“Why not? In Rhakotis, you’d have the entire sea at your disposal.”
“I never learned how.”
Mahu lifted his brows. “Never learned? After all you said your family has done for you, but they didn’t teach you to swim?”
Daka shook his head. “We, uh, don’t swim.”
The river swelled before them with its soft, soothing sounds of flowing currents. Mahu loved the pleasant rippling, it calmed his soul and brought peace to his mind.
“I could teach you.”
“I would love that.” Daka hesitated. “Only, perhaps not today? I’d like to watch you swim and get used to the river before I try it myself.”
Mahu gave a nod. He couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t known how to swim. He’d learned as a young boy and taught his own children soon after they could walk. The Nile’s waters were like a second home.
This section of the river was lush with vegetation on both banks, but the path led through the thicket to a patch of tall grass along the shore. Mahu was thrilled to discover no other swimmers. He didn’t want to share Daka’s sweet company with anyone else. If Daka’s broad smile was anything to go by, he liked this special spot too.
“This is beautiful.” Daka stood at the water’s edge, scanning the river from the bend to the north to where it disappeared in the south.
The far side, also dense with greenery, would be an easy distance to swim, but the river was too deep to wade much farther than a few steps. Toward the bend, the water remained shallow. Perhaps they should head there. He was about to suggest it when Daka began stripping off his clothes.
Mahu stared. “I thought you weren’t swimming.”
“I don’t want to go deep,” said Daka, kicking off his sandals, “but to sit with my feet in the water would make a good start.”
Mahu, vaguely aware one wouldn’t need to undress for that, wasn’t about to stop him. Swimming, or even bathing naked in the river was a perfectly normal activity. He’d never thought twice about it before. He’d planned to disrobe, but as Daka unwrapped the sash and slipped out of his white tunic, Mahu realized he may have made a mistake.
Daka was well built in all the places you could see when clothed, shapely calves, thick thighs, muscles flexing elegantly along arms and shoulders. Underneath the clothes, though, he was truly exquisite. Mahu couldn’t look away. Twin dusky nipples pebbled on the beautifully rounded mounds of his smooth chest. The symmetrical ripples of his abdomen narrowed to a trimmed patch of curls where hung his generous length, not hard, but by the looks of it not entirely slack either.
Mahu forced his eyes away before Daka caught him staring. If he kept ogling the younger man, he risked his own member growing stiff and his fair share of embarrassment along with it. He thought of papyrus, stacks of paper, his work for tomorrow and anything else but the flush tawny skin that covered Daka head to toe.
Tending to his own clothes, Mahu unwrapped the blue sash from his waist to let his tunic billow loose enough to pull over his head. He felt silly for even noticing Daka’s nakedness. That part of his life was probably finished, and surely Daka would never consider him anyway. He kept his eyes on the river and his mind on swimming.
That is, until Daka’s voice demanded his full attention.
“Mahu,” Daka breathed out his name like a prayer. “How very handsome you are naked.” He wet his lips. “I knew you would be.”
Mahu’s jaw hung wide. His eyes jumped to Daka’s, but Daka wasn’t looking at his face. His gaze roamed Mahu’s body in an even more thorough investigation than Mahu had enjoyed. Though Mahu had never been shy, he fought an urge to hide himself from the intensity of Daka’s stare. What did it mean?
“I shall enjoy watching you swim.” Daka’s slow study made its way back to Mahu’s face and whatever he saw there caused him alarm. “Oh! I’m sorry. Should I not have said that? Please forgive me, Mahu. I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s only that, well, you are gorgeous, and I have eyes, that’s the problem.”
With some effort, Mahu closed his mouth and forced his expression toward neutral. “You have not upset me, only surprised me. There’s no need to apologize.” Daka had a way of saying totally odd things as if they were normal. This was another for the growing list. Knowing Daka thought him handsome had flushed his cheeks and threatened to flush other parts as well. The sooner he got into the cool water, the better.
“Good. I would have felt awful if I’d upset you.”
“You didn’t.” Only he had a little. Not in a bad way, but his honesty was shocking. Mahu made for the river knowing Daka followed from behind. Then he wondered if he should return the sentiment. Would Daka expect him to? Would he be disappointed if he didn’t?
Wading into the cool water sent a chill from toes to forehead. Mahu always got this part over with quickly, dunking his head beneath the current to get accustomed to the new temperature all in one go.
When he surfaced, Daka stood at the shore, knee deep, looking unsure of himself.
Mahu gathered his courage. “You’re quite handsome too, Dakarai.”
The smile that bloomed was all the reward Mahu needed.
“Thank you for saying so.” Daka’s face glowed in the sunshine. “Will you swim for me now? I want to watch.”
The request was an easy one to grant. Mahu loved to swim, loved the river’s refreshing embrace, the exhilaration of moving his body while feeling nearly weightless. With long, easy strokes, Mahu cut through the water, traveling to the far shore and back, all the while knowing he had the rapt attention of an audience of one. He asked the river to wash away his doubts, and the river obeyed.
