Definitely an M rating on this chapter.

Hephaestion understood what Alexander wanted, yet part of him felt a little unsure. He led Alexander to the bed, then stopped and turned around, pulling him into a tight embrace. Holding him close like this was so perfect; he could not even find words to describe it. The heat rolled off their bodies in waves, and he could feel Alexander's arousal as it pressed against his own. He shifted his hips, rubbing them together and eliciting a groan from Alexander. Pulling back slightly, he looked into dark eyes clouded with passion and smiled.

Alexander reached a hand up and gently cupped Hephaestion's cheek. "I love you more than I am ever able to say, Phai. I am truly sorry that I do not always show it. I neglect you, and I only hope you can forgive me. You are everything to me. I hope you know that."

Hephaestion looked into those eyes, absorbing what he had just said. It made his heart swell with joy. "I love you as much, Alexander. More than life. I miss you every day, but I also understand. Perhaps I am a fool, but I will take what I can get…whatever you are able to give me whenever you are able to give it. There is no other that I love, and no other that I want."

Alexander smiled at him. "What about Nearchus? Are you sure you wouldn't rather be kissing him?"

Hephaestion laughed and swatted Alexander's arm. "No, you fool. But I could perhaps sit on Perdiccas' lap again" he winked at him. It was good to see the playfulness in Alexander's eyes again, and the dark, haunting look seemed to be gone, at least for now. He intended on keeping it that way. He slid a hand up, tangling his fingers in soft, golden curls. "Tell me, Alexander…what would you like me to do?"

Alexander leaned into the touch and closed his eyes, a soft smile on his lips. "As I said before, I want you to take me. I want you to make me forget everything except this…except us." He leaned forward and snuggled his face into the crook of Hephaestion's neck, his soft breath causing goose bumps to erupt on the general's skin. He wrapped one arm around Hephaestion's waist, holding them close together. The other hand slid up his chest, coming to rest over Hephaestion's pounding heart.

Hephaestion grasped the hand on his chest and brought it to his lips, kissing the palm and then sucking a finger into his mouth and swirling his tongue around it. He felt Alexander shudder slightly and suck in a breath. He released the finger from his mouth, pulling Alexander's head forward and claiming his lips, pouring all the passion he felt into that kiss. He nipped and sucked on his lower lip, then explored his mouth quite thoroughly with his tongue, feeling Alexander's tongue meet his in response. The intensity of the kiss made his head spin. Alexander wanted him to make him forget everything else, and he would make sure he did just that.

"Do you know what I am going to do, Alexander?" he whispered in his ear. Alexander shook his head mutely. "I am going to start by kissing you here…" His lips wandered to a tender spot below Alexander's ear, where he nipped the skin and soothed it with his tongue "…and I am not going to stop until I have made you scream my name."

Alexander nearly passed out right then and there.

Hephaestion fastened his lips to Alexander's shoulder, sucking to mark the tanned skin. He didn't let up until Alexander's knees threatened to buckle. He felt Alexander's fingers digging into his waist, holding on for support, his breathing harsh. Easing back, he gently kissed the area that he had marked, noting the bruise that appeared there. He ran his hands down Alexander's chest, rubbing his palms over the dusky nipples and feeling them harden under his touch. He leaned down and licked and nipped at first one, then the other. Alexander moaned and fisted his hands in Hephaestion's hair. He licked a line back up his chest, up his neck , and reclaimed the swollen lips while running his hands up and down Alexander's back, kneading and stroking. "Gods, Alexander…I cannot get enough of touching you."

Alexander lowered his hands to grip Hephaestion's hips, pulling them together and rubbing their erections together. He felt Hephaestion shiver as his hands slid around to knead his firm, muscular ass. He panted for breath as they drew apart, speaking softly in Hephaestion's ear. "You have no idea how much you turn me on."

Hephaestion backed up, putting a little distance between them. He looked down at Alexander's obvious arousal and chuckled. "I think I might."

Alexander gasped as he felt Hephaestion's fingers curl around his hard length and stroke him firmly from root to tip. "Oh gods, yes. I want your hands on me."

Hephaestion smiled at him. "Just my hands?"

Alexander growled and shivered like he'd caught a chill. "More. Anything. Gods…" He was beyond desperate. "I don't care what you do, Hephaestion, but please…do something!"

Hephaestion chuckled softly. "As you wish, my king." He slowly sank to his knees, licking a path down Alexander's body as he went. He kept his grip on Alexander's throbbing cock, leaning in and sweeping his tongue over the tip and lapping up the drops that had appeared there.

Alexander gasped. "Oh, gods…"

Hephaestion pulled Alexander's hips forward and slid his whole length into his mouth, swirling his tongue around him as he sucked him in. He glanced up at Alexander. His head was bowed forward, his eyes shut tightly. His fingers were fisted tightly in Hephaestion's hair, urging him on. Hephaestion ran his tongue up the underside of Alexander's cock, lapping at the tip before drawing him down all the way into his throat.

Alexander grabbed at Hephaestion's shoulders for support. "Oh, gods…fuck…" he panted. Hephaestion growled low in his throat, the vibrations shot like lightning through Alexander. "Oh, shit….stop Hephaestion!"

Hephaestion sat back on his heels and smiled up at his beloved before rising to his feet. "Are you okay, Alexander?" he smirked.

Alexander looked at him with glazed eyes. "I did not want to come yet."

Hephaestion reached for his hands and pulled him forward. "Bed. Now."

Alexander turned them around and fell back onto the bed, pulling Hephaestion down on top of him. They kissed passionately for a moment, and then Hephaestion began kissing and licking his way down Alexander's body. He dipped his tongue into his navel, then drug his tongue down Alexander's hip, skipping over his cock, which stood proudly at attention. He worked his way down, drawing first one, then the other of Alexander's balls into his mouth, rolling them around gently with his tongue.

Alexander cried out softly when he felt Hephaestion's tongue swirl around his tight opening, teasing him. He didn't remember Hephaestion ever doing that before. He found it so erotic that he nearly came just from that. He wasn't sure how much more of this torture he could take. "Fuck, Hephaestion! You are killing me. Do something, please!"

Hephaestion looked up at Alexander's flushed face and smiled. "I love it when you beg, Alexander." As he said this, he slid a saliva coated finger into the tight passage.

Alexander arched off the bed and growled. He was beyond caring about anything except the delicious things Hephaestion was doing to him.

Hephaestion reached for the bottle of oil on the bedside table, dipping his fingers in. He slid a finger back inside Alexander, then carefully added a second one, sliding them in and out, scissoring them to open him up. He heard Alexander moaning softly, pressing back against his fingers and asking for more. When he felt the tight ring of muscle relax further, he slipped a third finger in. Alexander was coming apart beneath him, squirming and panting.

Removing his fingers, he eased back up Alexander's body and kissed him gently. "Are you ready for me, Alexander?"

"Gods, yes, Hephaestion. Fuck me already, will you?"

"Yes, my king" Hephaestion smirked, drawing a glare from Alexander.

"Hephaestion…" he growled a warning.

Hephaestion grabbed Alexander's legs and pulled them up over his shoulders, positioning himself at the tight opening. He slicked himself up with a little more oil, then slowly eased his way in. As the head of his cock penetrated Alexander, they both groaned softly. Slowly, he eased his way in, little by little, giving Alexander time to adjust to him as he went. When he was buried to the hilt, they were still for a moment. "Oh, Alexander…" he panted, "I had forgotten how amazing this feels." He pulled out slowly and pushed back in a little quicker.

Alexander shuddered. "Holy fucking….ah..."

"Am I hurting you, Alexander?"

Alexander growled at him. "No! For the love of the gods, Hephaestion….move! Fuck me! Something! Gods…"

Hephaestion eased his hips back then thrust into him again, each thrust hitting a little deeper until he was driving himself balls deep into a squirming, panting Alexander. He changed his angle a little and hit the hard bundle of nerves and caused Alexander to nearly scream. Hephaestion seriously hoped there was no one outside the tent, or anywhere even close. Alexander was certainly being vocal…and loud. Hephaestion knew he wouldn't last very long. It had been far too long since the last time they had made love, and the sheer bliss of being sheathed inside his beloved was almost more than he could take. "Alexander…touch yourself. I want to see you come."

Alexander obediently took his own cock in his hand and began stroking firmly and quickly. His head was thrown back and his breathing was ragged. "Hephaestion!" he panted, "I am almost there!"

"Come for me, my love, I want to watch you." Hephaestion growled.

The deep, sensual tone of Hephaestion's voice combined with the deep thrusts that kept hitting against the sweet spot put him over the edge. He threw his head back and practically roared as he shot his load over his belly and chest. "Gods, Hephaestion!"

Hephaestion could feel Alexander's muscles contracting around him, and he could not hold off any longer. "Ahh…fuck…Alexander…" He thrust in hard, one last time; his whole body shook as he came harder than he could ever remember. He continued to jerk his hips in quick, short thrusts as he emptied himself inside his lover. Finally he collapsed on top of Alexander as both of them struggled to catch their breath.

As their breathing returned to normal, he eased up onto his elbows and looked down at a very content and sated Alexander, smiling at him.

Alexander curled his hand around Hephaestion's neck and pulled him down for a slow, gentle kiss. He gazed into the bluest eyes he had ever seen and saw a depth of love there that nearly took his breath again. He stroked Hephaestion's brow tenderly and smiled back at him. "I love you so much, Phai. You are so perfect. I needed that so much."

Hephaestion sat up, pulling Alexander up with him. He wrapped his arms around him and they simply held onto each other. At that moment, nothing existed but the two of them. Nothing else mattered. It was as Alexander had asked…all else was forgotten. "Stay here, Alexander, I will be right back." He crawled out of the bed and went to retrieve a wet cloth and a towel from the bath. He returned and cleaned Alexander gently with the warm, damp cloth and dried him tenderly. He cleaned himself quickly and climbed back into the bed.

Alexander curled himself around Hephaestion, clinging to him tightly. He felt totally relaxed and secure. Nothing mattered to him right now except the beautiful man beside him. "Thank you, Hephaestion. I would be lost without you."

Hephaestion snuggled against him in return, pulling a cover over the both of them. "Sleep, Alexander. Rest your mind. I will be right here beside you. Always."

The exhausted men fell into a deep sleep almost right away.

For now, at least, the troubles of the past were forgotten.