“Both. I like variety.”
“Mm. Me too.” Daka took over, laying strips one by one, their arms bumping. He was a natural, with steady hands and a thoughtful nature.
Mahu could have gotten up, given him more room, but he didn’t. He found pleasure in the casual closeness, the scent of Daka’s hair perfumed with rose water. In the back of his mind, he recognized the flower as an aphrodisiac, not that Daka needed one. The youth was an aphrodisiac incarnate.
Mahu sat back and watched Daka do his work for him until the entire sheet was completed with two layers. Daka would make a good fit for this job and having an assistant around would be handy.
“How’s that?” asked Daka, his tone laced with sweet-natured vulnerability.
“It’s very good.” Mahu’s voice came out husky. He cleared his throat. “Neat and tidy. You’ve done well.”
Daka beamed a smile the sun would be jealous of. “Thank you.”
Mahu basked in his radiance. “Now we take your finished piece of paper and put it under the press.” He rose from his spot and went to lift the weights from the flat wooden pallet. “Here.”
Daka laid the paper over the fabric covering Mahu’s earlier sheets.
“And we place another layer of fabric on top.” Mahu did so as he explained. “If there’s no linen between the paper, the sheets will stick to each other.”
“That makes sense.”
“Last, we replace the pallet, then the weights.” Together they did both tasks. “In three days, we can take the sheets from the press and let them dry in the sun. Then they’re done.”
“It’s really quite rewarding, isn’t it?” Daka gazed around the shop. “You enjoy it?”
“I do. I always have.”
“That’s wonderful. How nice for you, Mahu.”
“You think you’d like this work too?”
“Oh, yes, though it may be a while before I can cut the strips as well as you.”
Mahu thought of having Daka here, coming and going, helping with the paper. His charming company would be a soothing balm for Mahu’s soul as he worked. But would the offer be beneath him?
Daka seemed a man of some means, having come to the city alone with no work. The night before, he’d left a handful of ornate beads in trade for supper, much more than was necessary, especially considering Mahu’s arrangement with Herit. He provided all the paper she needed for her business, and in return she fed him when he stopped by. But Daka had insisted. “Imi will like the beads,” he’d said.
Would he want to work in Mahu’s little shop? The only way to find out was to ask. Mahu took a breath.
Daka beat him to it. “Do you think I could help you here sometimes? I wouldn’t get in the way, I promise. I will learn to be better at sheering the pith. My tutors have always called me a quick study, though I have a tendency to chatter, but if you tell me to hush I will, Mahu. I will do as you ask.”
Hope danced in Daka’s intense gaze, bringing an easy smile to Mahu’s lips. “I would welcome the company and the help. To be perfectly honest, I think your chatter would cheer me up.”
He’d barely finished the words before Daka threw himself at Mahu in a tight embrace. Finding his arms full of delighted young man, Mahu laughed. A sudden swell of affection bloomed in his chest, which was pressed to Daka’s and felt very nice.
Daka’s lips were on his cheek. A fast kiss, there and gone. A lingering dampness cooling his skin.
“Thank you, Mahu. You will not regret this. I will be a good assistant. I can chatter all day and night if that’s what you’d like.”
Mahu felt Daka’s smile from where his face was touching his throat. Under his palms, Daka’s back was warm, muscles hard beneath his tunic. A flare of arousal tingled deep within. As fast as it rose, Mahu fought it down. He released Daka and stepped back.
Without Mahu to hold on to, Daka swayed on his feet. If Mahu didn’t know better, he’d have thought the youth was drunk. Even the look in his eyes indicated intoxication, but it soon vanished, and Daka’s expression cleared. Mahu watched as he came back to himself.
Daka must have seen that he’d noticed the lapse. His cheeks pinked. “I’m sorry. I haven’t eaten.”
That explained it. Sort of. “Oh, well we could go get something now? Or I have snacks in the back, nuts and dates, if you’d like something right away.”
“No, sorry, I need…I can’t explain.” Daka looked torn. “It’s not something you can help me with now. I think I need to go, but I could come back tomorrow? I mean, could I? Is that all right?”
