Mahu waved off his worry with an elegant motion of his hand. “It’s no matter. I always run ahead of schedule, and I’ve told you before, I welcome your chatter.”
Daka remembered the fruit. He lifted the basket from his lap and offered it to Mahu. “I brought you this. As an apology for yesterday. I’m not the sort of person who says he’ll do something and then doesn’t. I feel awful.”
“Please don’t feel bad on my account.” Mahu plucked a plum from the pile rather than taking the entire basket. “And don’t fret that I’ve judged you harshly, because I haven’t.”
“That’s a relief.” Daka watched as Mahu bit into the plum. A drop of juice rolled down his chin. Daka longed to lick it. He envied Mahu’s finger as it swept the sweet nectar away and disappeared into his mouth.
“Have you eaten?” asked Mahu, unaware of his own appeal. “Join me.”
Daka took a plum for himself and set the basket aside.
They ate together, Daka imagining feeding Mahu fruit from his fingers, kissing the juice away, or chasing it farther into Mahu’s mouth with his tongue. He knew Mahu was interested. His every instinct told him so. But Mahu was a reserved man by nature, and Daka guessed he’d been without a lover for quite a while. Mahu seemed oblivious to the possibility that Daka could return his interest.
Without an obvious overture, Mahu would keep his distance. Daka wasn’t sure how to signal without scaring the man off. If Mahu had been another incubus, Daka would already know what his tonsils tasted like, but since Mahu was pure human, he sensed it was too soon for that. Mahu was worth waiting for. In the meantime, Daka could watch Mahu’s sensuous mouth as he ate fruit.
They worked into the afternoon, Mahu laying strips of pith for paper, and Daka carving the bark from the core. With a few hours’ practice, he’d gotten the knack for it, and his strips turned out almost as neat as Mahu’s.
“You weren’t joking when you said you were good with your hands,” said Mahu, observing his new skill.
Daka grinned. The innuendo hadn’t been intended, but it was impossible for him to ignore. He glanced up. “I don’t joke about my skills.” He considered a wink but thought better of it.
“We’ve done more than enough for one day. The job goes much quicker with two working. Let’s close up early. I’m thinking of walking to the river. It’s hot, and we could have a swim.”
Daka nearly dropped the papyrus stalk he held at the thought of watching Mahu naked and wet.
“Yes,” he said with perhaps too much enthusiasm for a man who didn’t actually know how to swim. “That’s a marvelous idea!” Daka would be happy to wade along the banks and observe.
They tidied the shop before leaving, took the rest of the fruit and a jar of figs from the backroom, and made the quarter-hour walk to the Nile. Along the way, Mahu pointed out various groves of papyrus that could be harvested.
“I will teach you how to choose so that the plant continues to thrive. I think you’ll enjoy the work. It’s physical labor, but very rewarding.”
“I do like rewarding physical labor,” said Daka, thinking not a whit about papyrus and instead admiring Mahu’s long, muscled arm as he gestured this way and that.
It was perfectly normal to hold a companion’s elbow on a walk. Daka couldn’t resist. As Mahu’s arm fell back to his side, Daka took his elbow and drew him close. He tried to match Mahu’s steps, but his strides were longer than Daka’s shorter legs could manage. Still the effort was fun and having Mahu at his side made his skin tingle.
Mahu grew silent, so Daka took up where he’d left off. “So you leave one in three plants behind, and the grove renews itself?”
Clearing his throat, Mahu answered, “Yes, or one in four if the batch is particularly dense. Papyri are a hardy species and thrive in lots of conditions.”
“That’s lucky for us then.” Daka squeezed his arm, the skin beneath his fingers warm to the touch.
“Quite.” Mahu smiled down at him, and Daka matched the expression. Their eyes caught and held a moment too long for casual friendship.
Daka’s heart thumped wildly. He loved these new feelings. The infatuation. The single-minded slow pursuit of a worthy goal. The chase before the feast. His power to sway almost escaped without his permission. Daka reined in his incubus side. Today he was human and would court slowly. With a calming breath, Daka relaxed his grip on Mahu’s arm.
* * *
Mahu
Leading Daka along his favorite path, Mahu thanked the gods for such a lovely day and an even lovelier companion to share it with. He’d been worried Daka wouldn’t turn up at the shop again, and he didn’t know where to search for him. Not that he would have. Daka knew where to find Mahu, and if he didn’t return, it meant he didn’t want to see him. Mahu could have accepted that, but when Daka came through the door his heart became light as a feather.
The late afternoon sun beat hot on their shoulders as they walked. Daka’s palm was sweaty on his arm, and Mahu found he liked it. He liked Daka’s easy affectionate manner too. The joy in his expressions, the excitement in his voice.
“Do you swim often?” asked Daka.
“Yes, when I remember to think of it. The water is refreshing after a day spent in the heat. Do you?”
“No.” Daka’s expression turned sheepish.
