He turned hesitantly, as if about to face some horrifying carnage. His eyes locked onto the thin marks, now faded to yellow shadows.
She brushed her hand over them. “Nothing,” she repeated. She dropped her dress, covering herself to the ankle. “I’ve gotten worse from bumping my elbow on a doorframe.”
Even though she’d covered herself, he was still frozen, disgust and self-loathing written plain on his face. “I’m—sorry,” he finally bit out.
She sighed. For a moment, she regretted bringing this up, but she’d planned on raising it with him anyway. “There’s nothing to apologize for.”
“I’ve lain with other women,” he said, his voice low. “Do you think…did I hurt them too?”
His concern for the women of his past was endearing. “Were they prostitutes?”
He gave a swift nod, his gaze on the floor.
“Then I’d wager all the emperor’s money that you were probably one of their best.” She approached him, laying a hand on his arm. “Come here.” She drew him over to the bed, sat him down, and slid into his lap, sitting sideways across him. His arm curled around her waist to steady her. She kissed his forehead, lips brushing a faded scar. “Do you think I would have brought you dinner if I was displeased with you? Much less spent the night?”
He leaned his head against her shoulder. “No,” he grunted, a reluctant admission.
“And do you remember last night, when I told you that you were pulling my hair, and you stopped?” She drew back to meet his gaze. “That’s what I would have done, had I noticed any discomfort when we were together. And you would have stopped.” She raked a gentle hand through his short hair. “You must trust me in this, as I trust you.”
At her words, some of the tension finally eased from his gaze. “I do trust you.”
Her stomach gave a strange leap. No one had ever told her that before, and she realized what a great, precious gift it was. She dropped a quick, sweet kiss on his lips, then pulled back, smiling. “It was partly my fault, anyway. I fear that position we tried was a little too ambitious.”
“I could teach you some stretches. If you wish to attempt it again.”
Velia giggled. “Next you’ll have me running laps with Achilles.”
He snorted.
“I was probably just out of practice,” she said. “It had been a while since I’d…” She gave an expressive shrug.
“Well,” he replied, sliding his hands up her back, “that’s an easy fix.” His lips found a spot on her neck that made her gasp and clutch at him.
“Mm,” she breathed. “It may take a great deal of experimentation to find the perfect way to lie together.”
“Once you’re feeling better, I’m at your disposal for as long as it takes,” he murmured, then captured her mouth with his.
Later that day, Velia returned to the ludus after paying another visit to Oppius. The official had once again extolled the virtues of his bachelor nephew, but eventually Velia succeeded in booking Achilles for his next fight at the end of the week. She’d also received the remaining money due for his first appearance. She wished she could have negotiated his fee higher, but that wouldn’t happen until he’d logged a few wins and built some popularity.
Still, her half of the fee was more money than she made in a week from her uncle, though she still had to pay him back for Achilles’s room and feeding.
She would do that first. After passing through the gate, Velia headed toward the building that housed her uncle’s office.
A voice from behind caught her attention. “Velia?”
She turned to see Jason. He appeared to have just come from a training session, bare-chested and sweaty, with a damp rag laid over his shoulder.
“Can I have a word?” he asked.
“Of course.” She had always liked Jason; he had a mild, reasonable personality, and he wasn’t bad to look at either. His features were refined, but a previously broken nose lent his face a rugged edge. His body was lithe and well-proportioned, skin tanned to a golden hue by hours spent training in the sun. Before Ferox arrived, Jason had often been the target of her ogling, though she’d never felt anything close to the pull toward him that she felt with Ferox.
Jason scrubbed the rag over his face, mopping up some lingering sweat. “You’ve been spending time with Ferox.”
“Has he told you?” Though Ferox seemed like a private person, she might have expected he’d speak of their encounters to his closest friend.
Jason shook his head swiftly. “Of course not. But I have eyes. As does Lea.”
Ah, that was it—Lea had seen her yesterday morning.
