A/N: And now I have to change the content rating of the story...I think it was worth it. FAIR WARNING AMIRA/SINBAD SMUT read at your own risk.

Chapter 9

It was as if Amira could hear the dungeon disappear. The sun had only been up for a few hours and Sinbad had done it already. She wasn't sure if she was surprised but if she was she didn't know why. She rarely spent more than an hour or two in a dungeon either and with the time whims of the dungeons there was no telling just how long they were actually there.

Amira told Umbra that she needed to go out and think in a quiet space so she grabbed a carpet and headed out to the herb hill that they all enjoyed so much. When she got there she laid out the carpet and soaked in some sun. She let her mind wander until it went blank and then just waited for something to come to her. Sinbad had might as well have asked her to leave with him and the company and Umbra had said she wanted to leave. Knell seemed happy no matter where they went so Amira wasn't too worried about her. But what did she want?

"I knew you could relax!" Sinbad's voice was so close Amira was afraid to open her eyes.

When she finally did he was sitting politely beside her, legs crossed. "I'm not relaxing, I'm thinking," she said though she couldn't help but return his smile.

"The dungeon is gone, and I've built new relations with yet another nation," he said with some excitement, though Amira could sense hesitation in his voice.

"So what's the problem?" she asked.

"Some things happened in that dungeon," Sinbad said, his smile falling quicker than it had appeared, "It made me question the path I'm taking."

Amira sat up, "What are you questioning?"

He sighed and tilted his head up to the sky, "Can I answer your question with another question? Do you think you need a royal bloodline to have a country?"

Amira was confused, "Why would you need a royal bloodline? You know that a royal bloodline had to start somewhere right? Like if I was to stick a flag in the ground here and claim this as my country in a hundred years or so my children might be considered a royal bloodline but they got it because I said so a hundred years before anyone cared. If that's something that's going to get in your way building your own country you've got bigger problems."

Sinbad smiled, "Yeah, that's what I thought but I also thought I was too close to the situation to be objective."

"Who told you that you needed blood?" Amira asked.

"So will you tell me now how long you've been in Heliohapt? Do I get an answer now?" Sinbad asked.

Amira sighed, she deserved that. "Almost a year now," she replied, "Do you want the full story or do you have other questions you want answered first?"

He smiled, "Can we make it interesting?"

Amira was confused, "Are answers not interesting enough to you?"

"You know, Heliohapt has an interesting style of dress. I don't think I've ever seen your figure quite so exposed and you did promise me the last time we spoke that we might share a bed one night."

Amira couldn't keep the blush from her cheeks, "Well it is neither night nor did I promise anything. And that was a year ago!"

Sinbad was a little hurt, "It was only a couple months to me. Anyway do you want to make it interesting or not?"

Amira raised an eyebrow, "Interesting how?"

"If you ask me a question you remove an article of clothing, and vice versa," Sinbad smirked.

"What's the goal here?" she asked.

He looked hurt, "I thought I was clear, I'm trying to sleep with you."

"Fine, ask me your questions and strip," Amira replied.

"How have you been here for so long if we only spoke a few months ago?" he asked and pulled his turban off.

"Tease," she commented, "What would have been around two months ago I went to capture a dungeon just outside of Katalgo. The Djinn controls the sands of time and so when I passed her test she decided to send me back to last year."

"So you have three Djinn now? Man I gotta catch up," Sinbad laughed.

"Hey no cheating, that was a question," Amira smirked.

Begrudgingly he pulled off a shoe and shot her a smart-assed look, "Your hair is shorter. Did you just want a change?"

Amira almost caught chills, she hadn't thought about her hair being any shorter. It had grown quite a bit since her ordeals with Malum but it was much shorter than when she'd last seen Sinbad, "It's a long story, and not a pleasant one." In response Sinbad pulled off his over shawl and it made Amira wonder how many layers he'd put on to come out into the desert. True he was fairer than she was but was he that worried about burning?

"Alright, here's the other shoe," Sinbad finally said, "Are you going to ask me anything?"

Amira wasn't sure she really had any questions for him just yet, besides she was wearing much fewer layers than he was. In fact she was only wearing the one layer, her dress. One question and she was lying naked under the sun. "Nope, well maybe. I haven't thought of anything worth my dress yet," she smiled.

Sinbad sighed, "I suppose it's too much to ask to see you naked before I get there myself. For the shirt – It's been a little while for you, but do you remember what you were hoping to get out of that good-bye kiss you gave me?"

That kiss! Amira had spent so long trying to forget the feeling of that kiss and somewhere along the line had stopped thinking about it and had thus forgotten. What had she wanted? Honestly she just wanted to kiss him and didn't want to regret missing out on it but was that really something she wanted to tell him while he was trying to seduce her? "I honestly can't really remember if there was a lot of motive behind that. We'd had a nice talk and you seemed stressed and I was on my way to a new country, it was a confusing night and I think I kissed you hoping to clear up some of the confusion I was feeling."

"You're not really going to make me ask again are you? That's not fair!" Sinbad complained.

Amira giggled, "Technically that was another question, but I'll let it slide. I was confused on if I found you attractive or if it had just been so long since we'd seen each other that I was feeling nostalgic. With how long it took me to get that kiss out of my mind I'd say I found you rather attractive. But you're such an arrogant hot head it makes it hard to take you seriously sometimes."

Sinbad carefully slipped his shirt off over his head then and at first Amira wasn't sure if she should be staring so intently. She had imagined that he was muscular but she hadn't fully grasped just how muscular he was. Suddenly all she wanted to do was melt in those arms and she wasn't sure she felt ashamed of those feelings either. In fact she was almost sure that she'd have to snap out of a daze if she didn't want to actually end up drooling.

Then she noticed the scars on his neck and before she could even think about it the question came pouring out, "What happened? Why do you have scars?"

He smiled at her knowingly, "I'll answer before you de-robe if that'll help anything. When you came back to Reim, I hear they told you I had gotten myself into trouble. Shortly after you left I overestimated myself and bargained my services into slavery. I spent a few months as a slave before Ja'far and Rurumu managed to outwit my master."

Amira stared dumbfounded at him. He'd spent time as a slave? She had to know more but she honestly wasn't sure he was in the right mindset to talk about it.

"I'll tell you more about it later. Right now I think that question has earned a little something," Sinbad winked at her.

Amira sighed, she'd agreed to this after all. She slipped her dress off her shoulders and then off her hips, "Just do me a favor and don't stare blankly at me."

If she'd seen anything for the first time it was Sinbad blushing, and she had to admit it was rather cute. And then she watched him notice her scars. "Who did that to you?" he seemed almost protectively angry, "And is he dead yet because I'll kill him."

Amira couldn't help but laugh, "Do these scars look fresh to you? They're about a year old, Sin," she said.

He moved closer to her and ran a hand over one of the scars across her stomach, "You didn't answer my question, who did this?"

Amira placed her hand over his, "He's dead. Knell actually helped save me. And I know you didn't ask but that's how she became my household vessel user."

Their eyes locked, "Well damn, I really do have to catch up to you," he said before his lips crashed into hers. He was so fervent and full of wanting and need but also gentle. Amira melted into his arms as he pulled her towards him the heat of his skin against hers was intoxicating.

She wasn't sure at what point he'd managed to remove his trousers but was more than fully aware when she felt the heat of his bare legs brush against hers. Her head was spinning and she realized she didn't know the last time she'd taken a breath. Sinbad had engulfed her and taken over, she didn't even know where his hands were currently because they'd left searing trails of heat in their wake. At one point she felt a moan escape her chest and wasn't sure if it was something she was experiencing or something she was remembering.

His hands trailed down her body like the fire of desire and gently he laid her down. The carpet was cool against her back and his body cast a shadow over her that nearly caused her to shiver. The cold didn't last long before his lips were against her jaw and down her neck sending heat coursing through her body. She moaned again, more forcefully this time when he grabbed her breast. Everything he did drove her to a new level of insane she never knew existed until she was there. He placed a knee between her legs and she hadn't realized she'd been holding them closed; she moaned again, harder, when the heat of his hand found its way between her legs. She'd never experienced anything like this before.

He spilled kisses down her jaw and along her collarbone and she felt him smirk against her skin with ever moan. How was he so good at this? He worked his way down to her breasts and played unapologetically with her erect nipples as he slipped a single finger into her folds. Something tightened within her as she arched her back and a more guttural moan escaped her lips. Again his lips were on her neck, to her ear this time as he leaned in and whispered huskily to her, "I want all of you."

He pulled one of her legs up and brought it down around his back and she felt the tip of pressure as he aligned himself with her. I want all of you too. She couldn't find the words in her throat but she felt them all the same as he pressed into her. Her senses were overwhelmed with pleasure and it was all she could do to keep from physically crying tears of joy. She couldn't even think as she experienced the overwhelming senses. She could feel herself moaning as well as she could hear him carry on in his own way but it was as if she were watching a memory, disconnected.

"Come back down to me," he called to her and she realized maybe she wasn't living completely in the moment with him. He was smiling at her, a warm smile not cheeky like the smiles she was used to and it melted her. She wondered if somehow she'd fallen in love with the boy she'd met all those years ago even though they'd spent so little time together she didn't even know him.

She could feel the pressure increase tightening within her as they rocked together. At one point he leaned down to kiss her and she wondered how he was feeling about her. But she didn't have long to think about it before the blinding rush of her orgasm hit. When Amira finally came back to her senses Sinbad was hunched over her, breathing heavily and covered in sweat. And then she felt it, the sudden disconnect as he pulled himself from her. It was odd, she almost regretted the feeling. He looked exhausted and she wished she had a cantina she could offer him, or drink from herself for that matter.

Sinbad lay down next to her placing his head on her shoulder, "We should definitely do that again sometime soon."

Amira couldn't contain her laughter. He seemed so content; she never expected that would be how he'd sound after sex. "I like that you assume there will be a next time," Amira teased.

He didn't look amused at her comment, "You know you're beautiful right? Scars or no scars, you're absolutely beautiful."

Amira couldn't keep from blushing but the sun was strong overhead and she wasn't about to get dehydrated out in the middle of the desert. "Common ya sappy idiot, put your clothes back on so we can get out of this sun."

While Sinbad was busy re-dressing himself Amira noticed a pink hue to his backside. She snorted lightly but decided not to tell him, she wanted to see what would happen. When they were sufficiently dressed Amira rolled up her carpet and Sinbad, ever the trying gentleman, offered to carry it back for her. Knowing it would only further irritate his sunburned ass she agreed.

"You know the question I've been avoiding asking so far?" Sinbad asked as they walked.

"How experienced are you? Very," Amira responded giving him a sly smile.

"Will you join me when we go back? Back to Balbadd I mean," Sinbad had a light blush to his cheeks, or maybe he was just flushed because they were both in desperate need of some water.

Amira sighed, a happier sigh than she had in months, "You know I've been thinking about that since you showed up here. And I think my friends and I are ready for a change in scenery, so I think we might just take you up on that offer, or is it The Sindria Trading Company's offer?"

Sinbad laughed, "Masrur has taken quite the liking to you, you know. Maybe you can show him how to catch one of those sand angels."

When they arrived back at Amira and Umbra's hut Umbra and Knell were waiting outside with bags packed. "What's all this?" Amira asked when they were close enough.

It was Knell who spoke up, "Umbra said that Sinbad went out after you when you went out to think and I told her that meant that we were going to be leaving soon so we packed."

Umbra smiled, "You did just agree to take me with you when you decided to leave."

Amira was surprised, she had only just agreed to it herself, how had they known so well before she had? "If that's what you all truly want, then I guess we better get going."

The group headed back to the Inn to gather the rest of their company before heading back to Katalgo. When they got back Ja'far looked rather irritated, "Where have you all been? We've been waiting for hours!"

Sinbad shrugged, "Just out talking in the desert. I had to convince Amira here that it was in her best interests to come with us."

Amira laughed, "He had to tell me about conquering another dungeon, that I hear he didn't actually conquer."

They all shared a good laugh before gathering their things to go. Sinbad picked up a pack and slung it over his shoulder only to crouch back over in discomfort. "Oh come on Sin, it's really not that heavy," Mystras joked.

"No guys, my ass is just really hot," Sinbad replied.

Amira laughed. He finally noticed his sunburn. Maybe this will teach him to come screw me out in the middle of the desert. She gave him a good firm slap on the ass, "Yup, that sure is a hot ass."

He shrieked in pain, "Why would you do something like that?"

"That's what you get for playing strip poker with me out in the middle of the desert," Amira laughed.

"Why aren't you in pain?" Sinbad asked trying to rub, but not touch his sore behind.

"Oh please, like that was my first romp under the desert sun," she winked.

By this point Ja'far had turned beet red and was almost visibly smoking from his ears, "THERE ARE CHILDREN PRESENT!"

Amira and Umbra laughed before Umbra turned and offered a salve to Sinbad for his "hot ass."

They could already tell it was going to be an eventful journey.