Atem woke to an empty bed, looking around for Roxanna, but she was no where to be found. He stood from the soft black sheets, taking a moment to enjoy the early morning sunlight coming in through the window.
He grabbed for the shirt he was wearing the other day, letting it rest on his shoulders once it fell past his hips.
Opening the door, he heard nothing from the large apartment. Delaying walking through the abandoned apartment, he stepped past the door frame and started to look around. He found a large study room that was nearly empty except for a large book shelf and a desk with an iMac laptop and desktop, with a keyboard and a small set of books standing on the corner. He then found three large, spacious bathrooms a couple of feet away from each other. They were all given the same design roughly, with a Jacuzzi bathtub; stand up shower and large mirror nearly taking up the entire wall. He continued on finding Yugi's room, which was of course a mess, with clothes all over the floor, the bed un-made and books opened to random pages on the desk. Atem smiled, remembering how Yugi was as a young boy, always thinking ahead of himself, getting ready for something before it was even planned. He also noticed a photograph of himself kissing Tea. That was a surprise, why hadn't Yugi mentioned that he and Tea had become an item?
Atem shrugged, walking out of the room to finally find the living room. Having gotten used to living like a Pharaoh, he always preferred the largest room in any house or apartment. And this living room was almost as large as his back in his own time, of course it was given a different name back in Ancient times, it was known as the public quarters. He happily entered the large area, but stopped short as he was about to sit down, noticing Roxanna was sitting on the couch with her feet up on the cushion, leaning on the arm rest.
He watched her, as she read from a book and took down a few notes now and then; she had headphones plugged into a small device he couldn't see as well.
He slowly walked over and she snapped her head up, acknowledging his entrance. She smiled and pulled her headphones free, inviting him to sit down.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Just studying." she showed him the book that was simply labelled Business.
"What business are you studying?"
"Just the basics right now, I have a little side job that I do mostly for the enjoyment of it rather than the money."
"Yes, Yugi said you don't get much enjoyment from simply gaining money."
"I have enough of it already, but I don't want to retire at such a young age. I enjoy working, getting up every day and earning my living. Just because you're rich doesn't mean you have to sit around the rest of your life and never learn anything again."
Atem nodded, "You have a very mature way of looking at life, considering you're still so young."
She shrugged, lifting her legs up to cross them and lean close to him.
"You know; I haven't seen Yugi this happy since Tea agreed to go out with him."
"Yes, when did he and Tea become an item?"
"Almost as soon as you left; Yugi was so confident with himself that he just blurted out he loved Tea and they've been together since."
Atem smiled, proud of his young friend; he then found himself gazing at Roxanna; still trying to figure her out.
"Do you know all of Yugi's friends?"
"Yeah, and I'm friends with some of the people he's sometimes better off without."
"What do you mean?"
"Duke Devlin for one, I actually really enjoy his company. He flirts a lot, but it's funny to watch him try to get something he will never have, he's pretty determined."
"Your friends with Duke Devlin? I wouldn't have thought he would stay in town after this long."
"He actually opened up another three shops for the Dungeon Dice Monsters game. Pegasus is teaching him how to become an entrepreneur."
Atem nodded, thinking of his old rival, "May I ask something?"
"Sure." she stood and walked into the large kitchen, grabbing a small can of soda from the fridge, opening it with a loud snap.
"Why did Yugi think you were angry yesterday when you first arrived at the house?"
She took a large swallow of the drink before responding, "Because I had my hair up."
Atem paused, waiting for her to continue on her own, but she took another sip, "I don't follow."
She laughed, "Whenever I have my hair up, it means I'm angry. I do it because I need to cool down my body temperature; whenever I get angry, my body temperature goes up a bit and I start to get a little light headed. I would go to the gym, but that would be hurting me, not helping." She sat down next to him.
It was only then he realized what she was wearing. He was so used to seeing her in black it surprised him he hadn't noticed her outfit the moment he saw her today. She was wearing nearly all white, tight white shorts, a white tank top, even white slippers.
"Do your choices in what color you wear also indicate the mood you are in?" he asked.
"Nah, I just pick what I feel like wearing, but black and white go with everything, and it's the most professional way to dress."
"What is this side job you were speaking of earlier?"
"I read fortunes for a small fee, but I donate all the money to anywhere I can."
"You're a psychic?"
She nodded, "A lot of people don't believe in it, which is fine, most of them just get it done for fun, but I always warn them that their future may not be bright or safe, they usually just ignore my readings anyways."
"What kind of readings do you do?"
"All of them. I can read palms, tarot cards, water, fire, tea leaves, the usual stuff."
"And this gift is real?"
She nodded.
"May I ask for you to demonstrate?"
She paused, "Sure. Do you have a preference for your future to be read?"
He shook his head.
"How about we do a fire reading?"
"Okay."
"But we have to wait until midnight, fire is a strong element and doesn't like to take orders during the day, it needs the darkness."
"Midnight it is then," he reached his hand out and she shook it, sealing the deal. "By the way, do you know where Yugi is?" he asked, still holding her hand.
"He went to his college seminar today. It started at seven and he won't be home until dinner, I told him I'd cook."
"So… we are alone, until then?"
She blushed slightly, "I guess you could say that, yes."
He was still holding her hand, he realized. He began to pull her closer, looking at her wonderfully full lips.
She pulled away quickly, angry now, "What'd I say earlier, Atem? I don't surrender to any man, especially not one I hardly know," she stormed off nearly in the time it took him to blink.
He sat there, confused for a moment, "Did I do something wrong?" he asked himself.
Atem was walking around the neighbourhood until three, becoming bored, wishing to go back to the apartment, but worried to anger Roxanna again.
Damn her anger, he was a Pharaoh, was he not? After all, she had started this game, not him. He finally made the decision to go back to the apartment and corner Roxanna. He was growing tired of her games.
He walked through the door and Roxanna was chopping vegetables and fruit, preparing dinner. She hadn't heard his entrance yet and he wanted to take advantage of the moment.
He walked up behind her and took the knife from her hand easily, hearing her gasp. He stabbed the knife through the wooden cutting board and turned her around; sweeping all the prep she had just done on to the floor, lifting her to the counter, pressing his lips to hers. His hands gripped her soft black hair, pulling her closer. He felt her slightly resisting, but he could make her submit, he would.
He began to lift her tank top, only to catch a glimpse of her naval piercing. She changed it to a scorpion that had its tail coming from the top and its body from the bottom. He bowed her back to bring her closer, her warm skin all too welcoming. His tongue gently touched hers and he felt her whimper against his lips. She was dangerous, she was addictive, but he could resist. If he had last night, he could now; he was just proving a point right now, showing her what real power is.
Her legs wrapped around him, inviting him in, quickly peeling his shirt off to touch and tease his broad chest. His lips quickly dropped to her neck, sucking just right to make her squeal. Her panting was only making him more agitated and starved for physical affection; when he pulled away from her neck, he noticed the slight bruising he'd left; he smiled, proud to have marked her as his own.
She pulled him to her mouth again, biting his bottom lip to pull it slightly, earning a moan from the Pharaoh. She smiled, they were tied for power, but she never lost.
She gripped his large hand, placing it upon her breast, but he snatched it away before she could protest.
"I warned you I will not bed a woman until I marry her." he said darkly.
"This isn't bedding me you idiot."
He growled at the insult, placing his hand harshly on her neck to grip slightly. She gasped at the new sensation. She'd never been intimate with a man, not like this. Sure, she'd fooled around with Duke before, but he wasn't nearly as fun as this. If there was one thing she enjoyed, it was watching an egotistical, entitled man fall to his knees, begging. And no man was immune to every woman, she just had to wait patiently to figure out what their weakness was; and Atem's was a challenge to his power.
She leaned her head back and his grip tightened even more, to give the feeling he was slightly choking, and she was shocked at how much she liked it. He only used one hand and she began to gasp and writhe from her near satisfaction. She gripped his wrist, biting her bottom lip, pushing her pelvis closer to his to get some kind of friction. She opened her eyes slightly and saw him watching her every reaction. This was bad. He was studying her like she was him. He was figuring out what her weakness was: a man who could challenge her and make her bow to his every desire.
Her free hand reached up to grab his neck, pulling him closer, she whispered, "Give me what I want."
He smiled, "Not until you give me what I want."
"Never."
His other hand reached up to her hair that was hanging loosely around her shoulders and pulled harshly on a few strands that were at her nape, forcing her neck to bend backwards in just the right way to make her nearly reach her climax. She cried out both in protest and pleasure. She didn't know what to do; she was in over drive right now. They were playing a power game but also trying to find their own satisfaction.
His hand around her neck tightened again slightly when he pulled her hair, causing a chain reaction. She moaned, bit her lip, gasped, and cried out as she rode her orgasm out by pulling him closer to make his aching member hit her sweet spot.
She lost control only for a moment and as he was about to smile, claiming his victory, she pushed him away and immediately went for his belt.
She knelt down only slightly, she would never get on her knees for a man; quickly pulling his throbbing member free, she took him fully into her mouth, sucking and licking in all the right places. He gripped the corner of the counter, damn near ready to lose control, but it wasn't going to be that easy.
Almost as soon as she started, she stopped, standing to her full 5'2 height, looking up at him with damp lips and tousled hair, his mark on her still fully visible.
"Beg." she ordered.
He stood silent for a moment, comprehending what she was demanding, until his mind understood and he stood to his full height now, still challenging her.
"Never." he quoted her from earlier.
She grinned, "Than you'll just have to be satisfied with so very little," she reached her hand out and began stroking him slowly, never breaking eye contact, "Of course if you ask nicely, I can show you what I'm capable of."
He gripped her wrist that held him so perfectly, he nearly became undone; but he was able to speak his words fluidly, "My true victory will be when you agree to wed me, only then shall I show you what I am capable of; and trust me, Femi, you will be the one begging."
She tried to break away but he refused to release her, "I challenge your power and you want to run off scared?"
"I'm not scared." she said, still not breaking eye contact.
"Then prove it." His hand tightened on her small wrist slightly, driving his point home.
She watched him carefully, and began to stroke him once more. His breathing became laboured and she quickly understood exactly how he liked it.
He would never ask her to bow to him, breaking her spirit, but he eventually began to lose his thoughts as she quickly worked him to his near orgasm. He pulled her close and kissed her roughly, her hand never stopping. He only whispered her name against her lips as he climaxed, her hand reaching the tip of his member just in time to catch his release, making sure she didn't get any on her clothes.
He refused to stop kissing her until she started to whimper; he pulled away to see her eyes were filled with fear.
"Roxanna, what's wrong?"
He still had his arms around her and she quickly snapped out of whatever emotion was clouding her eyes.
She easily broke from his embrace and walked towards the kitchen sink to clean her hands. Atem fixed his jeans and walked towards her, now embracing her from behind, allowing his head to rest between her shoulder and neck, "You don't have to be scared of what you feel for me, Femi, and I won't force you to bow to me, ever. I only wish for you to want me as I want you."
"But you can't bed any woman until you marry her, as you've so kindly reminded me multiple times, even though I'm very familiar with Egyptian laws; but how long will this game of ours go? I don't want to be constantly teased than left to endure the torture of waiting until you want me again."
"I will only tease until you agree to be mine; not my property, not my slave, but my equal. Even though I may be a Pharaoh, I do appreciate power and courage when it is displayed and you Roxanna are one of the strongest women I've met. I will treat you with the honour and dignity you deserve, just as you would treat me. Please don't run from me, I will protect you and care for you as if you were my queen back in my own time."
He held her tightly as he let his words sink in.
"What does that mean, anyways?"
"What?"
"Femi?"
"It is the Egyptian name for 'love'."
"You're calling me 'love'?"
He nodded, "It seems very fitting. No woman has ever captured my attention as finely as you have; you deserve a title that acknowledges how you've affected me."
Roxanna didn't know what to say, until she heard something hit the floor.
They both looked over from where the noise came from and saw Yugi was on the floor, appearing to have fainted. Atem released Roxanna from his embrace and walked towards his friend, concerned.
Roxanna began to blush.
"What's wrong with him?" Atem asked.
"Um… I think he may have seen us."
Atem paused and noticed she was right. The door was in perfect view of where they were a moment ago, while she worked him until he came. Yugi had fainted right beside the door, his shoes still on, his books fallen to the floor in a messy pile.
Atem lifted Yugi's now fully-grown body, walking towards the bedroom that was the closest to the outside door.
Roxanna followed, asking what his plan was.
"What do you mean?"
"What are we going to tell him?"
"Wouldn't the truth be a good idea?"
"No! He can't know what's going on between us."
Atem set Yugi down in his own bed, pulling the covers up and over his still small frame, "Why not?"
"Because no one can know."
Atem didn't bother to ask again why.
She sighed, exasperated, "If someone really is after me and you, they'd use us to get to one another."
"So, what do you propose?"
"He's already in his bed, let's just tell him he came home from his seminar and went straight to bed, we barely saw him for a second. I had dropped a knife on the floor and I was washing it off and you were helping me to cook dinner, that's why he saw what he thought he saw."
"You really think he'll buy that?"
"He has to." she said quietly.
Atem nodded, walking out of Yugi's room and closing the door.
Roxanna headed to the kitchen again, cleaning up the mess Atem had made.
"Let me help."
She looked up at him for a moment and nodded, saying her thanks and getting started on re chopping the vegetables, fruits and beginning to cook the salmon.
Atem watched her work in the kitchen. He could tell she was in her element, comfortable with cooking, knowing where everything was. It was like an intricate dance only she knew. Dinner was ready in just under fifteen minutes and since Yugi was still unconscious in his bed, the two of them decided to have a dinner just for the two of them. Atem lit some large candles and set out the nice silverware, pulling out her chair for her as she sat down, having placed his food already on the other side of the small round table.
He sat beside her and began to eat immediately, glad with how good her food was.
"You are an excellent cook, Roxanna."
She smiled her thanks.
They finished their meal in near silence, not bothering with small talk.
Atem guided her out to the balcony to view the sun set and watch the star's rise. They still didn't talk much; just asked the occasional question.
"It's almost midnight." she nearly whispered.
"Yes, the fire reading you promised me." he turned to watch her.
"Fire is most co-operative outside. It likes the surrounding darkness."
"Than by all means, let us be outside for the reading."
She walked back inside and headed to a small bag she had, she pulled out jars of herbs, oils and other things he didn't understand.
She walked outside and he followed in silence.
She then easily made a small fire, but warned for him to keep back. She began to sprinkle the herbs and oils she'd gathered directly on to the flame. It greedily absorbed them and began to give off a wonderful aroma.
He watched her carefully.
"First thing." she gripped his hand and sliced it with a thin blade he hadn't seen her bring. He winced and was about to grow angry, but he summoned the patience to believe she knew what she was doing.
She pulled his hand over the licking flames and told him to make a fist, allowing drops of his blood to fall in. The flame raised in volume suddenly, three times its original size. It began to change color, from the vibrant red to a near black.
She continued to hold his hand, stopping the bleeding with one of the oils she also put into the fire. He wanted to ask questions, but thought it better he allow his silence to fill the air.
She began to chant ancient words that were lost to him. The flames responded by either growing again or changing colors frantically.
His heart began to race and he gripped her hand in anticipation.
Moments passed and she then began to fall against him. She was still chanting, but he supported her, not daring to break her concentration on the flames.
Moments became minutes and she began to fall into silence. When she looked up at him, her eyes were the same black that they became the other night in the bedroom.
"Two humans shall answer the call, to fire or evil, the world must fall, the oath to keep with her final breath, her foes bear arms to the Doors of Death. Soon shall the world be tested, a known liar will be resurrected. A child shall be born to Fire, a result of The Pharaohs desire. He shall be the saviour of the humans, or bring upon the wrath of The Creator. Only through new life can Death be defeated, for if this warning goes unheeded, all shall be annihilated." she suddenly fainted and he held her tightly. Brushing her hair from her face, he began to stroke her cheek softly, waiting for her eyes to open.
She first began to mumble and he found his fingers were being drawn to her lips, tracing them, slightly prodding them open. He dipped his head and gently pressed his lips to hers. He felt something pass between them, like she was taking a piece of him inside herself.
He pulled away in shock, his lips still tingling.
Her eyes were opened slightly, but he could tell she was still not in her own mind.
He lifted her and carried her into the apartment, setting her down gently on the bed. He pulled the sheet up to cover her from getting a chill and he walked away, leaving the door open, only to walk into Yugi.
"Atem, what happened?"
"You came back from the seminar and you went straight to bed." Atem said slowly.
"Without dinner? That's unusual."
Atem smiled, taking Yugi into the kitchen to warm up his meal, sitting with him on the couch, listening to Yugi's day at school.
"Yugi, you seem distracted. Is everything alright?"
Yugi paused, "Can I ask you something, Atem?"
"Sure, Yugi."
Yugi seemed to ponder his thoughts for a moment, "Do you think I'd be a good dad?"
"A father? Why would you worry about being a father at such a young age?"
"Because… Tea's pregnant." he said quietly.