Marcellus is not like some of the men, he is kind, gentle, almost soft. Even as he penetrated the other man, he took great care in giving him pleasure. He also ensured that I was given pleasure, he did not have to do this.
The baths are surprisingly empty when we arrive and without a word, we head toward the one next to the emperor’s private pool and I follow him inside. The water is warm and feels amazing on my aching muscles.
There is a moment of silence, one where I can feel his gaze on me. Looking up from the clear water, I lick my lips as I watch him. Marcellus does not look like a muscular man when he wears his long robe and toga. He looks slight, especially when he stands next to the warrior emperor, Tiberius.
But Marcellus is not slight. He has lean muscle that is very well defined in his nude form. “Come,” he murmurs, lifting his hand and beckoning me over.
Swimming toward him, I stop directly in front of him. He’s seated on the small bench and he grins as he reaches out, wrapping his hands around my waist before he drags me toward him. My legs widen and I straddle his hips as I sit on his thighs. I can feel his hardening length against my center and I let out a shaky breath.
“I desire you, Laurentia,” he says, murmuring my name. I love the way that he says my name, too much—far too much.
“How do you wish to have me?” I ask, knowing that I cannot say no.
He grins, shifting my body so that I can feel his length press against my center. “I wish to watch you take me, dulcissima.”
My entire body breaks out in a shiver as I lower down along his length. Sweetest. I think that Marcellus gets a lot of his desires met when he says dulcissima, I know that I would give him almost anything to hear him whisper it again.
Chapter Two
MARCELLUS
Laurentia slips from the room when dinner has been consumed. It is what she does every night, as if she does not wish to socialize with anyone at all. I think that she does. She does not strike me as someone who is socially inept, perhaps she does not feel comfortable in her new place as the personal famulus to the empress.
After a few moments of drinking wine with the family, I decide to make my way toward her. I try not to make it obvious, but I have no doubt that Cassia is watching every move that I make. She should worry about herself and her future prospects, not so much mine or anyone else’s.
Slipping inside Laurentia’s room, I am surprised to see her back to me. She is facing the window, her nude body highlighted by nothing but the moonlight. Closing the door behind me, I slip the lock into place.
“Do you feel for me?” she asks oddly.
We’ve come to a comfortableness where we’re no longer famulus and master, we’re mutual lovers, at least when we are alone.
“Feel for you?” I ask.
I know what she is referencing and the feelings she would like to know if I hold or not. However, I am unable to answer her, at least not in this moment.
She turns her head, looking over her shoulder at me and gives me a small smile. “Do you feel for me, Marcellus?”
When she says my name, it sends chills down my spine. I have never allowed a woman to speak my name, not this way, and especially not a famulus. I cannot admit any feelings for her, no matter what I think or feel inside, it matters not. She is famulus and I am the frater to the emperor. I may choose who I wish to wed, to make a life with, but I certainly cannot choose a famulus.
“I feel things, yes. If you are asking me my feelings on love, you know that I cannot answer.”
“Cannot or will not?” she grinds out.
Closing the distance between us, I wrap my arm around her waist and press my palm against her belly. My other hand, I glide my fingertips down her arm as I touch my mouth to her soft shoulder.
“It matters not, Laurentia.”
“It could,” she breathes.
I hum against her skin, tasting her with my tongue, wanting to be inside of her more than I want to breathe. She turns in my arms and looks up at me, her eyes wide and full of unshed tears.
“You’ve asked your brother for a list of brides to choose from,” she murmurs.
“I have,” I mutter as my fingers shift from her belly to between her legs.
Sliding my fingers through her folds, I swirl them around her landica as we talk. She shifts her hips, jerking them as her head falls back against my shoulder. I bring her closer toward the edge of her release, knowing that I will not allow her to fall over unless I am inside of her, but I do enjoy this part greatly.
“And what will happen to me?” she asks between panting breaths.
Touching my mouth to hers, I bury two fingers inside of her and grind my palm against her landica. She whimpers, jerking as she rubs herself against me.
“You will stay as mine, just the way we are.”
LAURENTIA
Tears fall down my cheeks after he leaves me naked and alone in bed. Turning my back to the closed door, I stare at the wall. I cry. I cry harder than I did the night that I was brought here to be a famulus. I cry because I have fallen in love with Marcellus.
I knew he was not mine to keep and yet I hoped and I stupidly allowed myself to dream. I shouldn’t have. I knew better
