Chapter 15
This happened in the last chapter: Linked by their forearms, Sam and Jack had to find ways to coexist in each other's close proximity. Always having the other in their personal space turned out to be challenging and led to very -very- embarrassing situations.
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Polydeus had been gone for several hours already, and Khastor was setting when they were finally done. Priam had been up to the domus and fetched clean tunics for them to change in, so they grabbed a piece of soap and walked down to the river to clean up. Neither of them knew how to begin this conversation, so they remained silent while walking. Once at the river though, the situation dictated that they removed their clothes to bath, and they weren't ready for that yet so they sat awkwardly on the bank, watching the water.
"Sir... I'm sorry.. It was completely inappropriate..."
"You didn't do it on purpose"
"No... but still.. It must have felt very invasive to you"
His eyebrows rose to his hair line.
"Invasive?!" She must be kidding, right? She had been grabbing his privates, for crying out loud! He began to laugh, she smiled timidly at first, but he was just laughing harder so she joined him until they were both having a fit of the giggles, tears running down their faces and rolling in the grass. After a while, the laughter died out and she realized she was the only one laughing. When she opened her eyes, she saw him, very close, very serious suddenly, and he was kissing her, with small kisses on her lips at first but when she didn't protest his kiss became hungry and thorough.
"Sir!" she said between two hard breaths.
"How deep do I have to kiss you before you can stop calling me that?" he grumbled.
"Jack.." she said softly. Content, he took her mouth again gently, tasting and caressing her with his lips.
Forehead to forehead, trying to get their breathing back, he rolled to the side, keeping his eyes on her at all time.
"Maybe we should wash up now" he suggested.
"Yeah"
They undressed quickly, Jack's eyes devouring her naked body, Sam unable to tear hers away from his very revealing crotch. Sheepishly, although a bit smug, he covered it with his hand and led her into the water.
Swimming wasn't easy with their arms linked, but they enjoyed the freshness of the water for a little while before they stepped out again to use the soap. The smell of manure didn't exactly go away with cold water only, and soaping each other between kisses was incredibly enticing. They walked back inside the river to rinse before they'd loose control of themselves, but helping each other to get rid of the soap was counter-acting the cooling effect of the river. Now with her forearm glued to Jack's shoulder to help him rinse his hair, Sam couldn't help but let her other hand reach for his nape and kiss him again. His arms encircled her, holding her close in the water, her legs climbing on their own to wound themselves around his waist, effectively trapping a throbbing part of his anatomy between them. Jack inhaled sharply but Sam kept on kissing him thoroughly, the delightful feeling of his length against her core arousing her tenfold.
"Sam.. Sam stop.." he begged.
"Why?" she asked between two kisses, not stopping at all.
"If we don't stop now... I don't think I'll be able to... later"
"Do you want to stop?"
"God no..! not really but.."
"Then don't" the hand in his hair directed him back to her mouth, and with a moan, he surrendered.
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It was pitch dark when they slipped back to the domus. They dropped their soiled tunics into the household's laundry bin and stealthily joined their cell for some hours of sleep. The next morning they were sent to Dona Ophelia's room.
"Good morning Dona" they both saluted.
"Atalante, Jason, I'm glad to see you. Your condition is obviously quite challenging, I honestly don't know how you managed to clean the stables yesterday" Sam and Jack couldn't refrain a smug smile showing on their faces before they composed themselves again. "I must admit I was impressed with your persistence at completing your task no matter what" Ophelia went on "but that very condition should prove ideal for what I have in mind. Rheumatism have kept me awake most of the night, the cold season is on its way I'm afraid. Hadrian praised your massages Jason, and Atalante you have been instructed by Penelope and I've been satisfied with your service earlier. Now that you are four-handed, I rejoice at the opportunity of a massage on both sides at once" she smiled smartly.
"This sounds like a wonderful idea Dona. Would you like to take a bath first?" Sam inquired. Jack's eyes widened. He had no interest in assisting the Dona with her bath!
"Thank you Atalante, as I said, I've been awake most of the night and Penelope has helped me with a hot bath earlier today in the hope of easing the pain"
"Did it help?" Jack wanted to know.
"Some, but not quite as much as I had hoped"
"Maybe Kheiron knows of some herbs that could relieve you"
"I will have him sent to me when he returns" Ophelia approved. "He left to the temple of Hera for some days. He has a love of ancient texts and learns much from the rolls kept in the library" she said, lying face down on the massage table. On each side of her, Jack and Sam exchanged a knowing look. No doubt they would find Daniel in good company when they would arrive at the temple later that day! Dipping their fingers in warm oil, they began to massage the old lady, Jack following Sam's lead on how to carefully massage her painful joints.
Dona Ophelia was so satisfied with their services that she required their help every morning the following days. Hadrian hearing his wife praising them, decided to include a massage by his servants as part of his morning routine. When Sam and Jack were done there, they usually took a little collation before they went to the stables to help Horatius feeding the horses, then they walked down to the city, holding hands, and worked at the temple during the warm hours of the day. As their last chore, they cleaned the stables before they could bath in the river and have some time for themselves.
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They couldn't help but notice that the force holding them linked like magnets was growing weaker by the day, only to be replaced by a growing need for each other's presence and touch. One day they realized the magnetic force was completely gone, and although it was so much more convenient, they came to miss it and yearn for the other when they were separated. Although unsure of what the issue had been, both Hadrian and Vesta insisted this had been Hera's way to help them overcoming a struggle in their married life. Jack had only rolled his eyes and refused to discuss the subject further, and Sam was too happy about the present situation to care about the whys and the hows. She hid her smile by returning her attention to the crystals she had been calibrating for a new medicinal device she was working on together with Kheiron and Hadrian. Jack excused himself and left. Free from slavery and their little problem with the link finally solved, they came to realize that they would soon be able to leave and go back home. They had saved all their wages to free Daniel, so they had agreed Jack would visit Teal'c at the gladiator school and see how long it would take before the jaffa would be able to buy his own freedom.
But he was soon back at the temple, clearly unhappy.
"What happened?" Daniel wanted to know.
"Teal'c's not here! Apparently he is so famous now that he is fighting in the neighboring city. He's been gone for two weeks!"
"Wow... that's a long time! Did they say when he'd be back?"
"Any day now... If he doesn't get himself killed by the other guys' champion that is"
"I'm sure Teal'c can take care of himself, he's won all his combats so far"
"That's because no one was strong enough to beat him here. And that's why they took him to the other city. Their champion is some super-strong guy... He's famous in the whole area! I just hope it's not an unas!"
"God.. I hope Teal'c will be fine"
"Yeah, me too.."
