This is a continuation of the movie Labyrinth of Passion, Antonio’s first film.

Love In The Labyrinth

The young man shuffled down the hallway of the police station, his eyes riveted to the floor. The man he followed motioned him over to a desk next to the door. He was given a plastic bag containing his possessions, along with a form to sign. Satisfied that everything was there, he scrawled his name on the paper and walked out the front door.

The mid-afternoon Madrid sun blinded him for an instant and he wished he had his sunglasses. Stepping off the curb, he was startled when a very large, black car screeched to a stop inches from where he stood. The back door opened and a hand beckoned to him from inside. He hesitated, trying to get a look at his would-be host but the interior was too dark to see anything but shadows. A long arm snaked out, grasping him by the shoulder, knocking him off-balance and into the car, which sped away.

When his eyes had adjusted to the darkness inside the car, he looked around, noticing the glass partition that separated the back seat from the front. "Is this a limousine?" His question was met by silence so he turned to get a better look at the other man. He was dressed all in black, complete with dark glasses, and his hair was cut very short. He sat motionless. Silent.

"Who are you?" The young man was getting nervous. "Where are you taking me?" Panic-stricken, he realized that he had traded the certain future of jail for the uncertainty of... what?

He was wondering how difficult it would be to kick the side window out when the other man spoke. "Don't be afraid, Sadec. I won't hurt you."

"Who--?" The rest of the question remained unasked when the other man removed his glasses and turned toward his companion. "Riza Niro!"

"Aren't you glad to see me?"

"Surprised is more like it. I thought you were in Contadora."

"I was. But I came back."

"Why?"

The older man placed a hand on his companion's knee. "For you, of course."

"Me?"

"I wanted to make sure you're okay - to get you out of Spain--"

"Out of Spain? Where would I go? I can't go back to Tyran. I'd be executed as a traitor."

"Here." Riza tossed a leather pouch to his friend. "There's a passport and all the documents you'll need. We have you booked on a flight to New York in three hours."

"We?"

"Don't ask."

"Are you responsible for getting me out of jail as well?"

Riza chuckled. "Let's just say that we were able to convince the police that you were an innocent bystander in the kidnapping of my step-mother, and that you'd leave Spain for good. We've given you names and numbers of people to contact when you arrive in New York, who will help you. But you must completely assume your new identity the minute you arrive at the airport - that means none of your family or friends can know where you are."

Sitting back, Sadec gazed thoughtfully at the older man. "Why are you doing this?"

Riza was quiet for half-a-minute. "Maybe I felt I owed you a debt. You wouldn't have been in jail if it hadn't been for me and my family. And I wanted to see you again."

Sadec leaned forward. "I'm happy to hear that. Since we were together, I can think only of you--"

"Sadec, I wanted to see you so I could say goodbye..."

"Goodbye! What are your saying?" Sadec was almost yelling. "I love you, Riza! I've loved you since the first time I saw you."

"Sadec, I'm going to be married. My fiancee is waiting for me in Contadora."

"The girl you were with at the airport? The one you left with?"

"Yes."

"How can you think of being with a woman? Do I mean nothing to you?"

"I came back for you, didn't I?"

"Only for a few hours--"

"To make sure you're okay, Sadec." The older man took a deep breath, wanting to forestall another outburst. "It's true that it didn't work out for us and I'm sorry, but I'll always have fond memories of you." Reaching out, he stroked the riot of dark brown curls that covered his companion's head. "I wish I could tell you what you want to hear..."

Sadec turned his head, trying to kiss the hand before it was pulled away. Failing that, he moved over to the window and fell silent, staring out as familiar sights sped by.

The car turned down a street in a less-than-desirable neighborhood and slowed to a stop. The driver was out of the car in an instant, holding the back door open. Riza scrambled out and spoke briefly to the driver before turning back to the other man. "The car will be here to pick you up in two hours. Can you be ready to leave by then?"

Sadec nodded. "I thought you were coming up with me." Shrugging, he said, "I could use some help."

Riza smiled at the blatant request. "Okay." He motioned for the younger man to lead the way.

A vague feeling of deja vu overtook the emperor's son as he followed Sadec into the building and up the stairs. He could recall the last time he'd been here: the anticipation he'd felt at the prospect of getting this beautiful young man upstairs and into bed...

"Come in." Sadec stood aside to let his guest enter the apartment first. Pointing ahead, he said, "At the end of the hall. You remember, don't you?"

Riza nodded. "We don't have to worry about your roommates this time."

"No. They're all still in jail, unless you got them out as well."

Riza chuckled. "No. I'd prefer they stay in jail, actually."

"Me too!" The emotion that accompanied these two words startled the speaker almost as much as it startled the listener. Gazing into the older man's eyes, Sadec continued, "I helped them, yes, but I was never a fanatic like they were."

"I know."

Sadec pushed his bedroom door open and motioned for his companion to go in first. Once inside, Riza stood with his back to the door and watched the other man prowl around the room. A cloak of resignation seemed to engulf him. "Sadec, I'm sorry that you have to leave everything you know here. The people I've contacted in New York have assured me that you will be taken care of."

Sadec walked over to stand in front of his companion. Riza thought he looked like a little boy who was trying to act grown-up, but whose heart wasn't in it. "I'll never see you again after today, will I?" Riza shook his head, unable to take his eyes away from Sadec's face.

"I haven't thanked you for getting me out of jail, for getting me out of Spain--"

Riza interrupted. "You don't need to thank me..."

Clearing his throat, Sadec waited until Riza had stopped speaking, then spoke again. "I haven't thanked you for getting me out of Spain, and I certainly don't have a right to ask you for another favor..."

"Ask."

Sadec took a small step forward and placed his hands on his companion's shoulders. "Kiss me."

Any protest Riza might have uttered was muffled by Sadec's mouth, which covered his quickly. He was forced back against the door as the other man's tongue entered his mouth, erotically probing every centimeter of the interior. As the kiss deepened, hands busily worked at the buttons of his shirt, pushing it off his shoulders, along with his jacket. Sadec paused momentarily to strip off his jacket and shirt before resuming his attack on his partner's mouth. The younger man's hands were everywhere as they writhed together.

Riza wanted to pause long enough to suggest that they move to the bed, but the feel of Sadec's mouth sucking on his tongue was interfering with his ability to think. Now the mouth was kissing and biting his neck before moving down to his chest. Sadec's teeth teased playfully at one nipple, then the other, bringing them to hard erectness. Riza heard someone moaning and realized it must be him. Reaching out his hands, he grabbed his lover's ass and pulled it toward him, grinding Sadec's groin into his. He could feel the hardness of his erection through the old, threadbare jeans.

Sadec's hands were busy again, this time unfastening belts and zippers and pushing trousers down and out of the way. Riza gasped at the feel of Sadec's hard shaft as it slid against his. Once again, his nipples were under assault from Sadec's lips, tongue and teeth; well-manicured nails dug into Sadec's small, perfect ass as they continued thrusting together.

Even though it had only been a couple of minutes, both men were breathing heavily, already close to orgasm. With a strangled cry, Sadec thrust against his companion one last time. Riza felt hot wetness splash against his genitals, pushing him over the edge as well.

Sadec suddenly slumped against his lover, his legs unable to hold him up. Riza helped him over to the bed, where they tumbled together in a tangle of arms, legs and torsos.

Riza chuckled. "That was some kiss..."

"I would have stopped if you'd asked me to..." He continued to move his hands, caressing any bit of skin he could reach. "You're not angry with me, are you?"

"No."

"If I'm never to see you again, I wanted to have something to remember you by."

"Don't you think we should get started packing your things?"

"There's no hurry. Everything I own will fit into one suitcase and will take five minutes to pack."

Riza had a feeling this subject was closed when Sadec's hands tangled in his hair, pulling him close for another long, thorough kiss. As the kiss deepened, Sadec shifted so that he was laying on top of his lover, moving against him.

The kiss ended and Sadec's mouth was on the prowl again, down to the pulse point on Riza's neck, then to the place where his neck and shoulder joined. Soon he was back to Riza's nipples, teasing them again with his mouth until they were hard and erect once more. Moving down, he plunged his tongue into Riza's navel.

Riza felt a strong hand grasp his cock, stroking it lightly at first, then more firmly. Closing his eyes, he moaned as it was engulfed in the wet heat of Sadec's mouth. Thrusting upwards, he could feel Sadec's tongue darting around the head as he sucked wildly.

Riza was now beyond the ability to speak, so he reached down and grabbed his lover's legs, shifting them both until they were laying on their sides and Sadec's cock was in front of his face. It was hard again, still wet from their frottage against the door; a single drop of pre-cum glistened on the head. Opening his mouth, he licked it from base to tip, then swallowed it in one motion. Sadec's hands were on the back of his head as he thrust deeply down his throat. It took several seconds for him to adjust to the bulk of it, then he set to work, driving his lover crazy with his mouth.

Somewhere between five minutes and five hours later, Riza could feel his partner's thrusts getting wilder, more intense. Knowing they were both near the edge again, Riza grabbed his lover's balls in his hand and squeezed - gently enough not to hurt him but hard enough to send him off the mountaintop and into free fall. He felt, rather than heard, a moan as hot liquid splashed down his throat, almost gagging him for an instant. He recovered quickly, however, and swallowed it all as his lover did the same.

Sadec was still trying to get his breathing back under control when Riza shifted them back around. Burrowing his face into his lover's shoulder, Sadec wrapped himself around Riza and yawned.

Both men were quiet for several moments. Sadec had become still and Riza realized he'd gone to sleep. He had enjoyed the last hour; the last thing he wanted to do was to wake his young lover and remind him that they had to start getting ready to leave. His thoughts were interrupted by a small sound emitted by Sadec in his sleep, followed by several more. At first, Riza guessed that he must be having a sex dream, due to the fact that the sound was a cross between a cry and a moan. He realized his mistake when the other man jerked convulsively, yelling something unintelligible, then woke up. Looking around wildly, it took him several seconds to figure out where he was... and with whom.

Riza felt wetness on his shoulders as Sadec buried his face there again. "What were you dreaming about, Sadec? Jail?"

The Arab shook his head, trying to muffle the sounds of his sobs against his lover's shoulder.

"You don't want to talk about it? You might feel better if you did."

After another minute, Sadec raised his head and looked at Riza. Tears were glistening on the impossibly-long eyelashes; his attempt at a smile made him look even more tragic... and beautiful.

"Let's just say it's not a hardship for me never to return to Tyran. No one will miss me..."

"No one?"

Sadec shook his head. "No one that matters. It's not easy growing up as a queer in that country, especially if you're the son of the most respected man in the village. I was supposed to follow in my father's footsteps: bed many women, father many children..."

Sadec looked away quickly but couldn't hide an involuntary shiver.

"I understand. I grew up in the same country, remember? My father was also disappointed in my choice of sexual partners."

"It was anger, not disappointment, that my father felt. You don't beat your son severely enough to put him in the hospital because you're *disappointed*." As he spoke, Sadec trembled slightly; Riza tried to think of something calming to say but everything sounded too judgmental or condescending. "Aren't you going to tell me to be glad that I don't ever have to go back? To be happy I'm still alive?" Dark eyes flashed and Sadec's tone was accusatory.

Riza shook his head. "I'd never presume to tell you how to feel, Sadec. I admire you, though."

"You do?"

"Of course. You survived it all and now you have a chance for a new start--"

"In a strange country. *Alone*."

Riza opened his mouth to scold Sadec for his attitude, then closed it again. He looked at him as he lay sprawled, unselfconsciously, on the bed, his eyes half-open, his curls in disarray, his mouth swollen from their passionate kisses, his soft cock laying innocuously against his thigh. He looks like a debauched angel, Riza thought.

Riza had never, in his life, been allowed the luxury of making an instant decision and worrying about the consequences later, if at all. Suddenly, he wanted this man - wanted him more than anything or anyone he'd ever wanted in his life. As he gazed at Sadec, he couldn't remember his fiancee's name, or what she looked like.

Moving away from his partner, Riza crawled off the lumpy bed and started pulling Sadec to his feet. "Let's go, Sadec! Get up!" The other man balked. "Hurry!"

"I told you, we have plenty of time."

"No, we *don't*!" He was successful in pulling the lighter man to his feet. "Get dressed!"

Riza's abruptness startled Sadec, who looked at him questioningly. "Do I have time to take a shower?"

"Yes." Riza smiled. "Do you want some company?"

Sadec's eyes lit up as he led the way to the bathroom. Riza had his hands full trying to keep his partner's hands off him and his mind on showering. Only when the water ran cold did they get out.

Sadec was right about the quantity of his belongings: ten minutes after they stepped out of the shower, everything was stuffed into a beat-up suitcase and they were walking through the front door of the apartment. Sadec sighed as he took one last look around at the place he'd called home for the past year.

Before they started down the stairs, Riza grabbed Sadec by the shoulders and forced him against the wall. "When the car arrives, I want you to go on to the airport."

The Arab looked away. "So this is goodbye? Here?"

"Sadec." Riza tried to move his face so his lover would look at him. Leaning his head forward, he kissed him lightly on the mouth. "Do you trust me?" Sadec's eyes were full of questions as he looked up. "I don't have the time to explain right now, but I'll see you at the airport before your flight leaves, okay?"

Before the other man had time to say anything, Riza ran down the stairs and out into the street. He caught a taxi at the corner and left without looking back.

At the airport, Sadec sat in a corner, his eyes averted lest he be recognized and taken back to jail. Yes, he trusted Riza to get him out of Spain safely, but there was no use taking chances. His flight was due to start boarding in ten minutes, and still there was no sign of Riza. Had the aristocrat used a very clever technique to get rid of him, thus freeing himself of a messy goodbye scene at the airport? No, Sadec thought, he said he will be here... and he will be.

Sadec looked around nervously. The flight was almost completely boarded now and still he had not seen Riza. He thought, momentarily, of staying where he was and waiting on his friend, but thought better of it. This was his one chance to escape this place and start over; even if he would be alone in a strange country, he couldn't give up this chance.

Standing slowly, he fetched his ticket out of his bag and walked to the boarding gate.

"Senor Morales?" He nodded, remembering his new name. "Juan Morales?"

"Si."

"There's been a change in your seat assignment. Uno momento, por favor."

Sadec nodded again, trying not to let the fear he felt show on his face. The ticket agent handed him the new ticket. "Enjoy your flight, Senor."

Sadec was unfamiliar with the new seat assignment and stopped to ask a flight attendant in the plane. "Ah, you're in first class, Senor: the window seat on the third row."

"Excuse me." Sadec spoke softly to the man sitting in the aisle seat on his row. Looking up, the man removed his dark glasses. "Riza!"

Riza smiled. "Tut, tut, tut. That's twice in the same day you didn't recognize me. We're going to have to work on that, aren't we?"

Sadec moved past his companion and collapsed into the seat. "What? How?"

Riza touched a finger to Sadec's lips. "You're incoherent, love. Take a deep breath."

Sadec tried to take a calming breath but tears filled his eyes once more, rendering him incapable of speech. Riza continued speaking. "When I decided to come back to Madrid, I convinced myself that I was only interested in getting you safely out of the country. When we were in bed together, I realized that I didn't want to give you up, not for my father or his damned country. Like you, I have no fond memories of Tyran; my future is not there - it's here." Reaching out a hand, Riza ran his fingertips lightly over Sadec's face. "I had to leave you so I could get the same papers for myself that I'd gotten for you earlier."

"You mean--?" Sadec was unable to finish the question.

Riza nodded. "When I stepped onto this plane, Riza Niro ceased to exist. I am now Javier Suarez."

"Juan Morales."

"Mucho gusto, Juan." They shook hands with grins on their faces, then Riza looked serious. "There's one thing you must remember: I no longer have Riza's friends or contacts, and I spent the last of my money to upgrade us to first class on this flight. We'll enjoy one last extravagance before we arrive in America, then we'll have to start working our asses off immediately; we'll have no one but each other to rely upon."

Sadec thought for several seconds before answering. "I understand." With a nod and a smile, the former terrorist embraced the former emperor's son. "Te quiero, Javier."

"Te quiero, Juan."

As the plane taxied toward the runway, their future was sealed with a kiss.