by Wend Petzler
Indecision warred inside him. Against his better judgment, Setti caressed the gentle lines of her cheek with the pads of his fingertips. Fascinated by Kate's sleeping features, entranced by the sweetness of her soft, parted lips, Setti gave in to temptation. Unable to repress his hunger any longer, Setti leaned down and placed a kiss upon Kate's parted lips. Pleasure exploded in his mind and body when her mouth softened under his, opening more for his further exploration. Groaning in despair, he retreated from her enticing body until her arms crept around his neck, pulling him closer. He was completely lost.
Dreaming Setti was kissing her, Kate decided to allow herself the pleasure of indulging in the fantasy. Body on fire, she clung to his great strength, running her hands over the bare contours of his broad shoulders, nearly weeping at the incredible feeling of his hot, smooth skin under her fingers. Drowning, her world tilted as he roughly drew her to him. His hard mouth demanded more, and she gave her all. Meeting the wild, sensual thrusts of his velvety tongue, her arms wrapped tighter around his neck as his crushed her to him. When Setti's hand moved over her breast, massaging the ripeness in his grasp, her head tossed back, gasping from the sweet agony. Setti set Kate on fire by touch and taste, sending her reeling from the sensations. Her legs moved restlessly, she desperately sought more of his touch but in more sensitive places.
"Kate,” Setti whispered against her hair, crushing her to him, amazed by the feel and taste of her.
Her eyes suddenly flew open, staring in disbelief into his, realizing what he'd been doing to her was no dream! Breaking contact, she jumped backward, landing hard against the bow. Running a shaking hand through her mussed hair, Kate's breathing fast as his were harsh bellows in the quiet of the night. In his eyes she saw the raging hunger and need, his body ridged from pent up emotions, his stiff erection under his loincloth captivating her. The spell was broken further when he started swearing, retreating from her to the back of the boat. Not a word was spoken between them at what happened, the silence more heartbreaking than the loss of his hands and mouth touching her.
Shaken to his very core at what transpired between them, Setti retreated, taking the till in hand, trying to avoid the hurt in her large, wide eyes when she looked at him, her chest heaving with each excited breath. Looking lost, she finally turned her back to him, wrapping up in his robe, trembling from the scorching kiss they shared.
Ra be merciful! What had he done to her and himself?
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Chapter Sixteen
Two days passed and Setti kept his word about the rarity of their stops. They docked only to duck behind the papyrus reeds to relieve themselves, hurrying back in the boat, continuing on their journey. The sun hot and brutal in the late afternoon, Kate was ready to declare mutiny from the cramped boat when Setti nudged her on the shoulder, gaining her attention.
"Dahshur,” Setti simply said and rose to lower the sail.
Sitting up, she swallowed hard at the view of the pyramids rising behind the nearby city despite the fact the stone monuments were several miles away. She braced herself as Setti steered the small boat toward a short stretch of beach amongst the papyrus reeds, beaching it upon the sand. Placing a finger against his lips, urging her to keep silent, Setti jumped out of the boat, looking around cautiously. Grabbing the rope attached to the bow, he tied it around a large, partially buried boulder. Taking the leather bags Kate handed over the side, he dropped them on dry land. Setti returned to the boat and lifted his hands to help her out.
Kate hesitated. Not wanting to hurt his feelings, she donned her backpack and placed her hands on his wide, bare shoulders. Unprepared, she gasped when Setti lifted her out of the boat and swung her into his arms. In reflex, she wrapped her arms around his sturdy neck. Carrying her safely away from the Nile, he did not release her so she held on, confused by his actions.
"Why didn't we dock in Dahshur?” she asked, trying to distract herself from the giddiness of having a man carry her effortlessly, especially when she knew she wasn't light by any means.
"We, in Egypt, use falcons and hawks to deliver messages. If Mike is working with the Shedty, he will send word to Dahshur and have us arrested. Thus, I wish to avoid the cities until we have the Black Book in our possession.” Releasing her legs, he allowed her to slide down the long length of his body. Setti held back the massive tremor, loving the way her ripe body pressed against him.
Her eyes were wide, breathing quickened when she realized her feet had not touched the ground. Arms wrapped tightly around his sturdy neck, Kate stared in bewilderment, meeting the heat rising in his eyes, drowning in those hot, smoldering depths as his mouth hovered over hers, so close to touching she felt his warm breath mingling with her own. Apparently he came to his senses and Setti lowered her to the ground, releasing her. Shivering from the searing, close contact, she rubbed her hands over her arms, bereft of his strong arms around her.
Donning his long tunic and robe, Setti wrapped the turban around his head, protection from the hot sun. “We walk from here. Mazghuna is three kilometers from Dahshur. We must be alert once we enter the perimeter surrounding the pyramids. Guards are posted to protect the dead, but it does not deter thieves who come out at night to loot the lesser protected areas. Rarely do they leave anyone alive who witness their sacrilege.” Setti grabbed their provisions and took off at a brisk walk, not looking back to see if she followed.
The words came out more gruffly than he intended, but Setti was desperate to place distance between him and Kate. He knew not how long his good intentions not to bed her could last, growing hungrier for Kate with each passing moment. Dying to run his fingers through the long, silky strands of her hair, watching in pure fascination as the sunlight danced along the cinnamon silkiness, Setti's heart pounded in his chest, grieving that of all the women he could have in Egypt, he desired another foreigner.
Sex was something Egyptians did not casually indulge in, viewing the act as an expression of their devotion and love for their chosen ones. Always using discretion when choosing an Egyptian woman to relieve his needs, he usually sought young widows who wished not another husband, only a companion for a brief time. To be honest, it was out of character for him to deny his desire, leaving him in a quandary of momentous proportions!
Reeling from Setti's hot and cold signals, Kate covered her head with the veil, drawing the thin material over her face to protect her skin as well as hide her confusion. Following him, they crept through the thick, papyrus reeds until at last they stood at the edge of the desert. Determined to keep up, she tried to ignore the vicious heat rising from the shifting sand under the soles of her sandals.
The distance, deceiving in the rippling waves of heat rising from the burning desert, Setti figured they were going to have it rough walking during the late-afternoon temperature. Having no other choice, they trudged onward toward the great pyramids housing the oldest pharaohs of Egypt.
After an hour of straight walking, Setti called a halt to Kate's immense relief. Kate took the water bag he held out and tried to control her desire to gulp down the water, forcing herself to drink it slow and conservatively, not knowing what lay ahead of them. Grateful for the thin gown she wore, the soft material allowed her skin to breath in the heat. Handing the water bag back to Setti, she reached into her backpack and took out the salve Zola had given her. Applying it to her arms and legs, she removed her veil and rubbed the salve on her face, protecting herself from the burning rays. Once sufficiently covered by the salve, Kate donned her veil again.
Accepting the water bag back from Kate, Setti took a drink, savoring the precious liquid. His plan was to skirt around the pyramids and the necropolis—temple cities erected in memory of long gone pharaohs, thus avoiding any human contact. Squinting to see better in the glaring sun, he remained alert for any signs of danger. “Are you well?” He gently touched the curve of her soft, smooth cheek, exposed by the drop of her veil.
Squaring her shoulders, determined no
t to show any signs of weakness to the Egyptian, she answered stiffly, “I told you before, I am quite capable of handling anything.” There was no way in hell she'd allow him to see her having a difficult time with the inferno-like desert heat!
Admiring Kate's spunkiness, Setti inclined his head. “I remember you once told me you knew how to survive in the desert. Please, stay close to me. We have only another kilometer to go, and I worry there might be a trap waiting for us at Mazghuna."
Glancing around her surroundings nervously, Kate nodded. “I guess we'd better keep going."
"By the time we reach Amenemhet's pyramid, sunset shall come, and the terrain more difficult without the sun's light to guide us by. Watch your footing, I do not wish any harm to befall you,” Setti ordered softly, shifting the bags he carried, easing the strain along his shoulders.
Trudging along after Setti, the falling sun cast the world into a strange twilight, the heat mercifully cooling. Jackals cackled, making the hair on her arms stand on end. Apprehensive, Kate stayed right by his side. In the faint light, she barely made out the entrance to the mortuary temple built before the magnificent pyramid belonging to Setti's brother.
Setti took her hand in his and they hid behind the huge, craggy rock rising from the sands. Searching the dark for any signs of the assigned guards protecting his brother's body and the treasure buried within the pyramid, he cocked his head to the side, listening. Setti heard the roar of a hunting lion, almost smiling. It was a very good sign. Ra was with them tonight.
She, however, turned a questioning look up at him and whispered, “Are there not any guards patrolling?” Kate had not seen see any movements in the dusky hour of the oncoming night, worried it might be a trap.
"Yes, and they are very nervous and will shoot at anything moving in the dark."
"Why would they do that?"
"The guards fear angering the gods. Many believe if any should disturb the sleep of our kings, Anubis will seek retribution upon the keepers of the dead and make them crawl through the sand in the shape of snakes."
Crouching down when Setti did, she whispered, “We need to enter the pyramid and go directly into Amenemhet's burial chamber. That's where I found the Black Book. How are we getting in if there are guards somewhere out there in the dark?"
"Actually, I am not sure. Any suggestions?” Setti asked, frowning when Kate sat down. Starting to catch onto Kate's little quirks, he waited for her to work out various solutions to their problems in her head. Torches suddenly lit against the dark, exposing three guards while the fourth built a roaring fire to ward off the bitter chill of the desert night.
"The guards are superstitious, right?” At his cautious nod, she continued, “Let's use their fear to our advantage. How do you feel about dressing in your burial robes?” She waited for his anger. Instead, she was rewarded with a soft, devious laugh from Setti.
"It just might work.” Shrugging off his robe and removed the tunic he wore underneath, Setti reached into one of the leather bags and pulled out his burial robe.
Kate tried not to stare at his magnificent body, his manhood etched in clear detail, the loincloth secured snugly around his lean hips. Mouth dry, breathing shallow, she held out the black linen loincloth he wore when he arose from his sarcophagus less than a week ago.
Accepting the loincloth, he quickly wrapped the garment about his lean hips, unaware of the considerable yearning at which she stared at him. Placing the belt around his hips, he took the shawl necklace and fastened it around his neck, straightening it about his shoulders.
An arrogant, half-smile curved his strong lips. She tried not to stare at him, not realizing her eyes were wide and hungry. Lord help me! How can I remain aloof from a man such as Setti, she thought miserably.
"Please, give me my burial robe,” Setti urged her quietly, adjusting the weight of the heavy belt along his hips. Shrugging on the burial robe, Setti straightened to his impressive height. “How do I look?” When he looked to her for approval, he tilted his head to the side, confused by the tears glistening in her pretty eyes.
"You look like a Pharaoh,” she whispered past the sudden lump in her throat.
Indecision made him pause, not wanting to leave her behind unprotected. Another emotion rose sharply inside him as Kate stared up at him with awe and yearning. Grabbing her by the shoulders, Setti betrayed again everything taught by his father and priests and pulled Kate hard against him. Kate gasped in surprise as Setti yanked her to him, his warm lips moved over hers in a hard, demanding kiss. Her lips softened under the savage onslaught, moaning softly, his mouth slanted to deepen the searing kiss. Using the tip of his tongue, he urged her to give all to him. When she did, he groaned, wrapping his arms around her tight, enclosing her within the warmth of his hard body.
Kate's world spun out of control. Her fingers curled in the fine material of his robe, clinging to his great strength as her knees threatened to buckle from under her. Savoring the intoxicating feel of his mouth on hers, his arms enclosing her in a tight embrace, Kate knew completion as never before in her life. Drowning in the pleasure of being in Pharaoh's arms, Kate succumbed to the sweet, slow hypnotic swirling of his rough tongue. Time seized, and the barriers between a woman from the future and a man born to the Ancients disappeared, leaving only Setti and Kate.
Abrupt as the kiss begun, Setti released her and left. Boldly striding past the rock, he headed straight for the guards. Kate pressed a trembling hand against her mouth, reeling from the aftershock of his kiss. Peeking around the rock, she watched him fearlessly stride right up to the guards who shouted for him to go back. When he did not stop or answer, one of the guards grabbed a short bow and notched an arrow.
Annoyance etched Setti's granite hard features as he entered the bright circle of their fire's light. Hands braced on his hips, he stood proud and fierce before the guards. The rubies set in his shawl necklace and the scarab amulet caught the burnished light and sparkled. “I, Pharaoh Setti, demand you step aside. I come to see my beloved brother, Amenemhet the Fourth, and will not be deterred. Leave!” he commanded in a tone brooking no disobedience.
The man with the bow drew back the string, his arm visibly trembling. “Lord Setti died four years ago. You cannot be him. Go back and live. Stay and you will surely die!"
A sneer crossed Setti's features and he took an intimidating step closer. “Really? What makes you think I am not already dead?"
"Just kill him and get it over with,” the other guard urged.
The guard with the bow shrugged his shoulders and let the arrow fly. Kate slapped her hands over her mouth to keep from screaming as the arrow buried deep in Setti's smooth, muscled chest.
Setti grunted in pain, falling to one knee. Gritting his teeth in a cruel snarl, Setti rose and glared at the stunned men. Grasping the arrow by one hand, he slowly drew it out of his chest. When at last it was free, he held the bloody tip out for the guards to see.
"Are you believers of who I say I am, or do you need more proof?” He arched a dark eyebrow in question. They screamed, dropping their weapons and fled into the night.
When the men disappeared, she hurried to him, carrying the heavy leather pouches and water bag slung over her shoulders and Setti's clothes in her arms. Puffing from the weight of the items she carried, she grinned, “I guess the plan worked."
Glaring at her, Setti threw the arrow into the fire, rubbing his injured chest. “Yes, it worked. Might I add, I'm getting damned tired of being wounded."
Shaking her head at him, she tossed their gear next to the bedrolls. “Quit being a big baby!"
Indignant, Setti's head reared back, and he sputtered in outrage, “I, General Commander of the great Egyptian Army, the Divine defender of my Royal family—a cursed man who slept for thousands of years to awaken as an immortal, DO NOT appreciate being called a baby!” He got in her face, his nose nearly touching hers.
Coolly meeting his anger, she casually shrugged her shoulders. Grabbing a torch lying by a
bedroll, she lit it by way of the cackling fire. “Whatever,” she said. But silently, she laughed at having gotten a rise out of the great Setti. Leaving him to stand there staring at her in frustration, she headed toward the mortuary temple.
Glaring, he stormed after her. “Damn woman.” Grumbling under his breath, he hurried to catch up with Kate. “The secret doorway is that way.” Setti grabbed the torch out of her hand and lit the brass braziers before entering through the two pylons guarding the interior of the courtyard
Her jaw dropped at the sheer beauty of Amenemhet's mortuary temple, his life story etched on the walls for the world to see his many victories and accomplishments. Kate laid her hand upon the cool stone, amazed by the intricate detail. “Setti, are you sure there is a way into the pyramid through the temple?"
"I am sure because Amenemhet showed me its location.” Striding over to the farthest wall from the temple's entrance, Setti ran his fingers over the smooth surface until he found the right keystone. Setti shoved it, opening a narrow doorway. “It will take us sometime to work our way down through the pyramid to Amenemhet's burial chamber. Are you ready?"
Something felt terribly wrong, the stillness of the night unnerving. Kate felt it deep in her bones. Setti entered the dark opening, torch first. A low wail issued from within the darkened chamber, sending the fine hairs on her arms sticking straight up. A man's shadow cast on the wall.
"Setti, watch out,” Kate screamed.
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Chapter Seventeen
Whipping around at Kate's shout, Setti felt the torch fly out of his hand when a wild man with long, knotted hair and beard attacked him. Grunting from the impact, the crazed man threw his arms around his waist, screaming as he tried to wrestle Setti down to the ground. Kate cried out his name again and this time his attacker paused. It gave Setti an opportunity to get the upper hand. Grabbing him by the tunic, Setti flipped him over his shoulder and held him down by his throat, pressing his dagger to his attacker's heart. When the wild man ceased his struggling and held up his right hand for mercy, Setti stumbled backward at what was burned in to his palm—a scarab in the same shape and size of the one hanging about Setti's neck.
