“Not at all,” Rabah said. “But in the world as it is, we women must practice a little caution.” She hesitated a moment. “Could it be that Your Highness is afraid of a man’s love?” Rabah knew that Oma had been raised among women; the only men she saw were eunuchs, some of her tutors, and her father. Some trepidation on her part would be perfectly natural.
“I’ve never tried any men, of course,” Oma said. “A princess’s maidenhead is a valuable commodity, and I’m not going to throw it away on a whim.”
“If you’ll accept my word for now, the love of a man can be just as exciting as the love of a woman,” Rabah told her.
“Thank you. I’ll look forward to it. But may Oromasd grant that my first experience not be with Prince Haroun.”
Rabah’s strong hands manipulated the muscles of Oma’s back, rel
