Trudging along after Setti, the falling sun cast the world into a strange twilight, the heat mercifully cooling. Jackals cackled, making the hair on her arms stand on end. Apprehensive, Kate stayed right by his side. In the faint light, she barely made out the entrance to the mortuary temple built before the magnificent pyramid belonging to Setti's brother.
Setti took her hand in his and they hid behind the huge, craggy rock rising from the sands. Searching the dark for signs of the assigned guards protecting his brother's body and the treasure buried within the pyramid, he cocked his head to the side, listening. Setti heard the roar of a hunting lion, almost smiling. It was a very good sign. RA was with them tonight.
She, however, turned a questioning look up at him and whispered, "Are there not any guards patrolling?" Kate had not seen any movements in the dusky hour of the oncoming night, worried it might be a trap.
"Yes, and they are very nervous and will shoot at anything moving in the dark."
"Why would they do that?"
"The guards fear angering the gods. Many believe if any should disturb the sleep of our kings Anubis will seek retribution upon the keepers of the dead and make them crawl through the sands in the shape of the snakes."
Crouching down when Setti did, she whispered, "We need to enter the pyramid and go directly into Amenemhet's burial chamber. That's where I found the Black Book. How are we getting in if there are guards somewhere out there in the dark?"
"Actually, I am not sure. Any suggestions?" Setti asked, frowning when Kate sat down. Starting to catch on Kate's little quirks, he waited for her to work out various solutions to their problem in her head. Torches suddenly lit against the dark, exposing three guards while the fourth built a roaring fire to ward off the bitter chill of the desert night.
"The guards are superstitious, right?" At his cautious nod, she continued, "Let's use their fear to our advantage. How do you feel about dressing in your burial robes?" She waited for his anger. Instead, she was rewarded with a soft, devious laugh from Setti.
"It just might work." Shrugging off his robe and removed the tunic he wore underneath, Setti reached into one of the leather bags and pulled out his burial robe.
Kate tried not to stare at his magnificent body, his manhood etched in clear detail, the loincloth secured snugly around his lean hips. Mouth dry, breathing shallow, she held out the black linen kilt he wore when he arose from his sarcophygus less than a week ago.
Accepting the kilt, he quickly wrapped the garment around his hips, unaware of the considerable yearning at which she stared at him. Placing the heavy belt around his hips, he took the shawl necklace and fastened it around his neck., straightening it about his shoulders.
An arrogant, half-smile curved his strong lips. She tried not to stare at him, not realizing her eyes were wide and hungry. Lord help me! How can I remain aloof from a man such as Setti, she thought miserably.
"Please give me my burial robe," Setti urged her quietly, adjusting the weight of the heavy belt along his hips. Shrugging on the burial robe, Setti straightened to his impressive height. "How do I look?" When he looked to her for approval, he tilted his head to the side, confused by the tears glistening in her pretty eyes.
"You look like a Pharaoh," she whispered past the lump in her throat.
Indecision made him pause, not wanting to leave her behind unprotected. Another emotion rose sharply inside him as Kate stared up at him with awe and yearning. Grabbing her by the shoulders, Setti betrayed again everything taught by his father and priests and pulled Kate hard against him. Kate gasped in surprise as Setti yanked him to her, his warm lips moved over hers in a hard, demanding kiss. Her lips softened under the savage onslaught, moaning softly, his mouth slanted to deepen the searing kiss. Using the tip of his tongue, he urged her to give all to him. When she did, he groaned, wrapping his arms around her tight, enclosing her within the warmth of his hard body.
Kate's world spun out of control. Her fingers curled in the fine material of his robe, clinging to his great strength as her knees threatened to buckle from under her. Savoring the intoxicating feel of his mouth on hers, his arms enclosing her in a tight embrace, Kate knew completion as never before in her life. Drowning in the pleasure of being in Pharaoh's arms, Kate succombed to the sweet, slow hypnotic swirling of his rough tongue.
Time seized, and the barriers between a woman from the future and a man born to the Ancients disappeared, leaving only Setti and Kate.
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