Maghrib
Chapter 4
“Medjai?” Tahiri’s voice was a soft whisper as she opened the door. Ardeth didn’t even stir. She peeked in and then smiled, and ducked inside with a basket full of lunch and a jug of karkaday. Rick was glad he’d pulled the sheets up around him and Ardeth, but he couldn’t help but blush just a little. She only smiled and then smothered a giggle and left the basket by the table.
“Thank you.”
She nodded and then giggled silently. “You are lucky, O’Connell.” He followed that.
“Yeah, I am.” He smiled back. “Oh yeah, um...water?” He thought for a long moment. “Bath?”
She nodded and then slipped back into the hall and closed the door.
“I think I am the one who is lucky.” Ardeth said sleepily. “Is there food?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “You hungry?”
“Starving. And if we are fortunate that she will bring us water to bathe with then we can eat here, bathe and not have to stumble into our host or other guests. And I do not want to move.”
“Okay, but when she gets back you can ask her for twice as much food as she brought, and another jug of oil, hmm?”
Ardeth chuckled but he flushed too. “Truly?”
“Yeah. Cause there’s enough in there to let you have your way with me, but I’d really like those massages we didn’t really get to, too.”
Ardeth propped himself up on his arm to look down at him. “Are you certain you...wish for that, Rick? Truly?”
He smiled and reached up to trace Ardeth’s jaw. “What, having you inside me? That surprise you, Ardeth?”
Ardeth sighed and then nodded. “A bit. Yes.”
“Why?” He really wanted to know.
Ardeth sighed and then laid back down, his head on Rick’s shoulder. “Many reasons. I do not know what I am doing and could hurt you by accident for one.”
“Ardeth, habib, trust me, huh? You won’t hurt me. And like you said, so maybe it’s uncomfortable for a minute or something. So what? I can cope. And if it’s more than that you’d stop anyway.”
“You were afraid of hurting me, and you know what it is you are doing.” Ardeth pointed out.
“Yeah, well.” He sighed. “Kinda a different case there.”
“True.” Ardeth shifted closer and then placed his hand over Rick’s heart. “What we share, Rick is nothing like the horror you recall. Truly, you have given me more joy and pleasure than I know how to tell you.”
“That’s mutual you know.”
“Allah, I hope so.” Ardeth sighed.
“Okay, so that’s one reason, what’s the second?” He stroked his fingers through Ardeth’s hair, smiling a little at how tangled it was. Crazy might have been an understatement for the lovemaking they’d done.
“When...Rolande died...” Ardeth’s voice was almost too soft to hear. “These men...Allah, Rick, you would tell me yes?”
“Was I raped?” He found it a hell of a lot easier to say than he’d though it would be.
“Yes, that is what I was trying to ask.” Ardeth agreed. “Without hurting you by doing so.”
“No, Ardeth. I wasn’t. Came damn close, yeah. Scared the hell out of me more than anything had in my life.” He tightened his arms around Ardeth, and then smiled a bit when Ardeth rolled them over so he was the one curled up in his friend’s arms instead. “Way too close.” He shivered at the old memories and let himself try to take some comfort from the embrace.
“No harm done?” Ardeth asked, uncertainly.
Rick took a deep breath and gave the worst of it in a quick rush before he couldn’t do it. “One guy grabbed my hair, it was longer than yours then, I was on my knees after the beating I’d gotten, said something I don’t really remember, and tried to force himself down my throat. The one thing I remember was that he had Rolande’s blood all over him, and I just lost it and bit down as hard as I could. He screamed a lot. I got beaten some more and then there were police and that was all I remember until I came to at Fort Brandon.”
Ardeth whispered something that might have been a prayer but it was Medja and not arabic then shifted them both and kissed him. Soft and gentle, barely a pressure at all. Rick sighed, then smiled and slowly deepened it until they were sharing breath and his tongue was teasing Ardeth’s. Ardeth’s arms were around his shoulders and he had his hands buried in the tangled dark waves of his friend’s hair.
“Hmm, we better stop, huh? Or Tahiri’s going to be really surprised when she comes back with our bath water.”
Ardeth smiled and then pulled Rick into a second, not quite so long kiss. “I like kissing you.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed that.” Rick smiled back.
“No doubt.” Then the smile gentled and Ardeth’s hands stroked down his arms a bit. “Thank you, for telling me the truth, habib.”
Rick shrugged. “Figured I needed to, huh? So you less worried about hurting me now?”
“Less worried I will stir up horrible memories, yes. Thanks be to Allah, you were not hurt worse than you were. But am I worried I will hurt you myself in ignorance? Yes. You will have to teach me patience, hmm?”
“Any other miracles you want me to manage, Ardeth?”
Ardeth smiled. “That is very likely the case. No, Rick, no other miracles. Truly, if you are willing to try this sharing of passion between us I am willing to undoubtedly make a fool of myself.”
“You always think you’re going to disappoint me or something Ardeth and you never have. Where do you get that from, huh?”
“Impatience at my own naiveness I think.” Ardeth answered with a slight shrug. “It is just that I enjoy so much what you do to me, Rick. And I am always a bit worried I do not make you feel nearly so good.”
“First off, unlike some people I could name, I don’t do martyrdom well, so believe me if I wasn’t enjoying it you’d know it. Second, if there is something we’re doing that I don’t like I’ll tell you. Third, why I have to point this out to you is beyond me, I have enjoyed myself every single time we’ve made love so far, Ardeth. Did you miss that?”
Ardeth flushed just a little. “No. I did not. I told you, you will have to teach me patience.”
“Right. Teach you that you are a wonderful lover, maybe.” Rick shook his head and then gave up and kissed Ardeth again. “Whoever told you you weren’t Ardeth. Was dead wrong.”
“Hmm. When you kiss my like that I almost believe you.”
“Well that’s easy.” Rick smiled and then kissed him again. Only stopping when there was another knock on the door. He laid back down and snuggled Ardeth into his arms. “Yeah?”
Tahiri peeked around the door frame and said something this time that he didn’t get. Ardeth sighed and then replied in Egyptian. Whatever he said got a giggle from Tahiri and she came in with another servant to set down the buckets of warm water, and a basket of drying cloths no doubt. She smiled a bit more, shook her head and then shooed the other woman out, adding something about returning. Rick just smiled. “Did you ask her for more oil?”
Ardeth nodded. “No doubt why she was laughing at us.” He sighed. “I will teach that to you, so you may embarrass yourself next time.”
“Right. You’re gorgeous when you blush.” He pointed out. Ardeth propped himself back on one arm to look down at him.
“I suppose that is better than you telling me I am cute.”
“Well, you’re that too.” He smiled. “But it’s a lot more than cute.” He traced Ardeth’s jaw with his fingers. “Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?”
“Nearly as much as you?” Ardeth smiled back.
“Yeah, right.” Rick had to laugh. “Well I’m not quite stupid enough to argue about that one.” He shook his head. “Especially when there are other things I’d rather be doing.” He pulled Ardeth back down into another kiss. “Want to just lay here and be comfortable until Tahiri gets back with the rest of the food and the oil?” He asked when he finally broke the kiss.
“Hmm, yes.” Ardeth nodded. “I am growing far too accustomed to the joy of waking with either you in my arms or I in yours you know, habib.”
“Pretty great isn’t it?” Rick agreed and went back to stroking his fingers through Ardeth’s hair. And it was good enough to just lay there and enjoy it for now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ardeth was not certain how long they laid there before Tahiri came back but it was not so long that he dozed off again. She sat the other basket on the floor, along with a smaller one undoubtedly containing the jug of oil he had asked for. And then added water to the coffee pot from yet another jug before leaving. “Bastet grant you both a wonderful day, Medjai.”
“And too you, Tahiri.” He managed the reply.
“Hmm, not so good as yours I think.” She smiled and then closed the door behind her.
“Are we safe now?” Rick asked.
“Yes. I think so.” He managed to chuckle. “She did not seem to doubt we did not wish to be disturbed for a while.”
“Well good.” Rick chuckled as well. “She’s right. Isn’t she?”
“Oh yes.” He claimed a quick kiss. “Bath and then food, food and then a bath?”
“Food and then a bath.” Rick decided and got up with a sigh. “Would it be too decadent if we see if she brought us anything we can eat in bed?”
Ardeth only looked at him a bit bemused. “Eat in bed?”
“Yeah you know...no, you probably don’t. Hmm. Okay, yeah, we can do decadent. Didn’t I promise you I’d show you what that was?”
“You did.” He smiled a bit more, shaking his head a little. “Truly?”
“Yeah, there has to be something here. If nothing else I’ll feed you melons.”
He chuckled at that. “Would you? Feed me lunch in bed I mean? Is that decadent, habib?”
“Sounds pretty decadent to me, yeah.” Rick picked up one of the baskets and brought it over to the bed before bringing over the second one and the jug of karkaday. It took a bit to get it all arranged in an order that made Rick happy. Ardeth only laid where he was and watched the proceedings with a smile, besides which his body still wanted to remind him it ached a bit when he moved. “Okay, now we should have wine, just to be really decadent but you’d get drunk so, we’ll make do.”
“Likely yes.” He shook his head. “So now you have food set out all over my bed. What shall we do with it all?”
“Share.” Rick smile was teasing and there was that now familiar look in his eyes that made Ardeth shiver. “Like this.” Rick picked up one of the stuffed grape leaves and held it out to him. Ardeth smiled leaning over a bit to take the still warm dolma from his friend’s hand. “Nope.” Rick shook his head. “I’m supposed to be feeding you, remember?”
“Ah.” He smiled a bit more despite the blush he could feel coloring his cheeks once more and then sat up enough to simply take the food in his teeth, directly from Rick’s fingers. It took only a moment to chew and then swallow. “Like that then?”
“Yeah.” Rick’s eyes were warm blue now. “Good?”
“Hmm, I think so, yes.” It was certainly far more enjoyable than the other two times he had eaten from another’s hand, even Rick’s. He picked up one of the stuffed leaves himself and offered it to his friend in turn.
Rick only chuckled and then leaned over to take the dolma in his teeth, his tongue curling a bit around Ardeth’s finger as he did so.
“Rick.” He growled out the name and then pulled his fingers away.
“We’re supposed to be decadent, remember?”
“As you say.” He glanced about the small collection of food and then smiled and picked up a slice of apple. “There is no honey to dip them in though.”
“If there was I’d be more tempted to see how it tasted on you.” Rick replied.
And Allah help him, but that was a thought that made him warm. Both how it would feel to have Rick’s tongue lick him clean of the sweetness, but also how it might taste to do the same for his friend. “I would like that. I think.”
“You do, huh?” Rick leaned over and took the apple in his teeth as he had the dolma, only biting off about half this time.
“Yes.” Ardeth agreed taking the other half himself. “I could grow very fond of decadence.”
“Easy to do.” Rick agreed and picked up a slice of melon, breaking it in half and taking one piece for himself before offering Ardeth the second.
Ardeth smiled and leaned over to take the fruit, teasing Rick’s fingers a bit with his tongue as he did so. He swallowed the bite quickly enough. “That is far more enjoyable when I am not worrying you might be offended.”
“I wasn’t offended the first time, aroused yeah, but not offended.”
“Truly?” He smiled a bit more. “Now that I did not even consider.”
Rick rolled his yes. “Yeah, I noticed. Not that I had any idea how you missed it.”
“I was not expecting it and did not see.” He shrugged. Then he smiled and picked up another piece to offer his friend. “Does it rouse you still?”
“Yeah. You?”
“Very much.” He admitted. “I will forget we want to bathe.”
“Nice thing about Egypt, it isn’t like the water will get cold.” Rick smiled.
“Very true. Unlike England. How do you live in such cold and damp?”
“Practice.” Rick smiled and then picked up another bite for Ardeth. It took them surprisingly little time to finish the food available and tease each other mercilessly in the doing. Rick was, not surprisingly, better at the game than he was, but it seemed that Rick was also much more aroused by the sort of play they were engaged in and that helped even the scales a bit. Rick cleared off the bed, and Ardeth was surprised to see they had actually not managed to make a huge mess. He took a long drink of his karkaday and then set the goblet aside.
“Bath?” He questioned.
“Sure.” Rick smiled. “Then I get to kiss you senseless.”
“You do?” He shook his head with a smile. “Why?”
“Because I want to do it right now, but I can wait while we wash up.” Rick rose to his feet, seemingly as unconcerned for clothing as he had been throughout the meal.
Ardeth sighed, wishing he had his friend’s comfort with such things. And he was glad Rick’s back was turned as he got out of bed, because undoubtedly his friend would worry again when he winced. It was not a completely pleasant ache but it certainly was not pain. Although the lingering exhaustion he still had from his still haunting trip through hell did not help any. Ardeth shook his head a bit, refusing to dwell on the horrors the god of the dead had created for him. It was not real. He repeated it to himself firmly. None of it, not your blood or theirs. Let it go now. He tried to listen to the logic in that, but he walked over to the buckets of still warm water and wet a cloth all the same. He was mostly done when Rick came up behind him and pulled him back so that he was in his friend’s arms again. His back resting against Rick’s chest.
“Thought as long as we’re being decadent I’d help.” The wet cloth in Rick’s hand stroked along his chest, then down one arm to his hand, and around his fingers.
“Hmm, do you know how good that feels?”
“I have an idea, yeah.” Rick chuckled.
“Good.” He took the cloth and then had to lean out of Rick’s embrace to reach down and rewet it.
“Christ.” Rick hissed out the word and before Ardeth expected the move he was pulled up and turned so that Rick could kiss him. So, he gave caution to the wind, slid his arms around Rick as tightly as he could and kissed him back, full of hunger and need and all the passion he was beginning to learn to put into such things.
“Habibi?” He broke the kiss to gasp in a breath and then move his lips to Rick’s throat, tracing some of the still visible marks with his tongue. “We are we not going to wash first?” He teased and then stroked the wet cloth still in his hand down Rick’s back.
“Right. We were.” Rick took the cloth and brought it back to Ardeth’s chest, this time stroking down instead of over and then with a chuckle wrapping the soft linen around his cock, which was already growing hard and stroking it slightly.
“Oh Allah, that is good.” He arched into the caress, because it was, despite the coolness of the cloth on his skin. “Wait, hmm?” He stopped Rick’s hand with his own and took the cloth from Rick’s hand. Then he smiled and did not let himself consider stopping, only went to his knees to rewet it, ignoring the flash of discomfort that caused him. Rick growled out something, but did not stop him from wringing out the cloth a bit and then wiping it gently over his arousal. And this time the sound Rick made was much more a moan. Ardeth repeated the caress, reweting the cloth once and then let it fall into the bucket and leaning forward to lick at the head instead.
“Oh Christ, Ardeth.”
“Hmm?” He did not want to stop long enough to answer.
“Enough, huh? I am not a saint.”
“I think we have determined that, yes.” He rose slowly to his feet, wincing a bit as his still sore muscles protested.
“Ardeth?”
He rolled his eyes. “I am sore, and not feeling like being stoic amidst such decadence.”
“Just sore?” Rick’s eyes were still bright but worried now.
“Only that.” He nodded.
“Okay.” Rick pulled him into a kiss and then broke it slowly to kneel in turn and draw the cloth from the water and return the caresses. Ardeth leaned his head back, feeling his knees threaten to buckle. Rick chuckled but then when Ardeth spread his legs a bit more for balance Rick only ran the cloth back, lightly over his balls which was a joy and a shock all in one and then lightly against the opening to his body. He hissed a bit, surprised at the sting. “Ardeth?”
“I am sore, yes. How many times must I tell you that?” He chuckled. “It is not a soreness I mind, nor is it pain. Only an ache, habibi.”
“Right.” Rick didn’t sound convinced but he finished washing Ardeth gently. “Turn around, huh?” Ardeth did so with a silent thanks to Allah that Rick had not made him swear it a dozen times. The cloth was rewet and then wiped gently down his back. “Clean enough for now?” Rick asked.
“I think so, yes.” He agreed, turning back into Rick’s arms. “And you, habib?”
“Yeah, me too, Ardeth.” Rick smiled and then kissed him. “Besides I have another idea.”
“More decadence I hope?”
“Yeah.” Rick nodded. But he let go of Ardeth with a sigh. “Why don’t you take that back to bed for us? And I’ll find what I’m looking for huh?” He indicated the small basket that Tahiri had brought containing what Ardeth assumed was more oil.
“All right.” He set the basket on the bedside table, pleased to find that it did indeed hold another jug of oil wrapped in the same hot cloth filled with grain that had covered the one the night before. And wrapped so completely in the basket it was indeed nicely warm. He tucked it back inside and recovered it completely. Rick came back to the bed and climbed in behind him.
“More oil?” Rick asked, looking over his shoulder.
“Yes.” He smiled. “Quite a bit more actually. And warm too.”
“Nice, I’ll have to thank her for that.” Rick pulled him back into his arms again and then traced kisses up his throat to his ear and began to nibble in that way he had that made Ardeth shiver.
“Yes. I think we both will.”
“God, I hope so.” Rick whispered. “But since we’ve got enough oil now, how about those massages we never got to?”
“That sounds decadent.” Ardeth agreed, turning a bit in Rick’s arms and kissing him. Rick kissed him back and Ardeth let himself simply enjoy the long hot duel of tongues that resulted. And like with so many of their kisses one led to another and then to several and he found himself lying on his back with Rick above him, his friend’s hand’s buried in his hair. “Allah, I like kissing you.” He sighed as Rick finally broke the kiss.
“I like kissing you too, Ardeth. And you are getting way too good at it.”
“I am?” He smiled. “That is good is it not?”
“Only if you don’t want me to have any self control left.” Rick grumbled.
Ardeth arched his back a bit, brining them into closer contact. “I rather like when you are not so in control, yes.” He admitted. “Kiss me like that, habib? When it is so much between us that I can not even recall my name?”
Rick growled something and then kissed him again, and it was a long hot sharing of breath, Rick’s tongue sliding against his, pressing deeper into his mouth with each thrust until it finally came to his mind what Rick was doing in kissing him so, just as he had made love to him earlier. And Allah, but he felt the desire coil tight at that and only arched his back a bit more and pulled Rick down against him. Rick pushed away finally with a groan. “That what you mean, habibi?”
“Yes.” He gasped out the word. “Allah, that is Paradise.”
“We aren’t even close to Paradise yet, Ardeth.” Rick promised. “But we’ll get there.”
“That I do not doubt at all.” Ardeth sighed.
“Me either, habib, me either.” Rick smiled and then pushed away enough to sit up. “Massages right?”
“Hmm, yes.” Ardeth nodded. Rick chuckled and then reached for the older bottle of oil and poured some onto his hands. Ardeth closed his eyes, enjoying the anticipation and then sighed as Rick began at his shoulders and worked his hands down over his chest, then along his arms, first one all the way to his finger tips and then down the other before returning to his chest. Rick’s fingers traced the tattoo across the scars he had from their London bus ride. “No matter the battlefield, victory.” Rick read the arabic softly.
“Hmm, Allah hamdas aha.” He agreed.
“You know how glad I am you don’t have any new scars around these?” Rick touched the spot just below his tattoo.
“As thankful as I am, no doubt.” Ardeth shivered a bit, and then found a smile. “It would take a great many more tattoos then to turn them all back to blessings again.”
“Right.” Rick shook his head. “Evie said something about that didn’t she? Well, it wasn’t really Evie but still. About them being curses on top of wounds. What did she mean?” The question came as Rick’s strong fingers slid lower down his chest, along his ribs.
“It is– not hard to turn one to the other.” Ardeth shrugged a little. “No matter the battlefield, victory– always for one’s enemies, perhaps? I was certainly not coherent enough to be able to try to tell you what the cuts he made actually said.”
“Thank God.” Rick’s hands griped harder for a moment. “Remind me to thank Ammun while we’re here, Ardeth for saving us from hell, okay?”
“That is a good thought.” He agreed but he caught Rick’s hands in his and pulled them to his lips. “It is over now, habib, I am well and whole. Did we not convince ourselves of that earlier?”
“Doesn’t hurt to have a bit more help in believing it, does it?” Rick asked. “Maybe you should get another one, huh? What’s that prayer to Horus you keep reciting? Would that keep Anubis away from you?”
“Perhaps, but if it is successful, then I think it is you who need more tattoos, Rick.” He reached up and traced out the arabic for the spell on Rick’s chest, wishing he could be certain he would get the hieroglyphics right. “Seb-heru-am-tcher-uk ha-aftet-en tuten-setcha.”
“Thanks.”
“If it works, I will be more than thankful myself. Besides, I am certain it conflicts with Islam somewhere for me to have a prayer to Horus as a tattoo while I am branded as Allah’s warrior and chieftain of his people do you not think?”
“Nah.” Rick shook his head with such certainty that Ardeth had to wonder at it. “If Allah didn’t want us to be championing the old gods, Ardeth, I figure he could let us know, huh? Come on, if AmmunRa can scare the hell out of Kashim, don’t you think Allah could swat us both down hard if he wanted to, for being stupid?”
Despite himself Ardeth had to laugh. “There is I think, some truth to that, yes.”
“We’re keeping Egypt safe Ardeth, that’s the job right?”
“So it is.” He nodded. “In’sh’Allah then I will have faith. I do not want to be chieftain of the Medjai now, Rick. I do not even want to be a warrior at all. Let us take this moment in something like Paradise and be only men, habibi.”
“Yeah. And you’re still knots all over so I can find a few more places to rub, huh? You’re sure you’re okay?”
“A bit sore, and still exhausted form the ordeal we faced in Anubis’ realm. Odd is it not, that my muscles ache over wounds that were never real?”
“I’ve given up making sense of that, Ardeth. Let’s just see what I can do to make it better, okay?” Rick’s hands moved from his ribs down to his stomach lightly and then to first one leg all the way to his toes, which felt so good he could not keep from groaning and then to the other.
“That feels so good, Rick.”
“Yeah? I’m glad I’m doing it right then. Roll over, hmm?” Rick let go of his right foot, and he managed to do so. He bit back the groan the move wanted to invoke and pillowed his head on his arms instead. “No stoicism, Ardeth.”
“Hmm? Only decadence, habib, I know.” He smiled a bit.
“Uh huh. Don’t think I’m falling for that.” Rick sighed but he reached for the oil jug and poured more onto his hands, this time he started at Ardeth’s feet and worked his way up, stopping at his thighs then up to his shoulders and back down. And Allah, but it felt so very good, easing and arousing both. “You were tense.” Rick said softly.
“Hmm, so I was. I do not think I am sore now though.”
“No? Let’s finish up then, huh?” Rick’s hands pressed lightly into the small of his back and he hissed out a breath in surprise. “Sore?”
“A little yes.” He admitted. “I did not realize it until you started.”
“Good, it’s not bad then.” Rick’s voice was a bit softer but his hands kneaded out the soreness, before sliding a bit lower over his buttocks now.
Ardeth shifted a bit as aroused by that as relaxed, and a little embarrassed too. “You will spoil me, habib.” He sighed.
“You can use some spoiling, Ardeth. And right now, I’m just making sure you’re okay, huh?” Rick replied as his fingers dipped lower and slid feather light over the opening to his body.
“Mmm.” It was the best he could stifle the groan down to, because it was uncomfortable now and Rick would only worry more if he knew. “Do not tease.”
“I’m not. And that wasn’t pleasure.” Rick muttered. “Thought so. Damn it, Ardeth you’re hurting.”
“I am not. I am sore, certainly. But it is not pain. Do not make me swear it again I will be annoyed.” He rolled his eyes but he chuckled all the same.
Rick sighed. “Okay, okay, I believe you. So let’s see what I can do for the soreness then.” And one finger brushed against him again cool now with something thicker than the oil. “Just something to ease the ache, okay?” Rick’s voice was gentle as was the caress that smoothed whatever the thicker stuff was just inside. He shivered, torn between arousal and a very real flash of discomfort at the touch. But the discomfort faded after a bit and he relaxed into the touch and the mattress beneath him. “That’s it, habib.” Rick drew his hand back finally. “Thank God...” It was a soft mutter with too much weight.
“What are we thanking God for?” He asked, looking over his shoulder a bit, to see Rick siting beside him, his eyes on his own hand.
Rick glanced up and met his eyes. “I thought maybe I’d...” Rick shook himself and then sighed. “Sorry.”
Ardeth rolled over, and it was far less uncomfortable this time. He caught Rick’s hand and met his friend’s eyes with his own. “What did you think? What did you expect to see? Hmm?”
“Blood.” Rick shrugged a bit.
“Hardly.” Ardeth sighed. “That would have required pain, yes? And having you inside me was nothing but pleasure, habibi. Pure and true and Paradise.”
“It’s...not so easy...to let go you know.”
“I know. No fear is. But it is only that Rick. An old fear. I am quite well, very content, and at the moment, very aroused hmm? Where then is the pain?”
Rick smiled, and the darkness left his eyes. “Felt good, huh?”
“It did. All of it. Now you can lay down and let me return the favor.” He took the jar of cream from Rick’s hand and put it on the table before picking up the jug of oil and finding it almost empty poured what remained onto his hands. Rick kissed him quickly and then laid down and only watched him as he rubbed the sweet oil into his friend’s skin. Shoulders first as Rick had, then down his chest to his arms, trying his best to follow Rick’s example and search out those spots that made Rick groan or sigh as he eased the tension from them. He smiled a little and then repeated the same prayer to Horus across Rick’s skin that he had done earlier. “You need more tattoos, Rick. Although no one can doubt your bravery, certainly.” He stroked his fingers down along the knife scar along Rick’s ribs.
“I guess. Dumb luck is just as much a part of it.”
“I prefer to think Allah has more plans for you yet and trust to fate and not luck, habib.” He smiled, trailing his fingers lightly down to Rick’s stomach and then first one leg and then the other. Rick smiled, chuckling a little as Ardeth’s fingers found his feet. “Ticklish?”
“Just a little. Feels good more than anything.”
“Good.” He smiled. “Roll over now?” He got more oil from the warm jug, making sure to re-stopper it and tuck it back into it’s basket, setting it beside him on the bed.
Rick did so, and he traced one finger along the sole of one foot just to make Rick laugh. Then he worked his hands up both legs. “Oh, that’s nice.”
“I hope so.” He smiled, working his way up, before going all the way to his shoulders and working his way down. “Not camels but horses you have been carrying when my back was turned.”
“Hmm. Feels like it.” Rick agreed but he relaxed under Ardeth’s hands as he worked his way slowly lower. “That is sorta weird isn’t it? That we both ache over something that wasn’t real?” Rick sighed. “Maybe-- with us both there it was? I mean-- it’s not like when I went the first time and it wasn’t really you and Evie and Alex is it? It really was you and me and Evie.”
Ardeth sighed. “I do not know, Rick. At the time the pain certainly felt real, yes. Although I am not certain it felt as real as things do here, but more than a dream yes. But it was all gone when I woke in Ahm Shere, so it can not have been real, could it?”
“I don’t know, Ardeth. Evie and AmmunRa had already healed us in hell right? So we would’ve been okay in Ahm Shere anyway.”
“Arebe said-- that I should not discount the wounds I took and was healed from any more than I discounted his. I tried to explain to him that it was not the same because what Anubis’ creature did to me was only a-- reflection and not real.”
“Still hurt like hell though.” Rick’s muscles were a bit tense again under his hands.
“It did.” Ardeth had to agree. “So it was more than a dream and less than real. I will only be thankful we are both well now. I do not want to think about hell now, Rick. Let us concentrate on Paradise instead?”
“Yeah, Ardeth, we can do that.” There was a slight smile to Rick’s voice and Ardeth simply went back to the caresses he’d been using earlier and then leaned down to do as Rick had for him, the first time they had shared this connection between then and traced Rick’s spine with kisses. “Ardeth.” His name was a sigh, but it did not sound like a complaint at all so he continued, pausing for a long moment at the small of Rick’s back..
“Are you certain?” He had to ask.
“Yeah, Ardeth. Promise.” Rick only spread his legs a bit.
Ardeth swallowed hard but took his courage in both hands. “Roll over then, please? I need to see you, Rick.”
“Okay.” Rick rolled onto his back and Ardeth leaned down to kiss him, long and slow.
“Should I not ask you to be on your side as you did me?”
“Might be the easiest, yeah.:” Rick agreed but he pulled Ardeth into another kiss. And this at least he knew Rick enjoyed. So he gave himself to the kiss, long and deep and then finally broke away to trail kisses down Rick’s throat to his shoulder and then nipped lightly at the point where Rick's neck joined his shoulder. That got a sigh mixed with a chuckle and he liked the sound enough to do it again, following it with a lick and then a longer kiss, before tracing the whole path with the edge of his beard.
Rick's fingers tangled in his hair but his friend only leaned his head back to make it easier for him to continue the kisses. Taking the invitation he licked again, tasting the trace of the oil they'd used and the tang of his Rick's skin. “Ardeth.” His name was a sigh. “God, that's nice.”
He smiled and then kissed him again fully moving his hands to stroke softly down Rick’s chest, just lightly over his nipples and smiling a bit more at the groan the move brought. He pulled away finally and smiled. “Rick.”
“Yeah Ardeth?” Rick smiled back.
“Look at me, hmm?”
“All right.” The request did not seem to surprise Rick any. And Ardeth slowly stroked his hand up the inside of Rick's leg and then lightly, teasing just a little, along his cock.
Rick’s eyes widened just a bit and then brightened as a long shudder worked through him. “Ardeth.”
“Yes?” He waited a moment for some sort of suggestion or direction but Rick only sighed. “Rick?”
“Yeah, habibi?” Rick sighed and then pulled him down to kiss him again. He relaxed into the kiss stroking his hand up Rick’s cock again. Strong fingers wrapped around his and tugged him away. "Better stop that, huh?"
“If you wish.” He smiled. “Good?”
“Any better and we’d have to start over.”
“That is good then.” He smiled. "May I kiss you, habibi?"
“What now you’re asking?" Rick replied. Which Ardeth took as a yes. He smiled again and then moved his hands down Rick’s chest before following with his lips and suckling at one nipple almost hungrily. Rick moaned and tangled his fingers in Ardeth’s hair, And he had to work very hard not to smile and only keep the suction steady for a bit before moving to the other side. Rick groaned again and then finally tugged on his hair a bit so he raised his head to meet the hot blue eyes.
“Do you wish me to stop?” He asked softly.
“Stop no. Get on with it, hell yeah.”
He had to laugh. “Patience, remember?”
“Patience is one thing. Torturing your lover is another, Ardeth.” Rick growled, but he smiled too.
“No pain, habibi, no.” He agreed with a smile of his own. “Tell me if...”
“I promise okay? I want to try, Ardeth. Really.”
“You have done this before?” He was not at all sure it was the sort of question he should ask.
“Yeah, I have. A very, very long time ago. And I was way too drunk to remember much of it, but yeah. I have.”
“And this is supposed to encourage me?” He rolled his eyes. “Bis’mil’Allah.” He shook his head. "I-- could wish for a better knowledge of how to do this, and make certain you enjoy it."
Rick chuckled. "Only one way to learn, Ardeth. And God knows you’ve picked up everything else way too quick. You’d never tried to taste me till a few days ago, Ardeth, and you’re already so damned good at that.”
“Am I?” He smiled a bit more. “That is good to know. But that is rather more like having you inside me, habib, than this.”
Rick sighed. “Okay, come here and kiss me, Ardeth, and I promise to show you what I like.”
And that was easy enough to do. "I enjoy kissing you, Rick."
Rick chuckled. "Noticed that. Me too, Ardeth, me too." Rick pulled him close and he let himself simply enjoy the kiss. Then his friend's fingers stroked lightly over his cock.
“Rick.”
“Hmm?” Rick kissed him again and then broke away with a sigh. "God you are getting so good at that.”
He smiled a little. "You were going to tell me what you liked."
“Yeah, I was, wasn’t I?" Rick returned, and picked up the jug of oil. “Still warm. Nice.”
He smiled a bit, suddenly feeling oddly shy, and ducked his head a little in embarrassment.
“Hey.” Rick caught his chin and then kissed him fully. “Stop that.”
“As you say.”
“Okay.” Rick smiled and then handed him the jug and laid back on the bed.
Ardeth swallowed hard and then remembered suddenly another promise Rick kept asking of him. “You will tell me if I do something wrong?”
“Yes, Ardeth.” Rick sighed, but he smiled too.
“Good, because Allah knows I have never done anything like this before." And he moved down to his friend's feet and started with kisses there working his way up slowly. Rick let out one startled sort of chuckle and then only groaned as he worked his way from feet to ankle to calf. Then slow kisses up one thigh, then the other. Rick groaned spreading his legs wider and stroking his fingers back through Ardeth's hair. "Shall I see if I have learned this as well as you say?” He placed a soft kiss at the tip of Rick’s cock.
Rick only moaned. “Not right now, Ardeth. I’m not that good, huh?”
He chuckled himself. "Then I shall try and see if I learned half as much as I could wish for, habibi. Roll onto your side, hmm?”
Rick did so, and Ardeth had to force down a deep breath. Then he ran his hand over Rick’s cock, slowly back to cup his balls, trying for the gentle touch Rick had used on him. And it seemed right because Rick only moaned and pressed back a bit into his hand. “That’s good.”
“I am lucky to have a good teacher.” He smiled and then slowly with all the gentleness he knew how to give a touch he let his finger trace just lightly over the opening behind then as Rick had done for him. Rick caught his breath in a gasp but he there was nothing else to judge by. “Rick?”
“Yeah, Ardeth, it’s good.”
“Good.” And it was enough to give him the courage to try what Rick had done for him, even though it was nothing he had ever even thought of before then. He traced the path again with one finger, and then moved down and did the same with his tongue.
“Oh Christ. Ardeth-- you don't have to...Habib, oh God.."
He managed to make sense of that "May I try?" He asked.
A groan but Rick nodded. "Only if you want to."
“Only what rouses us both, yes.” He made it a promise and then tried it again. And it was, he was certain no where near as good as what Rick had done for him but Rick seemed to relish the caresses as much as he had. And it was enough to give him the courage to try for more to have touched Rick there and brought him only pleasure.
“Ardeth, enough, okay? Please? I'll come."
He raised his head and then placed a kiss at the small of Rick’s back. "I would hope so."
Rick groaned but then chuckled. "Me too, but I want you inside me when I do, huh?"
It roused him more than a bit just to hear it said. "Allah’s mercy, Rick, but you are so beautiful."
A chuckle. “Yeah, right. If you say so."
“I do."
Rick reached down and picked the jug of oil back up and handed it back to him.
He shivered a bit but pulled the stopper free and poured some more onto his hand, before handing it back. “Hold that, hmm?”
“Sure.”
He swallowed hard. “I...have...Allah have mercy Rick...I...”
Rick sighed. "Did it hurt when I touched you inside, Ardeth?"
“No, it was Paradise." He promised.
Rick chuckled just a little. “And?”
Ardeth sighed a bit but shifted to press a kiss to Rick’s shoulder. “Point taken. I would like, very much to-- bring you that much pleasure, Rick." He slowly traced the same path with his finger again and then eased just the tip inside. Rick gasped in a breath and he froze. “Rick?”
“Yeah, Right there, Ardeth. Please? Remember how it felt when I did that for you?"
“Yes." He whispered. "Does it feel that good, Rick? To have me touch you?" He asked, as he slowly slid that one finger into the warmth of Rick’s body. Slow and gentle, just as Rick had done for him. And it was like nothing he had ever imagined it would be. Just this touch already, between them.
Rick sighed, but there was nothing like pain the sound, and then he pressed back into Ardeth’s hand. “Yeah.”
He had to smile. “Good.” He swallowed again, trying to think, Rick had teased him with that finger, easing him open until he could take another. So he did his best to do just that. And Rick gave a soft groan that was still not anything like pain.
“Just...like that...’s good, Ardeth."
“Thanks be to God.” He whispered, and then took the oil from Rick to pour more onto his hand, deciding more was better than not enough. "Two now?"
“Yeah.” Rick nodded and then sighed as he did so, eased the second finger in along with the first. Rick felt impossibly tight and hot around his fingers but gave no sign of pain as Ardeth pressed deeper. “Wait okay?” Rick groaned, tensing a bit.
Anything.” He swore it. “I will stop...?" He had to offer.
“No, no, it’s okay, it feels too good to stop. Just go slow, okay Ardeth? Please?"
“Yes." He promised and then eased his fingers halfway out and then back. Rick gave a lower groan this time and pressed back into his hand. So he did it again, trying to recall how Rick had eased him past this point. And it seemed to take a very long time until those two fingers could slide in and back again with ease. “Am I truly not causing you pain?" He had to ask, because Rick’s body was so very tight around his fingers.
“God no.” Rick sighed. “That’s good...Just a little deeper Ardeth, please? Right there..."
He stretched out his fingers as requested and then made the belated connection between that spot inside him that had roused him so and the position Rick was in as to where his fingers were. And he stroked over that spot inside his friend as gently as he could.
Oh Christ.." Rick groaned his back arching a bit. "Yeah, Ardeth, again.?”
He did it again, and then a third time because Rick made the same groaned request.
“Three...now Ardeth, please? I want...to try this.”
It made something shiver inside him to hear those words. And he took the jug back to add more oil to his hand before he slid another finger into Rick as gently as he could.
“Oh Christ. Yeah...Again Ardeth? Please?"
“Anything." He promised, trying to swallow despite how dry his throat felt. And he brushed that spot again feeling Rick shudder.
“That feels...God, I don’t have the words, Ardeth, not like you...So good.”
“Thanks be to God.” He smiled and kissed Rick’s shoulder again.
A chuckle, sounding almost breathless. "Ardeth, habibi, make love to me now?”
He shivered but poured more of the oil onto his other hand and stroking it over himself quickly. “Only tell me if...”
“Promise.” Rick sighed.
“Like this?" He laid down and pulled Rick back a bit against his chest.
“Yeah, that’s nice.”
“Good.” He gave Rick the only gift he knew to offer for giving him so much already and making his heart so very full. “Rick, muHabb, what ever soul I have, would never be enough to pay for this joy." And he eased just the head inside, as Rick had done for him. And he swore to Allah, silently, on his oath as chieftain, that he would stop if Rick so much as tensed.
Rick gasped, and it was a low moan of sound, but it did not really sound like pain. “Don’t do...something stupid now...You can’t sell your soul, Ardeth. I’m not losing you now. More, huh?
He found a chuckle and then a nod. “More.” He promised, moving his lips to Rick’s throat, then just along the nape of his neck before he pushed just a little bit deeper and had to bite his bottom lip, trying not to cry at the feel, at the way Rick’s body opened to his. His own body was only telling him that this felt so good, that it would feel so much better to bury himself in his friend's warmth. And it did feel wonderful, so he used that to draw it out, to memorize each moment as he slowly slid inside. And it was more than even Paradise could be to realize he was completely buried in Rick and there was no sign of pain at all. "Rick?"
“Yeah. Oh God that’s perfect. I want you to move, and I know-- I won't last if you do, and Christ, Ardeth, make love to me, please?"
He wrapped his arms around Rick as best he could. "Yes." He promised it and slid out just a bit before pressing back in. Rick moaned tossing his head back against Ardeth’s shoulder. So he did it again, then again and then found the angle he wanted so he could press against that spot that had so stolen his thoughts when Rick had done so for him. Rick groaned out his name one hand reaching for his own cock but Ardeth pushed it away to wrap his own around the hard flesh instead, wanting to bring Rick pleasure, his own desire could wait. He gritted his teeth against the pleasure, not certain how he was going to keep that vow.
“Ardeth." Rick’s voice broke on his name and then the impossibly tight heat around him squeezed and rippled as Rick’s completion spilled onto his hand and Rick's chest and he could only gasp Rick’s name against his shoulder as he followed. And it was a very long time indeed before he could open his eyes.
“Rick? Habib? Are you all right?” He found the words, carefully stroking along Rick’s chest with his free hand.
“Yeah. God yeah.” Rick pressed back against him and he tightened his arms. Rick chuckled a little. “Never knew it felt half that good.”
“No?” He smiled himself and kissed Rick’s shoulder again. “Now do you believe me then when I say I enjoyed it so?”
“If it felt that good for you, yeah, Ardeth. I believe you.” Rick chuckled again, which felt so very odd and incredibly good given the position they were still in.
“Then I did it right.” He kissed Rick’s neck softly. “It may sting a bit, when I pull away.” He warned because it had for him both times.
“Okay.” Rick nodded and Ardeth could tell he stifled the groan the move caused.
“No stoicism, remember? Are you hurt?” He had not idea what he would do if Rick was except likely never forgive himself.
“Nah. Like you said, a little sore, but it isn’t pain.” Rick rolled over into his arms.
“So you believe me on that too, now?” He smiled but pulled Rick closer and simply enjoyed the embrace. Allah had to know he was too full of wonder and joy to know what else to do but hold onto it as long as he could.
“Yeah, I do.” Rick traced his jaw with one hand. “Did it really feel that good for you, Ardeth?”
“It did.” He smiled and kissed the fingers. “Likely it felt even better, given you knew what to do to make me enjoy it so.”
“Couldn’t feel any better than that, habibi.”
“No?” He smiled a bit more. “Good. Now it is your turn to lie here while I get a cloth to clean us up again. Did we not just bathe?”
Rick chuckled. “Yeah.” But he let Ardeth go. He took a moment to wash in the now slightly cool water and then gathered one of the wet cloths and a drying towel, before returning to sit beside Rick. He wiped the cloth over Rick’s chest and then lower. Rick smiled, his eyes still closed as Ardeth wiped the last traces of his completion from his skin. “Now that’s decadence.”
“Is it?” He smiled and then dried Rick as well before deciding he would be decadent indeed and only wrapped the wet cloth in the drier one and tossed the lot of it onto the floor with his and Rick’s clothes. “We will annoy the staff.”
“Tahiri’s just going to snicker at us.” Rick returned.
“Likely, yes.” Ardeth laid down and then snuggled Rick into his arms as best he could. “I wish I had words to tell you how...unbelievably honored and overjoyed I am, habib.”
“Sounded pretty good right there.” Rick’s voice was a bit deeper still. Ardeth smiled.
“Was it? I have never, in my life known joy like you have shown me these last few nights, Rick. Truly.”
“Yeah, amazing’s kind of an understatement isn’t it?”
“With certainty.” He stroked his hand down Rick’s back. “Shall we doze and then think about dinner?”
“Yeah. Think we can get Tahiri to bring that here too?”
“Doubtful, although I am not certain I care enough for food to go if she does not. Do we want to consider going to dinner?”
“Do we have to?” Rick sighed.
“Hmm, perhaps not. Although I am a bit surprised our host has left us alone this whole day. Thankful, certainly, but surprised. And he did save us all once more from hell. Likely we would all be dead or at least mad by now without his intervention and that of AmmunRa. So, I can bear a bit of teasing I think.”
“I wish like hell he’d leave you alone.” Rick sighed, pulling him closer.
“As do I. But it is only teasing and annoyance, Rick. Nothing more. And I am finding even that easier to bear of late.” He smiled, recalling the exchange he and Imhotep had had that afternoon while he napped. “He is mad but he is not so bad an ally, for all his interest in me. Although I would be very happy if I did not owe him any more kisses.”
“Bastard. So help me Ardeth if he tries anything close to what he did that time I was here...I’ll kill him. I don’t care if I piss off Ammun.”
Ardeth sighed. “No I doubt you would. Rick, habib, it was only a kiss. Frightening yes, and uncomfortable but not so bad as to be worth your soul or the fate of Egypt.”
“I think you’re worth it.”
Allah help him but that made him flush, but it truly warmed his heart. “I...have no words for how honored that makes me feel, habib. But truly, no harm has been done. If– at any time I truly think it might happen, or come even close to happening, I will I swear to you, tell you, or beseech the bright son of Osiris as he told me too and have him bring you to my side. Is that oath enough for you Rick?”
“Yeah, I guess. It just scares the hell out of me, Ardeth. Getting here too late some day you know?”
“Of not being able to help me when I need it? Yes, I have come to realize that. Odd as it is Rick, do you not think I feel the same way? I did not follow you to hell because we are comrades in arms you know.”
“No?” Rick smiled a bit. But he began to stroke one hand through Ardeth’s hair and down his back a bit. “Why did you then?”
“Because, while I did not truly understand how deep the love was at the time, I knew my heart would ache beyond anything I have ever known if I had lost you.”
“Sometimes you are so damned– Arabic, Ardeth.”
He chuckled. “Are you telling me I say too much or not enough?” He had to ask.
“You take twenty words to say something you could do in four.”
“Ah. So, I love you, Rick, would do then?” He smiled a bit more.
Rick propped himself up on one arm and looked down at him. “Yeah. It would.”
He nodded. “Then that is why I came to hell, Rick. I love you. What other reason do we need?”
“None.” Rick smiled just a little. “I love you too.”
“Allah, I hope so.” He smiled back. “Considering all the lovemaking we have been doing.”
“Well there is that.” Rick nodded. “What did I do to get so lucky, Ardeth?”
“Who am I to question the miracle of this between us, habib? Be thankful, and enjoy it. What else are men to do with Allah’s blessings?”
“Al’hamdil, Allah.” The arabic was flawless.
“Yes.” He agreed with a softer smile and then leaned up and kissed Rick, lightly. “Lie with me, hmm? Let us leave the worries to fend for themselves while we can, and only share this joy between us. I am certain we can talk of other things, hmm?”
“Yeah.” Rick nodded and then kissed him back and pulled Ardeth into his arms again as he lay down. “Tell me about your sister.”
“Rihana?” Ardeth smiled, and called her to mind. It was easy enough to do and he found himself recalling tales of his childhood and hers. Which prompted Rick to share a few of his own, both before his mother’s death and then one or two of escapades he had gotten into in the orphanage in Cairo. Ardeth only listened and chuckled. “I see where Alex gets it from then.”
“Hey.” Rick protested but he laughed too. “You should get Jonathan to tell you some stories about Evie. Alex I’m afraid gets it from both sides.”
“Allah preserve us all. I shall have to find a dozen Medjai to keep him from trouble every time he steps onto Egyptian sands no doubt.”
“Two dozen, at least.” Rick laughed.
“Bis’mil’Allah.” He laughed himself, and it was far better than anything he could recall to lie there in Rick’s arms, having shared the love they had and laugh about life. And he took the moment for what it was, a reflection of Paradise, and stored it away for when he would need it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I really don’t care how you care to rationalize it Kaptain, those people appeared, shot at us, grabbed your prisoner and disappeared right out of my hospital.” Dr. Weiss took another shot of the whiskey he’d been drinking.
“People do not disappear into thin air, Doctor.” Schwartz corrected.
“Yes well if we weren’t out here in the middle of the God forsaken Sahara searching for a lost pyramid of gold and a way to take back an army of undead jackal warriors to our Fuhrer, Kaptain I might believe you more.”
Schwartz sighed. “The pyramid may indeed be of gold, after all we know the ancient Egyptians were wealthy. Look at that tomb the English uncovered a few years back. However, I do not think we will find this mythical army of Anubis the Fuhrer hopes for. So, I am left with no answer for how those three managed the rescue. And what in the world was a woman doing with them? They’re arabs for God’s sake, they keep their women veiled and in harems.”
“Apparently not.” Weiss sighed. “And the man with the shotgun, did not look the least bit like an Arab. He was as Aryan as we are.”
“Which of course makes no sense at all.”
“Fancies himself another T.E. Lawrence perhaps?” Weiss poured a bit more whiskey and then handed him the bottle. Schwartz considered for a moment and then took a drink himself.
“Hmm, there’s a thought. Might explain why these men are out here trying to keep us from the gold. If he’s got them mobilized against the Reich somehow. That might well be true you know.”
“Still doesn’t give us a single clue as to who they are though.”
“No but it does mean that somewhere in the lot there’s one who speaks English. So if we have to we take out another patrol or two or three until we find one.”
“Nasty business that.” Weiss sighed. “For all their backward foolishness, they are brave men to fight the Reich’s cannons with swords and horses, Captain.”
“I do not doubt their bravery, Doctor, only their logic and their sense. But they fight well, and we lost at least as much as they did on the battlefield, so they are not as backward as we might believe. I must press on to Ahm Shere, but I will not do so blind. And if I can not get the answers I need from the men we capture, then perhaps our S.S. Major had the right idea. I will use the men we take as bait for those who come to rescue them, and I doubt very much that one of those three who came to rescue their comrade so miraculously does not speak English.” He smiled a bit, and then downed his whiskey. “What must be done for Germany, will be done.”
“Seige Heil, Captain.” Dr. Weiss offered, And if there was sarcasm to the farewell, Schwartz was willing to pretend there was not.
“Good night, Doctor.” He rose to his feet and went to speak to his Lieutenants about the scouting patrols.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Imhotep watched the two young men for a while. At the moment they were doing no more than talking, lying comfortably in each others arms. However, Ardeth’s thoughts were easily read in the Arabic they were formed of and they left no doubt as to how he and O’Connell had spent most of their day here so far. And he was almost surprised by his jealousy as by the fact that he was really not the least bit annoyed that they were so obviously in love. It was, in an odd way, reassuring that Ardeth had found such pleasure in O’Connell’s arms. No doubt that would annoy the American. Perhaps he should offer them both his congratulations just to see what reaction that got. He smiled a bit more. Nothing in either his oaths to AmmunRa, or his role as host said he could tease them both. And while he had no intention of pushing Ardeth too much farther in the kisses the young man still owed him, it might be amusing to press the point that he had no intention of using beginning moves in the game if his opponents were so determined to move onto higher levels.
He debated with himself for a moment and then gave Ardeth a small gift, the man no doubt would not bother to appreciate and stirred the curtains with a thought then waited a few moments longer before walking in. “Good afternoon, Medjai.” He smiled as he walked into the room.
Neither man had actually moved from the bed, although both sheets were now securely in place. Ardeth was more or less in O’Connell’s arms as they leaned against the bolsters at the top of the bed. There was no doubting that Ardeth’s was embarrassed, but it was tempered by a great deal of joy and not a small bit of amusement both at his brother’s possessiveness and what he perceived to be a situation Imhotep himself would find annoying.
“Do you want something?” O’Connell asked, with more than a bit of anger to the words.
He met the man’s gaze with a slight smile and raised one eyebrow. “Of course, but that is hardly news to any of us is it?” He let his gaze travel over Ardeth in obvious appreciation, and truly, the young man looked entirely too desirable lying naked and tousled and obviously well sated in O’Connell’s arms. And the anger that blossomed in O’Connell’s thoughts was well worth whatever annoyance Imhotep felt at seeing them so entangled. “I came to invite you both to dinner, Medjai.” He purposefully switched to Egyptian. “There is news from the gods I would tell to you, Ardeth. So if you can disentangle yourself from your brother’s arms long enough to dress and join me for dinner it would be wise.” He smiled a bit more. “No doubt however, if you decline, your brother will not mind feeding you dinner in bed as he did lunch. Although I doubt he will take kindly to the ropes.”
Ardeth’s eyes darkened a bit. “You would not.”
He shrugged. “And are you willing to wager your brother’s peace of mind on that, Ardeth Bay?”
Ardeth sighed, but he tensed all the same, which did not go unnoticed by O’Connell either. “We shall come to dinner, priest of AmmunRa.”
“Good. Your bath water has grown cold, but no doubt you will benefit from the shock hmm? Bastet knows I do not see how your brother holds you so close and remains unaffected. Truly, Ardeth Bay, I will thank my god for the gift of seeing you so...satisfied. I had expected it to take far longer to convince you that sharing your bed with another man could be so pleasurable.” He smiled again, and let the desire color his voice. “Ammun knows you would tempt the gods themselves if you desired to, Ahba, of that I have no doubt. Dress, come to dinner, and we shall see if I have learned enough of patience for us all, hmm?” He chuckled and walked over to the door. “Dinner is in just over an hour, Medjai.” He switched back to Arabic.
O’Connell muttered something under his breath in English, but it left little doubt that it was an insult. And he owned the man a few himself. “Which tribe do your cousin’s daughters belong to Ardeth?”
Surprise at the question stole Ardeth’s thoughts back to Arabic. “The ninth. Why?”
He smiled and cast a last enjoyable look over his shoulder. “I look forward to seeing what your brother has taught you, Ardeth. No doubt they are worth letting me do so, are they not?” And he left the two men alone to deal with the repercussions of that. And the gods had to know he truly was looking forward both to the next kiss he claimed from the young man as well as to know what their next move in the game would be.
Maghrib:ToC