Can I, love?Kyle looked at him, hesitating, his eyes pools of sadness. “It’s not a pretty story...”
Marius smiled, bitter. “Those never are.”
“Alright...”
He told him then; the words spilling out like dark ooze, Marius very still, his face blanching, but he listened all the while, realizing maybe for the first time how damaged Kyle was. Nothing he hadn’t guessed, but coming out of his mouth, it took a different color, a foul taste, and he swallowed, vaguely ashamed.
Kyle stopped, utterly drained, fearful of how he would react, and Marius spoke softly. “How can you love me...?”
Indeed...but even now that he had recounted it, that life didn’t make any sense anymore. If his father had been alive, he wouldn’t have let him tear him from Marius. Kyle whispered. “I just do... I’m safe with you.”
Marius pulled him closer, his lips grazing his lips. “You have no idea how much...”
They kissed softly, Kyle’s eyes boring into his. “I could ask the same... how can you love me? I’m just a whore...”
Marius’ face flinched slightly, and he grazed his thumb on Kyle’s lower lip. “Is that what you think you are?”
Kyle exhaled a shaky breath. “That’s what I’ve been made into...”
“Those times are over.”
“We still fuck...”
Marius pulled a face, lightly stroking Kyle's face, his eyes locking with his eyes. “We don’t fuck.”
Kyle raised his eyebrows, his lips parting. “So, what are we doing...?”
He bathed in Marius’ blue eyes, his lips close, his breath a whisper. “We make love...”
Kyle closed his eyes and let Marius kiss him deep, letting him run his tongue along his mouth, stroking, pushing in, tasting him with lavish strokes, his hands cupping his jaws. He whimpered when he pushed him back into the mattress, hovering over him, not breaking their kiss, and Kyle gave in, his body relaxing. He belonged to Marius, and the Roman felt him surrender and bathe in his love.
Marius whispered in his mouth. “I’ll love you all night...”
And Kyle closed his eyes, letting his tears flow.
XV
Monthshadpassed,springturning into summer, no sign of the rebels, and they gradually relaxed, running negotiations with the neighboring villages and tribes. Life at the fort continued as usual, with the same disciplined daily routine, and Kyle had adjusted to the soldiers’ presence. Marius had made him stand behind him at one of the briefings, and since then, they avoided him like the plague, knowing whom he belonged to.
He cooked for Marius and Clavius every night, and dinners together had become a routine, a warm moment when the two men’s friendship deepened, exchanging news from home, although Marius couldn’t care less about his wife’s letters depicting her social life. If anything, Tertullia wrote more about his daughter, and his thoughts were bittersweet. She was growing nicely, but he was missing out on it, and he poured all his affection onto Kyle, their love even stronger than before, their nights pure bliss, their passion busting his brooding, angry mood to pieces.
As summer dwindled to its end, chillier nights settling in with light rains, they received an invitation from one of the tribal chiefs to meet for a banquet to celebrate their pact. Marius was cautious though, his brows furrowed when he read the letter, the other officers waiting.
He glanced at Clavius. “What do you think?”
“Could be tricky... but again, this is the guy who already gave away his daughter, so? Maybe he can be trusted. It’s just a dinner, after all.”
“We can’t offend him by refusing, but we won’t go without an escort. We’ll take twenty of your men, armed.”
“Mhm... you want to go to a banquet with armed soldiers?”
Marius smiled. “It’s on my terms or we’re not going.”
Clavius raised his hands and left to gather his men.
Julius stepped to Marius. “The envoy is going to come back with us.”
“Sure. You’re coming too. Have a cart prepared with some gifts, that will not hurt. I’ll have my slave drive it.”
