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fellowshippers2004-03-09 11:53 am
ex-salwood.livejournal.com) wrote in fellowshippers2004-03-09 11:53 am
World Trip - Chapter 23
Title: World Trip 23/?
Author/Email: Salogel (salogel42@hotmail.com)
Pairing: Dom/Elijah
Rating: NC17 (for sexual situations)
Summary: Dom and Lij arrive in Cairo, Egypt.
WARNING: None
Feedback: Yes please
Archive:LOTR Gutter
Disclaimer: None of this happened or will ever happen. It is all made up in my overactive mind.
Additional Notes: Any flashbacks are written as they happened, and not necessarily as a point of view.
Previous chapters can be found here.
World Trip
Chapter 23 – Cairo, Egypt
10 April 2005
Sometimes I feel like a thief in the night, sneaking off while Dom is sleeping, but it’s the only way I can work on the project that I am planning for both of us.
I’ve just this second logged off the Internet, and it’s 2 in the morning! The staff here must be wondering what the fuck I’m on!
And Sala!!!! Twenty fucking e-mails! He’s been going frantic wondering why I haven’t been in touch. Well, it’s going to take some time to trawl through them all and send him the information that he requires. I can quite honestly see a few more midnight foray’s taking place during our stay here.
I’ve no choice really… I’m going to have to get the majority of this sorted and finalized before we leave Egypt. Fuck knows when I’ll next get the chance for any Internet connection. Probably not until we reach South Africa, and Sala’s last e-mail has more or less demanded a final date that he can work to.
I’ve thought about the timing of this project, this gift for Dom, long and hard while we were on the boat, and I reckon a week out of our schedule in Australia will do it… the last week in September is fucking perfect. It couldn’t be better… it’ll be the five year anniversary of when we first met. So we’ll go back there, to New Zealand, and with Sala’s help (Christ I fucking hope he can pull this off) it’ll be the most perfect time for Dom… well… for the both of us.
Right, before I sneak back into bed I must just recap the last twenty-four hours; I may not get time later on today.
We flew out of Athens last night… just a few short hours ago. Staying at an airport hotel does have its advantages, except for the fucking noise! We spent the whole afternoon before our flight shopping and replenishing practically everything, and before we checked out of our room we had to make a decision on what to leave behind. We had to make room in our luggage for our hot weather gear! Shorts, t-shirts… Dom almost bought out the entire fucking clothing store!!! And sun cream - factor zilch for Dom and fucking factor five million for me!
We called our families, and both were relieved to hear from us. We had to wait until we’d arrived back in Athens to recharge our cells before we could call anyone. I told Mom that we had been on a four-week boat trip, because she asked why we had changed our plans. She had received e-mails from all the hotels I had cancelled, requiring confirmation. She didn’t have a clue about what was going on. I just told her it seemed like a good idea at the time, and that we both enjoyed the solitude. That’s all she needed to know.
And now we have two weeks here in Egypt – just over three whole months in Africa. And Dom is finally going to get the heat and sunshine that he has craved for so long.
Africa is going to be good – I can feel it. And it will be especially good for Dom. I know that Africa is the one country on our world trip that he has been looking forward to visiting, more than anything.
You know… I fucking love this happier Dom! There’s no looking back now, no fucking way! Dom as he is now is… is… ‘Life Worth Living’. Does that fucking sound right?
He did scare me on the boat though – I thought I was losing him. There was no way I could have gone on with that – and neither could Dom…
Shit… I’m making a decision right now. I’m not going to write about what happened anymore!!!!
BECAUSE LIFE IS FUCKING GOOD RIGHT NOW!
Right… better end now and return to the room. I’ve been here for almost forty minutes – and in five more, Dom will be awake and wondering where I am. His internal alarm never fails! No wonder he can never sleep when we are separated.
And in the morning! Yes! Can’t wait to see Dom’s face when he looks out of our window. The view is going to fucking blow him away!
**
“Lij! Wake up!”
Elijah was buried underneath the cotton sheets as Dominic’s words drifted into his waking mind.
“Elijah! You gotta fucking see this!”
Dominic’s voice sounded far away as Elijah shifted his body, desperately trying to cling onto the last vestiges of sleep.
“Lij!”
Dominic’s voice boomed in Elijah’s ear as the bed covers were yanked off him.
“Come on! Get up!”
Elijah grunted his disapproval and went to pull the covers back over his naked body. But instead he felt Dominic’s hand take hold of his and haul him out of bed.
“You gotta see this, Lijah. Here…” Dominic picked up Elijah’s glasses and placed them gently onto his partner’s sleepy face. Then he led him out onto the balcony.
“Look at that… just fucking look at that!” Dominic gripped hold of the wooden balustrade, which encircled their private balcony. “Fucking incredible… That...” Dominic pointed to the view. “That is… that is…”
“Fucking awesome...” Elijah stood beside Dominic as they looked out at the Giza Pyramids.
Elijah knew the view was going to be good. The pictures he had seen of this hotel and the reports he had read about it, when he had planned their trip last year, was the reason why he had booked it. But the images he had seen on the computer screen were nothing compared to this. The Pyramids were so fucking close, it was as if you could just reach out and touch them.
“I gotta get a fucking picture of this!” Dominic quickly vanished back inside the room, and then reappeared with camera in hand.
“Turn around, Lij.”
“Dom… I’m naked!” Elijah protested.
“Yeah… nice.” Dominic smiled as he raised his camera to eye level.
“Dom!”
“What?”
“Don’t!”
“Too late!” Dominic grinned as he pressed the button to view the image.
“No fucking way!” Elijah walked into the room his hand outstretched demanding that Dominic hand over the camera
“Hmm…nice naked hobbit…” Dominic teased as he backed away. “Could shag that hobbit!”
“Camera please!” Elijah advanced on Dominic.
“Oooh, stay there Lij. I love it when you’re pissed at me!” Dominic took another photograph, the flash momentarily blinded Elijah.
“You bastard!” Elijah didn’t know whether to laugh or curse. He stood where he was, both hands on hips, a defiant look on his face.
“That’s it, Lij! Strike the pose!” Another flash went off as Dominic pressed the shutter again.
“You really are a cunt, Monaghan!” Elijah half grinned as he swiveled on his feet following Dominic’s progress around the room.
Another flash, and then a very long pause as Dominic took his time viewing the new image.
“What?” Elijah frowned. “What is it?”
“You…” Dominic looked up at Elijah, his expression now serious. He then looked at the camera screen again. “You’re fucking beautiful!”
“Dom!”
“Well you are… look!” Dominic turned the camera around so that Elijah could see it.
“Ermm… no thanks.” Elijah turned away feeling a little embarrassed.
“But…” Dominic quickly tossed the camera onto the bed and stepped in behind Elijah. “Who needs images when I have the real thing right here… all to myself?”
Elijah felt Dominic’s warm arms slip around his bare torso, and he felt Dominic’s mouth place a gentle kiss on the back of his neck.
“You’re crawling Monaghan…” Elijah mildly protested, but felt himself giving in to Dominic’s caresses and kisses.
“Hmm… no, not crawling… just wanting. This is nice… so nice… my Lijah…” Dominic kissed Elijah just beneath his ear, and he enjoyed the way Elijah’s pressed his body back into his as he did so.
“Hmm...” Dominic murmured again. “You feel good, Lij. You always feel so fucking good.” Dominic continued to lick and suck gently on Elijah’s skin, knowing that that area under his mouth was one of Elijah’s weakest spots.
Dominic slowly lowered his hand and cupped Elijah’s balls before moving on to grasp his hardening erection. As Dominic felt Elijah’s cock swell in his hand, he pressed his own hardness against Elijah’s buttocks.
“Hmm, Lijah… can you feel me?” Dominic whispered as he moved his groin against Elijah, increasing the exquisite friction he could feel on his cock. “Can you feel how much I fucking want you?” Dominic increased the pressure of his mouth and sucked a little harder as he moved his tongue and lips along the side of Elijah’s neck, down towards his collarbone. At the same time his hand began gently stroking Elijah’s erection. God how he loved feeling the weight of it in his hand, so thick and heavy.
Dominic closed his eyes as he carried on kissing Elijah. Just knowing that his very presence, with the touch of his mouth, the sweep of his lips, the stroke of his hand, could bring his Elijah to such instant arousal, was a wondrous feeling. Christ he fucking loved this man so much.
Elijah turned his head towards Dominic, who immediately raised his mouth to kiss Elijah on the lips.
“God… Lij…” Dominic pulled his mouth away releasing Elijah’s cock at the same time. He then used both his hands to turn Elijah around to face him.
They looked at each other for a few moments… Dominic’s gaze ran down the entire length of Elijah’s body and fell on his arousal, so hard, and jutting out in front of him.
“Jesus… Lijah…” Dominic took hold of Elijah’s hand and pressed it against his own erection, which was hidden behind his sweatpants. “I fucking want you…”
Elijah pressed his hand firmly against Dominic, feeling the solid ridge beneath the fabric. He began to rub the bulge gently at first, feeling the heat through the thin material. Then he looked down at his hand as it stroked the hidden flesh beneath it. He took a small pace forward so that his cock nudged against Dominic’s, and he looked up into Dominic’s face.
God, I love you, Dom…fucking want you too…
Then suddenly, their mouths met in a clash of teeth, lips and probing tongues… as Elijah pushed himself against Dominic forcing them both to stumble backwards and fall onto the bed.
“Get these off…” Elijah mumbled as he rolled Dominic onto his back and began fumbling with the drawstring of his sweatpants. He wanted to feel Dominic’s naked skin against his own; he wanted to feel their cocks rub together. He wanted to take Dominic in his mouth, Christ he wanted him… all of him… every last fucking inch of him…
*
“This is fucking amazing.” Dominic locked the room door behind him as he followed Elijah into the corridor. Freshly showered and shaved they had both decided it was time to eat a late breakfast, and then explore this vast hotel complex, which was going to be their home for the next few days.
“How do you do it, Lij?” Dominic took hold of Elijah’s hand as they followed the signs to the Greenery Restaurant. “I mean look at it… it’s like a fucking dream…”
Elijah smiled. “Wait until you see the main area, Dom. This is nothing. Lots of famous people have stayed here in the past, you know. Royalty, Presidents, Generals.”
“And now two hobbits… including Frodo of the Shire.” Dominic joked.
“Yeah, well… let’s hope no-one figures that one out. I’ve kind of gotten used to the anonymity we had on the boat.”
Dominic nodded in agreement. “Me too… the boat was good.” They both walked on in silence for a few moments before Dominic asked the question.
“Do you think Danae knew who we were, Lij? Because if she did, well… she never said a word. Not once.”
Elijah shook his head. “I have no idea. But if she did know… then I guess I like and respect her even more for not saying anything. We had a good time on that boat Dom… and that would not have happened without her.”
“I know… I know, Lij.” Dominic thought for a moment. “And we mustn’t forget to e-mail her a copy of that photo before we send the card off to your mum. I wonder if this hotel has got the Internet facilities to do that. It should have, shouldn’t it? We’ll have to ask.”
Elijah didn’t say anything. He stopped by the door that led into the restaurant. It was now late morning and only a few guests were sat at a handful of tables. They entered and immediately made their way out onto the terrace, which overlooked the Pyramids. As they sat down Elijah opened the guidebook to Egypt that he had purchased at the airport the day before, while waiting for their visas to be approved.
Dominic smiled at him. “So when do we get to go there?” He pointed to the magnificent view.
“Day after tomorrow…” Elijah looked up briefly from the book. “It’s not far away… we could see it all in a morning. It’ll be cooler then, too. Apparently the Pyramids can get pretty hot inside.”
“Really?” Dominic was genuinely surprised by that comment. “I always thought they would be cool, you know, on account of the bloody fuck-off big stones that they are built with.”
Elijah laughed. “You would think that would be the case, wouldn’t you. But it’s not.”
“Gentlemen?”
They both looked up at waiter who was waiting to take their order.
*
“Hey, sleepy… anyone would think you had been up all night.” Dominic flopped down on the sun lounger next to Elijah’s. He had been in the pool, which had felt icy cold at first, and had enjoyed an invigorating swim.
He had tried to encourage Elijah to join him, but Elijah had insisted that he plan out their itinerary before their trip on the Nile. Their time in Egypt had been reduced from four weeks to two, after Dominic’s extra excursion on the Orient Express back in February. Not that Elijah was complaining… it was just that they would have to miss out on some places and cram in others.
As Elijah watched Dominic slip into the water, he had leant back on the lounger, resting his note pad on his stomach, and then slowly began to nod off. The garden area of the hotel was beautiful, with plenty of trees giving shade from the sun, which was already powerful for this time of year. Warm sun… comfortable seat… Elijah had fallen asleep within minutes.
“Want a drink?” Dominic rubbed himself dry with a towel.
“Hmmm…” Elijah sat up, grabbing his guidebook and notepad before they fell to the ground. “That would be nice.”
Dominic dug out some money from his shorts pocket and made his way over to the small poolside coffee bar. While he waited for the waiter to prepare their drinks he looked back over at the pool area, still momentarily stunned that it was framed by the Pyramids in the distance. Never before had he seen anything like this. Pictures in books, and images on TV screens did nothing to prepare you for seeing them with your own eyes.
Fucking awesome sight!
“Thanks.” Elijah took the ice cold drink from Dominic, and sipped it slowly through the straw.
“So what’s the plan then, Lij?” Dominic picked up the guidebook and flicked through it.
“Well…” Elijah scratched his head. “The Giza Pyramids of course, and the light show, and the Egyptian Museum, and maybe a trip out to Dahshur.
“Dahshur?” Dominic placed the book on the ground.
“It looks very interesting, there are more pyramids there… it’s a bit out of the way though. We’ll have to ask at reception about tours there. They must do them.”
“Sounds good…” Dominic sought out his sunglasses from the small bag that Elijah had brought with them, and moved his lounger out of the shade into the full glare of the sun. He settled back onto it.
“God… this is the life!” He reached his hand out and rested it on Elijah’s warm thigh. “I think I’m falling in love with Egypt, Lij!”
Elijah laughed quietly, and took hold of Dominic’s hand. “Me too.”
***
The receptionist indicated to Dominic and Elijah that the taxi had arrived to take them to the Giza Pyramids. She also advised them that it was the hotel’s policy that all guests use the same taxi for their return trip. The hotel-approved drivers were well used to long waits outside museums and other attractions.
They arrived at the ancient site after a very short journey, and discovered that not only was it hot but very dusty too. They patiently waited in line to buy the tickets to go inside the monuments. The area was very busy with other tourists, and there were groups of locals hanging around with camels and horses, all eager to take you on an unforgettable tour around the 7th Wonder of the World!!
“Want to go on a camel?” Elijah asked Dominic as they began walking towards the first of the Pyramids.
“Fuck off!” Dominic was not impressed by any of the hawkers, or touts as they soon learnt the correct name for them.
“Picture with camel?” A scruffy looking individual walked right into their path. “Photo by beautiful pyramid. You sit on camel?”
“No thank you.” Dominic tried to be polite.
“Long way, very hot. Only 20 pounds.”
“That’s not bad.” Elijah quickly calculated the cost in his mind.
“Lij!” Dominic pulled Elijah out of the way of the tout.
“Very hot… camel quicker.”
“No thank you.” Dominic took Elijah’s hand as they tried to make progress once again.
“Look after you. Camel very friendly. Take you to Khufu… Cheops. Wait while Americans look around… then take you to Khafre… Chephren…
“Look, mister…” Dominic glanced about him and saw many of the other tourists being hassled by various camel owners. “We’re not interested.”
“Very hot… too hot to walk. Skin burn… camel quick.”
“Fucking hell…” Dominic rolled his eyes as he sidestepped the tout once more.
The camel made a strange protesting noise as its owner tugged at the leash attached to its muzzle.
“Twenty pound good price… good Egyptian hospitality. Look after Americans.”
Dominic sighed in resignation as he looked around again, and saw other tourists climbing onto the backs of weary looking camels.
“Do we have a fucking choice?” Dominic looked at the hairy beast as its owner pulled its head down so that its front legs bent at the knees. The owner then hit the camel’s rear, shouting god knows what at it, obviously trying to encourage it to lower its rump which was stuck high up in the air. And the fucking animal stank.
“Can’t believe we’re going to fucking ride on this!” Dominic looked mournfully at Elijah.
Elijah tried to hide a smile. For himself, there was no other way of getting to the Pyramids. You just had to go by camel, do the whole tourist thing. Dominic would laugh about it afterwards, he was sure of it.
“Jesus fucking Christ!” Dominic gripped hold of Elijah who was seated in front of him as the camel lurched forwards and then back.
Elijah couldn’t help giggling.
“It’s not funny, Lij!”
Elijah then laughed louder. “But I thought you liked Lawrence of Arabia, Dom!”
“Ha ha, very funny… Whoa… shit!”
The camel started to walk forwards, and it took a bit of manoeuvering to try and get themselves into a comfortable position, camels were certainly not the easiest mode of transport to sit upon.
Elijah heard Dominic grunt behind him, and felt him shifting this way and that.
“Don’t fucking ask for sex tonight Lij.” Dominic moaned. Christ, this could end up getting extremely painful! “Whose fucking idea was this anyway?... Bloody hell!…” Dominic shifted about some more.
“I’ll sit behind on the way back if you like.” Elijah suggested, grinning to himself as he looked down at the top of the camel owner’s head.
“It’s ok…it’s ok… think I got it.” Dominic held on to Elijah tightly with one hand as the other deftly re-arranged his most delicate parts. “There…” Dominic sighed with relief. “A few more minutes of that and I would have turned into a fucking eunuch.”
Elijah snorted… “So going commando on a camel is not recommended, then?”
“Too fucking right, Lij!”
“Fuck!” Dominic gripped hold of Elijah more tightly as the camel decided it would break into a trot! “Jesus!!!!!… Elijah fucking Wood, you are going to have to kiss me better tonight, and that’s no word of a fucking lie!”
Elijah couldn’t help laughing. And the thought of kissing Dominic’s balls better sounded pretty good to him.
Dominic had never been so relieved in his whole life when the camel finally came to a halt.
After a good deal of shouting and tugging the tout finally got the camel down on all four knees. Dominic scrambled off as quickly as he could. There was no way he was going back on it. Not in a million years!
“Pay him off, Lij! We’re walking back.” Dominic was bending forwards with both hands cupping his poor bruised genitals.
Elijah nodded, a look of sympathy on his face. He dug in his pocket for the appropriate money and told the owner that they did not want to continue with his services. The tout argued briefly, but when he realised that Elijah wasn’t expecting any change, he quickly got his camel up onto its feet, and then left them alone.
“Hey…Mister!” Elijah watched the camel and owner walk off to annoy someone else. “We didn’t get a photo!” He looked at Dominic, who was trying his best to stand up straight. “He didn’t take our photo, Dom.”
“For Christ sake, Lij! Come on!” Dominic took a deep breath as he took Elijah’s hand and they made their way to the entrance of the Cheop’s Pyramid, the largest in Egypt.
“Closed?” Elijah looked at Dominic with a ‘what the fuck expression’ on his face. “Our tickets are for all three Pyramids, right?”
Dominic nodded, and then said. “Well it looks like we’re buggered on this one.”
“Yeah, but why didn’t they say at the ticket office?”
“Elijah, fuck knows… maybe Ahabwhathisname has gone for a cup of tea, or something.”
“You’re not enjoying this, are you, Dom?” Elijah looked worriedly at Dominic. His features still looked a little on the pale side.
“Yes… yes I am. Come on… let’s try the next one. We can come back here later.”
Feeling a little disheartened that their first encounter with Egypt’s historic past was not going down too well, Elijah followed Dominic along to the next Pyramid. This one was open and there was a queue to get in.
Dominic and Elijah patiently waited in line, and as they neared the entrance to the tomb, their spirits lifted. At last, they were going to see for themselves the inside of one of mans greatest ever achievements.
It was hard work! No… it was more than hard work! Fucking backbreaking, muscle wrenching hard work. A steep low passageway was the only route to the burial chamber, and it was a long way down.
With shoulders hunched and heads held low, Dominic and Elijah slowly followed the other tourists down into the humid belly of the Pyramid. Never had Elijah been so glad of his lack of height as he was now. The descent seemed never ending before they finally emerged into the chamber. Grouped in with a bunch of other people they looked around the very unimpressive room.
No beautiful hieroglyphics on the wall, no treasures on the floor, nothing but plain walls, and an empty sarcophagus.
“Nice.” Dominic couldn’t help but feel disappointment. An aching back for this?
“Well it is old…” Elijah desperately tried to adjust his eye to the gloom of the room.
“Not much to see, is there?” Dominic walked over to the sarcophagus; a wizened old man holding a torch put his hand out for some money.
Dominic looked at the offered hand, and then over at Elijah. “What’s he want?”
Elijah shook his head, and then they watched a tall thin man drop some coins into the old man’s hand. And in return the old man shone the torch in the sarcophagus for a few seconds.
“Whoopee shit.” Dominic whispered into Elijah’s ear. “Don’t give much away, do they? Egyptian hospitality my fucking arse!”
Elijah sniggered, then he looked at Dominic with a ‘let’s get the fuck out of here’ look.
So they both returned to the surface. The way up was more difficult than the way down. The air was hot and stuffy, making it hard to breathe, and they were unable to look up for fear of banging their heads on the low ceiling.
Elijah tried not think of the sheer weight of rock above their heads as they made the slow ascent out of the Pyramid. He figured that if he thought about that for too long, he would never set foot into another structure like this. Not ever again!
The sunlight was blinding as they emerged into the fresh air, for indeed that’s how it felt. Before they knew it a tout was in their face offering them orange juice to drink, but Dominic managed to wave him off. Instead Elijah pulled a bottle of water from his bag. They both took long swigs from it. The water was warm and tasted disgusting.
“What I wouldn’t give for a nice cold beer!” Dominic wiped the sweat off his brow.
“Ride on camel?”
Dominic rolled his eyes at Elijah. “Come on, Lij. Let’s get the fuck out of here.” He suddenly had no desire to even check out the third Pyramid on their ticket.
“Sphinx…”
“Pardon?”
“We gotta see the Sphinx before we go.” Elijah had his hand up to his eyes shielding them from the sun.
“Aren’t we going to see that during the light show?” Dominic retrieved the bottle of water once more. Warm water or not, he was thirsty.
“It’s only over there, and besides we can get some photos of it now. The night ones might not work so well.”
“Americans… photo with camel? Twenty pounds.”
“No thank you…” Dominic totally ignored the tout as he spoke. “Which way?” he asked Elijah.
“Over there…” They both set off with touts hassling them, right left and centre, towards Giza’s other treasure, The Sphinx.
“Ok, Lij… smile.” Dominic took a photograph. He looked at it and nodded, and they swapped places.
“Photo with camel?”
Elijah ignored the same old question as he eyed up the shot. The Sphinx was a lot smaller than it appeared in books, and it looked in a sad state of repair, despite intensive restoration to it over the past few years.
“Americans… camel ride, take photo of all Pyramids! Good Egyptian hospitality. Only best for American visitors.”
This was becoming very tiresome.
“No thank you.” Elijah slipped the camera into his bag.
The tout gesticulated, pointing in an easterly direction. “Ali take you to good spot. Very friendly camel. Take photo of two Americans and Pyramids.”
Dominic came and stood by Elijah’s side. “Ready to go, Lij?”
“Ali’s camel take you back to car park. Very friendly camel. Ali’s camel likes Americans.”
Elijah raised his eyebrows in mock despair. “Yes, Dom,” he said. “I am ready to go.”
Dominic winked at Elijah, took hold of his hand and then turned to the tout. “These Americans not very friendly to camels. Now fucking piss off!”
They both left the tout with his camel, who only spent a few seconds digesting their response before moving onto the next poor defenseless tourist.
*
“What a place!” Dominic stripped off his dust and sweat encrusted t-shirt. Elijah followed suit.
“Ah… but it is good Egyptian hospitality!” Elijah put on a terrible Egyptian accent, as he kicked off his trainers and pulled off his jeans and boxers.
“Too fucking true!” Dominic dropped his shorts to the floor and headed for the shower. Elijah joined him just a couple of minutes later.
*
Elijah dropped to his knees and shuffled in closer. Dominic, who was sitting on the edge of their bed, opened his legs wider.
“Can you see anything?” he asked a little worriedly?
Elijah slipped his hand underneath Dominic’s balls so that they rested in his palm. He looked closely at them.
“No… nothing.”
“No bruising? You sure?”
“Lie back. I can’t see very well, I’m blocking the light.”
Dominic let his body fall back, leaving his knees dangling over the edge of the bed. Elijah crawled onto the bed beside him.
“So where does it hurt?” he asked softly.
“Here.” Dominic placed his fingers carefully on the area that had been sore.
“Ok.” Elijah shifted onto his knees and leant over Dominic’s naked body. He let his lips gently brush over the spot that Dominic had pointed to.
“Anywhere else?” Elijah kept his mouth hovering above Dominic’s groin. Dominic could feel Elijah’s warm breath due to his close proximity.
“Here…” Dominic pointed to another area.
“Ah yes…” Elijah cupped Dominic’s balls as gently as he could and he lowered his mouth and kissed them; letting his tongue, very lightly lick the ‘sore area’.
“Hmmm…. Dominic shifted slightly on the bed. Elijah’s tongue was the best medicine in the world.
“No swelling then?” Dominic closed his eyes as he felt Elijah’s tongue lap under his balls, causing shivers to run through the entire length of his body.
“Only one way to tell…” Elijah got off the bed and stood in between Dominic’s knees. “Scoot back a bit Dom… need some room.”
Dominic knew what was coming, and his cock, which had begun to respond earlier to Elijah’s soft kisses, gradually began to rise, and stiffen, leaving his balls free for Elijah’s mouth to do whatever it wanted.
Dominic couldn’t help but moan with pleasure; any pain that was there was totally encompassed by Elijah’s lips encircling him, first one testicle and then the other. Elijah’s mouth was warm and wet as his tongue slowly felt its way around the smooth orb that filled it.
“Hnnh… Lijah…” Dominic’s voice was merely a whisper. He looked down his body to Elijah’s mop of dark hair between his thighs.
Elijah looked up at him, after emptying his mouth. “Feel better?” he asked.
“Well… here is sore too…” Dominic laid his fingers on the base of his cock.
Elijah kissed it.
“And here… “ Dominic move his fingers upwards a little.
Elijah followed them with his mouth and pressed his lips down onto the hardness beneath.
“And here…” Dominic fingers traveled up a little further.
Elijah’s tongue swirled around them, and in between them.
“And here… “ Dominic’s fingers settled just beneath the head of his cock.
Elijah let the tip of his tongue run along the hard pink ridge above Dominic’s fingers.
“And here, most of all…” Dominic wrapped his fingers around his length and pushed his cock towards Elijah’s open mouth. He watched it slowly disappear as Elijah’s lips closed in around him.
“Jesus…” Dominic closed his eyes again and let his head fall back on the bed. He could stay here for fucking ever! He felt Elijah’s suction begin to increase, and the centre of his universe became focused on Elijah’s mouth so deliciously swallowing him whole. Dear God… the camel ride was almost fucking worth it.
Elijah bought him to orgasm within minutes… fucking incredible!
“My God… Lij…” Dominic’s tried to bring his breathing under control as he reached his hands down and ran his fingers through Elijah’s shower damp hair. He could still feel his thighs trembling as Elijah finally withdrew his mouth and crawled up onto the bed, slowly lowering himself onto Dominic’s body as he did so.
Dominic kissed Elijah’s swollen lips, tasting himself on his tongue. He could feel Elijah’s cock pressing hard against his groin. “Fuck me, Lijah…” he whispered as his mouth momentarily pulled away, before going in for another kiss. “Want you to fuck me…”
Dominic bent his knees and raised his feet up onto the bed. “Lijah…” Dominic placed his hands on each side of Elijah’s face, and broke the deep kiss that Elijah was giving him. He looked at Elijah’s eyes, hooded in their desire for him. “Baby… Lij…make love to me…”
Elijah kissed Dominic again, before getting to his knees. Dominic eyed Elijah’s cock as it stood up and out from his body. “Jesus… Lij…”
Elijah twisted around to reach the lubricant hidden underneath the pillow. He quickly removed the lid and gave the tube to Dominic, who proceeded to coat Elijah’s cock thickly with the substance.
Elijah’s eyes never left Dominic’s; both of them watched each other as their preparation continued.
“Love you…” Elijah silently mouthed the words to Dominic.
“Love you too.” Dominic replied without a sound.
Then Elijah hitched Dominic’s legs over his shoulders, and with lubed fingers he made a final check that Dominic was ready to receive him, then he slowly pushed in.
***
14 April 2005
Writing this by the poolside. Dom is dozing beside me. The poor bastard has not had a lot of luck on this holiday, first he was sick in Sweden, then fucking Istanbul, and now this, and I’ve watched what he has eaten like a hawk.
But I have to admit that the hotel have been fucking fantastic! Dom spent most of yesterday morning on the toilet, and when I enquired at reception for some advice regarding a pharmacy, they told me that they had their own doctor, and he was with Dom within half an hour of my enquiry.
The medicine he gave Dom is a fucking miracle in a bottle. Dom was back on his feet by late yesterday afternoon, and has not had a problem since, apart from feeling a little weak, which is not surprising.
Africa is not going to be an easy country to get through, in terms of not getting ill, and I thought about this a great deal, when we were back home. Dom is obviously more susceptible to bugs and things than me, which is incredible really because he’s the fitness fanatic. You would think it would be the other way around.
Anyway, before we leave here, I am going to ask for a few extra bottles of this, whatever-it-is called medicine, to take with us. I’m sure we will need it again at some point during our travels. This stuff and our malaria pills are going to be our constant companions! No doubt about that at all.
Unfortunately we had to cancel the trip to Dahshur, that should have taken place yesterday, and today we were going to visit the museum to see all the Egyptian treasures, but Dom has needed to rest. I insisted on it, told him we can go to the museum tomorrow. We have two days left here before we fly to Luxor to pick up our cruise ship.
We have plenty of time.
***
The journey to the Egyptian Museum was an eye-opener. In fact it was akin to a fucking death wish.
Dominic had decided on one word to sum up all drivers in the city of Cairo. Maniacs! No… lets make it two words. Fucking maniacs.
What a nightmare! As the taxi honked and swerved its way through the heaving streets, Elijah managed to get a glimpse of city life as he looked out through the dirty car window. Everything looked like it was covered in a fine layer of dust and he wondered if it was from the desert or just plain city filth.
When the taxi finally reached its destination, the driver asked Dominic and Elijah what time they would like to leave, so that he could find somewhere to park and wait.
“Not sure…” Dominic looked at his watch, it was almost noon. He wanted to take his time looking around this museum, and they had hours to kill before the Light and Sound show at the wonderful ‘would you like to ride a camel’ Giza Pyramids. “Can we call the hotel?” he asked.
The driver shook his head. “I wait, here.”
“I dunno.” Dominic looked at Elijah. “Lij. What do you think?”
Elijah shrugged his shoulders, as he opened his door. “There are plenty of cabs, he doesn’t need to wait.”
“We’ll get another taxi back.” Dominic opened his side of taxi and got out. The din of the city traffic drowned out the taxi-drivers reply.
“Not recommended,” he called after them. “Only hotel taxi.” But they hadn’t heard him and were already making their way to the entrance of the museum.
The taxi-driver swore quietly, in his own language. “Stupid Americans.” Then he pulled out into the chaos of Cairo’s traffic system.
Dominic paid the entrance fee and the fee to take in his camera, and he also paid out an extortionate amount of money for a museum guidebook for Elijah. Then they both stood patiently as an armed Tourist Policeman searched Elijah’s bag. Finally they were waved through.
“Ok… where do we start?” Dominic looked around. The museum was very busy.
“Let me see.” Elijah quickly scanned the map of the museum at the front of his book.
“Tutankhamun Exhibition. We’re going to be seeing the tomb next week. Shall we start there?”
“Sounds good to me.” They both headed for the stairs to the first floor.
The exhibition was busy but not overly so, and they managed to have a good look at all the exhibits.
“Wish they would turn the lights up…” Dominic stood staring at the incredibly impressive Death Mask of the long dead young Pharaoh.
Elijah stood beside him. The mask was situated in the middle of the room, and seemed to have a spiritual essence of its own as it glowed under the deliberately set low lighting.
“That is fucking awesome… I mean it.” Elijah looked on appreciatively at the ancient artifact. “That is worth the whole trip to Cairo. Definitely.”
Dominic nodded in agreement. After thousands of years hidden from living human eyes, the boy king’s effigy had an overwhelming power to command attention. The gold, lapis, jade and carnelian stones still held their magnificent lustre and probably looked no different now than when the young Pharaoh was laid to rest, centuries ago.
Dominic took a photograph. Flash was not allowed so he didn’t hold out much hope for any decent results. Then they looked at all the other treasures, but found that they were compelled to return, time and time again to look at the mask. It truly was otherworldly.
The rest of the museum was chock-full of statues, carvings, jewellery, mummy cases and all manner of preserved bits and pieces from pre-Dynastic times through to the arrival of Islam in Egypt. Looking at it all was mind boggling, and quite exhausting.
Dominic looked at his watched and was surprised to find that they had already spent over three hours looking around the museum. Time had flown by.
“You want to go?” Elijah asked Dominic as he took another look at the museum map.
“Sort of…” Dominic felt that he had seen enough antiquities for one afternoon, and he was beginning to feel hungry. He had not eaten much for the last two days.
Elijah chewed his lip in deep thought. “Well, we may not get the chance to come back here,” he said. “And there is one more exhibit I would like to see. You up for that?”
“Bring it on, Lij. Lead the way.”
The Mummy Room held twelve well-preserved mummies, and both Elijah and Dominic’s pace slowed as they entered the room.
There was no doubt that the exhibit was spooky, or scary, or something. Dominic tried to think of an appropriate word, but couldn’t. The twelve mummies were from different time periods of Egypt’s past, and the preservation of their bodies was breath taking! Their legs and torsos were covered, but their faces and hands were exposed, and they acted like a magnet, drawing you in. You didn’t want to look, because they were dead, but you couldn’t take your eyes off them, because they were dead!
Freaky… yep, good word. Dominic walked over to a large glass case and peered in. Elijah came and stood by his side.
Rameses II looked back at them. Well not looked, everyone knows that they don’t look, can’t look, but it fucking feels like they are staring right at you.
“Jesus, this is creepy…” Dominic shivered. Preserving the dead, embalming loved ones in the hope that one day they will be re-united. He shivered again.
Elijah slipped his hand into Dominic’s as they continued to stare at the dead Pharaoh.
“Poor fucker never thought he would end up thousands of years later being ogled at by hundreds of people, did he?” Dominic wasn’t sure if he’s made a statement or asked a question.
“No…” Elijah’s voice was on the quiet side. “No, he didn’t.”
They continued to stare.
“Wonder if he will come back?” Elijah muttered
“Lij?”
“You know, all these mummies. Maybe the Egyptians knew something that we didn’t.”
Dominic looked at Elijah, unsure if he was serious or not.
“Well I can tell you one thing, Elijah. You’ve been in here too long!”
Elijah chuckled.
“Time to go.” Dominic pulled Elijah away from the long dead king and his eternal see-through grave.
Elijah nodded, and they made their way out of the museum.
The heat hit them, immediately as they stepped outside, God only knows how hot it gets during the long summer months.
“Ok…” Dominic looked totally unsure of what to do next. “We’d better get a taxi.”
They both strode along the pavement looking for a taxi, any taxi; there were seemingly hundreds of them when they were dropped off earlier, and now there were none to be seen.
“Fucking typical…” Dominic mumbled.
“Over there!” Elijah pointed across the road. “I think…hmm, maybe not.”
“Let’s cross anyway, Lij. More shade over there.”
Well, crossing a road in Cairo is like taking your life into your own hands, making it across alive was the aim of the game.
“Jesus! Which side of the fucking road, are they supposed to be on?!” Elijah looked on in utter bewilderment, as they waited to cross. “Anything fucking goes, by the looks of it.”
They made three attempts before deciding to abandon the idea. Then there was a slight lull in the traffic.
“Fucking now Lij!” Dominic grabbed Elijah’s hand and dragged him across the street; they made it with seconds to spare as a black Mercedes roared around the corner, the driver’s hand seemingly glued to its horn.
“Crazy bastards!” Dominic watched the car disappear into the realms of chaos, which in the US was known as a road junction.
Elijah was crouched on the pavement rubbing his ankle.
“You ok, Lij?” Dominic frowned.
“Yeah, its just a twinge. I turned it slightly on the broken paving.”
“You sure? You’ve not had any problems with it lately?”
“Its fine.” Elijah stood up. He looked up and down the street. “Which way?”
“Good afternoon!!” A deep voice behind them made them turn around.
“Americans?”
Dominic and Elijah remained silent as they stared at the heavyset man standing in front of them.
“You enjoy museum? Is very beautiful. Have you been to Pyramids? I have cousin with camel at Pyramids.”
“Yes, we’ve been to the Pyramids.” Elijah replied, wondering if he could ask this local where they could catch a cab.
“Very good.”
“Umm…” Elijah went to ask the question but was stopped in mid air.
“Tell me, my American friends. How long in Cairo?”
“Two more days.” Elijah felt Dominic jab him painfully in the side as he replied.
“Not long. You like perfume? Make very good souvenir.”
“I can well imagine.” Dominic sarcastically replied. Fucking odor a la camel shit?
“Actually, we need to find a cab.” Elijah ignored Dominic’s protesting nudges.
“Cab? Ahh… taxi. Yes. Please come with me. Come to shop. Right here.” The perfume man said pointing to a shop only a few feet away.
Dominic and Elijah looked at each other. No way, Dominic thought.
“Please. No need to buy! I call you taxi from shop.”
Dominic was just about to decline the offer when he saw Elijah nod in acceptance. What the fuck!!!! Not a good idea, Lij, no fucking way! Remember what happened before!!
“After you…” Mr Perfume stood back and indicated the way.
Dominic was just about to take Elijah by the arm and lead him away from this unknown hawker, when Elijah suddenly strode purposely to the small entrance of the shop. He didn’t look back at Dominic. He knew exactly what Dominic was thinking.
“Fucking hell, Lij.” Dominic grumbled. This is not a good idea. He reluctantly followed Elijah into the dimly lit shop.
“Shai? Coffee? Water?” Asked Mr Perfume as he indicated to Dominic and Elijah that they should take a seat. They both sat down. The place was a fucking dump… perfume shop my ass.
“No thank you,” they said in unison as they declined the offer of a drink.
“Free, my good friends. Egyptian hospitality.”
They both shook their heads, Dominic didn’t like this one little bit.
“Cigarette?” Mr Perfume pulled out a crumpled packet from his trouser pocket.
“No...” Dominic raised his hands. They had to get out of here. Elijah had to get out of here. The last time they were in a position like this was when he had insisted that they look for fucking carpets in Istanbul, and look what that bloody led to.
Dominic glanced at Elijah, wondering if he was thinking and feeling the same thing, then he looked at Mr Perfume. “You were going to call a taxi?”
“Yes, yes, my friends.” Mr Perfume stood up and called through an open door at the back of the shop. “Ahmed!!”
What he said next they couldn’t understand.
Dominic felt decidedly unnerved. Elijah smiled weakly at him; the sense of déjà vu was fucking overwhelming.
A young man appeared in the doorway, and Elijah shifted in his seat as the man stared at him.
Mr Perfume spoke to this man at great length; both men kept looking over at Dominic and Elijah, Ahmed even pointed to Elijah, and Elijah suddenly felt ill.
“Which hotel?” Mr Perfume asked.
“Ok, I think we should leave.” Dominic stood up.
“Leave?” Mr Perfume looked surprised. Ahmed continued to stare at Elijah.
“Lij, come on.” Dominic looked down at Elijah who hadn’t moved.
Elijah took in a deep breath, and wiped his brow, he hadn’t realised that he had been sweating so much, and it wasn’t just from the heat. “No, it’s ok, Dom,” he said. “Sit down.”
“Lij…?” Dominic remained standing.
“Really…” Elijah looked at Mr Perfume, and tried to keep his voice as steady as possible. “Can I see some of your perfumes please?”
“Lijah!” Dominic placed his hand on Elijah’s shoulder, but Elijah shrugged it off.
Dominic then sat back down, heavily. He wasn’t happy. What the fuck was Elijah playing at?
“Yes, yes…” Mr Perfume stood up and unlocked one of the dirty glass cabinets. He removed various bottles as he launched into a long speech explaining how Egyptian perfume, and his perfume in particular, was vastly superior to any other fragrances in the world.
“Secret…” he grinned broadly at his small audience. “No oil. No oil means cheaper price.”
“You have girlfriend, yes?” He looked directly at Dominic. “This perfume superior to others.” He retrieved a large jar and removed the lid. He then struck a match and held it inside the glass container. Nothing happened.
“See no oil, no fire.”
Dominic looked immensely unimpressed by the whole show; he just wanted to get Elijah the fuck out of there.
“How much?” Elijah asked.
Dominic glared at him. “Are you fucking insane?” he whispered.
“For you, good price.” Mr Perfume replaced the large jar into the cabinet and began to wrap a small glass bottle in tissue paper.
“Eighty pounds… special price.”
“What the fuck…” Dominic stood up.
“It’s ok, Dom.” Elijah put up his hand to stop Dominic. “And the cab?” Elijah asked. “We’re staying at the Mena Hotel.”
“Fuck…” Dominic sat back down again. What the fuck was Elijah doing?
“Good, very nice hotel. Near Pyramids. I have cousin with camel.
“Yes.” Elijah nodded. “You already told us.”
Mr Perfume smiled, then looked at Ahmed and spoke to him. Ahmed, who still had not taken his eyes off Elijah, glanced over at Dominic, who was scowling at him. Then Ahmed disappeared out of the shop.
Elijah paid the rip-off sum of money for the bottle of perfume. What the fuck he was going to do with it, he had no idea.
Mr Perfume placed it in a box with the words Nefertiti written upon it in a tacky gold type.
Wonderful, Elijah thought as he took the package off the Egyptian.
Ahmed reappeared and spoke to Mr Perfume who then looked at Dominic and Elijah.
“Taxi outside to take you to hotel.”
Dominic stood up; he couldn’t get out of this shop fast enough.
“Thank you my friends.” Mr Perfume held out his hand, and Elijah shook it, while Dominic ignored it. “Enjoy rest of your stay.”
Ahmed kept the door open for them as they stepped out into the heat of Cairo’s late afternoon sun.
A Taxi was waiting by the kerb. Ahmed leaned his head in through the window and talked to the driver, and then stepped backwards.
“Goodbye.” He said to Dominic and Elijah as they crawled into the back of the dirty vehicle.
The taxi sped off almost immediately.
“Well, what the fuck was that all about, Lij?” Dominic felt incredibly pissed off.
Elijah turned to Dominic. “I know you’re not happy about it Dom, and I know what you were thinking, and I thought about it too. But I’m not going to be afraid. I’m not going to let what happened interfere with my life. I’m not...”
Dominic swallowed hard, as he looked at his lover’s pained face. “Oh, Lijah.” He took hold of Elijah’s hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “I’m sorry…”
“It’s ok…” Elijah looked out through the grime on the car window. “Really, Dom. It’s ok.”
Elijah was quiet for the rest of the journey, and as soon as they returned to their hotel he dropped the bottle of perfume into the nearest waste receptacle. As he did so he looked at Dominic and slowly smiled.
“Only place for it,” he finally said.
Dominic nodded in agreement.
Elijah paused for a moment and then looked at his watch. “Come on, let’s get some food. I’m fucking starving, and we have to get ready for the coach in two hours.”
Dominic had a sudden urge to take Elijah in his arms and kiss him in front of everyone… God, he was so fucking special!
*
“We have some time…” Dominic walked out onto the balcony, admiring the view, as the dying rays of the sun turned the Pyramids to gold. He looked over his shoulder at Elijah who had just finished getting changed. “Let’s go for a walk, Lij.”
They walked in silence for a while, hand in hand through the jasmine scented gardens. The light was fading rapidly, and the air had turned noticeably cooler.
Elijah came to a stop. “What is it, Dom?” From past experience, especially during their time in New Zealand, Elijah knew that ‘going for a walk’ meant that Dominic wanted to talk.
Dominic stood in front of Elijah, and then reached out and took his other hand so that he held on tightly to both of them.
“I just want to tell you that I love you, Elijah. I feel that I haven’t said it enough to you these past few weeks.”
Elijah smiled. “You say it all the time, Dom.” He brought Dominic’s hands to his mouth and kissed them.
“Not enough, though…” Dominic felt his eyes suddenly begin water as he looked into Elijah’s face. “Never enough.”
Then he cupped Elijah’s chin in his hand and pressed his lips very gently to his mouth. He felt Elijah’s arms wrap around his body, as their kiss continued. Then Dominic broke the kiss and rested his head on Elijah’s shoulder. Never enough, my Lijah, he thought. God, I love you so much.
Elijah pulled back, and took Dominic’s hand again. “Come on,” he said. “Or we’ll miss the show.”
Dominic wiped his eyes, nodded and then smiled. “No camels, right?”
Elijah laughed “See… that’s why I fucking love you!”
Elijah kissed Dominic again before they made their way back into the hotel.
tbc
Author/Email: Salogel (salogel42@hotmail.com)
Pairing: Dom/Elijah
Rating: NC17 (for sexual situations)
Summary: Dom and Lij arrive in Cairo, Egypt.
WARNING: None
Feedback: Yes please
Archive:LOTR Gutter
Disclaimer: None of this happened or will ever happen. It is all made up in my overactive mind.
Additional Notes: Any flashbacks are written as they happened, and not necessarily as a point of view.
Previous chapters can be found here.
World Trip
Chapter 23 – Cairo, Egypt
10 April 2005
Sometimes I feel like a thief in the night, sneaking off while Dom is sleeping, but it’s the only way I can work on the project that I am planning for both of us.
I’ve just this second logged off the Internet, and it’s 2 in the morning! The staff here must be wondering what the fuck I’m on!
And Sala!!!! Twenty fucking e-mails! He’s been going frantic wondering why I haven’t been in touch. Well, it’s going to take some time to trawl through them all and send him the information that he requires. I can quite honestly see a few more midnight foray’s taking place during our stay here.
I’ve no choice really… I’m going to have to get the majority of this sorted and finalized before we leave Egypt. Fuck knows when I’ll next get the chance for any Internet connection. Probably not until we reach South Africa, and Sala’s last e-mail has more or less demanded a final date that he can work to.
I’ve thought about the timing of this project, this gift for Dom, long and hard while we were on the boat, and I reckon a week out of our schedule in Australia will do it… the last week in September is fucking perfect. It couldn’t be better… it’ll be the five year anniversary of when we first met. So we’ll go back there, to New Zealand, and with Sala’s help (Christ I fucking hope he can pull this off) it’ll be the most perfect time for Dom… well… for the both of us.
Right, before I sneak back into bed I must just recap the last twenty-four hours; I may not get time later on today.
We flew out of Athens last night… just a few short hours ago. Staying at an airport hotel does have its advantages, except for the fucking noise! We spent the whole afternoon before our flight shopping and replenishing practically everything, and before we checked out of our room we had to make a decision on what to leave behind. We had to make room in our luggage for our hot weather gear! Shorts, t-shirts… Dom almost bought out the entire fucking clothing store!!! And sun cream - factor zilch for Dom and fucking factor five million for me!
We called our families, and both were relieved to hear from us. We had to wait until we’d arrived back in Athens to recharge our cells before we could call anyone. I told Mom that we had been on a four-week boat trip, because she asked why we had changed our plans. She had received e-mails from all the hotels I had cancelled, requiring confirmation. She didn’t have a clue about what was going on. I just told her it seemed like a good idea at the time, and that we both enjoyed the solitude. That’s all she needed to know.
And now we have two weeks here in Egypt – just over three whole months in Africa. And Dom is finally going to get the heat and sunshine that he has craved for so long.
Africa is going to be good – I can feel it. And it will be especially good for Dom. I know that Africa is the one country on our world trip that he has been looking forward to visiting, more than anything.
You know… I fucking love this happier Dom! There’s no looking back now, no fucking way! Dom as he is now is… is… ‘Life Worth Living’. Does that fucking sound right?
He did scare me on the boat though – I thought I was losing him. There was no way I could have gone on with that – and neither could Dom…
Shit… I’m making a decision right now. I’m not going to write about what happened anymore!!!!
BECAUSE LIFE IS FUCKING GOOD RIGHT NOW!
Right… better end now and return to the room. I’ve been here for almost forty minutes – and in five more, Dom will be awake and wondering where I am. His internal alarm never fails! No wonder he can never sleep when we are separated.
And in the morning! Yes! Can’t wait to see Dom’s face when he looks out of our window. The view is going to fucking blow him away!
**
“Lij! Wake up!”
Elijah was buried underneath the cotton sheets as Dominic’s words drifted into his waking mind.
“Elijah! You gotta fucking see this!”
Dominic’s voice sounded far away as Elijah shifted his body, desperately trying to cling onto the last vestiges of sleep.
“Lij!”
Dominic’s voice boomed in Elijah’s ear as the bed covers were yanked off him.
“Come on! Get up!”
Elijah grunted his disapproval and went to pull the covers back over his naked body. But instead he felt Dominic’s hand take hold of his and haul him out of bed.
“You gotta see this, Lijah. Here…” Dominic picked up Elijah’s glasses and placed them gently onto his partner’s sleepy face. Then he led him out onto the balcony.
“Look at that… just fucking look at that!” Dominic gripped hold of the wooden balustrade, which encircled their private balcony. “Fucking incredible… That...” Dominic pointed to the view. “That is… that is…”
“Fucking awesome...” Elijah stood beside Dominic as they looked out at the Giza Pyramids.
Elijah knew the view was going to be good. The pictures he had seen of this hotel and the reports he had read about it, when he had planned their trip last year, was the reason why he had booked it. But the images he had seen on the computer screen were nothing compared to this. The Pyramids were so fucking close, it was as if you could just reach out and touch them.
“I gotta get a fucking picture of this!” Dominic quickly vanished back inside the room, and then reappeared with camera in hand.
“Turn around, Lij.”
“Dom… I’m naked!” Elijah protested.
“Yeah… nice.” Dominic smiled as he raised his camera to eye level.
“Dom!”
“What?”
“Don’t!”
“Too late!” Dominic grinned as he pressed the button to view the image.
“No fucking way!” Elijah walked into the room his hand outstretched demanding that Dominic hand over the camera
“Hmm…nice naked hobbit…” Dominic teased as he backed away. “Could shag that hobbit!”
“Camera please!” Elijah advanced on Dominic.
“Oooh, stay there Lij. I love it when you’re pissed at me!” Dominic took another photograph, the flash momentarily blinded Elijah.
“You bastard!” Elijah didn’t know whether to laugh or curse. He stood where he was, both hands on hips, a defiant look on his face.
“That’s it, Lij! Strike the pose!” Another flash went off as Dominic pressed the shutter again.
“You really are a cunt, Monaghan!” Elijah half grinned as he swiveled on his feet following Dominic’s progress around the room.
Another flash, and then a very long pause as Dominic took his time viewing the new image.
“What?” Elijah frowned. “What is it?”
“You…” Dominic looked up at Elijah, his expression now serious. He then looked at the camera screen again. “You’re fucking beautiful!”
“Dom!”
“Well you are… look!” Dominic turned the camera around so that Elijah could see it.
“Ermm… no thanks.” Elijah turned away feeling a little embarrassed.
“But…” Dominic quickly tossed the camera onto the bed and stepped in behind Elijah. “Who needs images when I have the real thing right here… all to myself?”
Elijah felt Dominic’s warm arms slip around his bare torso, and he felt Dominic’s mouth place a gentle kiss on the back of his neck.
“You’re crawling Monaghan…” Elijah mildly protested, but felt himself giving in to Dominic’s caresses and kisses.
“Hmm… no, not crawling… just wanting. This is nice… so nice… my Lijah…” Dominic kissed Elijah just beneath his ear, and he enjoyed the way Elijah’s pressed his body back into his as he did so.
“Hmm...” Dominic murmured again. “You feel good, Lij. You always feel so fucking good.” Dominic continued to lick and suck gently on Elijah’s skin, knowing that that area under his mouth was one of Elijah’s weakest spots.
Dominic slowly lowered his hand and cupped Elijah’s balls before moving on to grasp his hardening erection. As Dominic felt Elijah’s cock swell in his hand, he pressed his own hardness against Elijah’s buttocks.
“Hmm, Lijah… can you feel me?” Dominic whispered as he moved his groin against Elijah, increasing the exquisite friction he could feel on his cock. “Can you feel how much I fucking want you?” Dominic increased the pressure of his mouth and sucked a little harder as he moved his tongue and lips along the side of Elijah’s neck, down towards his collarbone. At the same time his hand began gently stroking Elijah’s erection. God how he loved feeling the weight of it in his hand, so thick and heavy.
Dominic closed his eyes as he carried on kissing Elijah. Just knowing that his very presence, with the touch of his mouth, the sweep of his lips, the stroke of his hand, could bring his Elijah to such instant arousal, was a wondrous feeling. Christ he fucking loved this man so much.
Elijah turned his head towards Dominic, who immediately raised his mouth to kiss Elijah on the lips.
“God… Lij…” Dominic pulled his mouth away releasing Elijah’s cock at the same time. He then used both his hands to turn Elijah around to face him.
They looked at each other for a few moments… Dominic’s gaze ran down the entire length of Elijah’s body and fell on his arousal, so hard, and jutting out in front of him.
“Jesus… Lijah…” Dominic took hold of Elijah’s hand and pressed it against his own erection, which was hidden behind his sweatpants. “I fucking want you…”
Elijah pressed his hand firmly against Dominic, feeling the solid ridge beneath the fabric. He began to rub the bulge gently at first, feeling the heat through the thin material. Then he looked down at his hand as it stroked the hidden flesh beneath it. He took a small pace forward so that his cock nudged against Dominic’s, and he looked up into Dominic’s face.
God, I love you, Dom…fucking want you too…
Then suddenly, their mouths met in a clash of teeth, lips and probing tongues… as Elijah pushed himself against Dominic forcing them both to stumble backwards and fall onto the bed.
“Get these off…” Elijah mumbled as he rolled Dominic onto his back and began fumbling with the drawstring of his sweatpants. He wanted to feel Dominic’s naked skin against his own; he wanted to feel their cocks rub together. He wanted to take Dominic in his mouth, Christ he wanted him… all of him… every last fucking inch of him…
*
“This is fucking amazing.” Dominic locked the room door behind him as he followed Elijah into the corridor. Freshly showered and shaved they had both decided it was time to eat a late breakfast, and then explore this vast hotel complex, which was going to be their home for the next few days.
“How do you do it, Lij?” Dominic took hold of Elijah’s hand as they followed the signs to the Greenery Restaurant. “I mean look at it… it’s like a fucking dream…”
Elijah smiled. “Wait until you see the main area, Dom. This is nothing. Lots of famous people have stayed here in the past, you know. Royalty, Presidents, Generals.”
“And now two hobbits… including Frodo of the Shire.” Dominic joked.
“Yeah, well… let’s hope no-one figures that one out. I’ve kind of gotten used to the anonymity we had on the boat.”
Dominic nodded in agreement. “Me too… the boat was good.” They both walked on in silence for a few moments before Dominic asked the question.
“Do you think Danae knew who we were, Lij? Because if she did, well… she never said a word. Not once.”
Elijah shook his head. “I have no idea. But if she did know… then I guess I like and respect her even more for not saying anything. We had a good time on that boat Dom… and that would not have happened without her.”
“I know… I know, Lij.” Dominic thought for a moment. “And we mustn’t forget to e-mail her a copy of that photo before we send the card off to your mum. I wonder if this hotel has got the Internet facilities to do that. It should have, shouldn’t it? We’ll have to ask.”
Elijah didn’t say anything. He stopped by the door that led into the restaurant. It was now late morning and only a few guests were sat at a handful of tables. They entered and immediately made their way out onto the terrace, which overlooked the Pyramids. As they sat down Elijah opened the guidebook to Egypt that he had purchased at the airport the day before, while waiting for their visas to be approved.
Dominic smiled at him. “So when do we get to go there?” He pointed to the magnificent view.
“Day after tomorrow…” Elijah looked up briefly from the book. “It’s not far away… we could see it all in a morning. It’ll be cooler then, too. Apparently the Pyramids can get pretty hot inside.”
“Really?” Dominic was genuinely surprised by that comment. “I always thought they would be cool, you know, on account of the bloody fuck-off big stones that they are built with.”
Elijah laughed. “You would think that would be the case, wouldn’t you. But it’s not.”
“Gentlemen?”
They both looked up at waiter who was waiting to take their order.
*
“Hey, sleepy… anyone would think you had been up all night.” Dominic flopped down on the sun lounger next to Elijah’s. He had been in the pool, which had felt icy cold at first, and had enjoyed an invigorating swim.
He had tried to encourage Elijah to join him, but Elijah had insisted that he plan out their itinerary before their trip on the Nile. Their time in Egypt had been reduced from four weeks to two, after Dominic’s extra excursion on the Orient Express back in February. Not that Elijah was complaining… it was just that they would have to miss out on some places and cram in others.
As Elijah watched Dominic slip into the water, he had leant back on the lounger, resting his note pad on his stomach, and then slowly began to nod off. The garden area of the hotel was beautiful, with plenty of trees giving shade from the sun, which was already powerful for this time of year. Warm sun… comfortable seat… Elijah had fallen asleep within minutes.
“Want a drink?” Dominic rubbed himself dry with a towel.
“Hmmm…” Elijah sat up, grabbing his guidebook and notepad before they fell to the ground. “That would be nice.”
Dominic dug out some money from his shorts pocket and made his way over to the small poolside coffee bar. While he waited for the waiter to prepare their drinks he looked back over at the pool area, still momentarily stunned that it was framed by the Pyramids in the distance. Never before had he seen anything like this. Pictures in books, and images on TV screens did nothing to prepare you for seeing them with your own eyes.
Fucking awesome sight!
“Thanks.” Elijah took the ice cold drink from Dominic, and sipped it slowly through the straw.
“So what’s the plan then, Lij?” Dominic picked up the guidebook and flicked through it.
“Well…” Elijah scratched his head. “The Giza Pyramids of course, and the light show, and the Egyptian Museum, and maybe a trip out to Dahshur.
“Dahshur?” Dominic placed the book on the ground.
“It looks very interesting, there are more pyramids there… it’s a bit out of the way though. We’ll have to ask at reception about tours there. They must do them.”
“Sounds good…” Dominic sought out his sunglasses from the small bag that Elijah had brought with them, and moved his lounger out of the shade into the full glare of the sun. He settled back onto it.
“God… this is the life!” He reached his hand out and rested it on Elijah’s warm thigh. “I think I’m falling in love with Egypt, Lij!”
Elijah laughed quietly, and took hold of Dominic’s hand. “Me too.”
***
The receptionist indicated to Dominic and Elijah that the taxi had arrived to take them to the Giza Pyramids. She also advised them that it was the hotel’s policy that all guests use the same taxi for their return trip. The hotel-approved drivers were well used to long waits outside museums and other attractions.
They arrived at the ancient site after a very short journey, and discovered that not only was it hot but very dusty too. They patiently waited in line to buy the tickets to go inside the monuments. The area was very busy with other tourists, and there were groups of locals hanging around with camels and horses, all eager to take you on an unforgettable tour around the 7th Wonder of the World!!
“Want to go on a camel?” Elijah asked Dominic as they began walking towards the first of the Pyramids.
“Fuck off!” Dominic was not impressed by any of the hawkers, or touts as they soon learnt the correct name for them.
“Picture with camel?” A scruffy looking individual walked right into their path. “Photo by beautiful pyramid. You sit on camel?”
“No thank you.” Dominic tried to be polite.
“Long way, very hot. Only 20 pounds.”
“That’s not bad.” Elijah quickly calculated the cost in his mind.
“Lij!” Dominic pulled Elijah out of the way of the tout.
“Very hot… camel quicker.”
“No thank you.” Dominic took Elijah’s hand as they tried to make progress once again.
“Look after you. Camel very friendly. Take you to Khufu… Cheops. Wait while Americans look around… then take you to Khafre… Chephren…
“Look, mister…” Dominic glanced about him and saw many of the other tourists being hassled by various camel owners. “We’re not interested.”
“Very hot… too hot to walk. Skin burn… camel quick.”
“Fucking hell…” Dominic rolled his eyes as he sidestepped the tout once more.
The camel made a strange protesting noise as its owner tugged at the leash attached to its muzzle.
“Twenty pound good price… good Egyptian hospitality. Look after Americans.”
Dominic sighed in resignation as he looked around again, and saw other tourists climbing onto the backs of weary looking camels.
“Do we have a fucking choice?” Dominic looked at the hairy beast as its owner pulled its head down so that its front legs bent at the knees. The owner then hit the camel’s rear, shouting god knows what at it, obviously trying to encourage it to lower its rump which was stuck high up in the air. And the fucking animal stank.
“Can’t believe we’re going to fucking ride on this!” Dominic looked mournfully at Elijah.
Elijah tried to hide a smile. For himself, there was no other way of getting to the Pyramids. You just had to go by camel, do the whole tourist thing. Dominic would laugh about it afterwards, he was sure of it.
“Jesus fucking Christ!” Dominic gripped hold of Elijah who was seated in front of him as the camel lurched forwards and then back.
Elijah couldn’t help giggling.
“It’s not funny, Lij!”
Elijah then laughed louder. “But I thought you liked Lawrence of Arabia, Dom!”
“Ha ha, very funny… Whoa… shit!”
The camel started to walk forwards, and it took a bit of manoeuvering to try and get themselves into a comfortable position, camels were certainly not the easiest mode of transport to sit upon.
Elijah heard Dominic grunt behind him, and felt him shifting this way and that.
“Don’t fucking ask for sex tonight Lij.” Dominic moaned. Christ, this could end up getting extremely painful! “Whose fucking idea was this anyway?... Bloody hell!…” Dominic shifted about some more.
“I’ll sit behind on the way back if you like.” Elijah suggested, grinning to himself as he looked down at the top of the camel owner’s head.
“It’s ok…it’s ok… think I got it.” Dominic held on to Elijah tightly with one hand as the other deftly re-arranged his most delicate parts. “There…” Dominic sighed with relief. “A few more minutes of that and I would have turned into a fucking eunuch.”
Elijah snorted… “So going commando on a camel is not recommended, then?”
“Too fucking right, Lij!”
“Fuck!” Dominic gripped hold of Elijah more tightly as the camel decided it would break into a trot! “Jesus!!!!!… Elijah fucking Wood, you are going to have to kiss me better tonight, and that’s no word of a fucking lie!”
Elijah couldn’t help laughing. And the thought of kissing Dominic’s balls better sounded pretty good to him.
Dominic had never been so relieved in his whole life when the camel finally came to a halt.
After a good deal of shouting and tugging the tout finally got the camel down on all four knees. Dominic scrambled off as quickly as he could. There was no way he was going back on it. Not in a million years!
“Pay him off, Lij! We’re walking back.” Dominic was bending forwards with both hands cupping his poor bruised genitals.
Elijah nodded, a look of sympathy on his face. He dug in his pocket for the appropriate money and told the owner that they did not want to continue with his services. The tout argued briefly, but when he realised that Elijah wasn’t expecting any change, he quickly got his camel up onto its feet, and then left them alone.
“Hey…Mister!” Elijah watched the camel and owner walk off to annoy someone else. “We didn’t get a photo!” He looked at Dominic, who was trying his best to stand up straight. “He didn’t take our photo, Dom.”
“For Christ sake, Lij! Come on!” Dominic took a deep breath as he took Elijah’s hand and they made their way to the entrance of the Cheop’s Pyramid, the largest in Egypt.
“Closed?” Elijah looked at Dominic with a ‘what the fuck expression’ on his face. “Our tickets are for all three Pyramids, right?”
Dominic nodded, and then said. “Well it looks like we’re buggered on this one.”
“Yeah, but why didn’t they say at the ticket office?”
“Elijah, fuck knows… maybe Ahabwhathisname has gone for a cup of tea, or something.”
“You’re not enjoying this, are you, Dom?” Elijah looked worriedly at Dominic. His features still looked a little on the pale side.
“Yes… yes I am. Come on… let’s try the next one. We can come back here later.”
Feeling a little disheartened that their first encounter with Egypt’s historic past was not going down too well, Elijah followed Dominic along to the next Pyramid. This one was open and there was a queue to get in.
Dominic and Elijah patiently waited in line, and as they neared the entrance to the tomb, their spirits lifted. At last, they were going to see for themselves the inside of one of mans greatest ever achievements.
It was hard work! No… it was more than hard work! Fucking backbreaking, muscle wrenching hard work. A steep low passageway was the only route to the burial chamber, and it was a long way down.
With shoulders hunched and heads held low, Dominic and Elijah slowly followed the other tourists down into the humid belly of the Pyramid. Never had Elijah been so glad of his lack of height as he was now. The descent seemed never ending before they finally emerged into the chamber. Grouped in with a bunch of other people they looked around the very unimpressive room.
No beautiful hieroglyphics on the wall, no treasures on the floor, nothing but plain walls, and an empty sarcophagus.
“Nice.” Dominic couldn’t help but feel disappointment. An aching back for this?
“Well it is old…” Elijah desperately tried to adjust his eye to the gloom of the room.
“Not much to see, is there?” Dominic walked over to the sarcophagus; a wizened old man holding a torch put his hand out for some money.
Dominic looked at the offered hand, and then over at Elijah. “What’s he want?”
Elijah shook his head, and then they watched a tall thin man drop some coins into the old man’s hand. And in return the old man shone the torch in the sarcophagus for a few seconds.
“Whoopee shit.” Dominic whispered into Elijah’s ear. “Don’t give much away, do they? Egyptian hospitality my fucking arse!”
Elijah sniggered, then he looked at Dominic with a ‘let’s get the fuck out of here’ look.
So they both returned to the surface. The way up was more difficult than the way down. The air was hot and stuffy, making it hard to breathe, and they were unable to look up for fear of banging their heads on the low ceiling.
Elijah tried not think of the sheer weight of rock above their heads as they made the slow ascent out of the Pyramid. He figured that if he thought about that for too long, he would never set foot into another structure like this. Not ever again!
The sunlight was blinding as they emerged into the fresh air, for indeed that’s how it felt. Before they knew it a tout was in their face offering them orange juice to drink, but Dominic managed to wave him off. Instead Elijah pulled a bottle of water from his bag. They both took long swigs from it. The water was warm and tasted disgusting.
“What I wouldn’t give for a nice cold beer!” Dominic wiped the sweat off his brow.
“Ride on camel?”
Dominic rolled his eyes at Elijah. “Come on, Lij. Let’s get the fuck out of here.” He suddenly had no desire to even check out the third Pyramid on their ticket.
“Sphinx…”
“Pardon?”
“We gotta see the Sphinx before we go.” Elijah had his hand up to his eyes shielding them from the sun.
“Aren’t we going to see that during the light show?” Dominic retrieved the bottle of water once more. Warm water or not, he was thirsty.
“It’s only over there, and besides we can get some photos of it now. The night ones might not work so well.”
“Americans… photo with camel? Twenty pounds.”
“No thank you…” Dominic totally ignored the tout as he spoke. “Which way?” he asked Elijah.
“Over there…” They both set off with touts hassling them, right left and centre, towards Giza’s other treasure, The Sphinx.
“Ok, Lij… smile.” Dominic took a photograph. He looked at it and nodded, and they swapped places.
“Photo with camel?”
Elijah ignored the same old question as he eyed up the shot. The Sphinx was a lot smaller than it appeared in books, and it looked in a sad state of repair, despite intensive restoration to it over the past few years.
“Americans… camel ride, take photo of all Pyramids! Good Egyptian hospitality. Only best for American visitors.”
This was becoming very tiresome.
“No thank you.” Elijah slipped the camera into his bag.
The tout gesticulated, pointing in an easterly direction. “Ali take you to good spot. Very friendly camel. Take photo of two Americans and Pyramids.”
Dominic came and stood by Elijah’s side. “Ready to go, Lij?”
“Ali’s camel take you back to car park. Very friendly camel. Ali’s camel likes Americans.”
Elijah raised his eyebrows in mock despair. “Yes, Dom,” he said. “I am ready to go.”
Dominic winked at Elijah, took hold of his hand and then turned to the tout. “These Americans not very friendly to camels. Now fucking piss off!”
They both left the tout with his camel, who only spent a few seconds digesting their response before moving onto the next poor defenseless tourist.
*
“What a place!” Dominic stripped off his dust and sweat encrusted t-shirt. Elijah followed suit.
“Ah… but it is good Egyptian hospitality!” Elijah put on a terrible Egyptian accent, as he kicked off his trainers and pulled off his jeans and boxers.
“Too fucking true!” Dominic dropped his shorts to the floor and headed for the shower. Elijah joined him just a couple of minutes later.
*
Elijah dropped to his knees and shuffled in closer. Dominic, who was sitting on the edge of their bed, opened his legs wider.
“Can you see anything?” he asked a little worriedly?
Elijah slipped his hand underneath Dominic’s balls so that they rested in his palm. He looked closely at them.
“No… nothing.”
“No bruising? You sure?”
“Lie back. I can’t see very well, I’m blocking the light.”
Dominic let his body fall back, leaving his knees dangling over the edge of the bed. Elijah crawled onto the bed beside him.
“So where does it hurt?” he asked softly.
“Here.” Dominic placed his fingers carefully on the area that had been sore.
“Ok.” Elijah shifted onto his knees and leant over Dominic’s naked body. He let his lips gently brush over the spot that Dominic had pointed to.
“Anywhere else?” Elijah kept his mouth hovering above Dominic’s groin. Dominic could feel Elijah’s warm breath due to his close proximity.
“Here…” Dominic pointed to another area.
“Ah yes…” Elijah cupped Dominic’s balls as gently as he could and he lowered his mouth and kissed them; letting his tongue, very lightly lick the ‘sore area’.
“Hmmm…. Dominic shifted slightly on the bed. Elijah’s tongue was the best medicine in the world.
“No swelling then?” Dominic closed his eyes as he felt Elijah’s tongue lap under his balls, causing shivers to run through the entire length of his body.
“Only one way to tell…” Elijah got off the bed and stood in between Dominic’s knees. “Scoot back a bit Dom… need some room.”
Dominic knew what was coming, and his cock, which had begun to respond earlier to Elijah’s soft kisses, gradually began to rise, and stiffen, leaving his balls free for Elijah’s mouth to do whatever it wanted.
Dominic couldn’t help but moan with pleasure; any pain that was there was totally encompassed by Elijah’s lips encircling him, first one testicle and then the other. Elijah’s mouth was warm and wet as his tongue slowly felt its way around the smooth orb that filled it.
“Hnnh… Lijah…” Dominic’s voice was merely a whisper. He looked down his body to Elijah’s mop of dark hair between his thighs.
Elijah looked up at him, after emptying his mouth. “Feel better?” he asked.
“Well… here is sore too…” Dominic laid his fingers on the base of his cock.
Elijah kissed it.
“And here… “ Dominic move his fingers upwards a little.
Elijah followed them with his mouth and pressed his lips down onto the hardness beneath.
“And here…” Dominic fingers traveled up a little further.
Elijah’s tongue swirled around them, and in between them.
“And here… “ Dominic’s fingers settled just beneath the head of his cock.
Elijah let the tip of his tongue run along the hard pink ridge above Dominic’s fingers.
“And here, most of all…” Dominic wrapped his fingers around his length and pushed his cock towards Elijah’s open mouth. He watched it slowly disappear as Elijah’s lips closed in around him.
“Jesus…” Dominic closed his eyes again and let his head fall back on the bed. He could stay here for fucking ever! He felt Elijah’s suction begin to increase, and the centre of his universe became focused on Elijah’s mouth so deliciously swallowing him whole. Dear God… the camel ride was almost fucking worth it.
Elijah bought him to orgasm within minutes… fucking incredible!
“My God… Lij…” Dominic’s tried to bring his breathing under control as he reached his hands down and ran his fingers through Elijah’s shower damp hair. He could still feel his thighs trembling as Elijah finally withdrew his mouth and crawled up onto the bed, slowly lowering himself onto Dominic’s body as he did so.
Dominic kissed Elijah’s swollen lips, tasting himself on his tongue. He could feel Elijah’s cock pressing hard against his groin. “Fuck me, Lijah…” he whispered as his mouth momentarily pulled away, before going in for another kiss. “Want you to fuck me…”
Dominic bent his knees and raised his feet up onto the bed. “Lijah…” Dominic placed his hands on each side of Elijah’s face, and broke the deep kiss that Elijah was giving him. He looked at Elijah’s eyes, hooded in their desire for him. “Baby… Lij…make love to me…”
Elijah kissed Dominic again, before getting to his knees. Dominic eyed Elijah’s cock as it stood up and out from his body. “Jesus… Lij…”
Elijah twisted around to reach the lubricant hidden underneath the pillow. He quickly removed the lid and gave the tube to Dominic, who proceeded to coat Elijah’s cock thickly with the substance.
Elijah’s eyes never left Dominic’s; both of them watched each other as their preparation continued.
“Love you…” Elijah silently mouthed the words to Dominic.
“Love you too.” Dominic replied without a sound.
Then Elijah hitched Dominic’s legs over his shoulders, and with lubed fingers he made a final check that Dominic was ready to receive him, then he slowly pushed in.
***
14 April 2005
Writing this by the poolside. Dom is dozing beside me. The poor bastard has not had a lot of luck on this holiday, first he was sick in Sweden, then fucking Istanbul, and now this, and I’ve watched what he has eaten like a hawk.
But I have to admit that the hotel have been fucking fantastic! Dom spent most of yesterday morning on the toilet, and when I enquired at reception for some advice regarding a pharmacy, they told me that they had their own doctor, and he was with Dom within half an hour of my enquiry.
The medicine he gave Dom is a fucking miracle in a bottle. Dom was back on his feet by late yesterday afternoon, and has not had a problem since, apart from feeling a little weak, which is not surprising.
Africa is not going to be an easy country to get through, in terms of not getting ill, and I thought about this a great deal, when we were back home. Dom is obviously more susceptible to bugs and things than me, which is incredible really because he’s the fitness fanatic. You would think it would be the other way around.
Anyway, before we leave here, I am going to ask for a few extra bottles of this, whatever-it-is called medicine, to take with us. I’m sure we will need it again at some point during our travels. This stuff and our malaria pills are going to be our constant companions! No doubt about that at all.
Unfortunately we had to cancel the trip to Dahshur, that should have taken place yesterday, and today we were going to visit the museum to see all the Egyptian treasures, but Dom has needed to rest. I insisted on it, told him we can go to the museum tomorrow. We have two days left here before we fly to Luxor to pick up our cruise ship.
We have plenty of time.
***
The journey to the Egyptian Museum was an eye-opener. In fact it was akin to a fucking death wish.
Dominic had decided on one word to sum up all drivers in the city of Cairo. Maniacs! No… lets make it two words. Fucking maniacs.
What a nightmare! As the taxi honked and swerved its way through the heaving streets, Elijah managed to get a glimpse of city life as he looked out through the dirty car window. Everything looked like it was covered in a fine layer of dust and he wondered if it was from the desert or just plain city filth.
When the taxi finally reached its destination, the driver asked Dominic and Elijah what time they would like to leave, so that he could find somewhere to park and wait.
“Not sure…” Dominic looked at his watch, it was almost noon. He wanted to take his time looking around this museum, and they had hours to kill before the Light and Sound show at the wonderful ‘would you like to ride a camel’ Giza Pyramids. “Can we call the hotel?” he asked.
The driver shook his head. “I wait, here.”
“I dunno.” Dominic looked at Elijah. “Lij. What do you think?”
Elijah shrugged his shoulders, as he opened his door. “There are plenty of cabs, he doesn’t need to wait.”
“We’ll get another taxi back.” Dominic opened his side of taxi and got out. The din of the city traffic drowned out the taxi-drivers reply.
“Not recommended,” he called after them. “Only hotel taxi.” But they hadn’t heard him and were already making their way to the entrance of the museum.
The taxi-driver swore quietly, in his own language. “Stupid Americans.” Then he pulled out into the chaos of Cairo’s traffic system.
Dominic paid the entrance fee and the fee to take in his camera, and he also paid out an extortionate amount of money for a museum guidebook for Elijah. Then they both stood patiently as an armed Tourist Policeman searched Elijah’s bag. Finally they were waved through.
“Ok… where do we start?” Dominic looked around. The museum was very busy.
“Let me see.” Elijah quickly scanned the map of the museum at the front of his book.
“Tutankhamun Exhibition. We’re going to be seeing the tomb next week. Shall we start there?”
“Sounds good to me.” They both headed for the stairs to the first floor.
The exhibition was busy but not overly so, and they managed to have a good look at all the exhibits.
“Wish they would turn the lights up…” Dominic stood staring at the incredibly impressive Death Mask of the long dead young Pharaoh.
Elijah stood beside him. The mask was situated in the middle of the room, and seemed to have a spiritual essence of its own as it glowed under the deliberately set low lighting.
“That is fucking awesome… I mean it.” Elijah looked on appreciatively at the ancient artifact. “That is worth the whole trip to Cairo. Definitely.”
Dominic nodded in agreement. After thousands of years hidden from living human eyes, the boy king’s effigy had an overwhelming power to command attention. The gold, lapis, jade and carnelian stones still held their magnificent lustre and probably looked no different now than when the young Pharaoh was laid to rest, centuries ago.
Dominic took a photograph. Flash was not allowed so he didn’t hold out much hope for any decent results. Then they looked at all the other treasures, but found that they were compelled to return, time and time again to look at the mask. It truly was otherworldly.
The rest of the museum was chock-full of statues, carvings, jewellery, mummy cases and all manner of preserved bits and pieces from pre-Dynastic times through to the arrival of Islam in Egypt. Looking at it all was mind boggling, and quite exhausting.
Dominic looked at his watched and was surprised to find that they had already spent over three hours looking around the museum. Time had flown by.
“You want to go?” Elijah asked Dominic as he took another look at the museum map.
“Sort of…” Dominic felt that he had seen enough antiquities for one afternoon, and he was beginning to feel hungry. He had not eaten much for the last two days.
Elijah chewed his lip in deep thought. “Well, we may not get the chance to come back here,” he said. “And there is one more exhibit I would like to see. You up for that?”
“Bring it on, Lij. Lead the way.”
The Mummy Room held twelve well-preserved mummies, and both Elijah and Dominic’s pace slowed as they entered the room.
There was no doubt that the exhibit was spooky, or scary, or something. Dominic tried to think of an appropriate word, but couldn’t. The twelve mummies were from different time periods of Egypt’s past, and the preservation of their bodies was breath taking! Their legs and torsos were covered, but their faces and hands were exposed, and they acted like a magnet, drawing you in. You didn’t want to look, because they were dead, but you couldn’t take your eyes off them, because they were dead!
Freaky… yep, good word. Dominic walked over to a large glass case and peered in. Elijah came and stood by his side.
Rameses II looked back at them. Well not looked, everyone knows that they don’t look, can’t look, but it fucking feels like they are staring right at you.
“Jesus, this is creepy…” Dominic shivered. Preserving the dead, embalming loved ones in the hope that one day they will be re-united. He shivered again.
Elijah slipped his hand into Dominic’s as they continued to stare at the dead Pharaoh.
“Poor fucker never thought he would end up thousands of years later being ogled at by hundreds of people, did he?” Dominic wasn’t sure if he’s made a statement or asked a question.
“No…” Elijah’s voice was on the quiet side. “No, he didn’t.”
They continued to stare.
“Wonder if he will come back?” Elijah muttered
“Lij?”
“You know, all these mummies. Maybe the Egyptians knew something that we didn’t.”
Dominic looked at Elijah, unsure if he was serious or not.
“Well I can tell you one thing, Elijah. You’ve been in here too long!”
Elijah chuckled.
“Time to go.” Dominic pulled Elijah away from the long dead king and his eternal see-through grave.
Elijah nodded, and they made their way out of the museum.
The heat hit them, immediately as they stepped outside, God only knows how hot it gets during the long summer months.
“Ok…” Dominic looked totally unsure of what to do next. “We’d better get a taxi.”
They both strode along the pavement looking for a taxi, any taxi; there were seemingly hundreds of them when they were dropped off earlier, and now there were none to be seen.
“Fucking typical…” Dominic mumbled.
“Over there!” Elijah pointed across the road. “I think…hmm, maybe not.”
“Let’s cross anyway, Lij. More shade over there.”
Well, crossing a road in Cairo is like taking your life into your own hands, making it across alive was the aim of the game.
“Jesus! Which side of the fucking road, are they supposed to be on?!” Elijah looked on in utter bewilderment, as they waited to cross. “Anything fucking goes, by the looks of it.”
They made three attempts before deciding to abandon the idea. Then there was a slight lull in the traffic.
“Fucking now Lij!” Dominic grabbed Elijah’s hand and dragged him across the street; they made it with seconds to spare as a black Mercedes roared around the corner, the driver’s hand seemingly glued to its horn.
“Crazy bastards!” Dominic watched the car disappear into the realms of chaos, which in the US was known as a road junction.
Elijah was crouched on the pavement rubbing his ankle.
“You ok, Lij?” Dominic frowned.
“Yeah, its just a twinge. I turned it slightly on the broken paving.”
“You sure? You’ve not had any problems with it lately?”
“Its fine.” Elijah stood up. He looked up and down the street. “Which way?”
“Good afternoon!!” A deep voice behind them made them turn around.
“Americans?”
Dominic and Elijah remained silent as they stared at the heavyset man standing in front of them.
“You enjoy museum? Is very beautiful. Have you been to Pyramids? I have cousin with camel at Pyramids.”
“Yes, we’ve been to the Pyramids.” Elijah replied, wondering if he could ask this local where they could catch a cab.
“Very good.”
“Umm…” Elijah went to ask the question but was stopped in mid air.
“Tell me, my American friends. How long in Cairo?”
“Two more days.” Elijah felt Dominic jab him painfully in the side as he replied.
“Not long. You like perfume? Make very good souvenir.”
“I can well imagine.” Dominic sarcastically replied. Fucking odor a la camel shit?
“Actually, we need to find a cab.” Elijah ignored Dominic’s protesting nudges.
“Cab? Ahh… taxi. Yes. Please come with me. Come to shop. Right here.” The perfume man said pointing to a shop only a few feet away.
Dominic and Elijah looked at each other. No way, Dominic thought.
“Please. No need to buy! I call you taxi from shop.”
Dominic was just about to decline the offer when he saw Elijah nod in acceptance. What the fuck!!!! Not a good idea, Lij, no fucking way! Remember what happened before!!
“After you…” Mr Perfume stood back and indicated the way.
Dominic was just about to take Elijah by the arm and lead him away from this unknown hawker, when Elijah suddenly strode purposely to the small entrance of the shop. He didn’t look back at Dominic. He knew exactly what Dominic was thinking.
“Fucking hell, Lij.” Dominic grumbled. This is not a good idea. He reluctantly followed Elijah into the dimly lit shop.
“Shai? Coffee? Water?” Asked Mr Perfume as he indicated to Dominic and Elijah that they should take a seat. They both sat down. The place was a fucking dump… perfume shop my ass.
“No thank you,” they said in unison as they declined the offer of a drink.
“Free, my good friends. Egyptian hospitality.”
They both shook their heads, Dominic didn’t like this one little bit.
“Cigarette?” Mr Perfume pulled out a crumpled packet from his trouser pocket.
“No...” Dominic raised his hands. They had to get out of here. Elijah had to get out of here. The last time they were in a position like this was when he had insisted that they look for fucking carpets in Istanbul, and look what that bloody led to.
Dominic glanced at Elijah, wondering if he was thinking and feeling the same thing, then he looked at Mr Perfume. “You were going to call a taxi?”
“Yes, yes, my friends.” Mr Perfume stood up and called through an open door at the back of the shop. “Ahmed!!”
What he said next they couldn’t understand.
Dominic felt decidedly unnerved. Elijah smiled weakly at him; the sense of déjà vu was fucking overwhelming.
A young man appeared in the doorway, and Elijah shifted in his seat as the man stared at him.
Mr Perfume spoke to this man at great length; both men kept looking over at Dominic and Elijah, Ahmed even pointed to Elijah, and Elijah suddenly felt ill.
“Which hotel?” Mr Perfume asked.
“Ok, I think we should leave.” Dominic stood up.
“Leave?” Mr Perfume looked surprised. Ahmed continued to stare at Elijah.
“Lij, come on.” Dominic looked down at Elijah who hadn’t moved.
Elijah took in a deep breath, and wiped his brow, he hadn’t realised that he had been sweating so much, and it wasn’t just from the heat. “No, it’s ok, Dom,” he said. “Sit down.”
“Lij…?” Dominic remained standing.
“Really…” Elijah looked at Mr Perfume, and tried to keep his voice as steady as possible. “Can I see some of your perfumes please?”
“Lijah!” Dominic placed his hand on Elijah’s shoulder, but Elijah shrugged it off.
Dominic then sat back down, heavily. He wasn’t happy. What the fuck was Elijah playing at?
“Yes, yes…” Mr Perfume stood up and unlocked one of the dirty glass cabinets. He removed various bottles as he launched into a long speech explaining how Egyptian perfume, and his perfume in particular, was vastly superior to any other fragrances in the world.
“Secret…” he grinned broadly at his small audience. “No oil. No oil means cheaper price.”
“You have girlfriend, yes?” He looked directly at Dominic. “This perfume superior to others.” He retrieved a large jar and removed the lid. He then struck a match and held it inside the glass container. Nothing happened.
“See no oil, no fire.”
Dominic looked immensely unimpressed by the whole show; he just wanted to get Elijah the fuck out of there.
“How much?” Elijah asked.
Dominic glared at him. “Are you fucking insane?” he whispered.
“For you, good price.” Mr Perfume replaced the large jar into the cabinet and began to wrap a small glass bottle in tissue paper.
“Eighty pounds… special price.”
“What the fuck…” Dominic stood up.
“It’s ok, Dom.” Elijah put up his hand to stop Dominic. “And the cab?” Elijah asked. “We’re staying at the Mena Hotel.”
“Fuck…” Dominic sat back down again. What the fuck was Elijah doing?
“Good, very nice hotel. Near Pyramids. I have cousin with camel.
“Yes.” Elijah nodded. “You already told us.”
Mr Perfume smiled, then looked at Ahmed and spoke to him. Ahmed, who still had not taken his eyes off Elijah, glanced over at Dominic, who was scowling at him. Then Ahmed disappeared out of the shop.
Elijah paid the rip-off sum of money for the bottle of perfume. What the fuck he was going to do with it, he had no idea.
Mr Perfume placed it in a box with the words Nefertiti written upon it in a tacky gold type.
Wonderful, Elijah thought as he took the package off the Egyptian.
Ahmed reappeared and spoke to Mr Perfume who then looked at Dominic and Elijah.
“Taxi outside to take you to hotel.”
Dominic stood up; he couldn’t get out of this shop fast enough.
“Thank you my friends.” Mr Perfume held out his hand, and Elijah shook it, while Dominic ignored it. “Enjoy rest of your stay.”
Ahmed kept the door open for them as they stepped out into the heat of Cairo’s late afternoon sun.
A Taxi was waiting by the kerb. Ahmed leaned his head in through the window and talked to the driver, and then stepped backwards.
“Goodbye.” He said to Dominic and Elijah as they crawled into the back of the dirty vehicle.
The taxi sped off almost immediately.
“Well, what the fuck was that all about, Lij?” Dominic felt incredibly pissed off.
Elijah turned to Dominic. “I know you’re not happy about it Dom, and I know what you were thinking, and I thought about it too. But I’m not going to be afraid. I’m not going to let what happened interfere with my life. I’m not...”
Dominic swallowed hard, as he looked at his lover’s pained face. “Oh, Lijah.” He took hold of Elijah’s hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “I’m sorry…”
“It’s ok…” Elijah looked out through the grime on the car window. “Really, Dom. It’s ok.”
Elijah was quiet for the rest of the journey, and as soon as they returned to their hotel he dropped the bottle of perfume into the nearest waste receptacle. As he did so he looked at Dominic and slowly smiled.
“Only place for it,” he finally said.
Dominic nodded in agreement.
Elijah paused for a moment and then looked at his watch. “Come on, let’s get some food. I’m fucking starving, and we have to get ready for the coach in two hours.”
Dominic had a sudden urge to take Elijah in his arms and kiss him in front of everyone… God, he was so fucking special!
*
“We have some time…” Dominic walked out onto the balcony, admiring the view, as the dying rays of the sun turned the Pyramids to gold. He looked over his shoulder at Elijah who had just finished getting changed. “Let’s go for a walk, Lij.”
They walked in silence for a while, hand in hand through the jasmine scented gardens. The light was fading rapidly, and the air had turned noticeably cooler.
Elijah came to a stop. “What is it, Dom?” From past experience, especially during their time in New Zealand, Elijah knew that ‘going for a walk’ meant that Dominic wanted to talk.
Dominic stood in front of Elijah, and then reached out and took his other hand so that he held on tightly to both of them.
“I just want to tell you that I love you, Elijah. I feel that I haven’t said it enough to you these past few weeks.”
Elijah smiled. “You say it all the time, Dom.” He brought Dominic’s hands to his mouth and kissed them.
“Not enough, though…” Dominic felt his eyes suddenly begin water as he looked into Elijah’s face. “Never enough.”
Then he cupped Elijah’s chin in his hand and pressed his lips very gently to his mouth. He felt Elijah’s arms wrap around his body, as their kiss continued. Then Dominic broke the kiss and rested his head on Elijah’s shoulder. Never enough, my Lijah, he thought. God, I love you so much.
Elijah pulled back, and took Dominic’s hand again. “Come on,” he said. “Or we’ll miss the show.”
Dominic wiped his eyes, nodded and then smiled. “No camels, right?”
Elijah laughed “See… that’s why I fucking love you!”
Elijah kissed Dominic again before they made their way back into the hotel.
tbc
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