Enslaved (6 page)

“Macer and your father and I may be overjoyed, but what about you and Canus?”

“That is the best news of all.” Her voice dropped to a whisper in her servant’s ear. “Macer knew about us and does not object.”

“A man willing to share must love you.”

She was partly humbled and partly relieved that the gods were finally giving instead of taking from her. “I believe he does.”

Her father and his caravan of gladiators clomped toward the house.

“I must tell father immediately. Fetch the wine. He will want to celebrate.”

Pictrix hustled to the wine cellar, and Marcella met her father at the door. “I have accepted Macer’s proposal.”

He smiled, causing the wrinkles in his face to deepen. He embraced her and kissed her cheek. “I assumed as much when I saw him on the road and he asked if I would sell him Canus’ contract.”

“He did?”

“Yes. I told him I would consider it and that, at best, he could buy into half of the contract because you will own the other.”

“Oh, father.” Marcella was stunned. “Thank you.”

“I want you and Macer to stay here in my home if you like?”

She smiled to herself, thinking of the easy access she would have to Canus and the show they’d perform for Macer. “I have a feeling he would prefer that as much as I.”

“Good. It is settled. And another thing to address, I know you will ask for Pictrix. As a part of your dowry, she is yours.”

His bounteousness astonished her. “All my gratitude, father.”

“Now, check on the wounded men before our evening meal.”

“Sir.” She curtsied, bowing her head to hide her expanding grin. He seemed to have understood and had to know that she’d go straight to Canus with the news. Her father wasn’t privy to her betrothed’s wishes and that she wouldn’t be ending the relationship with her lover. Maybe he didn’t care that she took a gladiator to her bed, as long as she was married to a dignified citizen of Rome.

She padded to the barracks, rehearsing a speech, trying to put her feelings into words. During the torrid throes of passion with Macer, the fantasy of being watched and shared by two men, one whom she loved with all her heart and the other with whom she could easily fall in love, seemed phenomenal. In sober retrospect, she worried that Canus might object or think that she hadn’t ever truly cared for him.

She tapped on his door with a shaky hand.

He opened it and greeted her with a big smile. “Marcella, my pet, I am glad you are here.”

She threw her arms around his waist, sliding her hands across his bare back, proving to herself he was really alive and unhurt. She held onto the experience since the following conversation could be a severe turning point. “You fought amazingly today.”

“Because I fight for you.”

“Will you always?”

“Of course.” He hugged her closer. “What is wrong?”

He had a knack for reading her emotions. It was best to tell him everything. She inhaled a nervous breath. “Can we sit?”

“This does not sound good. Are you with child or did someone die?”

“Neither.” She rested on the cot and waited for him to join her.

He tarried by the door, as if not sitting could prevent bad news. She patted the spot beside her until he sat down.

“I thought over what you said, about knowing you have my love even while I am married to another.”

“Ah, yes.” His tone was less enthusiastic than when he initially said it, as if he had changed his opinion. “I saw you sitting next to him at the arena. He is very attractive.”

“Are you angry?”

“You are doing what you have to. I cannot be angry.”

“Well, I have agreed to marry Macer, but I cannot let you go, nor will I.” She clasped his hands as if in prayer. “Please do not make me.”

“As long as we are careful,” he kissed her fingers, “we can have our private moments.”

“I am grateful for them, but we need not fret. Macer gave me his word that nothing here will be changed.”

“He knows of us?”

She nodded.

“You believe he will keep his promises?”

Marcella couldn’t explain to Canus how she whole-heartedly trusted Macer. She intuitively knew he was sincere. “We came to an understanding. He intends to purchase your contract for me. He says he will never stop me from enjoying what I like. We can be open about our relationship.”

“You will be his wife, but I can have you whenever the need strikes?”

“Yes. He intimated as much. You can fuck me right in front of him if you choose.”

His brow wrinkled. “Would you like me to do that?”

Fearful of his rejection, she balked at divulging the truth. “I told him I would think about it, but I need to know where you stand.”

“Has he forced this upon you?”

“No.”

“Did you lay with him?”

She let go of his hands and turned away, but he gripped her chin and forced her to look him in the face. “Answer my question?”

She swallowed hard and considered her response. If intercourse was generally defined as a penis inserted into a vagina, then technically they hadn’t lain together, although she was guilty of desiring it. “Not in the way you think, but we did something.”

“And so you want to fuck him?” He raised his voice at each syllable. “You hope to fuck him!”

“Aye.” Her eyelids slammed shut, and she tensed, waiting for him to lash out and slap her. He only squeezed her chin before letting it go.

She opened her eyes. His face was stoic as he stared at the far wall for what seemed an eternity. He wasn’t sad or jubilant or perturbed.

“Canus? I beg you, say something.”

He cleared his throat. “I expected this. It does sting, but not as much as I thought it might. It was unfair that I had women and you never had another man. How can I selfishly deny you that? I know you love me and I love you, no matter what.”

“Yes, I do, and I care for him.” There, she’d said it. “I cannot change that. This is something we can all have together.”

“Together?”

“Yes. The three of us. Unless, you do not want it.”

“I never said that. I do not know.”

“Then tell me what to do. Tell me what you want.” She looked to Canus for guidance in many of her decisions. If he disagreed with this threesome, it would make their triangular affair seem dirty and lead to broken hearts.

He faced her with a look of resignation. “I worship you, and I will gladly take you before him and all the gods above. I am yours to command.”

“You are not my servant. I do not give you orders. We are equals. I ask you to do this only if you desire it.”

“I do, but if Macer shows jealousy and breaks this bargain, you know of what I am capable.”

“That is why I am inclined to take this chance. What do you say?”

“As long as you will forever be mine.”

“Yes.”

“Then I will do anything for you.” Canus heaved her into his arms and kissed her the way only he could. She felt the familiar swell of his cock.

She broke the kiss and dropped to her knees. She peered up at him with a sly smile, almost awaiting his behest.

“I like you in that position, as if I were the emperor of the house,” he said.

“Well, master, let me do something for you.” She untied his breechcloth.

Canus knew what Marcella was doing, and she was the best at fellatio. “Kiss it.”

She licked her plush lips and puckered as she steered his stout rod toward her mouth. It twitched with anticipation of what was next. She deposited kisses from the tip all the way to the base and back again as she rolled down the foreskin, sending a spasm of ecstasy surging along the trail.

He started to question if she’d done this for Macer but didn’t really care to know. He owned her mouth first, and he was restaking his claim. His heartbeat accelerated. He leaned against the wall and led her face closer to his lap. “Suck me.”

She opened her mouth, and he shoved himself to the back of her throat. It was warm and moist like her cunt. Her soft lips formed a perfect vacuum seal as she bobbed her head up and down his cock, one hand cupping his sac, the other clutching his shaft. With her tongue, she paid particular attention to the sensitive indention on its underside.

His pulse raced quicker than a hundred chariots. His core temperature was ablaze. He wanted to throw her onto his bunk and inject himself so far into her center she’d almost gag squealing his name, but he couldn’t. He felt he would implode if she stopped.

“More, more!” he commanded.

He grabbed her hair and maneuvered her head even faster back and forth until he ejaculated in rhythmic spurts, branding the deep recesses of her throat with his hot cum as she sucked him down.

Chapter Five

Marcella awoke to a clear, sunny sky the morning of her wedding. Flora, her aunt, was there, standing in for her mother during the preparations, assuring that the festivities went as orchestrated.

“Arise, child. We have much to do.”

As was tradition, the bride was pampered in a fragranced bath. She was toweled off and perfumed before being draped in a long white tunic that covered her from top to toe. It was tied in a knot at the waist with a girdle.

Her ebony tresses were separated into six locks, curled, and then coiled on top of her head. Pictrix gathered colorful flowers and wove a garland to sit atop her hair, which kept her muslin veil in place.

“You look every bit of a goddess.” Pictrix held up a mirror for Marcella to view her reflection.

The garland resembled a crown, and Pictrix was a master at homemade cosmetics. She used a soot recipe to darken Marcella’s lids, making her amber irises glow, and dabbed a mixture of rose petals with mulberry juice onto her cheeks. “Oh, Pictrix, you are marvelous.”

“Yes, she is and you cannot get more radiant. It is time now.” Flora hugged her. “You are trembling, dear. Would you like some wine to steady your nerves?”

“Please.”

Her aunt motioned for Pictrix to pour them both a cup. Flora raised hers, and said, “Here is to health and happiness all your married days”

Marcella gulped her drink, then inhaled a deep, calming breath. She deliberated whether Macer would renege on his promises or if Canus had truly come to terms with the arrangement. And in the end, would she still feel the same for both of them? She’d stayed too inundated with traveling and planning nuptials for the last twenty-one days to parley with her men. Today would reveal the answers or at least put an end to her recent celibacy. “I am ready.”

****

Macer carried his petite bride through the threshold of their dimly lit marital chamber. In his bare feet, his decorated toga swept the floor as he walked them toward the bed. “Tonight, we finish what we started in that carriage three weeks ago.”

Marcella smiled and kissed him. It was longer and more passionate than their quick peck at the altar.

“Mmm, you taste of honeyed wine.” He stood her up at the foot of the bed and removed the crown of flowers and her veil. From his pocket, he presented her a gold necklace of six emerald stones in the shape of an inverted triangle. “I have a token for you.”

Her eyes widened. “It is magnificent. It must have cost a small fortune.” She lifted a few fallen tendrils of hair and spun around so he could fasten the clasp behind her neck.

“I am glad you like it,” he said, sliding the white tunic off her shoulders. “Let me see.”

She turned to face him still holding her dress to her chest.

Macer ran his fingertips along the gems and across her skin. Her nipples stiffened beneath the cloth. She felt him harden in return when he clutched her ass and pulled her into him. “Gorgeous.”

“Thank you.” With her free hand, she began unwrapping his toga, exposing his smoothly shaved body.

He called out for Pictrix who appeared in the doorway. “Fetch the other wedding present and extinguish all the candles except the olive oil lamp nearest the bed.”

“Yes, dominus.”

“The other?” Marcella grinned, overwhelmed by his generosity. “What have you planned, husband?”

“I conversed with someone recently and he posed an idea. Why wait for what we all want?”

“With whom did you speak?” She waited with bated breaths. Dare she hope Canus would join them to complete their triad?

“Your gladiator, of course. I am convinced he loves you as much as I. We share the same desires of your lithe physique writhing over us, your voice whispering, ‘I need you.’ I must admit, I see why you want him. He is the epitome of barbarous masculinity. Here he is now.” He gestured toward the door. Canus stood there unclothed and fully erect.

“Perform for me,” Macer whispered and then backed into a dark corner to watch.

She had pondered for weeks, if at the moment of truth, she’d have reservations. Her husband fulfilled his vows, providing her with everything she requested, and she wanted to give him more than the love she felt. She wanted to repay him. And if she relished doing it, that was all the better.

Facing Canus, she dropped the tunic to the floor, only a collar of jewels adorning her body like a shiny bow on an already unwrapped gift. She crooked her forefinger at him. “Come to me, lover.” She climbed onto the bed and rested on her hands and knees. Her butt hovered above the mattress edge like a mare providing a perfect positioning for her stud.

He moved behind her, his feet on the floor, his pelvis aligned with her ass. He kissed each curvy cheek and then gave them a gentle spank.

Marcella coveted the discipline. She gasped and sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, foreseeing what was to come.

“You like that?” he asked.

“Yes.” She knew Macer was watching and she hoped he enjoyed the scene as much as she rejoiced in the act.

Canus slapped her ass twice more with his firm cock then rubbed the tip up and down her crack before gliding into her pussy. He filled her to the brim. Her internal fountain overflowed and she exuded a gleeful moan.

One big hand reached around and fondled her clit, sending sparks down her inner thighs. The other hand roved across her back and shoulders. Canus took hold of her necklace as if it were the rein of a horse. He tugged on it just enough to show dominance, but not restrict her airway.