Seduced by the Gladiator(74)

I paused just long enough to crease his forehead in irritation.

“You will eat.”

Yet another slave rushed forward to fill a plate with various foods. I, of course, had no appetite. When presented with the plate, however, I forced a few bites down my throat, hoping to humor the man.

I wanted to know of Christus’ fate.

“Is it to your liking, lovely Lilia? It is peacock.” Gaius said this as if I was supposed to be impressed.

I might have been, if I had had any idea what peacock was, and if Gaius’ eyes had not been fastened to the shadow between my breasts as I spoke.

I shuddered, pushing my plate away. I could not play a game. I was not that kind of person.

“Tell me of Christus.”

The lust on Gaius’ face morphed quickly into disgust and anger. He gestured widely, to the candles, the platters of food, me.

“You dare to sit there, wearing clothing from my hand, eating my food, and ask me of the lowly gladiator?” Leaning in, he caught my hand in his own. I tugged, but he held fast, lifting it to his lips for a kiss. “You are above all of that now, Lilia. Do you not understand that?”

I shoved to my feet, standing abruptly. My seat toppled over behind me, and I paid it no mind.

“Tell me of Christus!” My words were shouted, my fists clenched. I dreamt of lunging forward, of raining blows down on Gaius’ head, but knew that scores of Roman soldiers waited outside, in the hall.

Angry now, Gaius stood as well, bracing his hands on the table. His face was twisted, the smooth mask of the man-child contorting into something more closely resembling the monster beneath.

“You wish to know of the gladiator? Very well. He survived, but you shall never see him again.” My heart sang, and I very nearly sagged in relief.

Christus had won. Christus was safe. This was the most important thing.

Slowly, menacingly, Gaius moved toward me. I was done with cowering from the man, no matter that fear still trickled into my veins with his proximity. Grasping my chin in his hands, he forced me to look up, into his eyes. Slowly, nearly gently, he placed a kiss on my lips.

Bile rose in my throat, hot and bitter, and I struggled to pull back, my hand connecting with the skin of his lips and drawing blood. The slap resonated throughout my frame, and my palm smarted from the impact.

“You little cunt.” The madness in his eyes was bright. “Ungrateful bitch. The gladiator thinks you dead.”

This I knew. Better Christus alive and mourning me than dead himself.

“You, however. You were never to die. Do you not yet see this?” Gaius, through the cruelty, seemed genuinely puzzled at my continued rejections of his advances.

“See what, you madman?” I stumbled slightly over the long skirts of the toga. I was unaccustomed to wearing such a garment. As I stumbled, he moved swiftly behind me, his actions sinuous as a snake.

“Do not call me that.” Suddenly my arms were twisted behind me, held in place by his pinching fingers. I bucked, elbowed, nearly escaped, but the soldiers in the hall had heard the commotion and come in.

“Take her to the play room.” Gaius wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. “You think I am mad, lovely Lilia? I will show you how methodical I can be.”



Christus thought I was dead.

When I saw the chains in the “play room” to which I was dragged, I decided instantly that I would rather be lifeless than have Gaius lay a hand on me. I struggled so, screamed, fought as hard as I had ever fought in the arena, and in the end the soldiers could shackle only one of my arms.

Gaius watched from the entrance coldly, approaching only after I had been restrained. One of my arms was cuffed, and I lay flat on the floor, three soldiers holding me down.

Clearly I had created enough trouble with the second cuff.

Gaius squatted at my feet, wrapping his arms delicately around my ankles, smoothing his hands up to my calves.

I kicked as hard as I could.

“Lilia.” A finger tickled the skin behind my knee, and then Gaius straddled me, his legs on either side of my hips. “Lilia. Listen to me.”

Glaring, I continued to buck. I would never make this easy for him. Never.

I longed for Christus, and mourned that I would never see him again.

“You will hold still. You will listen.” One of the soldiers handed Gaius a knife, and I went very still indeed as he pressed the blade to my throat.

“This was all for you. These games, they were for you, to extract you from the bondage of your slavery and to bring you here. Once I first saw you, I knew that I had to have you.”

“How have you extracted me from slavery if I am under your control here?” My words were bitter, and seemed to surprise him.

“Here you will be my mistress. You will have every privilege, everything you desire.” His eyes narrowed as I tried to pull back from the knife. “So long as you do what I say.”