Chapter 15 (Faith Hill – The Way You Love Me)
'Oh, shit.' Seto thought. Atemu entered the room, crimson eyes flashing in his direction. He stopped at the foot of the bed and glared.
"Why are you not asleep?" he demanded.
A rustling noise caught his attention. Yugi had thrown the sheet over his head and was trying to crawl to the side of the bed, away from Seto.
Atemu's anger faltered. His lips curved upward in a smile as he walked around the bed. When Yugi finally did manage to reach the edge of the mattress, he pushed himself over the side to land directly in front of Atemu's sandals.
"Shouldn't you be in bed as well, little Gem?" Atemu crooned.
'Eeeeep!' was the only thought Yugi could muster as Atemu picked him up like a child. He arranged Yugi so that his legs were on either side of Atemu's hips and his head was resting against his shoulder. Atemu sat down on the bed, but seemed reluctant to relinquish his treasure. He looked over his shoulder at Seto.
"Go to sleep, Seto. And Ra help me if I see you a second before sunset the next time you sleep it will be in the garden."
Seto paled, nodded quickly in Atemu's direction, and left.
Atemu turned back to the angel in his arms and ran his hand through Yugi's hair, which was still tangled and slightly damp from last night. Atemu frowned.
"Here, we have to get you cleaned up." he said, carrying Yugi towards the vanity.
Yugi's heart beat faster. 'Nothing is happening like it's supposed to! I'm supposed to please the pharaoh.' he thought. 'I'm supposed to be at my best, now look at me.' When Atemu eased Yugi down in front of the mirror Yugi held his arm in front of him and pushed back the sleeves of the robe. Each arm was a latticework of scratches and scabs. 'I'll never impress the pharaoh now, I'm too ugly. He'll never want me!' Yugi looked into the mirror in front of him and saw eyes glittering with tears.
Atemu stood behind Yugi and watched as he examined his arms, his heart aching in sympathy for his little gem. "It's going to be fine, Yugi. Seto's potion will take care of the scars."
Yugi's eyes widened. 'The potion! The potion the pharaoh had created just for me!' He started to stand, attempting to turn and kneel to thank his pharaoh.
In an instant Atemu's hands were on Yugi's shoulders, pushing him back down. "Stay still, Gem, it will be easier for me to reach your hair this way." The robe slipped off Yugi's right shoulder and Atemu suddenly found his had caressing bare skin. 'Oh…'
"My hair?" questioned Yugi. "What-" 'Oh Ra…'
Atemu's hand trailed across Yugi's shoulder, hesitantly tracing up his neck before threading themselves into Yugi's hair. Fingers gently pulled through the strands as Yugi's head fell to the side, baring his neck. Atemu found himself leaning down, nuzzling at Yugi's neck and breathing deeply. 'Ah, but my angel smells divine,' he thought.
Yugi's eyes slipped closed as he felt warm breath on his neck, followed by soft lips. He was sure the pharaoh could hear his heartbeat, as loud as it seemed.
'How did I ever get this lucky?' Atemu thought. 'He's so sweet….' Atemu licked his way up Yugi's neck, centering on the pulse beneath his lips and sucking hard enough to mark.
Yugi's breathing became ragged. He had wanted this for so long and now he was sure all his dreams were coming true at once. 'Yes, my pharaoh. I'm yours, Ra yes, please-' His thoughts were cut off as Atemu's teeth came into play, edging up toward his lips. The robe slipped down around his waist as Atemu slid around him, hands reluctant to leave and sliding around Yugi's body to pull him closer. Yugi felt warm breath across his cheek.
'He does want this,' Atemu wondered. 'Right?' He hesitated just short of those candy-pink lips.
Yugi leaned forward, almost begging. 'Just one kiss,' he thought. 'Please!'
Atemu slid his hand up to hold Yugi's head as he sealed their lips together. He forgot to breathe for a moment as he felt Yugi murmur and shift closer. 'He tastes so good,' he thought. His tongue passed Yugi's lips again as he tried to devour that sweetness.
Yugi's head spun. He felt the hand in his hair tighten, as if to keep him from leaving. 'He shouldn't worry about that,' Yugi thought. 'Oh, Ra I never want this to end.' He felt heavy gold against his fingers and wondered when his arms had wound around Atemu's shoulders. 'Oh,' he thought. 'The armor.'
Atemu cursed the need to breathe as he broke the kiss, but didn't pull back. He wished he had thought to remove his heavy collar when he felt Yugi's arms resting against the metal. 'Maybe next time?' Atemu looked into Yugi's dazed and sparkling eyes. 'Definitely next time.'
Yugi could only gaze into deep crimson until a voice startled him out of his trance.
"Yugi?"
The dazed look left Yugi's eyes and he smiled. "Yes, my pharaoh?"
"Are you alright? Maybe you should rest for a little longer." Atemu slid a hand up to Yugi's forehead, trying to sense a temperature.
"I've never felt better, my pharaoh," Yugi said.
"I should…finish your hair," Atemu said. He slowly stood up and stepped behind Yugi again, keeping one hand on Yugi's shoulder.
Yugi's closed his eyes again as he felt the gentle pull of a brush through his impossible hair. 'It isn't going to make any difference, but he can keep trying forever and I will die happy,' Yugi thought blissfully.
With an ease born of much practice, Atemu continued brushing through Yugi's hair. His mind was thousands of miles away. 'He'll need new clothes, give the seamstresses someone else to swarm. And gold, he should be wearing gold, not bronze. The bed is more than big enough for two, if he will consent to sleep with me every night.' Atemu paused at the string of images conjured up by that particular thought. He shook his head. 'No, just sleep for now. He needs to heal first. But just that kiss…' Atemu licked his lips, as if he could still taste that sweetness.
"Open your eyes, gem," Atemu said.
Yugi's eyes, still closed in bliss, fluttered open. Brilliant purple gems widened as he looked into the mirror. 'I-I look like him,' Yugi thought. Then he began to worry. 'But he's the pharaoh; it's not my place to-'
"Do you not like it?" Atemu asked.
"No!" Yugi said. "I mean, I like it, but I look like you."
Atemu ran his fingers through Yugi's bangs. "Not quite, little gem, but I can change it if you wish…." Atemu reached for the brush. Yugi's fingers closed around his wrist before he could take it.
"Don't," Yugi said. "I like it. It looks…right."
Atemu smiled turned his hand around to take Yugi's. "Best put the rest of the robe back on then," he said. "Nothing in my closet will fit you, so let's hunt down the palace seamstresses and start on your new clothes."
"Clothes?" Yugi asked.
"Yes, you're going to need a whole new wardrobe. Then new jewelry to go with it, and sandals, and have you had your ears pierced?"
Yugi shook his head numbly as Atemu helped him stand. He had a feeling today was going to hold more than he ever expected.