Passions of New Pompeii

by Aubrey Ross

  “What about your father? Should we notify the emperor, let him know what we intend to do?”

  “I’m not sure what we intend to do.” Naloni waved away the suggestion. “Father prefers it when problems are presented with solutions. If the House of Morpheus is as bad as Laetif said, Father will shut it down. But we’ll need to provide him with the ammunition.”

  “That’s basically what Laetif said.”

  “And she knows the dynamics better than anyone.” The waitress refilled their drinks, momentarily halting the conversation. “So tell me about this gladiator. What’s his name?”

  “Theos.” Elaina offered nothing more. The details were too personal, and too confusing, to share with anyone.

  Naloni chuckled. “Is he handsome?”

  Heat cascaded through her body and Elaina shivered. “I’m not sure handsome is the right word. His features are strong, his body…amazing.”

  “Did he fuck you like an animal?”

  Elaina gasped, her gaze sweeping the room. Naloni’s guards were immune to her flashes of outrageousness and no one else was about. “Is that what you want from a lover?”

  “We’re not talking about me. Did you enjoy it, or was he too barbaric?” She added the last word with dramatic emphasis.

  “I’m not going to talk about it, so change the subject.”

  “Fine,” Naloni relented with a smile. “I’m just thrilled that you’ve rejoined the game. Going without sex isn’t good for anyone.”

  “What makes you think I was going without sex?” Elaina averted her gaze, embarrassed by the truth in Naloni’s teasing.

  “I know you. You buried your heart right along with my brother.” Naloni’s tone was soft and sad, which made her assessment even more annoying.

  “Vito was a cad.” Elaina ignored the dull ache that erupted every time she thought of her husband. He’d been dead for two years now. When would it stop hurting? “Some say I’m better off without him.”

  “I know he hurt you badly, and I won’t defend his actions. Still, to be ‘better off without him’, you have to let go.”

  “And Theos is the therapy you’re prescribing?”

  “He’s the first man to pique your interest since before your marriage. I say abandon yourself entirely to the fantasy.”

  Elaina tensed and shook her head. “Isn’t that what the people are doing at the House of Morpheus?”

  “There is one big difference. Theos is entertaining you of his own free will.”

  “He’s a slave. As long as that’s true, he can do nothing of his own free will.”

  Chapter Five

  “We need a better excuse.” Laetif’s sandals slapped the tile floor as she paced in front of Elaina. “If you just want to see Theos again, Mikko will expect you to stay in the villa. You need to be able to move through the city without anyone questioning your purpose.”

  Elaina turned and faced the fountain in the center of the garden. Laetif’s pacing was adding to her anxiety. She’d entered New Pompeii through the VIP portal, which streamlined the security process. Still, the prospect of seeing Theos again had her stomach tied in knots.

  “No, what I need is a purpose for moving about the city,” Elaina mused. “What if I offered to run a series of interviews? My ongoing exposé hasn’t been exactly objective.”

  Laetif came up beside her, a hesitant smile curving her lips. “You’re finally going to tell the other side of the story?”

  “Exactly. I’ll need to interview a variety of inhabitants, let them tell their stories in their own words. It’s only natural for a reporter to ask questions. Right?”

  “Right.” Speculation narrowed Laetif’s gaze. “What about Theos? Don’t you want to see him again?”

  “Last night was…” Wonderful, terrifying, intense, exasperating. “It’s probably best if I leave it alone.”

  “Nonsense.” Laetif tapped her foot, her mind obviously scrambling for a justification. “You need a bodyguard!”

  Elaina shook her head while anticipation fluttered through her belly. “Mikko will see right through that.”

  “Of course he will, but he loves you enough to let you have your way. Besides, the more you care about Theos the more likely you are to come around to our way of thinking.”

  “What is your way of thinking? Somehow I don’t think your way is the same as Mikko’s way. Am I right?”

  Laetif’s smile was completely unrepentant. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

  “And I’m sure there is more going on here than you’re telling me.”

  Muffled voices warned them of Mikko’s approach. He strode into the garden, his gaze darting immediately to Elaina. “Back so soon?”

  She cleared her throat and manufactured a smile. “I couldn’t stay away. This place is far more addictive than I ever imagined.”

  His gaze shifted to his wife as he said, “Do you think it’s the games or our surly champion that has my sister mesmerized?”

  “Surly?” Laetif echoed. “Did Theos wake up on the wrong side of the bed?”

  “Something like that.” He turned back to Elaina and asked, “Is this just a casual visit, or is there something I can do for you?”

  “Actually, I’m hoping to do something for you.” She moved away from the fountain and into the shade beneath the gallery. “As I thought back on my reports, I realized that they’ve been very one-sided. Now they are editorials, so objectivity isn’t required, but I feel I’ve been somewhat remiss.”

  “And how do you intend to rectify this oversight?” He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression overtly suspicious.

  “I’m going to interview inhabitants from all over the city, allow the people of New Pompeii to tell their side of the story.”

  He snorted, brow arched, eyes cold. “Let me guess. You want to start with the city’s champion?”

  “I hadn’t thought about interviewing Theos, but it’s a good idea.”

  “She wants to hire him as a bodyguard and translator,” Laetif volunteered. “The inhabitants don’t know who she is, but the Fedoran participants are downright hostile.”

  “No one is going to hurt you. They might mutter a name under their breath, but no one will—”

  “Three assholes cornered her in the market about an hour ago. They dragged her down an alley and threatened to beat her if she didn’t stop ‘slandering’ New Pompeii. She was in hysterics when she arrived.”

  Elaina suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Laetif was laying it on a bit thick, but the concept worked. “I know they were just trying to scare me, but I don’t want to go through that again.”

  Anger melted the suspicion in his gaze and he wrapped his arm around Elaina’s shoulders. “They didn’t hurt you?”

  “No. They shoved me up against the wall and threatened to do all sorts of delightful things, but none of them actually touched me.”

  “Do you know who they were? Fedoran laws still apply. I can have them arrested.”

  If Fedoran laws still applied, every inhabitant would be free. She chose not to bring the detail to his attention. “I’m fine, really. Just unnerved. I was going to surprise you with the finished product, but I really would feel better if I had an escort.”

  “It doesn’t need to be Theos.”

  “I know, but I’m comfortable with Theos and I think the inhabitants will be more likely to open up if I’m with someone they trust. I’d lined up a translator, but any Fedoran is going to intimidate them.”

  “He isn’t scheduled this weekend,” Laetif said, “so it’s not going to hurt Theos to be away from the ludus for a few days.”

  “A few days? Why would he need to be away for more than a few hours?”

  “I told you I wanted this to be a surprise. I reserved one of the guest villas. As I find people I want to interview, I’ll take them to the villa. According to the noninterference clause, technology can only be used if the inhabitants are unaware of it.”

  “Can’t you
set up here?”

  “I’m trying to create a nonthreatening environment where people can relax and open up. I don’t think the largest ludus in New Pompeii qualifies.”

  He stared at her for a tense moment, eyebrows scrunched together. “There is something about this I don’t like. I just can’t put my finger on it.”

  Laetif chuckled. “You micromanage everything, my love. You don’t want anything to transpire beyond your sphere of influence.”

  He was teetering on the edge of capitulation. One nudge and she’d have him. “Why don’t we let Theos decide? If he’d rather stay here and train, I’ll settle for a guard.”

  * * * * *

  Pain jarred Theos’ shoulder and pulled at the stitches on his chest. Damn it! After his disconcerting conversation with Max, Theos had been unable to sleep. He stared into the darkness, reviewing Max’s claims and searching for flaws in the doctore’s conclusions.

  When exhaustion finally claimed him, he’d been assailed by images and sensations. The warmth of Elaina’s eyes and the softness of her skin had filled his dreams in tormenting detail. Would he ever see her again, or had he been a one-time curiosity?

  Frustration surged through him, propelling his wooden sword. He was a gladiator! The fickle needs of females were not his concern. Sextus deflected the blow with his shield then immediately countered.

  “What is wrong with you today?” The amusement in Sextus’ tone made Theos growl.

  “Lack of sleep.”

  The bastard had the gall to laugh. “No doubt.”

  The entire ludus knew he’d spent the better part of last night with their master’s sister. He hadn’t expected their snickers and jeers to be so aggravating. Sextus swung wide and Theos ducked, responding with a short, controlled jab.

  “Theos!” Max called over the rhythmic thud and crash of mock battle. “Come here.”

  “Jupiter smiles on you, my friend,” Theos muttered as he crossed to the trainer.

  “Make yourself presentable. You have a visitor.” Max spoke softly, but a chorus of chuckles and taunts followed Theos into the barracks.

  He washed and donned a simple tunic, infuriated by the frantic beating of his heart. She should not have this power over him. Nothing good could come of it. The guard didn’t restrain him, which only added to his anxiety.

  Elaina stood beside the fountain in the villa’s airy garden, a serene smile bowing her lips. She appeared cool and composed, and unbelievably beautiful. Her red-gold hair created a nimbus around her lovely face while her flowing garments showcased the gentle curves of her body. Was excitement or apprehension sparkling in her bright green eyes?

  He glanced at his master, whose expression was much harder to read. If dominus had not wanted his sister dallying with a gladiator, why had he arranged the meeting?

  “Elaina needs a bodyguard and she has requested you,” Mikko informed him.

  Unwilling to exclude the subject from the conversation, Theos switched to Fedoros. “Is she in danger?”

  A faint smile curved the corners of her mouth. “My reports on the abuses prevalent in New Pompeii have angered fans of the city.”

  “She was accosted by three men this morning. I want to make sure nothing like that ever happens again.” Mikko stood beside his wife, expectation clear in the tilt of his head and the subtle slant of his eyebrows. “This is outside the realm of your usual duties, so I won’t require it of you. However, my sister’s safety is obviously important to me. I think you are uniquely qualified to meet her needs.”

  The double entendre was not lost on Theos. So his position as her private plaything was to continue. His body stirred, more than ready to resume their exploration. But resentment threaded through the heat, adding a sharper edge to the longing. “I am not opposed to protecting her, but is she not safe in your villa?”

  Mikko smiled and swept his arm toward Elaina. “I’ll let her explain. I have a ludus to run.”

  Laetif followed her husband from the garden, leaving Theos alone with Elaina.

  For a long moment they just stared at each other, she then took a deep breath and said, “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

  He closed the distance between them with two long strides. “I have thought of little else since I left you. I cannot get your image out of my mind.”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  Brushing her cheek with the back of his fingers, he smiled. “My only regret is leaving your side while we still had time available to us.” His thumb lingered over her lower lip before he pulled his hand back. “What is this really about?”

  “Not here,” she whispered, and took his hand. “You’ll be staying with me for the next few days. Do you need to pack a bag or something?”

  He pulled his hand out of hers as shame crawled up his neck and warmed his face. “Packing a bag” required possessions and he had none. “Everything I need is provided by my master.”

  “Of course. How foolish of me.” She tried to soothe him with a smile, but the pity in her eyes cut like a dagger.

  He followed her out into the sunbathed yard, tension gripping his belly. Unable to fight the impulse, he looked back at the high, stone walls surrounding the training yard.

  “Is this the first time you’ve been outside the walls?”

  “Certainly not.” He looked into her eyes as he added, “But I am usually in chains when I am transported.” He waited for the pity to return, but her expression was warmer, more intimate.

  “Let’s go somewhere where we can talk.”

  “Let’s go somewhere where we can fuck,” he whispered in return.

  She tensed, yet carnal hunger smoldered in her gaze and her nipples hardened beneath the fabric of her tunic. “This wasn’t an elaborate ruse so I could be alone with you. I really do have something I need to accomplish.”

  He caught her wrist and pulled her toward him. “After. I have ached to be inside you since I left you last night.”

  “One whole night?” She laughed. “How in the world did you survive?”

  Warm and engaging, her laughter rolled over him like a healing salve. “Where are we going?”

  “Somewhere where we can fuck.” She grinned and pulled her hand out of his, darting down the pathway on her right.

  He lengthened his stride to keep up with her hurried steps, his cock growing harder and harder. Thank the gods for his loose tunic. The gentle sway of her hips drew his eyes to the intriguing roundness of her ass and her fragrance drifted to him on the breeze. Each step he took jarred his erection and compounded the heat in his balls. By all that was holy, he had never needed release this badly!

  They reached the bottom of the hill and followed a narrow street toward the outskirts of the city. He’d never been in this area before. An occasional shop or temple was mixed in with the visitor apartments, which lined both sides of the street.

  He tried to ignore the need pulsing through his body, but her frequent looks and casual touches fueled his desire. “How much farther?”

  She shot him a sultry sidelong glance. “Are you that anxious to arrive?”

  Lust stabbed into his groin, demanding attention. “Look at me like that again and you will find yourself pressed against the side of a building with your legs wrapped around my waist.”

  “I’m not sure I’d mind.” She licked her lips as she turned back to the road. “You’re not the only one who’s been aching.”

  With a strangled groan, he grabbed her elbow and dragged her down a shadowed alley. He gripped the back of her hair and claimed her mouth as he pressed her against the wall. Gods he needed to be inside her. Her lips parted beneath his, her tongue warm and seeking. She grasped his shoulders and rubbed against him, her actions nearly as frantic as his.

  “We need to calm down,” he whispered against her lips. “I won’t fuck you in an alley like a whore.”

  “I can’t wait.” She rocked her hips, grinding her mound against his thigh. “Fuck me now.”

>   Her boldness shocked him and incited his own arousal. “Are you sure?” He raised his head and looked around, scanning with his ears as well as his eyes. Silence and shadows stripped away his good intentions.

  She drew her tunic up with one hand and brought his fingers to the apex of her thighs with the other. “You tell me.”

  Hot, silky cream welcomed his touch. His fingers slid against and into her and she dropped her head back against the wall. “I will trigger your release and then we can—”

  “No! I want your cock inside me now! Fuck me hard and fast. I don’t care who sees us.”

  His gut clenched, lust driving the breath from his lungs. He raised his tunic with one hand and drew her leg up with the other. He shouldn’t do this. She deserved better than to… Her scalding passage closed around the tip of his cock and Theos was lost.

  He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his hips, driving him deeper into her body. He tensed, determined to slow down yet lost in savage demand. She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew his mouth back to hers as he filled her with his rock-hard cock.

  Reality faded around them. He pulled back and thrust home, quickly finding a steady rhythm. Her inner muscles gripped him, massaging his shaft as he slid in and out.

  He drew her breath into his mouth along with her tongue, wanting to mesh with her, fuse their bodies as completely as possible. His mouth muffled her startled cry and her body rippled around him. He thrust faster, harder, keeping her firmly against the wall as he rammed deeper into her wet heat.

  Panting harshly, he tore his mouth away and demanded, “Look at me.” Her lids slowly lifted and her legs released, coming to rest in the bend of his elbows. He supported her weight and lengthened his thrusts. “Mine.” The word escaped with his breath.

  “Yes.”

  He hadn’t expected her to respond and her acquiescence thrilled him. “Mine.” His tone was louder, more forceful.

  “I am yours.” She smiled and tightened her core around him. “And you are mine.”

  The unexpected exchange was too much. He thrust his entire length into her and released his seed, shuddering violently with each blissful spasm.