I went in trepidation to his room, wondering why he brought me there and not to the single night room. Only his first wife was allowed here, and that was only to clean the room. When I arrived he was sitting at his desk, his elbow on the desk and he was holding his temples with that hand, a worried frown on his handsome face.

I put my small bundle of clothes down, that I was suggested to take with me, in a out of the way and out of sight place in the room. I then went silently over and started giving Solomon a neck rub. He jumped initially to my touch, and glanced to see who it was before relaxing into my touch.

"Oh, it's you," he said affectionately, grabbing my right hand and kissing it, "Sorry for not noticing you, I am working out what to do with this issue."

"What issue is that, my Lord?" I ask taking my hand back so I could continue relieving his stress.

He stopped frowning then, and turned his mesmerizingly clear eyes on me, "It doesn't matter, nothing matters compared to knowing and being with you."

My breath caught then, Be still my heart, stay here feet.

I found myself saying, "You flatter my, my Lord." While I dropped my eyes from his gaze, as I could feel myself needing to breathe, and looking at him like this, I had quite forgotten how too.

"Call me Solomon," he said with a chuckle, "What would you like me to call you? I can't exactly keep calling you the wife who runs away from me,  now can I?"

"I would have thought that you knew my name already," I shot back, not believing for an instant that he didn't know it.

He laughed then at my spunk, "You are right, I do know it, but I wanted to hear you say your name. After all, I plan on having you stay here for some time."

I was flummoxed by his statement, what does he mean, he plans on having me there for sometime?  The confusion must have shown on my face as he added, "I would like to get to know you better, as I have heard only good things about you from Mina and your sister. Not to mention you keep running away on me before I get two words out. I think that I could handle you being here."

I was stunned. Solomon never wanted his wives in his room, I was a first, or perhaps a second as his first ever wife must have shared his room with him at the start of their marriage.

"So tell me, what is your name?" Solomon repeated his question.

"Amari, my name is Amari," I say quietly.

"So you will be my strength and you were promised by God," Solomon mentioned the two meanings of my name in one hit, "Promised to do what though? Torment me?"

"Never that, my Lord!" I say in horror, lifting my arms up and waved them side to side, in objection to his remark.

"Solomon, call me Solomon," he gently chided me, "You have that right you know. You are my wife."

I hung my head, "What would you like of me Solomon?" I ask, still not sure on what or why he wanted me. Me, of all people, what did I do to catch his attention?

"Just be here is enough for me. If you could make sure that I have food and drink while I do this, I would appreciate it," He said looking back at the work on his desk, "But what would you have of me?"

I wondered at that question, What would I have of him? Nothing comes to mind despite my obvious reaction to him. How does a man ooze so much sex appeal? ...He's gorgeous, and kind...everything a girl... no... woman... wants. I know that he has 699 other wives, so why do I want to be his only? That is not fair to anyone. This train of thought isn't getting me anywhere. 

I remembered then that he had been holding classes to teach the young men of his  wisdom. I really wanted to hear it, even if I did not agree, Perhaps I can learn more of his God thought this...

I must have taken awhile as he had gone back to the scroll on his desk and was writing on it.

"Solomon," I say, to gain his attention, and I succeeded, his enchanting eyes falling on me.

"Yes my love?" he replied.

"I would have you let me listen in on your lessons," I said bravely, fully expecting a rebuff to my request.

"Is that it?" he asked, confusion flickering across his face, "You want to listen to those boring lessons?"

"I am sure they are not boring, and yes! Yes, I do want to listen to them and that is all I can think of to ask for, I have no need of anything else," I sigh dreaming of being able to listen to his magical voice for the hour of teaching he had committed to each week.

He smiled then, a kind gentle smile,"Then Amari, you shall have your wish. There is a screened spot in the room behind one of the pillars where the maids prepare food for the end of the session, you can listen there."

"Thank you, my lor.." I swallowed the word as he looked ever so slightly annoyed at me calling him this, "Solomon!" I correct myself, earning me one of his beautiful grins.

"That's better Amari," he praised me, "I will be awhile longer with this. Please go rest on my bed."

As I was wrung out, I did as he suggested and curled up into a ball at the bottom of his bed,  taking as little room as possible on it. Even though he said to rest and he meant me to relax properly on the bed, I could not. I did fall asleep in that position.

I vaguely remember sometime in the night, Solomon picking me up, carrying me, placing me down on the bed and straightening out my limbs so that I could sleep next to him properly.

"Funny girl," He said gently to me in my half asleep state, "this is your bed too now, sleep in it properly, or how am I supposed to sleep knowing that you are like a cat curled up to sleep on the bottom of my bed. That could not have been comfortable. You're here now, so remember this is how I want you to sleep."and with that wrapped his arms around me spooning me.

It was nice and comforting that feeling of him around me. So I relaxed into a deeper sleep. I did not even wake when Solomon had woken early and left on another errand. Leaving me surprised. Weren't we supposed to have sex? He was with my sister last night, wasn't I good enough for him to do this with?

I should have known though, Solomon indeed did want me, but he was waiting for me to be ready for that side. I found out later he hated taking young brides like he had me the first time. But it was a necessity for the union to be official. Some of his wives he was with only the once as there was a clear dislike of the situation by the wife. Solomon always did what was right by his wives, as he loved us all in his own way, if that meant leaving us alone, he would. My situation was a little different to my sisters. My sister had that choice, I did not. We were one of the few wives that were like this, though. Most wives were sent with trusted attendants, who ended up usually being Solomon's concubines.

Solomon had left me a note on my bedside table with some fruit and cheeses for breakfast.

"To my beautiful Amari,

I wanted nothing more than to wake and be with you,

but I do not get the idea that you are ready for me yet, 

so I will wait for you to be ready, jewel of my heart.

All my love

Solomon."

I smiled, holding his letter to my chest, He wants me! But better yet, when I am ready for him. Praise God! God knows I am still not ready for that! And, better yet he gave me permission to listen to his words! Praise God! I get to hear his wisdom first hand!"

 I realised then that I was late to start my chores, so I scrambled up, made Solomons bed, tidied his room and quickly got dressed, hurrying to where I would meet Mina for breakfast and commencing the chores for the day.

Mina smiled in welcome, bursting with curiosity, "How was it, Amari? Was it good? What was his room like? We as his wives are not usually allowed in there, he only allows the male attendants there."

"We slept," I answered her.

"Slept??? Is that all?" Mina exclaimed, "Girl, you do not know what you are missing out on. How could you deny him his right?"

"I didn't," I defended myself, "I went fully expecting to have to give myself to him, but he did not take me."

Mina's eyes widened in surprise, "Ohhhh, so that's why he went to the princess. You are lucky!"

"Lucky? Lucky, how? why?" I answered.

"He is waiting for you to be ready, he does not afford that to most of us, mind you he doesn't need to. I mean, have you seen our husband?" Mina drooled at the memory of him, then shook herself back to focus.

"I have, he kind of takes our breath away, doesn't he?" I admit to her that I was attracted to him....really attracted, but it did not stop the hesitancy I felt. Why would Solomon want me when he had 699 other wives and 300 concubines? I was just a girl living in my sisters shadow. 

One of the younger, other wives, came running out of breath, "Amari! Mina! Solomon want's you!"

"Why? What is this about?" asked Mina, instantly concerned, Solomon never sent for his wives like this.

"I do not know but it has something to do with his room," the woman uttered, "His first wife is there and she looks upset."

So, we hurried off to see him. We headed straight to his room as this seemed the most likely of spots for him to be. As we approached I overheard his first wife say, "But Solomon, this is the only duty that has been wholly mine, and you want to take it from me?"

Solomon apologized to her, "I am sorry Abishag, but I have someone sleeping with me now and I would like her to clean it with her friend."

"I could be your bed warmer Solomon," Abishag said, "I was David's. You know you only married me to stop your brother's claim to the throne."

"I am sorry Abishag, truly sorry," Solomon said with deep sadness to his face, but upon seeing Mina and I his face lit up like Hanika candles, "Mina! Amari! I am glad you are here. This is my first wife Abishag, she use to clean my room, from now on though, I would like you to. If that is ok with you?"

Mina nodded with stars (or was it hearts?) in her eyes, "No problem Solomon!" She said.

I was not so willing, as I was worried about Abishag. I looked to Abishag, and asked her, "Is that ok with you?"

Abishag nodded with tears in her eyes, "It is what Solomon wants, I am just his servant in all things."

I look at Solomon then and find his gaze looking at me expectantly, my breath hitched again as I was still not use to the effect he had on me, "I will do my best, my Lord." I finally mutter lowering my eyes and curtsying to him.

I raise my eyes to his and find an amused look in them, "That's all I ask of you!" he replied looking at me and then looking at as all with the next sentence, "I will leave you beautiful ladies now to do just that!" and with that he left.

I look again at Abishag, "Are you sure that you are ok with this?" I question her.

"I am" she smiled, "In truth it was getting abit much for me by myself, but there are two of you so you will be fine!"

"Abishag?" I ask her one more time.

"Yes, child?"

"Would you please teach us to clean his room to how he like it?" I ask, thinking that this would give her time to say goodbye to the job she had been maintaining for years.

"I would love to!" She smiled and took us into the room and began to show us the intricate things she did for him.

I was glad I asked her as what she did was a far cry from what we did to clean the harem. It was much more detailed and personalised clean. Including putting out clothes for his day, this, depending on his schedule, could mean several changes. If the clothes had been worn, then we would take them and clean them and ready them for the next wearing.

Both Mina and I were exhausted by the clean and when we had finished joined Abishag in her rooms bath.

"How did you do that by yourself, and for all this time, Abishag?" I ask her.

"You find the strength for those who you love," She replied smiling sadly at us, "Though Solomon never saw me that way, he always saw me as his fathers wife. As soon as I became David's I was destined for a life of loneliness." She paused thinking, "I was not supposed to fall in love with him, but somewhere along the way I did. I wish that he had seen me at least once that way, but he was determined to honor his father and his God's rules. So, although we were married, he did not make love to me as he has his other wives, because it would be seen as a sin."

"I am so sorry Abishag," I cried, hugging the older woman.

"It's ok young one," she replied, "I can see why Solomon has chosen you two though to do the work, so I am happy. Just remember to drop in and have a juice with me."

We nodded and promised. We got out then, slightly refreshed, and went on with our day.

A/N If you enjoyed this chapter please vote.