Roswell Fanatics

Title: 40 Miles From the Sun
Authors: Lindsay and Nicola
Category: AU M/L
Rating: MATURE to ADULT
Disclaimer: The characters of Roswell belong to The WB, Melinda Metz, and UPN.
Summary: Hard to describe… just please trust us and give it a try!
Author’s note: Well, here we are... starting a new fic! Um... I hope that you guys enjoy this, and I can't say when it will be updated because both Nic and I are pretty busy with our other stories. But I promise to write within a week of whenever she posts, so maybe she'll agree to do the same if you guys leave us enough encouraging FB. Also, this story is a challenge by Lynn aKa Sugarplum17. Lynn... I hope this satisfies you!

<center> Banner by the wonderfully talented Anais Nin Thank you once again, Stef! It is just gorgeous! </center>

<center></center>



<center>Prologue</center>


“Señor Evans? El teléfono para tú.”

Max glanced up at the dusky, buxom barmaid and gave her a smile tinged with alcohol. “Gracias, Anita,” he murmured, tracing a finger down the pretty girl’s arm. She giggled and left him to serve another table.

Max stood and stretched his legs, wobbling slightly from the effects of the potent Mexican liquor. Using his hands to steady himself, he slid down the walnut bar littered with cigarette ash and peanut shells.

Picking up the cheap black telephone, he answered with a husky, “Bueno.”

Silence lingered on the other line, and he frowned. “’Lo?” he repeated in english, chewing on the end of a toothpick as he slumped a hip against the side of the bar.

The sound of raucous laughter filled his ears, and he glanced over to see a group of hearty men flirting with Anita, trying to pinch her shapely behind every time she passed by. Judging by her pouty grin and fluttering lashes, she didn’t mind.

Shrugging it off, he cleared his throat and spoke again into the phone. “Look, whoever this is, I don’t have time to-“

“Meet me outside la Parque del Sol in one hour,” a gruff voice broke in over the line.

Max’s mind swam as he struggled to comprehend the man’s disjointed english accent. “Excuse me?” he managed, cursing the tequila for making his tongue thick.

“I have answers for you,” the voice rasped, “about your sister.”

At once the drunken haze disappeared, leaving behind a cold sweat as he fell onto a seat at the bar. The atmosphere around him blurred as he gripped the phone so tightly he thought it might shatter. “Isabel?” he whispered. “How do you know-“

“One hour.” Then the sound of a dial tone.


<center>***</center>


An hour later, Max stood in the middle of the Park of the Sun, known to the locals as la Parque Del Sol, hands jammed into the pockets of his cargo shorts and head pounding with the coffee-induced sober-up as he stared out over the turquoise water of the Yucatán Peninsula.

He’d come to Mexico three years ago, driven by the need to uncover secrets from his past. That first year he’d scoured the small inland villages, looking for any sort of clue that might lead him to discover what had happened to his twin sister all those years ago. When she’d simply… vanished.

The memory still brought a stinging pain to his chest, as he recalled the way his mother had mourned the loss of her ten year-old daughter. His father had blamed himself for arranging the family trip to Cancún, and had broken down and cried when the authorities had explained that they’d most likely never find Isabel again. That most cases of abduction were rarely solved.

At the time, Max had felt a sort of strange detachment from it all. He’d always shared a close mental bond with his sister, one that often allowed them to know what the other was feeling, or even thinking. He assumed it was part and parcel of being twins, but they’d soon discovered that speaking of their bond made people nervous. So they kept it to themselves.

That day he’d known Isabel was all right. He’d felt her anxiety and trepidation… but no true fear. He’d tried to explain it to his parents, to help comfort them. But his mother had screamed at him to stop, already suffering the beginning of a nervous breakdown. Weeks later, she’d been admitted to a mental health hospital. His father had suffered a stroke two years later, and never fully recovered.

And Maxwell began to blame himself. For not staying by Isabel’s side that day, that day so long ago. He’d fallen into a deep abyss of drugs and alcohol, sex and partying. Anything that made him feel a moment free of pain.

Until the day he’d come off a forty-eight hour high to find himself naked in a bed with six women.

In the harsh light of day, every man’s fantasy of an all-night orgy didn’t seem so pleasurable. It had made him sick to his stomach, and he’d spent an hour heaving his guts up before leaving the littered hotel.

That was the day he’d had the vision.

He glanced around the park, becoming impatient as he wondered what the hell he was doing. Why had he stayed, when he hadn’t found anything remotely close to telling him he was on the right track?

Except for a strange phone call from a stranger.

Snorting to himself, he bit back the disappointment and turned to leave when he saw the figure beneath the shade of a tree, watching him with dark eyes. He blinked in surprise, knowing there had been no one there moments ago.

Taking a cautious step forward, he called out, “Are you waiting for someone?”

The man didn’t answer, and Maxwell frowned as he neared enough to glimpse his tanned, weathered face. “¿Hablas inglés?” The man still did not answer. Max’s frown deepened. The man who’d called him had spoken in english, but perhaps this man was simply a villager out enjoying the early afternoon weather.

He turned to leave and a thin, reedy voice spoke behind him. “You look like her.”

Freezing in mid-step, Max closed his eyes and swallowed. Slowly turning around, he pierced the man with his eyes. “I look like whom?” he asked in a clear tone.

The man grunted, and stood to his feet. He leaned heavily on a cane, but that didn’t detract from his towering stature. He stood well over six feet, and had a body that had obviously once been muscled and capable. His hands, though now knobby and aged with wrinkles, were wide of palm and spoke of great power. He took a step towards Max, his craggy features intent. “They called her Vilondra.”

Once again, Max tasted the bitter flavor of disappointment. “I’m sorry… you have the wrong man,” he said not unkindly.

“However, she wore a gold bracelet,” the man continued as if Max had never spoken. “It had an emerald in the center, and was inscribed with the name Isabel.”

Max’s heart stopped. He knew the bracelet he meant. It had been given to Isabel as a birthday gift from their grandfather, before the man had passed away months later. “Who is they?” he referred to the man’s previous statement. “You said they called her Vilondra…?”

But the man was still staring into Max’s eyes, an almost dreamy quality in his dark orbs. “You have the same eyes. Golden and piercing… almost like you can see right through a person.”

Okay, this was getting creepy. Max cleared his throat and took a step back. “How did you know to find me?” he suddenly thought to ask, cursing himself once again for his drunken haze.

The first time in years he gets plastered, and look what happens.

“It was the right time,” the man merely said. He didn’t offer to elucidate, and Max bit down his frustration.

“You said you had answers,” he prodded intensely. “What are they?”

The man studied him for another moment. “To find what you’re looking for, you must look beyond what you can understand.”

With that cryptic statement, Max pulled at the hair at his temples. “What are you, the monkey from the Lion King?” he spat, beyond irritated and still fighting a pulsing hangover. He took a deep breath. “Please… if you know anything-“

“Have you ever heard the tales of the Amazons?”

Max stared at the man, then laughed shortly and threw his hands up. “All right, what the hell. Yes, yes I’ve heard of the Amazons. They were a dominant female species of ancient times, and they used men as their slaves, or something along those lines.”

“You do not believe.” It wasn’t a question.

“Believe?” Max shook his head. “It’s just a myth. Like all those Greek legends… just passed down for fun and to prove a point. In this case, I think it was just a way for the ancient chicks to start a feminist uprising.”

The man ignored his sarcasm, and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a tightly bound document, the paper yellowed with age.

“What’s that?” Max asked, curious as he noted the paper was made from some sort of coarse fiber. It was densely woven and crinkled in certain places. He could barely make out a dark red ink scrawled across the inside. His pulse kicked. “Is it a map?”

The man spread out the manuscript, and Max caught his breath as he stared at the images. It was indeed a map, and one that held all the quality an ancient tome. Despite its crudeness, the images were detailed and easy to detect on the legend. And the ink was a strange rust color…

“Is that blood?” he asked suddenly, a chill racing down his spine as he looked up to meet the man’s eyes.

“Yes,” he answered in a low voice, and before Max could ask he added, “it’s my blood.”

“No,” Max shook his head firmly, glancing back at the map. “Look, I’m no history buff, okay, but this thing looks really old. A hell of a lot older than you, no offense pal.”

“It is,” the man answered smoothly. “It’s thousands of years old.”

Max stared at him, a chuckle escaping. “Um… okay, well… I think you’re a little confused.”

Suddenly a sharp pain pierced his mind, and he cried out in agony, eyes closing and fingers gripping the map as the vision took over his mind.

He was being hunted.

He breathed heavily, thrashing through the dense jungle as he heard them crying out behind him. Sounds of predatory glee, followed by a strange chanting that sent chills up his spine.

He relied on his strength to maintain him as he pushed through the foliage, pain shooting through his feet as he stepped on a sharp rock. He cried out, stumbling onto his knees before using his hands to drag himself to the protection of a giant emergent tree.

Before he could slide beneath the branches that would conceal his body, a sandaled-foot landed in his vision. He followed the foot up to a shapely calf, and higher until he saw the silhouette of a woman. He couldn’t see her face, as it was hidden by the shining sun, but her hair was long and dark, flowing in the gentle breeze.

She spoke, the sound a melodic dance of seduction. “You dare to run?”

Before he could speak, he was ambushed and tied to the bark of the tree. He stared through glazed eyes as the woman stepped forward, a steely look in her dark brown eyes. “We do not allow our slaves to leave this place,” she spoke again. “You will wear our mark forever, and you will know who is your mistress.”

His lips parted as his gaze drifted to her bare stomach. A decorated sun circled her navel, its rays spreading outwardly until one wrapped around her middle and the other blended into a stylized band around her left bicep.

A woman stepped forward, a needle and a small pot in her hand. The woman began to smile as he cried out against his bonds.

“Holy shit!” Max choked out, stumbling to his feet and gasping as the flash began to subside. He glanced up, red-faced and panting as the man stared down at him. “What the hell was that?”

“You have the sight,” the man mused, scratching his jaw. “Perhaps you will be able to succeed, after all.”

Max stood shakily to his feet. “Who are you?” he demanded, still recovering from the intense vision that had taken his entire mind over moments before. “Why are you telling me of Amazons and ancient maps? What does this have to do with my sister?”

The man drew himself to his full height, leaving Max staring up at him and pronounced, “I am Elsivan Dupree. They called me Khivar. Fifty years ago I discovered a gateway from this world to a world unlike any I’d ever seen. A portal to an ancient world where men were hunted and used like animals.”

“Oh God, I think I need to sit down,” Max mumbled numbly. “What the hell was in that tequila?”

“No one has ever escaped the hands of the Ilios Queen,” he continued, “until I. I found my way back, and drew this map with the blood from a wound they inflicted upon me before I left, hoping to someday return and destroy their evil.”

“This sounds a little too Xena Warrior Princess for my taste,” Max held his hands up, backing away slowly. “I… I think I’ve made a mistake.”

And I think this guy needs to go back to his padded cell, he added inwardly.

The man lifted the hem of his shirt, and Max’s eyes widened as he caught sight of the sun tattoo, faded with time but still visible beneath the man’s wiry stomach hair. Faint scars criss-crossed his flesh, speaking of unspeakable treachery.

“Oh… fuck…” Max swallowed, bringing his gaze back to the man’s. “Oh, shit… don’t say what I just know you’re going to –“

“They have your sister.”

“That’s not what I wanted to hear,” Max groaned, somehow knowing his life had just changed. For the better or worse, that was yet to be seen.


<center>TBC...</center>

1.

When Max left the park of the sun he was feeling much worse then when he’d entered it. As he walked towards the city a mixture of drunkenness and confusion subdued him.

Ever since he was little he’d had this ability to read people and their intentions and if he was truthful with himself, he’d admit that Elsivan Dupree had made him feel uneasy. It didn’t help that he had seemed determined to be as vague as possible when answering his questions.

Max was in a difficult spot, this man may not be the most trustworthy person but he was the only one willing to give him answer’s as to his sisters whereabouts—even if his story seemed foolish.

The suns rays pounded down on his dark hair, making his scalp sweat, so he lifted the corner of his shirt and used it to wipe his forehead.

When he looked down road below him wobbled slightly under his gaze but by now he was slowly sobering and felt nothing but numbness. He was even slightly tempted to find his pub again but the slowly approaching, but achingly obvious, sickness churning his stomach stopped him. Instead, he dodged the bustle and headed home to rest.

This was something he’d been waiting for—unconsciously knowing that Isabel’s disappearance was out of the ordinary—but now that he might have some answers he felt his gut turn with nervousness. He was worried that all his searching would end up futile once more.

His head was throbbing now and in a wasted attempt to relieve the pain, he rubbed his temples and took deep breaths. It would serve him right for drinking tequila all morning.

As he climbed the steps to his dinky unattractive apartment he told himself that he’d decide what to do when he woke up. There was only thing wrong with that plan, when he opened his front door he found Chico Fernandez sitting on the couch in front of his cheap television set. Chico pointed a pistol at him as soon as he saw him. “¿Dónde está mi coche? ¡Usted jodiendo bastardo!”

Max held his hands up. “Wha?” Everything was coming out in gibberish to him.

“Where is my car? You fucking baaaastard!”

“It’s down at the pub.”

Chico grunted and cocked the gun. “Max, you are good for nothing, how many times do I have to tell you not to fuck with me?”

“Chico…Chico…so hostile…I wasn’t going to drive drunk and rip up your car and couple of people while I was at it.” As he explained he realized he was talking to the wrong person about how morally wrong it was to kill innocent people. The guy was holding a gun at him for borrowing his car for Christ’s sake. “I asked your sister first; she said to go for it.”

“Lani?” he grumbled. “Then perhaps I should be yelling at her instead.”

“No, no, she was just being nice,” Max said. “I can drop the car off to you tomorrow or you can go pick it up yourself.”

He left grumpily—with his car keys—so Max tore his clothes off and slumped back onto his creaky bed. His eyes were heavy but for ten minutes or so he couldn’t sleep because his thoughts were a muddle of questions. Damn and bless that Elsivan.

His dreams were bizarre for the next two hours. They were filled with a luscious jungle and crazy, evil female nomads chasing him with pitch forks. Most of them were gorgeous but they were damn crazy and when they caught him they took him to their leader. Just before he saw her he was ripped from his sleep because a car horn was being pounded at and two people were fighting downstairs on the street outside his building. He scratched his bare chest, let out a groan and then stumbled towards the window.

With one hand holding the cheap plastic blinds out of the way he yelled out the window, “Hey, can you guys just back the FUCK OFF?” They ignored him. Classic. “HEY!”

“It’s not my fault you’re insane!” one of them yelled. He was tall with spiky blonde brown hair. The other was a short guy with long black hair tied in a pony tale. “You hired me to find your wife and I did!”

“Yeah well fuck you buddy—sleeping with her wasn’t part of the deal!”
Max smirked and waited for the other guy to reply. When he did he said, “I did my job. That’s it.”

“You’re the worst fucking tracker I’ve ever met!”

The short one then drove off in his crappy car and the tall one lit a cigarette and leaned against the building. Max looked down at him and had a thought, was this some kind of a sign? “You’re a tracker?” he called.

The guy finally realized he was there and looked up, “Yeah and what?”

“Maybe I’ve got a job for you,” Max replied.

“Names Michael,” he said. “And I’m listening.”

“Come on up.”

He took a deep drag of his cigarette and replied, “Only if you put some clothes on.”

Max had forgotten he was butt naked, “Yeah, yeah, of course.”

~*~

“I didn’t know trackers looked for wives?” Max asked amusedly.

“Not usually, no,” Michael replied and then took a seat on his couch. “But I’m the best at finding things—no matter what it is. Ask me to find you a gold pebble on a beach in Spain and I’ll do it. Just check out my track record.” He handed Max a business card.

“Right, well this is going to sound insane,” he started with. “But I don’t have much choice but to look into it.”

“Trust me, nothing surprises me anymore,” Michael replied while chewing on a tooth pick.

“I suppose it doesn’t.” Max glanced at the business card and then put it in his pocket. He was a firm believer in signs and when he got one, he didn’t ignore it. It couldn’t just be a strange coincidence that on the day a guy had news of his sister a tracker turned up outside his door. “My sister’s been missing for years and I’ve been looking for her to no avail. I’ve even hired detectives before but they’ve never found anything.”

“What makes you think I’ll be of any help then?”

“This morning I got some news of where she might be,” Max explained. “And a map but I don’t think it would be wise for me to go alone.”

“Why am I thinking this map might not be to a city?”

“That’s because it’s not,” he continued. “It’s to a port hole—into ancient Greece.”

Michael stared at him curiously for a moment, probably wondering whether or not to call an asylum, and then asked, “Can I see this map?”

Max reached into his pocket and found nothing—then slightly panicky; he looked in the other and with a relieved breath pulled it out. “Here.”

The guy was serious as he examined it, reading all the little imprints and so on. “Who gave this to you?”

“Some guy by the name of Elsivan,” Max answered and then lit a cigarette. “I don’t know how he got in touch with me but I’m guessing he’d heard that I’d been looking around. Says he was there. You ever heard of the Amazons?”

“The who?” he asked, scrutinizing Max.

Max explained about the ancient Greek tribe and then slumped back on a seat across from him. “Apparently this guy somehow discovered a way to escape from their capture.”

“Their capture?” Michael asked intrigued. “So they’re like…evil, or something?”

“I suppose so,” Max shrugged. “Apparently they kidnapped my sister so…”

“We’d need weaponry”—he seemed very pleased by this—“How much you willing to pay for this little adventure?”

“Whatever, I suppose,” Max shrugged. “So you’ll help me?”

Michael stared at him for a moment longer, deciding whether or not to commit to this. In the end he said, “Yeah, I’ll go with you—but…”

“But?”

“But not without this guy I know,” he finished. “He’ll come in handy. Can read a compass, you know?”

Max had a brief moment of concern that he’d done the right thing. “Ah…”

“He’s a real smarty that’s all,” Michael scratched behind his ear. “Don’t worry, he won’t take too much convincing. When ya wanna leave?”

Max opened his mouth to say I don’t know but, “Soon,” came out instead. He hadn’t even thought this over properly but his very good instincts told him to go for it. What did he have to loose? Not Isabel—he’d already done that.

~*~

“Hold this.”

Michael shoved a huge hiking pack into Max’s arms and patted it in approval.

“We’ll need this?” Max asked.

Michael replied with a cigarette dangling from his lips. He always seemed to be smoking and it was hard for Max to be around him because he was trying to quit. “Definitely,” he said. “What if by some miracle we get to this place and have to stake-out? We’ll need provisions.”

He wouldn’t say anything out loud, but Max found himself questioning the guy’s sanity. He reminded him of someone out of a Vietnam movie—he certainly made what they were doing sound like a war. Also, Michael never actually admitted whether or not he believed in a ‘port-hole into the past' but Max got the impression that he didn’t care either way—it was a pay check, what was there to question?

“Where’s this guy you invited?” Max asked finally. “I thought you’d said he’d be here by now.”

“He’ll be here soon, don’t worry,” Michael replied.

“You explained everything, yeah?”

He got a grunt and a nod as a reply and then a large torch was added to the pile of purchases. Max glanced at the price tags and grimaced—everything was certainly going to break his bank account. If it wasn’t for paying for his dad’s care and personal nurse then perhaps he’s have it sweet. It wasn’t as though he wanted him to die but the guy was practically a vegetable, maybe he’d be happier in a grave?

Suddenly a foreign voice broke him out of his thoughts. “You must be Max. My names Alex—Alex Whitman.”

Max was shocked by Alex—he was absolutely nothing like he’d expected. He’d envisioned someone…Michael-like. Alex was in every possible way different from his friend. He had glasses, an English accent and was commonsensical. Which was more then he could say for Michael.

They shook hands and nodded at each other in approval. “Nice to meet you,” Max said.

“Alex,” Michael interrupted. “Hold this.”

Alex nearly tumbled over under the weight of the things Michael plonked into his arms. “How do you two know one another?” Max had to ask.

“I do research for him occasionally,” Alex asked. “How else could he have such success?” When Michael wasn’t listening he added, “I mean look at him, really, he couldn’t do anything on his own.”

Max chuckled. “I know exactly what you mean. I suddenly have more faith in this whole thing.”

“Good, don’t fear…you’re in good hands. He’s the brawn and I’m the brain. Good combination, no?”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever you say.”

~*~

Hope that's a little bit as good as Lindsay's! I'll get better

Hey guys! Ready for the new part? pookie, you just missed me! LOL! Anyway, I hope you all like this... I haven't had a chance to show it to Nicola yet, so I hope she approves! Tag, Nic, you're it! I won't be able to update this again until after I get back next week, so take your time girl!

Hugs,

Linds


<center>Chapter Two</center>


“A portal?”

Max scratched his head sheepishly as Alex stared at him. Michael continued to smoke in the corner, idly looking through Max’s bookcase. “Yes, a portal,” Max stated succinctly, “to ancient Greece.”

“To ancient…” Alex trailed off and cleared his throat, taking off his glasses to polish them with the hem of his shirt. Max was surprised to see that despite his scholarly appearance, Alex’s torso was ridged with solid muscle. “You’re telling me that a portal exists in Mexico… that will take us back to an ancient Greek civilization?”

Silence filled the room, broken only by Michael’s occasional puff on the cigarette. Max squirmed beneath Alex’s direct gaze. “Well… according to this map there is.”

“I checked it out,” Michael broke in, picking up a small Incan statue from the bookcase and studying it. “It’s worth pursuing.”

“Michael, you say that about skin flicks on late-night cable,” Alex answered in a prim voice, replacing the glasses on his nose. “Where is this map?”

“Oh, shit,” Max mumbled, shoving his hand into his left pocket. “Uh… it was here earlier…”

“Other one,” Michael said absently, lifting the golden statue and sniffing it.

Max stared at him, pulling the map out of his other pocket. “Would you mind… putting that out?” he asked, grimacing as Michael turned to face him and blew a stream of smoke into his face. “I’m sort of trying to quit and you’re making me want to bleed you dry for an ounce of nicotine.”

Michael quirked a brow. “Sure thing, ace.” He took one last drag and then proceeded to grind the end of the cigarette into the endtable. Max winced as the ash smeared across his mother’s antique Louis XII.

“According to this map, the portal exists in la Parque del Sol,” Alex said aloud, studying the map closely, his eyes scanning across the yellowed paper intently. “The only problem is that it doesn’t say how, or when the portal can be opened. Where is the man who gave you this map?”

“I don’t know,” Max admitted, scratching his head. “He contacted me, and disappeared before I could ask him anything more. All I really know is what I’ve told you. And Michael.”

“A mystery, indeed,” Alex murmured, running his fingers over the blood. “And most definitely worth investigating.”

“I already said that,” Michael huffed, flopping on the couch and grabbing for the remote. “You got any boobie channels here, Maxwell?”

Maxwell? He wondered. “Uh… no. Sorry.” He bit back a grin when Michael’s face fell and added, “Check under the couch.”

Michael felt beneath the battered furniture and pulled out a DVD. His expression lit up as he spied the cover. “Babewatch 2. A classic.”

“We don’t have time for porn,” Alex snapped, his accent crisp and efficient.

“Alex, buddy, there’s always time for porn,” Michael rebutted, tapping the video against his thigh. “In fact, it might do you a world of good. When’s the last time you dipped your wick?”

Alex appeared horrified by Michael’s drawling statement, while Max coughed into his hand. “That’s not an appropriate question, Michael,” Alex said chastisingly, frowning towards his friend.

“I’m not an appropriate person,” Michael smiled slowly, and Max recalled the angry man shouting of Michael’s involvement with his wife.

Just then the phone rang, and he excused himself from the conversation to answer it. “Bueno.”

“Don’t bueno me, you arrogant pendejo!” an angry female voice sounded over the line.

Max grimaced, rubbing his ear as she let out a stream of spanish curses. “Tessa,” he broke in, “I can explain.”

“Explain how, Max? Explain how you spend the night with me and no call for two weeks? Chingate!”

Max cleared his throat, inwardly cursing for allowing himself to fall prey to Tessa’s beauty and allure. He should have known she wouldn’t take kindly to a pleasure fuck and leave it at that.

No, somehow he’d known Tessa’s flirtations weren’t as straightforward and casual as they’d appeared. He’d allowed himself to be taken in by her promises of no commitment, seduced by her talented mouth and hands, and now he was paying the price by being reamed out by an angry, rejected woman.

“Tess, we both knew it didn’t mean anything…” he started, trying to be gentle. “It was just a fling, right? You said so yourself.”

“I know what I said!” she answered heatedly. “And I remember what you said, Max. You said you’d call!”

Max closed his eyes. Yes, he’d promised to call her… when he’d been buried inside her tight, warm body and lost to rational thought. But somehow he didn’t think explaining that would help the current situation.

He could see Michael and Alex sending him speculative looks and turned around, speaking in a quieter voice. “Look, could we talk about this later…?”

“Later? What is later, you pendejo!” she snapped. “You think you can treat me this way? I’m calling Chico. He won’t be happy you treated me like some… some cusca!”

“No, don’t call your cousin,” Max said quickly, cursing again as he heard the static on the other end, signalling Tess’s hangup. He slammed the phone down, running a hand over his face. “Caray!” he swore, once again asking himself why he’d gotten involved with Tessa Harding.

“Problems?” Michael asked blandly, eyes focused on the sexual marathon playing out over the television. Even Alex couldn’t quite keep his gaze away, staring at the screen in interest.

“It’s nothing,” Max mumbled, throwing open the refrigerator and pulling out a bottle of Coke. He stiffened as the phone rang again minutes later, and considered not answering it.

As the shrill tone sounded throughout the room, Michael glanced over. “Aren’t you gonna get that? Holly Body’s about to get off and I want to hear every sweet sound.”

“Michael!” Alex sounded scandalized, even as he swallowed and leaned closer as a feminine moan erupted from the screen.

Max sighed and picked up the phone. “Listen, Chico,” he started warily, “I can explain.”

But the voice that grated over the line wasn’t an angry and demanding Chico. It was Elsivan Dupree. “Are you prepared?”

“How… how did you get this number?” Max wondered. “And where did you go this afternoon?”

“This is not the time for silly questions,” the elder man rasped. “You must come to the park tomorrow night at sunset. Bring the map.”

“Tomorrow?” Max’s exhausted mind spun. “Does the portal open then? How do we-“ he cut off at the sound of a dial tone. “Damn it, why is everyone hanging up on me tonight?”


<center>***</center>



Walking down the familiar path, Max breathed in the damp, Mexican night air. The sound of the ocean frothing in the distance lingered in his ears, mixed with the sounds of laughter and excited voices as he drew closer to la Parque del Sol.

During his first years in Mexico, he’d often come to the park to think. And remember.

Memories of playing with Isabel along the sandy beaches of Cancún, splashing in the turquoise ocean and eating in the very park he was heading towards filled his mind. He’d used the Park of the Sun as a refuge when he’d first arrived, sitting for hours and staring out at the horizon as regrets overwhelmed him.

How fitting if this should truly be the gateway to his sister.

As he ducked beneath the flowered arch that opened into the park, he glanced around to note that he was the first to arrive. Not a surprise. He hadn’t been able to sleep after Michael and Alex had left the night before, not that he’d had much choice thanks to a fuming Chico beating down his door at three in the morning.

Max had played dumb to the man’s accusations, and refused to open the door past the chainlink. Finally Chico had left, promising to return the following day and wring an explanation from Max’s throat.

Luckily, he’d be halfway to ancient Greece if everything went as planned. And didn’t that feel weird to think? He shivered lightly, despite the warm summer breeze.

He passed by a young couple kissing passionately on a bench and headed towards the cliff overhanging the ocean. As he stared out over the surf, memories once again washed over him.

“Max! Look, do you see!”

“What is it Isabel,” he laughed, running after the blonde girl. “Slow down!”

“Do you hear them?” she called out in excitement. “I can hear them! They’re talking to me!”

He came up behind her and stared in amazement as the sleek animals jumped out of the ocean, making inhuman sounds that reminded him of laughter.

“Wow,” he whispered, watching in amazement as the dolphins continued to play amongst themselves. “They’re beautiful.”

“Let’s get a closer look,” Isabel pleaded, grabbing his arm and dragging him closer. “Come on!”

The sound of approaching footsteps broke him from the memory and he turned, expecting to see Michael or Alex, maybe even Elsivan. The last person he expected to see, however, was heading right towards him.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Max asked, taking a step forward.

“Is that anyway to greet your beloved cousin?”

Max snorted, although a grin settled over his lips. “Beloved? You’re such an arrogant ass, Kyle.”

“Face it, Max. You have no other cousins. Therefore, I’m beloved,” Kyle joked back, and the two men slapped backs.

“Seriously… what are you doing here?” Max ran his eyes over his cousin’s face.

Kyle made a face, running his hand through his sandy colored hair. “This might sound crazy…”

“I’ve been reconsidering what I think is crazy the last few days,” Max broke in wryly. “I doubt you could shock me.”

“I got a strange phone call two nights ago,” Kyle blurted out. “The guy didn’t identify himself… just said something about how if I wanted to know anything about Isabel that I should come to you.”

Max stared at him. “I’m shocked.”

“There’s more,” Kyle sighed. “I get here, and no one can tell me where you are. I mean, I’m searching the whole damn village and not one person can tell me where Max Evans is. At first I thought maybe you’d left and not contacted anyone.”

“I tend to keep a low profile,” Max admitted. “If you’d checked in at the bars, they know me.”

Kyle’s handsome face took on a concerned edge. “Bars? You’re not…?”

“Drinking myself into a stupor?” Max finished, pretending not to notice the flush on his cousin’s cheeks. “No. Last night was the first time in a long while that I got really intoxicated. I just hang out there because… well… it’s familiar, I guess.”

Kyle nodded quickly. “Well, I found you. That’s all that’s important. After I got that call, I just knew I’d come here and find you being held hostage by some psychopath.”

“Hostage?” Max snorted. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kyle. So how did you find me?”

“I don’t know,” Kyle admitted, looking around the park. “I felt drawn here… tonight. It was like this placed called to me.”

Max shivered again, knowing exactly what his cousin meant. “Well, I’ve got a story to tell you, and then we’ll see who’s crazy.”


<center>***</center>


“So he just said to be here with the map?” Michael demanded an hour later as they all sat at a table, the sun setting in the distance and casting a fiery glow along the horizon. “The old fart didn’t say anything else.”

The map lay spread across the table as they all studied it as they had for the past two hours.

“He said something about sunset,” Max reminded them, catching Kyle’s bewildered gaze. He knew his cousin had been surprised by Max’s story, but he hadn’t seemed to disbelieve.

“It makes sense,” Alex said thoughtfully. “The ancients went by the rise and set of the sun and the moon in many rituals. It makes sense that the portal would open at one of these times.”

“Are you like, one of those people?” Kyle asked suddenly, gazing at Alex intently.

“Those people?” Alex raised his brows.

“You know…” Kyle waved a negligant hand. “One of those people who are geniuses and expect everyone else around them to know the meaning of E=MC squared.”

“That’s Al, all right,” Michael snorted. “But don’t worry, he’d be happy to explain it all in excrutiatingly boring detail. You’re better off just pretending you know what the hell he’s talking about.”

“I beg your pardon?” Alex looked offended.

“If you’re right, then shouldn’t we be looking for this… portal?” Max demanded, bringing them back to focus. “Dupree didn’t mention anything besides making sure we had the map.”

“There must be something that explains how to use the gateway,” Alex murmured in frustration, returning his gaze to the center of the table.

A long silence followed as they all stared at the map.

“What’s the deal with all the little suns?” Kyle asked suddenly. “Is it because this place is called la… la parque… the Park of the Sun or whatever?”

“What are you talking about?” Max mumbled, eyes trained on the map. “What suns?”

“Like that one on the tree.”

Max frowned, looking up to follow his pointed finger. There, carved in a large tree planted on the edge of the cliff, was a stylized sun that he’d seen only one other place.

“You will wear our mark forever, and you will know who is your mistress...”

He jerked back as lightening shot through his mind, and he let out a cry, falling to the ground and clutching his head in his hands. He barely heard the sound of his friend’s panicked calls as he fought off the rush of images.

It was as if he was watching a video on fast forward, everything was too quick and blurred to be sensical. He could only feel emotions. Pain. Anguish. Sorrow.

As quickly as they came they were gone, leaving him flat on his back staring at the tree as his chest rose and fell.

“Max! Shit, what happened?”

He felt Kyle’s hands lifting his head and sat up, meeting his cousin’s terrified eyes. “I found it,” he managed, swallowing past the lump in his throat. “It’s through the tree.”

“Through… the tree?” Kyle echoed, his brows furrowing. “Max, what are you talking about?”

Max glanced over as the sun sank beneath the horizon. “Help me up,” he asked, and was lifted to his feet by Kyle and Michael. He felt a lingering pain throb in his head, but pushed it aside as he walked unsteadily towards the tree.

Running his hand over the etching, he took a deep breath and pushed with his mind. He wasn’t the slightest bit amazed when a rumble shook the earth below them, the bark of the thick trunk splitting wide open.

“Holy hell!” Michael called out as wind kicked up around them, bright light spilling out of the tree. “What the fuck?”

“Good God,” Alex whispered, clutching the map in his hand as the ground rolled and rippled out like a wave. They all struggled to remain upright, holding onto each other.

“Max!” Kyle called out over the howling wind. “Max, are you sure about this?”

Max stared at the opening and nodded, entranced by the welcoming glow. “I’m coming, Isabel,” he whispered, closing his eyes and reaching out towards the sister he’d lost.

Without another thought, he stepped through. And fell.


<center>TBC...</center>

Three

For several minutes all Michael, Kyle and Alex could do was stare dumbfounded at the spot where Max had been.

It was Alex who let out the first sound of life, “Ah guys…”

Michael started mumbling about how he’d seen some crazy shit in his time but he knew this would take the cake. Kyle ran a hand through his hair and tried to tear his eyes away from the tree long enough to tell one of them to go next.

“Ah-ah, I’m not going anywhere near that thing,” Alex held his hands up and stepped back.

“Michael?” Kyle simply said. None of them noticed Elsivan standing off in the distance, watching through the shadows.

Michael lit up a cigarette and when he spoke a billow of smoke escaped him. “How about you go first and we’ll follow you?”

Kyle stepped up and inspected the swirling sun. It was now alight and glowing red, orange and yellow…it was magical. That’s the only word he could think of to describe it. “Michael you go—”

Suddenly the bastard gave him a harsh push and he stumbled forward, expecting to feel the unkind sting of bark against his cheek but instead found himself diving head first into a swirling green and black darkness. He was just cursing Michael when he hit the grassy earth with a dramatic thud.

“Ahhh!” he groaned.

While he was rubbing his sore hip and shoulder a thought occurred to him and he quickly scrambled out of the way before Michael and Alex tumbled down on top of him. It was quite a funny sight seeing them sprawled out on top of one another, groaning in protest.

“Erk, get off me!” came Michael’s cry.

While they argued Kyle looked away and investigated the scene before him. Somehow they’d landed in a rich forest and other then their unusual arrival everything seemed normal. He looked up to see where they’d fallen from and a hollowed out hole in a cliff greeted him.

Michael looked up as well, seeing the sky through the dark tunnel. “It’s like a vertical cave,” he commented. “Strange.”

“Very,” Alex said. Then he brought up something that Kyle hadn’t even thought about yet. “Hey, where’s Max?”

“I expected the fucker to be here laughing at us when we landed,” Michael replied. “Don’t tell me he’s wandered off and got lost.”

“Be quiet a moment, would you?”

They all bit their tongues and listened for any sounds. Eventually one came, very far off in the distance and so quiet you would have missed it if you weren’t straining. At first Alex had trouble placing it and then he said with bated breath, “Water, splashing.”

“I heard, where do you think it’s coming from?” Kyle asked.

“Judging by the soft intensity I’d say it’s far away, possibly to the north-west of us,” Alex pulled out his compass and then pointed in the direction. “Let’s go that way.”

“I’m leading,” Michael grumbled.

~*~

When Max had landed he’d instantly heard a loud, feminine laugh and though he knew he should wait for his friends he didn’t. He headed off in the direction of the sound, drawn to it, and came to a spot on a low rock face overlooking an inlet of crystal water. There was a beautiful waterfall crawling down the rocks but instead of admiring it, his eyes were instantly drawn to something else.

A woman had just removed her golden cape and was heading towards the water—stark naked with long dark hair tumbling down her back.

Max knew he should look away instantly but was unable to. This kind of beauty was surreal to him, in the twentieth century it just didn’t exist. She was like finding forbidden treasure and to look away would be to leave the gold behind after searching so long for it.

A painful breath escaped him when she broke the silky stillness by diving in and gliding across the surface. When she came up for air her hair stuck to her cheeks and his mouth was parted in pure lust when she brushed it away, giving him a clear view of her flawless features.

Suddenly the moment was broken by footsteps cracking dry leaves behind him. His first thought was that it was the guys but when he turned around he came face to face with two scantily dressed females. They both had spears that they directed at him and looked much the same with radiant blonde hair and dark, tanned skin. The only difference was that one was shorter then the other and had greener eyes.

A groan escaped him when he realized who the taller girl was. She looked so much different from when he’d seen her over a decade ago.

“Isabel?” he choked out. Surely it couldn’t be?

~*~

“Trees, trees and more trees…” Kyle grumbled. “Are we sure we’re heading in the right direction?”

“I trust Alexander’s instincts, don’t you?” Michael asked.

“I don’t know.”

A few minutes later they were standing on the same rock face that Max had been on. No one was there anymore, including the woman who had been bathing.

Kyle groaned impatiently. “What now?”

“I find it difficult to believe that Max would disappear on his own accord,” Alex said. “The logical explanation for his disappearance is that he was spotted and taken hostage.”

“I thought there were only a bunch of females around here? Maxwell may be a bit soft but I think he could fend off a few gir—”

“Look!” Michael interrupted. While they’d been talking he had noticed footprints on the dirt around them. He also spotted a stream of smoke coming out from in-between some tree’s about half a mile away. “This way,” he finished.

The three of them followed the footsteps as far as they went and when the ground became coarser and it was difficult to see anything, they continued on in what they hoped was the right direction.

It was fifteen minutes later when they found a very impressively architectural village. It was clear that women ran the place; Alex thought amusedly, it seemed very carefully built and tidy.

The three of them hid from sight and watched in amazement as the female inhabitants went about their business. There was a group of quite young girls, no older then fifteen, who were being taught military maneuvers in a large courtyard by three older supervisors.

“Jesus,” Michael said. “I never expected this at all.”

“I know what you mean,” Kyle replied. “Is it just me or are they all damn HOT?”

“The whole thing…the people, the buildings, the setting…it just seems too perfect,” Alex shook his head. “It’s God-like. No wonder they all believed in Zeus and Mount Olympus. It’s hard to believe this is the same planet earth we know.”

“I’ll say.”

Suddenly there was a large commotion to their left and the three of them turned in time to see two girls drop their silver bowls to the ground and point in their direction.

Michaels first instinct was to run but the other two were far too slow and the villagers surrounded them in seconds. They were gasping and clasping at them, tugging them towards the township like a large swarm of bees.

One of the elder ladies who had been teaching drills in the courtyard came and cleared everyone away with two body guards at her side. The bulky girls pointed spears at them—forcing them to head in their desired direction. Kyle noticed the crowd followed after them as they walked.

“I don’t suppose they speak English?” Kyle murmured to Alex.

“I would think not,” came his reply.

The old lady turned briskly and shouted, “You! Shut up!”

Michael shot a look at Alex and said happily, “For once you are wrong.”

~*~

Max had been led by the two females all the way to the village. As soon as he’d recognized his sister and called her Isabel he knew he’d made a mistake. She was Vilondra now and didn’t appear to know or remember him at all.

“Where are you taking me?” he asked.

They both just jabbed him with their pointy sticks and hurried him along.

Eventually he got fed up and looked directly at his sister, his heart pounding a mile a minute, and called her by the name Vilondra. A look of complete shock and fear poured across her face and then just as quickly disappeared.

He now intrigued her and that would help him in the long run, he knew it.

To avoid a commotion, or at least that’s what he guessed, the two led him around the village and locked him in a cell. There he waited until finally the door opened again and in came Kyle, Michael and Alex.

“Max?” they gasped.

“Ah, you made it,” he joked, “About time.”

He explained to them what had happened after he’d come through the tree and then they told their story.

“Everything’s amazing…like some kind of paradise,” Max agreed. “And do you feel as though…I don’t know, it’s strange…but you don’t mind being controlled by them?”

“I know what you mean,” Michael nodded. “When they were leading us here, we just came. I didn’t try and escape…it’s like I just knew that there was nothing to fear.”

“I thought these women were supposed to be evil?”

Alex snorted. “They probably are. That is exactly it; their greatest weapon is their so called innocence. I bet they’re really just hiding their bad side.”

“It’s hard to believe,” Kyle said. “But there is the fact they worship the God Athene—the God of war.”

Max looked at him curiously. “How do you know that?”

“He’s right,” Alex cut in. “In history books the Amazon’s worshipped Athene, it would appear as though it’s true because as we came in there was a statue of her in the court yard where they were practicing.”

“Practicing what—?” Max shrugged it off, he realized he knew. “I saw my sister.”

“What? Already?” Kyle was shocked.

“Yes—she doesn’t remember me…”

Suddenly the door opened and a woman stepped in. Her hair was short, light brown and her eyes were a sparkling blue. “Who is your leader?” she asked with brilliantly accented English.

“We don’t have a—”

“One of you comes with me,” she said simply, “Only one.”

Michael nudged Max’s shoulder and uttered, “You go.”

He followed the girl across the village, noticing that absolutely everyone was watching him with interest. “What is your name?” he asked. “How is it you know English?”

She gave him a sidelong look. “My name is Serena.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“To Elissa. The leader.”

She wouldn’t answer any questions after that. He simply followed and obeyed, not knowing exactly what was wrong with him.

At the head of the town there was a large temple that he had to climb about one hundred marble steps to get to. Serena didn’t seem to notice that he was puffing and panting at the end of it—she didn’t even break into a sweat. Damn smoking. He deducted that she did the same walk very often.

“You go in, she’s waiting.”

“Uh…okay.”

Max walked through some wispy white curtains and found himself in the most wonderful room. In the centre there was a mystical fire burning in a large, round, stone bowl; it lit up the whole area giving everything a splendid yellow glow. The floor was covered in intricately designed blankets and pillows and hidden behind heavy drapes there was a bed.

It took him a moment to notice the woman to his right sitting on a large wooden chair draped in purple blankets. She was the one that he had watched while she was bathing.

“Who are you?” she asked simply, motioning him to come closer. “And why did you come?”

He swallowed. “My names Max and I’m here for my sister.”

“Your sister?” she asked with intrigue.

“You know her as Vilondra. I’m taking her home.” He may as well get straight to the point.

Her hand touched her chin as she considered what he said. “Vilondra is a close companion of mine. I was aware of her unusual arrival here but I do not believe what you say.”

“You kidnapped her,” he said.

“Kidnap? This word is unfamiliar to me but I will tell you, my mother was in charge here when Vilondra arrived—I was only a child.” She suddenly stood up from her chair and for some reason, Max stepped back. She looked magnificent. “Also that I will not allow you to take her away from here back to wherever you have come from…”

Suddenly rage boiled within him. “Who do you think you are?”

She stepped close to him and peered into his face. “Who do you think you are? Vilondra is important to my village—she is who taught us this English.”

Max swallowed. Of course…

“I am Elissa,” she said sternly. “And your name does not matter anymore because you will soon have a new one.”

Was she for real? Jesus. “Ah…”

Her index finger was suddenly pressed firmly against his chest. “I will admit it was brave of you to come here. Most men do not dare.”

“I now see why,” he retorted. He would find it a lot easier to use his tongue if she wasn’t so damn…alluring. “If you think I will stay here you are wron—”

She laughed. “Do you really want to leave?”

“Yes,” he replied, though he wasn’t quite sure what he wanted at the moment. The sweet scent in the air and her bare appearance earlier was getting to him. He still had a clear image of her perky breasts standing up proudly in the air as she stood half immersed in water…

“Then you are free to go,” she said with amusement. “I will tell Serena to release you at once…”

“Not without Isab… Vilondra.”

Elissa studied his face and something that resembled intrigue flashed in her eyes. “Does she know who you are?”

He stumbled, “Well…no…”

“If you present your case to her and it is her wish to leave, she shall,” she said.

“That is kind of you—”

“But,” she put her fingers on his lips. “Until she does you will remain here as my slave, as will your companions. And if she does not, your freedom will come only with your death.”


~*~

Sorry I couldn't help posting it now. We'll just have to wait for Lindsay to get back from Hawaii now--do you think we can last a week? Hope you liked it, let me know what you think...

~nicola

Okay, sorry this took so long! Ugh, you guys don't forgive me, do you? *sobs* I hope you all enjoy anyway...

Hugs,

Linds


<center>Part 4</center>


“You have got to be kidding me,” Max scowled as he stared at the scrap of material being held in front of him. “No way, woman. Get that thong outta my face.”

“You will wear,” the redheaded beauty thrust the loincloth at him again. The cloth appeared to be made of a soft animal pelt and was embroidered with the same intricate stylized suns he’d seen covering the walls of the strange palace he was being held captive in.

He stepped back, glaring at the woman as he jutted his chin up defiantly. “Look, sweetheart. Not even touching on the fact that there’s no way that,” he pointed at the loincloth, “is going to cover any part of me, therefore it seems kind of a waste… you’re not going to get me to drop my pants for you unless there’s a chance I’m getting lucky.”

The redhead wrinkled her nose. “Lucky? What is this getting lucky?” she demanded in a thick accent. “Is it a weapon? You shall have to hand it over at once.”

“No, it’s not a – ” Max trailed off in exasperation, folding his arms across his chest. “Let me say this in a way I think you’ll understand. My pants… stay on. No loincloth. I’m not walking around this place with my cock hanging out in the wind, okay?”

The woman studied him, then made a shrill cry that reminded him of the Western’s he’d seen on TV as a child, and the warrior cries of the Native Americans. He stared as several more of the giant women appeared, brandishing sharpened spears as they circled him.

“You will wear,” the redhead repeated, smirking as he swallowed heavily.

“All right, you win,” he muttered, and closing his eyes he unbuttoned his pants and shoved them down to his ankles. He turned bright red when he opened his eyes to see the women all staring at that part of him with appraising eyes. “I feel like such a piece of meat,” he mumbled indignantly.

He quickly tied the cloth around his hips, surprised at how comfortable it actually was. Once the woman had collected his clothing, he was led out of the small tent and paraded through the village. He tried not to think about the fact that he was being led around by his dick, for truly there was a chain attached to the part of the cloth that rested just above his groin, and was being held by the redheaded woman.

As he was led inside the palace, he found himself in front of the gorgeous brunette queen again. She was reclining on what resembled a chaise lounge and being fed ripe fruit by a trio of muscular men in similar states of undress as he.

The men stared at Elissa with blatant worship in their eyes, trailing their gazes over the luscious curves of her bronzed body, devouring the line of her nearly nude form. Max didn’t know why that should bother him, but he met her eyes insolently when she noticed their approach.

He had the satisfaction of watching her eyes widen at the sight of him, her gaze sliding across the bare planes of his chest and lower…

He swallowed as she openly stared at his groin and despite himself he began to harden. Judging by the way her lush lips curved, she knew the effect she was having on him. She lifted her eyes and once again met his.

Just then he was poked in the back by a blunt object and forced to his knees. Before he could speak, he heard a hard voice call out, “You shall not look our Queen in the eyes, slave.”

“Hey, watch it!” Max hissed, turning his head to glare at whoever had knocked him over but instead let out a whoosh as he was slammed in the ribs.

“Enough!” Elissa’s sharp voice sounded and everyone stilled. “He shall not be damaged,” she added quietly, looking her consorts in the eye as Max gasped for breath on his knees. “He is to be my own.”

Max wasn’t quite sure he understood what her words meant, and truthfully he couldn’t begin to try due to the pain ricocheting through his body. But the queen’s words appeared to have quite an effect on the members of her court. A hushed murmur went up through the room as she came to her feet.

The men rubbed their cheeks against whatever skin they could reach as she passed by, and Max once again felt the possessive urge to beat their faces in. He glanced up as she stopped before him, one finger tucking beneath his chin.

Those deep brown eyes studied him for a long moment before she spoke in a firm voice. “I shall call you Zan. It means strength, and I believe you have too much, slave.”

Max wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or not, so he kept his mouth shut. But he spit flames of resentment at her as she watched him, one corner of her mouth lifting.

He fought to keep his expression blank as she lowered herself to her knees, her lips a breath away from his. “You shall be a pleasure to tame,” she whispered into his ear, and he couldn’t stop the shudder that raced through his body at her words.

“Sorry, babe,” he answered gruffly. “I’m not the tamable type.”

She simply smiled mysteriously. “We shall see.” She stood to her feet, motioning to the two women who stood guard at the entrance to her room. “Secure him. But… be gentle,” she added with a curved smile.

Before he knew what was happening, he found himself shackled to Elissa’s lounge, bands of silk encircling his arms and legs in gentle constraint.

Elissa lay back down, and he bit his tongue as her bare breasts were placed directly in front of his gaze. He tried to look away but the ripe nipples seemed to hold him in entrancement.

“Bring them in,” Elissa murmured huskily, brushing a hand through her long locks. She stretched lazily and turned back for the other men to continue feeding her.

“Where’s my cousin?” an angry male voice sounded and Max’s ears perked. “What did you broads do with Max?”

“I’m not going to have anything nice to say about your organization when I get back,” Alex’s voice added as the men were brought into the room.

“Hey, watch the package, doll!” Michael growled as he was shoved down to his knees as Max had been.

“Kyle!” Max called out, straining against his bonds as he tried to break loose. “Michael, Alex!”

“Max?” Kyle stared in shock. “You look like Tarzan,” he said inanely.

“Quiet!” Elissa’s sharp voice echoed through the room. “Serena, where are Vilondra and Marianna?”

The statuesque brunette Max recalled from earlier smiled. “No doubt they are enjoying the service of their consorts,” she spoke in a naturally husky voice that only amplified her sexuality.

Elissa smiled and turned to the redheaded virago that had stripped Max. “Send them here. I have a gift for each of you,” she added the last towards Serena.

“Let my cousin go, you crazy bitch,” Kyle growled, and was rewarded with a sharp jab by Serena. “Hey, that hurt!”

Serena rolled her eyes in frustration. “My Queen… this one is defective,” she hissed, glaring at Kyle with dark eyes. “He does not obey and is not intimidated. Might I kill him?”

Kyle’s eyes widened then he looked offended. Elissa merely laughed as Serena bared her teeth.

“No, Serena… you know we do not promote mistreatment of our slaves,” she said in a soft, reassuring tone that had Max relaxing. “But feel free to break him any other way you feel just.”

This had Kyle looking up at her speculatingly. “Wait… I get stuck with her?” he mumbled. “Oh, great.”

“Mind yourself, slave,” Serena hissed again, delighting in the way Kyle shrank back.

“Holy… mama,” Michael drawled as his eyes lit on something across the hall. Max glanced over and his heart skipped a beat as he saw Isabel walking towards them, along with a petite blonde with emerald eyes that sparkled with mischief.

“Isabel,” he whispered, leaning forward to catch his sister’s eye. “Isabel!” he called out more forcefully, growling in frustration at the silken restraints. “Look at me, Iz!”

Isabel glanced at him with wary eyes. Then she turned away, ignoring him as he continued to call out to her. “You called, my Queen?” she dipped into a low bow as the woman at her side did the same.

“Vilondra,” Elissa drawled meaningfully with a short glance at Max. “Marianna… do you behold the men before you?”

Michael shot a grin at the petite blonde that had Max shaking his head. “Hey, cutie,” he said, despite the fact that he was kneeling in a forced position on the hard ground.

To their complete disbelief, the unassuming blonde hissed and walked over to him, laying her hand flat against his cheek. “You dare to speak to me? Slave?” she barked, all but spitting in Michael’s face.

Max bit back the guffaw as Michael stared at her in shock, a red print already forming on his face. “Bet a lot of women wanted to do that,” he muttered to himself, unable to keep from grinning when Michael glared at him.

“These men are my gifts to you,” Elissa continued as though the scene had never occurred. “Take your pick, my loyal consorts. They have been inspected and are proven to be of pleasing quality.”

Kyle glanced at Isabel. “Please, take me with you. She doesn’t like me,” he whispered loudly, with a glance at Serena.

But Isabel was staring at Alex, who appeared to be lost in his own world as he glanced around the large room. Probably memorizing possible escape routes, Max thought proudly. He thanked God that they had Alex on their side. They’d be out of this place with Isabel in no time.

“Is that… stucco?” Alex asked suddenly. “I didn’t know they had stucco in ancient Greece.”

Max closed his eyes and sighed.

Five.

It wasn’t long before Michael, Alex and Kyle had been hoarded out of the temple and Max was left to sit in Elissa’s company while she scrutinized him. The other slaves remained where they were, absolutely fawning over her, so much so that he was ashamed for them.

In this moment he decided that he would fight obsessively to keep his masculine pride and never give in to acting in such a pathetic way.

Eventually she sent them away and after leaving him in silence and feeling awkward for as long as possible, she asked, “What will you do if I remove your restraints, Zan?”

Max thought about his answer for a moment. “I believed we had a deal, Elissa, which includes me talking to my sister. So far you’ve taken full benefit with no sign of any progression on my half...”

Her eye brows rose in a perfect arc and she interrupted him with, “What is your point?”

“My point is, until my side of the agreement is fulfilled; I will do nothing short of piss on yours.”

“Piss?” she asked slightly confused, but he knew she got the point. “What is the hurry? I have every intention of sticking to the deal…although I believe I got the advantage.” He could have sworn that she then smiled and gave his body a once over. “Vilandra will never leave here.”

“Because you’ve brain washed her,” Max retorted angrily. “Do you know how much hell you put my family through when you kidnapped her? Do you know what that did to my mother?” He was yelling by now.

Elissa stood up. “I can see that you will need a night to calm yourself. You just gave up your chance to join the festivities and the meal—I urge you to get comfortable.”

With gritted teeth he watched her leave and then, after an hour of sitting, waiting, thinking, he realized his mistake. It might take a while to get Isabel listening to him and if he didn’t control his temper and cooperate with this ‘Elissa’ then it could take a lot longer.

The sky was starting to get dark outside but he could see smoke rising from the main courtyard and realized they were lighting large bonfires. Drums and other musical instruments erupted into a beautiful tune, swallowing the peaceful silence with a big gulp. He could picture the women all gathering around, ready to feast on whatever there was available and at the thought of food, his stomach grumbled.

Ten or fifteen minutes later the music stopped abruptly and Elissa spoke loudly from the door way, but not to him. It was in Greek and strident.

From what he knew of the Greeks—he guessed she was addressing the masses—thanking the God’s for the beautiful evening and the food. He listened to her with his eyes closed and didn’t realize it was silent until she was in front of him.

She was smiling. “How are we feeling now, slave?”

He didn’t reply but his stomach grumbled, revealing his weakness.

“Ah…” she laughed. “It is as I suspected. You are hungry. Are you ready to join us or will you remain in here by yourself?”

“Where are my friends?” he asked reasonably.

“They are outside, enjoying the food with everyone else,” she leant forward so her face was directly in front of his. So close that he could smell her cherry breath when she spoke. “Hmm…or perhaps I should bring some food in here and feed you myself? You’d probably bite my hand off.”

“You’re daring, why don’t you find out?”

She leaned in even closer so her lips were a breath away from his and he thought she was going to kiss him. He didn’t wait to find out; in a complete spell he inched forward and pressed his mouth to hers.

She remained there for two seconds before pulling back and saying triumphantly, “I knew you weren’t as completely immune to me as you appeared. No man can resist having a taste.”

Sarcastically he asked, “Modest much?”

“Hmm…” she stood up straight once again and put her hands on her hips. “I will go and get you food.”

“Don’t be so flattered, you’re a lousy kisser,” he lied.

Her eyebrows rose in that oh-so-sex way and he cursed himself for being such a horny bastard. “Whatever you say,” she replied and just before leaving, she reached down and lifted his loin cloth to have a long look at his manhood. He groaned and she smirked, winked and then disappeared.

How the hell was he going to last here?

~*~

After a few minutes more of sitting and waiting, three ladies entered the temple carrying the guys’ packs and placed them on the floor in front of him. He didn’t say anything but watched them, amazed by their beauty, and sighed when they all left giggling into the palms of their hands.

Elissa brought him a silver platter of meat, cheese and bread, also a goblet of wine. She insisted on feeding him but he was childish and had too much pride so would not allow her to. She started to get fed up with him and in the end said, “Perhaps you would prefer one of the male slaves feed you?”

“I would prefer if I could feed myself,” he said gruffly. “Untie me—I will not go anywhere.”

“Now you wish for my trust, then? You could have had it earlier but now I am not so sure.”

He swallowed. “Please.”

She studied his face for a long moment and then put the platter down and untied the silky scarves. He had a crick in his shoulder that he quickly eased and then he picked up the dish and began eating silently.

The packs only now seemed to get her attention so she sat on her legs in front of them and one by one, pulled out all of their contents. “These are strange things,” she said—eyeing a portable C.D player. “Where is it you have come from, slave?”

Max paused his chewing, “The twentieth century.”

Her gorgeous features creased with confusion. “What is that?”

“In the future…a long, long, long time into the future,” he replied.

She was pressing buttons and jumped in horror when loud rock music came blaring out of the head phones. “Oh my!”

“Don’t be scared, it’s music,” he said. “Look, here, pass it to me.” She did as he asked and he turned the volume down and pressed the head phones to her ear. “You see?”

“It is very strange,” she frowned.

Her attention was drawn to the clothing and then the torches. They in particular seemed to fascinate her. “I can not understand how this is possible?”

“I think it would be better if you didn’t try to understand,” he couldn’t help grin at her, fingering all the things like they were precious treasure.

When she pulled out a long snake to foil wrapped packages Max burst out laughing. Only Michael would bring protection on a trip like this! “What are these?” she asked, looking at him with intrigue.

“Condoms,” he said simply.

“They are…?” she had absolutely no idea.

“For…sex.” He used his forefinger and thumb to make a circle then with his other hand, poked his index finger through it to demonstrate.

“Oh…?”

He could tell she was confused so he ripped a packet and pulled one out to show her. He felt like a health teacher! “Stops you form having unwanted babies.”

“You’ll show me how it works?” she asked, wide eyed.

“Ah…” he looked down at his crotch and then back at her. “No…that’s not a good idea.”

She shrugged. “Okay…But I am extremely confused by this theory of coming from the future. However, if you did, how is it you got here?”

“A man you know as Khivar came to me…”

This caused her to shoot up onto her feet. It was as if using the word ‘Khivar’ was absolutely forbidden. “You know him?”

“Well, I met him…” Max said slowly.

Elissa went to the door and let out a loud shrill which brought two guards running. He didn’t know what was going on but in a matter of minutes he was tied up again and the packs had been removed; leaving only the condoms and the discman which Elissa picked up and tucked under her arm.

“What’s wrong?” Max asked. “Did I do something I shouldn’t have?”

“Anyone who associates with the enemy is our enemy,” she replied simply.

Later that evening she came back but didn’t speak to him. He watched her take off all of her garments, including jewelry and then lay down on her bed, stark naked. She fell asleep like that but it was impossible for him to close his eyes.

~*~

“Look at the ionic columns on the temples,” Alex pointed. “That tells us that we’re currently in the time period after 590BC.”

“What?” Michael asked, frowning. “How can you get that from just a pole?”

“It’s not just a pole!” Alex cried, horrified. “Look, in ancient Greek times when they were constructing temples they had three special types of columns and they were all common to different time periods. The first type was Doric and those are most common because they are simple—with no base etc. The next was ionic…you see the little spiral, scroll like things at the top? They’re called volutes; they were only brought in in the later years.”

“Jesus,” Kyle grumbled. “How do you know this stuff?”

“He knows heaps about nothing,” Michael said.

“I would hardly call it nothing,” Alex retorted. “It amazes me that you can just toss thousands of years of Greek history and architecture over your shoulder. It’s fascinating. And to be here experiencing it for all its worth is breathtaking. Do you know how much the world would envy us if they knew?”

Max rubbed his eyes. “Alex, I just want to know if you’ve had a chance to talk to my sister yet.”

“No, I have not,” he replied. “But she did ask me how you knew her name.”

“She did?” A surge of hope spread through him. “What did you say?”

“That you knew her before she came here and it wasn’t right that she’d been taken away from where she truly belonged. I also said, “I think you know that you don’t belong here Vilondra.” And she freaked and hasn’t spoken to me since.”

“Oh,” Max groaned.

“Don’t give up hope buddy,” Michael said. “And anyway, it’s not like life here is so horrible.”

“Speak for yourself,” Kyle cried. “Your ‘owner’ doesn’t hate your guts and make you wait on her hand and foot.”

<center>Chapter 6</center>



Max squeezed his eyes shut as he heard the low husky voices surrounding Elissa, begging once again for her favor. She was still half-dressed, her ripe nipples jutting temptingly and making his mouth water. He resisted the urge to growl, leaning forward so that the bonds that held him grew taut. “Fuck.”

That pretty much said it all.

He opened his eyes and glared at the circle of men slaves bowed before their beautiful brunette mistress, but she regarded none of their well-toned and golden bodies. Instead, her dark eyes were trained firmly on him.

He met her gaze defiantly, baring his teeth as he jerked against the restraints again. If nothing else, he would show her he would not be cowed. She could hold him captive as long as she wished, but she would not break him. He’d be damned if he’d find himself kneeling before her, glassy-eyed and pleading for her to let him… lick her boots. Or sandals. Whatever.

One brow arched in amusement, and she lifted a hand and spoke in sharp tones in a language he didn’t understand. Immediately the room was cleared, leaving them alone. She lounged back, watching him curiously.

“Are you ready to tell me what Khivar has planned?” she asked in that husky voice that sent chills of desire down his spine.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Max replied honestly. “Look… I’m only here for Isabel… Vilondra,” he corrected bitterly. “Khivar or Elsivan or whatever the hell his name is, he contacted me, okay? How the hell else would I have found out about this place? I’m not here to hurt anyone… I just want my sister.”

She stiffened. “We are not afraid of you, slave!” she spat out indignantly.

Max pressed his lips together, wondering if he might go insane. Trust a woman to zero in on the least important thing he’d said. “Then why do you have me tied up?” he asked perversely, gazing at her in challenge.

Her brows lowered. “All slaves are bound until they are broken,” she said simply.

“I’m not a slave,” he ground out. “We had a deal, woman! I didn’t agree to be one of your panting dogs to beg you to let me feed you grapes… and give you wine… and… and… suck your nipples!” As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he cursed and felt his face turn a bright shade of red as she smiled smugly.

“I do not recall asking you to… suck my nipples,” she responded in a provocative purr, stretching so that her full breasts pushed out even further. Of course, his eyes immediately fell towards them and he swallowed against a puddle of drool forming in his mouth. “Would you like to?”

“What?” he asked hoarsely, looking back up at her as his mind struggled to comprehend her statement. Then he frowned. “Stop trying to seduce me, for God’s sake.”

She sobered instantly. “You dare to threaten the Gods?” she hissed, sitting straight up. “You amuse yourself against something you do not understand, slave.”

“The name is Zan!” he threw back, then frowned even harder. “I mean Max! Max, dammit!”

“You are whatever I wish you to be,” she returned loftily. “And right now… I wish you to be naked.”

His mouth fell open at her unexpected words and he watched in shock as she walked towards him and began to stroke his bare chest, her long nails raking gently over the dips and planes.

He gritted his teeth, trying not to notice the fact that she was so close he could reach out and indeed, close his lips around one of the ripe peaks that taunted him so. “What are you going to do with me naked?” he asked in what he meant to be a hard tone, but came out sounding rough with anticipation.

She gazed up at him, a feline smile on her lush lips. “Whatever I wish,” she whispered, and then reached down beneath the loincloth and grasped him, squeezing gently. He lengthened instantly, much to her delight. “You please me, Zan. That is difficult to do.”

He swallowed. “I’m not here to please you,” he managed thickly. “I’m here for… for… oh, shit!” he cried out when she knelt and took him into her mouth. “Oh, fuck!”

“So hard,” she murmured, licking across the head of his erection and humming in pleasure. “Yet… so soft. It is a gift from the Gods.”

It was a gift from someone, for damn sure.

He fell back, the bonds lax as his head lolled. “Oh my God… you’re fucking good at that,” he admitted gruffly, his hips moving in tandem with her suckling motions. A sudden thought had him stiffening. “Is this the way you break in all your new slaves?”

She looked up at him, long hair pouring around her shoulders as she slowly released him from her lips. She seemed confused… and intrigued. “I have never before done so. I have never before wanted to do so. How fascinating.”

He wanted to address this comment, but then she went back to her ministrations with fervor and his eyes nearly crossed as she paid particular attention to the tip of his cock. What she lacked in experience she more than made up for in sincerity. He could feel his orgasm approaching, and cried out when she lowered her mouth over his entire erection. “Oh, shit… I’m going to…”

She pulled back at his words, leaving him on the edge and staring at her through heavy-lidded eyes that burned with arousal. “Is something wrong?” she asked in such an innocent tone, it was hard for him to believe she’d just been pleasuring him the way she had.

He breathed harshly, staring at her in amazement as she looked back down at his near-to-bursting cock, the veins standing out in relief. His first blue-steeler, and it was from some snarky ancient Greek queen who wanted to make him her slave.

She reached out and delicately circled him with her hand and he jerked, coming with a harsh groan as she watched in utter fascination. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her reaction, as she felt the sticky wetness between her fingers.

When she looked back up at him, she whispered, “Did I hurt you?”

He felt a strange clenching in his chest at her naïveté, and realized she had been telling the truth. She had never before been intimate with a man – slave or not. It both filled him with a masculine sense of pride, and a possessiveness he couldn’t afford.

“Have you never…?” he trailed off at the flush that appeared on her cheeks.

“I said I had not,” she stood to her feet, using the end of one of the silken bonds to wipe her hand clean. “I am the Ilios Queen… I must stay pure to remain in good graces with the Gods.”

He raised a brow. “By strutting around with your tits hanging out?” he asked in disbelief.

“Tits?” she repeated, her mouth open in a perfect circle. “What are tits?”

“Never mind,” he mumbled. “Why did you… with me?” he wondered, trying not to appear as anxious as he felt. When had he started to care what she thought? His goal was to get his sister the hell out of this place… not to worry about what any gorgeous queen thought about giving him head.

She paused, her back to him as he awaited her response. Finally she answered in a soft tone. “I do not know. You are different from the other men in our world. Perhaps I needed to know how.”

With that enigmatic statement, she left him naked and bound to her lounge, staring after her.


<center>***</center>


After enduring the slightly embarrassing event of being unchained by three of Elissa’s handmaidens, he was led out of her room and into the village. He saw Michael, Kyle and Alex already seated at a circular trough, where food and wine lay set out for them.

“Max, where have you been?” Kyle asked, even as his eyes trailed across the ground to where Serena stood guard many feet away. She was in conversation with the petite blonde who had taken Michael under her custody, and judging by their vehement gestures and quick tongues, they were clearly discussing something important.

“I…” he trailed off when he caught sight of Elissa, marching forward with several more of her people following. He stared in blatant shock at the armor that clad her curvy body, and the long spear she held in one hand. “What the hell?” he muttered.

She looked up as she passed, and their eyes met and held. A faint flush reached her cheeks before she threw her head back and proceeded to ignore him thoroughly.

“That chick wants me, man,” Michael threw in, and for a second Max thought he was referring to Elissa. He was ready to turn around and strangle his friend, when he caught Michael staring appreciatively at the petite blonde. “I figure it’s only a short amount of time before she’s begging for it. Oh, yeah.”

“You are so crude,” Alex mumbled, stuffing his face with food. “I predict it’s only a short amount of time before she has you begging for her not to clobber you over your thick head.”

“No, that’s my mistress’s way,” Kyle grumbled sarcastically. “She hates me.”

“At least she’s speaking to you,” Alex pointed out. “I’ve had the pleasure of the Ice Princess’s company ever since… oh, sorry, Maxwell. No offense.”

“None taken,” he murmured, staring after the train of warriors heading out of the village. “Where do you suppose they’re going?” he wondered when he saw Isabel at the end of the line.

Alex shrugged. “Probably hunting for food.”

“That’s just plain weird,” Michael shuddered. “Hot women, killing bears and deer?”

“More like boars and goats,” Alex answered wryly.

“Goats!”

“Here comes Miss Personality,” Kyle mumbled as Serena approached. He offered a false grin. “Hey, baby. Miss me already?”

She sent him an evil glare. “Speak again, and I’ll cut out your tongue and wrap it around your neck.”

The guys struggled not to laugh as Kyle fumed silently.

Serena glanced at Max and made a motion with her hand. “You, come with me.”

“What now?” he wondered aloud, then shrank back at the warning look in her eyes. “Okay, okay… I’m coming.”

“Watch out, Max. She has a mean right hook,” Kyle whispered beneath his breath.

Chapter Seven

Serena and the one they called Marianna brought Max to a room that he wasn’t familiar with. As soon as they sat him down in a wooden chair and tied him in place he knew he was in for some kind of grilling.

One held a sharp, knife looking thing in her slender fingers while the other crossed her arms over her bare breasts. They both had heated, severe looks on their faces that Max found very intimidating. No wonder they were chosen for this task.

“Slave,” Marianna suddenly barked, “You will tell us what we need to know and we will not hurt you. You disobey us…we cause much pain. You understand?”

He gulped. “Sure.”

“Where is it you and your male friends have come from?” Serena asked, “Where are you hiding Khivar?”

“Which question would you like to me to answer first?”

Serena smacked him across the cheek. “Answer both NOW.”

“I am from Mexico and I don’t know where Khivar is. I already told your leader that I only met with him once because I wanted to know where my sister was.”

“Sister?”

“Yes, Vilondra is my sister,” he replied. He wondered why Elissa had ordered them to talk to him. Perhaps she thought he had lied to her. “And I’ve come to take her home.”

The two were quiet for a long moment, considering what he said. Finally Marianna decided it couldn’t possibly be the truth so she slapped him, with just as much force as Serena and exclaimed, “Liar! You will tell us the truth! Where is Khivar?”

Trying to remain calm and rational, Max said—through gritted teeth, “I don’t know.”

This went on for along time. Them asking him about Khivar and then him being slapped when he replied that he didn’t know.

Eventually, with a sigh, Serena asked Marianna, “You think him telling the truth?”

“No,” Marianna said. “Go get the things.”

Max’s heart sped up then. They didn’t have ancient torture devices did they? “What things?” he asked anxiously.

Thankfully, the things were the back packs. Clearly he watched far too many war/action movies.

They picked out a few items and showed them to him. “You see we know you are associated with Khivar because of these…these things are wicked, extraordinary things.”

“ Khivar tempts people with his strange devices. He uses tools of Hades!”

Max stifled a laugh. “That is not a tool of Hades. That is a tooth brush. You clean your teeth with it.”

“Tool of Hades!” Marianna argued.

“No it’s not!” Max cried back childishly. “I know you won’t be able to grasp this, I don’t expect you to. But I am from the future. In many, many years to come these things will be invented.”

It was too much for them to begin to understand. What he was saying just angered them further. The idea that Khivar had come from the underworld or something akin to that was fixed in their minds and they refused to believe otherwise.

Serena’s temper was at a high when she stepped up very close to him and pressed the sharp blade to his throat. “I am going to give you one more chance to tell the truth, slave.”

What could he do? Right now he wished he’d been in the military so he knew how to confuse interrogators. Although…how was he ever to know that he was going to be questioned by two crazed ancient Greek Amazonians?

“I told you the truth,” he said in resignation.

Marianna tapped Serena on the shoulder, as if telling her to back off, but instead she succeeded in startling her and a large cut on Max’s neck was the result. He yelped in surprise rather than pain, it wasn’t too deep.

“Be careful!” Marianna cried. “You know what Elissa said!”

Serena was panicky then and mumbled something in hurried Greek before leaving the room.

“You swear you are honest?”

Max looked into Marianna’s eyes. “I have nothing to lie about. I haven’t come here to hurt anybody.”

She was silent for a long time and then, “What you say…it does not sound…”

“Realistic? Right? Sane?” Max offered. “I know it doesn’t, it doesn’t even make sense to me and I’m from a more open-minded time period.”

“You will not interrupt me,” she said harshly. “Is there no more you will admit, slave?”

“I have nothing else…” he sighed, “Ask my friends, they will have the same story.”

“We can think of no other reason for these…” she picked up the reading glasses—no doubt Alex’s—and studied them, “…things, other than Khivar—”

Max snapped in anger then and yelled, “I’ve told you and told you I am not working for Khivar! If he’s planning something then I probably know even less about it than you.”

Marianna looked ready to hit him again but instead she backed off in obvious acceptance. Max thought that as an interrogator they couldn’t compare to those in later history but he wasn’t going to knock it. He was glad when he was led from the room, almost two hours after he’d entered it.

Back at the temple Elissa was sitting, completely naked, in front of a bowl of water that she was using to clean her skin. Max’s mouth went dry, especially when she walked towards the three of them—without covering herself.

She touched one hand to his chin and tilted his head, obviously inspecting his scratch. She then looked at the two girls angrily and asked, “Who is responsible for this?”

“It was I,” Serena said honourably.

Elissa slapped her hand on the face and Max’s mouth fell open in shock.

“I’m sorry Queen,” Serena added, her hand now on her sore cheek.

Max defended her, “It was an accident.”

Elissa didn’t have anything to say to that, she simply walked back to her rag and bowl of water. “You two may leave now,” she said.

Serena and Marianna bowed their heads and then scurried off. Max was left to stand there, wondering what he should do now. Eventually he asked, “Don’t you want to tie me up?”

She chuckled. “Then you would not be able to wash my back, would you?”

“You shouldn’t have hit your friend,” he said.

“She should not have cut you.”

Elissa bent one perfect leg out in front of her, giving Max a very good look at the pink juncture between her thighs. He had to turn around and beg his body to remain in control.

“Is everything alright, slave?” she asked amusedly. “My water is getting cold.”

Stubbornly, he answered with, “I don’t take kindly to being ordered around.”

“Please?” she pouted, “And I’ll probably thank you afterwards.”

Max didn’t see that he had a choice. He approached her slowly and then took the rag from her hands.

When she smiled in pleasure part of his anger faded away and he sat down behind her. How could he stay mad at someone so beautiful? She was glowing in the fire light and her skin just looked so…touchable.

It started off sweet and innocent with Max squeezing the warm water down her spine and using his fingers to spread it over her shoulders and lower back. She had twisted her wet hair up onto the top of her head and her hands were holding it there, so in a way Max felt she was completely at his mercy.

He didn’t think he’d ever been so aroused in his life.

Slowly his hands began to work towards the front, under her arms to her perky breasts. It took only a couple of seconds of spanning them with his palms before she was leaning back against him, moaning as his fingers tempted her nipples.

“You’ve never been touched this way?” he asked with his lips pressed against her ear.

“Not ever,” she answered. “I shall have to ask forgiveness for this…but I cannot allow you to stop.”

She then leaned forward and picked up a pot of something and handed it to him.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“Olive oil,” she answered, “You must rub it into my skin.”

“Holy shit.”

“What does this mean?”

“Nothing, don’t worry.”

He put the pot down and dipped his hands into the warm oil. She shuddered when he began caressing it into her shoulders and turned around, “My front first…”

Max noticed how dark her eyes had become and knew he should stop this before it got too far but he just couldn’t. First he massaged it into her breasts and stomach and then her thighs. As a hint to what she really wanted his hands she spread them quite far apart, so that he could have full access to her warm centre.

How could he not? Sensually, he rubbed oil into her inwards and made his way upwards. Her moans got quite loud, not to mention when he finally rested a finger at her entrance and slowly slipped it within.

“Oh…oh…”

Her eyes drifted closed and he watched her face as he massaged her inner walls. It didn’t take her long to get so close to climaxing that she was shivering so Max finished her off by pinching her clit softly and then rubbing it with his thumb.

She gasped in confusion and in pleasure and then collapsed against him. He ran his lips against her forehead while she recovered.

“What was this?” she asked finally. “This is what you felt when…?”

When you sucked my cock? He thought. “Yeah this is what I felt.”

“Wow.”

“Aha.”

It was his turn to be attacked with the olive oil then. She fumbled with the ties of his loincloth and then with oiled fingers rubbed his extremely strained erection to bring him just as much pleasure as he’d given her.

Touching him came naturally to her. She seemed to know exactly what made him tick and used it to her advantage.

While her clenched hand moved up and down his shaft he suddenly felt this undeniable need to kiss her. Just as he was exploding, he fell forward and pressed his mouth to hers in a passionate, intense kiss.

She kissed him back, swiping her soft inexperienced tongue against his. Things were getting hot and heavy again and he tried to get her to straddle his hips but this startled her.

She suddenly she shot up and gathered her ‘clothing’. “You will clean up this mess,” she said simply and walked away. “Vilondra will be here to see you in some time.”

Max sat there, trying to catch his breath as she left and wondered what the hell just happened. Perhaps she wasn’t into the idea of sex just yet. Maybe he’d taken it a bit too far.

He put his loin cloth back on and picked up the bowl of water. After he’d disposed of them he went outside for some fresh air.


~*~

There you go guys, hope you liked it. Thanks for the nommos!

Hey guys...

I'm leaving a note so that this fic doesn't get pruned and moved to Repost. I do have plans for a new part soon, life has been crazy and chaotic and I thank everyone for being so patient with me, especially Nicola. See you all soon...

hugs,

Lindsay