The Centurion's Wife Page 2

  She fell back against the bed and lay there still, her ears straining for the approaching sound of horses.

  Would he even come back?

  Or would a messenger be sent telling her of an extended absence?

  Her tummy twisted and she wrapped her arms around her middle, rolling away from her prying bystanders to stare at the wall. Before, she had been used to his absence, the fear of losing him in battle, but now, now they were so close to their dream, the pain was different.

  She clenched her eyes shut––he’ll be back soon, he promised he would be…

  How long she lay there, she had no idea, but hooves sounded on the rough ground outside, their hurried pace sparking a well-learned flutter in her gut. It was the sound of battle, of approaching danger and it didn’t matter that her life had moved on, she couldn’t quash the instinctive fear that came with it.

  She raised herself up on her palm and looked to the doorway listening for the first sound of voices––please let it be Gaius.

  She was rewarded with his distinctive gravel-like tone resounding through the atrium and excitement quashed the fear, her body coming alive as she rose from the bed and patted down her hair and robe.

  His approaching footfall had her pulse rocketing and she clasped her hands at her front, her robe tightening as her chest swelled on a baited breath.

  He swept into the room, his tall imposing frame filling her vision and the air rushed from her lungs, her swelling heart forcing it out.

  ‘Aurelia.’ He opened his arms to her and she faltered. The raw edge to his voice, the emotion blazing in the blue of his eyes, something wasn’t right. Fear ran like ice down her spine––what was wrong?

  ‘Come.’ His hands gestured, and she re-found her limbs, flinging herself forward and welcoming the crushing ferocity of his arms as they closed around her. He cupped her head against his chest, his breath brushing over her hair.

  ‘I was so worried,’ she whispered, the warmth of his body heating her cheek but doing nothing to ease the coldness spreading within.

  ‘Don’t be,’ he whispered against her. ‘I’m here now.’

  ‘Then why did he send for you?’

  He released his hold; his hand moving to cup her chin and force her eye to his. ‘Let’s not talk on that now.’

  ‘But––’

  ‘I have missed you,’ he rasped, his heated gaze falling to her lips, their searing intent pushing back the chill.

  ‘I need to know.’

  ‘And I need you,’ he stressed, his thumb coming up to brush against her lips and sending a rush of excitement through her, drowning out her worry. ‘I think I win…for now.’

  His head lowered on the tail-end of his words, his mouth drawing on her bottom lip and her tongue flicked out to greet him on instinct.

  ‘Better,’ he said approvingly. ‘I was beginning to think I’d have to force your silence.’

  ‘And how might my lord do that?’ Both words and look made her provocation clear.

  ‘Are you teasing me?’

  ‘No.’ She stroked her hands up his chest, her confidence growing. ‘I wouldn’t dare.’

  And then she broke away, stepping back to gesture to Livia. ‘Undress me.’

  The petite bronze girl lowered her gaze and walked forward, coming to rest behind her.

  Aurelia barely understood the custom of having a slave perform this duty, but she knew it pleased Gaius when she did as they would. And the more she relaxed into the ritual and accepted it, the more she became aware of an excitement swelling within as she was stripped at the hand of another while her man watched on.

  ‘And you, dear husband?’ Her breath caught as Livia brushed over her breasts, her fingers working the robe apart. ‘Will you do me the honour?’

  His eyes blazed as he gestured blindly to Tiro. But she was barely aware of the man moving, her eyes fixed only on the result of his attentions, of her husband’s torso as it came into view, his muscles shuddering with his need-filled breath.

  And lower, as the blood rushed to feed the head of his cock, thrust out before him, now bare and ready for her to devour.

  His man slave swept back, her husband’s clothing in hand and she smiled coyly, her chin raising as Livia brushed the remainder of her own from her body, the gold chain draped at her waist the only thing that remained.

  ‘You like what you see?’ she asked, her eyes flitting down to catch his cock pulsing, every muscle in his body tense and ready as her own skin prickled in the cold air, her nipples drawing on the chilling caress.

  ‘Always.’

  She stepped out of the fabric pooled at her feet, freeing Livia to take it up and return to her post.

  She closed the distance between them, her readiness slipping between her thighs––oh, how she couldn’t wait for him to fill her. The air tightened, a strange pause descending, and she realised he was waiting for her to dismiss their slaves, just like she always did.

  Her lips lifted with her confidence. Not tonight. Tonight, she wanted them to witness her power over her husband. Wanted them to realise that she too controlled this house and the sooner they gave her that respect, the sooner life could improve.

  She reached out to trail her fingers over his chest, feeling it contract beneath her touch, his breath hissing through his teeth––she loved him in this state of trance, knew he would permit her anything in the heat of it…

  She circled him, her fingers following her progression. He was a vision, from the hard expanse of his torso, to the strong wide-legged stance that spoke of his centurion past. And then there was his arse, the hard-rigid curves that begged to be clawed, the muscles flickering as she did just that.

  She licked her lips, moistening her dried-up mouth as she moved to stand before him once more, just far enough away that his cock failed to make contact.

  She eyed him beneath her lashes and he grinned, his voice gruff, ‘Have you had your fill?’

  ‘Nowhere near.’

  She took hold of his length and pumped him once.

  He groaned and bucked within her grasp.

  ‘You?’ she purred.

  His lips quirked, his eyes flashed, and she did it again, loving how his neck corded with tension, his breath hitched.

  She repeated the move, savouring every inch, her thumb rolling over the seeping dampness at his tip and working it over him.

  ‘You keep that up, the only thing being filled is the air between us.’

  She gave him a playful pout. ‘Can’t have that, can we?’

  Lowering herself to her knees, she released him. Her palms spreading out over his upper thighs as the muscles twitched beneath, their power undeniable.

  She looked up at him, her eyes finding his as his cock nudged at her lips. She flicked her tongue out to tease him, scooping up the fresh bead of moisture that resided at his tip, and his hands swept into her hair on a drawn-out groan.

  ‘Na-ah,’ she cooed, leaning back on her haunches and giving him the perfect view of her naked front. ‘Hands on your hips.’

  His smile was tight, his eyes dark. ‘What has come over you?’

  Fear of losing you, came the honest response and she quashed it, eager to get back to happy territory, to having him lose his well-prized control at her hand. ‘Do as I say or there’ll be none of this…’

  She ran her tongue from his base to his tip and let it rest against her lower lip, her mouth parted, her breath sweeping over his slit.

  His entire body rippled as he retracted his hands, his broad fingers bracing either side of his hips as he looked to her for approval.

  ‘Better.’ And then she ducked her head, her tongue finding the sensitive skin of his inner thigh and feeling him turn rigid beneath, his skin prickling at the delicate caress.

  She travelled higher, her nose nudging against his balls, her lips surrounding one and sucking it in, weighing it with her tongue.

  ‘Aurelia.’

  Her tummy contracted at her groaned-out name. Liq
uid heat seeped between her legs. She shifted to the other, repeating the attention, her hands taking hold of his cock, her tongue still probing, her mouth still sucking. He bucked within her grasp, his thrust ragged with his barely constrained need.

  ‘Aurelia.’ It was a warning. He was close.

  She smiled around him, her hands gripping to pump him harder.

  ‘Aurelia.’

  Another warning. She liked the warnings. Liked that he was heading out of control and at her hand. Loving that their slaves bore witness to it all.

  He groaned, his head thrashing back before dropping forward once more, his eyes fixed on where her hands worked him, where her tongue toyed, her lips caressed. His own mouth parted as he worked to breathe.

  She dropped one hand to stroke between his legs, freeing her mouth to nudge his cock inside, just the tip. She parted slowly, steadily, watching his eyes plead with her. She opened further, taking him in deeper and sucking back on the release, making him spasm, the air hissing through his teeth. He was working so hard to hold back.

  But not tonight dear husband, tonight you’re losing it.

  She filled her mouth with as much as she could take, her hand working the remainder, both grip and mouth undulating as he started to pant.

  She looked to the doorway, to their slaves, and feasted on the heat of their gaze. Her blood pumped thick and fast through her veins, pleasure-filled warmth fuelling the pulsing ache down low and she clenched her thighs tight to nurse it.

  He started to thrust uncontrollably, the thick head of his cock smacking with the back of her throat, making her gag as she took more and more of him. Going until she tasted his seed start to spill and pushing further.

  He groaned low in his throat, his hands flying to her hair. He grasped her tight as her name ripped from him, his release coming with it. She continued to move, her mouth draining him of every last drop, the feeling of power making her dizzy with need.

  ‘You are incredible,’ he whispered, his hands now soft in her hair, his fingers caressing as he rocked gently within her mouth, waiting for her to drink his last.

  She slipped him from her lips and stood, her hands rising to rest upon his shoulders as the ache between her thighs drove out her request. ‘So incredible you might return the favour?’

  His eyes roamed over her, their heat leaving a fiery trail over her skin. ‘It would be my pleasure.’

  He dropped to his knees and she trembled with anticipation, her legs weakening as his hands parted her to the arrival of his mouth.

  She gripped at his shoulders––perhaps the bed would be…

  His tongue swept over her and all thought of bed died. Her head rolled back, her eyes catching sight of their audience, and the salacious heat swirled uncontrollably through her limbs.

  He groaned against her, the sound rumbling through her clit as his hands flew out to grip at her arse, holding her against him. Unrelenting, he lapped at her, his ferocity making her buck wildly. Her nipples screamed for attention and she came to their aid, groping, pinching, plucking at their pleading peaks. Her toes curled into the ground, every muscle drawing tight as the sensation spread and her bucks became stilted.

  And then she shattered above him, her eyes clamped shut, her head thrown back, her cry echoing around the room as wave after wave hit her.

  She dropped her hands to his shoulders, her head falling forward as her eyes met the heated glaze of his and she smiled. ‘Welcome home, husband.’

  He returned her smile. ‘If that is how I am to be welcomed, I’ll go away more often.’ And then his expression stilled, only for a second, but it was there, she spied it before he could hide it, before he got to his feet and buried her head against him.

  The chill seeped back into her sated body and she pulled herself tighter against him, feeding off his warmth, trying to fend it off. The question was there, riding the tip of her tongue––what did they want?––but fear kept her silent.

  Instead, she breathed in his scent, listened to his heart beat beneath her and prayed it was all in her head.

  Chapter Three

  Lucia

  My luck has run out.

  I have been sold.

  No, not sold.

  Given away.

  And not just me, Lucius too.

  Like we are worthless.

  But we’re not worthless, not to our Domina. Her anger had filled the household when the decision had been announced. And Dominus Tiberius had simply laughed, mocking her infatuation and dismissing her until she remembered her station.

  He had turned to us and declared us the perfect pair to ensure the happiness of the couple to which we will serve. That his wife’s teachings will have ensured that. We didn’t need to ponder his meaning, it was clear enough.

  Humiliation burned within my gut, mixing with the anger and the fear. We had ears, we knew of the man to which we were being gifted. The man who owned the villa in which we stood, our eyes fixed on the mosaic floor of the atrium as we waited on his arrival. While around us people whispered and remarked, some more obvious than others, but none of which I cared to listen to.

  Centurio Gaius. Our new Dominus. A legend among the ranks. Stories of his courage, his ferocity in battle, his kill count, all spread far and wide. He sounded more beast than human. And now I am to serve him.

  Terror claws its way under my skin, the hairs stand at the back of my neck. I think on Tiberius’ words and the acts I will need to fulfil. I can’t even begin to think on how warped his tastes may be, of what he might expect of both me and Lucius. I know I am no longer safe from the pain of motherhood, of that I am certain, and my hand moves instinctively over my belly as I take a strangled breath.

  Lucius spies the move, his head bowing to whisper, ‘I am here.’

  Yes, he is here. And his presence is a comfort. He is my constant, my rock, at least I still have him.

  There is a sound from what I imagine to be the courtyard and Legatus Tiberius appears with a man so tall and so broad he instils fear on sight. My knees knock and I force myself to straighten, my lashes lowering as I trace the pattern at my feet.

  ‘Now see here, the perfect pair,’ Tiberius declares loudly. ‘My perfect gift to you––Lucia and Lucius.’ He chuckles deeply with his introduction. ‘My wife named them, but of course, you can rename them how you wish. You have to admit it works though, look at them, a finer pair you never did see, and the things they can do, my wife has told me plenty a tale.’

  The other man coughs strangely and I sneak a look. His eyes shock me still. They are not angry, they don’t blaze with a hunger or any other manner of fierce urges. They look soft, thoughtful. They are beautiful. My breath catches and I send my eyes to the floor anew, my head swamped with the crazy revelation. It cannot be. He cannot be. My fear has gone to my head and sent me into some fantastical world where heroic Gods really do walk the earth.

  ‘Why don’t you present them to Aurelia now? I would very much like the pleasure of meeting the woman that stole the heart of my most fierce centurion.’

  Tiberius’ words wash over me, feeding the fantastical notion in my head. Did this man truly know love? And if he did, surely he could be gentle, kind even…

  ‘Aurelia is resting, my news does not sit well with her.’

  His voice is husky, it rasps down my spine and I want to look at him again, the need pulling at my lashes, but I know my place.

  ‘Well, no, I can imagine it hasn’t.’ Tiberius coughs awkwardly. ‘When you return from the north then? A party we shall have, I will meet her then.’

  ‘Yes, Legatus, of that I’m sure she will agree.’

  ‘And what say you to my gift?’

  I feel his eyes burning into me, and my pulse ticks wildly in my neck. I clench my hands tighter over my front and focus on my breath.

  ‘I appreciate the thought and hope, like you say, that they bring Aurelia comfort in my absence.’

  My ears prick up, my pulse skips over––Absence? A comfort t
o his wife?

  ‘Oh, of that I am sure.’ Tiberius is all arrogance. ‘Why don’t we have them demonstrate just how comforting they can be, come Lucia, Lu—’

  My new Dominus flicks his wrist forcibly, cutting him off with a, ‘No.’

  ‘Come now, Gaius, a demonstration of their worth would be fun, would it not?’

  I can hear the threatening undertone and I look to them both beneath my lashes. There is a battle of wills underway, these two powerhouses at odds, and my breath baits as I stress over who will win out.

  And then there is movement behind them, a flutter of white silk and golden hair. ‘My dear husband, you should have told me we have guests.’

  Her delicate voice, her accent, it teases me. She sounds like me, if I were educated that is. The revelation stirs a strange sentiment within. And then she steps between the men and comes into view and I forget my place, forget that I shouldn’t stare. Her beauty captivates me, holding my eye. She smiles straight at me, kind and sweet, like a golden goddess doting on those who look upon her.

  She is nothing like me––fool.

  My new Dominus curves his arm around her and pulls her up against him, pressing his lips to her cheek, the open show of affection surprising me into lowering my sights and I stand there rigid once more.

  ‘Well, well, now I understand it all,’ Tiberius blusters. ‘It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Aurelia.’

  Understand it all––what did that even mean?

  ‘And you too, Legatus, I have heard much about you.’

  ‘All good I hope.’

  ‘Mostly,’ she says, a teasing lilt to her tone that has my own lips quirking.

  ‘Legatus has gifted these slaves by way of a parting gift, my love.’

  ‘I see.’

  Her tone has turned tight and I know if I were to look, I would see the spark of displeasure.

  Did she not like what she saw? Were we not good enough?

  And then the edge is gone as she says lightly, ‘You must be ready to see your new home?’