Abruptly stopping, he grinned. “And how about this? Does this make you miserable?” He grasped both of her breasts and rolled them in slow, smooth circles, then craned his neck to lick and suck them. Michal’s head flailed, and she gripped his shoulders, unable to answer coherently. His mouth increased the pressure on her breasts while his hands moved further down, eliciting hurried pants and moans.
He broke contact with a slurping sound, gritted his teeth and said, “And now, to make you truly miserable…”
He raised two fingers and waved them in front of her eyes, then plugged them between her legs, while his thumb danced in circular motions outside her soaked entrance. Her body jerked and wiggled under his ministrations, and she made short, choppy, desperate sounds. As her breathing became more frantic, a massive surge of heat flashed to his loins, and the ache became more than he could bear.
“Miserable and wretched,” he shouted and plunged into her wet heat rocking her hips, and moving her with a tight frenzy. She clenched and fought as her eyes went through their cycles, hazy with lust, then flashed into sharp points before flooding a lustrous pool of jade. The trembling of her contractions spurred a mighty, hot wind that whipped over his shoulders, driving everything he possessed deep inside of her.
Holding onto the glow, David caressed her cheek and kissed her gently, followed by downy tickles that hovered just over the hairs of her skin. Barely able to breathe, he pulled her into his arms and leaned against the wall in a sitting position. He grabbed her waist and cradled her limp body between his open legs, her back to his chest. Spreading her legs, he lightly wiped his fingers over her skin. She writhed and rolled, but he held back, lazily fingering her with faint, rolling circles, one hand at her breasts and the other between her legs. “Hold still, and I’ll make you most wretched.”
He maintained a steady circular motion, bringing her closer and then further. The longer he sustained her to higher and higher plateaus of excitement, the more pleasurable her final ascent would be. So he waited and watched her quivering body, waiting for her to tighten against his fingers, and even as she clutched and moaned, he slowed his touch, nudging her ever so slightly, a bit at a time, up and down the rail of intensity. She straightened and stiffened, trying every way to exert pressure against his relaxed hands. Her body arched and jackal-like yelps bobbled from her throat. Her fingernails dug into his forearms, but David held back.
“Stay still and let it surprise you,” he whispered and stroked her lightly, as if she was a soft piece of silk.
While he played her at a slow and steady tempo, he whispered all the things he’d like to do to her. She was close, oh, so close. At the last second, he captured her mouth and inhaled the frenzied screams, his fingers twitching to her never-ending pulses. Her body convulsed and lifted him off the rug with her before falling back. The tremors fading slowly into the dark, she buried her face into his chest and sobbed. His heart bathed in a swoon of contentment, he kissed the tears off her until her breathing steadied.
Chapter 35
Hosea 4:16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
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David donned a common cloak and veiled Michal before walking to her house. “It has to be this way. I can’t be seen with you lest there be a rebellion. God may have forgiven you, but I’m not sure about my men.”
“The daughter of Saul has become somewhat of a legend, hasn’t she?” Michal smirked and stepped in front of him.
David turned her to face him. “Some men have long memories. Ittai will move all your things back to my bedchamber. I’ll see you in the evening.”
He kissed her in front of her door and gave her a tiny shove on the behind. He hadn’t felt so lighthearted for years. Last night he had slept peacefully, undisturbed by gory images, flashbacks, and screaming headaches for the first time in years. He had never thought Michal, his most boisterous wife, would bring him peace.
He strolled by the jasmine patch in his garden and breathed deeply. By the time he entered the throne room, he was ready for the petitioners.
* * *
Ittai rushed through my door. “I have a note from Phaltiel. The messenger from Mahanaim was delayed, but here it is.”
“What does it say?” I tore it from his hands.
My dear Michal, time has flown by, hasn’t it? Our daughter, Anna, has been betrothed to Machir, the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar. Please ask King David if he can spare you a few days to attend her wedding this summer on the day of Tammuz. Rizpah and I look forward to seeing you. Yours, Phalti
My eyes watered with pride. “Did you hear that? My baby’s getting married.”
“Will David let you go? I can escort you and keep you safe.”
“Of course I have to go. I haven’t been out of Jerusalem since David allowed me to attend Eliah’s wedding. I’ll ask him tonight. Oh, won’t it be such a great time? I can’t wait to see Anna.” I twirled around and flung my shawl in a circle above my head.
“When I last saw her, she was already a pretty rosebud, just starting to bloom.” Ittai’s eyes took on a dreamlike quality. “Now she must be positively gorgeous, like you must have been on your wedding day.”
I flung a kiss on his cheek. “You’ve been a good uncle to all my children and a good friend to me.”
Ittai and I walked into the yard and waved to the new neighbors, a burly man and his mother, equally large-boned. I greeted the older woman. “My daughter is getting married.”
She cracked a large smile, revealing gapped teeth. “My son also. Next week, he takes his bride.”
“What a coincidence. My daughter is marrying next week, too. Tammuz is a lucky time to marry. It’s the summer solstice.”
“Come meet my son’s bride when you return.” She called as we took leave.
“Delightful people, what’s her son’s name?” I asked Ittai.
“Uriah. Uriah, the Hittite.”
* * *
David drummed his fingers on his throne. The Ammonites were making trouble again. His ally, Nahash, the Ammonite king, had passed away. David had sent ambassadors with condolences to his son, Hanun. Instead of taking comfort, Hanun accused them of being spies. He drove them away in shame by cutting off half their beard and exposing their buttocks. An Israelite man without a beard was an abomination, so the ambassadors waited in Jericho until their beards grew back. That had been several months ago, and now trouble brewed again.
“O King,” Joab said. “Hanun has hired Syrian troops to meet us in the field. We must move against them immediately while they are still far from Jerusalem. We beat the first wave, but they have recruited more Syrians from beyond Lake Chinnereth. We must attack now.”
“Take the mighty men and have Abishai lead the troops,” David commanded. “I will meet you with the Philistine mercenaries.”
A steady stream of petitioners approached the throne awaiting judgment. David settled business disputes, domestic disputes, boundary claims and other disagreements. By evening, his head throbbed and his eyes ached.
He returned to his bedchamber drenched in sweat and worry. Michal was not present. He sent a messenger to fetch her and asked a servant to draw his bath. He flopped down on the couch to wait for her. At least she would be a comfort to him.
She appeared, cloaked and veiled. David lifted her veil and sniffed her fragrance. She hugged him, her cheeks rosy, with a faint smile on her face.
He handed her the shears. “I’m going to war again. Can you trim my beard and cut my hair?”
She nodded. He stripped off his clothes and lay in the tub, his muscles tight and his neck cramped. She raked through his hair and beard, singing her Philistine song. When she finished, she took off her clothes and covered him in the tub. They made love until dinner time.
Servants set the table and departed. Michal clasped his hand across the table while they gave thanks for the food.
“I hate to leave you so soon.” David dipped a p
iece of bread into the lamb stew. “But the Ammonites are stirring trouble up north. When I return, I want to take you on a trip. Maybe we’ll go to the coast near Mt. Carmel.”
She picked at a date cake. “Actually I received some good news today.”
“Good news? I could use some. Tell me.”
“Phalti wrote me. Here, see for yourself.”
He winced and glanced at the note. “My, this is good news. It looks like the wedding is only a week away.”
“Will you let Ittai take me?”
“Ittai? Don’t you want me to attend?”
“Oh.” Her mouth rounded. “I thought you’re going to war.”
David’s stomach clenched as a worm of jealousy squirmed inside. “I am. And that means you’re not going anywhere.” He threw the note back at her.
“She’s my daughter, my only daughter.” Michal’s voice rose to a whine.
He wiped his mouth. “I’ll let you visit her after we defeat the Ammonites.”
“But that could take forever.”
“Michal, don’t argue with me.” He turned back to his food.
When he looked up, two large tears rolled down her face. “Can’t you send a guard with me?”
David slapped the table. “No. I cannot spare any troops to escort you. I’m leaving tomorrow with the Philistine mercenaries. I may even require Arik.”
Michal pouted and turned her face. “Go ahead and take him. He hates me anyway.”
“You mean he keeps you safe. Arik is solid and reliable. Quite unlike that gadfly Ittai.”
She closed her eyes and pushed from the table. “May I go back to my house?”
David caught her at the door. “If we defeat the Ammonites before next week, I’ll come back and take you myself.”
“You want me to wait?” She curled a hand around his arm. “Are you happy for me? Happy my daughter is grown? And sad for me that I wasn’t there to be her mother, that I missed her every day? Anna and Ithream are two darts in my heart.”
He buried his face in her hair. “I wish Ithream had lived. But nothing has turned out the way I wished.”
* * *
Three days passed. I tapped my fingers against the wall and paced my room. If David did not return in another day, I would have to go by myself. It would take at least two days to make it to Lo-debar, in the country of Gilead.
Ittai stepped into my house. “There is no sign of David or any messenger about the war. What do you want to do?”
I looked out the window. Uriah was setting up for his wedding already. “We’ll have to take the chance. I can’t let a little war stop me from attending my daughter’s wedding. Take me back to David’s tower to pack.”
Ittai, ever so efficient, had moved all my belongings back to David’s place. We walked back to the palace and ascended the stairs to the tower.
He opened the door. “I’m sure we can avoid the hot zones. I’m a skilled scout. I used to spy and scout for your brother, Jonathan. What are you bringing in terms of presents?”
“I’ve woven a few fringes Anna can use for circumcision gowns. Of course there’s the gold and jewelry.” I opened my trunk and selected several pieces.
“We should spread them out. Let me wear a few pieces. This way if we get into a fight, we don’t lose everything.”
“Good thinking,” I said. “Always well to take precautions.”
We divvied up the jewelry and gold between us. Ittai ran ahead to the stables while I packed a few gowns and several pairs of sandals and went back to the house to wait.
After Ittai brought two horses, we waved to Uriah and set off.
* * *
David wiped his brow. The LORD had wrought a great victory. The Syrians fled after his forces killed forty thousand horsemen and captured seven hundred chariots. Two days before Tammuz. If he hurried and rode all night, he could fetch Michal and take her to Lo-debar.
“Joab, you and Abishai clean up. I have to go back to Jerusalem. I’ve a wedding to attend.”
David returned late in the evening and went straight to Michal’s house. Naomi opened the door. She stepped back and bowed. “My king, she’s not here.”
David stepped over the threshold and stomped his foot. “Where did she go?”
“My lady and Ittai went to Lo-debar. They left two days ago.”
David’s stomach clenched, and he bruised his knuckles on the wall. He returned to his bedchamber and ripped his clothes. After a bath, he headed to Maacah’s house.
His son Absalom came to the door. Fifteen years old, he was almost as tall as his father. David punched him on the shoulder in greeting.
His daughter Tamar curtseyed and bowed her head. “Father, my lord.”
David took a green jade necklace from his robe. It was to be a present for his disobedient first wife, but now he took pleasure in giving it to his daughter. “For you, darling.”
“Oh, Father, thank you. It’s beautiful.” Her face shone, and little dimples appeared at each corner of her smile.
Maacah approached from behind and slinked her arms around his waist. “My lord, no doubt you’ve come from a great victory.”
“Yes, the LORD has given us the victory. We’ve beaten the Syrians, so they will no longer help the Ammonites. I came back early to celebrate.”
She pressed his chest. “You came at the right time. I’ve fixed a meal of wild partridge and greens. Tamar made pistachio cakes for dessert.”
David broke into a grin. “Let’s eat. I’m famished.”
He kissed his fourth wife, and she eyed him with a suggestive smile.
After dinner, he played a board game with Absalom and Tamar. Maacah went to her room to wait, but David took her hand and led her out the door. Absalom’s glare had unsettled him as he looked back and forth between his father and mother. Ever since Michal was disposed as queen, Maacah had been pestering him for the position. But David would never elevate the daughter of one of his allies over that of another.
Maacah followed David up the stairs and stepped into the tower. She glanced around furtively, as if she expected Michal to jump out. He lit the oil lamps and pulled her in his lap. “Have I been a stranger?”
She batted her eyelashes. “No, my lord, you’re never a stranger.”
“Then why haven’t you kissed me yet?”
She perched her petite body on his knees. He cupped her around the back of her head and touched his mouth to hers. She responded tentatively.
He tapped her nose, smiling to reassure her. “You can do better than that.”
She took a deep breath and opened her mouth. He kissed her deeper, but did not feel her response. Everything he did, she complied. When he laid her down on the bed, she did as he indicated. When he took off her clothes, she helped him. Wherever he touched, it was the same. She yielded. There was nothing to push against. No fight, no excitement—Maacah, the beautiful, desert rose, was prettier to look at than to touch.
Chapter 36
Jeremiah 5:8 They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife.
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A month went by, then two. Michal did not return. Neither did Ittai. Every day, David looked out the window and waited. Other than her maid, no one went in or came out of her house. He walked down the stairs and headed for the throne room but bypassed it, stopping in front of the court house to stare at the pool. His nephews spotted him and brought him back.
“Uncle,” Joab said, “we must fight the Ammonites in their capitol city. We’ve defeated their Syrian allies, but unless we vanquish them in their home territory, they will continue to challenge us.”
“I agree,” Abishai said. “Why have we delayed two months instead of moving in while they were disorganized from the last battle? Now it will be much harder to dislodge them.”
“Haven’t the mighty men been out there since Tammuz?” David asked.
“Yes, but to what purpose? We need reinforcements.”
David slammed a fist
on the petitioner’s table. “Don’t question me. Take whatever troops you need and go.”
“You mean you’re not coming?” Joab asked.
“How can that be?” Abishai said.
David turned away from them. “I’ve a few things to do here before I can go.”
Joab and Abishai exchanged looks.
“Uncle, you’re distracted because of her,” Joab said.
“You’re worried about that witch, the daughter of Saul,” Abishai said.
“And you will risk your kingdom for her?” Joab pointed a finger. “I tell you. If you hadn’t been pining for her, we could have destroyed the host of the Ammonites in the field.”
“We wouldn’t have to resort to a siege,” Abishai said.
“If she has run away with your Philistine guard, then I say good riddance.”
“And if you’re worried about her, send a bounty hunter to kill both of them, bring their heads back to you. But right now, you need to worry about the Ammonites.”
“People won’t follow a weak king who is the lapdog of a scornful woman.”
“You’re henpecked, Uncle.”
David toppled the heavy table. “Enough!”
* * *
David rolled and turned in his bed. The miserable drizzle did nothing to cool the oppressive heat. He wiped the sweat off his brow. He could send for a concubine. But what would that do? His women bored him. Only Michal loved him. And she didn’t fear him. She’d love him all night without tiring. He clenched his fist. He would not allow a woman to torment him.
He stared at her house. The air hung hot, like the night he returned from battle and hurt her with his sword. What had happened to him? The battlefield had seemed so real. And the blood, all the blood. God, You said I was a bloody man, that I’d shed too much blood, and You won’t allow me to build the temple. Am I forsaken?
David took off his robe and lay on the floor. The hours passed with his thudding heartbeat, and his eyes stayed open. Just one more look. Maybe she’s back.
Michal's Window Page 37
