FICTION

                                                               NAKED

  Sheba sighed as she spread herself on the chaise longue. She was bored and she hated it. She had always loved drama in her life but since she had married Uri, she had lived a dreary boring life. Uri was…reliable and boring…and he was way older than her; a fact that her father had conveniently overlooked.

      Besides, he was always gone. He was a soldier conscripted in the kings’ army and was always out to fight one war or the other. He forgot that she had needs. Uri was a good man but had no excitement. He definitely wasn’t the love of her life.

  Her wedding day had not been anything that she had dreamed. She had always had a mental picture of her husband and well…Uri didn’t fit that description.

   There had been that one man she had secretly admired…the one man that had never looked her way twice; a man that was as handsome as he was powerful, a man that was unavailable.

   Sheba roused herself from her daydream; it was useless to think about such things. She was married now to a…convenient and reliable man. And that was the way it was going to remain.

   She needed to have her afternoon bath, and she suddenly had an idea. She hadn’t done it in a long while; in fact she hadn’t done it since she was a teenager. She didn’t know if Uri would approve but what did it matter? He was off to war again.

   She stood up and made her way to her bedroom.

***

 He was bored again. At times like this; he wished he could unrobe and be a normal citizen again. The palace was quiet. His soldiers were off to war and he had dismissed his servants to their quarters. His wives were in their quarters. Everywhere seemed deserted except for his personal attendants.

   He decided to take walk around the palace. He wished he had news from those at the war front; something exciting to spice up his otherwise boring day. Better still, he wished he could be at the war front, fighting alongside his men.

       The palace grounds had never been more beautiful. Its serenity intrigued him. A perfect time to explore…

***

She and Uri lived in the quarters provided for soldiers. The houses there were beautiful and private; the surroundings were perfect to bathe. A cool bathe in the sun; basking in the gift of nature. No one to disturb, she was alone with her thoughts. A great way to unwind and thank God for her good fortune. Uri was a good man; maybe too good for her…and she was lucky to have him.

   She made her way to the small fountain that graced their premises and after taking one last look at her quiet surroundings, she threw off her robe.

   She gasped in delight as the fresh air caressed her bare skin. Oh…it felt great. The weather was just perfect to bathe. She raised her head and shut her eyes, enjoying the wind against her face.

***

He had succeeded in parading the lower side of the palace and soon he moved to the balcony; he had always enjoyed the view from this place. It felt like he was looking over his kingdom. He still couldn’t believe how far his God had brought him…from a poor shepherd boy to a king over this people. It could only be the handwork of the Most High God and he never ceased thanking Him for everything he had.

       He leaned over the balcony and…stopped. At first he thought he was seeing an apparition, a mirage…something to taunt him. Down there, in the soldiers’ quarters stood the most beautiful woman he had ever set eyes on and she was naked.  Her head was tilted back and her eyes were shut, her action was innocent yet so provocative. Even from the distance he could see that her breasts were well-rounded and firm. Her body was enticing. The king felt the blood rush to his head; he knew he should turn away and forget what he had seen. The woman was obviously enjoying a very private moment, one he wasn’t invited to witness. But he couldn’t look away. Not now.

   He froze as the woman opened her eyes.

***

Sheba wished she could remain that way forever, her nose breathing in the cool fresh air. Suddenly, she had the sense that she was being watched. The hairs on the back of her neck stood and she opened her eyes.

  Immediately, she saw him. Their eyes locked and even from the distance, the eyes that looked back at her spoke volumes. She knew she should have looked away then but she couldn’t seem to bring herself to look away from those mesmerizing eyes.

 Excitement…

The word rang in her ears as she stared at the man she had always dreamed to be with; her secret crush. The king, the man her husband served.

 With all the effort she could muster Sheba drew her eyes away from his and scooped up her robe and dashed inside the house.

The king had been staring at her and Sheba recognized a look in his eyes that she had never seen in her husband’s. Pure lust.  And for some reason, she liked it.

***

David was furious with himself. The woman had caught him staring at her. What surprised him though was that she had returned his look. She had not shied away like some virgin. She had looked right back and that excited him in an odd way.

        He returned into the palace and beckoned on one of his personal attendants. He had to find out who she was.

“My Lord…she’s Sheba. Uri’s wife.” His attendant informed him.

“Get her for me.” David ordered, ignoring the questioning look in his attendant’s eyes.

***

He thinks I’m attractive…

Sheba was still recovering from her brief escapade with the king when there was a knock on her door.

 She braced herself, wondering who it was. Deep down she had a guess about who could be at the door…

The palace attendant wore a strict look on his face while delivering his message.

Sheba felt a tingle go down her spine as she heard his words. The king had summoned her.

“Give me a moment, please.” She replied.

 She re-entered her house and did something that surprised even her…she applied some makeup, perfume herself and brushed her hair.

What am I doing? She asked herself. What do I expect to happen?

  Excitement…

 She shivered as the words clouded her mind.

***

When she arrived, he couldn’t decide whether she looked better with or without clothes. He just came to one conclusion…she was stunningly beautiful.

      And another man’s wife…a small voice reminded him.

He brushed the thought aside and turned to her, putting out his hands…

“You’re beautiful, fair maiden.” He said. “I’m sorry but I couldn’t help staring.”

She blushed. “My Lord…who am I to grace your chambers?”

“Come…” He beckoned to her.

She moved towards him.