The Gladiator's Touch Read Free

complain, at least not out
loud, at his lack of focus on me, his wife. Since my father had given me from
his control to that of Lucius, Lucius was my pater familias , the head of
this house.
    Much as our slaves had no choice but to
obey us, I had no right to argue with my husband.
    And what would I have been complaining
about, really? My belly was full, my body draped in silk and gold. The pool
that Drusilla led me to was carved from bright white stone, and I could already
smell the expensive oils that I could have rubbed into my skin, if I so
desired.
    I stood still at the bath’s edge and
waited for Drusilla to remove my garments. Lucius paced, raking a hand through
his dark ribbons of hair before crouching to splash a handful of pristine water
against the salty sheen on his face.
    When he again rose, I was naked. He let
his sapphire gaze roam my bare curves, and the thin cloth at his groin tented.
    Still warm from the fierce stare of the
other, the attention of my husband caused my nipples to peak and a shiver to
roll over my skin.
    I so very rarely caught my husband’s
attention. He preferred to take his pleasures quickly with one of the slave
girls, women who did not require flattery or coddling. And since he had long
ago decided that I was barren, there was no need for him to spill his seed
inside of me unless he felt the desire to do so. To be fair, I also could have
satisfied my cravings with any of the slaves that I desired.
    Any but the gladiators. And it was a
gladiator, one particular gladiator, whom I wanted.
    But to have caught the attention of my
husband, a man whom I did care for after a fashion, after so long a respite
made me hopeful, and added to the heat that had begun to pool in my cunt.
    Added to the heat was a hope, one that I
tried to keep hidden, that I could still, possibly, carry a child.
    I shook my head, a move fraught with
impatience. It would not do any good for me to go down that route again, to
think too long on the one thing I wanted more than anything and couldn’t have.
    “Lucius?” I held out a hand to him,
beckoning him forward. “Join me for my bath.” Drusilla, anticipating what was
to come, slid her hands from where they had rested at my shoulders, forward and
down to cup my breasts.
    I had not had her touch me for a long
time, though we had once been lovers, experimental young girls. But my husband
liked to watch us touch, liked to watch us play.
    It excited him.
    Lucius’ stare grew more avid, and he
absently rubbed a hand over his clothed cock as he watched my slave caress my
nipples. Relaxing into my girl’s familiar touch, I allowed a sigh of pleasure
to fall from my lips, and beckoned him forward again.
    The movement broke the spell. With a
start, he shook his head and stilled his hand.
    “I do not have time for this, Alba.”
Crouching again, he poured handfuls of cool water over his head, seeming not to
care when they made large wet splotches on his crisp tunic. “I will be late for
my meeting if I do not leave now.” And with that as his explanation, he took
his leave, leaving me alone with nothing but the attentions of a girl who,
though I knew found them pleasant, still had no choice but to give them.
    I watched him walk away, watched the
beaded ornaments tied to the backs of his red sandals glinting in the
undulating beams of light.
    A meeting. Of course. I knew better than
to ask him with whom or where. I also knew better than to argue, which could
result in his foul mood for days. His dealings here in Rome were what supported
us, and I knew it. I should have been thankful for the popularity of the
gladiators, and for our standing as the top school for them.
    We would not stay at the top if Lucius
did not do as he did. And I knew that he felt tremendous pressure to live up to
the reputation of his ancestors, those great men who had trained giants and
champions.
    But I was envious of the wives who were
doted on by their husbands, who were prized for their beauty