His new lover

A gilded cage

Lev was slow to rise the next morning. A gentle breeze wafted through the room, making the shimmering curtains dance and billow, and with it came the scent of sweet flowers and the sound of birdsong. Lev opened his eyes and sat up in bed, the blankets pooling around his waist even though he was certain that they'd fallen asleep with nothing but their bodies on the mattress.

Turning his head, he saw that the space next to him was empty.

"Ahk?"He looked around the room, lifting the blanket off of him and standing when he didn't see anyone.

"Ahkmen-"

He heard the sound of water splashing coming from the bathroom, and he smiled when the sound was followed by joyful singing.

"Your love shall endure
Day and night during the hours when I am asleep
And when I wake by day."

Lev stood at the entrance of the bathroom for a moment and gazed at Ahmenrah, who had his back to him, appreciating the view immensely as Ahkmenrah bent to refill the ewer with water. As Ahkmenrah poured the water over himself, Lev walked forward and cleared his throat quietly before singing softly in return.

"Your form animates hearts
The yearning for your voice
Gives strength to my body
When it is tired."

Ahkmenrah jumped and turned, grinning when he saw who it was. His body glistened in the morning light, water drops clinging to his toned muscles and shining like stars as they fell to the floor. He motioned for Lev to join him and sang back.

"My lover has come
My heart rejoices,
My arms are opened
To embrace him."

Lev sighed contentedly and sang the last words of the song as Ahmenrah wrapped his arms around him.

"Always I shall say:
There is no one else
Who is in harmony
With my heart,
But you only!"

Ahkmenrah laughed merrily and kissed Lev soundly.
"You have a lovely singing voice, imi-ib."

"As do you, yakiri."

Lev kissed Ahkmenrah quickly before taking the ewer from him. "You know, it's the servant's job to pour the water over the prince's body."

Ahkmenrah smirked as Lev dipped the ewer into the basin of water. "Well, you haven't been doing a very good job then."

Lev raised the ewer over Ahkmenrah's head and poured it slowly, watching as he ran his hands over his body and sent him smoldering looks. Swallowing thickly, he turned to refill the ewer again when Ahmenrah gasped sharply. Lev was about to turn around, but Ahkmenrah put a hand on his shoulder and ran his fingers delicately over Lev's back.

"What? What is it?"

Ahkmenrah studied the red welts that lined Lev's back and lightly placed a kiss to his shoulder blade. "I may have left some rather... vicious marks on your back, dear."

Lev laughed and finished filling the ewer. "That's alright.

I'll blame it on the cats."

Ahkmenrah took the ewer back, but before he could pour it over Lev, he found hands brushing over his hips.

"Gods, did I do this?"
Ahkmenrah looked down and noticed for the first time the finger-shaped bruises over his hip-bones. "Oh, my. Don't worry, it shouldn't be visible when I put on a sash."

Lev knelt down, smirking at the hitch in Ahkmenrah's breathing, before pressing his lips over the blue and purple marks. He stroked the back of Ahkmenrah's legs and licked over his naval, the feel and scent of the moist skin intoxicating him. As arousal stirred them both, Ahkmenrah poured the water over Lev's back before dropping the ewer, curling his hands into Lev's hair and moaning unabashedly."Ai, Lev, I don't know if I can. I'm still sore, imi-ib."