“How long have you been here?” I ask, wanting to know everything about him.
“I don’t know,” he whispers. “But there was no white in my hair and no lines on my face when I entered.”
I run my hand through his salt and pepper hair with a smile. “I like the hair.”
He groans when I trace the wrinkles beside his eyes. “I like the lines.”
He grips my wrist and leans in close enough for a kiss. “I like you,” he says in a deep throaty voice that sends a heat pulsating between my legs.
I lick my lips as I stare into his piercing brown eyes. It’s a turn-on being under such a powerful man. I never knew men like him existed in real life—oozing with power and dominance like Hercules in the flesh.
My mind keeps going to dirty places with every breath I take of his rugged masculine scent. I run my fingertips along his wide chest that is as hard as it looks. An old toga is draped across it, covering the sinewy muscles I know he’s hiding and the plentiful scars that I find sexier than anything I’ve ever seen before.
“Do you hate them?” I ask, trying to distract my carnal desires with some more talking. “The men who took you?”
He shakes his head, his eyes firm with conviction. “No. Not at all.”
“Why?” I imagine a man as ferocious as him would want to make them all pay for stealing his freedom. It doesn’t make sense.
“They brought me to this moment, Elovissa. How can I hate them when they brought me to you?”
My heart feels like it’s swelling in my chest as my body tingles under his possessive stare.
“You wouldn’t change it, if you could?”
“No,” he says with a fierceness in his voice that ignites my body in a beautiful heat. “I would gladly take every crack of the whip, every slice of the sword, every cold lonely night if it meant coming to you at the end of it.”
My mouth waters as my eyes roam to his lips. I wonder if they’re as soft as they look or if they’re as hard as the rest of him.
I begin to lean my chin up, tempting him to kiss me when the guard smacks the iron bars, jerking him up and away from me.
I almost let out a frustrated hiss as I feel him go.
“What?” he barks at the guard. “Leave us!”
“It’s bath time,” the guard says.
I look over Kaeso’s enormous arm and cringe when I see three women standing next to the guard. A surge of jealousy rips through me, frantic and hot. They are slaves like me, tasked with washing my man.
“Let me go with you,” I whisper softly, trying to hide the possessive jealousy I’m feeling. “I’ll wash you.”
His large forehead furrows as he turns back to me. “It is I who must serve you, my Venus. You are the one who deserves to be pleasured in every way possible.”
“It’s okay,” I say as I rest my hand on the back of his. “I want to.”
Almost as much as I want to keep those bitches away from my man.
He brings me down the dark damp hallway into the baths—a stone room lit by torches pinned to the walls. A never-ending waterfall is erupting out of the rock wall and pouring into a stone bath where several of the gladiators are resting. None are as large as Kaeso and each one of their backs straighten when he walks into the room.
With their timid body language, all of these fierce accomplished warriors submit to my man like a pack of wolves submitting to their alpha.
“Kaeso,” they each mumble with a nod of their heads. They keep their eyes off me. It’s clear that I belong to Kaeso and they do not want to risk testing his wrath.
A grin hits my lips as I step a little closer to his large imposing frame. I kind of like being his property.
“Out,” he grunts in a low voice. “Now.”
The dozen or so men don’t need to be asked twice. They rush out of the baths, their muscular naked bodies not as impressive as Kaeso’s. The washing women are covered in wet robes and they leave as well, bringing their buckets and brushes with them.
The two guards stay by the door.
They start blinking rapidly and nervously rubbing the hilts of their swords when Kaeso turns to them with a challenging look in his eyes. “I said out.”
The two men have metal plates of armor strapped to their chests and swords by their waist. Kaeso has nothing but his bare hands and a fierce desire to keep me hidden from their lecherous eyes.
They shoot each other a glance and then rush out of the room, leaving the two of us alone.
My breath catches in my throat when he turns around and I see the intense look in his hungry eyes. It sends heat rushing into my body, making me blush, making my skin prickle with need. My womanhood begins to throb, it’s getting so wet.
Kaeso unpins the cloth wrapped around his shoulder and lets it fall. His robes fall to the wet stone ground and I let out a little whimper when I see the impressive sight of his naked body exposed for me.
I don’t know where to place my eyes first. On his wide vast chest, his hard round stomach, his god-like arms, his broad strapping shoulders… or, on the long massive cock hanging between his thick muscular thighs.
My face is an inferno of blushing as my eyes lock onto it. It’s improper to stare, it’s unladylike to gawk, but I can’t help it. It’s impossible to look away.
“Come into the water, Elovissa, and wash me.”
I gulp as he walks into the bath and sits down on the stone seat, the water reaching halfway up his torso.
He runs a wet hand through his hair as the waterfall pounds down behind him like the pounding of my heart. The throb between my legs intensifies as I look around just to make sure we’re alone.
The light from the torches on the stone walls is reflecting off the water, casting everything in a sexy orange glow. Kaeso’s eyes appear to be on fire as I step into the warm water, letting it creep up my tattered dress.
My mother put this dress on me to hand me over to Manius. I knew then that it was all wrong, just like I know now that this is just right.
His eyes never leave mine as I approach him with the anticipation growing inside me like a wildfire.
“I’ve never done this before,” I nervously admit as I grab a bar of soap and a brush.
“Murder would be on my mind if you’d had,” he says as his eyes drop down to my aching pussy. “I wouldn’t rest until I killed every last man you touched.”
I squeeze my wet thighs together before I go to him. The warm water travels up my dress as I take a deep breath and walk behind him.
He’s truly enormous. My heart flutters in my chest as I run the soap along his shoulders which are the size and firmness of boulders. He groans as I begin brushing his skin, wondering where he got each one of these scars. I bet each one has a story and I hope we’re together long enough for me to hear them all.
“How does this feel?” I ask as I clean his wide muscular back.
“Like I’ve died and gone to Olympus,” he whispers as he drops his head. I run my wet slick fingers along his thick sinewy neck and we both let out a moan.
I like touching this man. I love the deep grunts he’s giving me and the way his body rises up and down with every heavy breath. He’s enjoying this too. I’m pleasing him and the hunger in me wants to please Kaeso even more.
My nipples are as hard as pebbles and wet from the water. They’re pressing against my dress, dark and visible for him to see.
“I’ll wash your front now,” I say with a tremble in my voice as I come around to his front.
He lets out a slow hissing exhale when he sees my nubs standing up with need. This man can do anything he wishes to me. That’s what I’m here for. The strange part is, I wouldn’t say no. I’d welcome it.
Kaeso leans back on the stone and the water creeps down, revealing his long thick manhood. It’s floating in the soapy water like a snake, only longer and thicker and deadlier.
He watches me with a burning intensity as I run the soap along his chest and down his hard round stomach.
>
“Do the women clean… south of here?” I ask with my nerve endings stirring.
“Some try,” he says as the orange glow of the torches flickers on his wet skin. “But I don’t let them.”
“Oh,” I say, backing away.
“But you can.”
The words hang between us, heavy and erotic. I can feel my heartbeat thundering into every inch of my body as my eyes drop down to the murky water where his massive cock is starting to get hard. Hard and long.
Without another word, I reach into the warm water and wrap my trembling fingers around it. His throbbing shaft is thicker than my forearm and just about as long.
Kaeso drops his head back, closes his eyes, and lets out a moan as I begin using the soapy water to stroke him up and down.
My body comes alive like never before as I run my hands up and down his tremendous length, hoping I’m pleasing him.
“Oh, Elovissa,” he growls and the aching between my legs intensifies at the new dark edge to his voice. He’s enjoying this. I’m making this dangerous man pant like that. It’s surprising how turned on that makes me. It’s shocking how happy it makes me too.
I dip my other hand into the water and he groans loudly when I cup his full masculine balls that are loaded with his mighty potent seed.
A drop leaks out of the slit on the tip of his firm round head and he curses to the gods under his breath as I run my finger over it and spread his hot seed over the silky purple skin.
His big shoulders start quaking up and down and his body jerks violently as I move my hands faster, squeezing his shaft so hard that my hand cramps and my forearm burns. I don’t care. I’m not stopping.
“Elovissa,” he groans as the turbulent water swells and surges around us. “Like that, my muse. Just like that.”
My mouth drops open as I watch this monster of a man jolting and jerking around under my touch. His eyes are dark with lust, his jaw clenched tight as he watches me stroking him as hard as I can.
“Yes!” he grunts, the deep bellow of his dominant voice echoing off the stone walls. The waterfall is gushing down beside us, adding to the intensity, adding to the turmoil of the surging water in the bath.
I’m soaked. My dress, my chest, my pussy—all sopping wet.
Kaeso sucks in a harsh breath and I feel his balls tighten in my hand. I stroke him harder, unleashing all of the pent-up sexual energy that’s been building since I was first thrown at the feet of this monstrously beautiful man.
His huge cock lurches against my palm. He grits his teeth and then lets out a roar as thick streams of his seed surge out and paint my arms, my hands, his stomach with his virile lust.
I gasp as I watch his cock continue to erupt and just when I think the streams of his seed are going to stop, two more surge out and land on my wrist and hands, covering me with his desire.
“Oh, Hades,” he whispers in a deep groggy voice as he sinks below the water up to his chin. The seed rises from his stomach and floats away on the water, heading for the drain behind us.
I’m not ready to let go of his lust just yet. I marvel at the white pearly liquid dripping from my arms and turn my hand over to see the gossamer strands stringing through my fingers.
I’m still not ready to wash it off, but I don’t want to appear too eager to him, so I reluctantly drop my hands and arms under the water and let the rough current wash it free.
A deep loss hits my core when I see it travel away and disappear down the drain.
The only solace I have is knowing that this will not be the last time this happens.
Kaeso is not the only one prepared to burn down Rome to keep us together.
I’m sitting in Kaeso’s lap as he hums softly to me while playing with my hair. He lets it run through his fingers as he stares at it like it’s the golden strands of hair from Venus herself.
“Kaeso,” a masculine voice says from the other side of the bars.
His grip on me tightens. “Go away!”
“Can’t do that, old friend.” It’s Septimus. The man who purchased me and brought me here. He arrives behind the iron bars dressed in a fine red robe with a golden trim. He has the look of a wealthy man—the look that travels right over the heads of us lesser slaves. “General Gaius Agricola has arrived in Rome. He wishes to watch the great Kaeso compete.”
“I’m busy here,” Kaeso grunts as he continues dragging his fingers through my hair.
“Perhaps, this is the Emperor’s attempt to regain the General’s loyalty,” Septimus says, ignoring him. “There are rumors that General Gaius is fomenting a takeover.”
“And there are rumors that my cock is as long as a spear.”
I stifle the giggle that bubbles up to my lips. I can make a few guesses on how that rumor was started. Anyone who saw my man disrobe would swear to that being true.
“Maybe so,” Septimus says with a deep breath. “But the Emperor has commanded you to battle in three hours time.”
“No.”
“You tell the Emperor no?”
A defiant fierceness flashes in Kaeso’s bold brown eyes. “I’ll tell all the gods in Olympus no. To their faces.”
“Well, you don’t tell your master no. Get up.”
He doesn’t move.
“Two more fights and you’re free.”
This gets my man’s attention. He perks up and looks at Septimus for the first time.
“When I complete my one-hundredth fight and win my freedom,” he says with a possessive look in his fiery eyes, “you’ll give me Elovissa. She’ll be mine. You’ll give up all ownership to her and give her to me.”
“This slave girl?” he asks, looking at me like I’m worth less than the tattered dress on my body. “If it gets you to fight today, then sure. She’s all yours.”
“She’s already mine,” he growls. “Nobody touches her.”
I swallow hard with the way he’s clutching me like he’s never going to release me. It’s making my pulse race with the need to be alone with him once again.
“I will tell all the guards that anyone who touches this woman will face the wrath of Rome’s greatest champion,” Septimus says. “Now, we must go.”
“I’ll be back soon, my Venus,” he whispers before kissing my forehead and letting me go.
“Be careful,” I shout a little too loud, a little too panicked. I don’t like the idea of him being in any sort of danger. What if he doesn’t return to me? What will I do then?
The nerves invading my belly seem to dissipate a little when he stands up and I see the truly impressive scope of his stature.
Could the gods themselves beat this man in a duel? I doubt it…
All I can do is trust him to return.
Deep in my heart, I know that he will.
Chapter Four
Kaeso
“We who are about to die, salute you!” I shout as I stare at Emperor Vespasius with my sword in the air.
The Colosseum is packed tight with people from all over the Roman Empire and they all lose their minds, cheering and shouting as loud as the crack of Jupiter’s lightning bolt when I walk to the center of the arena. Rows upon rows of people reach into the blue sky, all full of people who came to watch me do what I do best—kill.
Emperor Vespasius has a guest sitting next to him in his luxurious box—General Gaius Agricola, commander of the Southern armies. I don’t care much for politics, but even a slave can’t help but overhear the gossiping of the guards. It’s rumored that General Gaius is not a fan of the Emperor and would rather rule the Empire himself. Perhaps, the Emperor has invited him into the city to strengthen their alliance.
Which makes me the entertainment.
“The greatest warrior Rome has ever seen,” the announcer bellows in his deep penetrating voice, “needs no introduction. Behold, fighting in his ninety-ninth match in the sands of the Colosseum…”
The thunder of the crowd builds like a crescendo as I walk around, bored, just another day on the job.
“Kaeso Vinicius!”
I can feel the excited roar of fifty thousand Romans hollering at the top of their lungs. The only damage inflicted on me from this place won’t come from the sharpness of a sword or the quickness of an arrow, it will come from these wretched people destroying my ears with their bloodthirsty howls.
“But today,” the announcer continues in his booming voice, “our beloved gladiator has a trio of opponents who would have Mars himself throwing down his weapons and begging for mercy. General Gaius has searched the wildlands of Afri and brought back the fiercest warriors and the most savage of beasts.”
I kick the sand as my mind wanders back to Elovissa. I groan as I remember the excitement in her eyes as she stroked my long spear. When I return tonight, I’ll return all of the pleasure that she gave me, and then some. I want to see my Venus shivering with lust as I bury my face between her legs to taste her sweet nectar.
“Esteemed General Gaius Agricola, leader of the Southern armies, along with your Emperor, Vespasius, are pleased to give you, the trio of terror!”
I roll my head to the side as the large doors open with a heavy groan. I’ve seen so many things come out of that door, that I’m not worried one bit.
Not now that I’m fighting for my Elovissa. My Venus. My muse.
I’ll cut through anything presented in front of me if it meant getting home to her and her ripe little virgin body.
The crowd roars as three dark men walk into the arena holding chains. At the end of each chain is a beast I’ve seen only once before. It was my seventh or eighth match in the arena. Afterward, I learned they were called hyenas. Their jaws can snap a man’s bone with one bite, but they die just as easily with the plunge of a sword.
I grip the handle of my sword as the three men begin to circle around me, their hungry wild beasts snapping and pulling at their chains to get to my sweaty flesh.
With Elovissa’s name on my lips and the image of her slender body on my mind, I grip my sword and get to work.
I must look like an animal as I walk back to my cell with the blood of my fallen opponents drying on my body.
Given to the Gladiator Page 3
