with Haji. “What do you moron
s want?”