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other courtesans. Maybe she could figure out who had spread those vicious rumors about her. But in a short half-hour, all her desserts were gone. Even the man who'd snubbed her last night had smiled at her as he took two sweetmeats.
       Kaliq appeared at her station, disappointment clear in his expressive eyes. ―I should have followed Kamal's lead and gotten dessert first.‖
       ―There's another food competition on the last night,‖ Eden told him.
       ―If my brother and I are fortunate enough to be seated at your table.‖
       ―A polite way of saying if you buy me,‖ s he said before she thought. She truly did not want to alienate either one of them.
       He took her elbow and, as she had with his brother, she felt a subdued jolt of lust. ―Sit with me. And don't tell me you can't. Your sisters are
    sitting with other men.‖
       ―We call each other cousin.‖ She allowed him to lead her to his empty table.
       ―My brother had time alone with you last night.‖
       ―You could have had the same time, Kaliq.‖ She wanted to ask him where he'd gone, but didn't. Perhaps he'd heard the rumors regarding her virginity and had decided he wanted someone else. She didn't know how she felt about that.
       Pulling out a chair, he seated her before he sat. The old-fashioned courtesy pleased her.
       ―I had some business to tend.‖
       ―You needn't explain.‖ Realizing she intended to ask him to explain the lust she felt whenever they touched, she laughed.
       As if he'd read her mind he said, ―Ask away. I don't mind if you don't mind my not answering.‖
       ―Are you and Kamal in business together?‖ That seemed an innocuous beginning.
       ―Yes.‖
       The twinkle in his green eyes made her laugh. ―I should have asked a different way. What business are you in?‖
       ―We collect things.‖
       ―Such as?‖
       ―Rare and beautiful things.‖
       Sensing a compliment in the evasive answer, Eden lowered her gaze to the table. His sunbronzed hand lay within easy reach. Temping reach. She looked up again. Straight into his steady emerald gaze. His eyes were lighter than his brother's, but had the same effect, bringing images of fetid jungle heat and humidity. Of bodies joined, their sweat, sighs and groans mingling. Scents more pleasant than any swamp— not sandalwood, but something fresh and musky and uniquely Kaliq.
       ―Where are you from?‖ she managed at last, licking her lips and imagining their salty sweat on her tongue.
       Licking his own lips as if he'd shared her thoughts, he said, ―We call no place home as yet.‖
       ―Evasiveness seems a family trait.‖ A horrible thought popped into her mind and out her mouth. ―Is your business illegal?‖
       ―No!‖ He sounded as horrified as she felt. ―The things we collect we pay or trade for. Sometimes sellers realize they've sold something priceless too cheaply. They may resent us, but their lack of vision isn't our problem.‖
       ―Has anyone come after you or claimed you cheated him?‖
       ―We're not thieves, Eden.‖
       ―I didn't—maybe I did mean that. But who am I to criticize? Many men call women like me whores.‖
       ―Kamal and I aren't among them.‖ He took her hand.
       Under the jolt of lust, she felt tenderness and acceptance—emotions so unexpected tears burned her eyes.
       Seeing Kamal approaching, she bade Kaliq a hasty goodnight. She needed time to sort through her feelings—feelings she'd never thought to have about the man who bought her.

    Chapter Five

    The Third Competition

    Eden perched on a stool in the middle of the stage, her lute on her lap. A gauzy screen hid all but her silhouette from her audience of forty men. Tante had insisted that, for tonight at least, the women have complete anonymity. Forty men, Eden thought, feeling like Ali Baba among his forty thieves. Perhaps she should feel more like Scheherazade,