The God’s Guardian (The Pharaoh’s Promise #3)

Chapter Five

“Yes.”

One word, and Anu’s attention shifted from whatever had occupied him on their walk home, focusing fully on Bhas. For the first time that night, Anu touched him, reaching out to place a hand on his elbow. Bhas had relaxed enough to forget his attire, but at the touch he once again became intensely aware of the breeze on his bare thighs under the chiton. He shivered, then flushed hot, as though back under the desert sun.

“Please, follow me.” Somehow he found words, not sure if he had spoken in Greek or Egyptian or if he had lost both languages and reverted to Sanskrit.

As they turned, Anu’s fingers slid from his elbow. The touch felt like a caress and he feverishly reminded himself that he could not trust his own impressions. He could misinterpret body language as easily as he could miss the nuances of a foreign word. He tried not to be lulled by the sense that this unspoken language was his native tongue, as familiar as Sanskrit or the Prakrits of the Badrinath peasants.

He made his way upstairs, Anu close behind him. Now that his attention had returned to the unfamiliar clothing, every brush of the light fabric against his skin inflamed him and made him aware of his own naked body beneath the loose covering. He imagined he could feel the heat of Anu’s gaze following the sway of the chiton. When they were finally inside his room, the door safely shut, he turned to Anu in agony, afraid to discover the feelings were entirely one-sided.

Anu had stopped just inside the door and they stood only inches apart. “Were you expecting the night air to be cool?” he asked, his voice low and teasing. When Bhas failed to answer he continued, “Or perhaps you are still adapting to our ways and preferred to maintain your modesty, but it is only the two of us now.” He gestured to the pin fastening the himation. “May I?”

Bhas nodded mutely.

Anu took a step closer, his breath warm against Bhaskar’s skin as he bent his head to the pin at Bhaskar’s shoulder. He didn’t fumble with the fastening, but he took his time, each movement deliberate. Bhaskar felt the brush of his knuckles along his collarbone. The caress of Anu’s breath on his neck made his pulse flutter. Unconsciously, his head fell to one side, offering his neck and the sensitive skin under his ear.

Then the himation fell free and he stood before Anu in only the flimsy chiton. Anu’s hands skimmed down his arms, then back up, soothing skin that was chilled and overheated at the same time.

The scent of sandalwood and frankincense, mingling with the warmth of Anu’s presence, clouded Bhaskar’s thoughts. So many people had pointed out his differences here in Alexandria. He could not help but compare himself now. They were of a similar height, but next to Anu his slighter build seemed insignificant.

Meroe had wanted to put flesh on his bones.

The Greeks prized athleticism as much as intellect.

His own body must surely be unworthy next to Anu, who appeared to be the living embodiment of an Egyptian god, all strength and power.

“You said you come from the mountains. Perhaps you are accustomed to more clothing.” Anu had noticed his distress, even if he did not understand the entirety of it.

“I am not accustomed to my legs and shoulders being bare, but…” he stopped himself.

“But?”

“We are—” He gestured. “—different.”

“Yes,” Anu’s gaze raked over him. “And you are beautiful, lithe and strong with skin like sunlight on burnished bronze and a mind like a wandering star —bright and impossible to predict. I have never met anyone like you.” He cupped Bhaskar’s face in his hands and lowered his mouth.

Anu tasted of honey and dates. His lips, firm and lush, possessed Bhaskar’s mouth like the Nile’s floodwater claiming parched land. With a soft groan, he pushed Bhaskar back against the wall and his gaze locked with Bhaskar’s as his hands held his face, anchoring him in place. “I’ve been wanting to do this since I saw you in that tavern with your big eyes and untamed hair and even more rebellious words.”

So he was watching me, too .

The thought gave Bhaskar courage. He lifted his arms, wrapping them around Anu’s neck and offering his mouth again. Anu kissed him deeply, then pressed kisses along his jaw, down the column of his throat, and across his collar bone. One hand cupped the back of Bhaskar’s head, holding him while he explored Bhaskar’s body. The thin linen of the chiton provided no barrier at all and Bhaskar trembled as Anu’s hand moved over his ribs, his hip, and then, shockingly, his thigh.

“Are you okay?” The words were whispered against his ear. “Is this okay?”

“Aham ku?ala? asmi.” Sanskrit, he realized. He reached frantically for the Greek, “Naí, eimí kalá.” Yes, I am well. And, in case Anu needed the words in his own tongue, he repeated them with an urgent plea. “Aa. Aa anok shari. Iri pet .”

Anu laughed softly. He bunched the chiton in his hand so it rode higher and higher. His fingers teased Bhaskar’s thigh along the edge of the fabric, then moved delicately inward and higher until Baskar thought he would die of the anticipation.

“ Anu ,” Bhaskar gasped. No one had ever touched him with such maddening delicacy. “Anu, aa anok shari.”

A single finger traced the skin where the earth meets the heavens. Then his sacred stones were fondled with the same teasing featherlight touch.

Surely, he might die of this torment before achieving svarga.

“Aa anok shari. Iri pet.” I am well. Please continue. And then he begged, “Anu, iri pet! ”

At the second plea, Anu’s hand left him entirely to take up the folds of the chiton again. Bhaskar moaned shamelessly in despair.

“Ssshh, my bright star.”

He wrapped the chiton around Bhaskar’s aching member and stroked.

The chiton did nothing to diminish the warmth of Anu’s hand, but the added sensation of the cloth combined with Anu’s firm, sure grip sent Bhaskar soaring into a world of pure sensation. He heard himself call out, babbling nonsense and pleas in three languages.

“My star.” Anu’s voice deepened so even the sweet words against the corner of Bhaskar’s mouth sounded rough. “I will not let you fall from the heavens. Let go and give me all your light.”

Then his mouth was on Bhaskar’s again, his tongue moving in rhythm with his hand. Bhaskar did as Anu bid him, surrendering to the vastness of the cosmos until he erupted in a burst of divine radiance. Anu swallowed his cries and stroked him and then simply held him as he descended from the heavens.

When he could walk again, they made their way to the bed, where Anu allowed Bhaskar to remove his shenti and tend to his need. Bhaskar could not hope that he brought Anu the same transcendence he had experienced, but he was skilled with his mouth and Anu gratifyingly appreciative. At his urging, Bhaskar brought himself to ecstasy again as Anu’s warmth spilled down his throat.

Afterward, they curled together on the bed.

“Can you stay?” Bhaskar asked sleepily, almost unaware he spoke his desire.

“For a while.” Anu stroked his head. “Sleep, my star. You please me well.”

Bhas drifted off almost immediately, not sure if he had heard the words or dreamed them.

Later, he opened his eyes to the glow of lamplight. Anu sat at his desk, picking up scrolls one by one and looking inside each. None seemed to hold his interest. Bhaskar smiled sleepily at the sight of his brawny, pehlwan lover frowning at the astronomical notations and calculations.

“If you are looking for a story, I have some of Homer’s tales in a trunk somewhere.”

Anu did not look up. “I wanted to see what you do all day. I did not mean to wake you.”

“Come back to bed,” Bhas coaxed. Then added a promise he thought would appeal more than his measurements and equations. “Some other night I will show you the constellations of Orion and Perseus, the great Greek warriors immortalized in the stars.”

Anu obligingly extinguished the lamp and climbed back into bed, pulling Bhaskar into his arms.

When Bhaskar woke again, the cock was crowing and the sky outside the window showed the first hints of light. Anu was fastening his sandals. When he saw Bhaskar was awake, he came to sit on the side of the bed.

“I must go.”

“Can I see you again?”

“We are going to the races, remember?” The hesitation before the words was so minute Bhaskar couldn’t be sure it existed. He rolled over, trying to get a better look at Anu’s face, and winced. His bruised hip had stiffened during the night.

Anu frowned down at him. “Try to stay out of trouble, please.”

“Me? All I’ve done is walk down the streets of your city.”

Anu reached out to push a curl of Bhaskar’s hair out of his face. “You were attacked your first night in Alexandria and again yesterday. Even the most hapless fool of a tourist isn’t that unlucky. If anything else befalls you or you see anyone who looks suspicious, tell Eratosthenes to send word to me.”

While Bhaskar grappled with the concept of being un lucky, Anu placed a brief kiss on his lips and stood. “I will see you soon.”

And with that he was gone.