It must have been lovely once, the young slave mused, looking at the dead fountain, the overgrown roses and trumpet flowers, the purple acacias. There was a rotten pergola too, with wilted roses full of thorns, and a rectangular fish pool, dried out, dead leaves rotten to a crisp littering the bottom.
Sixtus looked at him. “Any good at gardening?”
Kyle shrugged. “No, but I can try.” Long-lost memories of his childhood came back, when he had been gardening with his grandfather, or just building huts out of wood... He pushed them back, his tears welling up.All dead now. Gone, the village on fire.
Sixtus patted his shoulder. “Well, this is yours for the next couple of days. Make it pretty.”
He nodded and took the top of his tunic down, letting it pool at his waist.It’s going to be too hot soon, the sun scorching down in the small garden. He cleaned the fountain, methodically scrubbing away with the tools he’d found in a small shed near the stables and soon sweat was pouring down his back. He didn’t mind, intent on the task, just making sure all was perfect, the white marble slowly coming out from under the grime, the dead leaves.Sixtus would need to call somebody to repair it, maybe get some water lilies too?He then went on to trim the rose bushes which had overgrown the pergola, threatening to break the fragile structure.Wood would be needed and paint, maybe limestone?He snipped at the stems, the thorns lightly scratching his arms and hands, but he didn’t mind, the dull pain dimming the one he had lower below.
He stopped to drink and stand in the shade a bit, then continued until dusk when Sixtus got him for dinner, amazed already at the work he’d done. “This will look good.”
Kyle nodded. “You need to have the fountain repaired and we’ll need some plants and wood, too.”
“I’ll take care of this tomorrow. Just tell me what you need.” The old man watched him fondly. He already liked him a lot, wondering how Kyle had stayed sane in Lucius’ household, but then again, he didn’t want to ask him anything. Memories could rip you apart.
Marius hadn’t returned, and they went to bed late, leaving their doors open to hear him if he arrived in the night, but dawn rose, and he was nowhere. Still, Sixtus didn’t worry. It was common practice for young men to stay out for several days. He harnessed the donkey and tied him to a small cart, heading to the market.
He turned to Kyle. “Keep an eye out while I’m gone.” The young slave looked vaguely panicked, and Sixtus looked at him with a warm smile. “You have the most sense here now and I need to do the shopping. I will buy what you asked for, for the garden too.”
Kyle nodded, opening the gate for him, and Sixtus left, sitting on the small cart. Kyle got to work then, back into the garden. He opted for simple shorts, the sun too hot, and worked for hours, snipping at the vegetation, piling it up.We’ll have to drag it outside or burn it. He stopped for brief breaks, watching the garden take shape, and then continued.
Kyle was working on the trumpet bushes, trimming them, and he had to reach high, stretching his muscles to reach the higher branches, the tortuous twigs hugging the stone walls, climbing. He hadn’t noticed the pair of eyes roaming his body, looking at his taut muscles, too absorbed in his work.
Marius stood with a small smirk on his face, leaning against the archway leading to the garden, watching Kyle work. He was dizzy with the wine they had had with Clavius, and his night at the brothel, his tongue thick in his mouth, his mind still hazy. He walked up to Kyle slowly and put a hand on his back, marveling at his scars. Kyle whirled and his eyes flew wide at his sight, collapsing straight to the ground on his knees at Marius’ feet.
Marius sneered and pulled him up, losing his balance and shoving Kyle against the wall, his face inches from the slave’s face. “So... what are you up to?”
Kyle stammered, pinned to the wall. “I... Sixtus asked me to arrange the garden... dominus…”
Marius looked around, swaying. “Looks a mess...” He turned back to Kyle, his lips slowly approaching his, whispering. “I’m sure you’ll do a good job...”
His hands slid up to Kyle’s face, and Marius pulled him into a kiss, his tongue pushing into his mouth. He tasted of wine, but Kyle let him, not daring to kiss him back, just opening up to him, his tongue gently meeting his tongue. Marius insisted though and Kyle swiped his tongue across his, lavish strokes which made Marius moan.
He pulled away, whispering. “You’re a great kisser...”, then returned to Kyle’s mouth, his breath ragged, kissing him with his mouth open wide, their tongues intertwining. Marius pulled Kyle’s lower lip into his mouth, gently nibbling the soft flesh, then pulled away, his eyes glazed over. “If we don’t go to my room now, I’ll fuck you against the wall.”
Kyle’s heart beat fast, but he held Marius’ gaze and let him lead him out of the garden, up the stairs to his room. Memories of the previous day came into his mind, and he was still sore, but there was no way he would refuse him. Marius banged the door shut and kissed him again, pushing him towards the bed, making him crawl up on it. He tugged at Kyle’s shorts and took them off, peeling his own tunic down, all the while caressing Kyle, moaning into his mouth. Kyle knew all too well where this was leading, but he was still dreading it, facing the unknown.
Marius broke their kiss to turn Kyle on his stomach, his head turned to the side, grabbing some pillows to raise his ass and he got the bottle of oil from the nightstand. He was more careful now, even if drunk, to make sure Kyle was lubed up, pushing two fingers inside of him. Kyle gasped, but the pain was manageable, and he was slightly relieved. He felt Marius on top of him then, his arms around his head and he relaxed, letting Marius push inside with almost no resistance, feeling the burn where he was still sore, but it went away quickly, just to be replaced by the fullness of Marius.
Marius moaned and started to move, slowly.Gods, he feels divine...He made sure to move at a languid pace, watching the slave’s eyes close, his soft breaths and moans. He lent down to nibble his neck, lick it, and he felt his body react to his touch. Marius grabbed his wrists, pushing them onto the mattress. “You like this?”
Kyle could barely talk. “Yes, dominus...”
“Good...” He continued, picking up the pace, their moans filling the room as he thrust harder, feeling Kyle grip his cock deep inside and he was almost losing it already, panting into his ear. “You feel so good... I’m going to come...”
Kyle just moaned and Marius pushed his index and middle fingers into his mouth, feeling him suck them. He groaned and closed his eyes, lost in the rhythm, hard, fast, and he came, groaning loudly, his hips rocking into Kyle. A short while after, Marius rolled off him, dizzy, dazed by his experience, his consciousness drifting, and he fell asleep.
Kyle watched him, slowly recovering, getting up to pick up his shorts and sneak out. He washed quickly at the well in the wash yard, and went back to the room straight away, bringing a warm cloth to wipe Marius off. He didn’t wake, and Kyle waited, not daring to go away.
Marius woke later, opening his eyes, moaning. Reality hit straight away as his mind recollected what had happened, but it was murky, mixed with his experience at the brothel.
He looked at the slave resting next to him, his eyes open, and asked, his voice raspy. “Did we...?” Kyle nodded, and he sighed, closing his eyes. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, dominus.”
“Good... Oh gods, I am dying…”
He sat up, trying to stop the world from turning, and Kyle rose. “Do you want to drink?”
