His eyebrows shot up. “What makes you think I know?”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re a man, aren’t you? Men always know where the brothels are.”
He glowered at her. “Ask your uncle.”
“I can’t do that!” The thought of going to Lucullus with such a question made her skin crawl with embarrassment. Besides, this washerproblem to solve. She needed to show Lucullus—and everyone else—that she could succeed in this independently. This wouldn’t be the first time she’d have to engage a prostitute for one of her gladiators, after all. “I suppose I could go looking for a place on my own. Shouldn’t be too hard to find, if I ask around—”
“You can’t traipse around the streets asking for directions to a brothel!” he hissed.
“So you’ll come with me?”
He narrowed his eyes. Finally, his shoulders slumped. “Imightknow a place,” he admitted.
“Excellent!” She bestowed a smile upon him—not that he appreciated it, from the way he was glaring at her. “We can go this afternoon once your training is finished.”
6
Feroxcouldn’tbelievehewas doing this—escorting Velia to a brothel so she could procure a woman for the irritating novice. In Ferox’s opinion, Achilles didn’t yet deserve such luxuries, but it was up to Velia.
And there was no way he could let her wander the city looking for a brothel on her own. The streets were dangerous, especially for a small woman like Velia. She’d be an easy target for thieves, and he felt unaccountably anxious with her by his side. He needed to keep her close, needed to make it clear to any enterprising ruffians that she was under his protection.
As they left the ludus, he wrapped a hand around Velia’s upper arm and drew her alongside him. Dis, she was tiny. His fingers could encircle her entire upper arm.
“Keep a hand on your coin purse,” he warned her. The small bag was tied onto the sash around her waist, but a thief could slice it free all too easily.
She tried to yank her arm out of his hold. “Let go of me!”
“No.” He kept his grip secure, but not tight enough to cause pain.
She huffed. “I can look out for myself. I do run errands for my uncle around the city, you know.”
“You shouldn’t.” What was Lucullus thinking, sending his niece off on errands without protection? The city teemed with unsavory types who’d be all too quick to rob her—or worse.
He kept her close to him as they traversed the blocks toward the establishment Ferox knew. He hadn’t had the inclination or the funds to seek female company since before he’d left the ludus, but he recalled this place from before. Generally, he only sought a woman the night before a match, finding it the best way to distract from the nerves that plagued him no matter how many matches he fought.
As they walked, her shoulder bumped his chest. A flare of heat settled into his skin at the contact. He wanted to release her, to put some distance between them, but her safety was more important, so he dealt with the disconcerting warmth.
It had been a very long time since he’d touched a woman. He’d forgotten how soft their skin was. Hers felt like silk under his palm. He loosened his grip a touch, afraid he’d unintentionally hurt her. If her arm was this soft, he could only imagine what other parts of her might feel like—
He hastily jerked his mind away from such thoughts, focusing instead on navigating around a treacherous pothole.
They turned down a narrow, crooked street. A woman was selling roasted sausages at the corner, and the savory scent washed over him. After years of a mostly vegetarian diet, meat only made him ill, but it certainly smelled good.
Halfway down the street, they reached a building painted a faded red. Illustrations on the outer wall proclaimed the sort of place this was. Velia craned her head to look at them, but Feroxdidn’t want to linger on the street. He pulled her through the door.
A woman in her forties sat at a table just inside the door. She rose to her feet when they entered, glancing from Ferox to Velia. He didn’t know her; the place must be under new management since the last time he’d visited, which was a blessing. He didn’t fancy being recognized.
“We’re not taking on any new girls,” the woman said to Ferox. “Full house at the moment, you see.”
He realized what she’d assumed, and he released Velia quickly. She glared at him, rubbing her arm with an exaggerated grimace.
“That’s not why we’ve come,” Velia said, addressing the brothel manager. “I want to hire one of your—your ladies, for my gladiator. For weekly visits to our ludus.”
The woman’s eyes returned to Ferox. “This gladiator? Wait a moment, I know you. You’re Ferox, aren’t you?” She moved out from behind the table and approached, a suggestive sway to her hips. “Any girl you want, half price. Just tell everyonethisis your favorite lupanar.”
“Not him,” Velia clarified. “A different one.”
“Well, the offer stands,” the woman said, smiling enticingly at Ferox.
