Quietly Skye picked up her robe and dressed. Then, imitating exactly and with equal skill Yasmin’s movements, she removed the caftan again. Sinking to the floor at last, her dark head bowed, her soft voice clear and sweet, she said, “Is that what you want?”
“Yes,” came the terse reply. “It is fortunate you learn quickly.
“We will now discuss perfumes. Sit down. No, don’t bother dressing. I must show you the proper places to anoint yourself. A woman’s body is a work of art, but in order to remain a masterpiece you must work at it constantly.” She reached into the basket by her side and then handed Skye some green leaves. “Mint. Chew them. Your breath should always be fragrant and your teeth clean. All of our women are perfection. That is what makes them famous, and justly so. We are not common street trulls to be had for a few sequins.” Yasmin carefully laid out several bottles on the carpet. “Musk, ambergris, attar of roses. All of our perfumes have one of these as a base.” She uncorked them and held each out so Skye might smell. “Which do you prefer?”
“The roses.”
“Good! I would have chosen that one for you myself. Though my lord Khalid tells me that you are not a virgin, there is an air of innocence about you that we will concentrate upon. It appeals to many men. I will use the attar of roses to demonstrate.” She stood up and, taking the stopper between her thumb and forefinger, stroked it generously between the deep valley of her breasts. Carefully lifting each of the heavy globes, she perfumed beneath them. Next the stopper touched the base of her throat, the back of her neck, the soft spots behind her ears. Then came her wrists, beneath her arms, and in the blue-veined hollows of her inner arm. Yasmin dipped the stopper again and touched it to her navel, the backs of her legs, her ankles, the arches of her feet, and her Venus mound. “You must go lightly here,” she explained, “for men sometimes enjoy the sweet taste of a woman, and that should not be overwhelmed by another scent.”
Skye appeared puzzled, and Yasmin gazed at her enviously. “You really don’t remember, do you?” she said. “Allah, how I envy you! It will be like the first time again for you, but without the pain of virginity.”Then catching herself, she handed Skye the attar of roses and said brusquely, “Let me see you do it now.”
Carefully Skye imitated her teacher, and when she had finished she looked expectantly toward Yasmin.
“You have forgotten one area,” said Yasmin, taking the bottle stopper from her student. Cupping one of Skye’s breasts, she dotted the scent beneath it.
“Don’t!”
To the older woman’s surprise, Skye’s face was drained of color, her body stiff. Her eyes held horror. Yasmin was genuinely frightened. “What is it, Skye?! Are you all right?”
Slowly the fear drained from the younger woman’s eyes, and she said, bewildered, “I don’t believe I like being touched by another woman.”
“What do you remember, Skye?”
“Nothing. I remember nothing, but when you touched me …” She shivered with genuine revulsion.
Yasmin was concerned. What if Skye didn’t like being touched by men either? She could hardly be a successful whore then, and Khalid el Bey’s investment would be lost. Normally Yasmin would not have introduced the subject of male anatomy until a later lesson, but she felt she must know before she went any further. If the girl was emotionally unstable she should be disposed of now. Yasmin clapped her hands and said to the answering slave girl, “Fetch my new eunuch, Ali.”
Then, turning to Skye, she said, “There are two ways to geld a male. If it is done when they are young, all is removed. But the mortality rate is high. The other way is to remove the male’s seed sac, but leave the rod. We buy only that kind of eunuch, for they are better-natured. They are also invaluable in teaching our girls the things they must learn about a man’s body. Ah, Ali, come in! Come in! Skye, this is Ali. Is he not beautiful?”
The young man flushed. Skye let her eyes slide over him. He was indeed good-looking, tall, with softly golden skin, dark curly hair, and liquid brown eyes. “He is gorgeous, Yasmin. You are indeed fortunate.”
Yasmin smiled smugly, then said sharply to the man, “Ali, disrobe!” She looked quickly to see the effect this would have on Skye. Would she faint? Was she fearful? The eunuch undid his long robe and, removing it, laid it carefully on a chair. Then he stood straight, awaiting further instruction. Yasmin glanced toward Skye. “What do you think of him?”
The younger woman looked puzzled. “As I have said, Yasmin, he is gorgeous.”
“His nakedness does not offend you, or frighten you?”
“No, should it?”
“No, but some women are fearful nonetheless. Now, Skye, I want you to go to Ali, put your arms about him, and press your body to his.”
Skye did as Yasmin commanded, sliding her arms around the eunuch’s neck, rubbing instinctively in a very provocative way against the young man’s soft body. He shuddered, nuzzled her ear, squeezed one of her buttocks, then cupped a breast in his hand. Her eyes grew dark with desire, and she swayed slightly.
“Mistress!” Ali’s voice was pleading, and Yasmin laughed. She had learned what she needed to know. Skye might dislike a woman’s touch but she enjoyed a man’s. The lessons could continue. Without giving Ali another thought, she dismissed him. He fled, gathering his robe.
“What a funny creature,” Skye observed. “Didn’t he like me?”
Yasmin laughed again. “He liked you very much, and had you been alone he might have made love to you. I will allow him to do so when you have more knowledge. We use these young eunuchs for that purpose, as we can hardly practice technique on our gentlemen.” She looked candidly at Skye. “You’re a good student, but that is all we will do today. I will come tomorrow at the same time.”
After Yasmin had dressed and gone, Skye sat quietly for a few minutes. Then her hands crept upward to cup her own breasts. Gently she caressed her body and was amazed to see her nipples harden. She thought about what it would be like to have a man stroke her, and felt a tingling between her legs. It was all so pleasurable. What other lovely things had her cursed memory wiped away? Sighing, she stretched naked on the cushions and fell asleep.
That evening Khalid el Bey sent for Skye. She was fresh from the baths and had just finished perfuming herself. Sliding a lightweight wisteria-colored silk caftan over her body, she ran barefoot through the short, carpeted hallway that separated her room from his apartments.
“How lovely you are!” he said as she entered the room. He noted the sheen of her skin and the way her midnight-colored hair curled in damp tendrils about her face. “Yasmin tells me your lessons went well. She feels you have a talent and will progress quickly. She is pleased with you, and therefore I am pleased.”
Her face became radiant. “I want to please you, my lord Khalid! Without you I should be nothing.”
His big hand cupped her chin, and his dark eyes looked into her blue ones. “I do not think so, my little lost bird. I do not think so.” Then smiling, he asked gently, “What have you learned?”
