Chapter 123

 

A/N: Yep, this an –M– Chapter.

 

CHAPTER 123

 

About Marcus Antonius

39 BC Rome

 

“Even the Sullas and the Caesars abnegated their own desires before Rome, offered everything they did on Rome’s altars, fed Rome with their strength, their deeds, the animus that drove them. Was that what was wrong with him? Was he incapable of that kind of dedication to an abstraction, an idea? Alexander the Great didn’t think of Macedon the way Caesar had Rome; he thought of himself first, he dreamed on his own godhead, not his country’s might. Of course that was why his empire fell apart as soon as he died. Rome’s empire would never fell apart because of one man’s death, or even the deaths of many men. A Roman man had his place in a temporary sun, he never thought of himself as the sun. Alexander the Great had. And perhaps Marcus Antonius did too.”(1)

 

-o-o-o-

 

7 days to reach Babylon

 

A week after his conversation with Berenike, Hephaistion was feeling much better. His arm didn’t hurt as much as before, but he still couldn’t move it and didn’t feel 2 of his fingers. Of course he couldn’t ride and had to travel on a wagon with the rest of the baggage, something that was extremely uncomfortable. Kyros, his pages, Xsayarsa and his servant Atash, took care of him day and night, and Alexander insisted that he should be at his tent, so he also had the King’s servants at his disposal. 

 

- Are we still far from Babylon? –asked Hephaistion that evening, when the army stopped to prepare the camp to rest that night; of course the first tent to be ready was the King’s.

 

- Maybe one more week; why do you ask, Peris? –asked Xsayarsa, arranging the pillows so the General could be sitting comfortable on the King’s magnificent bed.

 

- Because I’m tired of that wretched wagon –Hephaistion complained in a horrible mood that caught the eunuch’s attention—Kyros! –the Theban came running—I want to take a bath, see to it please.

 

- Immediately.

 

- Is always this hot here? And this damn sling itches! –Xsayarsa stopped, embracing a pillow and saw Hephaistion with curiosity—What?!

 

- Why are you so grumpy? I have never see you in such a bad mood before –asked the eunuch amused.

 

- My arm itches, I can’t ride, that wagon is a pain in the ass, its extremely hot, and you are asking me, why am I grumpy? –answered the General.

 

- You have something else –said Xsayarsa, leaving the pillow at his side and taking a seat on the edge of the bed—You never complain and now you are complaining about everything.

 

Hephaistion puffed his cheeks out. Of course he had something else, but he didn’t know if he should tell the eunuch.

 

- I don’t feel well –he said without looking at the Persian. 

 

- What do you feel?

 

- Why do you want to know? –all right that had been rude, and even the General had to admit he had to calm down—I’m sorry, it’s just…I’m horny, happy now? –that made Xsayarsa laugh out loud—What’s so funny about this?

 

- And you have been horny since when? –the eunuch was having the time of his life.

 

- Since I started to complain –up went the Persian’s eyebrows in surprise. 

 

- But that was days ago.

 

- I know! –exclaimed Hephaistion rudely.

 

- You lost me, Peris. And why haven’t you done something to solve your…er…problem? –Xsayarsa wanted to know—As far as I know the King is sleeping here, so…

 

- Do I have to remind you that I’m injured? Alexander is not going to touch me, he doesn’t even let me stand up without help –said the General, brushing his hair back. He moved his left arm involuntarily and the pain made him clenched his jaw. 

 

- Sometimes I wonder if you are dumb –Hephaistion saw him through narrowed eyes—You know that the King is not the only person in this camp, right?

 

- How many times do I have to tell you I’m not going to sleep with someone else.

 

- You don’t have to go all the way with “someone else” –said Xsayarsa—Do you want me to give you a hand? 

 

- NO! –Hephaistion exclaimed outrage, as if the Persian had proposed him to kill his mother.

 

- Fine…—Xsayarsa threw his hands in the air—I presume you know how to please yourself, don’t you?

 

- Of course I know! –Hephaistion raised his voice, feeling very uncomfortable with that conversation. Why on earth had he opened his mouth in the first place?

 

- I ask because you seen to be very pretty dumb with these things –said Xsayarsa, enjoying his patron’s suffering more than he should.

 

- What’s your point? –the General tried to cross his arms, and cursed when he felt the pain on his left arm. Damn arrows! Damn wound! Damn heat! And damn Xsayarsa for asking all those questions.

 

- My point is that, if you are horny and the King is not helping, you have other options, don’t you think? –said the eunuch, failing to see the big problem in all of this—I can give you some advices –the General shook his head.

 

- I’m done with your advices, Yarsa.

 

- Now you are going to tell me you didn’t enjoyed them, be a man an admit it –Xsayarsa challenged him.

 

- I don’t know why do I even bother in telling you this –said Hephaistion, when Kyros came back.

 

- Your bath is ready –said the Theban, and the General couldn’t be happier, now he had a pretext to end that conversation.

 

Hephaistion was so grumpy and uncomfortable that he tried to stand up by himself, but as soon as he was on his feet, he felt terrible dizzy and Xsayarsa and Kyros had to run to help him before he fell. Now the Theban was 17 years old, he wasn’t as tall as the General but he looked more like a man than a boy, he was losing the last traces of the feminine features he had when Hephaistion found him in Thebes but he was still a beautiful young man.

 

- Oh my, dear Ahura Mazda! You know you can leave bed without help –Xsayarsa scolded him—The King is going to kill us if he finds out.

 

- I’m tired of being in bed! –the General complained.

 

- I know –said the Persian with all patience—Peris! I have an idea –he exclaimed as if all the knowledge of the universe were in his hands— Maybe Kyros can help you with…

 

- SHUT UP!

 

After his bath, he ate his dinner and stayed alone in the King’s room trying to read and focus in something else, he desperately wanted to stop thinking in his embarrassing conversation… and in his problem. Of course he had done as Xsayarsa said, please himself everyday since he started to feel that hot tickling running through his body, igniting all his senses and making his blood boil. But it wasn’t enough.

 

I know…I was pretty boring when I was a mortal; now I would have done as Yarsa said, bedded Kyros, or even better, bedded Kleitos to end with my sister’s problems too. Don’t look at me like that…

 

Alexander was late; he had sent word with one of his pages that he had something to do; lately he always had something to do, but his beloved couldn’t complain, even with all the things he had to do, and all the people he had to meet, he always had time for him.

 

Soon, Hephaistion got tired of reading and threw the scroll at his side; his arm was itching again, doctor Philip said it was a good sign; good sign his ass! The General thought it was a nuisance. He puffed his cheeks out and turned to look at the entrance. One oil-lamp and several candles lit the place, the King had left instructions that his General should have enough light to read, and someone like Berenike would have thought it was very cute for Alexander to think about his beloved’s comfort, but Hephaistion wished he had left instructions for him to work.

 

He was so bored; he had told Alexander that he could help with paper work, but the King won’t hear of it, he was feeling very guilty and doctor Philip had truly scared him when he said he would have to amputate Hephaistion’s arm in order to save his life, so now he wanted to let his beloved rest…even against the General’s will. 

 

At this rate I'll go crazy –he thought.

 

Hephaistion heard footsteps and then Alexander’s voice floated to him, he said something to his guards making them laughed and entered the room.

 

- Still awake? –asked the King as soon as he saw those dark gray eyes on him. One of his pages came to help him with his cloak.

 

- I’m not tired –said Hephaistion, still in a bad mood.

 

- Never the less you need to rest –the General rolled his eyes, sick of that answer. The page took the cloak and folded it with care.

 

- Sire, do you need anything else? –asked the boy.

 

- No, that would be all –the page left the room—Phai, are you hungry?

 

- No, what I am is sick of being in bed –he complained, trying to stand up, but Alexander rushed to stop him.

 

- Phai don’t, you could open your wound –the King surrounded his waist and helped him to sit down again.

 

- I’m bored and tired of being here doing nothing –said the General angry—Why don’t you let me work? I only read and write, so far I have written letters to everybody I know, twice to my friend Scipio and three times to Aristotle, my mom is going to receive an extremely long letter that looks like a philosophical treatise…I even help Aki with his homework.

 

The King shook his head.

 

- Phai, you are still weak –the General growled annoyed and they both fell silent. They had this same discussion several times and knew perfectly well it wasn’t going to lead them to anything. Alexander’s uneven eyes settled on his beloved’s bandages—How do you feel?

 

- Better –said Hephaistion sighing. The truth was that his arm still hurt a little but he wasn’t going to complain or Alexander would interpret an innocent “my arm hurt” as “I’m painfully dying.”

 

- I’m going to change your bandages –before his beloved could say a word, the King went to look for fresh bandages, a bucket with water and a clean cloth.

 

- You should let Kyros do that –said the General, brushing his hair with his fingers.

 

- I don’t trust Kyros this much –he said, carrying the bucket— Your wound is delicate and I don’t want it to be infected again. Do I have to remind you that doctor Philip almost amputated your arm?

 

- Fine.

 

This was other thing that Alexander liked to remember him. The first time Hephaistion heard his story from the King’s lips he got paled, he couldn’t imagine how his life would be without his left arm, he would be useless to his King, a burden, and a cold shiver had run down his spine. But now, after 5 times the story had lost his charm.

 

Alexander sat at his General’s side and untied his clothes at the shoulder, gently sliding his chiton down, to leave his torso exposed; the bandages covered him from his left shoulder and the cloths didn’t let him work. Hephaistion was covered in scars, some small and insignificant, the biggest was the one that Dardanos’ blade had left on his side, but he also had several fresh bruises from the last battle.

 

This is what he gained at my side –thought the King—Pain.

 

When they left Pella his beloved didn’t look like this, but, Hephaistion’s body wasn’t very different from his own, he too had scars left by all the known weapons of that time, the price to pay for always lead his men into battle from the front.

 

- Why are you so quiet? –asked the General in a whispered.

 

- I was thinking.

 

- About…?

 

As an answer, Alexander ran his fingers over the big scar on his beloved’s side, and the General felt a soft tickling.

 

- In all the pain you have endured because of me –Hephaistion smiled.

 

- Do you think my scars are proof of my pain? I thought you were the one who said that…how was it? –his beloved took a moment to think— Oh, yes…scars were a testimony of courage –he quoted his speech before the battle of Gaugamela, making the King smile. 

 

- You put attention.

 

- Always when you are the one speaking –Hephaistion let a playful half smile to curve his lips—But I have to confess that sometimes I get lost at some point in your speeches, especially when you are looking magnificent in your armor. 

 

Alexander shook his head smiling and said nothing. He took off the bandages with care, while Hephaistion brushed his hair with his fingers, to let it rest on his right shoulder. The wound was clean and looked much better, but the skin was swollen and reddened. The King cleaned it, sliding now and then his fingers through his arm, a soft caress that tried to ease the pain; he knew it hurt even if his General didn’t make a sound but he had to clean thoroughly if he didn’t want it to be infected again. 

 

- Your wound looks better –said Alexander.

 

- I told you, I feel better –Hephaistion took that opportunity to remind him that it was pointless to have him in bed doing nothing, and the King understood immediately the message because his lips curved in a half smile.

 

Alexander took his time, he kissed his beloved shoulder while dressing his arm, his fingertips brushing his elbow, and those soft caresses increased the heat inside the General, feeding the flames of his desire. It was killing him to feel the King’s fingers running over his skin, he could feel the moist on his shoulder where he had left a kiss, so delicate and tender that it ended before he could start enjoying it. 

 

- What happened with Mazaeus? –asked his beloved, trying to think in something else besides his King’s fingers over him, crawling over his oversensitive hot skin.

 

- He insists that I should trust him, and I insist that I can’t –answered Alexander tying the bandages. His beloved bit his lower lip, his King’s body was too close and too far at the same time.

 

- He is an honorable man… at least that’s what I could see that night when he let us escape –said Hephaistion, closing his eyes for a moment. Yes, that was what he needed, to stop watching, oh if only he could also stop feeling. It was a sweet torture. 

 

- Does it hurt? –the King asked worried, misinterpreting him. He leaned closer, so close that his General could feel the tips of his blond hair against his cheeks. It was too much, and his beloved took that opportunity to brush his King’s lips, slowly, taking his time to enjoy the sensation of having that tender skin against his own.

 

Alexander shuddered, it was a very innocent touch, not even a proper kiss, but full with 2 powerful feelings: love and lust, irradiating from every pore of Hephaistion’s body. He didn’t moved, and just watched his General, mesmerized. Both were sitting on the bed, Alexander still holding the old bandages, unable to move, feeling his warm breath against his skin; his whole body reacted, every inch of him screaming to feel his beloved against him.  

 

Hephaistion brushed his lips again, this time poking the tip of his pink tongue to taste his King’s lips. Alexander closed his eyes and then, his General caught his mouth in a deep kiss, a kiss that started a shyly, as if not knowing if what he was doing was allowed, but soon became more demanding, he forced the King to open his mouth to receive him, to surrender under his touch, he wanted Alexander to give him everything he wanted, what his body had been demanding days ago.

 

He took Alexander’s hair with force, and the King threw his head back, moaning softly, his body burning when his beloved bit his lower lip.

 

- Phai, you…—the King whispered, before another moan interrupted his words. So many days without the General and he never thought he would be this…needy. 

 

- Shush –Hephaistion slid his lips down his neck, leaving a trail of kisses on his way. He licked his length, kissed him, and nipped his skin, hearing him breathing faster, feeling his pulse quickening under his lips.

 

He had wanted this for so long, his body almost ached, to feel Alexander’s skin in that moment was as if all his wishes had come true in an instant; he closed his eyes, it was so easy to forget everything and just feel... He took is right hand to the King’s shoulder, almost ripping the fabric of his clothes, and once again he found himself cursing his useless left arm.  

 

But then, Alexander pushed him away from him, panting; making him lay on the bed with his wounded arm bent over his chest. Hephaistion looked puzzled, his cheeks pink and his lips wet, breathing heavily and watching the King through confused narrowed eyes. Surely Alexander wasn’t planning to leave him like this…right? He looked for his uneven eyes, but the King wasn’t looking at him.  

 

- Alex?… —even if he didn’t want to reveal how much he needed Alexander, how much he wanted to feel him, his voice betrayed him, sounding like a plea full with desire. Alexander lifted his head and then Hephaistion saw pure lust in his blue and brown eyes; the King wanted to do this as badly as he, but wasn’t sure if it was a good idea—It’s all right…I’m fine.

 

The King said nothing and for a moment the General was sure that he was going to stand up and leave, but then, he took his beloved by the ankles, pausing a moment, as if what he was going to do require concentration, and spread his legs before him. Hephaistion almost gasped, he had taken him by surprise, he tried to see what was the King doing but instead he felt Alexander’s lips on his knee, kissing it, leaving a trail of kisses and caresses all the way up looking for his thighs.

 

Hephaistion’s creamy skin shuddered under his touch, feeling Alexander’s hands up and down his strong thighs, trying to cover him all at once, sucking his tender skin until it left a mark. The General settled in eyes on the ceiling, moaning softly, letting the King do as he please as long as he could still feel those overwhelming sensations hitting his body like waves. The King walked his fingers up and down, sliding his lips, kissing the back of his knees, stroking his calf before sliding his lips back to his thighs, drinking in its irresistible softness.

 

Hephaistion writhed on the sheets while Alexander lifted the fabric of his chiton, the tips of his fingers caressing his beloved in the process, and the General laughed softly when he felt him reaching his hips.

 

- You are tickling me –he said, almost purring. 

 

- Not for long –his beloved didn’t need to see him to know he was smiling and soon, Hephaistion's breathing quickened as he felt the breath of the King on his manhood. The General moaned loudly, closing his legs slightly and bending his knees up, feeling Alexander’s fingers exploring his sinuous curves and hollows, sometimes with the help of his nose and lips.

 

- Alex… —the General sighed—Mmm…

 

Alexander placed his fingers into his beloved’s hot and tight interior, at the same time he took his length in his mouth. Hephaistion cried with all his might, throwing his head back, holding the sheets with one hand, and closing his legs slightly again. Alexander took his fingers further inside, turning them, playing with him, as his tongue tasted his manhood sending fire through his veins. Hephaistion rocked his hips, panting and moaning, repeating Alexander’s name, and closing his eyes with force, concentrated just in feeling, and, at each movement he only made the King's fingers nail further in him, making his entire nervous system tremble.

 

- A-Alex… I can’t…I won’t…last… –they just had done this one time, but still the General didn’t like the idea of coming inside the King’s mouth, that was…wrong; no matter how great it felt.

 

But Alexander couldn’t care less and he didn’t stop his attention until Hephaistion finally found his released. His beloved moaned with force, and his legs soon were resting languidly on the mattress. The King cleaned his mouth with the back of his hand and smiled satisfy when he saw Hephaistion’s sated expression.

 

- Did you like it? –asked Alexander, his cheeks showing those red spots that clearly said he was still aroused. 

 

- You…are not bad…—the General teased him, his bare chest beaded with sweat, rising and falling quickly.

 

The King bent over him and kissed his chest.

 

- Are you tired? –he asked, talking against his skin.

 

- It depends… for what… –Hephaistion challenged him, but the truth was that he was feeling a little tired, he didn’t want to admit it but Alexander was right, he was still weak. As an answered, the King licked his nipple.

 

The General tried to move his left arm but that sent a sharp pain through his shoulder, bad idea, when he was going to learn to keep that arm still? Alexander caught his nipple between his lips, caressed it with his tongue, making circles, brushed it with his teeth and sucked it hard as his hands took his butt, massaging it, dipping his fingers into the soft flesh.

 

Hephaistion laughed softly, he had never seen the King this horny; apparently he wasn’t the only one who had been accumulating sexual frustration all those days. He caressed his blond hair with his right arm, and closed his eyes again.

 

- You have no idea how I wanted this –Alexander whispered against his skin.

 

- I can imagine.

 

The King took his beloved’s hips. Hephaistion felt a little dizzy, he could be feeling better but was still weak after the whirlwind of sensations that had overwhelmed him after feeling the playful tongue of Alexander; he realized that he was far of being able to keep the pace his King wanted. But maybe it was because he was a pervert or because he couldn’t get tired of that adored face transformed by pleasure, that he said nothing and helped Alexander, lifting his hips.

 

Alexander groaned loudly when rested inside him, stroking his thighs, moving in and out of him like a possessed man, intoxicated with the soft moans and gasps that came from the mouth of his beloved. Hephaistion shuddered, his hair falling over his face, covering his flushed cheeks and his lips partially opened, moist by the King’s hungry kisses. The General left soft moans escape he was experiencing again that soft warm tingling through his body. He was tired, his body lay languidly under the King, feeling his touch and his thrusts almost as if dreaming but he was enjoying it.

 

Hephaistion didn’t care about his wound; he loved Alexander and every time they made love it was as if he shared a piece of his soul with him, because he gave himself completely to the only person he loved. They were united in a sensual dance that sent waves of pleasure throughout Alexander’s body until he finally exploded inside his soul mate.

 

For a long moment they could only hear their panting, neither say a word, they just looked at each other’s eyes with infinite love. It was a perfect moment and they didn’t want to spoil it. After a while, the King rested his head on the General’s shoulder, breathing fast, feeling the rapid thumping of his heart and came out of him in the midst of a soft moan. He kissed his beloved’s head.

 

Maybe now they could sleep without troubles.

 

XXX

 

(1) Colleen McCullough. Antony and Cleopatra, p 251