Ellison went down hard, losing his scimitar. He tried to roll toward the blade, but was pounced on by his adversary. He looked up into the sneering face of the guard as the thug pressed his forearm against Ellison's throat, cutting off most of his air. He struggled, but the guard had him pinned, kneeling his full weight on Ellison's chest. Ellison reached blindly for his scimitar, hand flailing over the floor as he searched.

"So," the guard gasped, exhausted from the fight. "Not quite as good as you thought you were, eh?" He smiled nastily, displaying the absence of half of his teeth.

Ellison smiled up at the thug as his fingers latched onto the edge of Blair's tureen.

"No," he rasped to the guard. "A little better, actually!"

Ellison swung the tureen up in a graceful arch, and connected solidly with the guard's skull.

GONGGGGG!!!

With a look of surprise, the guard slowly fell sideways off Ellison's chest and landed in a boneless heap on the floor. Ellison tossed the severely-dented tureen aside and scrambled to his feet, one hand holding his sore neck. He and Blair had get the hell out of the camp, before any more guards showed up. He turned to the spot where he'd tossed his young companion, then in a slow circle, searching the room. Blair was gone.

"Blair?" he called, uncertainly. Had he made a run for it on his own? Ellison retrieved his blade and moved to the doorway of the tent, opening up his hearing. He scanned the rest of the camp, listening for some hint of where his friend had vanished to.

"OW!"

Ellison turned, focusing in the direction of the cry of pain. It hadn't sounded like Blair, but...,

"Ellison, HELP!!!"

He charged toward the frightened sound of Blair's voice, scimitar at the ready.

Mendari winced, waving his hand in pain. He studied the neat row of teeth marks along his thumb where the little hellcat had bitten him. He paused long enough to stuff a scarf into his spirited young slave's mouth, cutting off all further cries, before hoisting him under one arm and continuing toward his private tent at the far end of the camp.

Blair continued to thrash and kick as he was dragged along in Mendari's grip. He hoped Ellison had heard him, knew where he was. What if the big man had been killed by the guard? Blair's heart fell as the possibility hit him.

"That wasn't very nice, after the hospitality I've shown you," Mendari muttered as he carried his struggling burden into his tent. He set the young man on his feet and backed him up to the support pole in the center of the huge tent, holding him in place with his own body. The boy lashed out at him, but Mendari grabbed the slender wrists and tied them to the pole, stretching his captive's arms up over his head. When the slave was secured, Mendari stood back to admire him.

"Well, you certainly are a pretty one, if not exactly obedient," Mendari chuckled as he took a long look at his prize. He'd never been particularly attracted to Westerners before, but this boy was something special. The hair that fell in soft ringlets to his shoulders, catching and playing with the candlelight in an aura of reddish highlights. The wide, frightened eyes, such an exotic shade of smoky blue, like the desert sky right before sunrise.

And that body! Mendari moved closer, one hand reaching to feel the texture of the flawless skin. There was a flurry of motion, and Mendari quickly jumped back as a bare foot whistled past his ear. His new slave was a kicker.

"Well fine, if you want it that way." Mendari stepped forward, pinning the boy's feet under his own. He grabbed a handful of the dark curls and yanked the young man's head back, smiling at the little sound of pain that issued from his captive's throat.

"Now," Mendari whispered, lifting a hand to caress the smooth, slender neck. "If you behave yourself, and don't struggle, I promise not to hurt you." He reached down to trail his long fingernails slowly up Blair's side, smiling as the young man whimpered and tried to pull away.

"But," Mendari continued, twisting his fingers in Blair's hair, "If you fight me, I will beat you bloody and take you while you are unconscious, after which I will take great pleasure in killing you." Mendari waited a moment. "It is your choice."

The blue eyes settled on Mendari's for a long moment, then slowly closed in a gesture of submission.

"Good," Mendari said happily, releasing the painful hold on Blair's curls. "I thought you'd see it my way." The evil man stepped in front of Blair and slowly sank to his knees, kneeling on the young man's feet. He slipped his hands into the slits in the blue trousers, and began to run his fingers up and down the soft skin of Blair's thighs.

Blair closed his eyes as he felt the bastard's hands sliding over his skin, the threat of death keeping him from fighting. He fought back a sob as he felt the cold fingers move to the waistband of his trousers, and prayed that it would be over quickly.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM!!!"

Blair's eyes flew open as Mendari shot to his feet. Ellison stood in the entrance to the tent, eyes ablaze with rage.

"I said...," Ellison snarled, stepping toward Mendari as he raised his scimitar, "Get... away... from him.... NOW."

Mendari stepped back, looking with uncertainty from Ellison to his captive, weighing his options. Seeing none, he did the only thing he could think of. He slipped his dagger out of his belt and held it to Blair's throat. The evil man smiled in satisfaction as Ellison froze.

"This would be the part where you drop your weapon, Ellison," Mendari said smugly. When Ellison hesitated, he inched the blade tighter against the young man's throat. Blair's alarmed yelp was easily audible through the gag, and very effective.

"All right, " Ellison said, holding up a hand. He looked into Blair's frightened eyes as he slowly knelt. "All right, just don't hurt him." The big man lowered his blade to the floor.

Mendari chuckled as Ellison released his weapon. "Well, that was easy!" he exclaimed in surprise. "I don't understand it, from the stories told about you, one would think you would never give up so quickly!" Mendari moved the blade away from Blair's throat....

...Which was exactly what Ellison was waiting for. Still kneeling, he grabbed two handfuls of the ornate rug at his feet and yanked as hard as he could. Mendari, who was standing on the other end of the rug, went sprawling. The evil man quickly scrambled to his feet, and was looking around for his lost dagger when Ellison’s shoulder slammed into his stomach.

Ellison rammed full speed into Mendari, sending the dirty bastard staggering backwards into the bank of candelabras lighting the room. One of them tipped over and set the far wall of the tent ablaze. Ellison used the delay to move to Blair and quickly pull the gag from his love's mouth.

"Are you all right?" Ellison asked, gently brushing the dark hair back from Blair's face. The young man barely had time to nod before a bellow of rage echoed through the room.

Ellison looked up just in time to leap back as Mendari came at him, swinging a candelabras like a fighting staff. He jumped as Mendari swung for his legs, then ducked and rolled as the heavy object cut through the air just over his head.

Blair watched helplessly as his friend dodged and ducked Mendari's wild attacks. He gave a sigh of relief as Ellison was able to get to his scimitar, and use it to protect himself. Blair looked up at his bound wrists and began to struggle. If only he could get free, maybe he could help.

Suddenly, Blair looked around and gasped. The flames that had been climbing the wall were now spreading across the ceiling, sending little burning bits fluttering to the floor where they set the many rugs and cushions ablaze as well. He watched in horror as the far end of the rug he was standing on ignited, and the flames began creeping toward him. His struggles to get free increased.

Ellison blocked blow after blow, waiting for an opening, amazed at Mendari's stamina. At last, the evil man dropped his guard for an instant, and Ellison struck. He ran the scimitar deep into Mendari's unprotected side as the thug raised his weapon. A look of intense surprise and disbelief crossed Mendari's face as he slowly slipped to the floor, and was engulfed in flames. Ellison sighed in relief.

"Ellison!!!"

He whirled at the frightened cry, and stared in horror. Blair was struggling helplessly against his bonds, glancing fearfully at the flames crawling around the floor at his feet. The young man gave a shriek as his left trouser leg caught fire.

Ellison snatched up a pillow, one of the few objects in the room that was not on fire, he noticed, and flew to Blair's side. He skidded to his knees and used the pillow to smother the flames. A quick check revealed that the fire had burned only the trousers, and not Blair's skin. Ellison sprang to his feet and reached up to untie Blair's bound wrists. When the young man was free, Ellison embraced him for a moment, cupping a hand against the back of the curly head.

"Hold on, beloved," Ellison whispered, bending to sweep the young man up in his arms. Blair obeyed, wrapping his arms tightly around the strong neck and pressing his face into Ellison's shoulder. The big man charged through the flames, out of the tent and into the night. Ellison ran deep into the oasis, feeling the heat of the fire fading against his back as he made his way to the place where he'd tethered Cascade.

Blair clung tightly to Ellison as he was carried through the darkness, sighing in relief as the roaring of the fire slowly faded away. He heard a familiar whinny, and lifted his head just as Ellison set him gently on his feet beside Cascade.

Ellison untethered his horse and boosted Blair up to sit side- saddle. Then he swung up behind the young man, took up the reins and gave a gentle kick to Cascade's flanks. He felt Blair's arms slip around him and squeeze tight.

Blair pressed his face into Ellison's chest as Cascade carried them through the oasis, away from the blazing remains of Mendari's camp. They rode hard for few minutes, then Blair felt Ellison draw the horse to a halt, and he lifted his head.

Ellison turned Cascade so that they were half-facing the direction they'd just come from. Mendari's camp was a orange glow on the horizon, the raging fire filling the sky with light. Ellison focused his sight on the remains of the camp, and smiled. A small army of young boys and men were running away from the area, heading toward the city and presumably back to their homes.

Blair watched the camp burn and snuggled tighter against Ellison, shivering as the cold night breeze touched his bare torso. He sighed as the big man wrapped his arms around him, one hand moving to caress his hair. Then Ellison let go, and Blair drew back as the big man quickly shed the black robe he'd stolen from one of the guards. Ellison still wore his own white robes beneath the garment.

Ellison shook out the guard's robe before wrapping it tightly around his half-naked love's shoulders. Blair pulled the heavy cloth around himself, smiling up at Ellison as the big man slipped an arm around his waist again, and gently kissed the top of the curl-covered head. With a final, satisfied glance at the ruin of Mendari's camp, Ellison turned Cascade and headed for home with his love.

Blair woke up with a jolt, instinctively pushing at the strong arms holding him. For an instant he'd thought he was back in Mendari's clutches, tied to that pole. It took him a few sleepy seconds to realize it was Ellison's arms around him, not Mendari's.

Ellison snapped awake with the first of Blair's frightened struggles. He raised up so he could look into Blair's eyes, and smiled reassuringly as the sleepy gaze settled on him. Blair instantly relaxed, and snuggled deeper into Ellison's embrace.

"Good morning, beautiful," Ellison said softly, reaching one hand to tenderly stroke Blair's forehead. He leaned down to gently kiss his love, then nuzzled under Blair's chin, causing the young man to giggle.

"Good morning," Blair giggled, as Ellison nipped tiny kisses along his neck. It tickled, and Blair twisted his head, trying to escape. He reached up at last and took his big friend's face in his hands, turning it so he could plant a long kiss on the warm lips. "I love you," he whispered, as he drew back.

"You too," Ellison sighed. He shifted on the floor pillows so he could lay his head on Blair's bare chest. It was the morning after he had rescued the young man from Mendari, and ended the evil man's reign of perversion. He and Blair had arrived back at Ellison's camp exhausted, and had flopped down on the floor pillows together with barely a word to each other.

"How do you feel?" Ellison asked softly, rubbing his face against the warm skin of Blair's chest, smiling as the dark hair tickled his cheek.

Blair took a deep breath as he remembered his brief occupation as Mendari's slave. "I'm all right, I think," he said softly as he stroked Ellison's short hair. He began to rub his fingertips into the skin of the back of his big love's neck, and was rewarded with a low growl of pleasure. "Thank you for coming after me," Blair added, almost inaudibly.

Ellison grinned. "Well, it was for purely selfish reasons, I'm afraid," he whispered, turning his head to kiss Blair's chest.

"Selfish?" Blair asked, reaching to trace a fingertip around Ellison's lips as the big man lifted his face.

"Oh, yes," Ellison replied. "You see, after you left I realized that I couldn't live without you. So what choice did I have but to snatch you away from Mendari, and keep you all to myself?" He smiled as Blair chuckled.

"Oh I see," Blair said quietly. "Very selfish, indeed." He leaned up to kiss the bow-shaped lips again. "But I think I can see past it," he added as he extended his arms back over his head and stretched, arching beneath Ellison.

"By the way," Ellison said, smiling as he studied the way the muscles of Blair's chest and stomach flexed and rippled as he completed the stretch. "I must admit, I find your choice of attire very provocative."

Blair was still clad in the blue slave garb from last night. "Do you?" The young man said softly, arching seductively.

"Oh yes," Ellison breathed, reaching to brush his fingertips over the bare, arched stomach. "Very much." He toyed with the hair surrounding Blair's belly-button, tracing little circles around the sapphire still nestled there.

"Well," Blair said, flushing as Ellison fondled his belly. "I wonder what Mendari would think if he knew you shared his taste in clothing?" He giggled as Ellison poked him playfully in the ribs.

"Behave yourself, brat," Ellison warned. His voice was stern, but his eyes sparkled and a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. Then Blair sat up, and Ellison rolled onto his back to look up at him.

"So what's for breakfast, then?" Blair asked cheerfully, looking down at his big companion.

"Oh... I dunno," Ellison replied, reaching to run lazy fingertips down Blair's side. He smiled as the young man giggled and twisted away. "What do you feel like?"

Blair turned, drawing up his knees and smiling down at Ellison. "I feel like I'm in love," he replied dreamily.

Ellison chuckled deep in his chest. "Same here," he replied, sitting up. "But I meant, what do you feel like having for breakfast?"

Blair pursed his lips and studied the ceiling for a moment. Then he grinned at Ellison and lunged, toppling the larger man onto his back and sitting on him.

"You!" Blair chirped, bouncing a little on Ellison's belly, smiling as the big man grunted. "Any objections?" he asked, smiling.

"None," Ellison moaned as his lover leaned down to lick his throat. He reached up and pulled away the loose fabric of his robe, offering more skin to the attentions of Blair's lips and tongue.

Blair sat up and yanked at Ellison's heavy robes, tugging them open to bare the smooth expanse of hairless chest and tanned, rippling stomach. He leaned down and planted a kiss between the peaked nipples, and grinned as he felt the big, rough hands slide up his back.

Ellison studied the texture of his lover's smooth skin, running his fingertips lightly up and down the curving backbone. He started to bring his hands around to caress Blair's chest, and was surprised when his wrists were seized and held to the floor.

"Not so fast, my friend," Blair purred with a seductive smile. "It's my turn." He moved Ellison's arms to his sides, and reached for the folds of the robe again.

Ellison watched in amusement as Blair grabbed the front folds of his robe and quickly spread them outward. The young man wound the fabric over Ellison's arms, then knelt on the folds, effectively trapping the big man's limbs. Ellison felt a tiny twinge of unease when he realized he was restrained, but quickly got over it as Blair ran his fingertips down his chest.

Blair grinned down at his helpless lover as he slowly trailed his fingertips down the smooth chest. He moved his hands to Ellison's nipples and gently pinched and tweaked at the tiny buds, grinning as they tightened under his touch.

Ellison closed his eyes and moaned at the delicious torture. He arched back on the pillows, straining at the cloth imprisoning his arms as his talented young love leaned down and let his hair sweep across his skin.

Blair used his locks to stroke and tease Ellison's torso, then wrapped his tongue around a tight nipple. He licked and sucked at the rosy nub as his lover writhed beneath him, then moved to give the second nipple equal treatment. This time, he grazed his teeth lightly over the sensitive bud, smiling as Ellison groaned.

Ellison gasped, arching his head back as Blair began to kiss a path down his body. He bit back a cry of pleasure as the young man raked his fingernails down the sensitive skin of his stomach. He couldn't hold back a short yelp as he felt the hot, wet tongue dip into his navel.

Blair kissed and licked at Ellison's navel as the hard stomach muscles trembled beneath his lips. He grinned as felt Ellison try to raise his arms, still imprisoned at his sides. Blair sat up and smiled down at his big lover, reaching down to let his fingertips dance over Ellison's lower belly.

"Blair!" Ellison gasped through clenched teeth as the slender fingers teased his abdomen. "Blair.... Please... I can't.... I need you... to...," He gasped in relief as Blair shifted further down his body, and he felt cool air wafting over his throbbing arousal as Blair pulled the robe aside.

"Yes," Ellison whispered pleadingly, "Yes, that's it, just...," The big man's voice faltered as an odd sensation swept over him. His feet were getting wet. He sat up a bit, trying to see past Blair.

His feet were under water, tiny, clear waves gently washing over his soles. Ellison looked around, trying to figure out what was happening. Had the spring overflowed? He'd seen the level of the water in his pool rise before, but this ridiculous. There was water filling the tent, flowing in cool rivulets between his toes, gently swishing over his ankles....

Jim sat up with a gasp, and looked around. He and Blair were still lying on the beach together, on their vacation. Jim looked down, and noticed that the tide had come in, little waves breaking gently over his toes. He turned to gaze down at his sleeping love, still curled against him, and sighed. What an amazing dream. And what an awful time for it to end!

"Chief," Jim whispered, voice still husky from the arousal of the dream. He reached down to tousle the mop of dark curls protruding from under the beach towel beside him.

"Mmmm.... Ellison... I want you," came the murmured response.

Jim chuckled a little. "Ellison?" he asked, in amusement. "Since when do you call me...," Jim's voice trailed off as he remembered the dream. Was it possible?

He leaned over his sleeping lover and spoke softly into Blair's ear. "Blair? Where are you right now?" Jim held his breath, waiting.

"Mmm.... Desert... oasis...," said the sleepy voice. The figure under the towel shifted then, and a moment later Blair's face emerged from the terrycloth shroud. The blue eyes were dopey with sleep as they met Jim's.

"What.... What's up?" Blair asked, stretching. He yawned hugely, displaying straight, white teeth, then shook his head as he woke up. "Man, what a dream I had," Blair sighed, sitting up. "It was wonderful; you and me in the Arabian desert together."

"Really?" Jim asked, feeling an odd little flutter in his stomach. "Tell me about it." He watched in wonder as Blair furrowed his brow for a moment.

"You were this big strong desert-dweller type," Blair began, smiling as he remembered the 'Ellison' that had been the protagonist of his dreamworld. "And I was this innocent anthropology student on an expedition in the desert." He looked up at Jim then, and saw the bemused look on his lover's face. "It was silly," Blair added, waving a hand in a dismissive gesture.

"No Bug, please. Tell me more," Jim asked, trying to keep his voice calm. This was absolutely unreal. He and Blair had been in the same dream together.

"Well," Blair began again, thinking. "It was a long dream, I remember. It covered a good week's time." he looked up then, and grinned at Jim. "Isn't that strange, that you can be asleep for only an hour, but a dream can last days?"

"Yeah, strange," Jim replied. Very strange. Twilight Zone strange, in fact.

Blair began to chuckle then, as he remembered more of the dream. "Mendari was there," he said. "He was the master of this harem, and I ended up being kidnapped and held captive as his sex slave." The young man shook his head, amused at the things his subconscious mind had come up with.

"And did I come charging to your rescue?" Jim asked, reaching out to run his hand over the dark curls.

Blair giggled and nodded. "Boy, do you know me or what?" he said, smiling fondly at his big lover. "And then we rode off together on horseback," he added, moving to snuggle up against the broad, bare chest. "It was very romantic." He sighed in contentment as Jim's arms wound around him, and held him tight.

"Then what happened?" Jim asked burying his face in Blair's soft curls.

Blair sighed ."Well, we were just getting started on what was sure to be incredible sex..., when you woke me up!" He reached up and punched Jim lightly in the shoulder. Then he pulled back and looked up into the steel-blue eyes.

"You do realize of course, that you now owe me some great sex, to make up for ruining my dream?" Blair asked with a pretty pout.

Our dream, Jim thought, leaning down to nuzzle the sweet face. "I'll see what I can do," he replied mysteriously, with a grin.

That night back at the loft, Jim had gone out to pick up some take-out while Blair unpacked. The young man was just putting the empty suitcase back into the closet in Jim's bedroom, when he heard the front door open.

"I'm home, Bug!" called Jim. He used his bottom to bump the door shut, then moved to the kitchen table to unload his arms. He set the Italian take-out packages down, then hefted a larger box under his arm and crossed to the stairs. As he went up, he met Blair who was halfway down.

"Watcha got there?" Blair asked, pointing at the large, plain white box.

Jim just raised an eyebrow. "Ohhh, just a little surprise I picked up for you," he replied. He leaned in to kiss his beloved. "Remember that great sex I owed you?" He smiled seductively up at his lover.

"Yeah?" Blair replied, eyes going wide. He reached for the box, but Jim shifted, pulling it out of his reach.

"Uh, uh. Dinner first," Jim said. "You go on down and get things served up, Bug. I'll be down in a moment." Jim leaned to kiss Blair's forehead, then turned and jogged the rest of the way up the stairs.

Blair watched him go, keeping one eye on the mysterious box under Jim's arm. Smiling at the thoughts of what might be in store for him after dinner, Blair turned and went downstairs.

On to Part 6