Magic of the Nile (6 page)

“Because I care about you,” he said, rising and following her. “When I get you away from the temple and all your duties and burdens, I see this amazing woman blossom forth. She’s smart and funny and kind and she can drive a war chariot better than most men. She entrances me.”

Tyema smiled.
Who knew I’d enjoy driving a team so much?
She did thrive on the speed and power of strong horses pulling a chariot along at a gallop. The feeling of being in control of all that energy was exhilarating. She never felt in control of anything much in her life, other than matters concerning her temple. Sobek had made her the high priestess and that was that. Carry out the Great One’s wishes, ensure things were done properly, follow the rules and everything ran smoothly. If only the rest of life’s day to day events could be so well regulated.
 

Oh yes, buying a chariot and several teams of horses for the temple was definitely on her list of things to do. She almost never spent any of the deben allotted to her from the temple’s treasury and while she supposed a high priestess would normally use her portion to buy clothing, jewels or goods for her tomb, Tyema wanted to enjoy driving a chariot in the here and now, to be transported away from her daily cares and duties and set free, even if only for a few hours. Clothing and jewels had never interested her much and as for the tomb, there was plenty of time to furnish it properly.
I wish I could ask
Sahure to select horses for me but he won’t be here long enough.
 

“I have a good teacher when it comes to handling the reins,” she said.

“Don’t attempt to confuse me with praise.” He raised one hand, mock stern. “It’s like you deliberately hide inside the robes of the priestess, the same way you shelter within the temple enclosure. When we’re out here, alone, you seem freer, happier, yet still there’s some kind of a wall.”

Closer to the truth than you’ll ever know.Why is he so determined to press the issue today?
Uneasily, Tyema strolled away from him, proceeding along the river bank. Walking usually made her feel calmer when her feelings threatened to overwhelm her. To soothe herself as she walked, she hummed one of her favorite songs, one she’d learned as a child from her half-sister Merys.

She heard his footfalls on the sand, following her, and apparently he wasn’t going to abandon this topic either. “At first I thought you concealed your inner self merely to be intriguing, but now I‘ve spent more time with you, I’m increasingly puzzled. If I hadn’t met you by chance on the first night and persuaded you, gods know how, to come to the festival with me, I never would have gotten the chance to know you, would I?” He skipped a flat stone across the river’s surface, startling some birds into taking flight before he caught up to her. “I’ve inquired in town and what I overheard the first morning
is
true— you never set foot outside the temple grounds.”

“I’m not required to,” she said, turning to stare at him. Little threads of worry were constricting the beating of her heart, creating pressure in her chest.
I can’t have this conversation with him. I won’t.
Rubbing her chest to ease the binding sensation, she hummed the opening verse of her song again, then faced the setting sun and sang, full throated, glorious notes. Music always relaxed her, swept her away from whatever tensions she felt, released the bonds of fear.

As the last note died away, echoing over the river, Sahure took her in his arms and kissed her, gently at first, then more insistently as she responded to him, slipping her arms around his neck and pressing herself against his hard body, signs of his arousal unmistakable. Finally he raised his head and hugged her close. “Forgive me, I hope I haven’t shocked you, but I’ve wanted to kiss you properly for days.”

“Don’t apologize.” Tyema blushed but kept her gaze locked on his face. “I’ve wanted you to touch me as a woman that a man could desire.”

“
Could
desire? You have no idea how lovely you are, how much being with you stirs my loins.” He stared at the deserted beach. “This isn’t the time or place I’d choose to show you how much I long for you, how much you mean to me. I’m not taking you on a blanket in the middle of an open beach where anyone could sail by and ogle us, not like some peasant farmer with his drudge who has nowhere more suitable to couple. You deserve much better.” He gazed into her eyes, a frown wrinkling his forehead. “Yet we can’t go to my lodging in your family’s inn, either. Awkward for you.”

“Tomorrow night, I’ll make sure the temple staff goes to the village for the end of the month celebrations. We can have privacy in my chambers,” she offered. “You can come to me at sunset.”

“Are you sure?” He held her close and she could feel his cock straining against his loincloth, beneath the linen kilt.

An ache she’d never felt so strongly before stirred deep within her and Tyema reached a decision she’d been considering for the past week.
Time to take a risk.
“I’ll show you the forbidden beach below my temple as the sun sets over the Nile, and then we can have dinner in my private quarters, continue this conversation, see what happens. If you still desire me tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow and all the tomorrows, have no doubt.” He laughed and kissed her again, one hand holding her close while the other stroked the side of her breast through the thin linen of her dress, thumb gently rubbing her nipple as it pebbled. Tyema pressed her body against his, enjoying the unfamiliar sensations. She shifted her hips to rock against his hard cock, seeking to soothe the ache in her own loins and Sahure ended the kiss with a groan. “Sweetheart, if you keep that up, I’ll be tempted to forget my intentions to bed you properly and we
will
tumble here on the sand.” He kissed her throat, gently nibbling his way to her collarbone.

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.