A Grain in the Sands of Time - 4. New Beginnings

True to his word, Andrew kept on the outskirts of town - west of Las Vegas. He lived in a large 1790’s style Louisiana mansion that had been converted to 8 separate suites. It was a perfectly symmetrical, four-story building, situated on a plot of land at the base of Desert Hills, and made for a stunning view of the sun setting behind the mountains. Matt looked out of Andrew’s top floor suite while he waited on the meal that Andrew was skillfully cooking in his small kitchen. Although Matt didn’t want to think about it, the aroma had his mouth watering in anticipation of a real home cooked meal. If he did spend any time thinking about it he would realize that it had been over three years since someone had cooked for him, but these were the memories that Matt tried his best to run from. Instead he looked for distraction.

“Who is this?” Matt asked pointing at a photograph hanging on the wall beside the window he was peering out. The photo depicted Andrew not much younger than he was now, Matt guessed, and the woman who looked strikingly like Andrew himself, obviously a sister, as they appeared close in age.

Andrew looked over his shoulder, but kept stirring. “That’s my sister Andrea. Please don’t say anything about our names, I have heard it all of my life.”

“I was just going to say that I think it’s a great name, goes with yours very well. In fact, she’s almost as cute as you.” Andrew grinned as he was stirring something on the stove, exactly the affect Matt was hoping for. “I might even ask you for her number.”

“Careful, or I might give it to you. She’s far more difficult to date than I am.”

“Are we dating?” Matt asked with what sounded, to his ears, like desperation in his voice.

Andrew just smiled at him and continued stirring. “Can you grab two plates from the cupboard beside you and put them on the table please?”

“I can do that. I’m quite good at taking direction I’ll have you know.”

“That is good to know,” Andrew glanced at him with his coy grin.

Matt collected the plates and put them on the table. He returned Andrew’s smile as he scooped up the cutlery from where it sat on the counter and laid it out beside each plate. He then retrieved the glasses and bottle of wine that Andrew had placed on the counter earlier.

“For someone that claims to live in a hotel you sure seem to know your way around a kitchen.” Andrew quipped.

“Well I have had a bit of experience around the kitchen.”

“Did your mom cook for you when you were growing up?” Andrew asked.

Matt laughed. A picture of Sun cooking in his mind was a just a little absurd. “No she was always too busy with work.” He quickly changed the subject. “Are you going to let me know what we are eating tonight?”

Andrew looked at him from the stove. “I’ll give you a hint, it’s going to be hot.”

“Hmmm… stuffed chilies covered in hot sauce?”

Andrew groaned and rolled his eyes, “I said hot, not gross.”

“Well… from the can of coconut milk you had on the counter earlier and the fact that you were chopping up what appeared to be bamboo shoots, I am going to guess that your culinary treat is bringing us to Thailand. And, because the only Thai dish I actually know is curry, I am going to guess that we are having curry.”

“Oh very good Sherlock! You’re absolutely correct. Green curry to be specific and the meat tonight will of course be chicken.” Andrew looked a bit panicked, “Oh God, you’re not vegetarian are you?”

Matt thought about playing along, but the look of terror in Andrew’s eyes was enough to melt his heart. “No, I’m not vegetarian, I love meat.” He winked as seductively as he could at Andrew, who laughed again for him and brightened the world just a little bit. Dear Lord, I’m as giddy as a schoolgirl, what is happening to me? And Matt knew exactly what a giddy schoolgirl would feel like as Time made no distinction between gender and he had been reincarnated as female more times than he could count. Oddly though, and none of his siblings knew the answer as to why this was, but all of the Arcana were only ever attracted to the same sex. In fact, none of them had ever reproduced. Only Sun and Time knew the secret to the forging of the Arcana and no one would think about questioning them on it.

“I’m glad I dodged that bullet.” Andrew’s comment snapped Matt away from his thoughts. “Okay, sit down and let me serve you.” Andrew caught Matt’s mischievous look, and before he could say anything cut him off. “If you don’t want to go home tonight immediately, you wont say a word!”

Grinning from ear to ear, Matt zipped his lips shut with his fingers.

“Good man. Now sit down there.” Andrew pointed to seat furthest from the cooking area and busily served both plates with rice and a creamy green curry. Matt sat and admired him working. Andrew sat down, poured two glasses of wine, picked one of the glasses up and handed it to Matt. He picked up his own and said, “to new friends.”

“To new friends,” Matt repeated, clinked Andrew’s glass with his, and took a sip of his cool wine. “Perfect,” he said, directed more to Andrew than the wine. Andrew picked up the suggestion and blushed before turning to his meal. They ate slowly, talking about everything from Andrew’s family, to his college years and to his dreams for the future. Matt loved watching Andrew talk and he decided he would listen to him for eternity if he ever had the chance. His voice was strong, but sweet. He was male, but never hid his gay side. People who loved him surrounded Andrew, and he loved his family in return with a passion to which Matt had a hard time relating. As much as Matt’s family loved each other, the relationships had spanned so many millennia that they began to forget that love. Rebuilding relationships when a sibling or himself was reincarnated made the whole thing even more complicated. But tonight was about Andrew and he lost himself in his date’s voice.

Andrew forced Matt to share some ice cream with him to end the meal and although Matt despised ice cream, he ate it with joy just to see the look of satisfaction on Andrew’s face when Matt offered him the first bite from Matt’s spoon. When they finished dinner it was nearing midnight. They sat awkwardly on the couch afterwards and as the silence stretched Andrew started.

“Well… thanks for a great time Matt.”

“I got off pretty cheap with taking you for a drive and having you cook me dinner. I have to spend that hundred dollars on you yet, if you’d let me.” Matt looked at Andrew with a question in his eyes.

“I think I would like to let you.” Andrew replied and came forward to kiss Matt gently. “I also … think that you should probably leave now Matt. It’s getting pretty late and I have to go to work tomorrow.

Matt’s excitement faded instantly, but he knew the time had come. He nodded and got up to make his way to the door. “Thanks for dinner Andrew, and the conversation, and the kiss in the Jeep, and for telling me about who you are, and for …”

Andrew kissed Matt deeply and Matt hung on for as long as he could. Finally it was time to go and Matt walked out into the darkness.

“Goodnight Matt,” Andrew called.

“Goodnight Andrew.” Matt turned and made his way to the car to go home.

“Matt!” Andrew called after him. Matt turned to see Andrew running up to him and caught him in his arms as Andrew covered his mouth once again. “I think I’d like to see you again tomorrow if you would be okay with that?” He covered Matt’s mouth with his before Matt could answer.

“Well, when you put it that way! I guess I could call you tomorrow afternoon?”

Andrew smiled and nodded enthusiastically. He let Matt go, watched him get into his car and sighed deeply before withdrawing into his house and closing the door.

**********

He watched the scene in front of him with interest knowing that neither the Fool, nor the young man that he was saying goodbye to, would see him in the shadows. Curious, he thought to himself, he’s falling in love. He could see it in the Fool’s expression, and his manner toward the human. This had only happened in the Arcana once before. Several thousands of years ago Strength had begun the same process with a young man in what was now known as the country of Niger in Africa. He had to kill the human to prevent its continuation. It was necessary to do and no loss to the evolutionary line. He looked into the distance to see if he would need to kill this human as well. Possibly, he thought without feeling.

He scanned the possibilities in the future and decided on the best course of action. Matt might not be pleased with what was about to happen, but he was looking for a change, and he was just the being who could give Matt everything he deserved. With a smile on his face Time stepped out of one existence and into another, disappearing from the world of men.

**********

Matt woke with the warmth of the morning Sun shining through a small gap in the curtains and onto his bare chest. He silently mouthed a prayer to his mother in thanks. The covers on the bed were twisted into a knot around him. He thought back over the past four days. Andrew and Matt had seen each other every evening, and he couldn’t get enough of his new friend. Every time they were together Matt listened to the nuances of Andrews voice, studied the nature of his body language, the squint in his eyes when he laughed, and the distance he noticed when he spoke of his sister more and more. They hung out and read to each other on Andrew’s back porch, Andrew tried to teach Matt to cook, which didn’t go well, and they bathed together in the tub that was only big enough for one.

If there is a heaven, I have found it, Matt thought, and glanced over to where Andrew lay beside him on his stomach, the center of his bare body immodestly covered by just a corner of the duvet. Andrew's breathing was slow and steady letting Matt know he was still deep in his sleep.

He allowed his eyes to slowly travel from Andrew's mop of sandy, red, disheveled hair, down the back of his neck where the short shaved hair stood at attention, to the defined "V" between his shoulder blades, down to his slim waist, and over his beautifully rounded bum, unfortunately covered by that pesky scrap of blanket. His long legs poked out from under the covers and, his feet hung off the end of the bed loosely and oh so gorgeously. He just wanted to lick Andrew’s entire body. His passion got the better of him and he grabbed the duvet and slowly pulled it off of Andrew revealing a perfectly shaped ass. He loved the way Andrew’s blond, downy body hair shimmered in the streak of sunlight the cut across his body from the window; his beauty mesmerized him.

"Oh Andrew," Matt whispered softly, "you do have the most incredible body I think I have ever seen."

"Thank you." Andrew said groggily, grinning up at him.

"Oh shit!" Matt screeched and practically fell off the bed in fright. "What the hell are you doing up? Your suppose to be sleeping."

"Well I was sleeping, but some perv pulled the covers off my ass and woke me up with a compliment," Andrew replied accusingly, but laughing at Matt’s reaction.

"And I'll have you know Andrew,” Matt said trying to look dignified after his display, “that I told that perv to get out of your bedroom or there would be hell to pay."

"Really? It seems to me that he's still sitting here beside me ogling my bits and pieces!"

Matt giggled, to which he got a poke in the ribs from Andrew’s right hand. "Ouch, you crazy hottie!" Matt climbed on top of Andrew straddling him with his legs on either side of his waist and sitting on his butt. It was hard not to notice that his manhood was nestled between Andrew’s soft cheeks. He leaned his body forward so his chest was pressed firmly against Andrew’s back and then brought his hands to his waist and started to tickle him mercilessly. He got an instant reaction.

"Ahhhhhh!!! Matt... you... bastard!" it was hard for Andrew to get any words out through his shrieks and laughter. Andrew brought his hands back and pinched both of Matt's legs.

"Ow!" Matt was forced to stop his tickling onslaught and grabbed both of Andrew’s wrists and forced his arms wide apart, away from his legs. They were both laughing so hard by this time that neither one had the energy to continue their brief tussle.

They settled into each other, Matt protecting Andrew by covering his whole body with his, and Andrew melting into Matt's body, loving the weight on top of him, and trusting Matt completely. They lay that way for some time, their arms still outstretched when something occurred to Matt.

"You know Andrew, when your namesake was crucified thousands of years ago, he would have been posing just like this in the end."

The obscurity of Matt's comment made them both break out into laughter once again.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Andrew managed to ask when he stopped laughing.

Matt slid off of Andrew and settled on his back looking up at the ceiling. He rested his hands behind his head. Andrew took the opportunity to snuggle up beside him, draped an arm over Matt's stomach, and kissed Matt gently on the nipple before resting his cheek against Matt's chest.

"Well," Matt began, "when Christ was starting his work, he called on 12 men – his apostles. Simon, aka Peter was one of the …"

"Wait just a second!” Andrew interrupted. “Simon aka PETER? How in God's name do you get Peter from Simon?"

Matt ignored the indignation in Andrew's voice. "Anyway!" he started again, "Peter's brother was also called by Jesus to spread his message to the people. His name was Andrew. He later became a saint, but of course was crucified first."

“Of course.” Andrew replied sarcastically, but was perplexed and asked, "I thought you got crucified, because you pissed people off? What kind of saint pisses people off so much that he gets crucified for it?"

"He didn't piss anyone off. He gave up his life so Christ's followers would see his devotion and pledge themselves to Jesus’ cause." Matt stared off in the distance remembering. “And that’s not the only criteria to be considered a Saint. You have to perform some miracles as well.”

"Well obviously… wait are you telling me he willingly let himself get nailed to a cross? Saint Andrew sounds like a bit of a nutter to me!"

Matt chuckled, "Well he didn't actually get nailed to the cross. Each hand and each foot was bound to the cross. It wasn't a typical cross either. Andrew didn't think himself worthy enough to get crucified on the same type of cross as Jesus, so he instructed the people to bind him to a cross shaped in the form of an x."

"Sounds uncomfortable." Andrew mused, and Matt laughed again. "Matt, are you a religious person?" Andrew asked with an edge to his voice.

"Not in the traditional sense, no, but I believe in a power greater my own.” Matt said evasively. “Why do you ask?"

Well, you just seem to know a lot about this stuff and usually people that know a lot about this stuff are in to it. I'm not, so figured I would tell you so you would know."

"Hm, well I'm not either, so no need to worry. I promise I won't try and get you to pray with me over breakfast or to strap yourself to a wooden x."

Andrew giggled softly and absently ran his hand gently back and forth across Matt's chest.

"There's something else I should tell you, Matt." Andrew sounded suddenly serious.

"What is it?" Matt asked concerned.

"Well, I don't want you to get the wrong idea about me jumping into bed with you after only our second date happened, and then staying in bed with you for the past two days!"

“Please don't tell me you want me to leave, and you never want to see me again!" Matt was genuinely starting to panic inside.

Fortunately Andrew took it as a joke. "No," he laughed, "I just don't want you to think that I'm some sleazy guy that hops in the sack with just anyone."

Matt breathed in relief. "I'd never think that about you Andrew, besides I did the same thing right? And I'm not some sleazy guy."

Andrew smiled up at Matt resting his chin on Matt's chest. "No, you're not some sleazy guy. There's something about you Matt that seems very noble."

Matt snickered at hearing the word noble attached to him. If only Andrew knew about who he really was, and how close to the truth he actually was. On more than one occasion over the past few days Matt felt the lie that he was keeping hidden and was struggling with what to do about it. "I wouldn't go that far," Matt said dismissively.

"No? Hmm…" Andrew pondered momentarily, "four days ago you crashed into a display at the store and stayed for an hour to help me clean it up, even though anyone else would have ran. Then when I told you how much it was, even knowing that I was terribly gouging you, you didn't even bat an eye, you just gave me your bankcard. You brought hot chocolate to our first date on the off chance that it might get romantic, and that first night between asking me endless questions about my life, and showing more interest in me then my own family, you left like a gentlemen should have after only the first date, even though both of us knew we wanted each other desperately. Then, after repeating your chivalry of never letting me once pay for anything, and taking me to an amazing Cirque production, you took me back home to my house and made love to me like I have never been made love to before. Somewhere in all of that you found the time to phone a woman that you don’t know, and agreed to meet with her and her kid to let her try to convince you to be the kids big brother! If anyone around here is going to be a saint Matt, it's going to be you."

"Well when it put it that way, I do sound rather saintly don’t I?” Matt grinned down at Andrew. “Saint Matt,” Matt tried on the title. “Has a ring to it don't you think Andrew?"

Andrew groaned in response. "So much for noble or saintly," he said dryly.

They both laughed and looked at each other smiling. Matt felt an urge and bent down and kissed Andrew passionately on the mouth, igniting the heat between his legs. Andrew reached up with his arms and wrapped himself around Matt's neck, covering him with his mouth and eagerly climbing on top of Matt's waist. Their passion for each other flared intensely and they spent many minutes tasting each other's tongues, morning breath was lost in the intensity of their kisses and the tightness of their embrace.

"Matt?" Andrew waited for a response.

"Yes Andrew?" Matt obliged gently.

"Will you make love to me?" It was almost a plea.

Matt was breathless as he saw the desire in Andrew's eyes. "I want nothing more than to make love to you."

Andrew smiled in response. He reached across Matt to his nightstand and grabbed a condom from the box that was still on the table from last night. He handed it to Matt who tore open the package and fumbled for the slippery sheath inside. Andrew took it from Matt's hand silently, and looking deep into Matt's eyes, he reached behind him with both of his hands arching his chest forward, circled one hand around the base of Matt's rock hard member and the other skillfully applied the condom with one smooth movement causing Matt to gasp in pleasure.

"Shhhh...." Andrew admonished Matt gently. He withdrew the hand that was wrapped around Matt's erection and placed two fingers gently over Matt's lips to reinforce his instructions. "Don't say anything, just look at me."

Matt whimpered as Andrew first slid the condom down the rest of his shaft. Andrew applied a small amount of lube to both Matt and himself, raised his rear with his legs still straddling Matt’s waist and using the hand that applied the condom, he positioned Matt's cock directly beneath his soft pucker. He sat down so forcefully on Matt's erection that he drove Matt's cock right to the base in one thrust.

Matt cried out in ecstasy prompting a stern look of warning from his lover who took the two fingers, that he had previously placed gently over Matt's lips, and thrust them deep into Matt's mouth forcing Matt to close his lips around them.

"Since you want something to do with your mouth, you can suck on my fingers, but say nothing. Do you understand?" Andrew was commanding, there was no room for disagreement. Matt was utterly under Andrew's control at this moment, and he loved it. He would give anything to make Andrew happy, and if it meant saying nothing and sucking Andrew's fingers than he would do a damn good job of it. He nodded his understanding and Andrew smiled in response to Matt letting him take control of their lovemaking.

Keeping the fingers of his left hand in Matt's mouth and the fingers of his right hand caressing the small patch of hair on Matt’s chest, he slowly and deliberately raised his ass bringing Matt's cock to the point of almost leaving its newly found warmth. Then just as slowly and never taking his eyes from Matt’s, he eased himself back down the full length and buried Matt into his ass once again. Matt could only breath hard in response as he wouldn't say anything, but he kept his eyes glued to Andrew and felt himself fall deeper in love with every rise and fall.

It didn’t take Matt long to feel himself growing in anticipation of release and after a few minutes he silently communicated this with a whimper to Andrew who moved his right hand from Matt’s chest, took Matt's left hand and brought it to rest on Andrew's own dripping erection. Matt, diligently still sucking hard on Andrew's two fingers, obediently began stroking Andrew's cock and in just a few stokes Andrew began moaning loudly and gave one final hard thrust into Matt's hand releasing a stream of ropey cum that splashed across Matt's chest and up to his chin. Feeling the warmth of Andrew's semen on his skin, Matt couldn't hold his own orgasm back and still looking into Andrew's eyes he almost bit Andrew's fingers as he released a strong pulse of cum into the condom buried inside of Andrew's perfect ass.

Panting heavily, Andrew slumped forward, slowly drawing his fingers out of Matt's mouth. Matt took the opportunity to kiss them as they slid free. Andrew smiled and huddled against Matt's chest and Matt wrapped him protectively in his arms and held him tightly while his softening cock slid slowly from Andrew's warm body.

For a long time they held each other in silence.

"It's true Matt.” Andrew sighed.

“What’s that?”

“You really are a saint!"

They both laughed exhaustedly, hanging onto each other, as they bathed in the smile of the Sunbeam that made it’s way through the curtains, across their entwined bodies and settled on the face of the small ticking clock on Andrew’s nightstand.