Magic of the Nile Read online

  Tyema shivered with pleasure, tilting her head to give him better access. She spread her hands on his back, enjoying the feel of the smooth skin and firm muscles under her fingers as she caressed him.

  Sahure recaptured her lips for a brief moment, his tongue gently forcing them apart so he could explore the warm recesses of her mouth. Shyly she tangled her tongue with his, caught in the magic of being so desired by this man who tempted her to take unprecedented risks. Eyes closed, lost in sensation, she let one hand drift down his back, over his butt. Feeling surprisingly bold, she slid her fingers across his skin, exploring between their bodies where his aroused manhood tented his kilt.

  Sahure permitted her to caress him for only a moment. “Oh, now we are done,” he said, setting her back a step or two and readjusting himself. “Your touch is hard to resist, but I’m determined our first time together won’t be hurried.”

  She made a small whimper of protest, hand to her lips. “But I want—”

  “Tomorrow night, I’ll satisfy all your wants, gods willing, I promise.” He kissed her on the forehead and took her hand. “The loving will be all the better for having waited, you’ll see. Anticipation has its own magic.”

  “I’m not patient,” she said, walking with him toward the chariot. “The hours until tomorrow night seem an eternity. I’m not sure why you object to the beach for our tryst. We’ve been here quite awhile and have seen no one else.”

  “Sand isn’t the most ideal surface for what we both desire.” Sahure laughed as he handed her into the chariot before going to untie the reins from a small palm tree. “I have tasks to accomplish, some land contracts to review in the town library and a report to draft for Pharaoh. It may be an eternity until tomorrow night, but my duty must come first.”

  ***

  The next day passed in a blur for Tyema. One minute she was confident of his affection for her, sure it was the right thing to lie with him. The fact he was a high born noble from Thebes, used to having his pick of women but so obviously desiring her, was an undeniable part of the appeal. All the many facets of his personality and the exciting life he’d led, so different than hers, or anyone else she knew, captivated her, made her want to know even more. She knew the depth of her feelings for him, and when might she ever have another chance to make love to a man she cared for so desperately?

  Just once I want to experience some part of what other, more fortunate women have—to be held and caressed, made love to. I’ll gladly pay the price of a broken heart when he leaves the nome and returns to Thebes, but until that day comes, I want the happiness.

  I want him.

  Distracted by her eagerness to be with Sahure, she made mistakes in the morning ceremony for the first time anyone could remember, which occasioned considerable discussion behind her back, she knew. Tyema held her head high and offered no explanations or apologies. Sobek will understand my distraction, and he’s the only one whose opinion matters. .

  After the final devotions for the day were concluded, Tyema firmly reiterated her orders for the staff to demonstrate their support for the new village headman by attending the festival.

  Going to her own quarters where her maids had laid everything out before they too departed for Ta’sobeksef, Tyema took her time in preparation for the evening to come. She bathed in lily-scented waters and selected her most becoming linen dress, one with green papyrus leaves embroidered at the hem, from the meager stack in her wardrobe, annoyed with herself for not bothering to have at least one special gown made to keep on hand for a rare occasion like this one. The robes of a priestess aren’t suitable for what I plan tonight. And all the other garments in the baskets reflected her country life. Certainly nothing to impress a Theban nobleman. Not that I plan to be in the dress for the better part of the evening. Smiling as she set a blue cornflower blossom in her hair, the way Sahure had placed the lush red blossom on their first evening together, Tyema admired her reflection in the silver mirror and strolled outside to wait.

  Sitting on the bench near the cliff’s edge, in her private garden set among the ruins of the first temple, her nerves thrummed with anticipation, mixed with a little fear about the future after this night. But she trusted Sahure. This chance to please and be pleased by a man she cared for might never come her way again, given the restricted life she’d chosen. “Don’t look the gifts of the god in the mouth,” she said.

  “Always sound advice,” Sahure agreed, walking up the path. “Are we talking about some particular gift?”

  Rising, Tyema ran to meet him. She gave him a big hug and a sweet kiss on the lips. “I’m so glad you’re here—I thought the day would never be over. Come, I want to show you the beach before the sun sets completely.”

  “Let me set this down first.” He put a small basket on the bench. “I brought honeyed dates and other delicacies to contribute to our dinner.” He pulled a red flower from the basket and placed it in her hair next to the blue one she’d adorned herself with. “Beautiful!”

  “Very thoughtful, and I thank you.” She tugged at his hand. “Come on, Ra the sun god won’t wait, and I want you to see how beautiful Sobek’s beach is.”

  “You certainly aren’t a patient woman, are you?” He chuckled before kissing her lips. “All right, I’m ready to see this fabled beach.”

  They took the path leading from the old temple to the deserted shores of the Nile. Sahure gazed appreciatively to the west as he descended the steep slope behind her. “I feel privileged to be viewing the sunset from the god’s private retreat by the river. Are you sure he won’t mind?”

  “Sobek rarely comes these days and when he does, I always receive a warning from him ahead of time,” she answered, walking onto the sandy shore. “There was no indication from him today.” Pointing at a group of five crocodiles catching the final rays of the sun on the far bank of the Nile, Tyema said, “We needn’t worry about them. As Sobek’s high priestess, I was given the power to control his creatures to some extent. They wouldn’t harm me in any case, but I’ll keep them from bothering you.”

  “Gracious of you, my lady.” Sahure laughed. “I’ve no desire to tangle with crocodiles tonight. It’s entanglement of a different kind I’m anticipating.” He caught her for a quick caress. “Will you sing for me? The one about the sailor coming home to his lady love might be appropriate.”

  “Gladly.” She left his embrace and walked to the water’s edge. Taking a deep breath, Tyema stood straight and launched into the requested song, tapping time with her toes in the warm, damp sand as she sang. Since she wasn’t in the temple, she swayed from side to side a bit, dancing a little from sheer joy. Sahure sat on a fallen log where he could watch her, illuminated in the pink-and-gold of the setting sun, and was generous with his applause as she sang the final notes.

  “You have the most enchanting voice,” he said.

  “I—I write songs myself sometimes,” she said shyly, coming to stand between his knees. “They aren’t as good as the ancient hymns but they please me.”

  “I must hear one of your songs, then.”

  She felt her cheeks growing warm. She never sang her own tunes for anyone but herself. Mentioning them to Sahure had been an impulsive moment, one of the few she’d allowed herself in all her hours with him, but now she was trapped. Refusing Sahure anything wasn’t possible. “All right, I call this one ‘The Impudent Bird’.” Tyema put all her energy into a lilting, fast paced ditty quite unlike the hymns she usually sang, telling the story of a small bird flying over the Nile, teasing the Hippo Goddess Tawaret until the Great One turned him into a fish and devoured him.

  He seemed tremendously amused, clapping at the end. “I’ve never heard the like, but I enjoyed the lyrics and tune. You could have had a career as an entertainer if you’d not been a priestess.”

  Uncomfortable as always with accepting too much praise, even from Sahure, Tyema glanced away. “Well, hippos don’t regularly eat anything but plants, but I thought since the bird was so annoying, t
he goddess might have made an exception. Shall we go have our dinner now? We’d better climb the cliff stairs before the night grows too dark.” Nerves made her light headed, giddy as if she’d been twirled in a dance but her heart beat faster in anticipation of the intimacies to come.

  He followed her, stopped once they reached the bench on the heights above to retrieve the basket of food he’d brought from the village. Together they went through the gate to her exclusive area of the grounds and entered her living quarters adjacent to the old temple.

  Setting the basket down next to the table where dinner awaited them, Sahure said, “A lovely, inviting setting for the most beautiful priestess in the Black Lands of Egypt.”

  The flattery sounded a bit too practiced to Tyema. “I suppose you say that to all the priestesses you seduce,” she said, fussing with the plates her maid had set on the table.

  Putting his hands gently on her shoulders, Sahure drew her into an embrace. “You’re not like any other woman I ever met. The words I say in your presence come straight from my heart, flying to your ears alone.”

  Gazing into her eyes, he slowly lowered his head to kiss her, checking for a moment to scan her face before closing his eyes and kissing her.

  Tyema melted into his embrace, her own eyes closed, feeling the warmth of his body igniting a fire in her own.

  Breaking off the kiss, he slid her dress from her shoulders, baring her breasts. He gazed at her, heavy-lidded, his expression admiring, satisfied. Cupping her breasts with his hands, he said one word, “Beautiful.” He kissed the pillowy top of one and then the other, his thumbs circling the pebbled nipples. Tyema arched her back, pushing into the embrace, a delicious sensation thrumming deep within her. Kissing her the whole time, tongue exploring the intimacies of her mouth while his hand was busy, Sahure undid the knot of the fringed shawl cinching the dress. Tyema held him close, arms clasped around his neck, her lower body undulating against the hard rod of his cock as he undressed her. The dress slid to the floor in a pool of blue-and-green, leaving her naked.

  Sahure swept her into his arms and carried her to the adjoining room, standing her on her own two feet beside the bed. “Good, it’s big enough for two to share.”

  “I’ve never shared it with anyone before,” she said, shyly.

  “I’m honored.” He ran his hands over her back, cupping her butt and squeezing gently as he resumed kissing her.

  She tugged at his tunic with both hands, pulling it free of the belted kilt, breaking off the kiss to say, “Fair is fair—you’ve seen me and now I want to see you.”

  Obligingly, he helped her work the garment up over his arms, tossing it to the floor himself. Impatient now, Tyema unfastened the leather belt cinching the kilt around his waist. The fabric fell away and Sahure stood in only his loincloth. He unwound the garment in a quick motion and Tyema smiled with pleasure as she saw him naked in her bedroom.

  Old scars slashed across his back and abdomen, reminders of the combat he’d faced in Pharaoh’s service. The cartouche of Horus was tattooed on his upper arm. Tyema ran her fingers over the ink, but her attention was for his proud cock, jutting from his smooth-shaven loins. She cupped his sac for a moment, enjoying the weight in her hand, before stroking him root to tip. Sinking to her knees, Tyema took as much of him into her mouth as she could, so large was his endowment. Her bolder sisters and cousins talked of doing this for their men, and of the pleasure derived by both partners in the act. The idea had seemed odd to Tyema but now, running her tongue over the smooth head of his cock, enjoying the feel of holding him in her mouth, she could understand. Sahure fisted his hands through her hair, hips rocking back and forth despite his best efforts as she applied her nimble tongue. Licking and suckling with pleasure, Tyema hummed, pleased at his obvious enjoyment of her fledgling attempts to torment him with her tongue.

  “Enough for the moment,” he gasped out. “Gods, woman, you drive me to the brink.”

  She gave the head of his cock a last swirl with her tongue and smiled mischievously. “Do I not please you, my lord?”

  “Too much, if we’re to make it into the bed together. I want to be deep within you when I come, watch you experience the pleasure I hope to give, share the passion, not be selfish. I’ll gladly give you more opportunities to work your spell.” He picked her up and laid her on the thin mattress atop the strong webbing, moving to join her.

  Tyema smiled as he took her nipple into his mouth, tugging and sucking with just enough force to be arousing. His other hand slid down her abdomen, between her legs and stroked the slick, wet entrance to her aching inner core. She grabbed at the headboard of the bed and arched her body to his touch. All that time spent listening to her sisters and nieces talk of pleasing their men and being pleased hadn’t been wasted after all. What man anywhere near her renowned temple was going to risk bedding the priestess of Sobek? The men of her village were none too sure she wasn’t the consort of the god. But inexperienced didn’t have to mean ignorant and she was glad she’d surprised him with her attentions to his cock.

  Sahure’s focus now was all about her pleasure, what felt good to her, although he was clearly enjoying himself, as his hard cock pressing against her thigh attested.

  “Your skin is soft, so warm,” he said with pleasure, kissing the sensitive area where her neck met her shoulders.

  “I’ve been thinking of nothing else all day but lying with you,” she said, arching as he inserted first one and then two fingers into her, rubbing and teasing.

  “Very flattering for a man to hear but we’re doing too much talking, don’t you think?” He captured her lips, his tongue making its entry into her eager mouth.

  He brought her to climax with just his skillful fingers and caresses. Tyema clutched at his shoulders, her body convulsing in waves of unstoppable pleasure as she came, head thrown back. She felt as if she was trying to catch every last particle of the amazing feelings, clenching herself around his questing fingers. Pleasuring herself, even lately as she’d fantasized about him, had never been this intense.

  Sahure held her close as the final shivers of pleasure faded, working their way outward from her overheated core, like the ripples on a pond, leaving her langorous. “Beautiful as that was to watch, sweetheart, next time, I plan to be buried deep inside you, with your limbs wrapped around me,” he whispered. “If you’re ready for such enjoyment? I’ve no desire to rush you, we have all night.”

  Moving her hand to caress his heavy cock where it pressed against her upper thigh, Tyema rubbed her thumb across the plum shaped head, smearing the beads of silk moisture and then licking her fingers. “Now who’s doing too much talking?”

  “Mmmm,” he captured her lips and rolled himself on top of her, his weight pressing her into the mattress with just the right amount of pressure. She felt safely caged, protected while they made love. His cock nudged at the slick outer folds of her womanhood and she spread her legs to make entrance easier for him. Using his hand to guide himself, Sahure thrust carefully, kissing her the whole time.

  He managed to withhold his own climax until she’d come apart in his arms, clutching him as tightly as she could, trying to take him as deeply into herself as possible, lost in the pleasure of their bodies joined together as one. Sahure came a moment after, while she was still trembling in ecstasy. She felt his seed spurt hot and virile into her womb and she rejoiced in satisfying his needs as well as he’d taken care of hers.

  ***

  Much later, in the last hours of the night, he ran one hand lightly over her breast, leaning in to taste the nipple with his tongue while she shivered, before trailing his hand down to rest on her flat stomach. “Although I hate to cloud a perfect evening with business matters, I should tell you I’ve been recalled to Thebes. Pharaoh has a new assignment for me, or so the orders indicate.”

  Tyema sat upright, clutching the sheet. Hearing his news, she felt as if he’d thrown cold water over her. Why didn’t he tell me this before? “When do you leave?�
��

  “The day after tomorrow.” He sat up too, kissing her shoulder. “But my men and I go to the capital tomorrow and depart for Thebes from there. Good thing I can trust my horses, drive even when half asleep. I have to brief my uncle, Nomarch Ienhotep, on my findings, get his seal on the report.”

  “So soon?” She felt the pain of loss sink its claws into her heart.

  “Don’t fret.” Lazily he reached out to snag some grapes from the bedside table. “I want you to go with me.”

  Tyema stared at him, not sure she’d heard the words right. “Go with you? Are you mad?”

  “You don’t think I’m the kind of man who would make love to you for one night and leave, do you? Of course I intend for you to come with me. Or at the outside, if you can’t get clear of your duties so rapidly, to join me in Thebes before the next new moon.”

  She blinked, shaking her head a little, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Come with you as what?”

  “My wife, Ema, Mistress of my House, what else?” He stared at her, brow furrowed, eyes narrowed. “When I bed a woman purely for mutual pleasure, I make sure she knows my intent before we ever enter the bedroom. With you, it’s so much more. My heart is yours. I’ve never offered marriage to anyone before, never wanted to speak those words. I expected to make a strategic union for political advantage with a daughter of a noble house this year and perhaps affection would come later, if the gods favored the woman and me, but I never dreamt of falling headlong into love as I’ve now done.” He grinned. “Like a schoolboy.”

  “You—you spoke no words of love to me before this moment, why would I think you wished me for your wife?” Tyema could barely get the words out. He offered her something she’d never dreamt of— love and marriage—much as she might have longed for it deep in her soul, and then in the next breath imposed an impossible condition. “I can’t go to Thebes. What a mad idea!” She left the bed, snatching up her robe from the stool and walking to the open door facing the cliff and the Nile below, all the while struggling into the garment. She was dizzy, her heart was breaking, and anger was building a fire in her gut, burning her pleasure into ashes. Knotting the robe’s fringed belt with a savage tug, she said, “I can’t leave this place.”