Ardeth spent the rest of the evening and the next day in hiding nearby, careful not to be discovered by the patrols that were obviously sent out to make sure he did not return to claim Dorey.  He had kept watch over her from a distance; glad to know she was still unharmed.  He would go to her undercover of darkness.  By that time, the Bedouins would probably believe he wouldn't be back. 

Ardeth turned his thoughts to the god they planned on sacrificing Dorey to.  Min, an Egyptian god almost forgotten.  Abudullah neglected to say that Min was also know as the god of fertility.  In ancient times men prayed to him for virility and women prayed the seed implanted within them would grow healthy.  Oh, and let us not forget the orgies performed on his behalf.  They also believed he brought them plentiful harvests. 

Ardeth assumed the Bedouins own priests foretold this prophecy of the arrival of a distant traveler.  He remembered nothing of this prophecy in his teachings.  What he did know was to give Min his bride, she would have to join him in the underworld.  The priests of Min would need time to prepare the way for Dorey, but Ardeth knew he was running out of time.

He moved with silence towards the encampment, approaching Dorey's tent from the rear, away from prying eyes.  He crawled under a lose section of the tent, and entered the washroom where, from the looks of it, Dorey had not long ago bathed.  He followed the small, wet footprints to the tent flap that led to the bedchamber.  He surveyed the room through a slit in the flap before entering. 

Dorey sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the entrance trying to come up with a plan of escape, "Oh, Ardeth....where are you?"

"Behind you."

She jumped up at the sound of his voice, and turned to see him standing in the entranceway to the washroom.  She started to speak, but he put his fingers to his lips to hush her.  He gestured to her to put out the candles, and she did as he asked. 

He moved toward her after the light had been doused.  "The shadows would alert them that I was here."  Any further words were cut off when Dorey pulled him toward her and kissed him greedily.

"I thought I'd never see you again.  I tried to escape, but did not think I could survive the desert," she whispered. 

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" He asked her, obviously intrigued.

"Master Yoshi, my sensei.  He would be ashamed of me now, I think.  Afraid of the unknown, afraid to traverse the desert without a guide."  She hung her head in shame.

"I think he would be proud, you are very brave."  He smiled encouragingly, "Unlike most women, you have shown much courage in the face of danger.  Even now, you are composed, not weeping like a baby."

"I don't feel brave, I feel frightened and I want to go home," She admitted.  "Can we go now?" 

"Not quite yet, we need to wait until the camp is asleep." He explained.  "We should be safe for now, I've been keeping watch, and they seem to be avoiding you.  They watch you from afar.  Apparently, they are afraid if they hurt you in any way, they will upset their god."

Dorey nodded, "Yes, Abdullah keeps saying I must be pure.  What a joke.  With the thoughts that have been going through my mind lately, I'm far from that."

"What do you mean?"  He asked. 

She urged Ardeth down to the bed pillows, "Thoughts of you and me," she kissed him, "you and me....making love."  Ardeth pulled away; Dorey was confused, "I thought you wanted me, too?"

"That is not the issue."  He stated.  He knew she did not know what she was asking, what was at stake.  He would not risk hurting her, and if they made love, she would get hurt.

"Then what is the problem?  And don't you dare bring up my brother; he has nothing to do with this.  Is it because I'm a virgin?"  She held her breath waiting for his answer.

He only nodded; no words would come.  They were from two different worlds, and although he loved her, he knew she could not be his.

Dorey pulled him to her, lips almost meeting, "I need you, Ardeth," she pleaded, "Only you can save me.  I'm only good to them if I'm pure, and you are the only man on this earth I would want to give myself to."  She smiled seductively; she could tell he had already thought of that.  "Remember, it is your duty, I am in your charge."

He moaned as he gave in to his own desire and her twisted thinking.  He had to laugh to himself, because he had already thought of that, so who was the twisted one.  His mouth captured hers and his hands made quick work of her garments.  She had managed to remove his robe and he hadn't realized she was doing it; he had just done as she wanted without thinking. 

She was naked before him in the darkness.  He wished he could light the candle and take in the beauty of this creature that lay in his arms.  Instead, he placed her gently on the pillows, lay down beside her and began to explore her body with his lips. 

Dorey moaned quietly, knowing they were so close to being discovered.  Any noise would cause this moment to end and both their fates lay in this moment.  She remained quiet, not quite knowing what to do, but her body responded naturally to the touch of Ardeth's hands and lips that left a trail of fire wherever they touched her skin.  She felt his mouth cover the nipple of her right breast and harden instantly to the hungry pull of his lips and the erotic feel of his teeth as they nibbled the nub.  White hot, fiery passion coursed through her veins.

His mind knew this was wrong, but every fiber of his being said it was right.  Their bodies complimented each other in this dance of lovemaking.  It was evident that Dorey was nervous at the start, but her yearning took over and led her to match Ardeth's moves with perfect balance and harmony.  In all his wildest dreams he could never imagine the ecstasy this woman brought forth in him.  He captured her mouth again, devouring the taste of her.  His hand explored the silhouette of her body, hesitating when he reached the patch of hair above her womanly core.  His fingers ran through the taut curls, edging ever closer to her opening.

Dorey's hands were tugging on his trousers, trying to release the tie that held them in place.  She could barely see in the darkness and fumbled with the unfamiliar clothing.  She heard a low chuckle from deep in Ardeth's throat as his hand met hers.  With one deft tug, his pants were loose and he shrugged them off easily.  She felt no hesitation as she massaged the tight muscles of his buttocks.  His mouth never left hers, and she returned his impassioned kisses hungrily.  A small gasp escaped her when his fingers entered her heated, welcoming core.

The Medjai almost stopped when she gasped, thinking Dorey had changed her mind.  Instead she recaptured his lips with hers, sought and found his manhood and stroked him until he pleaded her to stop.

"Was that wrong?" She asked, speaking into the darkness.

"No, Little One, it's just...we must slow down."  He tried to explain.

She answered by gently guiding him atop her, spreading her legs.  The feel of him, rock hard against her thigh sent a quiver through her.  She trembled with desire for this man, never in her life could she have felt anything so beautiful and right.

He felt her fingers caress the muscles of his back; her legs unexpectedly encircled him, begging his entrance into the depths of her.  He had meant to warn her of the pain of first entrance, but all rational thoughts left him as he thrust into her.   He saw her eyes fly open in astonishment, but she made no sound other than her heavy, heated breathing.

Her hips rose to meet his, assuring him she wanted him to continue.  His lips found the soft skin of her neck and shoulder; the rhythm of the dance was in motion...in and out; out and in.  Dorey matched his thrusts in perfect unity; they were complete together in their passion. 

"Ardeth, I..." Dorey began, but the words were taken from her as her body betrayed her.  Her body wracked with the culmination of their lovemaking.  She felt Ardeth tense, moaning deeply, relax and tense again as he released his seed within her. She wanted to scream as the sweet ecstasy took hold and sent her to heights unimaginable.  Instead, she sobbed quietly.

Ardeth lay beside her, "I'm so sorry I hurt you, Little One."  He stroked her face gently, feeling the tears sliding down her cheeks.

"No, my beautiful Medjai," she tried to find the words to describe her feelings of exquisite pleasure, "I...I love you."

He pulled her close, this woman that brought him to the zenith of happiness and bliss.  He was unsure how to handle this, although he loved her to the very depths of his soul, they were from two different worlds.  He would never fit into her world and he didn't want to hurt her more than necessary.  When he returned her safely to her brother, he knew he would have to say goodbye.  If he said those words, the words she wanted to hear, it would only make it that much harder for her to forget.

His silence spoke volumes to her aching heart.  She knew he loved her, but he would never say it out loud.  She wanted to disappear, sink into the darkness. 

Ardeth heard a noise, "Someone is coming."   He saw the panic in Dorey's eyes; he kissed her quickly and gathered his scattered garments, retreating into the adjacent room. 

Dorey's reaction was not as swift, Bin and Abdullah entered the tent and she was still unclothed on the bed of pillows, covered by a thin satin sheet.   Bin pulled her from the bed and Dorey struggled to wrench from his grasp while clutching the sheet to cover her body as best she could.

"Stop fighting, child.  Yours is a place of reverence, you shall dwell with the gods."  Abdullah assured her.

Dorey spat angrily, "Not by choice.  It is not my choice to die for your god."

"Enough!"  Abdullah yelled. "Bring her."   He motioned to Bin, who pulled Dorey along, kicking and scratching.

"Ardeth," she murmured, willing him to rescue her again.

Bin sneered, "He abandoned you.  He will not be back."