Bend - Bromberg K. - Страница 81

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I woke sometime in the night to find Aia still wrapped in my embrace. She was curled against my chest, and her slim fingers lay softly over my heart. Her dress was pulled down in the front, exposing her firm, young breasts, and the bottom half of her gown was bunched around her waist. I toyed with the edge of her clothing, rubbing the fabric between my fingers and then wrapped my arm back around her middle to pull her a little closer to me.

Her thigh brushed against my cock, and I closed my eyes. I breathed slowly for a moment to calm myself. Although the idea of having her wake with my cock in her body was attractive, I didn’t wish to disturb her slumber. Instead, I took the opportunity to study her carefully.

Her hair hung down her back and covered part of her shoulder in golden waves. Tilting my head, I examined her smooth flesh in the glow of the warm candlelight and the contrast of the pale skin tone with the cold bronze of the collar around her neck. I resisted the urge to remove the band from her throat to keep it from disturbing the transition of her form from neck to shoulder.

Closing my eyes again, I absorbed the feeling of her body against mine. Memories of my late wife entered my head, and I recalled times I would wake to find her in my arms in similar fashion. There had been little love between us, but my passion for her remained strong until the birth of our child, when my wife fell ill.

The turmoil inside me now, though laced with similar passion, was very different from the emotions felt for the woman I had married. The feeling seized me, called to me, and terrified me.

I should not feel so for a slave.

Even as the thought entered my head, I dismissed it. I was a Tribunus. I was used to taking what I wanted and dealing with whatever consequences might come later. Why should I treat my desire for a slave any differently than how I would treat my desire to conquer the western lands?

I would not.

I would take her as I have taken everything I’ve wanted.

Aia stirred in my arms. She hummed from the back of her throat before shifting her head and opening her eyes to look into mine. I smiled immediately, and she returned the expression.

“How do you fare?” Aia asked quietly.

“I fare well, waking to such beauty.”

Her smile turned shy as she looked away, causing my heart to race in the presence of her seemingly innocent expression, a strange look from one who had so recently serviced me so well.

“Do you know your worth?” I asked abruptly.

“My worth?”

I steadied my breathing to slow my heart as I stared into her eyes.

“You have skill with medicines,” I said, “but you are still nothing but a slave. The good doctor could train another to hand him his bandages and ointments.”

Aia blinked, opened her mouth slightly, but then closed it again without making comment.

“Two coins, at most,” I said succinctly. “I’d say one, but you are not without other merits which make you desirable.”

She turned her head from my gaze, but I could see the crestfallen look on her face. I would take it no further, the point driven.

“Aia, you mistake my intention.” Though it pained me slightly, I raised my body to prop myself up on one elbow as I looked down at her. “I wish to possess you…completely. I want you to be mine and mine alone.”

She shook her head slightly, her confusion apparent on her face. I fought with my tongue to find the right words to explain myself.

“I want you to bake bread,” I finally said, “just for me—here in this place, on the battlefield, in my villa in Rome.”

She turned her head back to me, her eyes searching for answers. She seemed in shock and unable to speak in response, so I made my intentions clear.

“I would give you worth,” I stated.

For a moment, I thought I saw her eyes swell with tears before she blinked rapidly, and they were gone. Her hands began to shake, and I wrapped my fingers around them.

“Aia—will you bake bread for me?”

Her beautiful lips parted and gave me my answer.

“Yes, Lucius.”

A noise off to my side informed me of the return of Sergius. I looked to the doctor with a scowl as Aia quickly pushed herself away from me and stood beside the cot, straightening her dress. The doctor glared at her as he approached and checked my dressing.

“You are coming along nicely,” he said. He stood and looked to Aia. “A word, slave.”

I saw her hands tremble at his command.

“I will have words with you,” I said quickly to the doctor. He paused and nodded. “My progress is sufficient, and I will begin to make plans to return to the legion camp.”

“You are not yet ready for battle, Tribunus,” he said. “Another week, perhaps two-”

“I’ll be returning to the legion camp in two days,” I informed him. “I can continue to heal from there. You will prepare all that I need to take with me to further my recovery.”

“If you insist, Faustus.”

“I do.” I sat up slightly and looked from the doctor to the slave girl and then back again. “I wish to speak to Cassianus. Bring him to me.”

“He is likely on his way to the gladiatorial games,” Sergius said. “Juno’s day approaches.”

“Upon his return then.”

“I will inform him of your desire for audience.”

I glared up at the doctor.

“You will inform him that he has been summoned,” I corrected. “I expect him here.”

“Of course, Tribunus.”

He again checked the dressing on my wound in silence, poured another cup of foul liquid down my throat, and took his leave, his plan to discipline Aia forgotten. I took the opportunity to continue my previous conversation with the slave.

“I would give you worth,” I told her.

“I don’t understand, Faustus.”

“I will buy you from your master,” I clarified, “and you will accompany me to my camp. You will continue to tend my wound and provide me with other distractions from the battlefield.”

Her eyes widened as she stared at me.

“Are you agreeable?” I asked. Her preferences should not have mattered to me, but still I inquired. My eyes bore into her as she looked at me with awe. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed and nodded her head.

“Yes, Lucius,” she said softly. “I would be most grateful.”

A slow smile spread across my face as I saw the truth of her words in her deep blue eyes. She wanted this as much as I did.

“Then it will be done,” I swore to her softly.

Her agreement brought a smile to my lips, and again her worth to me increased.

“Bring Antonius to me.”

I clenched my teeth and stood on shaky legs as Cassianus watched me warily.

“Sergius tells me you are not yet fit for travel,” he said. “He says you need more time to heal. A few more weeks at the hospital will undoubtedly-”

“To further line your pockets for treatments?” I interrupted with a snort. “No, I don’t think so.”

“I fear you would be forced to make another long journey, forced to return here when your wound becomes inflamed,” Cassianus said with conviction. “By the gods, you must stay with us another week at the very least.”

“No.”

“A few days, then,” he insisted. “Allow my skilled doctor to continue to treat you. You are far too important to the Emperor to allow you to leave without proper care at your disposal. Sergius says you need many medicines still, and they must be properly administered to ensure their affect.”

I sighed outwardly. Inside, I felt nothing but the smug sensation of having him fall into such words so easily. I couldn’t have scripted his role with any greater accuracy than he offered me on his own. It was exactly as I had planned.

“I’ll take that nursemaid slave,” I said with a dismissive flick of my hand, as if the thought had just occurred to me, “the one who has hung about here like one of Juno’s tits just waiting for me to come up with the desire to suckle. She’s done more for my care than your doctor. I’ll take her with me.”

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