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nanuk_dainNever-ending Dance – PART C
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The next morning, after a short conversation with Evy and Rick, they left Cairo for the desert. Jonathan had been a little bit disappointed when Ardeth had retired to his own room after they had spent some more time on the roof, talking about the upcoming journey, kissing, talking about Ardeth's tribe, kissing some more. The Med-jai had insisted on spending the night apart, even though Jonathan had been well aware the warrior had been just as aroused as him.
After half a day of travelling, Jonathan remembered why camels would just never be his favourite animals. He said so and enjoyed Ardeth laughing freely, his eyes sparkling with amusement. They rode close together so they could talk and Jonathan used the opportunity to ask about what Ardeth did when there weren't mummies to chase or undead armies to fight. He was surprised to learn that the Med-jai led a rather normal life, filled with all those duties that came with being the chief of his tribe as well as the leader of all Med-jai. Arbitrate disputes between members of his tribe or between whole tribes, see to the wealth of his people, oversee the armies, trade with the other tribes. Politics in the desert, basically, Jonathan mused. Well, who would have expected that.
When they set camp for the night, Jonathan was surprised to find Ardeth arrange a rather large bed out of blanket in the sand, close to the fireplace. Then they ate dinner, shared some of it with Horus, drank spiced tea and enjoyed a pleasant conversation. The moon had come up and gave the mountains of sand a strange blue glow that Jonathan had already seen several times when he had camped in the desert for the night, and yet he found it beautiful every time again. He enjoyed the peacefulness of the night and smiled contently.
Sometime later, Ardeth lay down on the blankets, and Jonathan could feel his intense gaze trailing him. It made his skin crawl, but in a pleasant way that he had never experienced with anybody else. Slowly, Jonathan settled down next to the Med-jai who immediately opened his arms in the same silent invitation that he had given on the airship. Jonathan didn't hesitate at all this time, there was no embarrassment, no fear of inappropriate touch, no people sleeping way too close by. There was no need to keep up appearances, it was just him and Ardeth and the seemingly endless desert.
Jonathan cuddled up against the Med-jai's side, rested his head on the shoulder that seemed perfect for that purpose and leisurely stretched his leg out over Ardeth's. He heard the warrior chuckle and felt his arms close around him, then lips touched the top of his head in a gentle kiss. “Sleep well, Jonathan.”
They got up very early the next morning. Ardeth woke him well before sunrise with lingering kisses on Jonathan's neck and face. It was way better than being shaken awake, Jonathan decided and leaned into the kisses.
“There is a place I want to show you.” Ardeth said with a tiny smile when they sat close to the fire and drank fresh dark coffee. He gave Horus some meat and waited patiently for the falcon to finish before offering some more.
“What kind of place?” Jonathan asked and sipped on his intensely sweetened coffee, watching the man and his falcon. They were so alike in many ways, he mused.
“You will see.” the Med-jai replied and smirked.
“That is not fair.” Jonathan complained. “Now I will think about it all the time.”
Ardeth chuckled and grinned at him. “I know.”
“You did that on purpose!” the Englishman exclaimed indignantly.
“Of course.” Still grinning widely, Ardeth handed him some bread. Horus made a noise that sounded as if he was laughing at the Englishman.
Jonathan glared at the animal and snorted at its master, but accepted the bread. “When will we reach where ever it is we are going?”
“In the early evening.” the warrior answered and dipped his bread into the coffee. “That gives you a whole day to wonder.”
“Thank you very much.” Jonathan snorted again, but he had to smile nonetheless. He enjoyed their banter immensely. “I appreciate it. Really. At least I won't get bored, then.”
“I am pleased that you can see the positive side.”
It was true, though, he did wonder for the rest of the day. He tried to lure Ardeth into telling him several times, but the Med-jai just laughed and ignored all his attempts. They rode close again, this time Ardeth asked him countless questions about London and England in general, about his childhood and his family. Jonathan didn't often speak of his parents, but he found it didn't bother him to talk about them to the Med-jai. He enquired about Ardeth's family in return and learned that the Med-jai's father had died only some years before Ardeth's first encounter with the O'Connells, that his mother was still alive and lived in the encampment. He heard about Ardeth's childhood, learned that the Med-jai were nomadic tribes and that this urge to move around was deeply ingrained in Ardeth. The warrior told him that he felt imprisoned in buildings of stone, that he couldn't stay in one place for a long amount of time without growing restless, that the endlessness of the desert meant freedom for him. Jonathan listened and smiled, enjoying how the picture he had of the other man grew more detailed and colourful with every hour they spent together.
“There we are.” Ardeth said suddenly and stopped his camel. Jonathan look up from where he'd been playing with a loose thread from the blanket on the saddle. He didn't dare to believe his eyes. Below them in a small valley, right here in the middle of the desert, was a little lake and an oasis spread out around it. It wasn't large, but it was the most beautiful sight for his sand sore eyes.
“That is amazing.” Jonathan said quietly. Horus sat on his arm and made an approving sound, gently batting his wings.
“I had hoped you would like it.” Ardeth's dark voice sounded pleased and when Jonathan turned to look at the Med-jai, he saw a content smile on the full lips. “We can stay here for the night, enjoy a refreshing bath and a good night's sleep.”
They made the camels walk the remaining distance and Jonathan just couldn't stop staring at the beautiful place.
“How do you know about this place?” he asked in awe, his curiosity sincere.
“I know every single sand grain in this desert, Jonathan. I have spent my whole life here, there is no place that I wasn't shown or that I haven't happened to cross at some point.” Ardeth chuckled. “This oasis is rather unknown, though. It is too small and too well hidden in the valley to be seen from afar.”
“So how did you find it?”
“My father showed it to me on my sixteenth birthday.” Ardeth replied and firmly held Jonathan's gaze. “He told me that it was special and that I should share its location only with those I loved, just like he had shared it with my mother.”
Jonathan felt his cheeks redden and his heartbeat quicken. There was no misunderstanding in the way Ardeth had chosen his words and he was grateful when their arrival spared him from answering. They set up camp first, made a fire and arranged the blankets to form a large bed, just like last night. The sun was setting when they finished eating dinner and Jonathan felt pleasantly relaxed, his stomach full and his body finally resting after the day spent on camelback.
Ardeth, who had been sitting right next to him the whole time, gracefully got to his feet and began to open the two weapon belts he wore over his shoulders. He put them down on the outer rim of the blankets before he loosened the belt and the sash around his waist. Next he shed his long tabard, his eyes never leaving the Jonathan's who watched him lose his multiple layers of clothing piece by piece and suddenly he wondered if he'd finally find out how far down the Med-jai's tattoos really went.
When Ardeth stood in front of him in nothing but his black undertunic, Jonathan felt his heartbeat speed up and his mouth go dry. The Med-jai's hands moved to the fastenings at his waist and then the garment fell away, revealing his broad chest, his strong arms, his narrow hips and his powerful legs. He wore nothing but the large pendant on a chain around his neck, the tattoos that spread over his whole body and a tiny loincloth that left nothing to the imagination. Jonathan swallowed hard, more than aware of how tight the confines of his trousers had become.
“Would you like to join me for a bath, Jonathan?” Ardeth's voice was rough like smoke, even darker than normal, and Jonathan felt it caress his skin, making him shiver. He licked his suddenly dry lips and nodded slowly. Did this man actually know how incredible beautiful he was? Did he know his body was a perfect union of strength and elegance, of power and control, a mirror of his soul?
Jonathan took the hand Ardeth offered him and let himself be pulled to his feet. The Med-jai glanced down at him, eyes dark with desire, a teasing smile on his full lips. His hands settled on Jonathan's shoulders and pushed the jacket down his arms until it fell to the ground with a barely audible sound. Then his fingers traced the entire length on Jonathan's arms on their way back up to the collar of his shirt, only to slide down on his chest, opening every button right down to the waistline of his trousers. The shirt was gently removed to join the jacket on the ground, and he felt the fingers trail down his chest in a caress that caused goosebumps to spread all over his body.
Jonathan had never paid much attention to another man's hands – only in card games, and that was to find out if they were cheating even more than he was – but ever since he'd first noticed Ardeth's long finger caressing Horus's feathers, he'd found his gaze drawn to the Med-jai's hands again and again, memorising their shape and the tattoo on the back in every detail. In a way, the hands didn't seem to fit his warrior's life in their slender elegance, but Jonathan found they perfectly suited the man behind the warrior. Broad and large hands yet slender and nimble fingers, strong yet gentle, callused from the use of his sword. He'd often wondered what they'd feel like on his skin, and he just realised that his imagination fell short of the real thing.
Ardeth's eyes never left his when he slowly opened the fastenings of Jonathan's trousers, hands gently slipping under the waistband and pushing the garment down until the he could step out of it. The shorts Jonathan wore beneath didn't hide his erection at all, it pushed against the cloth, tenting it unmistakably. Jonathan would have been embarrassed hadn't he seen the bulge under the tiny loincloth that proved to him that he wasn't alone in this intense arousal.
Ardeth took his right hand and began to walk backwards towards the water, slowly and purposefully pulling Jonathan with him, dark eyes still fixed on blue ones. Jonathan followed willingly, allowed himself to be guided. He saw how Ardeth stepped into the water, further and further, and felt the refreshing coolness against his own skin, rising higher with every step. When they were covered to the waist, the Med-jai stopped, but didn't let go of Jonathan's hand. Instead, he raised his free hand, let it trail up the Englishman's arm, over his shoulder, until he cupped the jaw. He took a step forward, right into Jonathan's personal space, and used the hand on his cheek to pull the smaller man into a deep kiss.
Jonathan was lost as soon as the full lips touched his. He wanted the Med-jai, wanted him more than he remembered ever wanting a person; the need to feel him was overwhelmingly strong, seemed to rule his every movement. Jonathan let his hands settle on the Med-jai's hips, then trailed up his sides. He felt the taller man suddenly shudder under his fingers, a deep moan escaping the full lips. Interesting. Just to prove that his assumption was correct, Jonathan repeated the caress and was rewarded with a similar reaction.
He grinned into the kiss. “Sensitive, are we?”
“Hmmm.” Ardeth was obviously not in the mood – or able – to give a coherent answer, but Jonathan didn't mind at all. The Med-jai's head was thrown back, throat exposed so temptingly that Jonathan couldn't keep from leaning in and gently biting a trail from the shoulder all way up to the jaw. Ardeth pressed against him in response, offering up his throat even more, and Jonathan could feel the groan against his lips where they lay against the side of the Med-jai's neck. He felt the whole length of the strong body pressed alongside his, their groins touching with maddeningly little friction through the thin barrier of their remaining clothes. Jonathan let his hands wander over the broad expanse of the warrior's back and down to cup his tempting backside, pressing them together and increasing the friction on their erections.
It was total bliss. Jonathan heard a loud moan and it was only afterwards that he realised it had come from himself. Ardeth's hands were caressing the lean body wherever they could reach, an incredibly arousing blend of tenderness and passion, making Jonathan shiver and press himself against the Med-jai with unrestrained lust. The water lapped around them at every movement, cooling their heated skin and adding to their caresses. This was paradise, Jonathan decided with the last working corner of his brain, before he pulled Ardeth down into another deep kiss. He felt the Med-jai respond in kind, felt these skilled hands of his wandering over his back to his flanks and then they slipped into his shorts, taking hold of his erection in just the right way and moving in a perfect union of speed and pressure.
Jonathan let go of the luscious lips to groan deep in his throat at the sudden bolt of pleasure that ran through his body. Ardeth definitely knew what he was doing, his rhythm so perfect that Jonathan's hands grabbed onto the broad shoulders to steady himself and his head sank against the Med-jai's chest. If he didn't slow or stop, this was going to be over a lot earlier than they wanted it to be, Jonathan thought but found he couldn't bring up enough concentration to move or talk.
“Jonathan.” he then heard the dark voice of the Med-jai right next to his ear, felt the beard tickle his skin and the sound of his name made him shiver. “I want you to take me.”
“What?” Jonathan head jerked up, he just couldn't help the reflex, he was too surprised at the words to stop it. Ardeth pulled back a little and looked at him, gaze an interesting mixture of surprised and serious.
“You have done this before, haven't you?”
“Yes, I have.” Despite the decidedly sexual situation they were in right now, Jonathan still found himself blushing at the question. “I'm not new to this.”
“Good.” Ardeth nodded as if he had known that before. Then he frowned. “Do you not like to take?”
“Oh, I do.” Jonathan admitted. “I just hadn't thought you'd want it that way...”
“I want to give you everything I am, I want to feel you as part of me.” Ardeth said earnestly and looked at him with this intense gaze of his, his whole attention focussed on the man in front of him, and Jonathan felt his skin prickle from the sensations it caused to run through him. Ardeth pulled him close again, his lips touching Jonathan's ear, nibbling gently. “So take me, Jonathan.”
All Jonathan could do was groan at the image the word painted in his mind and he pulled the Med-jai closer. “We need-”
Ardeth nodded and wordlessly guided him out of the water and back to the bed of blankets where he pointed to a little vial that sat innocently next to his clothes. Jonathan couldn't help a laugh, then he kissed Ardeth's neck. “You planned that, didn't you?”
“Of course.” the Med-jai admitted shamelessly and smiled teasingly. “I wanted you for a very long time, and after what had happened, I deemed it wise to be prepared.”
“Good thinking.” Jonathan grinned, removed his soaked shorts and pulled the taller man down with him on the blankets. “Very good, indeed.”
He felt the larger frame cover his body, then the beautiful lips were on his and that skilled tongue was back in his mouth, playing with his, challenging him into action. Jonathan didn't need to be prompted, he met his lover with equal hunger, hands back to touching the surprisingly soft skin that was covered in little droplets now. He turned them so the Med-jai lay under him, then he trailed kisses along the lines of black tattoos that seemed to follow a certain pattern he had yet to understand – he would ask later – and worked his way down to where his erection bulged under the loincloth. Jonathan made quick work out of the cloth and took a good look at the member that now stood up fiercely. Well, no tattoos here, he noticed and grinned before he bent down and took the tip in his mouth.
Ardeth tasted like the desert he was part of, strong and hot and dry, his very own blend. Jonathan closed his eyes so he could focus on the taste and the feeling of the skin's texture on his tongue. He ran it along the underside of the shaft, teased the Med-jai into shivering with the intensity of the sensation. He let one hand find a nipple to stroke it into a hard nub and felt another full body shiver from the warrior, accompanied by a low growl. Then Ardeth suddenly moved, turned them around again and Jonathan found himself on the blanket flat on his back. He was too surprised to react at first, he could just watch how the tall warrior straddled him, took up the vial and swiftly prepared himself, his intense gaze locked on Jonathan. The Med-jai was obviously not new to this, either.
Oh my... Jonathan lost any coherent thought as soon as he felt Ardeth take hold of his erection, sinking down on the shaft in a maddening slow pace. The Med-jai's head tilted forwards, his tousled hair falling in his face, eyes closed, mouth agape in concentration. He was an overwhelmingly beautiful sight, so erotic and tempting that Jonathan just had to run his hands through the soft black strands. Ardeth looked up and held his gaze, lids lowered halfway over the dark eyes, giving him a deliciously debauched appearance. Then Jonathan was buried all the way inside him and the pleasure threatened to overwhelm him, forcing out a moan that happened to be in perfect sync with Ardeth's low growl.
The Med-jai stayed still for a moment, then he lifted himself up and sank down again. Jonathan felt his eyes fall shut at the onslaught of sensation and took hold of the warrior's hips, his breathing turned into panting and he let out a sound of utter pleasure. The Med-jai moved again and established a hypnotising rhythm, his hands covering Jonathan's, their hips working together instinctively to intensify the pleasure. Jonathan felt every single one of Ardeth's moans go straight to his erection, sending a tingling sensation through his entire body. He let one hand find the Med-jai's member, ran his thumb over the tip to spread the pre-come and began to pump in sync with their thrusts.
He saw Ardeth arch his back and throw his head back, exposing the slender line of his neck. He heard him make a guttural noise deep in his throat just before he felt the hot semen spill over his hand. But it was the look of unrestrained pleasure on Ardeth's face finally undid him. He felt the wave of completion hit him too, washing over him and taking away all his thoughts, leaving only feelings, sensations, emotions. He came, pulsed inside that heat until he felt all strength leave his body. His head sagged back against the blankets, he was panting frantically, trying to recover, riding out the waves of his climax. Ardeth had collapsed on top of him, breathing just as irregularly. After a moment, the Med-jai turned them again so that Jonathan was plastered against his side, head resting comfortably on the broad shoulder. The Med-jai's arms came up to wrap around him, holding him tight as if to support him, although the warrior was obviously in no better shape than Jonathan himself.
They just lay there, comfortable in the presence of each other, the night breeze cooling them pleasantly. Jonathan closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of Ardeth's embrace, smiling quietly to himself while his breath slowly evened out to a normal level. He had never expected this, hadn't expected Ardeth, these feelings, this intensity – or the activities they had just engaged in. Unexpected, but very pleasant, he thought and his smile turned into a grin.
“We finally came together.” He heard Ardeth's amused voice the body under his head shook with a low chuckle. “In every sense of the word.”
“You could say that.” Jonathan remarked with dry humour lancing his voice. “But our path was not exactly straightforward. And it took us some ten years.”
Ardeth was quiet for a moment, his hand unceasingly caressing the skin of Jonathan's neck. “My father told me once to think of life as a dance: There are times when you dance alone, times when you dance with friends and then there are times when you dance with your partner. And although you will dance apart sometimes, even follow a different rhythm, in the end, you will always come back to dance together. Because nobody likes to dance alone for all eternity.”
“That is a good metaphor.” Jonathan replied after giving it a moment's thought. “Quite accurate, actually.”
“Yes, I found it to be true on many occasions in my life.” Ardeth agreed and bent a little so he could press a kiss on the other man's temple. “Some ten years ago, I first noticed I had always danced alone after tasting what it would be like to dance with you.”
Jonathan licked his suddenly dry lips and cuddled a little closer to the Med-jai, then he let his hand wander over the broad, surprisingly hairless chest in a gentle caress. “I've expected to dance without a partner for my whole life. I never even noticed I didn't like it.”
He found it easier to speak in the terms of the metaphor than to tell Ardeth straight to his face that he had been the piece missing in Jonathan's life ever since they had parted company after the defeat of the mummy. Until about two weeks ago, he hadn't even known what he'd been missing, had only been aware there was something he wanted that wasn't there. This strange sensation he'd never been able to place.
“You have the choice now.” Ardeth said equally quietly. Jonathan nodded, knowing the Med-jai would feel it. In response, the arms around him tightened and a gentle kiss was placed on the top of his head. “Let us rest now.”
He didn't need to be told twice. Jonathan felt the pleasant exhaustion of aftermath taking over his body, clouding his mind and letting him fall asleep within minutes. The next morning, he was woken by the sensation of fingers caressing his back, slowly tracing his spine, making him shiver with their ghostly softness. He heard Ardeth chuckle when the shiver ran through his body and caused goosebumps to spread over his skin.
“Good morning, my love.” he heard the dark voice of the Med-jai, still a little rough from sleep, and it was the most erotic sound he'd ever heard this early in the morning. It promptly made him shiver again. “You are not cold, are you?”
“This has nothing to do with cold.” Jonathan replied after a moment, letting his hands find Ardeth's sensitive sides and caressing him to make his point clear. When he heard the Med-jai chuckle again and felt a shiver run through his larger frame, he grinned. “You are not cold either, I take it?”
“No, I'm not.” His voice had darkened again, just like last night, and Jonathan suddenly understood it was a sign of arousal. Teasingly, he let his hands trace the soft skin again, rejoicing in the reactions he could elicit. The Med-jai let out a groan deep in his throat before he caught Jonathan's wandering hands held them, gently but firmly.
Then he sighed heavily. “If we want to reach my encampment before nightfall, we can't stay here much longer.”
“That's a pity.” Jonathan said with obvious regret in his voice and looked at the Med-jai with his best puppy dog eyes. “A real pity.”
Ardeth swallowed visibly, then he licked his lips. “A real pity.”
“What makes me prefer the encampment over the pleasure I know we could have now?” Jonathan enquired, an eyebrow raised quizzically.
“Arriving in the encampment means a real dinner and a soft bed.” Ardeth offered and shrugged. “It's your choice. We can stay here for another day if you wish to. Our provisions will last that long.”
“Well, a real dinner is tempting.” Jonathan mused, then he grinned teasingly. “As well as the bed.”
The warrior chuckled. “I certainly agree.”
So they were on the trail before the sun had risen, taking advantage of the time before the heat grew into the unbearable. Jonathan had to fight to contain his grin when he saw Ardeth flinch when he sat down onto the saddle. He knew exactly what the warrior felt in that moment, he had been in the same position before. How ambiguous that sounded. Jonathan gave up and grinned.
They rode for hours, sometimes in agreeable silence, sometimes in pleasant conversation. Horus changed place from the Med-jai's arm to Jonathan's several times during the day and it was obvious he would have preferred to fly. It was about late afternoon that Ardeth sat up straighter and peered into the endless desert in front of them. Jonathan followed his gaze and couldn't see a thing. A while later, Ardeth seemed to have found what he had been looking for, for he leaned back and smiled.
“Do you see the shapes in the distance?” Ardeth pointed to some very small dots that were dark against the blue of the sky. “That's my encampment.”
Jonathan squinted his eyes to see the shapes more clearly. “How long will it be?”
“We will reach it before nightfall.” the Med-jai replied calmly. “You will meet my mother, then.”
“Your mother?” Jonathan gulped, shocked. “I just slept with you! How could I face your mother and...”
He stopped when he heard Ardeth break out in a heartfelt laugh. “You people are very strange sometimes. What does my mother have to do with us sleeping together?”
“Well...” Jonathan knew there was a deep blush spreading over his face. “Won't she notice? I mean, mothers do have a certain sixth sense for things like that...”
Ardeth was still grinning widely. “Of course she will notice. She's an excellent observer and she knows how to read me.”
Jonathan was stunned into speechlessness for a moment. He licked his dry lips and tried to find his voice. “And you don't have a problem with her knowing? Don't you feel... strange?”
“No, I don't.” he shrugged casually. “I have found my people and your people to have a very different perception and understanding of sexuality. My mother won't mind what happened between us. My people are more open about such things than yours.”
“It won't be a problem that, you know... that I am a man?” Jonathan wasn't sure he could believe that, it was certainly not that easy in England – or even in Cairo. He wasn't even certain how Evy would react once she found out – because he had no doubt that she would at some point – and he didn't even want to think about Rick. Americans were not exactly known for their tolerance towards other ways of life and he had not the faintest idea how Rick thought about two men in a relationship. Because Jonathan had no doubt that Ardeth and him were in a relationship. He just knew the Med-jai wouldn't do any less.
“That will be of no importance.” Ardeth's voice interrupted his musings. “My people do not frown upon brothers in arms sharing their bodies.”
Jonathan snorted. “All right, my people are definitely very different in that matter.”
“I'm not ashamed of you, Jonathan.” The Med-jai had turned towards him and firmly held his gaze. “You are my choice and my mother will know that from the first moment on, as will my people. There is nothing to worry about, we will not be met with hostility.”
“It might take a moment for me to get used to that idea.” Jonathan gnawed on his lower lip. “I grew up in a society where a relationship like ours is impossible to lead in the open.”
“I know that. I just wish for you to understand that there is no harm waiting for you with my people.” The Med-jai shrugged. “Although my mother can be quite intimidating when she wants to be.”
“Thank you, that's very reassuring.” Jonathan snorted. “As if I'm not already intimidated enough simply because she is your mother!”
Ardeth had the nerve to chuckle.
“Don't you dare laugh!” Jonathan growled indignantly and glared at him.
The Med-jai wisely kept quiet, but the smile was still there on his lips for the next minutes. Jonathan wondered how he should behave once they arrived and absent-mindedly caressed Horus's feathers. He understood now why Ardeth found it calming to pet the falcon, it had the same effect on him. The shapes came closer, Jonathan could make out the single tents and the people walking around between them. Why had it to be Ardeht's mother? He felt as if he was meeting his future mother-in-law, and it wasn't a pleasant feeling. It was weird. It was frightening. It was unnerving. He had never expected to find himself in such a situation, and he had always been convinced that he wasn't made for long term relationships. Not that he and Ardeth had been together that long. Well, they had, in a way, for ten years. And in another way for about three days – at least in the physical matters. Really not straightforward.
His musings were cut short by the first tents that had come so close that he could see the straw on the roof. When they passed them, there was a bunch of children cheering and running along with them and Ardeth greeted several of them by name, a huge smile on his face. They stopped in the centre of the encampment, a free circle surrounded by tents of varying sizes. Before they could even dismount, an old man with a white beard approached and another man of about Ardeth's age, obviously a warrior, walked next to him. They bowed in greeting. “Amir, welcome home.”
“It is good to have you back.” the younger of the two men said.
“Bakal, Mahir.” Ardeth returned the bow, but Jonathan had the distinct impression they knew each other quite well. There was no stiff formality in their gestures or their words, just sincere respect. “It is good to be back. I see you are well. Has there been anything of importance in my absence?”
“No, Amir.” the old man – Bakal? – replied. “Everything has been peaceful.”
Ardeth nodded, obviously pleased. “Good.”
Jonathan watched and felt stupid sitting on his camel while the others were on the ground, so he dismounted, careful to hold his left arm steady where Horus sat, his claws digging in the vambrace. He walked up to Ardeth and was immediately presented, glad not for the first time that he understood Arabic. He wasn't fluent, but it was enough to follow the conversation.
“This is Jonathan Carnahan.” Ardeth said, nothing more, but the expressions of the two men told Jonathan that there were no more words needed. He saw them look at him, then at the falcon and back at him. Something changed in their posture, he couldn't tell what exactly it was, but they appeared more friendly now, the older Med-jai even giving him a little smile.
“Welcome to our humble village, Jonathan Carnahan.” the old man gave him a bow in greeting and Jonathan returned it awkwardly.
“Thank you.” the Englishman replied, not sure what to say. He felt out of place here, maybe it was because he was so obviously a stranger with his fair skin, his western clothes and his foreign language. Ardeth exchanged some more words with the two men, then inclined his head and Bakal and Mahir left. The Med-jai put his hand on the small of Jonathan's back and gently pushed him in the direction of a large tent that stood at the edge of the circle.
“I see you brought a guest with you.” a female voice said quietly once they had entered and Jonathan turned towards it. Ardeth's mother was an impressive figure. There were similarities that were so obvious that their kinship just couldn't be questioned. She was rather tall and had the same wavy raven hair, only hers was pulled back in two braids that hung down to her hips. But the most obvious resemblance they bore was the mouth. Jonathan knew immediately from whom Ardeth had inherited his full, luscious lips, even though they looked far more feminine in her soft face. She was no young woman any more, but she still held herself with that grace which was also so much part of her son.
“Mother.” She approached and greeted her son with an embrace, short but so obviously affectionate that Jonathan was a little bit jealous for a second. It had been a long time since he had experienced such a gesture, his mother had been dead for decades.
Ardeth returned the embrace, then he stepped back with a smile on his lips. “Mother, this is Jonathan Carnahan. He fought with us against the Creature both times.”
Jonathan bowed at the words, that couldn't be that wrong, could it? Her eyes were equally intense as her son's when she watched him and Jonathan wondered what she saw.
“Jonathan, this is my mother, Jamila Bey.” This time she bowed a little, he face betraying none of her thoughts.
“Horus likes you.” she remarked casually and nodded towards the falcon that sat quietly on his arm. Jonathan felt instinctively that this was not a simply statement. There was more to it, something Ardeth seemed to understand, because he inclined his head a little, a smile on his lips.
“Jonathan found Horus in Ahm Shere after he was shot and nursed him back to health.” he explained. “He had O'Connell contact me to return him to me.”
Suddenly, a smile appeared on his mother's full lips, immediately giving her a friendly appearance. “I see you are a good man, Jonathan Carnahan. I wish to welcome you in my village and in my home. My son has told me about your fight against the Creature and I thank you for your part in it.”
“I...” For once, Jonathan found himself at a loss for words. “Thank you. I was just a small wheel in the whole machine.”
She smiled at him, then she indicated the pillows that covered a part in the back of the tent. “Sit down and be my guest for dinner.”
Ardeth and Jonathan followed her suggestion and only a few minutes later, they sat together around plates and bowls that were filled with food that Jonathan mostly didn't know. The delicious smells told him it would be very tasty, though, and he tried everything, eating with healthy appetite and completely forgetting his reservations towards Ardeth's mother. She was friendly towards him, asking him to tell his side of the defeat of the Creature and listening with a smile on her lips that was mirrored in her eyes. The evening passed quickly with nobody paying attention to time, the conversation ran easily and the food was as good as Ardeth had promised that morning. It was long since dark when Ardeth announced that they would retire for the night and his mother bade them a good night.
When they left her tent, the cold air came as a surprise for Jonathan who had felt comfortable in the confines of the warm tent that was heated by the multitude of candles that served as lighting. He shivered but ignored it, walking next to Ardeth who slowly strode towards a tent at the other side of the circle.
“Well, she obviously chose not to be intimidating. Lucky me.” Jonathan said with a relieved sigh.
“I think she is rather taken by you.” Ardeth replied, an eyebrow raised quizzically. “I have rarely see her so forthcoming with anybody she didn't know.”
“It must be my charms.” Jonathan remarked with an incredibly bright smile to prove his point.
Ardeth chuckled, but shook his head. “I think that was not all, my love.”
Jonathan pouted. “Well, what was it then?”
“Horus convinced her.” Ardeth said with a smile. “As he convinced Bakal and Mahir.”
“Excuse me?”
“His trust and respect for you speaks for you in the eyes of every Med-jai. They saw you arrive with him on your arm and it told them more about you in a second than hours of explanation could have.” Ardeth explained and held open the cloth that veiled the entrance to let the other man in.
Jonathan was silent for a moment while he entered. He used the opportunity to look around as an excuse to gather his thoughts. “I hadn't expected him to have such a significance.”
“Well, his instincts can be trusted, that has been proven to us again and again for years.” Ardeth went on and carefully closed the entrance behind him. He watched Jonathan for a moment. “This is my home. I hope it agrees with you.”
Jonathan took another look around and took in the soft-looking pillows on one side of the tent that was even larger than Jamila's. Next to it was a small table that obviously served as a desk, covered with parchment and writing utensils, and a screen made of cloth separated off the back of the room. There were little pieces of art here and there, obviously masterpieces of handiwork, and an impressive collection of knives, daggers, swords and other weapons Jonathan didn't know. In a subtle way, it reflected the character of its owner, Jonathan mused.
“I like it.” he said and turned to smile at his host. “It's very you.”
Ardeth quizzically raised a brow and Jonathan chuckled. “Don't make me explain, please. It was a compliment.”
The Med-jai smiled and nodded, but didn't ask. He took Jonathan's hand and they crossed the tent to go into the part that was hidden behind the screen. There was a large sleeping area with blankets and even more pillows. The Med-jai removed his boots and his wide outer tunic before he sat down and watched the other man strip out of his jacket and his shoes. The air in here was comfortably warm compared to the chilly desert night, Jonathan thought while he stepped onto the blankets and sat down next to the Med-jai, not sure what was going to happen next.
Ardeth leaned back against some pillows and raised his arm in the same silent invitation that had been part of their relationship ever since the airship. Jonathan chuckled and turned to lean with his back against the Med-jai's chest and found himself enfolded in a comfortable embrace.
“Do you feel better now that you have met my mother and there were no complications?” Ardeth asked against his neck and Jonathan nodded.
“I have to admit that the evening was very pleasant. I think my worries were without any reason.”
“Good. I hoped you would come to that conclusion.” A hand caressed his neck and Jonathan let his head fall to one side to grant Ardeth better access. He closed his eyes and simply enjoyed the touch.
“Who were the two men who came to greet you?” Jonathan enquired and began to nibble at the skin of the Med-jai's throat that was so conveniently close to his lips.
“Bakal – the older man – is like a mentor for me. He was my commander when I served as a young man and I learned a lot from him. Mahir served together with me, we are friends since childhood.” Ardeth told him and bared his throat a little more. “Bakal is my first of advisers and Mahir is my second in command, my right hand, as your people would say. Together they take over my duties when I'm absent.”
“How long have you been the leader of the tribe now?”
“Since the death of my father, some eleven years. Bakal was my father's second in command and helped me a lot in the first time.” the Med-jai replied quietly. The atmosphere was peaceful and relaxed. “Mahir took over for him just four years ago, and ever since, they've worked together to strengthen my back.”
“You have very loyal friends there.” Jonathan remarked and cuddled closer in the comfortable embrace. He felt the day's travel catch up with him, sleep slowly taking hold of him.
“Yes, I have indeed.” He felt Ardeth press a kiss to his temple. “Why don't we lie down and sleep, my love. We are both tired from the journey.”
Jonathan just nodded, too comfortable to move. Ardeth chuckled and began to remove his clothes, than Jonathan's. The Englishman felt how he was pulled him close and arms wrapped around his waist, then the warmth of the Med-jai pressed all along his back. Jonathan smiled contently and let sleep take over.
Within a few days, an easy routine had established. Ardeth woke up early and usually let Jonathan sleep, sometimes he woke him with soft, trailing kisses all over the Englishman's body, very purposefully caressing his fair skin. Jonathan didn't mind being woken in such a pleasant way and didn't ever complain, but then, he normally went back to sleep after they had engaged in some rather stimulating morning activities. During the day, Ardeth attended to his tasks as leader and Jonathan found himself spending more time with Jamila than he had ever expected. She had just been there on the second morning and had invited him to join her on a trade meeting with a neighbouring tribe. Jonathan had agreed without a second thought and had spent an interesting day in a group of some ten Med-jai with Bakal and Jamila serving as the leaders. He had been surprised at the friendliness of the people and their interest in him. It had improved his Arabic a lot to spend the whole day in a non-English speaking environment, he noticed later.
After that, he was always taken somewhere with somebody, be it Jamila, Bakal – who somehow seemed to like Jonathan – or some of the other members of the tribe he had gotten to know on his multiple trips. Jonathan had the distinct impression that while Ardeth might have had nothing to do with this development, he certainly was pleased by it and gave Jonathan enough opportunity to engage in it. They always spent the evenings together, though, and Ardeth abducted him several times to ride to their oasis to spend the night there. These were usually very passionate nights that resulted in at least one of them having problems sitting through the ride back to the encampment.
Ardeth had been right, Jonathan had to admit after a few day. Obviously, everybody knew about the nature of their relationship, but there were never any snide remarks nor any strange looks. Though he and Ardeth didn't do anything too obvious in public, they didn't hide either and their usual level of physical contact was definitely higher than it was supposed to be between mere friends. After a few days, Jonathan began to get used to it and stopped flinching back whenever Ardeth touched him affectionately in public, be it the hand in the small of his back, the gentle caress of his hand when they walked together or the hand on his shoulder when they stood together.
Jonathan had told Evy that he would be gone for about two or three weeks, and he found the time to pass faster that he'd expected. Suddenly, a week had gone by, then the second and he told Ardeth that he had to return to Cairo soon. The Med-jai had simply nodded, saying nothing, and his eyes had held an unspoken question that was at the same time an offer. Jonathan had bitten his lip, he couldn't answer that question yet, and he knew Ardeth would never ask it aloud. The Med-jai knew Jonathan had understood and by not vocalising it, he left the choice to the Englishman, not forcing him to decide before his time. Jonathan was grateful and disappointed at the same time and couldn't explain his confusion.
Jamila came to him the morning of their departure with a cup of fresh, strong coffee. Jonathan accepted it with a surprised, yet grateful smile and took a sip, stunned to find it sweetened to his taste. They sat together and drank their coffee in agreeable silence, no words were need. Jonathan was surprised how much he had grown to like the life in the encampment and how easily he had adapted. He was a metropolitan man, he had always thought the countryside to be boring and monotonous. Now he had spent two weeks in the middle of the desert and he found it had a strange, calming effect on him. He felt more at peace than he ever had.
Ardeth arrived a while after they had finished their coffee. It was time to leave. Jonathan got up and thanked Jamila for her hospitality with a true smile, meaning every word. He bowed to her in the traditional greeting he had learned by now, but she just took hold of his chin and made him look up. There was a warm smile on her face, then she pulled him into the same kind of affectionate embrace she always gave her son. Jonathan was completely taken by surprise, but he returned the gesture after a moment, enjoying the simple comfort it held.
Leaving was a lot harder than he had expected.
***
GO TO PART D: http://nanuk-dain.livejournal.com/16069.html
BACK TO PART B: http://nanuk-dain.livejournal.com/16562.html
***
***
The next morning, after a short conversation with Evy and Rick, they left Cairo for the desert. Jonathan had been a little bit disappointed when Ardeth had retired to his own room after they had spent some more time on the roof, talking about the upcoming journey, kissing, talking about Ardeth's tribe, kissing some more. The Med-jai had insisted on spending the night apart, even though Jonathan had been well aware the warrior had been just as aroused as him.
After half a day of travelling, Jonathan remembered why camels would just never be his favourite animals. He said so and enjoyed Ardeth laughing freely, his eyes sparkling with amusement. They rode close together so they could talk and Jonathan used the opportunity to ask about what Ardeth did when there weren't mummies to chase or undead armies to fight. He was surprised to learn that the Med-jai led a rather normal life, filled with all those duties that came with being the chief of his tribe as well as the leader of all Med-jai. Arbitrate disputes between members of his tribe or between whole tribes, see to the wealth of his people, oversee the armies, trade with the other tribes. Politics in the desert, basically, Jonathan mused. Well, who would have expected that.
When they set camp for the night, Jonathan was surprised to find Ardeth arrange a rather large bed out of blanket in the sand, close to the fireplace. Then they ate dinner, shared some of it with Horus, drank spiced tea and enjoyed a pleasant conversation. The moon had come up and gave the mountains of sand a strange blue glow that Jonathan had already seen several times when he had camped in the desert for the night, and yet he found it beautiful every time again. He enjoyed the peacefulness of the night and smiled contently.
Sometime later, Ardeth lay down on the blankets, and Jonathan could feel his intense gaze trailing him. It made his skin crawl, but in a pleasant way that he had never experienced with anybody else. Slowly, Jonathan settled down next to the Med-jai who immediately opened his arms in the same silent invitation that he had given on the airship. Jonathan didn't hesitate at all this time, there was no embarrassment, no fear of inappropriate touch, no people sleeping way too close by. There was no need to keep up appearances, it was just him and Ardeth and the seemingly endless desert.
Jonathan cuddled up against the Med-jai's side, rested his head on the shoulder that seemed perfect for that purpose and leisurely stretched his leg out over Ardeth's. He heard the warrior chuckle and felt his arms close around him, then lips touched the top of his head in a gentle kiss. “Sleep well, Jonathan.”
They got up very early the next morning. Ardeth woke him well before sunrise with lingering kisses on Jonathan's neck and face. It was way better than being shaken awake, Jonathan decided and leaned into the kisses.
“There is a place I want to show you.” Ardeth said with a tiny smile when they sat close to the fire and drank fresh dark coffee. He gave Horus some meat and waited patiently for the falcon to finish before offering some more.
“What kind of place?” Jonathan asked and sipped on his intensely sweetened coffee, watching the man and his falcon. They were so alike in many ways, he mused.
“You will see.” the Med-jai replied and smirked.
“That is not fair.” Jonathan complained. “Now I will think about it all the time.”
Ardeth chuckled and grinned at him. “I know.”
“You did that on purpose!” the Englishman exclaimed indignantly.
“Of course.” Still grinning widely, Ardeth handed him some bread. Horus made a noise that sounded as if he was laughing at the Englishman.
Jonathan glared at the animal and snorted at its master, but accepted the bread. “When will we reach where ever it is we are going?”
“In the early evening.” the warrior answered and dipped his bread into the coffee. “That gives you a whole day to wonder.”
“Thank you very much.” Jonathan snorted again, but he had to smile nonetheless. He enjoyed their banter immensely. “I appreciate it. Really. At least I won't get bored, then.”
“I am pleased that you can see the positive side.”
It was true, though, he did wonder for the rest of the day. He tried to lure Ardeth into telling him several times, but the Med-jai just laughed and ignored all his attempts. They rode close again, this time Ardeth asked him countless questions about London and England in general, about his childhood and his family. Jonathan didn't often speak of his parents, but he found it didn't bother him to talk about them to the Med-jai. He enquired about Ardeth's family in return and learned that the Med-jai's father had died only some years before Ardeth's first encounter with the O'Connells, that his mother was still alive and lived in the encampment. He heard about Ardeth's childhood, learned that the Med-jai were nomadic tribes and that this urge to move around was deeply ingrained in Ardeth. The warrior told him that he felt imprisoned in buildings of stone, that he couldn't stay in one place for a long amount of time without growing restless, that the endlessness of the desert meant freedom for him. Jonathan listened and smiled, enjoying how the picture he had of the other man grew more detailed and colourful with every hour they spent together.
“There we are.” Ardeth said suddenly and stopped his camel. Jonathan look up from where he'd been playing with a loose thread from the blanket on the saddle. He didn't dare to believe his eyes. Below them in a small valley, right here in the middle of the desert, was a little lake and an oasis spread out around it. It wasn't large, but it was the most beautiful sight for his sand sore eyes.
“That is amazing.” Jonathan said quietly. Horus sat on his arm and made an approving sound, gently batting his wings.
“I had hoped you would like it.” Ardeth's dark voice sounded pleased and when Jonathan turned to look at the Med-jai, he saw a content smile on the full lips. “We can stay here for the night, enjoy a refreshing bath and a good night's sleep.”
They made the camels walk the remaining distance and Jonathan just couldn't stop staring at the beautiful place.
“How do you know about this place?” he asked in awe, his curiosity sincere.
“I know every single sand grain in this desert, Jonathan. I have spent my whole life here, there is no place that I wasn't shown or that I haven't happened to cross at some point.” Ardeth chuckled. “This oasis is rather unknown, though. It is too small and too well hidden in the valley to be seen from afar.”
“So how did you find it?”
“My father showed it to me on my sixteenth birthday.” Ardeth replied and firmly held Jonathan's gaze. “He told me that it was special and that I should share its location only with those I loved, just like he had shared it with my mother.”
Jonathan felt his cheeks redden and his heartbeat quicken. There was no misunderstanding in the way Ardeth had chosen his words and he was grateful when their arrival spared him from answering. They set up camp first, made a fire and arranged the blankets to form a large bed, just like last night. The sun was setting when they finished eating dinner and Jonathan felt pleasantly relaxed, his stomach full and his body finally resting after the day spent on camelback.
Ardeth, who had been sitting right next to him the whole time, gracefully got to his feet and began to open the two weapon belts he wore over his shoulders. He put them down on the outer rim of the blankets before he loosened the belt and the sash around his waist. Next he shed his long tabard, his eyes never leaving the Jonathan's who watched him lose his multiple layers of clothing piece by piece and suddenly he wondered if he'd finally find out how far down the Med-jai's tattoos really went.
When Ardeth stood in front of him in nothing but his black undertunic, Jonathan felt his heartbeat speed up and his mouth go dry. The Med-jai's hands moved to the fastenings at his waist and then the garment fell away, revealing his broad chest, his strong arms, his narrow hips and his powerful legs. He wore nothing but the large pendant on a chain around his neck, the tattoos that spread over his whole body and a tiny loincloth that left nothing to the imagination. Jonathan swallowed hard, more than aware of how tight the confines of his trousers had become.
“Would you like to join me for a bath, Jonathan?” Ardeth's voice was rough like smoke, even darker than normal, and Jonathan felt it caress his skin, making him shiver. He licked his suddenly dry lips and nodded slowly. Did this man actually know how incredible beautiful he was? Did he know his body was a perfect union of strength and elegance, of power and control, a mirror of his soul?
Jonathan took the hand Ardeth offered him and let himself be pulled to his feet. The Med-jai glanced down at him, eyes dark with desire, a teasing smile on his full lips. His hands settled on Jonathan's shoulders and pushed the jacket down his arms until it fell to the ground with a barely audible sound. Then his fingers traced the entire length on Jonathan's arms on their way back up to the collar of his shirt, only to slide down on his chest, opening every button right down to the waistline of his trousers. The shirt was gently removed to join the jacket on the ground, and he felt the fingers trail down his chest in a caress that caused goosebumps to spread all over his body.
Jonathan had never paid much attention to another man's hands – only in card games, and that was to find out if they were cheating even more than he was – but ever since he'd first noticed Ardeth's long finger caressing Horus's feathers, he'd found his gaze drawn to the Med-jai's hands again and again, memorising their shape and the tattoo on the back in every detail. In a way, the hands didn't seem to fit his warrior's life in their slender elegance, but Jonathan found they perfectly suited the man behind the warrior. Broad and large hands yet slender and nimble fingers, strong yet gentle, callused from the use of his sword. He'd often wondered what they'd feel like on his skin, and he just realised that his imagination fell short of the real thing.
Ardeth's eyes never left his when he slowly opened the fastenings of Jonathan's trousers, hands gently slipping under the waistband and pushing the garment down until the he could step out of it. The shorts Jonathan wore beneath didn't hide his erection at all, it pushed against the cloth, tenting it unmistakably. Jonathan would have been embarrassed hadn't he seen the bulge under the tiny loincloth that proved to him that he wasn't alone in this intense arousal.
Ardeth took his right hand and began to walk backwards towards the water, slowly and purposefully pulling Jonathan with him, dark eyes still fixed on blue ones. Jonathan followed willingly, allowed himself to be guided. He saw how Ardeth stepped into the water, further and further, and felt the refreshing coolness against his own skin, rising higher with every step. When they were covered to the waist, the Med-jai stopped, but didn't let go of Jonathan's hand. Instead, he raised his free hand, let it trail up the Englishman's arm, over his shoulder, until he cupped the jaw. He took a step forward, right into Jonathan's personal space, and used the hand on his cheek to pull the smaller man into a deep kiss.
Jonathan was lost as soon as the full lips touched his. He wanted the Med-jai, wanted him more than he remembered ever wanting a person; the need to feel him was overwhelmingly strong, seemed to rule his every movement. Jonathan let his hands settle on the Med-jai's hips, then trailed up his sides. He felt the taller man suddenly shudder under his fingers, a deep moan escaping the full lips. Interesting. Just to prove that his assumption was correct, Jonathan repeated the caress and was rewarded with a similar reaction.
He grinned into the kiss. “Sensitive, are we?”
“Hmmm.” Ardeth was obviously not in the mood – or able – to give a coherent answer, but Jonathan didn't mind at all. The Med-jai's head was thrown back, throat exposed so temptingly that Jonathan couldn't keep from leaning in and gently biting a trail from the shoulder all way up to the jaw. Ardeth pressed against him in response, offering up his throat even more, and Jonathan could feel the groan against his lips where they lay against the side of the Med-jai's neck. He felt the whole length of the strong body pressed alongside his, their groins touching with maddeningly little friction through the thin barrier of their remaining clothes. Jonathan let his hands wander over the broad expanse of the warrior's back and down to cup his tempting backside, pressing them together and increasing the friction on their erections.
It was total bliss. Jonathan heard a loud moan and it was only afterwards that he realised it had come from himself. Ardeth's hands were caressing the lean body wherever they could reach, an incredibly arousing blend of tenderness and passion, making Jonathan shiver and press himself against the Med-jai with unrestrained lust. The water lapped around them at every movement, cooling their heated skin and adding to their caresses. This was paradise, Jonathan decided with the last working corner of his brain, before he pulled Ardeth down into another deep kiss. He felt the Med-jai respond in kind, felt these skilled hands of his wandering over his back to his flanks and then they slipped into his shorts, taking hold of his erection in just the right way and moving in a perfect union of speed and pressure.
Jonathan let go of the luscious lips to groan deep in his throat at the sudden bolt of pleasure that ran through his body. Ardeth definitely knew what he was doing, his rhythm so perfect that Jonathan's hands grabbed onto the broad shoulders to steady himself and his head sank against the Med-jai's chest. If he didn't slow or stop, this was going to be over a lot earlier than they wanted it to be, Jonathan thought but found he couldn't bring up enough concentration to move or talk.
“Jonathan.” he then heard the dark voice of the Med-jai right next to his ear, felt the beard tickle his skin and the sound of his name made him shiver. “I want you to take me.”
“What?” Jonathan head jerked up, he just couldn't help the reflex, he was too surprised at the words to stop it. Ardeth pulled back a little and looked at him, gaze an interesting mixture of surprised and serious.
“You have done this before, haven't you?”
“Yes, I have.” Despite the decidedly sexual situation they were in right now, Jonathan still found himself blushing at the question. “I'm not new to this.”
“Good.” Ardeth nodded as if he had known that before. Then he frowned. “Do you not like to take?”
“Oh, I do.” Jonathan admitted. “I just hadn't thought you'd want it that way...”
“I want to give you everything I am, I want to feel you as part of me.” Ardeth said earnestly and looked at him with this intense gaze of his, his whole attention focussed on the man in front of him, and Jonathan felt his skin prickle from the sensations it caused to run through him. Ardeth pulled him close again, his lips touching Jonathan's ear, nibbling gently. “So take me, Jonathan.”
All Jonathan could do was groan at the image the word painted in his mind and he pulled the Med-jai closer. “We need-”
Ardeth nodded and wordlessly guided him out of the water and back to the bed of blankets where he pointed to a little vial that sat innocently next to his clothes. Jonathan couldn't help a laugh, then he kissed Ardeth's neck. “You planned that, didn't you?”
“Of course.” the Med-jai admitted shamelessly and smiled teasingly. “I wanted you for a very long time, and after what had happened, I deemed it wise to be prepared.”
“Good thinking.” Jonathan grinned, removed his soaked shorts and pulled the taller man down with him on the blankets. “Very good, indeed.”
He felt the larger frame cover his body, then the beautiful lips were on his and that skilled tongue was back in his mouth, playing with his, challenging him into action. Jonathan didn't need to be prompted, he met his lover with equal hunger, hands back to touching the surprisingly soft skin that was covered in little droplets now. He turned them so the Med-jai lay under him, then he trailed kisses along the lines of black tattoos that seemed to follow a certain pattern he had yet to understand – he would ask later – and worked his way down to where his erection bulged under the loincloth. Jonathan made quick work out of the cloth and took a good look at the member that now stood up fiercely. Well, no tattoos here, he noticed and grinned before he bent down and took the tip in his mouth.
Ardeth tasted like the desert he was part of, strong and hot and dry, his very own blend. Jonathan closed his eyes so he could focus on the taste and the feeling of the skin's texture on his tongue. He ran it along the underside of the shaft, teased the Med-jai into shivering with the intensity of the sensation. He let one hand find a nipple to stroke it into a hard nub and felt another full body shiver from the warrior, accompanied by a low growl. Then Ardeth suddenly moved, turned them around again and Jonathan found himself on the blanket flat on his back. He was too surprised to react at first, he could just watch how the tall warrior straddled him, took up the vial and swiftly prepared himself, his intense gaze locked on Jonathan. The Med-jai was obviously not new to this, either.
Oh my... Jonathan lost any coherent thought as soon as he felt Ardeth take hold of his erection, sinking down on the shaft in a maddening slow pace. The Med-jai's head tilted forwards, his tousled hair falling in his face, eyes closed, mouth agape in concentration. He was an overwhelmingly beautiful sight, so erotic and tempting that Jonathan just had to run his hands through the soft black strands. Ardeth looked up and held his gaze, lids lowered halfway over the dark eyes, giving him a deliciously debauched appearance. Then Jonathan was buried all the way inside him and the pleasure threatened to overwhelm him, forcing out a moan that happened to be in perfect sync with Ardeth's low growl.
The Med-jai stayed still for a moment, then he lifted himself up and sank down again. Jonathan felt his eyes fall shut at the onslaught of sensation and took hold of the warrior's hips, his breathing turned into panting and he let out a sound of utter pleasure. The Med-jai moved again and established a hypnotising rhythm, his hands covering Jonathan's, their hips working together instinctively to intensify the pleasure. Jonathan felt every single one of Ardeth's moans go straight to his erection, sending a tingling sensation through his entire body. He let one hand find the Med-jai's member, ran his thumb over the tip to spread the pre-come and began to pump in sync with their thrusts.
He saw Ardeth arch his back and throw his head back, exposing the slender line of his neck. He heard him make a guttural noise deep in his throat just before he felt the hot semen spill over his hand. But it was the look of unrestrained pleasure on Ardeth's face finally undid him. He felt the wave of completion hit him too, washing over him and taking away all his thoughts, leaving only feelings, sensations, emotions. He came, pulsed inside that heat until he felt all strength leave his body. His head sagged back against the blankets, he was panting frantically, trying to recover, riding out the waves of his climax. Ardeth had collapsed on top of him, breathing just as irregularly. After a moment, the Med-jai turned them again so that Jonathan was plastered against his side, head resting comfortably on the broad shoulder. The Med-jai's arms came up to wrap around him, holding him tight as if to support him, although the warrior was obviously in no better shape than Jonathan himself.
They just lay there, comfortable in the presence of each other, the night breeze cooling them pleasantly. Jonathan closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of Ardeth's embrace, smiling quietly to himself while his breath slowly evened out to a normal level. He had never expected this, hadn't expected Ardeth, these feelings, this intensity – or the activities they had just engaged in. Unexpected, but very pleasant, he thought and his smile turned into a grin.
“We finally came together.” He heard Ardeth's amused voice the body under his head shook with a low chuckle. “In every sense of the word.”
“You could say that.” Jonathan remarked with dry humour lancing his voice. “But our path was not exactly straightforward. And it took us some ten years.”
Ardeth was quiet for a moment, his hand unceasingly caressing the skin of Jonathan's neck. “My father told me once to think of life as a dance: There are times when you dance alone, times when you dance with friends and then there are times when you dance with your partner. And although you will dance apart sometimes, even follow a different rhythm, in the end, you will always come back to dance together. Because nobody likes to dance alone for all eternity.”
“That is a good metaphor.” Jonathan replied after giving it a moment's thought. “Quite accurate, actually.”
“Yes, I found it to be true on many occasions in my life.” Ardeth agreed and bent a little so he could press a kiss on the other man's temple. “Some ten years ago, I first noticed I had always danced alone after tasting what it would be like to dance with you.”
Jonathan licked his suddenly dry lips and cuddled a little closer to the Med-jai, then he let his hand wander over the broad, surprisingly hairless chest in a gentle caress. “I've expected to dance without a partner for my whole life. I never even noticed I didn't like it.”
He found it easier to speak in the terms of the metaphor than to tell Ardeth straight to his face that he had been the piece missing in Jonathan's life ever since they had parted company after the defeat of the mummy. Until about two weeks ago, he hadn't even known what he'd been missing, had only been aware there was something he wanted that wasn't there. This strange sensation he'd never been able to place.
“You have the choice now.” Ardeth said equally quietly. Jonathan nodded, knowing the Med-jai would feel it. In response, the arms around him tightened and a gentle kiss was placed on the top of his head. “Let us rest now.”
He didn't need to be told twice. Jonathan felt the pleasant exhaustion of aftermath taking over his body, clouding his mind and letting him fall asleep within minutes. The next morning, he was woken by the sensation of fingers caressing his back, slowly tracing his spine, making him shiver with their ghostly softness. He heard Ardeth chuckle when the shiver ran through his body and caused goosebumps to spread over his skin.
“Good morning, my love.” he heard the dark voice of the Med-jai, still a little rough from sleep, and it was the most erotic sound he'd ever heard this early in the morning. It promptly made him shiver again. “You are not cold, are you?”
“This has nothing to do with cold.” Jonathan replied after a moment, letting his hands find Ardeth's sensitive sides and caressing him to make his point clear. When he heard the Med-jai chuckle again and felt a shiver run through his larger frame, he grinned. “You are not cold either, I take it?”
“No, I'm not.” His voice had darkened again, just like last night, and Jonathan suddenly understood it was a sign of arousal. Teasingly, he let his hands trace the soft skin again, rejoicing in the reactions he could elicit. The Med-jai let out a groan deep in his throat before he caught Jonathan's wandering hands held them, gently but firmly.
Then he sighed heavily. “If we want to reach my encampment before nightfall, we can't stay here much longer.”
“That's a pity.” Jonathan said with obvious regret in his voice and looked at the Med-jai with his best puppy dog eyes. “A real pity.”
Ardeth swallowed visibly, then he licked his lips. “A real pity.”
“What makes me prefer the encampment over the pleasure I know we could have now?” Jonathan enquired, an eyebrow raised quizzically.
“Arriving in the encampment means a real dinner and a soft bed.” Ardeth offered and shrugged. “It's your choice. We can stay here for another day if you wish to. Our provisions will last that long.”
“Well, a real dinner is tempting.” Jonathan mused, then he grinned teasingly. “As well as the bed.”
The warrior chuckled. “I certainly agree.”
So they were on the trail before the sun had risen, taking advantage of the time before the heat grew into the unbearable. Jonathan had to fight to contain his grin when he saw Ardeth flinch when he sat down onto the saddle. He knew exactly what the warrior felt in that moment, he had been in the same position before. How ambiguous that sounded. Jonathan gave up and grinned.
They rode for hours, sometimes in agreeable silence, sometimes in pleasant conversation. Horus changed place from the Med-jai's arm to Jonathan's several times during the day and it was obvious he would have preferred to fly. It was about late afternoon that Ardeth sat up straighter and peered into the endless desert in front of them. Jonathan followed his gaze and couldn't see a thing. A while later, Ardeth seemed to have found what he had been looking for, for he leaned back and smiled.
“Do you see the shapes in the distance?” Ardeth pointed to some very small dots that were dark against the blue of the sky. “That's my encampment.”
Jonathan squinted his eyes to see the shapes more clearly. “How long will it be?”
“We will reach it before nightfall.” the Med-jai replied calmly. “You will meet my mother, then.”
“Your mother?” Jonathan gulped, shocked. “I just slept with you! How could I face your mother and...”
He stopped when he heard Ardeth break out in a heartfelt laugh. “You people are very strange sometimes. What does my mother have to do with us sleeping together?”
“Well...” Jonathan knew there was a deep blush spreading over his face. “Won't she notice? I mean, mothers do have a certain sixth sense for things like that...”
Ardeth was still grinning widely. “Of course she will notice. She's an excellent observer and she knows how to read me.”
Jonathan was stunned into speechlessness for a moment. He licked his dry lips and tried to find his voice. “And you don't have a problem with her knowing? Don't you feel... strange?”
“No, I don't.” he shrugged casually. “I have found my people and your people to have a very different perception and understanding of sexuality. My mother won't mind what happened between us. My people are more open about such things than yours.”
“It won't be a problem that, you know... that I am a man?” Jonathan wasn't sure he could believe that, it was certainly not that easy in England – or even in Cairo. He wasn't even certain how Evy would react once she found out – because he had no doubt that she would at some point – and he didn't even want to think about Rick. Americans were not exactly known for their tolerance towards other ways of life and he had not the faintest idea how Rick thought about two men in a relationship. Because Jonathan had no doubt that Ardeth and him were in a relationship. He just knew the Med-jai wouldn't do any less.
“That will be of no importance.” Ardeth's voice interrupted his musings. “My people do not frown upon brothers in arms sharing their bodies.”
Jonathan snorted. “All right, my people are definitely very different in that matter.”
“I'm not ashamed of you, Jonathan.” The Med-jai had turned towards him and firmly held his gaze. “You are my choice and my mother will know that from the first moment on, as will my people. There is nothing to worry about, we will not be met with hostility.”
“It might take a moment for me to get used to that idea.” Jonathan gnawed on his lower lip. “I grew up in a society where a relationship like ours is impossible to lead in the open.”
“I know that. I just wish for you to understand that there is no harm waiting for you with my people.” The Med-jai shrugged. “Although my mother can be quite intimidating when she wants to be.”
“Thank you, that's very reassuring.” Jonathan snorted. “As if I'm not already intimidated enough simply because she is your mother!”
Ardeth had the nerve to chuckle.
“Don't you dare laugh!” Jonathan growled indignantly and glared at him.
The Med-jai wisely kept quiet, but the smile was still there on his lips for the next minutes. Jonathan wondered how he should behave once they arrived and absent-mindedly caressed Horus's feathers. He understood now why Ardeth found it calming to pet the falcon, it had the same effect on him. The shapes came closer, Jonathan could make out the single tents and the people walking around between them. Why had it to be Ardeht's mother? He felt as if he was meeting his future mother-in-law, and it wasn't a pleasant feeling. It was weird. It was frightening. It was unnerving. He had never expected to find himself in such a situation, and he had always been convinced that he wasn't made for long term relationships. Not that he and Ardeth had been together that long. Well, they had, in a way, for ten years. And in another way for about three days – at least in the physical matters. Really not straightforward.
His musings were cut short by the first tents that had come so close that he could see the straw on the roof. When they passed them, there was a bunch of children cheering and running along with them and Ardeth greeted several of them by name, a huge smile on his face. They stopped in the centre of the encampment, a free circle surrounded by tents of varying sizes. Before they could even dismount, an old man with a white beard approached and another man of about Ardeth's age, obviously a warrior, walked next to him. They bowed in greeting. “Amir, welcome home.”
“It is good to have you back.” the younger of the two men said.
“Bakal, Mahir.” Ardeth returned the bow, but Jonathan had the distinct impression they knew each other quite well. There was no stiff formality in their gestures or their words, just sincere respect. “It is good to be back. I see you are well. Has there been anything of importance in my absence?”
“No, Amir.” the old man – Bakal? – replied. “Everything has been peaceful.”
Ardeth nodded, obviously pleased. “Good.”
Jonathan watched and felt stupid sitting on his camel while the others were on the ground, so he dismounted, careful to hold his left arm steady where Horus sat, his claws digging in the vambrace. He walked up to Ardeth and was immediately presented, glad not for the first time that he understood Arabic. He wasn't fluent, but it was enough to follow the conversation.
“This is Jonathan Carnahan.” Ardeth said, nothing more, but the expressions of the two men told Jonathan that there were no more words needed. He saw them look at him, then at the falcon and back at him. Something changed in their posture, he couldn't tell what exactly it was, but they appeared more friendly now, the older Med-jai even giving him a little smile.
“Welcome to our humble village, Jonathan Carnahan.” the old man gave him a bow in greeting and Jonathan returned it awkwardly.
“Thank you.” the Englishman replied, not sure what to say. He felt out of place here, maybe it was because he was so obviously a stranger with his fair skin, his western clothes and his foreign language. Ardeth exchanged some more words with the two men, then inclined his head and Bakal and Mahir left. The Med-jai put his hand on the small of Jonathan's back and gently pushed him in the direction of a large tent that stood at the edge of the circle.
“I see you brought a guest with you.” a female voice said quietly once they had entered and Jonathan turned towards it. Ardeth's mother was an impressive figure. There were similarities that were so obvious that their kinship just couldn't be questioned. She was rather tall and had the same wavy raven hair, only hers was pulled back in two braids that hung down to her hips. But the most obvious resemblance they bore was the mouth. Jonathan knew immediately from whom Ardeth had inherited his full, luscious lips, even though they looked far more feminine in her soft face. She was no young woman any more, but she still held herself with that grace which was also so much part of her son.
“Mother.” She approached and greeted her son with an embrace, short but so obviously affectionate that Jonathan was a little bit jealous for a second. It had been a long time since he had experienced such a gesture, his mother had been dead for decades.
Ardeth returned the embrace, then he stepped back with a smile on his lips. “Mother, this is Jonathan Carnahan. He fought with us against the Creature both times.”
Jonathan bowed at the words, that couldn't be that wrong, could it? Her eyes were equally intense as her son's when she watched him and Jonathan wondered what she saw.
“Jonathan, this is my mother, Jamila Bey.” This time she bowed a little, he face betraying none of her thoughts.
“Horus likes you.” she remarked casually and nodded towards the falcon that sat quietly on his arm. Jonathan felt instinctively that this was not a simply statement. There was more to it, something Ardeth seemed to understand, because he inclined his head a little, a smile on his lips.
“Jonathan found Horus in Ahm Shere after he was shot and nursed him back to health.” he explained. “He had O'Connell contact me to return him to me.”
Suddenly, a smile appeared on his mother's full lips, immediately giving her a friendly appearance. “I see you are a good man, Jonathan Carnahan. I wish to welcome you in my village and in my home. My son has told me about your fight against the Creature and I thank you for your part in it.”
“I...” For once, Jonathan found himself at a loss for words. “Thank you. I was just a small wheel in the whole machine.”
She smiled at him, then she indicated the pillows that covered a part in the back of the tent. “Sit down and be my guest for dinner.”
Ardeth and Jonathan followed her suggestion and only a few minutes later, they sat together around plates and bowls that were filled with food that Jonathan mostly didn't know. The delicious smells told him it would be very tasty, though, and he tried everything, eating with healthy appetite and completely forgetting his reservations towards Ardeth's mother. She was friendly towards him, asking him to tell his side of the defeat of the Creature and listening with a smile on her lips that was mirrored in her eyes. The evening passed quickly with nobody paying attention to time, the conversation ran easily and the food was as good as Ardeth had promised that morning. It was long since dark when Ardeth announced that they would retire for the night and his mother bade them a good night.
When they left her tent, the cold air came as a surprise for Jonathan who had felt comfortable in the confines of the warm tent that was heated by the multitude of candles that served as lighting. He shivered but ignored it, walking next to Ardeth who slowly strode towards a tent at the other side of the circle.
“Well, she obviously chose not to be intimidating. Lucky me.” Jonathan said with a relieved sigh.
“I think she is rather taken by you.” Ardeth replied, an eyebrow raised quizzically. “I have rarely see her so forthcoming with anybody she didn't know.”
“It must be my charms.” Jonathan remarked with an incredibly bright smile to prove his point.
Ardeth chuckled, but shook his head. “I think that was not all, my love.”
Jonathan pouted. “Well, what was it then?”
“Horus convinced her.” Ardeth said with a smile. “As he convinced Bakal and Mahir.”
“Excuse me?”
“His trust and respect for you speaks for you in the eyes of every Med-jai. They saw you arrive with him on your arm and it told them more about you in a second than hours of explanation could have.” Ardeth explained and held open the cloth that veiled the entrance to let the other man in.
Jonathan was silent for a moment while he entered. He used the opportunity to look around as an excuse to gather his thoughts. “I hadn't expected him to have such a significance.”
“Well, his instincts can be trusted, that has been proven to us again and again for years.” Ardeth went on and carefully closed the entrance behind him. He watched Jonathan for a moment. “This is my home. I hope it agrees with you.”
Jonathan took another look around and took in the soft-looking pillows on one side of the tent that was even larger than Jamila's. Next to it was a small table that obviously served as a desk, covered with parchment and writing utensils, and a screen made of cloth separated off the back of the room. There were little pieces of art here and there, obviously masterpieces of handiwork, and an impressive collection of knives, daggers, swords and other weapons Jonathan didn't know. In a subtle way, it reflected the character of its owner, Jonathan mused.
“I like it.” he said and turned to smile at his host. “It's very you.”
Ardeth quizzically raised a brow and Jonathan chuckled. “Don't make me explain, please. It was a compliment.”
The Med-jai smiled and nodded, but didn't ask. He took Jonathan's hand and they crossed the tent to go into the part that was hidden behind the screen. There was a large sleeping area with blankets and even more pillows. The Med-jai removed his boots and his wide outer tunic before he sat down and watched the other man strip out of his jacket and his shoes. The air in here was comfortably warm compared to the chilly desert night, Jonathan thought while he stepped onto the blankets and sat down next to the Med-jai, not sure what was going to happen next.
Ardeth leaned back against some pillows and raised his arm in the same silent invitation that had been part of their relationship ever since the airship. Jonathan chuckled and turned to lean with his back against the Med-jai's chest and found himself enfolded in a comfortable embrace.
“Do you feel better now that you have met my mother and there were no complications?” Ardeth asked against his neck and Jonathan nodded.
“I have to admit that the evening was very pleasant. I think my worries were without any reason.”
“Good. I hoped you would come to that conclusion.” A hand caressed his neck and Jonathan let his head fall to one side to grant Ardeth better access. He closed his eyes and simply enjoyed the touch.
“Who were the two men who came to greet you?” Jonathan enquired and began to nibble at the skin of the Med-jai's throat that was so conveniently close to his lips.
“Bakal – the older man – is like a mentor for me. He was my commander when I served as a young man and I learned a lot from him. Mahir served together with me, we are friends since childhood.” Ardeth told him and bared his throat a little more. “Bakal is my first of advisers and Mahir is my second in command, my right hand, as your people would say. Together they take over my duties when I'm absent.”
“How long have you been the leader of the tribe now?”
“Since the death of my father, some eleven years. Bakal was my father's second in command and helped me a lot in the first time.” the Med-jai replied quietly. The atmosphere was peaceful and relaxed. “Mahir took over for him just four years ago, and ever since, they've worked together to strengthen my back.”
“You have very loyal friends there.” Jonathan remarked and cuddled closer in the comfortable embrace. He felt the day's travel catch up with him, sleep slowly taking hold of him.
“Yes, I have indeed.” He felt Ardeth press a kiss to his temple. “Why don't we lie down and sleep, my love. We are both tired from the journey.”
Jonathan just nodded, too comfortable to move. Ardeth chuckled and began to remove his clothes, than Jonathan's. The Englishman felt how he was pulled him close and arms wrapped around his waist, then the warmth of the Med-jai pressed all along his back. Jonathan smiled contently and let sleep take over.
Within a few days, an easy routine had established. Ardeth woke up early and usually let Jonathan sleep, sometimes he woke him with soft, trailing kisses all over the Englishman's body, very purposefully caressing his fair skin. Jonathan didn't mind being woken in such a pleasant way and didn't ever complain, but then, he normally went back to sleep after they had engaged in some rather stimulating morning activities. During the day, Ardeth attended to his tasks as leader and Jonathan found himself spending more time with Jamila than he had ever expected. She had just been there on the second morning and had invited him to join her on a trade meeting with a neighbouring tribe. Jonathan had agreed without a second thought and had spent an interesting day in a group of some ten Med-jai with Bakal and Jamila serving as the leaders. He had been surprised at the friendliness of the people and their interest in him. It had improved his Arabic a lot to spend the whole day in a non-English speaking environment, he noticed later.
After that, he was always taken somewhere with somebody, be it Jamila, Bakal – who somehow seemed to like Jonathan – or some of the other members of the tribe he had gotten to know on his multiple trips. Jonathan had the distinct impression that while Ardeth might have had nothing to do with this development, he certainly was pleased by it and gave Jonathan enough opportunity to engage in it. They always spent the evenings together, though, and Ardeth abducted him several times to ride to their oasis to spend the night there. These were usually very passionate nights that resulted in at least one of them having problems sitting through the ride back to the encampment.
Ardeth had been right, Jonathan had to admit after a few day. Obviously, everybody knew about the nature of their relationship, but there were never any snide remarks nor any strange looks. Though he and Ardeth didn't do anything too obvious in public, they didn't hide either and their usual level of physical contact was definitely higher than it was supposed to be between mere friends. After a few days, Jonathan began to get used to it and stopped flinching back whenever Ardeth touched him affectionately in public, be it the hand in the small of his back, the gentle caress of his hand when they walked together or the hand on his shoulder when they stood together.
Jonathan had told Evy that he would be gone for about two or three weeks, and he found the time to pass faster that he'd expected. Suddenly, a week had gone by, then the second and he told Ardeth that he had to return to Cairo soon. The Med-jai had simply nodded, saying nothing, and his eyes had held an unspoken question that was at the same time an offer. Jonathan had bitten his lip, he couldn't answer that question yet, and he knew Ardeth would never ask it aloud. The Med-jai knew Jonathan had understood and by not vocalising it, he left the choice to the Englishman, not forcing him to decide before his time. Jonathan was grateful and disappointed at the same time and couldn't explain his confusion.
Jamila came to him the morning of their departure with a cup of fresh, strong coffee. Jonathan accepted it with a surprised, yet grateful smile and took a sip, stunned to find it sweetened to his taste. They sat together and drank their coffee in agreeable silence, no words were need. Jonathan was surprised how much he had grown to like the life in the encampment and how easily he had adapted. He was a metropolitan man, he had always thought the countryside to be boring and monotonous. Now he had spent two weeks in the middle of the desert and he found it had a strange, calming effect on him. He felt more at peace than he ever had.
Ardeth arrived a while after they had finished their coffee. It was time to leave. Jonathan got up and thanked Jamila for her hospitality with a true smile, meaning every word. He bowed to her in the traditional greeting he had learned by now, but she just took hold of his chin and made him look up. There was a warm smile on her face, then she pulled him into the same kind of affectionate embrace she always gave her son. Jonathan was completely taken by surprise, but he returned the gesture after a moment, enjoying the simple comfort it held.
Leaving was a lot harder than he had expected.
***
GO TO PART D: http://nanuk-dain.livejournal.com/16069.html
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***
