She beamed a smile at him. “Yes, of course. Beating them up and the sorts.” She noticed his mildly shocked stare and smiled. “Don’t be so shocked... I am quite mild, you know.... better me than my father.” He smiled back at her, and they chatted for a while.
When the guests had left, Gaius walked up to Marius. “Fancy any of them?”
“I am not sure....”
“I saw you talk for quite a while with Seraphina? She’s an excellent choice, very noble family, her father is a highly ranked senator.”
He sighed, unsure. “Of all of them, she seems the most self-assured... I’m not sure I want to wrestle with my wife...”
His father put a hand on his shoulder. “But you like her, right? You will be her husband and she will owe you obedience.”
Marius nodded but stayed silent.And when I’m gone?
Gaius urged him softly. “You need to decide tonight. I can’t make them wait long, there are other suitors too...”
Marius walked to the terrace, replaying the conversations in his head. His mind on her smile, that she was, after all, beautiful, and seemed to like him already a bit. He sighed, looking at his father. “I’ll marry Seraphina.”
Gaius beamed at him. “I’m so proud of you! I knew you would not disappoint.”
He hugged him, and Marius left, leaving it to his father to arrange the engagement ceremony, knowing that the marriage would not happen straight away.
He arrived home very late, but Kyle was up and let him in, walking with him to his room. Kyle helped him out of his toga and helped him with his bath, Marius unusually silent, almost grim. They walked to the terrace then, Marius laying down on his bed, facing Rome, and Kyle sank to his knees next to him.
Marius stroked Kyle’s hair, his voice soft. “I chose one of them...” Kyle stayed silent, letting the Roman speak. “She’s called Seraphina, and is quite a beauty, has brains too...” But something was nagging at him, something he could not quite place, and his hand trailed down to the slave’s shoulder and back. “If I marry her, she’ll be in charge of this household, especially if I’m gone on campaign...”
Kyle didn’t react, he knew this was the way, but Lucius had never been married, so he had no idea what it was like to have a woman run the household.Not much difference, probably.
Marius watched the slave, his longing for him growing, more so in his anguished state and he pulled on Kyle's arm, patting the bed next to him. “Come here...”
Kyle climbed up and let Marius cradle him in his arms, pull him into a deep kiss. He was gentle but also hungry for him, Kyle could feel it, Marius’ despair for his body, to quench out all his thoughts. They kissed and caressed each other for a long time and then, Marius suddenly got up and pulled him to the bedroom, pushing him face down on the bed, with his feet on the ground, the high bed putting him at the right angle, and soon, he felt Marius’ fingers in him, coated with oil.
Marius stretched him for a long time, making him moan, and finally, pushed into him, growling, his teeth nibbling at Kyle’s neck as he thrust, harder and harder, gripping Kyle’s hips, feeling his hard muscles against his thighs. Marius moaned and grunted until he came inside of him, rocking his hips until he felt completely spent, marveling how good Kyle felt, how he liked this after all. He pulled out and climbed on the bed, pulling Kyle to him into his arms, both of them drenched in sweat.
Marius kissed him lightly, gently holding him, feeling the young man shudder with the aftermath. “Next time, you should come with me.”
Kyle looked at him, wide-eyed. “That’s not allowed, dominus.”
Marius looked at him, slightly amused. “Not allowed? It’s allowed when I tell you...”
Kyle just nodded and wondered if he could ever obey him... he had never been allowed to come during sex, and now...
Marius caressed him. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me?” He looked down at the slave. “You’re driving me crazy...” It was out, just like that, and Kyle’s heart raced at his words. He was also slightly embarrassed and blushed in that room bathed in shadows, thankful for the dim light.
Marius didn’t care anymore. He loved every minute of their intimacy and hoped Kyle felt the same. He turned to him. “Do you like what we have here?”
Kyle nodded, his eyes shining. “Yes, dominus.”
Marius licked his lips. “Do you like me now a little bit?”
Kyle’s lips parted, his heart racing, vaguely anguished. “I like you, dominus. You are a good master...”
Marius stroked Kyle’s bottom lip, pushing his finger into his mouth. “That’s not what I asked...”
Kyle moaned but held his gaze and he took Marius’ finger out of his mouth, leaving it close. “I like you a lot, dominus...”
Marius kissed him again, more insistent this time, his hands roaming Kyle’s body, and he was hard again, turning Kyle over on the bed, lying on top of him. He whispered in his ear. “I’ll show you how much I like you...”
Kyle shuddered and closed his eyes.
