Aarik gathered Rowan into his arms, hungrily grinding his mouth against Rowan's soft lips. All thoughts slipped away as the need took over their bodies, possessing them and allowing them to communicate without words.

Rowan's lips easily parted under Aarik's insistence and their tongues once again slid across each other. Both men could not seem to get enough of each other. Eyes closed, they held each other, their mouths locked together, their breaths coming quick between kisses. Aarik's hands slid up and down Rowan's back, feeling the warmth of the smooth muscled skin, and enjoying the brush of his slave's long hair against his arms.

Aarik eventually broke off the kiss and the two sat there, eyes fixed on one another. Breathing hard, Tahnsa slowly reached his hand up to cup Aarik's cheek in his palm, running his thumb along Aarik's lower lip, which was glistening from their intense kisses. Tahnsa could not deny his attraction to his master, and felt a great need to know his body better than he knew his own. Tahnsa brought his hand down Aarik's cheek and let it slide down his neck and over his chest, gently brushing against Aarik's small nipples. At Tahnsa's touch to this sensitive place, Aarik gasped, but did not stop the progress of Tahnsa's hand as it continued to follow a path over the tight muscled ridges of Aarik's belly, then over the silky fabric of the pants, to rest on a hip bone. Aarik felt burning hot to Tahnsa's touch. ::So different from the soft women I've been with...:: Tahnsa loved the feel of Aarik's skin, the hotness, the simultaneously hard and soft feel to it. Tahnsa looked up at Aarik's eyes and saw that they were dilated, and that the emerald green had darkened to a rich forest color.

Rowan's hand on his body was driving Aarik insane, but he held himself still and allowed Rowan to explore his chest and hips. Rowan's hand rested on one of Aarik's hips, above his pants. A slow, sensual smile grew on Aarik's lips as he reached for Rowan's hand and guided it to the sash that was tied around his waist. Rowan was looking at him with a question in his glittering gold eyes, and Aarik nodded slightly, encouraging Rowan. Rowan shifted his gaze to the sash and slowly untied it. Aarik lifted his back away from the pillows he was resting against, allowing Rowan to pull the sash free. Rowan stared at the sash, letting the silky material slide through his fingers. He brought the sash up and brushed it against Aarik's chest, trailing it from Aarik's navel up to his neck. Rowan's eyes seemed feverish and focused as he lifted the sash as he hung it around Aarik's neck. Rowan tugged on the ends of the sash, pulling Aarik's face close for a long, passionate kiss. Slowly easing out of the kiss, Aarik caught Rowan's hands in his own, held them to his lower belly, and then motioned them lower.

Tahnsa understood what Aarik wanted, and gently placed his hands at the edge of his master's black silk pants. He could feel Aarik's hipbones through the material, and could see the evidence of his master's desire rising under the fabric. Slowly he drew the fabric down, revealing an arrow of dark hair that began below Aarik's navel and extended down below the waist of the pants. Aarik lifted himself up a little, allowing Tahnsa to slowly draw the pants away until they were finally left in a pool of black silky material on the floor.

Tahnsa could not take his eyes off Aarik's growing arousal. He'd had the memory of it and his experience with Aarik in the bathing pool in his mind all day. Aarik smiled at Tahnsa and slid down on the bed until he was flat on his back, the midnight blue satin sheets pooling around his golden body like a frame around a work of art. Aarik brought his arms up above his head and grabbed onto the headboard of the bed and stretched his body. Tahsna could see every muscle in his master's beautiful body stretch taut for a moment and then relax with languid grace against the sheets. Tahnsa sat at his master's side, looking down at the golden skin, resting his palm on the flat of Aarik's belly and feeling the slow rise and fall from his master's breathing.

Aarik felt very warm and very excited by the hot look in Rowan's eyes as his slave feasted his gaze on Aarik's body. Aarik felt like showing off a little for Rowan, so he stretched his body out on the bed and lay there quietly, watching through lowered lashes as Rowan appreciated his hard body. After many moments of intense silence, Aarik could not stand the wait any more, and reached over and pulled Rowan down on top of him. The contact of chest against chest sent sparks of passion flashing through both their bodies as once again passion exploded between them. Rowan began to frantically caress Aarik's body, running his hands everywhere on Aarik's bare flesh that he could reach. He soon followed his hands with his lips, eagerly taking nips and kisses of golden skin. Aarik was equally frantic about touching Rowan. He ran his hands against Rowan's shoulders and back. He pressed his palms against Rowan's chest and brushed his thumbs against Rowan's hard flat nipples. Rowan leaned forward and kissed the indentation at the base of Aarik's neck.

Aarik groaned and reached around Rowan and grabbed onto the latch of the golden chain of Rowan's belt. He quickly unhooked it. Then, while Rowan had his head buried in the hollow of Aarik's shoulder and was exploring the taste of Aarik's left ear and the warm skin under the sash, Aarik pulled the fabric of Rowan's pants down. Rowan helped him by lifting his pelvis slightly so Aarik could draw the pants all the way off. The instant the blue fabric was drawn away, the hard members of Aarik and Rowan touched. The contact stirred the flames of desire higher and both men began to writhe against each other, savoring the friction between their glistening bodies.

Tahnsa felt the fire searing through his veins and could not control himself as he began to grind his body against Aarik's. Aarik held Tahnsa's body so close that their heartbeats mingled and struggled to keep up the pace of their quickening blood. Finally Aarik tore his lips away from Tahnsa's, and with a deft movement flipped his body over, taking his partner with him. Now on top, Aarik grinned down at the flushed, glowing Tahnsa. Tahnsa loved the delicious look in Aarik's eyes as he leaned his face close to take a playful nip at his nose, and then to move along the smooth contours of Tahnsa's chest and belly.

Aarik felt great satisfaction at seeing the muscles under Rowan's skin jump as Aarik brushed over them with his lips. Aarik marveled at the reaction to his touch. He loved everything about Rowan's skin, from it's very pale golden hue, to the way it contrasted against his flowing indigo hair. Aarik slid his tongue over Rowan's chest and came to a stop at one of Rowan's small nipples. He took the nub into his mouth and swirled his tong around it. Rowan was writhing beneath him, moaning his pleasure. Aarik released Rowan's nipple and continued his journey down Rowan's slick, salty skin until he reached the thatch of dark blue hair between Rowan's legs. ::He really is blue all over...:: Aarik thought, chuckling to himself as he brought his lips close to Rowan's hard shaft. Aarik felt a twist of pleasure and pain as Rowan suddenly buried his hands in Aarik's hair, twisting his fingers in the thick black mass, pressing Aarik's face closer to his hard need.

Aarik complied to Rowan's wishes and gently took Rowan's hard length into his mouth, savoring the feel of its silky harness against the inside of his cheek. Aarik applied some suction, and Rowan let out a loud moan of pleasure, gripping Aarik's hair tighter. Aarik paid no attention to Rowan's hands clenched in his hair, and instead focused on giving Rowan as much pleasure as he possibly could. Aarik ran his tongue along the underside of Rowan's penis, and then brought his lips up again to wrap around the tip. Rowan was really moaning loudly now, and he had begun to lightly thrust his hips up against Aarik's mouth, seeking to bury himself deeper into the warmth. Aarik accommodated Rowan, taking as much of his length into his mouth as he could, feeling Rowan's tip brushing against his throat. Before he began to gag from the incredible fullness in his mouth, Aarik pulled back a little and bobbed his head up and down along it, sucking and licking.

The only sounds in the room were the shallow gasps and moans of Tahnsa as he felt the most intensely pleasurable experience he'd ever had, and the soft sucking noises as Aarik feasted himself on Tahnsa's hard body.

Tahnsa pumped his hips faster and faster into Aarik's mouth, too caught up in the incredible feelings rocking all of his senses to pay much attention to Aarik's ability to keep up with the shaft thrusting in and out of his mouth. All Tahnsa could feel was hot, sticky pleasure that was growing stronger and stronger, turning into a frantic pounding in his veins, and finally concentrating its strength into the center of his sex. Finally Tahnsa could hold off no more and his body spasmed and his sex swelled in Aarik's mouth before it exploded in ecstasy.

Aarik could tell when Rowan was about to come, and pumped his lips faster around Rowan's cock until Rowan finally tensed up and then released his joy in a great shuddering cascade. Aarik felt Rowan's seed fill his mouth and stream down his throat. Aarik pulled away and watched as Rowan continued to ride the waves of pleasure, spilling more seed all over his chest.

When Tahnsa's release finally came to an end, he lay on the bed in a daze, his breath coming in huge gasping breaths, his body shaking slightly still and the sweat glistening on his feverish skin. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked down at Aarik, who was laying on his stomach and looking up at Tahnsa with a self-satisfied smile on his face. Tahnsa could not believe what he'd just felt, it was so.. powerful.. he had never felt such release with any of his servants at the palace before. But then again, Tahnsa had never felt such strong emotion for any of them before. With Aarik it was different. One look at Aarik brought the emotion rising in Tahnsa's body.

Aarik loved the warm look in Rowan's golden eyes as he stared down at

him. Aarik could see the remnants of passion still clouding

his features, and felt intensely pleased that he had brought that look to Rowan's features. Suddenly a very mischievous gleam sparkled in Rowan's eyes. Aarik blinked a few times and saw the sparkle still shining there as a wide grin spread across Rowan's beautiful face.

"Mmmmmmmmm" Rowan moaned, bringing a hand down to stroke Aarik's face and ruffle his hair. Aarik smiled and slowly brought his body up along Rowan's side and then leaned over and dropped a light kiss on those sexy lips. Rowan moaned into Aarik's mouth and then lowered his head to trace a scar on Aarik's shoulder with his tongue.

This time it was Aarik's turn to moan as the very delicate touch of Rowan's tongue sent shivers along his spine.

Tahnsa turned onto his side facing Aarik . The white hot passion that gripped them relaxed its hold momentarily as the two just lay there looking at each other. Finally Aarik rose from the bed and walked off to the bathing chamber. Tahnsa admired Aarik's tight rear as the other man left the room, reminding himself that he definitely needed to get his hands on it tonight. Tahsna heard the light tinkle of crystal hitting crystal and then the sound of running water. Tahnsa wondered what Aarik was up to. A moment later, Aarik returned carrying a small crystal jar and a damp cloth. In a reversal of roles from the previous night, Aarik slowly brought the cloth against Tahnsa's chest and belly and wiped away the remnants of Tahnsa's release.

Tahnsa followed the movement of Aarik's hand with his eyes and thought about how incredible it was that he had only met his master the day before. ::Yet already he had come to mean so much to me. My feelings for him are so strong.. will I be able to leave this place and return to my normal life?::

The confused thoughts swirled around inside Tahnsa's head awhile longer. Tahnsa kept his gaze lowered to Aarik's hands that were finishing up the gentle cleansing. Aarik's hands began to stray from Tahnsa's chest and began to slowly massage the hard muscles of his chest. Tahnsa a brought his hands up and returned the favor, once again letting his fingers splay across the golden expanse of Aarik's chest. Tahnsa rubbed against the slick skin, slowly at first, and then with increasing speed and pressure, bringing his hands up along Aarik's sensitive side (Who would have thought his master was so ticklish?) and around to the bunched muscles of his back. Tahnsa's eyes flicked to the crystal jar sitting on the stand near the bed. Aarik's eyes widened again as Tahnsa reached over his master and grabbed the jar, and carefully spread some of its contents on his fingers.

Aarik was surprised at Rowan's taking the initiative with the jar, but allowed himself to experience the pleasure of those graceful hands as they slid down his body and cupped his rear. Aarik felt his muscles tighten and his hips automatically thrust slightly towards Rowan. Aarik's hardness had eased somewhat while giving pleasure to Rowan, but at the touch of Rowan's hands to his backside, Aarik felt himself stiffen quickly. Aarik let out a gasp as Rowan slid a finger down the cleft between his cheeks and then slowly pressed inward at the pucker he found there. Aarik's muscles clenched again and fought the intrusion at first. But Rowan was breathing hard and staring at Aarik with a strange golden intensity. Aarik's ring of muscles tightened against intrusion but then suddenly relaxed, and Rowan slipped at first one, then two fingers inside of Aarik.

Aarik was breathing hard, floating in the painful yet pleasurable sensations Rowan was calling to life in his body. Soon the pain of invasion faded, and Aarik began to feel please such as he never felt at the hands of the brutal Torth. Rowan was moving his fingers now, slowly in and out, pausing when Aarik's body would shake with pleasure. Then the motion would resume, and Rowan would increase the speed. Aarik felt his shaft grow so heavy and hard he felt like he would explode any second. He looked at Rowan's face, so lose to his own. Rowan was concentrating all his attention on his hand that was wrapped around Aarik's body and stroking Aarik's insides.

Tahnsa continued stroking Aarik, his mind in a daze of determination to give as much pleasure as he had received. He could feel Aarik's large sex pressing against his belly, and his own had risen once again to press against Aarik. Feeling that Aarik was coming close to the edge of release, Tahsna carefully removed his fingers and lowered his head to taste the saltiness of Aarik's shoulders. Tahsna placed a hand on one shoulder and pressed Aarik down on the bed. Tahnsa straddled his hips leaned forward a little, letting his long hair hang over his shoulders and brush against Aarik's skin. Aarik's green eyes were closed, his consciousness lost in the tingles of pleasure from Tahnsa's touch. Tahnsa reached again for the little jar and then soon lowered his body slightly while raising Aarik's knees on the bed.

Tahnsa carefully positioned himself and then slowly pressed forward into Aarik, pausing every few moments to allow his body to adjust to the new sensations. At Tahnsa's first penetration, Aarik's eyes snapped open, as a look of flushed joy lit his features. Tahnsa desperately wanted to please Aarik, and began to thrust forward quickly until he was buried completely inside of him. Aarik stared up at him, his eyes dilated so at to look almost entirely black. Aarik reached up to Tahnsa's shoulders and brought him down so that their chests touched again. Tahnsa moaned and dropped a very hot kiss on Aarik's waiting mouth as he began to slowly withdraw from Aarik's body and then press forward again.

The sensation of being inside of Aarik was like nothing Tahnsa had ever known before. Aarik was hot and tight, the muscles clenching around his sex like they were trying to draw him deeper on their own. It took great effort to pull away from the warmth, only to press in again. Tahnsa felt Aarik's hands reach around and cup his bottom, urging Tahnsa to bury himself deeper and to move faster. Tahnsa did his best to respond, but the incredibly tight sensation around his shaft was filling his mind to the exclusion of all else. Tahnsa closed his eyes and focused his concentration to the joined parts of their bodies, thrusting in and out, slow at times, and then faster and faster. With each penetration, Tahnsa felt Aarik's muscles clench around him, and the pleasure was almost too much to bear. All rational thought slipped away as he found himself thrusting hard, striving for release.

Aarik grunted and moaned under Tahnsa's force, thrilling in the pleasure/pain feeling of fullness that came with every thrust from Rowan. Aarik held onto Rowan's body and felt the taut muscles, sliding his hands over Rowan's slick back and clinging onto him. Finally Rowan ceased his motion and Aarik felt his body stiffen and then felt the host stream of Rowan's seed as he found his release and collapsed on top of Aarik. The feeling of hot fluid rushing up inside of him was too much for Aarik, and his own hardness swelled and released its own load across his own chest and part of Rowan's as well. Exhaused, Rowan collapsed on top of Aarik, and the slick mingling of sweat and warm seed sent shivers running through both of them.

Rowan was now lying flat on top of Aarik. Both were breathing hard.

Aarik ran his hands through the damp mass of Rowan's hair, pulling the clinging strands away from his neck. Rowan moaned happily and as his sex diminished in size, he slowly pulled himself out. Aarik felt curiously empty without Rowan there.

For a long time nothing was said. They both simply enjoyed the tingling remains of their passion. The sound of heavy breathing echoed in the room. Aarik stared up at the starry sky hanging above them and stroked Rowan's back. Rowan was holding onto Aarik, resting his head just under Aarik's chin. Eventually they drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other's arms.

The next morning, Aarik awoke to the feeling of something tickling his nose. Cracking his eyes open and wincing at the glare of sunlight through the skylight, Aarik saw several strands of blue hair brushing his nose and lips. Opening his eyes wider, he saw it was Rowan's head resting against his chest . His body was stretched out alongside Aarik's, half covering him. Aarik smiled and stroked Rowan's hair gently. Moments later, Rowan moaned and opened his eyes. He raised his head and blinked sleepily at Aarik. Aarik adored the cuddly-sleepy look on Rowan's face.

"Come on sleepyhead, we have a ... (Aarik glanced down) long... day ahead of us" Aarik said to Rowan, grinning wickedly at him and sitting up on the bed. Tahnsa yawned and sat up beside Aarik. looking around them, Tahnsa chuckled at the disheveled state of the room. He felt the bed shake and looked over to Aarik who was crossing the room to the bathing chamber. Aarik glanced over his shoulder and winked at Tahnsa. Tahnsa needed no further encouragement to follow Aarik to the bathing pool. In a much happier and playful replay of their previous time in the bath, the couple washed each other and engaged in some light erotic play in the seductively warm waters. They would run the wash clothes over each other's bodies while taking a playful nip at a nipple or steal a quick kiss on the nearest body part.

The rest of the day passed in more playful exploration as Aarik and Tahnsa learned all sorts of interesting things about each other and their bodies. Tahnsa was delighted at Aarik's ticklish sensitivity on his sides and had a lot of fun teasing Aarik with light caresses over that skin. Aarik, in turn, found a wonderfully sensitive spot in Tahnsa's body at the base of his spine. Aarik loved to dip his tongue into that shallow dimple and feel his lover's body tense and writhe in pleasure.

The days that followed were filled with much of the same bliss as the two lovers shut out the outside world and took every advantage of their fabulous room. The palace staff was always very discreet, appearing and disappearing without being noticed by either Tahnsa or Aarik. Only the continual supply of fresh laundry and foods betrayed their intrusion into the couple's privacy.

However throughout the joy-filled days, Tahnsa felt himself growing more and more apprehensive as he reached the end of his allotted time in the Palace. Soon he would have to return to his role as Emperor, and this idyllic fantasy would end. Would he ever see Aarik again? The thought of being separated forever from the man he knew he was in love with heart and soul was gut-wrenching. ::But can I tell him the truth? I put it off for so long.. my betrayal of his trust will shatter him and our relationship...::

Every time Tahnsa heard Aarik whisper the name 'Rowan', he winced inside at the reminder of his false identity. But he knew what had to be done.

Aarik did not know what came over Rowan during the quiet moments of the day when his slave would lay on the floor on some cushions and stare up into the sky. Aarik could tell something was troubling Rowan, but did not want to press him to reveal anything he did not want to. Aarik respected Rowan's privacy. Aarik was also feeling the pain of the knowledge of their eventual separation. Aarik was a slave. His reward for winning the combats would only last for one month, and then he would be sent back to hard labor again. Aarik could already feel the manacles binding his wrists. Aarik did not look forward to leaving Rowan.

Several nights later, Rowan lay in Aarik's arms, his breathing just beginning to slow down from its passionate pace from moments before. Aarik had made love to him, and they now lay sated and warm. Aarik felt a certain stiffness in Rowan's limbs, and just before they drifted off to sleep, Aarik could have sworn he felt the wetness of a teardrop fall on his chest.

When Aarik awoke the next morning, Rowan was gone.