Lis looked athim. “He won’t be here all the time... he might leave...”
He took her hand and led her to thekitchen. “Forget what she said. Just do your job. It has to be perfect tonight.”
She took a deep breath and steadied herself, Melissa grabbing her arm as she was about toleave. “Ignore her, girl. She wants to get at you.”
Lisanodded and left;her face steadied into her mask of servitude.
Fortunately, Gaius was busy talking to Seraphina’s father and their wives chatted too, but Seraphina lay next to Marius andClavius, chatting away with them as food and drinks were served.
She eyed the two slaves andClaviusgestured Kyleover. “Fill our cups, boy.”
Kyle went to get the pitchers, but Marius looked at him, vaguely shaking his head. He filledClavius’ cup, then went to swap the pitchers, filling Marius’ up with watered wine. He had prepared it earlier and Marius took a long swig, grateful, holding it up again.
He waited until Kyle bent down to fill his cup again, andwhispered. “Thank you... you’ll have your reward for this later on...”
Their eyes locked in the briefest moment over the cup, a small smile on Marius’ lips as he noticed Kyle’s struggle to keep a straight face.
Seraphina watched them, vaguely listening to Clavius in the background, her heart burning. She turned to Marius, reaching to him to stroke his hand, her brown eyes digging into him. “I can hardly wait for our marriage...” her wet lips parted, and he fought the urge to pull his hand away,Claviuscarefully watchinghim.
Mariusforced a smile on his face, all the while wishing for this dinner to end, and brought her hand to his lips. His blue eyes shone under his darkhair. “Me too...” She gasped, blushing and Marius held her hand, his smile plastered on, looking vaguely content, but deep inside, he wanted to be in his room, with his beloved boy.
The dinner stretched on, their parents teasing them, and Kyle and Lisa swayed from fatigue, holding tight, their faces pale. Finally, the guests rose, and Marius escorted them outside with Kyle holding a torch to light the way in the dark entrance.
Gaius turned to hisson. “Thank you, son, this was indeed a lovely night... too bad you hid your little gem.”
Marius’ face stayed amask. “She didn’t feel well.”
Kyle bolted the door when they'd left, and he was flung against the wall, Marius’ body pushing him into the cold plaster, the torch knocked out of his hand. His master’s strong hands slid under his tunic and his tongue invaded his mouth.
Kyle could barely breathe, and Marius’ voice whispered in the night, laced withlust. “I’ve been wanting to kiss your mouth all night... what do you think your swaying ass did to me during dinner?” Marius kissed him harder, his teeth ripping into his lower lip, and Kyle whimpered at the unexpected pain.
“Come!”Marius growled and grabbed his hand, pulling him to the bedroom where he had to wait until Kyle undid his toga with frantic hands, his blue eyes eating the slave’s body.
They scrambled on the bed, lost in kisses, and Marius flipped Kyle on all fours, his hand reaching for the oil bottle, popping it open. Kyle braced his forearms on the bed, feeling him spread the oil on his butt, pushing his fingers in, but he didn’t leave them long, and soon, they were replaced by his cock.
Marius pushed inside of him, his eyes closing, a soft moan escaping hismouth. “You have no idea how good you feel...”
He caressed the slave’s smooth skin on his back, feeling the growing muscles ripple under his palm. He thrust harder, gripping Kyle’s hips, harder and harder until they were both grunting, and Kyle’s moans turned into mewls and whimpers, his hands fisted in the sheets, his mouth wide open. Sweat poured down his back and Marius felt close, his muscles straining. He reached down and closed his fingers on the slave’s erection, stroking the smooth skin with the same rhythm as his thrusts and Kyle writhed againsthim. “That’s it... cum for me, pet...” He thrust hard and deep and felt Kyle spasm under him, milking him too.
Marius collapsed on the bed, drawing Kyle against him in a tight embrace, his teeth nibbling on his neck, licking the salty sweat with languid strokes. “You’re so fucking great...”
Kyle couldn’t answer. He was utterly exhausted, his eyelids so heavy he was struggling to stay awake in Marius’ warm arms.
Somehow, Marius felt it in that dark room and pulled him even closer, their drenched and spent bodiesblending. “Sleep, pet, it’s been a long day...”
Grateful, Kyle closed his eyes, his master’s breath in his neck.
VI
Mariuswokeupthenext morning in the empty bed, his eyes darting to the window, a glint of sunshine forcing its way through the curtains. He rolled on his back and put his hands behind his head, his mind drifting back to last night... There was something there that he wouldn’t admit to himself, a slow feeling in him when he was with Kyle, when he held him in his arms...Damn it!He rang the bell and waited, impatient, his emotions roiling.
Kyle entered and walked up to him. “Good morning, dominus. Should I open the curtains?”
His blue eyes sparked with irritation. “Do you have to be this awfully ceremonial when we’re alone?” Kyle’s face fell, and he waited, unsure. Marius got up, waving at him. “Just open them, damn it!”
Kyle pulled the curtains apart and watched Marius stroll out to the terrace, not caring about being naked. He dreaded to ask him about breakfast now, not fully understanding where his anger came from, watching his clenched jaw under his blue eyes. Kyle fought them, his feelings for him, the way his heart fluttered when he looked at Marius... it was not right, not when he was a mere slave and he was a free Roman citizen, a man... Yet, the only thing he wanted to do was to walk up to him and kiss his anger away.Maybe I should...But the thought died the minute it was born, his fear greater, and Marius whirled around, walking up to him, his eyes blazing.
For a fleeting moment, Kyle thought he was going to hit him, and he closed his eyes a split second, his shoulders slightly hunching, waiting for the blow, and Marius’ face blanched, his voice cold. “You think I want to hit you?”
