Tangles and Temptation Read Free

Having no memory of her past did not affect her other body functions. And at present she felt the heating within her blood—a heating that could only be fanned and satiated by a hot-blooded male.
     
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    Eris drew back into the shadows as the door opened. He watched with amusement as his brother first assessed the passage on either side before stepping out and hurrying away.
    Eris strolled up to the heavy, sealed door. Whatever lay beyond this door had made his brother extremely secretive and mysterious over the past week. At first Eris had overlooked Sappho’s wish for solitude, as he was secretive by nature, but lately Sappho had become undoubtedly preoccupied. Just today, Sappho had taken a rather-severe blow to the head due to his loss of concentration during the grueling training routine. While the other gladiators did not notice anything amiss, Eris knew instinctively Sappho’s mind was holding a dear secret. He stared at the door.
    He did not wish to intrude upon his brother’s privacy, but they were brothers. They were twins . There should be no secrets between them, just as there had never been. Up until now, even as they were competitive in the battle field and a few random occasions outside, they had always shared a deep connection. They could confide in each other without fear or embarrassment and always did. He could not recall a time when they had truly fought. Minor disagreements were always easily settled as they both were never comfortable unless once again nestled in the snug niche of their brotherhood. Neither of them had ever tried to survive on his own, and he suspected they never would. They were, as he had proudly labeled them on more than one occasion, interdependent. But here, behind this door, now lurked a secret.
    He tugged on the pins securing his chiton , short tunic, at the shoulders, making sure it fully concealed his own identifying marking upon his chest. He fastened the belt holding the garment in place, pulled down the hook of the door, and cautiously pushed. The door swung in silently on its pins.
    “Ah. I see you have had a change in heart, Sappho.” The husky but distinctly feminine voice made Eris pause on the threshold. His mind began to race. Why would his brother seek to keep a maid secured behind closed doors? More importantly, why did he keep her secret from him ? Could it be that his brother had procured a mistress with less than perfect looks? Eris could find no other explanation. Perhaps this woman was truly hideous.
    The low voice interrupted his musings. “Come, Sappho. Why do you dither on the threshold? Bring forth that glorious body for my perusal, and mayhap we can better aid each other’s troubled sleep this night. Let us not waste another moment this glorious night that Nyx, the Goddess of the night, has bestowed upon us.” Eris frowned. She was a brazen wench all right. He made sure the tunic completely covered the mark of the snake, curled in slumber upon his chest, and stepped fully in. The door closed with a soft thud.
    He stepped closer to the bed and stopped short. She was nothing like he had expected. The woman upon the bed was a true beauty. Glorious locks of shimmering, ash-blonde hair flowed freely over her shoulders. Her lips turned down in a natural pout making the bottom lip appear plump and highly kissable. A pointy chin made her face appear shaped like a perfectly sculpted heart. Her eyes. Vibrant orbs of silver-gray flashed with intelligence as she watched him closely.
    Eris blinked quickly, trying to refocus his mind. If he continued to stand and gape at her, she would surely know something was amiss. He approached the chair close to her bedside slowly, carefully keeping his gaze lowered. His hands groped clumsily for the handrests of the chair as he lowered himself. His wandering eyes landed on the pale, swollen cups of breasts proudly displayed for his viewing above the sheet. What possible reason did his brother have for keeping this