Asr
Chapter 3
Rick wasn’t sure how long he had been standing there holding Ardeth way too tightly, but it had to have been a while. And while it seemed to have helped with the occasional bursts of panic that kept recurring every time he closed his eyes it hadn’t helped at all with the desire he was trying to beat down with a stick. He knew he should just let Ardeth go and maybe get well and truly drunk, punch a few holes in walls and then find a deserted corner someplace and let himself cry until he was sick. Then maybe he could deal with it. But if felt so good to have Ardeth held close like this, alive and whole, with no pain to try and ease even for a moment or two before he died. And that just made him hug his friend that much tighter again. Which made him remember that he wanted to just tumble Ardeth into bed and touch every inch of him for pure pleasure and then maybe he could forget how it had sounded to hear him being taken as roughly as possible, and all too often there towards the end by somebody who could have been Rick’s own reflection. And God that just made him want to be sick.
Ardeth hugged him tightly, stroking one hand down his back after a while, obviously trying to comfort him some, but it was hard not to want more than that. He’d kiss his friend senseless if he though for a second he could keep it sane. Having Ardeth in his arms when he woke had felt so good, he was amazed he’d managed to stop him from undressing earlier because it would have been so easy to say yes. So easy to run his hands over him like he wanted to. And Ardeth, crazy idiot that his friend was of course just offered himself like a dream. And it was just so much like his life to let him grasp everything he wanted and be too damned unsure of himself to risk taking it.
"Damned unmanageable elephant, huh?" He managed to ask finally, a little happy that his voice sounded rough around the bitter humor but not really too bad.
"Is it?" Ardeth shook his head. "Then I do not understand at all." He sighed and the tone finally registered in Rick’s mind somewhere. Almost the same resignation that usually lay over Ardeth’s voice when he was talking about dealing with the damned thing. And Rick was not going to think about that now. Because then he’d forget that he was no where near together enough to be even considering tumbling Ardeth into bed. Which he wanted. Wanted just once to run his hands over Ardeth’s skin and feel him enjoy it, hear that soft rough voice break on pleasure and not pain. And God help him, because he knew now that if he got here too late one night, and the damned thing had so much as pinned Ardeth to the bed again to kiss him he’d tear the damned thing to pieces and to hell with braking a promise. He tightened his arms around Ardeth, almost desperately, to keep those images at bay.
"Do you-- wish to kiss me then?" Ardeth asked, and the words were hesitant, as if he really doubted that.
"If you had any idea how damned much I do, Ardeth you'd tell me to keep my hands off." He knew he really should let go.
"Why?" Ardeth asked, pushing him a way just a bit so that he could met Rick’s eyes. And it was a shock to see nothing like pain in the soft dark brown, when he had gotten so used to seeing agony. If anything Ardeth only looked confused. "I would hardly object, Rick.”
Like you have any idea where that would get us. Oh God, somebody give me strength here, please? "Yeah, but, you deserve more than that, Ardeth. Damn it you mean more than..." He wasn’t sure how he was going to say it.
"Bis’mil’Allah..." Ardeth growled and then to Rick’s utter shock just pulled him close again and kissed him. And it was gentle like all of Ardeth’s kisses were at first. Of course it was, but Rick didn’t have it in him this time to keep it that way for more than a few seconds. Then it was pure desire, and he pulled Ardeth closer liking the way that made his friend groan. He buried one hand in Ardeth’s hair, put the other flat against the small of his back and kissed him. He hadn’t meant to push his tongue insistently into Ardeth’s mouth but Ardeth didn’t seem to mind any, giving the kiss back as deeply as Rick gave it. And damn if Ardeth wasn’t getting way too good at this. He’d never in his life felt anything quite like kissing another man with real passion and hunger. But it was even better than he’d thought it might be. Too good really, made him want all sorts of other things that he knew felt even better. He groaned again, trying not to sob and pushed Ardeth away a bit, breaking this kiss with a muttered curse.
“Please Ardeth." He managed the words, but wasn’t at all sure what he was asking for. Maybe just the control to stop this craziness.
"Please what, Rick? What do you want my friend? What do you desire, hmm? Tell me, and I swear it, I shall see it done." Ardeth’s voice was breathless but so damned adamant. And Rick knew an oath when he heard one. And of course Ardeth meant every word of it and none of it the way Rick wanted him too. But it made him smile, because it was just so much like Ardeth.
He chuckled just a bit, obviously surprising Ardeth as much as he surprised himself. “Do you know how perfect that sounds, Ardeth?" He combed his fingers through Ardeth hair and then traced his jaw, liking the contrast of softness and strength a whole lot. "Maybe, what I want isn't a good idea though. What do you want?" That was a much better idea. If he could keep his mind on what Ardeth wanted this would be okay.
Ardeth only stared at him and then shook his head a bit. "I do not understand again. Please, Rick, I am so confused already. Let us set politeness and propriety aside now, please?"
He wondered to himself where Ardeth got the idea they were doing either anyway. "Have you ever known me to be any good at either, Ardeth?"
That made Ardeth smile. "No, my friend truly neither is a trait I would ascribe to you. Then tell me, truly, with no pretenses either, what it is you want? What it is we are building here between us. I thought we had agreed that we could not risk our friendship to this-- desire? And I know you do not wish to hurt Evelyn with it. So what is it you want from me Rick?”
“Evie told me that if I didn’t let myself love you, like I want to. That she’d kick my butt. Because she knows I love you, and she loves you too. God Ardeth if you had any idea how much I want you right now you’d tell me to keep my hands off.”
“Evelyn did what?” Ardeth only stared at him, obviously as shocked as Rick had been. “Truly?”
“Yeah. Surprised the hell out of me too. Guess we gave a lot away without meaning too because I didn’t even have to tell much of what got us into this mess.”
Ardeth sighed. “I do not understand at all. Are you saying you want to share my bed, Rick?”
And God but it sounded so good. He could just imagine how Ardeth would look, lost in pleasure his head tossed back, maybe even choking on Rick’s name as he came. Oh God, bad idea, O’Connell. He’s your best friend remember? And he’s got no idea at all about sex with another guy. Don’t you dare mess this up now you idiot. "Is it really that easy, Ardeth?” He managed to ask. “What if-- we're wrong, huh? What if I ruin everything between us?" He almost managed to convince himself with that, almost found it in him to just let Ardeth go.
"We have gone to far down this path to stop now, Rick. I know that. You know that. And I have no more knowledge of tomorrow than you do. But I know this, you are no coward, my friend, nor thanks be to Allah am I. So tell me what you want, Rick O'Connell." Ardeth sounded so certain, and just as stubborn as he always was. And Rick really didn’t want to face not ever having anything but regrets between them either. And Ardeth was brave and strong and stubborn enough to not let Rick take anything he wasn’t willing to give without fighting. Rick might not have a whole lot of faith in himself at that moment but he was damned certain he still knew that no meant no and you listened to it. So, as long as Ardeth knew that too, maybe it would be all right after all.
He reached over hesitantly and traced Ardeth’s jaw with one hand. "You're the one who's good with words, Ardeth. Just, please, tell me to stop if you want okay? Or anything else okay?" Rick slid his hand back into Ardeth's hair to cup the back of his skull, one finger tracing along where he had taken the blow the day before. And he smiled because it was just too perfect and said it. "I want to make love with you all day long and to hell with the rest of the world. Trade kisses until we can’t breathe, touch you until neither of us can even think. That’s what I want to do, Ardeth. Now. Before we lose the chance or it all goes to hell again. Is that blunt enough?"
Ardeth flushed, the color just making him look even more kissable, but it answered the question before Ardeth managed a reply. "Yes." And then to Rick’s utter surprise his friend reached over with a calm assurance that Rick was almost sure a second later was fake and began to unbutton Rick's shirt. "Please? Now?" Ardeth smiled, and it was a teasing sort of smile that made Rick think of all sorts of wicked things.
"Yeah., lets." Rick pulled his close and kissed him again, long and deep. He could feel Ardeth arch into the kiss, making a soft sort of moan in the back of his throat that Rick really liked a lot. And it was really good to just kiss him like this until he could barely think and was pretty sure Ardeth couldn’t think at all. And Ardeth really did enjoy kissing, that was certain. So he let one kiss lead to another and then another. And while Rick always seemed to win the increasingly long, playful duels of their tongues against each others he kinda got the idea Ardeth didn’t mind losing at all. And it was even easier to just keep kissing him and walk them back to the bed than it had been yesterday, mostly because Ardeth went with him willingly, pulling Rick closer each time they got separated by more than an inch. Rick broke the last kiss with a groan and tried to find his voice but Ardeth only smiled and then sat down without Rick asking him to.
"More?" He asked softly, something deeper than pleading in his voice.
Rick chuckled again, because it was just so perfect and so Ardeth to keep surprising him like this.
"Yeah." He nodded, tracing Ardeth’s jaw again. “There’s a whole lot more, Ardeth.”
"Is it wrong do you think if I am truly thankful to Allah that you said that?" Ardeth asked, but he reached over to finish unbuttoning Rick's shirt as much as he could without waiting for a reply.
"Probably a sin somewhere, yeah." Rick was pretty sure it was. But he was well enough acquainted with sin that this wasn’t going to bother him any as long as it didn’t bother Ardeth. "But then again, Allah's merciful so he'll forgive you if you don't mean it as one right?" Somehow he didn’t doubt that Allah would be no more proof against Ardeth’s charm than any of them.
"Always." he agreed, but he took hold of Rick's shirt and pulled the ends loose so he could finish the buttons. And Rick let him, because it was fun and because it made Ardeth smile. "There. What fondness you westerners have for buttons I will never understand."
"They're fun to undo?" Rick returned with a grin. They were, and he wished there was something so easily undoable about the robes Ardeth was wearing because then he could undo those too.
"Hmm, fun is not the word I would have chosen, no." Ardeth grumbled but he met Rick's eyes fully and then slid his hands under the soft cotton of Rick’s shirt. And the soft caress of warm fingers against his skin felt so good he had to catch his breath. Ardeth swallowed hard, his fingers curling a bit as he slid them up to grip Rick's shoulders and then down his arms, pushing the shirt out of the way until it fell to the floor
Rick just smiled, liking the dark fire in Ardeth’s eyes as he looked at him. It was a nice contrast, Ardeth’s sun dark hands on his skin which was paler than his friend’s. Ardeth’s eyes lingered a moment or two over a few of the scars Rick carried, but there was only understanding in his gaze, not pity. Ardeth was a warrior too and scars were just what you picked up in surviving. If anything the fire in Ardeth’s eyes only burned brighter and then he placed his right hand lightly over Rick's heart. And Rick smiled, understanding the unspoken prayer. Yeah, I’m glad you’re all right too, Ardeth.
"No fair, you got dressed again." He teased softly, but he ran his hands over Ardeth like Ardeth had for him, feeling warm skin just under than dark material in his way. So he reached for the ties with determination. "Show me how to do these." He pulled at the lacings, relieved when Ardeth undid the knots, because he was likely to tangle them hopelessly.
"The rest is easy, I did not bother with the inside ties." Ardeth grinned.
"Even better." And it was, because he really wanted to get Ardeth out of them. He pulled the lacing free and then kissed him again, before finally repeating that soft caress without anything between his fingers and Ardeth's skin. Ardeth gasped softly against his lips and he had to pull back. "Ardeth?" He paused with his hands on Ardeth’s shoulders and told himself firmly he’d stop if Ardeth wanted him to.
"How can something so simple feel so good?" Ardeth asked. Rick smiled and then sighed himself as Ardeth proved the point by giving the caress back again. And he wanted to just keep those strong fingers against his skin long enough to really enjoy it.
He tightened his hands on Ardeth’s shoulders for a moment and then slid his hands down Ardeth’s arms until the robe was lying on the bed behind him. Something shy and a little worried filled the dark eyes now as Rick let himself look over the skin he’d revealed. And it wasn’t like he hadn’t looked before but it was different when he was trying to ease pain or fever or even offer a bit of comfort in the middle of the damned game of desire the creature was playing. This was for no other reason than desire. Ardeth had his own share of scars amidst and through the tattoos but none of it was anything other than appealing. Because it spoke a whole lot of strength and stubbornness and Rick had always found both attractive. He wondered absently what the ones in Egyptian said but only smiled and ran his hands back up Ardeth’s arms to his shoulders. "I'm not questioning miracles today, Ardeth. Just enjoying them." Rick replied, meaning it completely. Somehow he’d gone from hell to paradise and he was going to enjoy it for however long it lasted. Just so long as Ardeth enjoyed it too.
Ardeth smiled. "As you say." He agreed. "I will count this a miracle, myself." And he traced Rick’s jaw with gentle fingers. Rick turned his head a bit and placed a kiss against his palm. "For later?" Ardeth asked.
"No, just because I can." Rick replied. He wasn’t thinking about later or before, nothing but just this moment and enjoying it completely.
“Hmm, kiss me now then?" Ardeth asked, and he moved back a bit on the bed as he spoke. Rick might have argued for a bit more patience but Ardeth pulled him back with him and didn’t seem to care about it. So neither did he. He just laughed and followed the tug, catching himself on his arms, one hand on either side of Ardeth. Ardeth didn’t seem to like that much distance between them either because he reached up and pulled Rick down into another kiss. Which was fine by Rick. Ardeth was a lot of fun to kiss because it was so obvious he enjoyed it so much. Rick started the kiss gently, taking his time and enjoying those soft breathless moans Ardeth made as he deepened it until he was sure Ardeth couldn’t think. And this time it wasn’t so much a substitute for lovemaking but a promise of what it was going to be like. He lost himself for a while in the hot heady feel of Ardeth beneath him and kissing him back with a real hunger for it. Burying his hands in Ardeth’s hair and letting the desire just build slow and sure.
Rick pulled away finally and gasped in a deep breath of his own. "Oh God."
"Hmm," Ardeth sighed, but he didn’t say anything else only laid there with a small smile and then slid his hands down Rick's back. The look in his eyes changed from half-focused to determined and then the hands left his back and ran with more hesitation down his chest stopping at his stomach which was about as far as Ardeth could reach with Rick’s weight mostly on top of him as it was. And he was really thankful for that because another few inches down and he was going to forget his promises to keep this slow and just hold that hand against himself and enjoy it. He swallowed hard and found a bit more patience.
"Ardeth," he warned, wishing there wasn’t so much outright lust in his voice. Ardeth looked up from where his hand was with uncertainty but it was still so easy to see the passion.
"Yes?" Ardeth asked softly.
He traced his friend’s jaw again, trying to be gentle because this was going too fast to be good for someone so unused to it. He knew that. "You sure you want to do this?" He had to ask.
"If by this you mean make love with you, yes I am certain." Ardeth answered, but he swallowed hard and there was something shy and uncertain in his eyes now, despite the passion. "I am only without any idea at all how to do so."
Rick sighed at the honesty in that but he had to smile too. You are so damned cute when you do that, Ardeth. God help me if you ever figure it out. Crazy combination you know more guts than sense like normal and all shy on top of it. You’d try anyone’s self control Ardeth. He kind of liked the idea of trying Ardeth’s a little, seeing what his friend liked and what he enjoyed. That sounded really good right now. He smiled a bit more, with desire this time along with amusement. Ardeth shivered just a bit, but he smiled back. "What do you like?" Rick asked, letting the desire darken his voice too. And that made the same fire flare back into Ardeth’s, passion taking the place of uncertainty. His friend was naive yeah, but it was so obvious he was enjoying learning too. "It's mostly the same, Ardeth, touching like this anyway." Rick moved his hand from Ardeth’s jaw to trace his fingertips down his throat to his chest and then feather light down his side over his ribs, because he liked that a lot himself and it was a good place to start. Ardeth closed his eyes and caught his breath on a swallowed sort of moan that was too damned arousing all on its own. "Like that?" It wasn’t really a question more like an affirmation.
"Yes." Ardeth sighed. "Do you, like the same then?" He tried to mimic the caress and Rick's caught his own breath in a gasp, because it was really nice to feel. But he was in a lot of trouble if Ardeth picked everything up so quickly. Really nice trouble sure, but trouble. Ardeth smiled. "Good. I like it a great deal when you kiss me."
"Yeah, I noticed that." Rick chuckled but he kissed Ardeth again, a long hot slide of tongues and shared breath, adding more teasing to it now. Ardeth just tried to pull him closer but he kept most of his weight on his arms, not wanting to risk the contact yet. Ardeth growled and then arched his back a bit and pressed himself full against Rick instead. And that was so good he had to break the kiss with a groan. "Tease." He growled, but he pushed back a bit and enjoyed the feel. There was no doubting the fact that Ardeth was enjoying this as much as he was.
"Is that not part of loving? Teasing?" Ardeth asked as he ran his hands down Rick's back again pausing for a moment over that nasty scar he'd gotten in Tunisia. Gunshots and blades didn't hurt half as much as hot metal that was certain. Ardeth continued the caresses up and down his spine and over his sides. But the touches were firmer now, not teasing so much.
"It can be." Rick agreed. "But I kinda thought we'd done enough teasing yesterday." Even if it hadn't been intentional teasing, just really bad timing he still recalled the utter frustration he'd felt at being pulled from Ardeth's arms just as it was getting really interesting.
"I have never in my life been so unhappy to be woken for prayers. Allah is truly merciful because on the morning of the day my tribes went to war I could barely find it in my heart to do more than complain." Ardeth grumbled and it was enough to make Rick laugh. If Ardeth was complaining to Allah it had to mean a hell of a lot to him.
"Really?" he had to ask.
"Yes." Ardeth smiled himself. "So perhaps, as you say, the teasing can wait." His eyes darkened a little and then he rolled them both over, surprising Rick some as he came to be lying under Ardeth instead of the other way around. And it was still strange as hell, even a little more so because they were only half dressed but it still felt good too. Which was proof he was a little nuts and enjoying this way too much. But he wasn't going to argue with either.
Ardeth didn't seem to have the same idea of keeping distance between them though and it would have been so easy to just reach up, grip his friend's hips and pull him hard against him. "And this isn't teasing?" he asked, contenting himself with stroking his hands down Ardeth's back, and no further for now.
"It was not meant as such no." He raised himself up on his arms and looked down at Rick for a long moment. Then he just kissed him. And for once there was no real easing into it first, only deep and long and with a hungry desire Rick returned happily. He let his hands stroke slowly over Ardeth's chest and along his sides, keeping it as gentle as he knew how, but he did let them stroke quickly over his hips once or twice. Ardeth certainly didn't seem to mind. But finally, he broke the kiss with a groan and then pushed himself to his feet. "Stay." The word was a soft plea, odd to hear in a voice that was so used to giving orders and having them listened too. It took the worry he'd just started to feel and he smiled. He was more than willing to let Ardeth draw any lines he wanted on this, but taking orders was something else.
"Why?" Rick sat up, until he was sitting on the edge of the bed, his feet on the floor. He reached for Ardeth with one hand, letting his fingers trace just as light as he knew how over one hip.
Ardeth swallowed hard, and it was obvious he was trying to find his own self control for something. Rick put what support he could into his eyes and only kept his gaze and the one point of contact he had, his fingers resting lightly on Ardeth's hip. Somehow the uncertainty was just as attractive as the passion in his eyes. Then Ardeth found whatever courage he was trying for and put one hand on each of Rick's knees, leaning forward a little as he did so. And nothing Rick had even let himself consider prepared him for seeing Ardeth just kneel in front of him and slide his hands along Rick's boots and then back up to the buckles, head bowed a bit as he looked at his hands on Rick's boots.
"God." Rick heard the harshness in his own voice but there wasn't much he could do about it. "Damn it, Ardeth..." He swallowed hard, wanting to reach out and make Ardeth meet his eyes and if he let himself do that he was going to tangle his fingers in the long waves and he wasn't going to let go. And Ardeth was way too innocent for all the thoughts that brought to Rick's mind.
Apparently just the words were enough though. Ardeth looked up from his boots, and there was such uncertainty to his eyes that it came too close to submission and that along with the way his skin was flushed with passion and his lips swollen from Rick's kisses all made Rick nearly choke on his own desire.
"Oh, Christ...." It was all he could get out. And he really meant it as a prayer or a curse or both. Because there was no way he was going to get himself back under control without help.
"What is it you would have Issa's aid in, my friend?" Ardeth asked, and it took him a bit to place the Arabic name for Jesus and register the question. It was time enough for Ardeth to finish unbuckling his boots and get them off his feet though. And damn if just that didn't make Ardeth blush. Or maybe he'd just realized what position he'd put them in. But Rick didn't think so, because knowing Ardeth he didn't have any idea how damned appealing he was at the moment.
"Patience." Rick groaned. Please God, I am not this good, honest. "Teasing isn't close." He growled out the complaint.
"I did not mean to tease. Only finish undressing you." Ardeth replied, with that same damned honesty but he reached up to put his hands back on Rick’s knees, sliding them up just a bit, hesitantly. And that was so much more temptation than Rick could take right now.
"No, of course you didn't. God, Ardeth do you have any idea at all what..no, never mind." Because of course Ardeth didn't. Rick doubted a whole lot Ardeth had any idea of what was going through his mind. Rick had a really good imagination and it didn't even take any to picture how Ardeth would look kneeling there, undoing Rick's pants, maybe caressing a little and then leaning forward, soft lips open and...Oh God, not now, O'Connell. You'll scare him to death. NO. He gripped Ardeth's hands and shook his head. "Not yet, okay?" He found a smile.
"I would-- enjoy it I think?" Ardeth whispered. Rick was pretty sure he would. And when he was less out of control it would have been a lot of fun.
"Not a good idea." Rick shook his head. Which didn't lessen the confusion or uncertainty in Ardeth's eyes any.
"As you wish." He sighed, glancing back down, but the disappointment was obvious. Rick reached over and ran one hand through his hair, then along his jaw wanting to let him know it wasn't anything he was doing. Ardeth turned his head a bit and returned the kiss Rick had placed in his palm earlier. It just made it even harder not to think about what his lips would feel like somewhere else.
"Ardeth." He wished he could keep the roughness out of his voice but it wasn't happening. "I am so not anybody's idea of a saint. Stand up, please?"
"Certainly." Ardeth rose to his feet with all that natural grace Rick found so attractive. "Did I-- do something I should not have?" He asked quietly. "It was only something I enjoyed before."
"Yeah, I can see that." And that was good to know, because it gave him some hope that Ardeth wasn't as naive as he might have thought. He wondered despite himself who besides Nefshen Ardeth had shared a bed with. But he was willing to bet no matter what the context had been Ardeth had no idea what it made Rick think of to have him kneeling like that. And that gave him an entirely different idea. He chuckled a bit. "You sit then." He suggested, although it was really more of an order than a suggestion. That seemed to annoy Ardeth though, so he made a note to ask from now on. Ardeth wasn't the sort of guy you really ordered around much anyway. But he traded places with Rick without arguing and that was good enough for now. And he flushed again as Rick put his hands on Ardeth's knees in return, although he didn't play fair and they were closer to his thighs than his knees and then slid them down along his legs to his feet. But the desire that caught in Ardeth's eyes as Rick knelt before him was worth it. He had to smile. "Good?"
"Yes." Ardeth nodded, swallowing hard, and obviously trying for a deep breath. It made Rick wonder if maybe Ardeth had a bit more knowledge of how arousing this was than Rick had thought.
"Yeah." He agreed and let his fingers find the buckles of Ardeth's boots and undo them, but he didn't once look away from Ardeth's eyes, watching the dark brown light up with desire and pleasure both. And he almost asked if Ardeth was enjoying this for a change but that might just bring back to many unpleasant memories of the teasing Ardeth took so often here and Rick was just not going to even think about the damned thing right now. He pulled the boots from Ardeth's feet and set them aside. Then he ran his hands up Ardeth's legs to reach for his sash. "Still good?" He had to ask, because whether he'd wanted to or not he suddenly remembered not only how naive Ardeth was to all this, but the very unwelcome way he'd had to get used to some of it. And Rick was not going to push too fast or too far when Ardeth had dealt with way too much of that already.
"If you do not stop asking me that, I will get annoyed." Ardeth smiled, but the light in his eyes hadn't lessened any. Rick chuckled, enjoying that and then undid his sash and pulled it free, dropping it beside them on the floor. "Why would you not let me do that for you?" Ardeth asked softly.
How to answer that? Then he though of one and stayed where he was on his knees, even though he hadn't planned on it. "Because, then I would have wanted you to do this." He answered and let his hands do what he had imagined Ardeth's doing, tease lightly over the lacings of his pants. Ardeth groaned, and leaned his head back, breaking their gaze as his eyes closed. Rick smiled, enjoying the outright pleasure he could see on Ardeth's face and the very real evidence of his arousal under Rick's fingers. "And then this." He whispered, and figured he was going to go as far with this as Ardeth let him. It was really arousing just to watch Ardeth's reactions he decided, which was enough for him right now. He undid the lacing of Ardeth's pants with more assurance than he really had for the task, but once that was done, easing the rest of Ardeth's clothes from him was simple. And Ardeth didn't even open his eyes much less object only groaned a little, and let it happen. Rick swallowed hard himself, enjoying the picture Ardeth made, sitting there completely naked to Rick's eyes now. Long muscles and controlled strength that were really appealing. He reached out with one hand just as gently as he could for Ardeth's cock and then stroked it once, firmly, because there was no going back now, even if they stopped. "And then this." He explained. Ardeth gave a low choked off cry, and his muscles tensed, hands clenched into fists at his sides. But he didn't ask Rick to stop or even try to pull him away. So Rick stroked him again, more confident now. And he had let himself forget how good this could feel when it was someone else he was stroking and not himself. He gave up on the control he'd been working on since they'd started. "And then this. Look at me, Ardeth." He made it an order, forgetting that Ardeth didn't like orders. He wanted Ardeth to know exactly what Rick had though of when he'd knelt at his feet like that. And he wanted to see it in his eyes when he did.
Ardeth opened his eyes and groaned, not even trying to smother the sound and Rick smiled. And he knew it was a hungry lustful sort of smile but he didn't care. Because Ardeth was staring back at him with just as much hunger. He gave himself one moment to make sure this was okay with himself, then leaned forward and replaced his fingers with his lips. Licking without preamble from base to tip. Ardeth gave a strangled gasp that might have been Rick's name and tossed his head back sharply. Rick smiled and just did it again. Then Ardeth's hands griped his head and right shoulder and pushed him away. "Stop." The pleading note cut through Rick's own passion with a rough edge of panic.
"What's wrong?" Rick asked, half rising to his feet. Oh God I'm sorry. Damn it Rick you know he's got no idea about this. I'm so sorry.
"Wrong? Nothing." Ardeth shook his head, swallowing hard. "I only could not stand that much pleasure for long."
"Oh, hell." He let his breath out in a groan. "Crazy idiot, that's the point." Rick shook his head but he smiled now. Trust Ardeth to make him stop because he was enjoying something. He leaned over kissed Ardeth quickly on the lips, fully intending to go back to his knees. "Just lay back and enjoy."
"Not without you." Ardeth's voice was firm. And he managed to grip Rick's shoulders tightly. "Please? Lie with me?" Ardeth's voice was deeper with passion than Rick had ever heard it. And it was a low soft sort of plea, that was impossible to ignore. Besides which it sounded really, really good to Rick too. "Take these off." Ardeth's hands fumbled at his belt.
"Stubborn...oh..." Rick groaned, shuddering despite himself as Ardeth's fingers brushed his cock through his pants. Ardeth smiled a bit and then repeated the caress firmly this time. Rick shuddered harder at that which only seemed to make Ardeth enjoy it more and stroke him again with even more pressure. Then his other hand managed to undo Rick's belt. He was going to offer to help but Ardeth looked so determined he only let him finish. Finally, Ardeth pulled the pants apart with not a lot of finesse or gentleness really but Rick wasn't going to complain. The hunger in his friend's eyes was too real for that.
"Lacings are easier." Ardeth grumbled with honest annoyance but he smiled.
Rick smiled back and then groaned as Ardeth repeated the caress along bare skin this time. "God." Ardeth smiled more obviously amused with the cry, but there was real curiosity and desire in those dark eyes ad he finished getting Rick's remaining clothes down his legs and onto the floor. Rick stepped out of them obligingly and let Ardeth look his fill just like Rick had. Ardeth whispered a soft word in what had to be Medja and Rick flushed a bit, because it was close enough to the Arabic that he didn't doubt it meant the same thing. And it was arousing as anything else that Ardeth thought he was beautiful. Ardeth licked his lips, probably nervously, but it was a move that Rick was sure he had no idea was so damned arousing. Then he reached over to trace his fingers lightly down Rick's stomach which only made the desire worse and then like most things showed more courage than sense and traced his fingers over Rick's cock "Ardeth..." Rick had to catch his hand and put a stop to that. "Stop that."
"Why?" He smiled a little. And there was honest enjoyment in his eyes. Rick had to remind himself that naive did not always mean innocent exactly. "You feel good." Ardeth whispered and then stroked him again with just the tip of one finger. Rick groaned, low and desperate despite himself and arched into that caress. And it took everything he had not to just keep a hold of Ardeth's wrist and bring that hand back to his cock.
"Enough, huh?" Rick managed, harshly. But he found the self control to pull Ardeth's hand completely away. But that was as much control as he had. So he pushed Ardeth back onto the bed without a word, burying his fingers back in Ardeth’s hair and just kissed him. There wasn’t a long gentleness first in this kiss only hunger and lust and a rough promise of all the horribly carnal and devastating things Rick really wanted to introduce his friend too. He pressed his tongue deep into Ardeth's mouth as deep as he could, thrusting slightly against Ardeth's tongue and knowing even as he did so that Ardeth wasn't going to get that either. But he also didn't care much. It was easy to roll them onto the bed so Ardeth was lying full out, and Rick was pressed full against him, with no doubt at all to their very mutual arousal. "Now, lie still." Rick growled as he broke the kiss finally. Ardeth shivered as he pulled back and Rick smiled, because there was no way Ardeth was going to be still. Not if Rick could help it "Well, just lie there anyway." He amended.
"Must I?" Ardeth asked, but his hands went down Rick's back and then uncertainly lower, over his hips and as far down as he could manage to reach. Rick shivered at the touch and the rough dark note in Ardeth's voice now. He could really get to like hearing that.
"Please? I want to do this?" Rick smiled, but he could hear the pleading in his own voice.
"Whatever you desire." Ardeth promised
Rick closed his eyes, really wanting to take that as he knew Ardeth hadn't meant it for a long moment. Not even close, O'Connell and you know it. He's brave and crazy and enjoying this yeah, but he is not remotely close to ready for something like that. "Oh that's tempting, you're tempting, later. Just lie there, okay?" He doubted Ardeth would understand a bit of that but it wasn't really meant for him.
Ardeth only nodded and the tightened his hands on Rick's shoulders. There was that same dark whisper to his voice as he spoke though. "Habib."
"We are now, yeah." Rick smiled and then kissed him again, quick and hot, before moving to lick at his throat. Ardeth laid still for a moment and then sighed, obviously enjoying the sensation so Rick did it again, taking his time and enjoying the feel and the taste. Ardeth shivered after another moment and then groaned a bit as Rick let his hands begin to stroke over Ardeth’s chest again, tracing each curve of muscle and bone. Ardeth caught his breath in a soft hiss of breath, ad Rick moved lower, tracing his lips over the strong curve of one collar bone and then nipping lightly. Ardeth’s hands tightened on his shoulders and he gasped out something that Rick wasn’t up to following but it sounded pretty good anyway. He worked lower, with all the patience he could force himself to have, tracing the hard muscles with his tongue, pausing once or twice to lick the outline of a tattoo. Then he licked lightly at one nipple just to see if Ardeth liked that. Ardeth groaned, arching his back into the touch so he took that as a yes and licked again. Then to the other side, and it had been so long since he’d done this with anyone but Evie, but some things you either didn’t forget, or they worked both ways. So he let himself move lower again to nibble at the curve of his ribs. Promising himself he could do this again later, thoroughly. But right now it was too good and he was too far over into crazy himself.
He worked his way to Ardeth's stomach feeling the muscles clench hard at the pleasure. Ardeth moaned softly as he paused there for a moment and then when there was no indication he should stop he let himself do what he'd wanted to do earlier. Took Ardeth's cock in his hand and licked it with no teasing at all, only full promise. Ardeth cried out, another of those choked off gasps of passion that Rick really liked. And it had been years since he'd done this. And Ardeth was not going to be easy to swallow that was certain, but he was determined and really looking forward to it which was a miracle in and of itself so he stopped worrying and only did it. Opened his mouth and took Ardeth as deep as he could. Ardeth cried out again, with no attempt at choking back the sound now. Rick swallowed harder, so tempted to prolong this, and drag that sound out of Ardeth as many times as he could. But there really wasn't time to do so. Ardeth cried out again, and it might have been Rick's name somewhere in the middle of it. But Rick was a little too occupied with trying to remember how to do this and swallow at the same time without gagging. Not that he'd ever had a lot of skill with that part anyway, but he managed it. He raised himself onto one arm to look up at Ardeth as he finished and then smiled and crawled up to gather him close. It seemed to take a bit for the ecstasy to let go, and Rick was almost getting worried. He stroked the tangled hair now, and Ardeth curled a bit toward him and buried his head against Rick's throat. "Ardeth? Habib? Are you okay?" He asked finally.
"Oh most merciful God Rick, that was paradise." Ardeth's voice was a rough whisper but there was no doubting the utter satisfaction either.
"Good." Rick chuckled, trying not to feel too smug about that. Ardeth shifted a bit in his arms and that was really unfair to someone who was trying to be as good as Rick was and give Ardeth time to recover his wits. But he really just wanted to roll Ardeth onto his back and take a few dozen kisses and rub his very insistent cock against Ardeth. Which was not really nearly close to what he wanted but it was more than he was willing to take as it was. Ardeth moved suddenly and rolled over so that he was mostly lying on top of Rick now. "Ardeth..." he hoped his voice didn't sound nearly as desperate as he thought it did.
"What do you wish, Rick? Tell me, hmm? How do I please you so?" One hand stroked down Rick's chest and then surprised the hell out of him by only taking the whole length of his cock in a sure stroke.
"Oh, that's good." Rick shivered. "More?" It was good too.
Ardeth stroked him with one hand, taking some of his weight onto his left arm and then leaning over to kiss Rick fully. And that was even better. He kissed him back, moaning a little breathlessly. Then he buried his hand in Ardeth's hair and just took the kiss as much as Ardeth could give it. Ardeth jerked a bit against him and groaned softly before breaking the kiss to move his lips down to Rick's throat. And it felt just too strange to feel Ardeth's beard against his skin like this. Weird, yeah, but really good to. "Ah, oh that's weird." Rick chuckled, because it almost tickled. "Do it again?"
"This?" Ardeth licked again, and then nipped with his teeth on top of it. Rick groaned, arching his back into the caress and it felt so damned good. Ardeth just repeated the move which was even better.
"Ardeth, harder, huh?" He pleaded, because it was so good to have Ardeth's weight over him like this, hand on his cock and necking like he was young and crazy and maybe back in the Legion now. Only it was better than even sharing pleasure with Rolande had been and that had been a whole lot of fun.
"With which?" Ardeth asked. And Rick wasn't sure what the question was to for a moment. Then he just reached down and slipped his fingers around Ardeth's on his cock and squeezed harder like he liked it. And Ardeth bless him didn't seem to mind at all only tightened his own hand. "Like this?" He asked, voice still rough and low with passion and then he found that spot just under the head that always made Rick jump. And it felt so damned good. It really shouldn't have been so wonderful to have Ardeth holding him like this but it was. God help him when Ardeth had an idea of what he was doing if this was already so good. Ardeth's grip was firm enough now so Rick let go and gripped the sheets beneath him instead. Ardeth just repeated the caress.
"Kiss me?" He pleaded because he needed the contact. Needed to know that there was more here than just a quick grope with a comrade, or a one off with a friend. Because it was more than any of that whatever it was between them. And Ardeth kissed him long and deep and it was so good to share. Rick broke it after a bit to tilt his head back, wishing that Ardeth would understand what that took him to offer. And then being really glad he didn't. Submission was not something Rick offered easily and never once to another man. But Ardeth bless him only kissed the offered skin gently and then nipped lightly like he had before working downwards as Rick had "That tickles." Rick moaned as Ardeth reached his ribs, but it wasn't really a complaint.
"What does?" Ardeth asked, that dark whisper making it so hard to care what the words really were. His lips traced the long knife scar Rick had gotten in that damned mess in prison and he groaned at the feel.
"Your beard I think." He offered for an answer. And it did tickle, but it felt really good too, a rough contrast with the soft wetness of Ardeth's tongue and lips. "Ardeth..." He sighed his friend's name.
"Good?" Ardeth didn't seem to think it really needed an answer he only kept kissing and stroking with ever shorter strokes which was really going to make Rick forget anything else in a moment. He moaned again, not trying to smother it and that was really fun too.
"Yeah, better, um, ease up, huh? Or move...I..." He choked on the last word and had to struggle for all the control he had as his muscles tensed, reaching for the last peak before release.
Ardeth only tightened his grip and then Rick cried out at the feel as Ardeth licked lightly at the head of his cock. Then he couldn't think at all. He tightened his hand in Ardeth hair and pulled harder than he knew he should but he was going to come in a second and Ardeth was not doing that yet. No. He kissed his friend harshly, and then came harder than he expected too when it was only Ardeth's hand on his cock after all. But it tore a cry from him and then a sob and he didn't care about anything but that utter pleasure for a long while. He had to blink a couple of times to focus his eyes again, and then he just smiled. Ardeth was lying half over him, and kissing softly along Rick’s jaw and throat. Which really did feel good. He found the strength to ease his fingers from Ardeth’s hair enough to stroke down his back instead. “Oh God.”
Ardeth chuckled. “That is a compliment is it not?” The voice was still lower and softer than Rick was used to, but he liked that too.
“Yeah. It was.” He agreed.
“Good.” A longer kiss to his throat. “I am truly glad you enjoyed it. But why would you not let me-- please you as you did me? I wanted to try you know.”
Rick shivered a bit at the thought of what that might feel like. “Kind of a lot to expect you to try the first time we did this.” He offered back.
“Was it?” Ardeth raised himself up onto his arm. “You did so for me.”
“Yeah, well-- that’s different. I knew what I was doing.”
“I noticed that.” Ardeth smiled. “It was very wonderful to feel so-- cherished. I only wanted to return that.”
“You did.” He promised, because it really had been wonderful. He traced Ardeth’s jaw with his fingers. “You’re okay with this right?”
“With? Ah, making love with you, you mean? Certainly. Do you expect me to regret it now?”
“Stranger things have happened.”
That made Ardeth chuckle. “With you, Rick that is certainly likely, however, this time no such strangeness. My only regret is that I did not know more of how to please you.” Ardeth kissed him softly. “Teach me that, will you?”
“Teach you what? How to please me?” He laughed himself. “Sounds really decadent, and a lot of fun, but you did just fine without me teaching you.”
“That is good to know.” Ardeth’s smile was soft now. “So next time you will let me taste you, yes?”
And damn if he didn’t feel himself flush at that. “It’s kinda a hard thing to get used to, really. The taste I mean.”
“Is it?” There was uncertainty back in the warm brown eyes now. Then they sharpened with a determined stubbornness Rick could recognize really well and Ardeth brought his hand still covered with Rick’s come to his lips and licked one finger clean. Rick groaned, feeling the rush of desire burn through him when he was too damned tired to do anything about it. Ardeth smiled but he flushed hot too. “Salty, and bitter yes, but not unpleasant no.” He offered, voice low again. “Next time, let me try?”
“Next time, huh?” He smiled because it really did sound wonderful. “Let’s just see what feels good then, okay? But yeah, Ardeth, if you want to try I’m not crazy enough to say no.”
“Good.” Ardeth’s flush was deeper now. “There is, I think, much I have to learn about pleasing you is there not?”
“Ardeth, habib, we’re making love, not keeping score.” He didn’t like that insistence.
His friend sighed. “I-- have so little knowledge of this, Rick, and so much desire to share. I only did not want to disappoint you.”
“Do I look disappointed to you?” He found a smile. Ardeth looked at him for a moment or two and then laughed.
“No.” He agreed. “You do not.”
“Whoever the idiot was who told you, you were a disappointment was a complete nutcase.” He said firmly because he was pretty damn sure that’s what Ardeth was working from. Why in the world did he keep finding himself in bed with absolutely gorgeous virgins anyway? With no clue how absolutely gorgeous they were on top of it all.
Ardeth ducked his head at that. “I was-- very young and had less knowledge than I do now, which should tell you something. And she was very right to be disappointed.”
“We’re all stupid when we first start you idiot. You think anyone’s born knowing how to make love?”
Ardeth sighed. “I suppose not.”
“Come here.” Rick pulled him close and then kissed him, putting everything he had into it. Ardeth groaned and then kissed him back, hungry and passionate and so obviously enjoying the kiss. “Did that feel like I’m disappointed either?”
“No.” Ardeth smiled a bit more. “It did not. I shall try to believe it then.”
“Give me a while to rest and I’ll prove it to you.” He promised. And that got Ardeth to just blush all over again. “Sound good?”
“Yes.” Ardeth agreed. “But I agree I am too tired to do so now.”
“Oh God yes. We need to wash up though.” He sighed and then managed to get himself out of bed with a sigh. There was a jug of water and a wash basin like there always was so he filled that, put a cloth in the water and brought it back to the bed. Ardeth had sat up as well and was watching him with a look Rick had never seen on his friend’s face. Desire wasn’t really the word for it but Rick wasn’t up to being creative. He wiped himself off, then took Ardeth’s hand and wiped that clean too, smiling a bit as he did so because Ardeth smiled too, and how he could sit there all tousled and sated and still be so shy was something Rick couldn’t even begin to figure out. But it was really endearing. “No regrets, huh?” He asked it bluntly.
“None at all.” Ardeth agreed, taking the cloth from Rick’s hand and wiping himself clean.
“Good, cause I really want to hold you now okay?”
“Please?” There was that same shyness, but Ardeth pulled him close and they found a comfortable way to snuggle into the bed. Not a lot different from a lot of their mornings here, Ardeth’s head on his shoulder and Rick on his back. But Ardeth was more on top of him this time, one arm around Rick’s chest and one leg snuggled between his. He let himself finger comb the long waves under his hand and just enjoyed the whole thing.
“You were right. This is paradise.” He whispered after a bit.
“It does feel that way, does it not?” Ardeth agreed. “Have I convinced you now that I am well?”
“Yeah.” He tightened his arms. “You are unbelievable you know that?”
“If it pleases you to think so. I think I am only a very luck man who is very tired and most satisfied with life at the moment.” Ardeth replied.
“Mmm, hopefully your satisfied with more than life.”
And that got a low chuckle. “Satisfied is not the word, no. Contented is close but could be misunderstood. Sated is better.”
Rick laughed himself. “Not much chance of misunderstanding that no. Me too, Ardeth. Me too.”
“Good.” Ardeth laid his hand over Rick’s heart. “I trust in my heart that Allah knows how truly utterly thankful I am that we are here and well, whole and sated.”
“Should we be thanking Allah for that last part?” He had to ask.
“Of course. One should be thankful for all the great gifts one receives. You are not Muslim, I am not married. Where then is the sin?”
Rick was pretty sure there was one somewhere but if Ardeth didn’t think so he wasn’t going to argue. “That’s good. This feels really too great to give up because it’s a sin. I’d rather give up drinking.”
“Truly? That I will take as a compliment.” Ardeth chuckled again. “MaSalaama, habib.”
“Mmm, sleep well, habibi.” He slipped the i onto the end just because he could.
Ardeth laughed. “Please, habib I can explain to anyone should we forget and call each other that where my tribes might hear it. Habibi has no other connotation but lover.”
“I know that.” He smiled. “I’ll be careful. I just wanted to say it because I could.”
“Hmm, very well then. Sleep well habibi.”
Rick sighed. “You too, Ardeth.” And he was still tired, and now he was very happily snuggled into bed with Ardeth and sated with lovemaking too. It was hard to think of anything but how wonderful that felt and sleep wasn’t hard to reach at all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Imhotep waited, with growing impatience for his guests to fall into a deep enough sleep that he could keep them there. Finally, though they did so and he walked into the room with a sigh. Finding the two very much involved in their lovemaking when he had arrived had certainly not been what he had expected. Considering how exhausted he had felt himself when he finally woke it amazed him that the two were awake even here in Thebes. But he had wanted to check and see if they were well so he had come to do just that. And what an entertaining if annoying spectacle he had found instead of the two sound asleep like he expected. He supposed he should have known better than to stand in the shadows and watch but then again, O’Connell at least had been warned that he could. And it was even more arousing to watch the two than it had been to watch Ardeth with Nefshen and he truly wanted to be in O’Connell’s place right now. It was pleasant enough to desire something as much as he desired Ardeth but it was becoming harder to ignore the desire as well. He smiled a bit at himself. Three thousand years of torment and you can not yet learn to not desire what you can not have? Perhaps they are right after all I am mad. But I will have you Ardeth Bay. Somehow, Medjai I will have you in my bed, with joy and passion. I will feel you writhe beneath me in arousal and taste your completion as your brother has. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before moving to stand beside the bed and lightly brush his fingers over Ardeth’s cheek. It was not the touch he wanted but he would be content with it for now. He let his eyes wander further than his hand though and sighed.
He truly wanted to be annoyed at the two men, and especially at O’Connell at the results of his game of desire. But it was oddly calming in a way to see Ardeth lying there whole and sated as he had said in his brother’s arms. Because it was still too easy for Imhotep to recall how his reflection had looked in that hell of Anubis making and O’Connell’s nightmares. And he was still angry himself at Anubis for making him the villain in O’Connell’s hell. Almost nothing in all his life had made him as angry as it had to see that creature that wore his face run its hand down Ardeth’s body as it had hung in chains already so torn and hurt. And there was no doubt at all in his mind what sort of horrors the creature had inflicted on the young Medjai’s reflection. Rape was too pale a word for that, surely. It was a wonder that O’Connell had not torn him to pieces if he had as Ardeth had suggested seen that particular hell before.
“Do you fear that so, O’Connell? That I will yet tear him to pieces for my own desire? Is that what brings you to his bed now? I might wish to damn your interference, warrior, but I can not condemn your goal of keeping the one you love safe, now can I? I have done many things, but that is more hypocrisy than I could stomach. But do not think I will give up so easily. I am patient and eventually you will go home to your wife and family and then we shall see what Bastet will grant me, hmm?” He stroked his fingers lightly through Ardeth’s hair. “And you, Medjai, do you fear me, so? Still? No matter that I have not taken you even when I had the chance? Never, no matter the desire or your appeal, Ardeth, would I harm you so. Where is the pleasure in that? I swear it to AmmunRa, He who is lord of all Egypt. I am many things in this life and the last and the long horror of my death in between but I am not such a monster as that creature was. I promise you that.” He stroked his fingers along the young man’s cheek again. “I am surprisingly thankful that I was there with you in hell. To keep the horror from happening to you as well as the reflection of you that your brother’s memories created. It would be a cruel world indeed if all the fire and life I see in your eyes were to be smothered by such pain and horror. I would not even wish such a fate as that on Pharaoh himself.” He smiled sadly. “Rest well, Medjai. You have earned it and what pleasure and joy as you can find here. I will be patient as I must be. But oh, I will enjoy our next kiss now that I have ample proof that you are so very good at it when you wish to be.”
He smiled a bit more and then went to see that there was fresh water for bathing, a light lunch and clean clothes for both his guests when they awoke. No doubt it would annoy O’Connell to find that people had come and gone while they slept and then he would wonder if Imhotep was one of those people and that would be even better.
He found a comfortable spot in the shade on the balcony and waited for his guests to awaken. Ardeth woke first, and from the exhaustion in O’Connell’s thoughts no doubt he would sleep a while yet. Ardeth propped himself up on one arm and watched his brother for a bit. “Oh most merciful Allah, I am without words for how full you have made my heart this day. Please, my God, let him be well. I will bear whatever tenid there must be yet for this joy but let him be well.” He whispered it softly in the language of his tribes and then sighed. “Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el’rahim.” He sighed after a moment. “My most heartfelt thanks for victory and bitter grief at loss to those of my tribe who rest now with you in Paradise. It is a great joy and a great loss all together to balance so in your plan of things, oh most merciful. And I am only one man to give you my thanks but they are freely given and with devotion as always.” He lay there for a bit longer before getting out of bed with a sigh. Surprise at the food and water that was there and a flush of embarrassment but nothing like annoyance or unhappiness only shyness. He washed up and dressed in the clean robes Tahiri had left for him and then poured himself a goblet of karkaday and then another and a third, before filling the goblet with water and drinking that as well.
Imhotep gave him a bit longer and then stirred the curtains with a thought and rose to his feet to step just inside the room. “Good afternoon, Ardeth.”
Ardeth glanced quickly at O’Connell who was still sound asleep, flushed deeply and then walked out to the balcony to meet him. “We should let him sleep.”
“No doubt after such an ordeal as he faced in Anubis’ dark realm you are right.” He agreed. “Is he well enough?”
Ardeth kept his thoughts to English for a long moment and then smiled. “Most certainly.” He agreed. “But the sleep will do him good.”
“I slept most of the day away myself. Ammun gave me his blessings for us all when I returned here and then told me to go and rest until I woke and not to worry about his breakfast, there were other priests to do that. He is well pleased indeed at our victory.”
“That is good to know.” Ardeth agreed. “Did he say anything about the dread god of those who’s hearts have stilled?”
“Only that he has chastised him severely and made certain that he understands now that he is to leave your brother be and apply himself instead to breaking the Germans and not his own champion’s will.”
“Thanks be to Allah..” Ardeth sighed and then caught himself. “No offence of course meant to AmmunRa with that thought.”
Imhotep had to laugh. “No doubt my god understands your faith in your own, Ardeth. And you Medjai are you well this day?”
“Yes.” Ardeth smiled. “I am very well indeed.”
No doubt. He kept the thought to himself, but the thoughts that slid through Ardeth’s mind were hard to ignore. “The wound you took and the blood you lost are not causing you injury here in the land of the faithful?” He asked.
“No. No pain at all.” Ardeth rubbed the back of his head where the wound had been. “Did I thank you for that?”
“You were in too much pain and too concerned for your brother to thank me.” He shrugged. And it was amusing that Ardeth really had no idea how to deal with him when he was being both polite and courteous. Least of all right now. Which of course, made it that much easier to continue it. “I hardly expected to be thanked.”
“You saved both our lives, helped us defeat an enemy that would have decimated my people and I only let my brother run you through, expect you to heal my people when we are your sworn enemies, and then take you to hell where you must rescue me and my brother all over again. Truly, I am a very poor host and not even a good comrade in arms come to that.”
Imhotep sighed. “You are only human, Medjai. And I have no complaints as to being your comrade in arms. I have no real complaints about your hospitality except that I have not had time to truly enjoy it. We won a battle the gods themselves were concerned with Ardeth Bay. I am not so petty as to begrudge you the time to find a moment to thank me.”
“I do not understand you.” Ardeth sighed. “But, I am thankful for that too I suppose. So, I give you my thanks, Imhotep, truly, with all the gratitude I have in my heart. For my people, for our victory I am thankful certainly. For my life and my brother’s life I am more than thankful. And for aiding us in hell, and helping to keep that creature-- from harming me, thank you seems so pale a thing to say.”
He smiled and reached over to clasp the young Medjai’s shoulder as he had seen O’Connell do a hundred times it seemed. “I am truly thankful to Ammun myself Ardeth that I could keep the thing from harming you. And you are welcome for the aid I was able to give in saving some of your people. And as to saving you and your brother, we are all champions of Egypt are we not? But I am pleased with your gratitude certainly. Will it get me my name from you more than once a day do you think?” He asked.
That made Ardeth smile. “Allah is merciful, surely he can not fault me for so simple a thing as that much gratitude. It will be hard to manage, but I shall endeavor to keep the Priest of AmmunRa who is my ally against Germany separate in my mind from the Creature at Hamanaptura who I am sworn to defeat. Because I owe you too much thanks, Imhotep to wish you as an enemy just yet.”
“Then I am thankful to AmmunRa for that.” He squeezed the hand he had on Ardeth’s shoulder and then let go, and Ammun was truly merciful because it did not seem that the young man had minded the touch at all. Well now, I am not certain if I should be jealous O’Connell or thank you myself if somehow you had something to do with this. “It is worth all the annoying and insulting your brother will no doubt do me if it brings you such joy to have him well.”
Ardeth flushed just a bit, and ducked his head. “You will think otherwise once the insulting and annoying start no doubt. But I am so much more than overjoyed that he is well.”
“He is a good ally if an annoying one, Ardeth. And he is insulting because he loves you well and does not like me at all and certainly the horror Anubis showed him has not improved his opinion of me any. I am insulted on to anger myself that the dread god chose me to be the villain in that hell he created. I am by no means without fault and I have blasphemed certainly though Ammun grants me forgiveness for that thanks be. But I am not nor even at Hamanaptura was I ever a creature such as that.”
“No. I will give you that. Destructive I have known you to be. Deadly certainly, and a formidable foe. But for all that you have pressed me in this game of your desire for me, for all the threats you have made to me and the others, you have never once been so cruel. Or caused me pain. Even when you were free to do so before the gods gainsaid it and I would have borne it as willingly as I could find the courage for.”
Imhotep smiled a bit. “Bravery and courage you have never lacked, Ardeth. And it would truly be a horrible thing to see such admirable qualities or such appealing beauty destroyed so completely. I desire you certainly, Medjai, but I am no rapist. You have my word to AmmunRa on that.”
Ardeth sighed a bit, and cast a prayer to Allah for understanding. “It is as always that area between rape and leaving me alone that worries me.”
Imhotep smiled. “Are my kisses that horrible really?” He asked.
Ardeth sighed again but he rolled his eyes a bit. “Are not any kisses one does not desire horrible in and of themselves?”
“There may be some truth to that.” he agreed. “So stop thinking of them as something you do not desire and think of them instead as-- a very involved thank you for the lives they represent. Will that help any?”
Ardeth shook his head. “Madness is not a strong enough word.”
“No doubt you are right. Come now, Ardeth we both know I could have had you in my bed today if I had been the villain your brother thinks me. I only asked for another kiss did I not?” He smiled a bit more. “It is not like I asked you to kneel for me is it?”
And yesterday he was certain the intent in that would have meant nothing to the young man beside him but now it made him flush dark across his cheeks and it was such an enjoyable sight he had to smile. “I would not enjoy that.” Ardeth managed finally, but it was an obvious fight to be calm.
“No, no doubt you would not. Which, I wish you would realize, is why I did not ask it of you. I use it only as a point of reference in this area between kisses and rape you seem to worry so about. You are far too intriguing yet to harm you so.”
Ardeth sighed. “Thanks be to God.”
“As you say. Come now, your brother will be awake soon and I would, you will not believe me no doubt, not wish to stir his memories of Anubis hell by seeing me kiss you. So, if you can find it in your heart to be thankful for his life once more I will have a kiss from you this glorious day of victory for Egypt.”
Ardeth sighed again but he set his goblet down. “As you wish.” He agreed but there was not really any fear in his thoughts. No enjoyment certainly but not any fear either.
“Ammun but you are pleasing, Ardeth.” He stroked his hand along the young man’s jaw, smiling at the feel and recalling O’Connell’s comment on how the short beard had tickled. It was a pleasant thought certainly. “Kiss me, Ahba.” He whispered it softly in Egyptian. “Show me the joy you have for your brother’s life and the fact that you woke with him whole in your arms.”
“That is not...” Ardeth broke the words with a sigh as Imhotep pressed his lips to Ardeth’s. And it was not so hard to keep the kiss light and soft, his fingers sliding into the soft still tangled hair and rubbing with one finger along the gash he had healed. Ardeth sighed a bit but he relaxed under the kiss a little, not even tensing when Imhotep eased his tongue finally between his lips. Another long bit of patience and he drew Ardeth closer and let his tongue play with his. Teasing, but not pushing too hard just yet. Surprise edged with distrust kept Ardeth slightly tense against him but after a bit that faded some and he returned the caresses cautiously. Imhotep stroked his finger along the path the gash had taken, reminding him again of the reason for this kiss and Ardeth sighed, but he did not break the kiss only gave it back for a long few moments. It was harder than he thought it would be to pull away from that kiss with something close to his normal control.
“You are quite welcome, Ardeth.” He smiled a bit. “Go see to your brother now, hmm? I will expect you both for dinner.” He released the young man with a sigh and then walked back through the room and out the door. “I will give your greetings to AmmunRa when I see him to his battle with Set once more.”
“Thank you.” There was such a confusion to Ardeth thoughts that he had to smile.
“You are quite welcome.” And he closed the door behind him. “Bright Bastet truly I am thankful for that gift.” He whispered to the air around him and went to see to his god.
Asr:ToC