Maghrib
Chapter 11
Rick woke slowly, and then smiled to himself at what was quicky becoming a very nice way to wake up. He was lying in bed, with Ardeth in his arms again, which was a nice change from finding himself alone in the bed. And maybe it should have bothered him still that he could go to sleep in Evie’s arms and wake up in Ardeth’s and really enjoy them both but it didn’t. It just made the hell of the last few days worth it. He stroked his hand gently through Ardeth’s hair, wondering himself how Ardeth was doing with what they’d had to do to get answers from the German. He wondered how anyone could miss the horror Ardeth had so obviously felt. Rick grimaced himself at recalling the sickening grisly work it had been to get the answers they needed. Rick was no stranger to the more horrible parts of warfare and better acquainted with the nastier things that one human being could do to another but that hadn’t made it any easier to stand beside Ardeth that afternoon. And Ardeth was a lot more untainted by that sort of horror than Rick was, so doing the questioning had to have torn his very conscientious friend into a hell of a lot of pieces. Ardeth hadn’t even met his eyes as he’d left to put the armor away, and then later after Evie had gotten the whole nasty story from him and made him feel like a human being again he’d gone to look for Ardeth and had no luck finding him anywhere. Finally, he’d found Selim who had told him that Ardeth had finally gone to bed. So, he’d gone back to the tent he and Evie were sharing now and talked to her for a bit longer. Now at least he was here and Ardeth was safe in his arms for now.
And it still amazed him not only that Evie was okay with him being Ardeth’s lover but that she actually seemed glad for them both. He smiled a bit at the really odd curve his life had thrown him lately. “Think we can get the gods to give us a break after the battle, habib? It was really nice getting rid of some of those ghosts the other night you know? And now I know you’re going to be upset about what happened with the German. Not that I’m not, but– you’re too good a man to be comfortable with what you did, huh? Cause I know I am. Evie told me I shouldn’t be so hard on myself you know? So, don’t you go beating yourself up over it either, because I don’t want to have to shake sense into you okay?”
“Rick? What are you muttering about now, habib?” Ardeth asked sleepily.
“Nothing– just– thanking the gods that you’re here in my arms. That sort of thing.” It wasn’t really a lie he’d been thinking that too somewhere along the line.
“Hmm. I am always thankful to Allah for allowing me the joy of sharing my bed with you, Rick.” Ardeth agreed. “Is it noon yet do you think?”
Rick tried to judge the time by the sunlight coming in from outside. “Feels too cool to be noon yet.” He decided.
“Good. I am hoping Tahiri will bring us lunch.”
“Sounds good.” He smiled a bit and then shifted his embrace and just kissed Ardeth long and deep. “Good morning, habibi.”
Ardeth smiled. “It is now, yes.” Ardeth agreed. “It is always a joy to wake in your arms, Rick.”
“Nice to be able to wake up with you in bed with me for a change.” He smiled. Ardeth blinked and then ducked his head a bit. “What?”
“I have been up, had coffee and a very odd conversation with our host and come back to bed, Rick. You slept very soundly.”
“Yeah?” He didn’t like that. “I wish you’d wake me up when the damned thing is here, Ardeth.”
“I shall keep that in mind. But neither of us has had much rest this last while, Rick. It seems cruel to wake you when you are at least getting some sleep. Even if it is sleep here while we are sleeping in Ahm Shere.”
“Yeah, I guess. So, any kisses today?”
“One.” Ardeth shrugged. “It was– not so much of a kiss really. And he was quite a good host. But I will be thankful to have you kiss me none the less.”
Rick smiled a little and then did, kissed him long and deep and with all the love he knew how to put in it. “Better?”
“Hmm.” Ardeth smiled as well. “That is worth having to have borne one of his kisses first you know.”
“Yeah?” He stroked his fingers along Ardeth’s jaw. “Any time you want a kiss, Ardeth, just ask.”
“Now?” Ardeth smiled a bit more. Rick chuckled himself but let Ardeth pull him into another kiss which led to another, and then another. Long hot duels of their tongues until it was all he could do to breathe. “Allah that is Paradise.”
“Getting there, yeah.” Rick chuckled, trailing kisses down Ardeth’s throat as he spoke. “Think Tahiri left us more oil?”
“If we are truly fortunate yes.” Ardeth sighed.
“Yeah. Although it’s not too hot yet, I’m almost tempted to go lay in the sun for a while and enjoy it.”
“If you wish.” The disappointment was obvious.
Rick just shook his head. “After we make love maybe.” He added since Ardeth didn’t seem to get that part. “Then we can lay in the sun and trade backrubs, huh?”
That lightened Ardeth’s eyes a lot. “We could lay in the sun and trade massages first, Rick. Did you not say that massages were like bathing and could lead to all sorts of things?”
“Yeah I did.” He smiled. “And they can. But it seems silly to waste waking up in bed together without any unwanted guests just to go outside so we can come back here and make love.” He kissed Ardeth again, just to enjoy it. “And you’re too shy to make love in public.”
That got a disbelieving stare from his friend, and a dark flush. Rick could almost see Ardeth picturing that too. Not that it wasn’t a really good thought. “You are teasing me.”
“Only a little. Lately it’s been damned hard not to just pull you close and kiss you in Ahm Shere, Ardeth. So I doubt I’d have a real good chance of succeeding here when I don’t have to. Unless it’s illegal or something to kiss you in public here.”
“I– do not believe so, no.” Ardeth shook his head and then smiled a bit. “Kisses I can see, habib. Allah knows I have grown used to seeing you kiss Evelyn in public often enough. Making love where other’s might see us is– something else entirely.”
“Yeah. I think I grew out of that in the Legion.” He chuckled.
“Did you really?” Ardeth only shook his head.
“Have sex in public? Well if you count the main room of a brothel public. Yeah. I was eighteen, drunk and stupid what can I say?” He gave Ardeth a smile.
“Undoubtedly.” Ardeth reached up to trace his jaw. “I would much rather lie here in my bed and make love with you, habibi.”
“Better than Paradise.” Rick replied and kissed him again. “Although I really would like to kiss you like that sometime where the damned thing can see it. I think that’s fair after all don’t you?”
Ardeth flushed again. “That would then mean we would have to stop kissing to get rid of him, habibi. Better to not have to stop.”
“Well, yeah, there is that.” He kissed Ardeth again, enjoying the teasing. Ardeth reached up again to unbutton his shirt and Rick smiled a bit at just how good at that Ardeth was getting. Strong hands spread over his chest and then brushed the shirt from his shoulders. He sat up a bit to finish shrugging out of it and tossed it vaguely toward the chest.
“That is much easier to do without all our weapons in the way.” Ardeth sat up a bit as well and Rick took the opportunity to unwind the sash around his waist.
“Yeah it is.” He managed to undo the ties of Ardeth’s galabeyah glad when Ardeth helped him though. And it was still such a really crazy joy to just run his hands up under those robes and feel Ardeth’s skin warm against his fingers. He slid his hands along Ardeth’s shoulders to brush the dark fabric down his arms. “I wish it was night. It’d be nice to go find the baths and share a nice hot tub of water.”
Ardeth chuckled. “That is decadence surely. Likely though we will need the bath more later than we do now, hmm?”
Rick smiled at that. “I sure hope so.” He buried his hand in Ardeth’s hair and kissed him again. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t like the idea of sharing a tub with you before and after, Ardeth. You look damned good wet.”
That got a sudden dark flush across Ardeth’s cheeks again. “Rick.”
“Yeah?” He smiled, not feeling the least bit repentant about the comment. He stroked his hands up Ardeth’s back and then frowned. “You carrying camel’s again, habibi?” He borrowed Ardeth’s phrase.
“No.” Ardeth sighed. “Only tension, muHabb. It is– still hard for me to set aside the day gone by and enjoy the wonder of having you in my bed yet.”
“Yeah.” He nodded and then remembered what Evie had said to him earlier that night. “You know what though, Ardeth? Sharing tonight with you is what makes yesterday bearable. And in a way– it’s why we did what we did isn’t it? Because there’s too much that’s wonderful at stake if we lose. This...” He stroked his hands up over Ardeth’s chest and put one over the brand that lay over Ardeth’s heart. “Is just-- really perfect proof that we can’t afford to lose, habib. ‘Cause there’s too much about life worth fighting for. And Allah has got to know that I’m not about to give up loving you without doing anything and everything possible to save it. And keeping Egypt and the rest of the world from the Nazi’s is sort of necessary for that, right?”
“I– suppose it is at that. I will try to think of it as such.”
“I spend a lot of time thinking about Evie and Alex you know. About how I don’t want Alex to grow up in a world where anyone who came searching for the powers of Ahm Shere actually had it.”
That lightened Ardeth’s eyes again. “That is– a good thought. Adham told me something similar you know. That– he thought I should have let him question the German Captain, because he could have gone home to his wife and children afterwards and that would have assured him that it was worth the doing.”
“Yeah. His girls are really cute.” Rick agreed.
“They are indeed.” Ardeth nodded.
“I’m sorry you had to do what you did, Ardeth. And that I wasn’t more help.” He gripped Ardeth’s shoulders in his hands.
“You were far more help than you realize, muHabb. I– do not think I would have found half the strength to stand there and– do what had to be done if not for the strength it gave me to have you beside me.” Ardeth shuddered a bit under his hands though.
“Still hurts though doesn’t it?” Rick asked. “Want to tell me what’s still hurting?”
“I am– still a bit angry at myself I think. I know it was necessary, but that does not make it any easier to believe that it was right.”
“We needed answers, Ardeth. On how many Germans there were, on if they were going to send more troops if we defeated these, on what they were after gold or more. It was pretty awful yeah, but it isn’t like they didn’t do the same to your men.” He offered, not liking the self-hatred that was so obvious in Ardeth’s eyes now.
“So because my enemy is an animal I must be one as well?” Ardeth shook his head.
Rick took a deep breath wishing he had a better answer than he did for that one. “He was a soldier, Ardeth. You don’t expect to be treated well when your captured by the enemy. We’ve both been soldiers for long enough to know that.”
Ardeth shuddered harder at that. But didn’t say anything.
“What?” He had no idea what had gotten into Ardeth’s head now. Ardeth started to turn away but Rick just gripped his shoulders tighter and flexed his fingers instead of shaking him
“Rick.” His name was a sigh.
“Talk to me.” He pressed because it needed to be said, obviously.
“I do not want to talk.”
“No?” He gentled the shake into a caress of his hands down Ardeth’s arms to entangle their fingers. “What hurts, habibi?”
“It could have been you.” Was the reply finally. But Ardeth didn’t meet his eyes only looked away and shuddered again, taking a deep breath and swallowing hard.
That really didn’t make any sense to Rick either. “What? Getting captured by the enemy? Yeah, I guess...” He wasn’t sure what to say about that. But it was something he could see Ardeth worrying about. His friend probably thought it was somehow his responsibility that Arebe, Kahid and the others had gotten captured too, knowing Ardeth.
“No.” Ardeth surprised him again, shaking his head a bit. Another obvious deep breath and then Ardeth met his eyes. The deep brown more haunted than Rick had seen them in days now. “I...If the Tuareg had not attacked Hamanaptura when they did...Allah forgive me, Rick...” He broke off.
Rick didn’t say anything for a while as he worked through that, since it was obvious Ardeth had had to struggle to even say that much. Then it came to him and he sighed, and just tightened his fingers around Ardeth’s. “I was the commanding officer of a group of European soldiers who’d invaded the place you were sworn to defend. Is that what’s eating you after all this time?” Rick put all the support into the words he knew how. And it wasn’t really a question.
“I needed to know....if more Legionaries were going to come.” Ardeth squeezed his hands back, an almost pleading note to the explanation as if he was apologizing even now.
“Could have ridden me down after I wandered away.” Rick shook his head. “You didn’t.”
“We already had your colonel....I...”
“Ardeth?” Rick let go of Ardeth’s hands with one of his own and tilted Ardeth’s chin up so that their eyes met. “Wouldn’t have happened, habib.” He smiled a little. “If you’re picturing me in the German’s place like I think you are.”
“It could have...I...”
“Nope.” He shook his head. “Yeah, you might have killed me. Okay, that would have been a real waste of my life since I hadn’t managed to accomplish anything that amounted to a hill of beans at that point. But torture, nah. I didn’t owe the Legion a bit of loyalty at that point, Ardeth. I would’ve spilled the whole story to you without so much as a good backhand, huh?”
Ardeth blinked staring at him in obvious surprise and then he chuckled ruefully. “You mean that.”
“Sure I do. Loyalty and things worth dying horrible death’s weren’t in my vocabulary at that point, Ardeth.” He ran his fingers through Ardeth’s hair. “Not that I’m not really glad you didn’t ride me down and run me through you know. Because it gave me the chance to know Evie and you, to father Alex and watch him grow.” He traced Ardeth’s jaw. “Not to mention the fact that it gave us the twelve years it took for us to figure out that we’re more than friends. That more of the no real difference between coincidence and fate bit, Ardeth? Seems to me Allah kinda had it all planned doesn’t it?”
“I– suppose it does seem like that does it not?” Ardeth seemed to relax some at that. “Thank you, Rick.”
“For what?”
“Putting and end to my ghosts before I even knew I had them.”
“Fair’s fair, Ardeth.” He brought Ardeth’s other hand to his lips and kissed the palm.
“For later?”
“Nope, just because I can.” He did it again. “Think we can let the might have beens go now, Ardeth? I’d really like to just concentrate on why it’s worth living for.”
“Can you– teach me how to do that, Rick?”
“I can sure try.” Rick kissed his hand one more time before nibbling at his fingers. Watching Ardeth’s eyes widen a bit as he sucked two into his mouth.
Ardeth licked his lips, probably not having any idea how damned sexy that was and then swallowed hard. Rick chuckled and released his fingers to reach for the ties that held his pants closed. He undid the knot teasing Ardeth a little as he did so. “Allah have mercy, habib.”
Rick only chuckled again and then kissed him, and it was so easy to let one kiss slide into another and then another. He pushed Ardeth back onto the bed, catching his own weight on one arm and then finally trailing the kisses down Ardeth’s throat. Ardeth groaned out his name, his hands running through Rick’s hair and then down his back and back. Rick licked along one collarbone and then down to tease one nipple with his tongue before he reached down, to let his fingers tease over Ardeth’s cock through the soft linen of his pants, enjoying watching the shudder that went through Ardeth as he did so. He played with the lacing a bit, slowly pulling the last knot apart but not actually undoing the pants yet. “Liked that I see.”
“Did you think I would not?” Ardeth shook his head.
“Nope, figured you’d enjoy it as much as I did.” He raised himself up just a bit and traced Ardeth’s jaw with his fingers and then down his throat and along his chest, tracing the outlines of tattoos and scars that crisscrossed Ardeth’s skin. “Doesn’t it hurt like hell getting tattoos over scars, Ardeth?”
“Sometimes. Sometimes it hurts less actually. It is over bone that they hurt the most.”
“I guess.” He let his hands stroke over Ardeth’s stomach and then down again to tease lightly over his cock once more before he sat back on his heels to actually undo the ties. Ardeth shook his head and then rolled to his feet. Rick smiled watching as the dark pants simply fell to the floor. “That makes it easier.” He leaned forward again to lick lightly at the head and then along the length of Ardeth’s cock, before taking a deep breath and just swallowing Ardeth whole. Ardeth groaned out something that was probably his name. And it was hard not to smile but he chuckled instead, knowing how good that was going to feel. Ardeth caught his breath in a hiss and his hands tried to tangle in Rick’s hair before pushing him away. “Yeah?” He looked up.
“I– can not take such pleasure and stand, habib.”
“You sure about that?” He teased and licked at Ardeth’s cock again, taking his hips in his hands to pull him as deep as he could. And it was getting easier and easier to do this, keep Ardeth deep in his throat without choking. He swallowed once and then raised his head slowly, letting his tongue play along the length of Ardeth’s cock as he did. “Want me to stop?”
“Allah’s mercy, habibi. I...will fall.”
“Hmm, wouldn’t want that. Might hurt.” He moved back onto the bed a bit and then pulled Ardeth with him, rolling them over so that he was on top of Ardeth and then kissed him. Ardeth kissed him back, his hands only pulling Rick closer against him. He reached down to stroke his fingers over Ardeth’s cock again.
“Please? I can not...” Ardeth groaned and arched into his hand.
Rick chuckled and then let him go, moving away enough to keep from either of them climaxing quite yet. “More or less, Ardeth? Which do you want?”
“More, habib. Only I will embarrass myself if you touch me so again I think.”
“By coming? I thought that was the point, Ardeth.” He kissed him quickly then teased his fingers back along Ardeth’s cock to cup his balls gently. Ardeth groaned, tossing his head back into the mattress beneath them so Rick took the opportunity to nip at his throat which got him another groan.
“Rick, please? I would...rather be connected with you more that just this.” Ardeth reached down and stroked Rick’s cock in turn, through the material of his slacks. Then his fingers undid Rick’s belt and fumbled with the buttons. “This I can do for myself, hmm? Although it feels so much better when it is your hand and not my own.”
He smiled and then leaned down to lick at Ardeth’s throat. “Lots of time to do that in twelve years, huh?”
“Too much I think.” Ardeth sighed. Rick nodded and then managed to push the pants off. Ardeth reached back down to help and they tossed the pants to the floor. “Much easier to do when one is standing.” Ardeth muttered.
“Yeah it is.” Rick chuckled and then groaned as Ardeth reached down and stroked his cock in one sure caress. “Christ.”
“Good?” Ardeth chuckled, but there was obvious teasing to his voice.
“Yeah. Thought you wanted more than this though.” Not that it didn’t feel really good to just have Ardeth stroke him like that. Too much practice in twelve years was probably right.
“I did.” Ardeth agreed and drew his hand away to pull Rick close and kiss him.
“All right, habib.” He pushed himself up onto his arms. “Can I have you inside me then, Ardeth?”
“If you wish.” Ardeth smiled a little. “Does that truly appeal to you, habibi?”
“Yeah it does.” He smiled back. “You appeal to me, Ardeth.”
“Then I am thankful. But I– will not be able to please you so if you do not stop touching me.”
“No?” He lightened his touch a bit and then slowly drew his hand away. “If you do it right.” He whispered the words into Ardeth’s ear. “You can balance on the edge a really long time, habib.” He bit lightly at the point of Ardeth’s jaw. “Want to see how long we can balance?”
“Alla ana hafaz.” Ardeth’s voice was a low groan.
“You want God’s protection now, Ardeth?” He chuckled. “Is that a yes or a no, habibi?” He licked his way to the hollow of Ardeth’s throat and then along one collar bone. “Feels good, huh?”
“Yes. It feels very good.” Ardeth sighed and then hissed in a breath as Rick bit lightly at his collarbone. He smiled a bit, soothing the bite with his tongue, before kissing Ardeth again, burying his hands in Ardeth’s hair, just to enjoy the feel. Ardeth sighed, giving the kiss back with the same desperation and it was so easy to tell how much he really enjoyed it. Rick chuckled, breaking the kiss after a bit to move back down and trace one of Ardeth’s tattoos with his tongue before moving to lick teasing light over one nipple. Ardeth groaned, his hands sliding down Rick’s back and then up to run through his hair. “Please?”
He sucked harder, and then pushed them both a bit beyond what they’d tried before and bit lightly into the tight flesh. Ardeth arched his back into the sensation and groaned out Rick’s name so he took that as a yes and kept the pressure lightly with his teeth and then let go to move to the other side and do the same. And it was easy to slide down further and lick just as teasingly at Ardeth’s cock.
“Habibi. Please I can not...”
“Yeah you can.” He almost reminded Ardeth that he’d asked Rick to make sure he was concentrating on the joy to be found in life and not on the horrible things they’d had to do that afternoon. But that would have just undone all the work he was managing so he just smiled a bit and the blew a cool stream of air over the hot wet skin. “You taste good, even without honey.” He licked again. Ardeth groaned and this time clenched his fists into the bedding. Rick chuckled and then slowly drew him deep into his mouth. And Ardeth was obviously so close to coming. So he reached down to cup his balls and then pulled lightly as he eased his way up his cock again.
“Allah have mercy.” Ardeth whispered in Arabic now, and Rick had to smile.
“Good?” He asked, moving up to lie beside his friend and kiss him again. Ardeth rolled them over with a growl. And then moved his lips down Rick’s throat to tease a few spots that made Rick groan himself, and then followed the kisses with the edge of his beard, the soft rasp of hair only making him shudder. “Oh, Christ.”
“Hmm.” There was a smile to the sound as Ardeth moved down to return Rick’s earlier teasing and lick way too softly at one nipple. “Good?”
Rick chuckled. “Better if you do that harder.”
Ardeth didn’t answer but did suck harder and then tentatively mimicked Rick’s move and bit softly.
“More?” He asked, tangling his fingers in Ardeth’s hair. A chuckle and Ardeth did so, bit a bit more and the sucked hard. And Rick just arched into the sensation pulling Ardeth a bit closer in the meantime. Ardeth raised his head a bit and then smiled up at him before moving to the other side, licking once lightly over the nipple.
“Do not pull quite so hard, habib.” Ardeth said, blowing the breath over the now wet skin.
Rick just caught his breath in a gasp and forced himself to loosen the grip on Ardeth’s hair. Which wasn’t so bad because Ardeth repaid it with following the kisses and gentle bites with his beard and that was almost enough to just bring Rick off right there. “Oh Christ.”
Ardeth chuckled. “Balance?”
“Yeah, barely.” Rick laughed as well. “Come here.” He tugged with as much gentleness as he could find on Ardeth’s hair and pulled his friend into a long deep kiss.
“I wanted to taste you.” Ardeth complained, when they broke apart.
“Give me a second to breathe, huh?” He asked. “You know how much I just want to press against you right now?” He arched his hips a bit to slide his cock against Ardeth’s. “Like that?”
“Hmm, that feels so good, habibi.”
“Yeah.” He did it again, then ran his hands down Ardeth’s back to his hips and pulled him closer. Ardeth pressed harder as well, his legs open on either side of Rick and that gave him another idea. “Kneel up, habib? Can you do that?”
“What?” Ardeth blinked, staring down at him in confusion. “Kneel up?” He repeated and then nodded and started to move away.
“No, just like this.” Rick smiled, settling his hands on Ardeth’s waist. The confusion grew a bit and then a smile that was so damned shy. “Do you know how damned gorgeous you are?” He asked. That made Ardeth flush a bit more but he did raise himself up to straddle Rick’s hips on his knees.
“Like this, then?” Ardeth smiled down at him. “I thought you wanted me in you, habib, not you in me?” The question came just as he moved enough to slide their cocks against each other again. “Allah have mercy. We need oil, hmm?”
Rick chuckled. “Soon, yeah. And I want you inside me, Ardeth.” He ran his hands up Ardeth’s chest to tease both nipples and then back down to stroke over his cock. Ardeth groaned, leaning his head back and it was just as erotic a sight as Rick had thought it would be. “But next time, yeah, we can try this.” He arched his hips up a bit in emphasis.
“We could do it now?” Ardeth asked, the words almost a plea. “It would feel good I think.”
“Yeah, it probably would. Not quite the riding your used to, huh?” He stroked Ardeth’s cock again, feeling the shudder that got.
“No. Harder, Rick please?”
He stroked again, a quick hard stroke then again and then let go to reach for the oil. Ardeth gave a low groan of disappointment. “I want you inside me.” Rick pointed out.
“I...Allah, Rick I do not think I can wait so long.”
“I trust you. Think of something cold?” He suggested and then smiled. “Kneel up again?” He waited until Ardeth had risen onto his knees and then rolled over between his friend’s legs.
“Allah, Rick, what is it you say? I am no saint, habib.”
“No, thank God, you aren’t.” He chuckled. “Oil habibi?”
“Yes.” Ardeth sighed and Rick let himself smile even more into the bedding because he knew Ardeth was only a few seconds away from coming right now and taking the time to prepare him was going to just make him want release all the more. And that pretty much guaranteed that he’d succeeded in making Ardeth forget almost anything but how much they were enjoying this. He managed not to chuckle and then sighed as Ardeth ran one hand down his back. Because no matter how much it strained Ardeth’s patience he didn’t even worry that Ardeth was going to rush. Later habib, when this isn’t so new to us both, huh? Then we can skip some of this part. He wasn’t expecting Ardeth to take the oil from him and pour a bit of it right onto his skin, before running strong fingers through it to stroke right over his opening.
“God.” He hissed out the word, pressing into the bed. “Ardeth.”
“Good?” Ardeth asked uncertainly, but he didn’t stop the caress, thank God.
“Yeah. More, please?”
“Yes.” A chuckle and the caress was repeated and it was all Rick could do not to just push back against Ardeth’s fingers. Then one slid into him slowly and he sighed, really surprised by how much he liked the feel. What is it Ardeth says? Cherished. Yeah. Crazy thing to make me feel like you really love me, habib, but it does. You make me feel like I’m really priceless or something you know that?
“Do I know what?” Ardeth asked softly.
“Hmm? Oh, how good that feels.” Which wasn’t it exactly but it was all he could manage out loud.
“Yes. When you touch me so it is like...flying, but better.”
“Yeah, it is.” He managed and then groaned as Ardeth added a second finger, and it was still a bit uncomfortable at first.
“Good?”
“Yeah, just tight, huh?”
“Always you are so tight I think I must be causing you pain when I do this. But it feels so very good to touch you so, habib. To know that you trust me so.”
He smiled but he couldn’t help but blush a bit. “Then we’re even.”
“Hmm, as so much with you, mukalb, I am finding it is mutual.” Ardeth shifted a bit and then kissed the back of his neck. Rick sighed, and then groaned as Ardeth’s fingers found that spot that made it so good he really wanted to just come right then.
“Ardeth.”
Another stroke of fingers over that spot, then again, until he could only pant into the bedding and try to push back. Ardeth slid another finger into him and that made him ache just a bit, but it wasn’t a bad ache and it certainly wasn’t worth stopping for. He pressed back which brought Ardeth’s fingers to that spot again and then again. “Rick?”
“Now?” It was all he could manage.
“Yes, habib.” Ardeth drew his fingers out and that just made him ache with the lack of sensation now so he rolled onto his back again and met Ardeth’s eyes. “Rick?”
“I want to see you.”
“All right.” Ardeth reached for the oil again but Rick poured it onto his own hand and then set it aside to slick the oil over Ardeth’s cock, stroking firm and long over the whole of it, just to watch Ardeth arch into his touch. “Rick.” His name was a growl.
He chuckled. It took a bit of maneuvering to switch it so his legs were on either side of Ardeth and his knees were closer to his chest but it was worth the awkwardness when Ardeth finally pressed against him. And then slid just the tip inside. Rick pressed his head back into the mattress trying to work past that point of the ache and the feeling that this was never going to work because Ardeth was so damned huge inside him. Unbearable pressure and a twinge of more pain than pleasure and then it was the easiest thing in the world to relax into the slow gentle pressure as Ardeth eased into him and it went from ache to joy. Another few moments of impossible fullness when Ardeth was completely inside and then he moved and it stroked his cock over that spot that spun lighting through Rick’s blood.
“Habib?” Ardeth asked, and Rick realized he was gripping Ardeth’s arms tight enough to leave bruises. “Am I hurting you?”
“No...Too good, Ardeth.”
“Yes.” Ardeth agreed with a smile and then he leaned down and kissed Rick, their tongues sliding against each other in a duel that just stole what breath Rick had left. And it was more than he could do to think of anything but how good this all felt. Ardeth groaned low and deep in his throat against Rick’s lips and thrust harder into him once before Rick could feel the shudders that went through him and the heat deep inside as he came. And that was all it took to send him spiraling into ecstasy too. After what seemed like a really long time, Ardeth moved away a bit and helped him lower his legs to the bed. That made Ardeth slip free of him, leaving him feeling so damned empty just like the last time. He groaned more at the loss than the sting of sore muscles. Ardeth hugged him close, lying beside him and pulling him into his arms as he rolled onto his back so Rick’s head was on his shoulder. And that felt good too. Sometime later he felt Ardeth shift and stroke a gentle hand down his back. “Habib?”
“Hmm?” He smiled a little, leaning against Ardeth a bit more, and draping one arm around his waist. “Yeah?”
“I need to get up and get us something to wash off with, no? Otherwise we shall fall asleep like this.”
“Yeah.” He hugged Ardeth tighter for a long moment though and then smiled again as Ardeth tilted his head up and kissed him. “Paradise again, huh?”
“No doubt it is. Nothing could feel better.” Ardeth smiled, and hugged him just as close before getting up and walking over to the low table where the jug of water an the washing bowl were. Rick just laid there and watched him move. Soft gold sunlight filtered through the linen curtains and lightened the olive skin, making the tattoos even more of a stark relief. Ardeth wiped himself down first, which gave the sunlight even more to shimmer off of. Rick only smiled, recalling how Ardeth had looked in the baths here, dripping wet, the firelight shimmering across his skin.
“I really wish we could go and share a bath you know. But I don’t think I could behave myself if we had to share the bathing room with any one else”
Ardeth chuckled but it didn’t hide the blush any. “That may indeed be beyond either of us, habib. But I will go with you if you wish to go bathe then?”
He thought about it for a moment. “Nah, don’t want to walk that far.” He decided. Then he closed his eyes as Ardeth came over to sit beside him on the bed. It was really nice to just enjoy the movement of the wet cloth of his skin, wiping him clean and then a soft drying cloth after that before Ardeth set it all aside and climbed back into bed with him pulling the sheets up around them both. “This is good.”
“It is.” Ardeth agreed, pulling Rick back into his arms. “Later habibi I would very much like to have you inside me, hmm?”
“Sounds fair.” Rick smiled and then just lay there enjoying the day and the still slightly odd comfort of being in his friend’s arms like this.
Ardeth stroked his hand down Rick’s back. “Thank you, habib, for giving me joy enough to make the burdens worth bearing.”
“Works both ways, Ardeth.”
“Then I am thankful for that as well.”
“Me too.” He put his hand over Ardeth’s heart and it was enough for now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ardeth was still awake when Tahiri knocked and then peeked around the door. “Good day, Medjai.” She smiled.
“Good day, Tahiri.” He smiled back, and surprised himself by not flushing at all. “How is your daughter today?”
“She is fine.” That got another smile. “And you? Are you well, Medjai?”
“Most assuredly. Do you think you could bring us lunch here?” He asked. “The high priest of AmmunRa said that he would be busy for the day and I think my brother and I shall simply stay here.”
“I would think you foolish if you moved.” She giggled, and that did make him flush a bit. “I will bring you lunch. Is there anything else I can bring you, Medjai?”
“Dolmas, melons, flatbread, dates, apples with honey, wine, and oil. Frankincense, please?” Rick put in before Ardeth could answer all in Egyptian with barely a trace of accent.
Tahiri laughed again. “Did your brother teach you that?”
“Nefertiri.” Rick answered with a smile, not moving from Ardeth’s arms.
That made Tahiri’s eyes widen but she only shook her head and then nodded. “I will bring fresh coffee also, I think the water and karkaday should do you both. And you Ardeth? Shall I find anything special for you too?”
“I can not think of anything my brother has not asked for, no.”
“Cream.” Rick said that in arabic. “And any kind of berries they’ve got.”
Ardeth rolled his eyes a bit. “You are impossible.”
“I’m hungry.”
“What does he want now, Medjai?” Tahiri giggled.
Ardeth just translated the request, which made her laugh again. “I think you are fortunate to have such a lover, Medjai. And Nefertiri is fortunate to have such a husband. Truly, it may be that he is worth sharing to keep.” And she laughed again. “Bastet’s blessings to you both.” She went back out into the hall.
“What did she say?” Rick asked. “You’re blushing.”
“After that request you expect that I would do otherwise?” He shook his head. “She said I was lucky to have you for a lover.”
“Really?” Rick smiled and then leaned up to kiss him long and slow. “I think I’m the lucky one, habib. But I’ll take the compliment.”
He shook his head but smiled. “Do we want to bother to dress for lunch?”
“Nope.” Rick smiled back. “We’ve got what maybe one day before we’re back at war? And even the days we haven’t had battles like the last one haven’t been exactly fun. So, we’re here, it’s as close to Paradise as either of us is getting in this lifetime. I’ve got Evie’s blessing to seduce you and the damned thing said it was going to leave us alone all day. I think we need to celebrate that.”
He smiled, because likely Rick was right and they had precious little time to enjoy this love between them. “Then you will teach me more of how to be decadent?”
“Sure.” Rick kissed him again and he pushed all the concerns aside and simply gave himself to the joy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rick waited until Tahiri had come with the lunch they’d asked for and left again before he got out of bed to check on the food. And Ardeth was right about one thing, he was still sore but it really didn’t hurt either. Tahiri had apparently understood his intentions though because the food was in two baskets and there was a large bronze tray to set it all on, plus several wiping cloths and a larger sheet that could be used to spread out on the bed like a picnic blanket. “We have got to get her something really nice.” He smiled.
“No doubt. Can I help?” Ardeth came over to stand beside him.
“Sure, bring the karkaday and the wine okay, and a couple of goblets. I’ll get the water.”
It took a bit of arranging but finally they had the three jugs of liquid on the table beside the bed, the food on the large platter except for the bread which was still in the basket. He and Ardeth were half-sitting on opposite sides of the tray, cross wise on the bed. “This is all for our lunch?” Ardeth looked over what was there.
“Yeah.” Rick smiled and picked up one of the dolma and held it out. “Habibi?”
Ardeth smiled back and took the stuffed grapeleaf in his teeth, licking softly at Rick’s fingers as he did. Rick just chuckled, because Ardeth really was picking all of this up so damned quick.
“What amuses you?” Ardeth asked softly.
“Just enjoying it, habib.” He shook his head.
“Ah.” The smile was teasing now and lighted Ardeth’s normally dark brown eyes to something closer to hazel. “There has yet to be much between us that I have not enjoyed.” A pause. “As lovers that is. Sometimes being your friend can be a trial.”
“Hey. Look who’s talking.” He grinned.
“Hmm, very true.” Ardeth picked up one of the dolmas and held it out for him. So he took the invitation and bit into the still warm food, licking the last of the lemon juice from Ardeth’s fingers as he pulled back.
“We will never manage to eat, you know if we keep teasing each other so.”
“You’re pretty good at being stoic, Ardeth. You can manage.”
“Now you want me to be stoic while learning to be decadent? I do not think that I can manage both.”
“Sure you can, just resign yourself to the fact that your going to enjoy it a whole lot, despite the– lack of fulfillment.”
Ardeth was silent for a second and then he only shook his head. “Allah grant me patience.” He picked up a slice of melon and took a bite offering Rick the rest. “And while we may drive each other to madness with the teasing first, habib, there will be fulfillment at the end, no?”
“Eventually.” Rick smiled. It was really fun to just lie there and trade feeding each other bit of the meal. He mixed himself a goblet full of half karkaday and half wine and took a sip before offering it to Ardeth.
“Do not let me drink too much, hmm? I will only fall asleep or get ill, and then where will the enjoyment be?”
“I’ll be careful.” Rick promised and then took a sip and setting the goblet aside pulled Ardeth into a kiss so they could share the drink. Ardeth swallowed the sweet drink quickly, his tongue teasing Rick’s in a playful search for more. When they broke the kiss Ardeth took the goblet himself and returned the favor, sharing the wine laced hibiscus back with him. “That’s fun.”
“Hmm.” Ardeth smiled a little, and then traced his jaw. “It is good that it is wine and not water though.”
“Is it?” He wondered if that still bothered Ardeth some. He’d get the whole story later, of exactly what had happened between his capture and Adham’s rescue. “Why?”
“Because you have already shared water with me so, habib. Which was a joy in itself. If I share it back with you according to some Bedouin traditions we shall be wed.”
Rick just stared at him. “Really?”
A chuckle. “Yes, although I suppose there too we are allowed leniency since you are not Muslim.”
“You didn’t mention that when we were doing it.”
“I was thinking of other things.” Ardeth shrugged a bit. “But best perhaps to share the wine instead.”
“What you don’t want to marry me?” He smiled.
Ardeth rolled his eyes. “My tribemates have tried for years to find me a wife. I can only imagine their reactions if I must inform them I have already married my shield-mate instead.” He chuckled. “You at least have a wife and son already.”
“Hmm, better not tell anyone then, huh? Adham probably could kick my butt in a fight.”
“Likely yes.” Ardeth leaned over and kissed him again. “We have not eaten your cherries and cream, habib, or the apples and honey, are we saving them for dessert?”
“You could say that, yes.” Rick moved the rest of the food out of the way, getting up to get them both a cup of coffee and bring that back to the bed. Ardeth took his with a small smile and an obvious question in his eyes. “Now that we’ve been decadent and had lunch in bed, I thought maybe I’d show you something else? All right?” He ran his fingers along the edge of Ardeth’s jaw liking the feel of the short beard.
“Certainly.” Ardeth turned his head a bit and kissed Rick’s fingers.
“Good.” He laid back down and took a long drink of the hot coffee. Then he picked up one of the pieces of apple and dipped it in the honey before holding it out to Ardeth with a smile. Ardeth smiled back, and then licked a little of the honey from the fruit and Rick’s fingers before taking the bite and swallowing. “Tease.”
“I was attempting to yes.” Ardeth smiled a bit more.
“Hmm.” Rick took another sip of coffee before Ardeth followed his move and offered him a piece of apple in return. It wasn’t hard at all to circle Ardeth’s fingers with his tongue and then carefully take the apple in his teeth and tug it from his friend’s hand to eat.
“Bis’mil’Allah, you will have me embarrass myself yet.” Ardeth’s voice was a bit rough.
“Tempting.” He set his coffee aside, taking Ardeth’s from him and then kissing him fully. And it was so much fun to kiss him like this when Ardeth so obviously enjoyed it. It didn’t take much to get him to lie back onto the mattress Rick propped mostly to one side and still sharing the same long hot kiss. Finally he pulled back and reached for another apple slice to dip into the honey, but only traced Ardeth’s lips with the honey and then licked it clean.
“Rick.”
“Like that, huh?” He smiled at the breathless sort of groan that surrounded his name and then put the apples on the floor and simply dipped his fingers in the honey and then traced a line of it across Ardeth’s collarbone before licking that clean as well.
“I did not think you were serious.” Ardeth sighed. “About tasting the honey on my skin.”
“Oh, I was, serious. Tastes good, too.” He took one of the cherries and dipped that in the cream before bringing it to his mouth and licking it clean while Ardeth stared at him. Then he smiled and ate it quickly. Ardeth growled something and kissed him, sharing the taste of the honey and the cream and the cherry all.
“Allah that is nice.” Ardeth whispered as he laid back finally. Rick only nodded.
“Thought you’d like that, yeah.” He picked up another and this time brought it to Ardeth’s lips. It was fun to watch the passion darken his eyes as he repeated Rick’s movements, licking the cream from both his fingers and the cherry before taking the fruit in one bite.
“You taste good with cream.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Ardeth?”
“Yes?” Ardeth smiled back and then flushed a bit, which made Rick realize that he knew exactly what that comment had sounded like.
“You learn too quick.” He shook his head.
“Do I?” Ardeth reached down to gather a bit of honey onto his own fingers and then traced Rick’s lips with them. Rick only smiled, licking at his fingers a bit and then sharing another kiss as Ardeth licked him clean. “Better with cream than honey I think.”
“You do, huh?” He chuckled. “All right.” He took the honey himself and this time he poured a bit of it onto Ardeth’s chest licking it away and then moving up his throat to nibble at his ear finally. “I’ll use the honey for you, then.”
“If it– gets me your lips and hands on me you may– paint me with it, hmm?”
“Oh, now that’s tempting.”
“Yes.” Ardeth chuckled. Rick sat back a bit and smiled as Ardeth took another cherry and dipped it in the cream a bit surprised when he only brought the fruit to his own mouth though. Not that watching him lick his fingers clean of the cream wasn’t as arousing as hell. And how in the world Ardeth managed to look so damned good lying there flushed and hot from their teasing and then still manage the shy look he gave Rick right before he leaned up enough to suckle lightly at one nipple, the cream and cherry still cool on his tongue was beyond Rick’s ability to figure out right now.
“Oh Christ.” He groaned out the prayer. “We’re gonna make a mess.”
“I hope so.” Ardeth released him long enough to gather more cream onto his fingers and trace them over Rick’s other nipple before sucking that clean too.
Rick caught his hand and brought it to his lips licking the cream from his fingers in return. Then he pushed Ardeth back onto the bed and straddled his legs to pour some of the honey onto one nipple and returned the favor until Ardeth groaned. He moved the other side, liking the way Ardeth’s hands slid through his hair down his back and back up. And they were going to be a mess by the time this was over and he didn’t give a damn.
“Rick, please, habibi?”
“Hmm, yeah.” He wasn’t sure what he was agreeing too, but he didn’t really care either. So, he moved back a bit to pour the last of the honey in the dish in a long line down Ardeth’s chest to his stomach and then licked that away too.
“Rick.” Ardeth’s voice caught on his name, turning the last of it into a groan and he smiled a little, because it sounded sexy as anything. He thought for a moment or two and then reached over to pick up one of the cherries left in the bowl and dip it into the cream before letting the excess cream drip from it and his fingers onto Ardeth’s cock. The startled exclamation that got wasn’t anything he could understand but it didn’t sound like a complaint either. He took the cherry in his mouth gave Ardeth a very teasing smile and then crushed the fruit against his teeth before using his tongue to smear it all along the head of Ardeth’s cock. He raised his head again to meet the heat filled brown eyes that were staring at him in disbelief and hunger and then went back to licking Ardeth clean. And it was hard for just a second sure to keep the difference firmly in mind that red cherry juice and cream was not blood and semen but the taste was nothing alike and he just closed his eyes and worked on making Ardeth groan.
“Rick, habibi, please.” Ardeth gasped.
He took a deep breath and then swallowed Ardeth all the way down. Liking the unsmothered moan that got. And he raised his head slowly to let Ardeth slip from his mouth before doing it all over again. He dipped his fingers back into the cream and left a wet sweet trail to follow along Ardeth’s balls and back which he licked away light as he could just to hear the moans that got. And it was as arousing as anything else he’d ever known the way Ardeth just opened to his touch when he teased just the tip of his finger inside and then replaced it with his tongue. This time when Ardeth let out a soft gasp of words it was in Arabic so he could follow the plea for more. He raised his head finally to look down at Ardeth for a second. The long dark hair was already getting tangled as he tossed his head from side to side, and that made Rick really wanted to just tangle his fingers in it and hold him still for as long a kiss as he could manage. But they were a bit past that now. He moved the last of the cream and cherries off the bed and picked up the bottle of oil Tahiri had brought them instead. And putting all the ghosts to rest must have done some good because all he really wanted to do was just slick the stuff over himself and bury himself to the hilt. But that wasn’t going to work either and he knew it. So he poured some onto his fingers and then slowly slid the first one inside.
Ardeth tossed his head back, arching his back and pressing into Rick’s hand. And it was just really good to watch him enjoy it. “Look at me, Ardeth.”
Dark brown eyes almost black now met his as Ardeth opened them. “Rick?”
“Just look at me, hmm?” He moved so he was lying more next to Ardeth and Ardeth was on his side facing him. And it was a bit awkward until Ardeth shifted closer to slide his leg ontop of Rick’s. “That’ll help.”
“Allah, I hope so. More, habib, please?” Ardeth pushed back a bit onto Rick’s finger.
“Yeah.” He caught a quick kiss. “Feels so good to touch you like this.”
“Not nearly, as good as it feels to be touched so.”
“Maybe not.” He smiled and slid another finger into that impossibly tight heat. Ardeth groaned and tossed his head back, eyes closing again. Rick took the opportunity to lick at his throat and waited until Ardeth had relaxed a bit around his fingers before pulling back to look at him again. “Ardeth.” He really wanted to see Ardeth’s eyes when he did this.
“Yes?” The word was a groan in Arabic.
“Watch me, hmm?” He waited until the dark eyes met his before stroking his fingers deep and over the spot that made it all feel so good inside. Desire, excitement and something more than either filled Ardeth’s eyes and then he closed them again, obviously lost in the sensation, but it was easy enough to see the pleasure on his face anyway. So Rick just teased that spot again, several times until Ardeth was groaning and then he slid a third finger inside. Ardeth only pressed closer with a moan. And Rick could recall how that had felt for him, impossibly full but still good even around the little flashes of ache. Ardeth took a deep breath, obviously tense so Rick gave him the time he needed to relax into the touch again. “God you’re beautiful.”
Almost dazed brown eyes met his. “And you. Now habibi?”
“In just a second. I love seeing you like this.” And he meant it, so he stretched his fingers out so he could brush that sweet spot that was pure pleasure and watched it fill Ardeth’s eyes again, and again as he kept the light touch as constant as he could.
“Now.”
“Pushy.” He chuckled but he drew his fingers free and found the jug of oil again to smooth some over his cock, which was almost enough for him right there. So he took the moment to put the stopper back in the jug and set the oil aside and count to twenty in Hungarian just to be safe. Ardeth had rolled onto his back and Rick just watched him a moment longer. He ran his hands down along Ardeth’s legs to his knees and it took only a bit of time to get them settled against his shoulders with Ardeth’s help. “Look at me, habibi, please?”
Ardeth nodded. “Rick, I...” Whatever he was going to say was lost in the groan he gave as Rick slid just the head of his cock into him. And Rick could see as much as feel the shudder that went with the groan. Ardeth tossed his head back again, gasping out something that might have been Rick’s name. Rick gave him a bit to relax, which gave him a bit to keep from just coming right then too, and then pushed deeper. Ardeth reached up and gripped his arms where they were braced on either side of them both. “Habib.”
“Yeah, we are.” He managed. “God you feel so good.”
“Hmm. And you.” Ardeth opened his eyes and Rick had to smile at the expression. “Now, habib? Make love to me?”
“Thought I was.” He pressed a bit deeper, catching his breath sharply as Ardeth’s body only opened to his.
“You feel so huge inside me, Rick. And so good.”
“Yeah, I know.” It was like Ardeth’s cock was twice the size he knew it was when it was inside him the sensation was so strong. He slid that last bit forward until there was no where left to go. Ardeth’s eyes widened a bit and it was just perfect to see the pleasure and joy that filled his gaze. Rick took another second to get his own body under control and then pulled away to rock forward again. Ardeth gave a small gasp and then a groan as he did it again, shifting a bit so that he had more of Ardeth’s weight on his thighs and that was the right angle apparently because the next thrust made Ardeth moan louder. Rick smiled, and did it again and then again. Each thrust pressing his cock against that spot that just shattered Ardeth a little more each time. He wrapped his hand around Ardeth’s cock, trying to time the strokes with his thrusts so that they were both to the same tempo. Ardeth only shuddered and arched up into both, his hands gripping Rick’s thighs and pulling him closer, deeper than before and it tore a cry from them both.
“Ad, Rick, tani mara.” Ardeth gasped and it took Rick’s brain a long moment to find the translation. Again. So he thrust again and again, losing himself in the rhythm and the sensations. And then there wasn’t room for even that much thought as the ecstasy caught him fast and he thrust up hard once more into Ardeth as he came. Ardeth gave a low cry of something Rick couldn’t follow and came all over Rick’s hand and between them. It took a long while for Rick to even think enough to lower Ardeth’s legs off his shoulders and ease out of his body. Ardeth moaned softly but only curled into Rick’s arms as he lay down beside him. Another long while and he could stroke his hand down Ardeth’s back. Then he found the wherewithal to reach down beside the bed with his other hand and pick the small washing cloths they’d been using for napkins earlier and wipe them both clean enough so that he could snuggle Ardeth fully into his arms and hold him close. Later he’d worry about wetting the cloth and doing it right. For now this was more than good enough.
“How in the name of Allah can even Paradise be better than that?” Ardeth asked after a bit.
Rick chuckled, and only tightened his arms. “Pretty hard to top that, yeah.”
“Truly I do not think it can be done.” Ardeth shifted a bit so his head was more on Rick’s shoulder. “You will spoil me, habibi.”
“You could use to be spoiled a little, Ardeth.” He stroked his hand down Ardeth’s back again.
“Hmm.” A soft chuckle and then his breathing evened out with sleep. Rick smiled a bit more.
“Ma Salaama, muHabb.” And he let himself doze off as well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Evie snuggled closer into Rick’s arms as she woke. It was still the dead of night though so she doubted she had slept that long. “I really wasn’t going to try this again so soon you know, but how can I not when I’m so worried about you Rick?” She put her head on his chest and just listened to his heart beat for a while. Then she worked through the spell in her mind before actually reciting it in the Egyptian. And one moment she was lying with Rick in Ahm Shere and then she was lying in the bedroom she recalled from Thebes. This time though she was in her normal clothes and not Nefertiri’s which was fine with her. But her mask and daggers were beside her on the bed. She smiled as she got up and slipped them through her belt, hanging the mask by its ties. The hallway was deserted as she walked to the next room over and then peeked in. Because it would probably embarrass them both to death if they were involved when she got there.
Rick was lying on his back with Ardeth mostly in his arms, and they were both very sound asleep apparently. She smiled as she closed the door and walked over to the bed. Odd to see them asleep like this when it was very obvious to her at least that they’d been making love before they’d fallen asleep. Rick was holding Ardeth tightly, one arm around his waist the other on top of the one Ardeth had around his chest. The sheet had slid down, barely at Rick’s waist, and just covering Ardeth’s hip as he had one leg between Rick’s and it was obvious neither was wearing anything else. Evie, you are not going to stand here and stare at your husband and Ardeth naked in bed. No matter how adorable they are. But they are that aren’t they? How do you manage to look so very perfect together you two? Not to mention splendid. She smiled a bit. Behave Evelyn, you can admire your husband later when he isn’t curled up with...well now I suppose friend doesn’t really cover this any more does it? Lover I suppose. Oh dear that really is odd, Rick. But that did not keep them from looking very, very good indeed. She shook her head a bit, almost amused and pulled the second sheet up from where it was mostly pooled on the floor to drape it over them both. At least you both look well enough. She thought. There was a pot of coffee sitting on a brazier on the table and she picked it up to take a sniff. Wrinkling her nose she looked about before finding the water jug and added some to the pot.
Apparently whatever they’d been doing before sleeping had involved making a mess of the room. There were clothes strewn about, as well as weapons and several baskets of food and plates and such. She rolled her eyes a bit and moved the various swords and guns and knives to be beside the bed, gathered the clothing up into a bundle. And setting it beside the basket. She debated waking them but it seemed best to just let them sleep. She leaned down and brushed her fingers lightly over Rick’s cheek.
“Hmm?” Rick sighed and pulled Ardeth closer as he woke. “Evie? What’s...? Ardeth?”
“Aiwa habibi?”
She managed not to chuckle at that. They both sounded so absolutely adorable. “Shhh, go back to sleep, silly. I didn’t mean to wake you.:”
“Evie?” Rick opened his eyes and then blinked and stared at her. Ardeth mumbled something, probably in Medja but he blushed dark enough for her to tell even though he didn’t raise his head from Rick’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I wanted to come make certain– everything was all right.” She smiled a little. “I can see that, so I’ll leave you two to sleep.”
“But...”
“Evelyn?” Ardeth actually sat up a bit to look at her and she had to smile.
“What, am I supposed to have a fit now or something? Please. It isn’t like I didn’t know what you were doing before I came here after all.” She rolled her eyes. And as long as it’s you two together in bed I don’t mind a bit actually. She smiled a bit more and then leaned down to kiss Rick’ quickly. “Try to keep out of trouble, please?”
“We weren’t really looking for trouble.” Rick shook his head but sat up too. “Um, we could get up and dressed and you could stay. Someone will come and get us for dinner soon I think.”
“I admit your arrival was unexpected, Princess. I shall have to have the servants bring more dinner, certainly.” Imhotep’s voice came from the balcony. “Really, warriors, I even ‘knocked’ so to speak and you did not notice. Likely there could be an army at the gates and you would be no help at all.”
She turned to look a the damned thing and found a cold smile. “What have we to fear of armies at the gates of Thebes here in the land of the faithful, priest of AmmunRa?” She asked in Egyptian.
“Who am I, Princess, to know the ways of the gods. I am only one priest amongst many.” Imhotep chuckled. “I came to remind you Ardeth that Ammun would speak to you.” The dark eyes wandered over her friend with far more familiarity than she liked. “We would not wish to disappoint him again, hmm? Certainly I shall have to thank him myself for such a wonderful gift as this, today.” The tone was nothing short of pure desire.
Ardeth sighed, and then only smiled as Rick put his arm around his waist. “I hate when we have to agree on things. Want to go see, Ammun merru?” Rick gave the damned priest a very pointed look and Evie managed not to smile.
Ardeth smiled a bit, himself. “If the Lord of all Egypt wishes to see me, habib, I will go. But he and Allah both must know that I would rather stay here. I am truly sorry if that bothers you, sister mine.”
“Not in the slightest.” She shrugged. “I’m always more likely to want to stay in and snuggle with him too. Don’t let any of this go to your head, Rick or I’ll smack you.” She smiled again. And then turned to Imhotep with a small nod, trying for all of Nefertiri’s authority. “Are you going to provide us some refreshment before we see, AmmunRa priest of Thebes?” She asked. “The coffee is stale, the water jug is nearly empty and I am famished. No doubt my husband and Ardeth are hungry as well.” She looked at him a moment longer.
“Certainly Princess, far be it from me to be a rude host to such esteemed guests. But dinner will have to wait until after we see Ammun, Ardeth. Are you coming Medjai or do I tell my god you were– occupied once again?”
Ardeth sighed and then started to get to his feet and paused. “Evelyn? Sister do you mind?”
“Oh, right. Certainly.” She started to turn away and then stopped. “Wait a moment.” She went over to the chest against the wall and opened it, finding another set of robes within it. “Well that’s good.” She pulled them out and then went over and handed them to Ardeth with a smile, before turning her back.
“Thank you.” He replied.
Rick chuckled. “Good one, ruin his day I’m sure. He did that on purpose.” That was in English.
“No doubt.” Ardeth agreed with a sigh. “Today I would not have cared if he stared. As long as he kept his hands to himself that is.”
“He’d best, I’d cut them off otherwise.” She did not look behind her but the smile was in her voice anyway.
“I am supposed to be your bodyguard, Princess, not the other way about I thought.” Ardeth sounded truly amused.
“She gets protective of her brothers Ardeth. Better get used to it.” Rick put in. “You think you can find me something to wear, sweetheart?”
“I suppose.” She carefully did not look at Ardeth as he finished dressing only went to the chest to look for something for Rick. “Or not, um, I don’t see anything else, love.”
“Oh that’s fun. All right, fine, where’s what I was wearing when I got here? Tahiri come in while we were sleeping?”
Imhotep only chuckled. “How quickly you become accustomed to hospitality, warriors. No doubt the clothing will arrive with your dinner, O’Connell.”
“Great.”
“Here, it will serve I think.” Ardeth handed him the outer robe of his galabeyeh. “Until Tahiri returns with your clothing, brother mine. Evelyn will you stay here then and ask her please to bring coffee and food for three as she will not be expecting you. And tea as well I think? Rick’s Egyptian is not really that good yet.” For some reason that made Ardeth flush just a bit.
“If you want.” She’d rather either her or Rick were going with him.
“I would be thankful.” He picked up his weapons as Rick pulled on the dark robe and tied it shut.
“You sure?” He put one hand on Ardeth’s shoulder, the question low and full of so much she could barely make it through the layers.
“I am certain. I will tell you what Ammun says, Rick, when I get back.”
“I’m not worried about Ammun, Ardeth.”
“No, no doubt you are not.” He looked over at her and then down. “I...”
“Evie?”
“Don’t be silly.” she rolled her eyes and Rick thank God took her at her word and kissed Ardeth fully. She only smiled a bit more, both amused and a little surprised at how very touching that was.
“Likely later you will have to do that again you know.” Ardeth smiled a bit, flushing darker again.
“Any time you need me to.” Rick replied so obviously he understood the comment.
“Shall we go to see AmmunRa to battle again, High priest of Thebes? And wish him quick victory in defeating the destroyer once more?”
“No doubt he will be appreciative of the prayer. I am quite amazed myself, Medjai. You have surprised me Nefertiri, truly.” Something odd to his voice as he walked past her. Ardeth picked up his shield and weapons and followed.
“And why is that, priest of AmmunRa?”
“I of all people would never have suspected that any child of Seti’s would have ever learned to allow love to flourish so, much less share a lover with anyone. Are you coming, Ardeth?” And damn it if he didn’t walk out the door before she could think of a thing to say.
“Bis’mil’Allah.” Ardeth sighed but then gave them both a last smile and followed, closing the door as he left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ardeth took the plate Amal handed him with a smile. “Thank you.”
“It is nothing to thank, Ardeth.” His aunt smiled and then sat down over with Leila and Azza.
“I want to go to Thebes, Haltu.” Ismail announced suddenly, coming over to sit beside him. Ardeth blinked and looked down at the boy.
“What makes you say that, son of my cousin?” He shook his head a bit.
“Mohamed says that Alex says he got to go to Thebes at first. Now Papa has gone. Can not Mama and I go with Papa and you next time if Alex gets to go with his parents?”
Ardeth glanced over at his cousin and then sighed. “It is not so simple, Ismail. And I am not going to let Alex go with us again now that I have managed a way to keep him safe. There are many dangers to walking the Thebes that was and I see no reason to endanger you if it is not necessary.”
Ismail seemed to think about that for a long time. “I am not afraid of danger, chieftain.”
Despite himself Ardeth smiled a little, trying to recall how very brave the reflections of his tribe’s children had been in hell. He reached over and gripped Ismail’s shoulder gently. “I am not doubting your courage, Ismail. You are your father’s son on that account I do not doubt. However, as chieftain it is my duty to protect the tribes is it not? And therefore I can not risk more of my tribesmates than is necessary. Otherwise who will stay behind to guard your mother and your sisters, hmm?”
“I will guard them, chieftain.” Mohamed spoke up, with just a bit more enthusiasm than Ardeth liked.
“No doubt you would do so, Mohamed but your brother and you are young yet to be so burdened. For now it is better that you both learn how to do so over the next handful of years and then I will rest easier knowing I have such warriors amongst my tribes.”
Mohamed nodded a little. “I am trying to learn to ride well.”
“Asyd assures me you are doing so.” He gave the boy a smile and then squeezed Ismail’s shoulder again. “Soon we will be needing to find you a horse as well, Ismail.”
“Papa says I must be as tall as Mohamed before I can learn to ride. But every time I grow taller so does Mohamed. That is not fair.”
“Life is often not fair, son of my cousin, but we shall talk about you learning to ride, later.”
“I want to learn to ride too, haltu.” Khalifa put in coming to sit on his other side.
“Girls do not need to ride horses, silly.” Ismail corrected. “Mama does not ride a horse.”
“Can I not learn to ride a horse, haltu? Then if there are mummies or Germans or other things around I can ride away from them.” Khalifa glared at her brother.
Ardeth sighed. “You are much too young to learn to ride a horse, Khalifa. But it is a good thought to want to escape from our enemies certainly. For now though you must trust to your parents and I to protect you.”
“I am not afraid of our enemies as long as you and mama and papa are here, haltu.” Khalifa hugged him.
“Good.” He put his arm around the little girl beside him.
“Is it hard to kill Germans haltu Ardeth?” Ismail asked. “They are not like the cursed things are they that never stay dead?”
Ardeth closed his eyes and then let go of Khalifa to set his plate aside.
“Enemies are never easy to fight, Ismail. No matter what sort of enemies they are. Now leave your chieftain in peace so that he may eat.” Adham spoke firmly. Ismail nodded and moved back over to his mother and siblings. Khalifa made a face and then went to get her own plate.
“I think I am to tired to eat much.” Ardeth shook his head. “I am sorry to waste the food, aunt. But I think I will do better to simply try to rest.” He did not miss the looks that passed between the adults there but he did not let that stop him from getting to his feet. “Will you do me the kindness of keeping yet informed of how the survivors of Ahmer’s tribe are faring, Leila?”
“Of course, Ardeth.”
“Good. I will see you both at prayers then cousin, uncle.” He rose to his feet. “Allah’s peace to you all.”
“And to you, Ardeth.” Selim returned, but the look he gave Ardeth spoke far more than the simple words. And Ardeth was suddenly glad the children were there as it saved him from the conversation he and his uncle would have had otherwise no doubt. He walked at first toward his own tent and then decided against it. Sleep was still far out of reach he had no doubt, despite the very real exhaustion that still plagued him. He glanced back toward the fire where his family was and then eastward.
“Please, most merciful Allah, I pray to you keep the safe. They are good people, oh my God, and deserve more than I have words to explain.” He could only have faith that Allah was indeed merciful and would not condemn the innocents and those who’s only crimes were their loyalty to the same fate that Ardeth was becoming rather certain was his. Is it hard to kill Germans haltu? Ismail’s voice echoed in his head. And he was so uncertain how to answer that. Because it was not hard at all to slay his foes, but Allah had to know it was hard to live with the doing. He walked out toward the dunes, hoping his God or the night sky might have some answers yet.
Maghrib:ToC