Disclaimer: This story may contain scenes of a graphical nature that may not be legal in your area. If you are under 18, or if material of this nature is illegal in your present location, please leave now. By reading on, you are confirming that it is legal for you to view the material in this story.
This story is a work of pure fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental, and no harm or slanderous intent is implied or intentional.
Unsafe sexual practices can be undertaken with impunity only in the world of fantasy. In reality, it is both your obligation and your right to play safely, sanely and healthily. I hope you enjoy my work, and if you have any comments, or ideas that may inspire new work, please feel free to contact me - all e-mails will be answered to the best of my ability.
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He walked into the smoke filled cafe and looked around. He was looking for one of the many Arab shop owners that infested this area of the town. Not seeing him he looked around for a place to sit or a face he just might know. However there was little chance of that here. There were no women here, just men. They were mostly older men who owned or rented the small shops that made up the Arab Shuk area of the city. Here and there one could see a few younger men, but all of them were olive-skinned middle-easterners.
He stuck out like a sore thumb. His blue eyes and blond hair were so out of place and unusual here. At twenty years old, he looked sixteen, maybe seventeen at the most. Besides his white skin and flaxen hair, his dress was a dead giveaway that he was a stranger to these parts. Most, if not all the men were dressed in the Jalabiya, those flowing robes that in colder weather were used as a outer covering but in the heat of this season many preferred to just wear the ornate garment over their bare skin or maybe use white briefs under it. All had some type of head covering. Dexter, that was his name, on the other hand was dressed in tight jeans and an undersize white "T" shirt that was fighting a loosing battle to cover his slim trim body. He had on a pair of black loafers but no socks. Weighing in at about 150 lbs he was really in good shape and ordinarily he moved with the grace of a gazelle. He was a good-looking young man even if he was out of place here.
A deafening calm descended on the room as the merchants, who were on their afternoon break, stopped their conversations and apprised the newcomer. At this time of day it was impossible to find a small shop in the area that was open for business. During the hours of one to five, following the customs in a great many Levantine countries, these shop owners took a few hours rest. Except for the few cafes and coffee shops, these people just did not like to do business during the heat of the day. They either went home to sleep or sat around in small cafes talking and smoking until it was time to open up their places of businesses again.
Well most but not all of them.... Some of the more affluent merchants might spend a few hours in one of the better brothels in the area. Places where for a price you could buy the services of a male or female companion for the afternoon. Some of the more expensive establishments provided beautiful female and/or handsome male belly dancers that enticed the patrons who sat around low tables sipping steaming cups of coffee while they took long drags of hashish on the hooker water pipes that were made available. After the dancers had aroused their sexual appetites, they would choose a companion or two from the establishment's prostitutes and use the provided rooms for their pleasure.
Looking around the cafe room for the merchant he wanted and unable to find him, Dexter started to leave. As he turned to go a waiter asked if he was looking for anyone in particular.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I'm looking for Mr. Marook the owner of Marook's Rug and Antiques Shop." Dexter said.
"He is home sick today, but his nephew is here running the store for him and maybe he can help you." The waiter said as he took him by his forearm and guided him to a small table at which sat a well-developed man of about thirty. Putting down his cup of Turkish coffee he raised his dark eyes, smiled and looked up into the white face standing before him and said, "Yes is there anything I can do for you?"
"Well I hope that you can," said Dexter. After introducing himself, he said, "I was passing your uncle's store and a few things in the window caught my eye."
"Salam, please sit down and join me. My name is Achmed. My Uncle is sick and I am running his establishment for a few weeks. What is it that you saw?" he said, knowing full well that his uncle seldom sold what was shown in the windows. He used them as "Bait and Switch" items to entice customers into the store where he would try to sell them cheaper goods at a very high price.
"I was interested in a few of the Mid-eastern items. A nice rug and some low tables and that Turkish coffee maker and the cups for starters." Dexter said.
"Yes I think I know the pieces you want -- they are very expensive. The coffee set alone is well over $900. Are you sure you can afford such expensive and rare items?"
"900, that is steep, but then perhaps if I were to add a few items you might be able to do a little better on the price." Dexter said knowing the mid-eastern love of bargaining.
"Ahhhhh yes you like to drive a hard bargain." Achmed said rubbing his hands together. "Are you sure that there is not a small amount of Arab blood in your family history?"