Desert Warrior
By Tanith

 

 

Disclaimers – I own no-one

Rating – NC17 for strong sexual content

Summery – Ardeth is looked after by Evy.

~*~*~*~

Ardeth hadn’t felt very well for a couple of days but then most of his men had been down with this flu bug. Still he had to get some documents to Evy for the museum, he had promised her a while back. So leaving Masala in charge, he rode off to Cairo, it wouldn’t take him long, only about three hours, they were not far from there at the moment.

As he rode, he found himself sneezing a lot more and his head throbbed. Hopefully Evy wouldn’t mind if he stayed for a few hours till he felt a bit better instead of just dropping the stuff off and leaving. Getting off his horse at the house they had bought, next to the museum, he knocked on the door.

“Ardeth, great you brought the stuff….come in….like a coffee?” she asked.

“Yes, thank you…everyone alright?” he asked.

“Yes, all away on a dig…again” she replied

He put the documents down on the desk in the study while she went to the kitchen to fetch the coffee. He was sitting in the chair when she came back in.

“Evy is it cold in here or is it me?”

“No it’s quite warm today….why?”

“I just feel really cold, but then there has been a lot of colds running through our camp the last couple of weeks, probably got that” Ardeth said

Evy walked over to him and looked at him, then put her hand on his forehead.

“Ardeth, I think it is more than a cold, you are as white as a sheet and burning up, come on, up to bed with you” she said

“Evy, I can’t go to bed I have things to do. I’ll be fine, I’ll have a coffee and then get going” he said.

She was having none of it from her old friend as he soon found out.

“Ardeth Bay, the only place you are going is to bed and I will have no arguments, you have a temperature and are sitting there shivering. Now come on, you can use Jonathans room” she said.

He really didn’t have the strength to argue with her. She was right, there was no way he could ride at the moment. This had hit him very quickly. Getting up, he followed her to the door but had to hold onto the doorframe as a wave of dizziness hit him. She hurried to his side and put her arm round him.

“Ride a horse, you will be lucky if you get upstairs”

“I’m sorry to cause you this much trouble, I felt okay earlier” he told her.

“Well you are not now. Right in here and get those robes off and get into bed. I’ll get you something for that headache” she said.

“How do you know I have a headache?” he asked

“Well you have flu, not a cold and with it comes a headache. Wont be a minute”

She went into her own room and found some aspirins in the drawer. She stopped and leaned on her dressing table. Oh God, why did this have to happen, she had been trying to forget him. She had developed feelings for him at Ahm Shere and was glad she didn’t see him very often. A flying visit was all she had been willing to handle. But here he was, getting into her brothers bed because he was ill and she was going to have to look after him as the others were all away. Still there was no way she could have told him to go, he looked awful.

“Ardeth, I want you to take a couple of these” she said going back in.

All she heard was him in the bathroom being sick. Putting the tablets down, she went in to find him. He was leaning over the sink. She helped him to sit down on the stool next to it.

“Shit…are you okay?

The shit, was because he was standing there with only his trousers on, no shirt or robes and his hair falling about his shoulders. Bringing herself to her senses….

“Mmm…I think so…I’m sorry Evy, this was not my intention when I came here” he said.

“Come on, let’s get you into bed….put your arm round my shoulder and don’t you dare pass out…I can’t lift you” she said.

“I’ll try not to” he replied with a slight smile.

Within a few minutes, she had him tucked up in bed and had given him the aspirins with some water. She went and got some stuff and a bowl from the bathroom, she put it on the bedside cabinet.

“Now if you feel sick, use this, don’t get up”

Getting a cloth she soaked it in the other bowl of water, wrung it out and placed it on his head.

“This will help bring your temperature down. And you thought this was a cold. Try and get some sleep, I will pull the curtains” she said “Will you be okay for a while, I have some things I must do”

“Yes, I will fine, thank you for this. You were right, I don’t think I would have made it to my horse. But Masala is expecting me back tonight” he said.

“Well they will have to do without you. The Med-jai will not fall apart if you are not there. I will try and get a message to Masala and tell him where you are okay”

He nodded, even though he could hardly keep his eyes open. Evy waited for a little while until she knew he was asleep. Then making sure he was comfortable, he slipped out of the room.

Going downstairs, she picked up the phone and rang Bob who was at the museum and asked him to come over. She was in the study when he knocked on the door.

“Ah Bob, I want you to do something important for me. Over at the Kasbar you will probably find one of the Med-jai, could you go and get them and bring them here.”

“Of course, nothing wrong is there?” he asked.

“No just need a message given to Masala that’s all” she said.

He left and she sat down at the desk to look at the documents, Ardeth had brought over. As she did so she thought about the man upstairs. Something had happened at Ahm Shere or even as far back as Hamunaptra the more she thought about it. Although she had married Rick, she had always felt something whenever Ardeth was near her. It was a burning feeling, deep in her stomach but a nice burning. She never felt like that near Rick and now they had drifted apart since she had found out she was a princess in ancient times. But regardless, he needed her and she could not stand by and not do anything. Just then there was a knock on the door.

“Ah Mohamid, come in. Look I need you to take a message back to Masala. Ardeth is here but he has that flu, nearly collapsed. I have put him to bed and will look after him so he has no need to worry” she said

“God, I am not surprised, we have all had it but with most of us it has not been too bad. Don’t worry Mrs O’Connell I will tell him” said Mohamid

“Thank you. I will let you know if he gets worse” she said.

With that he left and she carried on with what she was doing. It was about four hours later before she made some coffee and took it upstairs. She had made Ardeth a hot milk with whiskey in it, it would do him more good. Quietly going in just in case he was still asleep, she put the tray down and turned the light on low.

Ardeth was tossing and turning, beads of sweat stood out on his brow. She wiped his head and felt it. He seemed hotter than before. Sitting on the side of the bed, she lifted his head and tried to get some of the milk into him, but he was out of it.

All that night, she bathed his head, trying to keep his temperature down a bit but he seemed to be getting worse if anything. Evy carried on all through the next two days and well into the evening of the third, snatching a few hours sleep herself. She changed the bedclothes and him, a few times, he was so hot.

Then about 9pm on the third night, she had fallen asleep with her head laying on the bed when a hand touched her and made her jump.

“What…oh…Ardeth thank God…how do you feel?” she asked.

She sat up and felt his head, it was cooler although he still looked deathly pale.

“How long have I been here?” he whispered

“Nearly three days…come on, have a drink of this and I will go and make you something warm” she said.

She put her hand under his neck and lifted his head so he could drink the water, thankfully he took some of it and she laid him back down. Getting the cloth she wiped his head.

“I have been so worried about you?” she said “You have been really ill”

“I’m sorry….just so tired…” he said weakly.

“Back to sleep love, come on, I’ll go and get that warm drink. You be okay?”

“Mmmm, thank you”

He closed his eyes and she could tell that this time he WAS only asleep. As she left she bent down and kissed him, not the first time since he had been there and then went to heat him up some milk.

Looking after him for the last three days had made her feelings for him heighten and she wondered if he ever found out, where it could lead. After all there was not much she hadn’t seen of him having to change the bed and things since the start of this.

 She took the milk up and found that he was awake, well dozing and he smiled when she came in.

“How long have I been here?” he asked.

“This will be the third day…you were going to ride back to your camp but I made you stay. You have been unconscious for most of that time” she told him.

“And you have looked after all that time?”

Evy nodded and sat on the bed so that he could drink the milk. When he had finished it, he laid his head back in the crook of her arm. She brushed the hair off his face and asked him if he wanted the bathroom.

“I would love a bath, it might make me feel human again” he said.

“Are you sure it is not too soon?” she asked him

“No if you don’t mind of course” he said.

“Okay but I will be with you just in case. We don’t want you passing out in there. I will go and run one for you”

Half hour later, the bath was ready with lots of bubbles. She took a robe in and helped him put it on. Then with her arm round him, she walked him slowly to the bathroom and despite his protests, helped him into it.

“Ardeth Bay, there is nothing I have not seen of you lately, so don’t be silly, come on…that’s it…hot enough” she said

He was a bit embarrassed, it hadn’t occurred to him that she would have had to do all that. He laid back in the hot water and it soothed his aching body. That flu had really hit him hard. Evy knelt down beside him and used the sponge over his chest and shoulders. Then she helped him sit forward while she did his back and the ran the water over his hair. She had always wanted to get her hands into his long dark locks. He closed his eyes as she massaged the shampoo into his hair and then rinsed it off.

“That better?” she asked

“Yes much…thank you Evy…for everything”

“Hey, I enjoyed looking after you, made a welcome change from my brother, he is not the best person when he is ill” she replied with a smile “Now, let’s get you out and back to bed. You still need to stay there for a couple a days”

“What about my men?” he asked stepping out of the bath.

“I gave Mohamid a message for Masala, they will be fine. Stop worrying about them, they can take care of themselves. It is you who is ill. Put this warm robe on”

As he slipped it on, he swayed slightly and she put her arm round him.

“Come on back to bed, maybe that bath wasn’t such a good idea after all”

“Maybe not…but I needed it” he said.

Tucking him up in bed again, she sat beside him and brushed his hair. It was so silky now and fell in waves over his shoulders.

“You are enjoying doing that aren’t you?” he said

“Yes….always wondered what your hair felt like, it is so thick and soft” she replied

“Is that all you wondered about me?” he asked

“I…I don’t know what you mean” she said

He caught her hand in his and brought it to his lips and kissed it gently.

“Oh I think you know exactly what I mean Evy”

Their eyes met and slowly she moved her face closer to his and then they were kissing each other, gently, tasting each other for the first time.

“Oh Ardeth, I have wanted to do that for so long”

“How long?” he asked laying back on the pillow.

“Centuries it seems, years actually…but this is not the time…when you are feeling better, we’ll talk about it, okay”

Ardeth nodded, he still felt lousy but he was glad the kiss had happened and he WOULD do something about it later.

“Go to sleep Ardeth, you need to get your strength back. I will go and make us something to eat” she said.

She pulled the covers up, ran her hand down his face and kissed his forehead before turning out the light and leaving him for a while. If she didn’t leave now she would jump him, ill or not, she knew she would.

Two days later, he was sitting in the lounge by the roaring fire, in a dressing gown that belonged to Rick, sipping a glass of wine. Evy was pulling the curtains and making sure the house was locked up for the night. Then she joined him on the sofa, the glow of the fire making it cozy. He was feeling a lot better and would be well enough to leave in a day or so.

“I am going to miss being here” he said “Not the flu but everything else”

“Are you, really?”

“And I am going to miss you” he said softly

He put a hand on her leg and felt her intake of breath. She laid her head back as he moved it slowly higher.

“That nice?” he asked

“Mmmmm…Ardeth….” she panted

Bringing his other arm behind her, he leant over and kissed her, his hand moving further up between her legs to where she now ached for him, five days of longing, longing for him to do just what he was doing.

Her hand threaded through his hair and pushed her tongue into his mouth, deepening the kiss just as his fingers hooked inside her pants and touched her throbbing bud. She moaned into the kiss and arched against him. Never had she needed anyone as she needed him now.

“Ohhh…” she gasped

Ardeth moved his hand away and unbuttoned her blouse, pushing it aside and taking her breast in his mouth, nibbling the nipples till they were hard. Pulling her forward, he slipped it off and then undid her skirt, lifting her hips up to slide it down and over her feet. Slipping his hand inside her pants, he touched her again, rubbing her bud with his finger, bringing her closer with every circle. She was arching against him as she was brought closer, suddenly she cried out his name as she exploded, waves of pleasure ran through her and her body shook.

“You were ready for that….come here”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, his hard length pressing against her leg, arousing her again. As they kissed she undid the sash of his robe and pushed it down over his shoulders, revealing his taut chest muscles, begging to be kissed.  But begging even more was his shaft, long and hard, laying against his stomach, waiting for someone to lavish attention on it.

Evy pulled away from him and standing up, moved onto the large fur rug that graced the floor in front of the fire, where she knelt down urging Ardeth to join her.  Removing the robe altogether, he knelt down behind her, one hand on her breast and the other reaching for her jewel. She leant back against him and tilting her head, kissed him lovingly. She was still hot for him and shook when he touched her so that he moved her round and laid her down on the rug.

“Tell me your desire, my sweet Evelyn” he whispered.

“You…you are my desire…oh Ardeth, please…take me” she said

Ardeth parted her legs and moved in between them, positioning himself against her wet and begging opening. Slowly he pushed inside her till he was fully sheathed and then he pulled out, making her moan at the emptiness, waiting a few seconds and then repeating the action until she was pleading with him.

“Please…harder…I want you so bad…can’t wait”

He speeded up a little, teasing her, her orgasm mounting each time he thrust inside her. For eternity it seemed he kept this up, taking her to the edge and then letting her calm down. Soon she was screaming for him to take her, she wanted to cum but he wasn’t letting her. Eventually he decided that he had teased her enough and he thrust inside and stayed there for a few moments getting his balance. This action was enough to make her cum and she shook as it washed over her. Then she felt the fullness of him as he quickened the pace, until bodies were slapping together, moans coming from both parties as the cliff top grew ever closer.

“I can feel your need…cum with me Evy…Ahhhhhhh” he gasped

He felt his sacs tighten and he released his seed inside her, pushing her again over the edge and she screamed his name as she came again. This time her body shook as her juices mixed with his and her whole world seemed to fade away. Ardeth felt her go limp under him and pulled out slowly, moving round so he could take her in his arms.

“Evy…hey, come on wake up” he said softly patting her face.

Her eyes slowly opened and saw Ardeth smiling down at her, he kissed her forehead.

“Ardeth…sorry, I must have blacked out” she said.

“You did, only for a few moments…you okay?” he asked.

“Oh God, am I? No-one has ever done that before…it was wonderful” she replied.

“Let’s clean up and then we can sit on the sofa and talk” he said

A little while later, they were laying on the sofa, in each others arms in the glow of the fire.

“What are we going to do about this situation?” she asked.  “What do you want to do about it?”

“I want you, I don’t want to let you go, ever again…I am in love with you” she said.

“And I with you…I think I always have been…but I will only be able to see you when I am in Cairo” he replied.

“Ardeth, I am willing to give up everything for you…my home, my work…my family…even my life…take me with you when you leave, don’t leave me here” she said.

He looked down at her and kissed her lips, tracing them with his tongue.

“Evy, I can’t ask you to give up all that for me, it would not be fair, as much as I love you”

“My wonderful desert warrior, you are not asking, I am offering myself to you, for always…if you want me because I want you…desperately” she said.

He looked down at her and saw the love and desire in her eyes as they met his and pulled her close, not saying anything but she knew…knew she would be leaving there when he returned to his camp. Knew at last she had claimed her desert warrior….the man her heart had loved even when her head denied it. Life was going to be wonderful after all.

The End