They fought side by side to get out of the necropolis, moving together in a way that felt familiar to them as the beating of their hearts, as though they had done it hundreds of times before. Finally, they made it out and Samantha took a staggering breath looking at the man beside her, and for just a moment could have sworn he was wearing ancient garb as he looked at her. They both jumped as the ground beneath them started to rumble and shake and they dashed for the camels, as the city collapsed around them. Spotting Evie, Jonathan, and O'Connell running from the destruction Ardeth had to hold Samantha back to keep her from racing headlong back into danger. Once they were a safe distance away he let go and mounted a camel.
"I must speak with the chiefs about your situation." He informed. "You broke your vow, but you helped destroy the creature." Sam nodded, although she was not sure just how much help she had been. He rode forward stopping to say something to her family, before riding off. Sam ran up to them, as well stopping when she saw her best friend kiss her sister and smile. For once feeling as though the duty of being her sister's protector was lifted from her shoulders. She just hoped that Rick knew what he was getting into. Looking back at where Hamunaptra had only moments ago stood and chuckled. Yeah, he knew.
"Sammy! You're alive!" Jonathan called, finally spotting her.
She sat in her room back at the fort waiting. Part of her desperately wanted to run but she had given her word and even if she hadn't she felt there was nowhere she could run where they wouldn't eventually find her. Sammy had said her goodbyes and was at peace knowing that Rick would take care of her brother and sister, so now there was nothing left but to wait. It was almost a relief when the door opened and there was barely a whisper of noise as her appointed killer stepped inside. She lowered her head expecting to feel the bite of a blade into her skin, not the gentle touch of the hand that took her chin and lifted her head back up.
"Don't lose your strength now." Sam looked into Ardeth's dark eyes and nearly wept. Did she dare hope that this meant she was forgiven? As though reading the question in her eyes Ardeth pulled her to her feet. "Your life is no longer forfeit." She threw her arms around him in relief and was about to pull away when he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.
He nuzzled her hair before bringing his mouth down on hers claiming her lips in a soul-searing kiss. He nipped her lower lip gently, then brushed his mouth lightly against hers. She shivered with pleasure as he sucked her lower lip into his mouth, nipped it then closed his mouth hard over hers, plunging deep.
She had no idea how they ended up on the bed. One moment she was in his arms, being kissed senseless and the next she was flat on her back beneath his powerful body. She buried her fingers in his hair, then her hands slipped down the column of his neck, over the muscled ridges of his shoulders. She barely noticed when he shifted position so that his legs were straddling hers until he fit himself snugly in the vee of her thighs, and his bulge nudged the inseam of her jeans against her clit.
When had his clothes come off? She thought vaguely as he cupped a hand beneath her ass, and began grinding against her. He shoved her shirt off and closed a hand over one of her breasts. She dug her nails into his shoulder arching her body to meet his thrusts. He sucked in a breath and as suddenly as his clothes disappeared so to did her jeans. He pushed her thighs apart. One of his hands cupped the nape of her neck, the other slid between her legs and opened her to him, and he rubbed himself along her covering his cock in her juices. He slowly pushed himself into her, then pushed forward, piercing her hymen in a smooth thrust. The pain passed quickly as he gripped her hips with his hands and began to thrust slowly, inch by inch. With a final thrust, he pushed in all the way. He eased out inch by inch then slid back in just as slowly. He reached down and rubbed her clit with his thumb. He eased out and then thrust back in hard. She came hard, biting her lip to muffle her cries, her hot pussy convulsing around him was too much for him to resist giving two more hard thrusts into her he exploded inside her.
Sam woke up hours later and while not surprised still felt hurt to find Ardeth had left while she slept. She had not asked for or expected any promises or declarations, had not offered any herself, nor did she think the feelings she had felt were one-sided. The simple truth was they were of two different worlds, and his had no place for her.