Page 28 of Margins of Love
“You need to tup her.” Fave rolled his eyes at Arnold’s morning randiness. His beloved cousin had no self-control when it came to pretty girls.
Fave swung his saber over his shoulder and pointed it at his cousin with a warning grin.
Arnold was immune, he knew Fave too well, and continued unimpeded. “You’ll see, as you pump away, all this tension will give way to clarity.” Arnold performed a bestial dance that provoked Fave even more. He should have never told Arnold what had happened under the willow’s shroud of privacy.
“Do not,” he hissed through clenched teeth, “speak of Rachel in this manner.” He held the saber horizontally to Arnold’s neck as his eyes widened.
Fave was not sure what had gotten into him and how he could possibly threaten his beloved cousin, his best friend, his only friend, because of a girl. But there he was. His rage pulsed through his veins, bulging in his neck, sending beads of sweat dripping from his forehead.
“I am most definitely not going to help you with the gem now, Cous,” Arnold said.
Fave dropped the saber and looked at his hands. He had gone too far by threatening Arnold. His closest friend, his cousin. They were groomed to take over the business one day. How could they work together if they were always competing? Even though Arnold’s last name was Ehrlich, they were like brothers.
And yet, Arnold had irked him, making him feel like a tiger whose fur was brushed against the growth. But he could neither fathom besmirching Rachel’s honor, nor her virtue. She was far too precious.
“I am sorry,” he whispered more to himself than to Arnold.
“Rejected,” Arnold spat as he took off his gloves.
Fave exhaled his guilt. He felt dirty for thinking the thoughts in his mind. Dirty for what he had done the night before to release the tension and fall asleep.
“I… ehm… just don’t know what’s next.”
“What’s next?” Arnold raised a brow, at a loss with Fave’s mood swings.
“I have never… I mean… I want to…”
Arnold tilted his head forgivingly and caught Fave’s gaze. “Did you kiss the chit?”
Fave roared and pushed Arnold. “She’s a lady, not a chit. She is brilliant and you are besmirching her with your crude language.” He clenched his teeth and every muscle in his face bulged against his skin.
Arnold pulled his head backward as understanding clouded his goofiness. “Wooohoooo, Cous, you have fallen quite deeply…”
“Argh…” Fave growled. “I don’t know what to do next. Stop poking fun at me, it’s notfunny.”
Arnold chuckled in mirth. He seemed to enjoy Fave’s helplessness tremendously. “It is quite obvious what’s next.” He nodded as he looked down at Fave, who was only about one inch shorter and still of respectable height.
“No, it’s not obvious. It’s not next. And it’s not fair! I am betrothed. I am a betrothed Cohen. I… argh!”
Arnold laughed out loud. “You are frustrated, Cous.”
“Of course, I am frustrated!” Fave yelled.
“No, not that. You are sexually frustrated. You know… tupping and all.” Arnold made some more dance motions that Fave did not appreciate in the least.
Fave was looking at Arnold for help. He could not bring himself to ask, but the message was clear:What do I do now?
“Alright, alright. I will stop.” But Arnold kept laughing, then rubbed his forehead with the back of his palm. “So you kissed her?”
Fave nodded.
“And then what?” Arnold asked impishly.
“Nothing happened next.”
Arnold looked around as if hoping for some intervention, but they were obviously alone. “Cous, you have kissed other women before, haven’t you?”
“It was not the same. Never like this. Never this…” Fave searched for the right word, “intense.” The moment of the jasmine infused kiss filled his mind. He closed his eyes for a moment and thought of Rachel’s hot mouth on his. His body tensed. It had become painful.
