FIC: Evening (5/7 | The 13th Warrior AU)

[mlyn.livejournal.com]

Evening
Chapter 5/7
Chapter rated NC-17

*****

Herger woke when Ahmed slipped out of bed. He lifted his head, blinking blearily. It was dark out, and out here in the country, there weren't many other lights around. He could hear Ahmed but couldn't see him. Herger called his name in a low voice.

"Be right back," Ahmed murmured. The bathroom light flicked on but the door shut immediately after, blocking most of the glare. Herger heard him using the toilet a moment later. He flushed and used the sink, then opened the door and shut off the light.

"Ah. Can't see."

Herger snorted. "Follow the sound of my voice."

Ahmed shuffled over and climbed back into bed. Herger helped him arrange the covers, then rested his head on his hand and looked in Ahmed's direction.

"No regrets?"

Ahmed rolled onto his side, facing Herger. "None. And you're—" Now he hesitated. "You're certain I didn't hurt you?"

"Absolutely certain. I've been doing this a long time, Ahmed. I'm broken in, like old shoes." Herger yawned.

"Stop it. You're not old."

"But I am broken in." Herger groped for Ahmed's hand and, finding it, examined his fingers by touch. "You could compare me to some tight young thing, and find that these fingers fit a lot more easily up my ass."

"The…things you say," Ahmed choked out. Herger chuckled and leaned in, finding Ahmed's mouth and kissing him slowly.

Ahmed clutched at him, fingers pressing into Herger's back as he inched closer. Herger was surprised by his vehemence, but didn't pull away. Ahmed moved over him, pushing him back into the bed, his tongue driving into Herger's mouth.

The kiss was desperate. Ahmed was breathing raggedly, gasping and making small whimpers like an animal, all muffled against Herger's mouth. Herger tried using his hands to soothe him, stroking his face and neck and chest, then down his back.

Ahmed moved between his legs and settled against him. His groin was tingling with arousal, but not hard yet. Still, the weight of him felt good. Herger hooked one leg around one of Ahmed's and rubbed his foot against Ahmed's calf.

Finally Ahmed broke away from the kiss and pressed his face into Herger's neck. "Herger…"

"Right here." Herger touched Ahmed's curls and held the back of his head, stroking down to his neck. "What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing." Ahmed settled against him, relaxing and stroking down to Herger's bare hip. "I just…can't seem to get enough of you."

Herger pursed his lips, thinking. He'd seen this before, especially in young men…inexperienced men, after their first time.

Ahmed's hand had moved from Herger's hip to his thigh, and moved up from there. He lifted off Herger enough to give himself room to touch, starting with the valley between Herger's pelvis and leg. He ran his thumb along it, down from his hipbone to the curly hair around his cock.

He still had his face tucked against Herger's neck, only now Herger could feel a flick of tongue occasionally, and Ahmed's lips moving. The light touches felt good, making him sensitized to everything. A scrape of stubble and a cooling gust of breath were magnified. By the time Ahmed's fingers ran through his pubic hair and onto his cock, Herger realized he was starting to get hard again.

"I love the way you feel," Ahmed whispered into his shoulder. His voice was a hiss of pure need. Herger groaned and arched his hips. Ahmed's hand squeezed him gently, then moved off. He moved his touch down to Herger's balls, curling his fingers around them and squeezing ever so slightly, then releasing again and going further back, a thumb rubbing along his perineum, pressing just enough to get a surge of sensation running through Herger's cock. Herger gasped.

"I enjoyed that book," Ahmed said in a low voice, and chuckled.

That laugh sounded devious. Herger wet his lips and reached down to stroke Ahmed's back. "I can tell."

"Tell me," Ahmed fingers pressed against Herger's ass cheeks, and Herger spread his legs wider, "do you think I feel as tight and smooth inside, as you did?"

One finger pressed into Herger's entrance. There was still enough lube to make it effortless. Ahmed went deep with one push, and he pressed against Herger's prostate with enough force to send another jolt of sensation through his cock.

"Fuck…" Herger clawed the sheet. "I'll have to find out," he managed.

"I want you to," Ahmed rumbled. "Right now—"

Herger's phone buzzed from the bedside table.

"No," Ahmed told it.

"They'll call again if it's an emergency." He shifted with Ahmed's finger, trying to see if it could go deeper. Ahmed tried a second finger against his opening, testing the lube and give of muscles.

"I want to feel this," Ahmed continued. His second finger pressed in, making the burn ignite again. Herger gasped and Ahmed paused. "Tell me. Tell me you'll do it." His voice was commanding in a way that Herger hadn't heard before.

The phone buzzed again.

"Hold on." Herger groped for it and picked it up. There was an SMS. Ronild: Please call. "Something's wrong," he told Ahmed.

Ahmed pulled back and sat up.



"I don't want you to come back, I just thought you could tell me what went on, and tell the police too…"

"Of course. Can you put them on?" Herger put the phone against his shoulder and pulled on his boxers, then got up to pace.

Ronild's voice went further away, muffled. Then it came back. "They want to take my statement first. I can give them your number and they can call you on Monday—"

"Nei. Tell them I'll call tomorrow. We'll get this settled right away."

Ronild was silent for such a long moment that Herger looked to see if he'd lost the call. Finally, he whispered, "Thank you. I'm sorry, again, I didn't want to call—"

"I would have been angry if you hadn't. Now get off the phone so you can give your statement and get some sleep."

"Yes sir." There was the tiniest hint of a smile in his whisper.

"Good night."

"Good night."

Herger pressed a button on the phone and dropped it to the bedside table, then looked at Ahmed.

He was sitting up in bed with the sheet pulled up to his waist. One arm rested across his stomach, the other lay flat along his side.

"I'm sorry."

"What is it? Is he all right?"

"Shaken." Herger sat on the edge of the bed. "He'd left some things in the office while he went out with friends. When he went back to get his things, he found Wendel there. He was trying to break in to my office."

Suddenly his breath left him. He put a hand to his forehead and closed his eyes. "He pushed Ronild around, hit him, smashed some things. I guess he was drunk. Luckily that was all he did, and then he left."

Ahmed was silent for a long moment. Herger opened his eyes and looked at him. He was chewing his lip and looking off into the middle distance. His brows were furrowed and the corners of his mouth turned down.

"Ronild called me just because it was too strange for Wendel to show up suddenly like this. When I told him that he'd been here, it came together. Tomorrow I'll talk to the police and tell them that this seemed like a pattern, or at least cause and effect. They can charge him for trespassing here, as well as the other charges." He swallowed. "Trespassing into my office; vandalism, assault."

"I don't know how you could love somebody like that," Ahmed muttered.

"I don't," Herger replied sharply. "I don't love him, not anymore. I broke up with him after I started to see him for the spoiled child he is. Time has just worsened him."

Ahmed looked at him, and seemed chastised. "I'm sorry for Ronild."

"I am too." He got into the bed finally, pulling the sheet over his legs. "And more sorry that this had to happen this weekend. You can't get a break, can you?"

Ahmed managed a half smile. "You already gave me a wonderful evening. Let's just go to sleep, and start over in the morning."

Herger nodded. Ahmed shifted down under the covers and turned off the lamp on his side of the bed. In the dark, Herger stretched out and pulled the covers over himself.

There was a long, tense silence while Herger listened to Ahmed breathing.

Eventually he felt a touch on his side. Wordlessly they turned toward each other, Herger linking their fingers together between them.

But Herger did not fall asleep for a long time, and instead lay awake thinking about Ronild and Wendel. At some point in the early morning his weary mind gave up consciousness. He awoke suddenly a few hours later when Ahmed got up and went into the bathroom, turning on the shower.

He rolled onto his back and rubbed his gritty eyes. He felt terrible about Ahmed's weekend being tarnished by Wendel, and stewing over it all night had not made him feel any easier about it. And what was more, Ahmed had seemed so disgusted that Herger and Wendel had ever been together at all. He didn't care what Ahmed thought of Wendel, but Ahmed thinking less of him was painful.

He envisioned Ahmed wanting to leave here, return to Oslo, moving out of the apartment and never speaking to him again. He squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his fingertips into them until he saw white behind his eyelids.

The shower turned off. Herger lowered his hand. Ahmed came out a moment later, a towel around his waist. Herger watched him for a moment, not saying anything, until Ahmed looked over and saw him awake.

"Hey." Ahmed smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. He leaned over and kissed Herger warmly, the water clinging to his beard growth wetting their mouths.

Ahmed leaned back. Herger eyed him cautiously, looking at his cheerful smile for any hint of falseness. "You're in a good mood."

Ahmed shrugged. He stood and unwrapped the towel from around his waist, using it to finish drying. "Why not?" He eyed Herger as he wiped his throat. "You look exhausted."

"I didn't really sleep."

Ahmed frowned. He put the towel back around his waist and sat back down, finding Herger's leg through the bedclothes and rubbing it. "Thinking about Ronild?"

Might as well be frank. "Worried about what you think of me. Because of all that Wendel has done."

Ahmed's eyes widened, and he didn't say anything for a moment. When he found his voice again, it was hushed. "Herger, I—" But then he stopped.

Herger couldn't stand listening to the silence. "You don't need to say anything." He threw off the bedcovers and got to his feet, going into the bathroom. Pouring face wash into his palm, he started cleaning up.

A hand touched his back as he bent over the sink to rinse.

"Was it what I said last night? I don't think you would have been with someone like…him, had he always been this way. You're a better man than that."

Herger finished rinsing his face and looked up into the mirror, water dripping. Ahmed gazed back at him, worry and regret clear in his eyes, but no guilt.

Herger picked up a hand towel and mopped his face dry, then directed what he said next into his hands. "I'm going to have to call the police and deal with this today. I'm sorry for it."

"Do whatever you feel is necessary." Ahmed moved his hand down Herger's back and around his waist to his front, holding him gently in a one-armed hug. It made Herger feel better than he would have guessed. Ahmed bent his head and pressed a kiss to Herger's bare shoulder. "I'll get some breakfast started."

"Wait." Herger turned, stopping Ahmed with a hand on his hip. The towel he wore, already precipitously fastened with a tucked edge, shifted under his touch. Acting on instinct, he hooked his fingers under the edge and pulled the towel completely away. When he looked up, Ahmed was grinning. The look of pure happiness lifted Herger's spirits. "It's too early to call them, anyway," Herger finished, chuckling.



The sun was filtering in through the bedroom skylights. The trees outside view made dancing shadows across Ahmed's back, while a breeze through the open window made goosebumps rise.

Or maybe the goosebumps were from what Herger was doing; he wasn't sure. He went on tracing the dips and shallows of Ahmed's back with his tongue.

Ahmed was wiry, too thin, and it showed the best in his back. Luckily he had retained some curves in his ass, but when Herger could see the rest of him like this, he realized he could count ribs if Ahmed stretched the right way. His face had filled out some with the benefit of rich Norwegian cooking, but he still could use more weight.

Herger sat up, settling himself on Ahmed's legs, and rubbed a thumb up Ahmed's spine. Ahmed arched slightly in reaction and settled with a sigh.

"You're not falling asleep, are you?"

"Mmm." The sound was negative, mumbled into a pillow. "Keep going."

"Yes sir," Herger muttered, but he smiled and ran his hand back down Ahmed's back, to his ass, measuring the curve with his palm. He brought his other hand up to join it on the other cheek, and dug his fingers in gently, massaging. "I love your ass," he said absently.

Ahmed chuckled. "It's just a butt."

"Uh uh. It's gorgeous." His thumbs rubbed the underside of the curves, where the thigh made a crease. He parted the muscles slightly, getting a glimpse of dark hair and secret skin. Ahmed moaned quietly. "It's even better when you make that sound while I do this."

He slid back down, nudging Ahmed's legs apart to lie between them. He heard Ahmed's breath hitch, and smiled as he bent his head again. Starting at the first hint of curve, he licked a line down the middle of one ass cheek. The skin was smooth and warm and totally soft, even when the muscles clenched under his tongue.

"Relax," Herger whispered. He petted the tense muscles until Ahmed relaxed again. Then he licked the other cheek.

"What are you doing?" Ahmed's voice sounded strangled.

"What?" Herger sucked one spot in a smacking kiss. "You didn't read anything about this in your book?"

"I…skipped to the good part."

Herger snorted. "No wonder you got through it so fast."

"What are you talking about?" Ahmed sounded exasperated.

"It's, uh…" He couldn't talk about this with his head on Ahmed's ass. Herger sat up. "It's commonly called assplay. Just…anything that gets you used to someone doing something to your…well, to your asshole. You have to work up to it," he finished. "You can't just ram anything in there."

Ahmed turned his head, resting it on his folded arms. "You were going to…put your mouth on me?"

"You showered. It's no problem." Herger grinned, putting his hand back on Ahmed's ass and stroking it.

He leaned over and kissed Ahmed's relaxed mouth, smiling when Ahmed lifted his head and rolled onto his side. He stretched out next to Ahmed, their legs tangled together as they continued the kiss. When Ahmed sighed into his mouth a few minutes later, Herger knew he could go on.

He started with dropping kisses down Ahmed's body, his chest and stomach and over to one hip. Ahmed shifted restlessly, and Herger pushed him back onto his stomach and moved back between his legs.

"Just trust me," he whispered, pressing a kiss between Ahmed's shoulder blades. He deliberately rubbed his beard against Ahmed's skin, knowing that the gentle tickles heightened sensation. Ahmed writhed under him, his breath coming faster.

More kisses, down Ahmed's spine. His skin was soft and hot, and sweat made a sheen that slicked Herger's lips. When he got to the top of Ahmed's ass, he pushed the muscles apart and licked down the cleft. The fine black hairs lay flat, like an arrow pointing to the spot Herger was aiming for.

Ahmed was saying something. It was Arabic; Herger couldn't tell what it was, but he'd bet his apartment that it was profane.

He got to Ahmed's hole and licked around it, exhaling as he did. Even though he'd just showered, Ahmed's natural scent was strong here. It was intoxicating, addictive; Herger inhaled deeply and pursed his lips, kissing the relaxing ring of muscle.

"Herger. Herger, please, Herger—" Ahmed's voice was shaking, his breath sobbing. Herger shushed him, his mouth still pressed against his flesh. Then he licked again, using his thumbs to pull Ahmed's flesh apart a little more, and stiffened his tongue to penetrate.

"Ah, FUCK." Ahmed's hips jerked hard enough that Herger lost his place. He lifted his head, laughing to himself, and put a hand on Ahmed's lower back. Ahmed turned his head down to look sideways at Herger. His face was red; his eyes glassy.

"Is it okay?"

"I…" Ahmed's mouth worked silently, trying to find words. "Yes, but…"

"Then enjoy it." Even while they were still looking at each other, Herger slipped a finger between his cheeks and stroked the rim of his hole, just petting lightly. Ahmed's body jerked again, but he dropped his head back down in acquiescence.

Herger replaced his finger with his tongue, pushing in again. Ahmed groaned. This time Herger withdrew his tongue, then pushed it in again. Fucking, gently and slowly. The swearing continued. Herger pressed his pelvis down into the mattress, trying to relieve the ache in his dick.

Ahmed moved his hips, lifting and pushing back, meeting Herger's tongue thrusts. His hole was getting wet and slick, and the muscles were relaxing.

Herger pulled up, panting for breath. He got the lube from the bedside table and squeezed some onto his fingers. When he touched his fingertips to Ahmed's hole, Ahmed groaned and lifted his hips, his back arching.

"Come up," Herger murmured, patting Ahmed's hip with his free hand. Ahmed unsteadily got onto his hands and knees, head hanging between his arms. He was still breathing quickly and shallowly. As Herger's gaze ran down his body, he saw that Ahmed was so hard his cock had risen to press flush against his belly, pointing directly up his chest.

"I'm going slow. Okay?" Herger probed with one finger. Ahmed rocked back, his body opening without hesitation. Herger's finger slipped in to the first knuckle as Ahmed moaned quietly. "Good, yes." Herger leaned his hip against Ahmed's side, reaching around under Ahmed's body and taking his cock in hand. As he stroked his palm up Ahmed's erection, he slipped his finger out a few centimeters, then back in. As he watched carefully, Ahmed turned his head and bit his arm with a groan.

He was so receptive, so eager. Just the sounds he was making were enough to make Herger's cock throb. And with Ahmed's ass gradually opening to him, Herger moved his finger a little deeper and quickened the pace of the hand on Ahmed's cock. He buried his finger to the second knuckle and then Ahmed gave a loud cry and thrust forward wildly into Herger's fist, his cock jerking. Herger closed his eyes, focusing on the feel of Ahmed's body clamping around his finger, his flesh in spasms and releasing into Herger's hand.

Finally Ahmed stopped moving. Herger carefully let him go and put a hand on his hip, guiding him to lie down on his side, out of the large wet spot they'd created. He spooned up behind Ahmed and wrapped his arm around him. Ahmed was still breathing hard when Herger pressed his face to the back of Ahmed's neck and kissed him.

"That was…" Ahmed's voice surprised him. He swallowed audibly. "Remarkable."

"You enjoyed it?" Herger buried his grin in Ahmed's shoulder. "I didn't do much. You weren't used to the sensations. Wait until you feel your prostate."

Ahmed shifted. Herger released him and he rolled over to face Herger. His eyes were dark; serious, but not angry. As Herger was trying to read his expression, he felt a hand on his dick, rubbing through his boxers.

"Let me," Ahmed murmured.

Herger closed his eyes, his mouth working on a groan. He fumbled with his boxers, pushing them down into a tangle around his thighs. He was aching. Needed a hand, a mouth, a fucking pillow; anything. Ahmed took him in hand, thank god, pulling and stroking with quick, efficient movements. Pre-come was enough for lubricant; he'd been leaking for a while.

"Let go," he heard whispered. A hot mouth pressed against his ear. He gritted his teeth, feeling himself seconds away from that shining edge of bliss. "Come on, I want to feel your come in my hands—keep going, yes, that's it…" Herger sobbed, his hips pumping wildly. He reached out and found Ahmed there, held on to him with aching fingers. "Come Herger, now—"

Herger threw back his head and spilled, breath rushing out of him with Ahmed's name, and it was still as good as the time before, still every care and worry rushing out of him to be replaced by Ahmed's love.



Herger really wanted a cigarette.

He held his phone to his ear and paced through the kitchen as he listened, opening every drawer and cabinet in the hopes that some previous guest had left a pack behind. He'd quit smoking when he'd left Wendel--breaking all his bad habits, all at once--but between the morning's activity with Ahmed and the call he was making, he was jonesing.

He stopped at the great room windows and looked out. Ahmed was lying out on the grass, reading something.

"Are you there?" Ronild asked over the phone.

Herger turned his back on the view. "Yes. Sorry."

"What do you want to do about this?"

Herger rubbed a hand over his face. "What are my options?"

"You'd have to speak with your lawyer. But the police said you should come back to Oslo."

"Dammit." Herger sighed and looked back out the window. Ahmed was in the exact same position, still reading peacefully. He was oblivious to what was going on, and Herger wanted him to stay that way. "All right. Clear my schedule for Monday."

"Understood. Enjoy the rest of your weekend."

He finished exchanging goodbyes with Ronild and hung up. Then he left the phone on a table and went outside, walking across the grass to where Ahmed lay. Ahmed looked up as Herger stretched out.

"Get everything sorted out?"

"In part." Herger put his hand on Ahmed's bare foot and wiggled it companionably. "I will likely have to deal with some things on Monday. Legal things."

Ahmed's face changed, his relaxed smile fading. "Oh. All right."

Herger summoned a strained smile and stroked up Ahmed's bare calf. Ahmed was wearing knee-length khaki shorts and a t-shirt, and Herger knew for a fact that Ahmed had taken him at his word back in Oslo, and that he wore no underwear. While one hand played lightly behind Ahmed's knee, tickling him, Herger reached up and started working on Ahmed's fly. Ahmed chuckled and rolled onto his back.



The rest of the weekend went well enough. They shared meals and relaxed around the property, swam in the lake and sunned on the dock. On Sunday morning Ahmed woke Herger and fucked him slowly while the sunlight brightened the room, then made breakfast and brought it to Herger in bed. After dinner on Sunday night, they took some drinks outside to the dock and stretched out on their towels, watching the sun go down across the lake and the stars come out.

They both got ready for bed by unspoken agreement. Herger climbed under the cool sheets and rubbed his eyes, tired already. But as he had little idea of what to expect after returning to Oslo, he anticipated another sleepless night of worrying.

Ahmed got into bed and shivered visibly at the touch of the sheets. After more than a week, the heat wave had finally broken. North of the city out here, the air was noticeably cooler. Herger burrowed down, pulling the covers up to his chin. Ahmed turned out the light on his side of the bed.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" he said in the dark.

Herger rolled onto his back, staring at the blackness where the ceiling would be. "The police want to take my statement in person. I just don't want to be involved in this at all." That was the truth, but not the whole truth. He couldn't tell Ahmed the rest; not yet.

Ahmed made a sound of understanding, but Herger knew he was disappointed. Ahmed shifted around on his side of the bed until he was comfortable, and then there was no other sound from him until his breathing turned into the slow, even gusts of a man asleep.



As they passed Hamar, Herger glanced over at Ahmed in the car. Ahmed was sitting stiffly, staring hard out his window at the passing scenery, but not apparently taking any interest in it.

"I'm not going to keep this from you any longer."

Ahmed turned at that. He looked cautiously relieved. "What is it?"

"Wendel is pressing charges against you, for assault."

"What?" Ahmed stared at him.

"I should have anticipated it," Herger said wearily, looking back at the road. "He wouldn't have let this go without trying to get retribution."

"What the HELL does he—he assaulted you first! I was defending you! Can he do this?"

"He's going to try. He won't win, but he would love to take us to court and make things messy."

Ahmed said something else in a low voice, and it sounded filthy. Herger realized it was in Arabic. He glanced over again and saw Ahmed's hands fisted on his legs in barely contained rage.

"There's something else."

"Oh, wonderful."

"No one has said anything to me yet, and I doubt they have even planned for it, but there will likely be trouble from Immigration for you."

"It's inevitable, you mean. Once they see the color of my skin…"

Herger stayed silent, ashamed. Ahmed made a scoffing sound that was frighteningly close to a sob. He had his head turned away again.

"I have a proposal," Herger said, his voice ragged. He couldn't catch his breath.

"…All right."

"We can see someone before we go to the police. We're not under arrest, so it's not like we can't take the long route home, if you get my meaning."

"I do. Go on."

Herger tried to take a breath. His hands were sweaty on the steering wheel. "I would need to call some people, find out where to go, but I know we can do it quickly."

"Herger. What are you talking about?"

He forced his mouth to say the words. "Marriage certificate."

There was a long silence from Ahmed again. Herger glanced over, afraid of what he'd see.

Ahmed was staring at him, incredulous. As Herger looked at him, he sputtered, "What?"

"Gay men can marry in Norway. Well, they can register as domestic partners. It would take care of Immigration. Wendel might back down if he knows he can't get you that way. If…if you're my husband."

"Oh my god," Ahmed said.

"I'm sorry to spring this on you. It's not the way I ever envisioned proposing to someone. But I…" Herger stared hard at the road, forcing himself to come to terms with his next thought. "I don't want to lose you."

"Herger…" Ahmed put his hand out, touching Herger's leg. Herger looked at him. The shock had worn off enough for Ahmed's happiness to show in his face. Herger felt a rush of relief so intense he was nearly dizzy. He looked back at the road, navigating a turn in the highway. "I accept," Ahmed finished softly.

"Good." Herger cleared his throat and picked up his phone, glancing at it as he clicked through his contacts list. "Let me call some people."

He already knew what he needed to do to get a certificate. He started by calling his lawyer and friend, Kjeld, to act as witness and help with the preparations. Kjeld had been in the first years of university with Herger, Edgar, Heath and other friends. After Kjeld, Herger called Edgar and asked the same favor of him. Then he called Ronild.

"Can you put together hors d'oeuvres and champagne for the usual list of people? Or…thirteen, I guess, including Ahmed. Actually, add ten to that and invite the staff. Party at the apartment." He waited for Ronild to make an inquiring noise, then glanced at Ahmed and grinned. "I'm getting married."

"Congratulations. Listen, Herger…Bulwyf is here."

"He is?" A chill ran up Herger's neck. His boss had interesting timing, and Herger hoped he wouldn't be angry by what he was about to tell him. "Can you put him on?"

A deep voice came on the line a moment later. "Herger. How are you?"

"Oh, reasonable. Yourself?"

"What's this Ronild's writing down about champagne?"

"Just a little gathering. I decided to get married today. I would be honored if you'd attend."

"Can I give you away?" The voice had a trace of amusement in it.

Herger laughed, relief flooding him. "Even better. We're going to have a celebration at my place, seven p.m."

"I'll be in my office until then, and then I'll come up. Here's Ronild." Before Herger could say goodbye, Ronild was back on the line. The hors d'oeuvres would not be a problem. In the meantime, Ronild would let himself into the apartment and make sure it was clean and tidy.

Herger thanked him warmly and ended the call. As they started into the outskirts of Oslo's suburbs, he grinned at Ahmed. "My boss is going to give me away."

Ahmed laughed. They were both giddy. "Do I get to meet him first?"

"I'm joking. But he will be at the apartment later. You haven't met Bulwyf because he's been in Kristiansand with his family for a summer holiday."

"He doesn't mind you taking the day off?"

Herger shrugged. "We've known each other for years, from soon after I got out of school. He's like an older brother." And a stern taskmaster…but since he'd made no comment about Herger shirking work, Herger wasn't going to worry about it today.

They drove on for a bit, then something occurred to him. "You still have to work today. Should I drop you off?"

Ahmed nodded grudgingly. "I don't think I should ask for the day."

"No, not with Wendel pulling this trick on you; you don't want to attract any more attention. You can take a few minutes to meet me for the certificate filing, though?"

"I guess I'll have to."

They both laughed, although a flock of butterflies sprang to life in Herger's stomach.

Within a half hour they were back in downtown Oslo. Herger took Ahmed to the Aftenposten offices and stopped in front of the building. As Ahmed opened the door, Herger leaned over and said, "Hey."

Ahmed looked over and saw Herger watching him expectantly, as small smile on his face. Ahmed chuckled and ducked his head, delivering a quick kiss goodbye. It was brief but perfect; firm, warm, just lingering enough to be meaningful. "Call me when you're ready."

"Ja. Have a good day."

Ahmed got out of the car and stood on the curb. "Ha er god dag," he returned with a grin, and closed the door.