fingers could bring an impotent man to a?firm and long-lasting erection. She could sing while accompanying?herself on the lute. She danced well. And after several weeks in?Khalid el Bey’s bed, she found that she performed very well there?too.
Then one night Khalid el Bey had several guests in for the eve-?ning, and when the meal was done she danced for the company.?Afterward he sent her to her room, telling her that perhaps one or?two of his guests might visit her and if they did she was to please?them for that would please him. In fact four of Khalid el Bey’s?guests came to her spacious quarters that night, and with each she?was soft and charming and skilled. They left singing her praises,?and Khalid el Bey rewarded his slave girl with a strand of coral?beads. The next night and the night after and almost every other?night after that, Yasmin pleasured her master’s friends. Then another?girl, Alyia, joined their household. Where Yasmin was fair, Alyia?had skin like a dusky rose, thick and waving hair the color of a? raven’s wing, enormous brown eyes, and a pouting red mouth. To?Yasmin’s fury, Alyia shared their master’s bed for several weeks.?But then she too joined the Circassian in entertaining Khalid el Bey’s?friends.
Several months later, Khalid el Bey left his two women in the?hands of his friend, the slave merchant. He made a quick trip, and?returned several weeks later with two more girls. He moved them?all to the city of Algiers.
They were installed in a small, beautifully appointed house, and?every night Khalid el Bey’s women entertained a variety of guests?ranging from wealthy visitors to Turkish officers of the Imperial?Ottoman Army who were stationed in Algiers. Within a year Khalid?el Bey owned twenty beautiful women and a larger house. At the?end of two years he owned fifty beautiful women who lived in two?houses, and he had begun the construction of his present villa. When?the third year drew to a close the villa was finished, and Khalid el?Bey was the undisputed Whoremaster of Algiers. Two things were?constant. Yasmin remained the head of Khalid el Bey’s women,?gradually becoming less of a courtesan and more of an administrator?and manager. And, there was not a girl who entered Khalid el Bey’s?service who was not first tried by him. It gave each of them a close?touch with their master, for during the time they served him per-?sonally he loved and cherished them. He had never used force to?bend a women to his will. Consequently his women all adored him.
With Skye he saw his greatest challenge. With the proper training?she could become the finest whore he’d ever owned. Unlike the?others, who all cherished the secret dream of being bought and?married by one of their customers, Skye would have no such hopes?as she had no knowledge of marriage. And if, as he hoped, she?proved totally uninhibited, she could be taught some more exotic?forms of lovemaking that would command a very high price.
The more he thought of her the more curious he became. Many times he had observed her secretly in the bath and in her bedchamber.?Her figure was as lovely as her coloring, but it was her skin that?intrigued him. It was flawless. Utterly flawless. Smooth, beautiful?skin the color of rich cream, or was it old ivory silk? He longed to? touch it with his sensitive fingers, his lips. Would it be soft? Yes,?undoubtedly it would be soft. Would it be soft and warm beneath?his mouth, or would it be cool and smooth? He shivered in antici-?pation. Although he enjoyed his women, it had been a long time?since he had actually looked forward to one, and it would be several?weeks until he could even consider sampling Skye’s charms. He?sighed, and went to his bedchamber. Perhaps the little houri who?was to be his partner tonight could ease some of his longings.
At midmorning on the following day Yasmin began Skye’s les-?sons in love. She looked with dislike on the young woman she?intuitively knew to be the most serious rival she had ever had for?Khalid’s affections. Still, she reasoned, the sooner Skye was taught?what she needed to know, the sooner she’d be out of Khalid’s villa.?And Skye must be taught well, for then Khalid would be pleased.
“Disrobe for me,” commanded Yasmin, and when Skye quickly?complied, her caftan dropping to the floor, Yasmin scolded, “No!?No! You show all the sensuousness of a donkey! Let me show you.”?And her fingers undid the frog closings on her pink caftan as grace-?fully as if she’d been playing a musical instrument. Turning, she? gently shrugged the garment from her shoulders, exposing her?smooth fair skin. Slowly, slowly, she allowed the garment to slide?downward, revealing the line of her back, her plump round buttocks,?her legs. Then she turned to face Skye. Her breasts were big, but?firm. Sliding to her knees, her head bent to touch the floor and she?murmured huskily, “As my lord commands.”
Then suddenly Yasmin stood up briskly and said matter-of-factly,?”That is how to disrobe properly. You try it.”
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 fright-?ened. “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, dis-?robe!” 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?”
