Clavius obviously came early in the morning to check on Marius, and they went to sit in the garden, enjoying the shade and breakfast.
“So, you chose Seraphina?” Marius nodded and Clavius smiled at him. “From what I could tell, she wasn’t the meekest.”
Marius shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. At least, she knows what she’s supposed to do and is not an absolute horror to look at.”
Kyle walked to them to bring some more fruit and Marius gestured for him to kneel at his side. He then dipped a piece of bread into honey and pushed it into the slave’s mouth, letting his thumb linger a bit, against his tongue. His lips curled into a small smile, and he continued feeding him, all the while talking to Clavius. They were planning to work and attend some meetings at the palace and then go to the baths.
“Dinner at my place tomorrow?”
Marius looked at him. “Sure, why not?”
Kyle rose to gather the plates and left to the kitchen, Marius’ eyes on him, and Clavius looked at his friend. “What’s going on?”
Marius’ blue eyes twinkled. “Nothing...”
“Oh, don’t give me that look! I saw how you fed him.”
Marius just smiled and rose. “We should be going, come on.”
Clavius got up, groaning. “I’m getting old...” He clasped Marius’ arm, his eyes on the younger man. “You’re just screwing him, right?”
Marius looked down at him, his face blank. “Of course... what else do you think I could be doing?”
Clavius smiled. “Not doing, feeling...”
Marius laughed. “No, no! What are you thinking? I am merely following your advice, you know... Take advantage of having him, and all that crap.”
They laughed, but Clavius wasn’t convinced. He had seen the look in Marius’ eyes, and it worried him mildly.
Marius came home before dinnertime, drained by the bath, the past days’ events, the prospect of his impending engagement to that woman...
He walked upstairs, his mind on his thoughts, and slowed when he saw Kyle and Lisandra on all fours on the floor, polishing the wide corridor’s marble. He stopped, out of their sight, and leant against the wall to observe them.You should breed them. His father’s words echoing in his head...what an absurd bullshit.But he could not ignore the young woman’s glances towards Kyle, her hand dipping her cloth in the hot wax at the same time as him, brushing it, her eyes trying to catch his eyes. If he had realized her intentions, he didn’t seem to care and worked hard, sometimes stopping to wipe his forehead. She had a very low-cut dress, her breasts swaying as she worked, making sure she was facing him all the time.
Kyle stopped after a while, his body drenched, his tunic clinging to it, revealing his lean muscles, and Marius had to swallow hard. Kyle stood to pick up the bucket and pulled Lisandra up.
She pretended to lose her balance and fell against him; her face tilted upwards, her hands grabbing his arms. “Sorry...”, lips parted, she waited, but Kyle gently pulled himself out of her arms, his face confused.
“Let’s go... we have to get cleaned up and serve dinner soon.”
She followed him, her face clouded over, and they saw then Marius approach them. Both slaves went to their knees, eyes downcast, and Marius stopped in front of Kyle. “Come straight up after you’ve cleaned yourself.”
They got up again and made their way to their quarters, taking a quick wash in cold water before changing. Lisandra went to the kitchen and Kyle hurried upstairs to Marius’ room.
The Roman was waiting for him, leaning against a pillar. The evening sun was still hot, and he turned to Kyle when he entered the room after a brief knock.
Marius gestured him over before he had a chance to kneel again. “Come here. You don’t have to kneel every time we are in this room.”
Kyle didn’t comment. It was so ingrained that he had a hard time not doing it with Marius. He walked up to him, and Marius pulled him in an embrace, tipping his chin up to kiss him. Kyle didn’t mind, wondering though where this would lead. He was not used to affection from Lucius, and Marius threw him a bit off balance.
He looked into the Roman’s gleaming blue eyes and Marius smiled, his thumb grazing the slave’s lower lip. “Too bad that dinner is coming up... and Clavius is coming over... I have some ideas about what I would do to your delicious body.” Kyle blushed slightly and Marius arched his eyebrows, a small smile on his lips. “You blush? I thought nothing could embarrass you.” Kyle lowered his eyes, but Marius forced his chin up. “Look at me...”
Kyle raised his eyes at him, but he could not talk. He was lost, not fully understanding what was going on, and Marius somehow sensed it, holding him closer to his chest, mercifully away from his disturbing blue eyes. “I am sorry... maybe this is too much for you. I don’t even really know what’s going on... the only thing I know is that I am attracted to you...” He was not sure either about his feelings at all, and Kyle’s mind raced at his words.Attracted?
Marius pushed him away a bit, his arms around him, looking down into his grey eyes laced with worry. “Sleep with me tonight?”
Kyle whispered, shocked at his question.He shouldn’t ask, he should just say it... “Yes, dominus.”
Marius stroked his hair, pushing a strand out of his forehead. “This is difficult for you?”
