Sixtus peeped in, relieved to see Kyle whole and smiling. “Breakfast, dominus?”
“Yes, for two.”
The old man bowed and left, leaving them, not fully understanding what had happened.
Kyle walked to the curtains, opening them wide, the lush morning air pouring in, carrying the scent of flowers.
Marius squinted in the sunlight, watching Kyle walk towards the bed. “Come here, gorgeous...” The young man slid into his arms, and he kissed him deeply. “I will make you pay for opening the curtains and blinding me with the sun.”
Kyle smiled. “Really? It's late already. I should be working.”
Marius shook his head. “Not today. Today, you come with me on my errands.”
Kyle’s eyes grew wide. He had not left the house since he was brought here and the prospect of going to town made him giddy but also scared. He swallowed, unsure. “Are you sure? I haven’t really been out of any house...”
Marius stroked his shoulder. “Time to start, then. There’s no way I’ll spend a whole day without you...” His hand slid under the slave’s tunic, but Sixtus came back with breakfast and Marius reluctantly let Kyle help him lay it on the table.
He left then and Marius got up, sliding his tunic on. “We need to bathe first and change...” They laughed and ate heartily, the glorious morning sun warming them.
After a thorough bath, they dressed, and Marius briefed him on how to behave as they crossed the atrium to the main door. “Just behave as a slave would, walk behind me, kneel next to me, and all the rest. You know this better than anyone.”
Kyle nodded, still nervous.
Marius faced him in front of the door. “It’ll be alright, pet, trust me? We’re going to a private slave auction where I’ve been invited, dreadful, but there’s no escaping it, it would have been rude to refuse the invitation. Clavius will join us, that should lighten the mood. Then we’ll come home, and I’ll fuck your brains out.” His words sent shivers up Kyle’s spine, and Marius kissed him, his voice heavy. “Let’s go before I change my mind...”
Kyle opened the door for him and followed, steeling himself not to stop when he set foot on the street, strolling after Marius. The streets were quiet here, but they had to walk down to the city to get to another hill where the auction was and it got busier as they walked downwards from the hill, the city’s stench reaching them before the crowds’. Kyle marveled at the people, the busy streets bustling with life, the shouting, and followed Marius closely, his eyes on his broad back, his worry chewing at him like a mad dog. Rome was dangerous, that much he knew from his chats with Sixtus.
They whirled towards a steep street, climbing up the hill, followed by some stairs, and he breathed hard, not having Marius’ stamina. The scorching sun drenched their backs and Marius stopped on top of the stairs to catch his breath and cool down. They stood in the shade of a building, their backs to the wall, scanning the people passing by.
Marius turned to Kyle. “Tired already?”
“No... just a bit out of breath. I’m not used to walking that much.”
Marius’ heart clenched. “I’ll make you walk with me more then. You can’t stay locked up all the time in the house.”
Kyle nodded, vaguely dizzy with the surrounding space, a bit overwhelmed to be out in the open again. They resumed their walk, a bit slower, and reached an enormous villa. Marius announced himself to the guard at the door. He walked then to the garden where the auction was held under the shade of trees. Several couches had been laid out, and a slave took them to the one on which Clavius was already laying. He was talking to another man on the neighboring couch, cups in their hands. They were laughing when Marius walked up to them and Clavius and the man rose to greet him.
Clavius gestured to Marius. “This noble man here is Titus Octavius Furius.”
Marius clasped the other man’s forearm. “Greetings, Titus Octavius, I am Marius Ulpius Lupus.”
The other man grinned. “At last, I get to know you. Clavius raves about you all the time.”
Marius raised an eyebrow slightly, but Clavius swatted his arm. “Come on, nothing to worry about.”
Marius checked Titus out. A good height, almost as tall as him, a strong body from what he could tell, dark-brown hair and golden-brown eyes. They could have been brothers, save for the eye color, and he smiled at him. “And what is it that you do, good Titus?”
“I am an accountant, awfully boring, I’m afraid, for a soldier like you.” Marius smiled and Titus’ eyes drifted to Kyle, standing a bit behind Marius, his face lowered. Titus arched an eyebrow at Marius. “May I have a look at your slave?”
Marius stood aside, trying to sound casual. “Be my guest.”
He watched Titus walk up to Kyle. “Lift your face, slave.”
Kyle obeyed whilst Marius cleared his throat. “His name’s Kyle.”
Titus tasted the name. “Kyle... a Celt?”
Marius nodded and Titus turned back to Kyle, slowly looking him over, Marius barely being able to contain himself. He went back to his couch then and settled, followed by Marius and Clavius. Kyle knelt near Marius, between him and Titus, who raised his glass at Marius.
