that is what makes him vulnerable. Allow him to think that he already has."
"Yeah, but," Damali said, feeling a little unsure. "Even as crazy as he is, this brother ain't no joke in that department."
"Good," Nefertiti said quickly. "If he's adept and handsome, that will make it easier for you, not more difficult, darling. Then your responses won't be fraudulent, which any seasoned male can detect. Relax, allow him to taste your mouth, caress your skin, and unpin your hair to let his fingers luxuriate in it. Let him see your skin pebble from his attention. Let him know by the way you press against him and breathe out his name that he has aroused you. When we began this lesson, I said not to lie."
"Okay, but stop right there. When I get home," Damali said, now talking with her hands, "Carlos--"
"Only needs to know the truth," Nefertiti said, folding her arms with a smile. "That you had a very treacherous, very delicate negotiation to handle in order to get back the Caduceus."
Nefertiti unfolded her arms, leaned forward, and closed her eyes, sending her voice into a frenzied panic. "It was frightening. Your heart was in your mouth the entire time. Sweat broke out on your brow, your hands had white knuckles." Nefertiti winked at Damali again as she excitedly mimicked the script Damali was to follow.
Nefertiti began waving her arms about. "With your graceful palm over your heart, you tell him you almost didn't know what to do. Cain nearly attacked you--you had to think fast on your feet and get out of there before it was too late! Oh! Tears were in your eyes, it was so . . ." Nefertiti settled back into her throne and allowed her voice to lower to a calm whisper as her hands found the armrests, "And then let your words trail off."
Nzinga stood, walked in a circle, and sat back down again. "She's the master, Damali. Listen to every word this queen has to say!"
Damali only shook her head as the young girls worked on her feet.
"You never, ever, ever tell your man about some of the feminine wiles required to negotiate a deal," Nefertiti said, wagging a finger at Damali. "His ego remaining intact is paramount to being able to work around him, through him, over him, at will. Ten years from now, the story remains the same, etched into granite. If they ever learn that you pulled this on them, poof, the magic is gone. Even Cain needs to think this was all an accident. You got so thoroughly aroused, lost your head, became conflicted, and had to leave because you were so overwrought. Neva let 'em see you work."
"Queen . . ." Damali whispered, "you are da bomb."
For a moment the entire chamber went still. There was so much respect for the science Nefertiti was dropping that not even Aset flinched. "You are going to dance for this man," Nefertiti said with quiet authority. She held up her hand when Damali began to protest. "The seven veils."
"Oh, my God... I can't. Queen--"
"You can, and you will, because he is from the Old World!" Nefertiti exclaimed, slapping a flat palm on the throne armrest. "He is particularly sensitive to music. You will begin swaying as you keep your physical distance from him. You will walk around his sensory pool, your eyelids heavy, your breathing stilted, and then you will look up with an expression that will devastate him, and you will admit that a song, just for him, is torturing your mind. Pick one that you did, indeed, compose for him earlier--that way, the statement is still not a he. Then sing it. right there in his bedchamber for him, undulate to the sound of your voice as it echoes off his marble walls, and shred a veil at each stanza, until he's vibrating."
The suggestion was so hot that Damali wiped her brow.
"I want him to feel this from across the room," Nefertiti said, raising her voice. "I want him to crave it!"
"Okay, okay, okay, I can sing, do a stage performance, I guess. Only thing is, once all the veils are gone . . ."
Nefertiti let her breath out hard in clear exasperation. "You'll cut out his heart when he sees the tattoo."
Damali stood, almost toppling the two girls who were working on her. "What tattoo?"
Aset's mouth opened and closed. Nzinga raked her hair and stared at the floor.
"She's gone over the top," Nzinga said, chuckling. "Queen?" Damali