As Sure as the Dawn(64)

Leaning back against a marble pillar, he looked down at her, eyes cold, everything else hot. When she released his hand, he was disappointed—and grateful. She made him feel vulnerable, and he didn’t like it.

She rose again, disturbed by his enigmatic stare. “Come back to the inn with me, Atretes. You belong with us.”

“I think not.”

“Theophilus is with his men at the garrison,” she said, thinking that might be the reason he hesitated. “Please.” She held her hand out to him. “Don’t stay out in the cold when you’re welcome by the fire.”

When he took her hand, she smiled at him and turned to step outside of the fanum. His grip tightened, keeping her inside. “Not yet.”

She looked up at him in question and then her eyes went wide, instinctively warned even before he pulled her into his arms. She stiffened and opened her mouth to protest. Cupping the back of her head with one hand, he covered her mouth with his own, kissing her with all his pent-up passion. He pulled her body closer and felt her hands pressing for freedom. He felt as well her warmth and the wild beat of her heart against his own.

Satisfied that she was no less affected than he, he released her. “Do you still want me to come back with you?”

Rizpah stepped back, trembling and trying to get her breath. “The arrangements are the same as they were on the ship,” she said, clutching the front of her tunic and wishing she could quiet the clamor of her heart.

“What about being welcome by the fire?” He lightly brushed her burning cheek.

She slapped his hand away. “If you can’t behave properly, perhaps it would be better if you stayed here!” Swinging around, she left him alone in the fanum.

Laughing, Atretes caught up with her. “I was behaving properly,” he said, falling into step beside her. She’d never be able to outrun him. “For a barbarian. Or would you prefer I handled you like a berserker? I’ve been called that, too.”

“Don’t handle me at all.”

“Why? Because you liked it too much?”

She stopped and faced him, looking more distressed now than angry. “Because it doesn’t mean anything to you.”

“And it does to you?”

Face aflame, she left him standing in the road. He caught up again, but made no further comment. She felt his amused glance and thought she had never met a more insensitive human being.

Peter was at the inn gate, Barnabas with him. They ran to meet them and fell in alongside Atretes, affording Rizpah escape. Atretes followed her into the courtyard, muttering a curse as Tibullus and Niger came to greet him. He had thought he was rid of them. “We’ll be sleeping over there, Atretes,” Agabus said, joining them.

Atretes looked over the younger man’s head to see where Rizpah went. She joined Camella and her daughter on the opposite side of the courtyard. Removing her shawl, she knelt on the straw and picked Caleb up. He kicked his chubby legs in the air in his excitement at seeing her. She glanced in his direction, and he could almost see the relief in her face. Relief that she was away from him. Out of reach. Her shield back in place.

Not for long, Rizpah. I got over your walls once. Next time, I’m going to rip them down around your ears.

“Why’s he grinning at you like that?” Camella said softly, looking from Atretes to Rizpah, who was clearly flustered.

“To be obnoxious.”

“Did you two quarrel?”

“Not exactly.” She glanced back and watched him walk away with Tibullus and the others to the sleeping space reserved for them. Peter was running ahead of them, undoubtedly wanting to make certain there was space for him.

Atretes glanced back at her again, and she could feel her body going hot with embarrassment. Why had he behaved in such a manner? Worse, why had she made a fool of herself? Had she had any hint of what he intended in the fanum, she would have stayed out of it.

“Mind if I join you ladies?” Prochorus said, and Camella greeted him affectionately. He joined them and passed the time with his sister, his fondness for his niece apparent as he watched her play with Caleb. Rhoda joined them after a while, but the conversation became stilted with her presence. Rizpah saw that the woman’s affection for Lysia was genuine and reciprocated, but she treated Camella with pained politeness, while Camella, clearly resentful, retreated into silence.

* * *

From across the courtyard, Atretes watched Rizpah. Around him, the young men were working on memorizing Scripture. Tibullus had a copy of Mark’s Gospel and Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. All four were committing the latter to memory.

“‘Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,’” Tibullus read. The others repeated the passage.