As Louhan’s voice tried to utter an answer, Tayn’s voice called out from one of the hallways leading to the garden.

   “Prince Louhan.”

   Amun-Khet held Louhan in place, refusing to move and hoping Louhan would ignore his attendant.

   “Prince Louhan!” Tayn called, now closer to the entrance of the garden.

   “I…I should go” Louhan whispered.

   “Stay” Amun-Khet protested. “He will give up eventually. Stay” he said, kissing Louhan’s neck.

   “I…I have to go” Louhan said with more strength. He pulled himself out of Amun-Khet’s arms, despite the clawing in his heart to stay. He readjusted his outer robe and tucked the now loose strands of his hair behind both ears, trying to look as natural as he could. Amun-Khet reached out and traced a handful of those oil black strands. Louhan turned sharply so his hair slipped out of the other man’s fingers. 

   “Good eve Prince Amun-Khet” he said with a respectful bow. He then turned quickly and ducked out of the crystal pyramid, leaving Amun-Khet alone with his unrequited passion. He kept his eyes on the curtained entrance hoping for the impossible but he then heard the jade eyed Prince’s soft feet running up the stairs at the entrance of the garden. Amun-Khet lowered his vision. His mind spiraled far and fast. He had never felt emotions like this before. What was he even feeling? It couldn’t be love. Could something this all consuming be simple lust? He had never truly fallen in love before, so how was he to know? All he did know is that some untamed beast had awoken within him and was refusing to be calmed. 

   Amun-Khet started out of the pyramid but caught sight of something on the floor. He knelt down and picked up the silver hairpin and smiled as the moonlight danced across its surface. The head of the long pin was fashioned to look like a birds head with the long spindle pin being its neck. 

   “I must return this to the Prince” he said to himself. “He must be so worried, losing such a precious trinket.” 

•                         *                           *

   Prince Louhan had finished bathing and had changed into his simple night robe. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at his hand. His skin could still feel the warmth of Amun-Khet’s fingers entwined with his own. His hand began to tremble as he remembered how good it felt to be held by the Jackal Prince. His arms were strong and sure and his lips were warm and filled with some kind of magic. It caused sparks of energy to erupt under Louhan’s skin with every single kiss. 

   Louhan’s body became hot once again just from the thought of Amun-Khet’s touch. Then he thought about the man’s smell and Louhan’s body erupted in chills that finally centered at his stomach and groin. He looked around the room, ashamed of himself. Thankfully Tayn and the rest of his attendants had retired to bed. No one could know of Amun-Khet’s passes at him and worse, no one could know of Louhan’s reaction.

   “Something on your mind?”

   Louhan stood from the bed and whipped around toward the back of the room. Amun-Khet was standing against one of the pillars, staring right at him.

   “What are you doing in my room?” Louhan said in a harsh whisper; afraid someone would hear him.

   “Why are you whispering?” Amun-Khet asked in a playful whisper himself.

   “It’s dishonorable for you to be in my room this late. I don’t want anyone to hear.”

   “There you go again with all that honor business again. This place is built far more solid than your palaces back home. No silk walls here little Prince. We can be as loud as we want” he said with a very clear unsavory intent.

   “Mind your words” Louhan said, trying to sound commanding.

   “That was adorable” Amun-Khet said, stepping towards the bed. “I just came to return something you lost. It must have shaken loose during our…tussle.”

   Amun-Khet pulled the silver pin from his own hair and brandished it before the Prince. Louhan’s face lit up at seeing the object.

   “So it is important? How lucky for me” Amun-Khet said teasingly.

   “Thank you for retrieving it for me. It is indeed precious to me. I will take it back and then you may leave.”

   “So cold” Amun-Khet said with a fake pout, holding the pin back from the Prince. “Do you need me to warm you up again?”

   “Do not come any closer” Louhan said, taking a step back. “Leave the pin on the bed and then please leave. I need to sleep.”

   “I will give you the pin…in exchange for a kiss” Amun-Khet said.

   Louhan just looked at him with wide eyes, unable to form words.

   “I’ve tasted your lips already this night and I would taste them again. Otherwise I fear I may not be able to sleep myself.”

   “You are shameless” Louhan said harshly.

   “It would appear so” Amun-Khet said flippantly. He then lifted the pin higher into Louhan’s line of sight and grinned wildly. “A simple cost for such a precious thing.”

   “You will leave then?”

   “One kiss” Amun-Khet assured.

   “Deal” Louhan said in frustration. 

   Amun-Khet slowly and victoriously strode over to Louhan and stood mere inches from him. Louhan looked up and drove his frustration deep into Amun-Khet’s eyes. The two men stood there still and silent for much longer than Louhan anticipated. He grew nervous and uncomfortable.

   “Well? Take what you want” he demanded. Amun-Khet just smiled tenderly and leaned in slightly, stopping short of the other man’s lips.

   “I want you to kiss me” he said. Louhan flushed.

   “What?”

   “I didn’t say I wanted to kiss you” Amun-Khet said. “I just said I just wanted ‘A’ kiss. I want it to come from you.” 

   “Forget it.”

   “Then say goodbye to this beautiful trinket” Amun-Khet said in a teasing melodic tone. He began to put the pin through his own tied back hair, burying it deeply in the thick strands. Louhan had turned his head away but when he caught sight of Amun-Khet putting the pin in his hair, the Prince pushed forward and pressed his lips against Amun-Khet’s in a desperate act before he really knew what he was doing. Amun-Khet had his arms lifted up behind him, placing the hairpin in place. As soon as he felt the sweetness of Louhan’s lips on his own, he lowered his arms around the other man and pulled him tightly against his own body. Louhan made a sound of surprise as he stumbled slightly forward, falling off balance. Amun-Khet dove deeply into the kiss, parting his lips to better cradle Louhan’s. He expected the other man to try and pull away but he didn’t. Louhan’s arms were trapped between their pressed bodies, and his legs refused to find their own strength again. He just stayed in that position as Amun-Khet continued to kiss him over and over, slowly and delicately. Amun-Khet decided to continue, since the Prince wasn’t fighting or trying to argue why he shouldn’t. He moved from Louhan’s lips to his cheek and then down to his neck. Louhan remained semi-limp in his arms, unsure of what he wanted.

   “What were you…going to say…in the garden…before we were interrupted?” Amun-Khet said between kisses.

   “I…”

   “Say it now” Amun-Khet said, kissing his way back up to Louhan’s ear. “Tell me.”

   Louhan went silent again but his hands moved to grip Amun-Khet’s chest and neck. His behavior was different from in the garden. Amun-Khet’s heart began pounding in anticipation. Louhan’s hands were saying the answer he wanted to hear in words. It was a risk to push much harder but he couldn’t help himself. He needed to hear those words. He needed to be given permission. He kissed Louhan’s cheek and pulled his lips barely an inch away. Louhan could feel the heat of Amun-Khet’s breath warming his cheek and spilling down across his neck. Amun-Khet slid one hand up the Prince’s back until it reached his lithe neck. He held Louhan’s neck gently in his hand and slid his thumb up and down Louhan’s smooth skin seductively.

   “Say it” he asked again. “Say what you want of me.”

   “Please…” Louhan said in a near whimper.

   “Please what little prince?” Amun-Khet said, kissing Louhan’s cheek again.

   “Please…don’t stop…”

   Amun-Khet’s eyes lit up like bright torches and his flesh ignited. He thrust Louhan’s hips into his own and began kissing his neck like he was starved for the taste of Louhan’s flesh. In one smooth sweep, Amun-Khet lifted Louhan off the ground and lowered him onto the bed. He put his knee in between Louhan’s legs and arched forward, leaning his face into the other man’s. Louhan’s face was red and his hands trembled as they pressed lightly against Amun-Khet’s chest.  The Jackal Prince had his one arm still under the other mans upper back, with his hand cradling his neck. His other hand was now untying the red sash that held Louhan’s closed robe. He made quick work of the sash and tossed it open. He traced the edge of the robe with his thumb and index finger, stopping at Louhan’s stomach. He slowly opened the robe revealing the princes almond skin. The Jackal Prince looked down and admired his prize, letting out a low growl of approval. Louhan’s heart jumped at the sound. Amun-Khet then traced the Prince’s naked torso from navel up across his chest and finally to his collarbone. He then used his index finger to trace the line of the Prince’s collarbone out onto his shoulder. He pushed his hand into the sleeve of the Prince’s robe and pulled it down around his shoulders. He matched eyes with the Prince and alerted him to his intent. Amun-Khet leaned in and kissed Louhan as his hand continued to caress Louhan’s exposed skin. 

   Amun-Khet coaxed Louhan to part his lips more with every increasingly passionate kiss. At last he passed his tongue through the other man’s lips, causing Louhan to moan, and his eyes to shoot open. Amun-Khet passed his tongue through until it brushed against Louhan’s tongue, making Louhan twitch with new pleasure. Louhan pulled his face away, needing a moment to breathe. Amun-Khet didn’t pursue. Instead he returned to kissing Louhan’s neck. He left a trail of kisses down to his chest. Across his stomach and navel, stopping just above his Ku undergarment. He took the tie of the Ku pants in his teeth and pulled upward until the tie released. Louhan had his eyes tightly closed and one hand over his face to hide his expression. Even in an intimate moment of pleasure like this he tries to keep up appearances, Amun-Khet thought as he looked up at the blushing Prince. I can remedy that.

   Amun-Khet stood up at the end of the bed, reaching up towards the top of Louhan’s white silk pants. He griped the top of the fabric tightly and slowly pulled them down past the man’s hips. Amun-Khet nearly purred with satisfaction as he looked at the revealed “treasure”. With every square inch of the Prince’s body that Amun-Khet revealed, the heat under his kilt burned hotter. He at last pulled the pants completely off and tossed them to the ground. Louhan kept his eyes away from Amun-Khet the whole time, his face growing more and more red.

   “Please look at me” Amun-Khet asked as he slid his hands gently across the skin of Louhan’s calves, up towards his knees. Louhan’s skin erupted in chills at The Jackal Prince’s touch. “Louhan…”

   “Please…calm me Aku” Louhan said quietly. Amun-Khet tilted his head so far his ear nearly touched his shoulder.

   “What was that?” he said playfully.

   “Calm me Aku” Louhan said slightly stronger.

   “That’s a cute pet name” Amun-Khet said with a grin. “I wont waste time asking where that name comes from. You can tell me in the morning…when I finally let you breath again…Aku.”

   Amun-Khet began kissing Louhan’s legs as he slinked and crawled his way up to the man’s groin, taking extra care to kiss every inch of the man’s genitals and the delicate skin around it. Louhan’s length twitched with pleasure in Amun-Khet’s hand.

   “I’m…not used to…being touched there” Louhan admitted nervously.

   “Are you…have you never been intimate before?” Amun-Khet asked.

   “I have!” Louhan said defensively. “I just…no one has…”

   “I imagine it was quick and most likely done in secret yes?” Amun-Khet said, leaning down to kiss Louhan’s navel.

   “Yes.”

   “I can promise you that this will not be quick, nor will I simply take what I want. I will make sure that you feel every ounce of pleasure I can pass to you. And as you said before; I am shameless, so there will be no shame placed on you for what we are about to do.”

   “Why” Louhan said before silencing himself. “Why do you want me?”

   “Why do you want me?” Amun-Khet offered. “I believe the gods are playing with us” he said, kissing his way back up towards Louhan’s neck. “Best to not go against their will.”

   Louhan reached down and grabbed the back of Amun-Khet’s head, running his fingers through the man’s thick hair. His other hand began grasping at Amun-Khet’s back, feeling his thick muscles flex and ripple as he caressed Louhan’s body with his hands. Amun-Khet began kissing the same spot on Louhan’s neck, just below his jaw. His slow kisses soon turned into nips that summoned sounds from Louhan that drove the Jackal Prince into passionate madness. He could no longer fight the urge and bit the smooth flawless skin of the man in his arms. Louhan let out a cry that cracked and turned to high pitch noises that shocked himself. He tightened his grip on Amun-Khet’s hair and the knuckles of the hand on the man’s back were turning white from gripping his dark skin so tightly. Amun-Khet released his teeth from the other mans neck as saliva dripped from his lips, down onto the now red flesh. He looked up at the pleasure drunk Prince and moved in to kiss him. Louhan’s lips parted in welcomed anticipation. They crashed together in a kiss. Bodies pressed hard against each other, grinding and releasing, finding a rhythm together. Amun-Khet was taking Louhan’s body into his arms and the other man was pressing so far into the embrace that Amun-Khet was carrying all of the Prince’s weight, hovering him above the actual bed. 

    Amun-Khet shifted one hand down the Prince’s back until his fingers caressed the man’s cheeks. He continued to move his hand, redistributing the Prince’s weight until his hand slid between those soft mounds of flesh, finding the valley between and the object of his search at last. He used his middle finger to caress that opening, making Louhan arch his back, pushing into Amun-Khet’s groping hand. Their grinding deepened and slowed as Amun-Khet’s finger slid fully into the soft pink hole. Louhan opened his mouth mid kiss to moan but Amun-Khet pressed back into the kiss, sending his tongue deep into the other man’s mouth. The moan was muffled and intensified at the same time. Amun-Khet’s scent was the only thing Louhan could smell now. His skin was the only thing he wanted to feel. The sound of his voice was sending almost as much pleasure into his flesh and bones as his touch, and his kiss…gods his kiss.