Skaia (11 page)

When Glaucus saw the broken pieces, he had been childishly furious, and ordered Skaia to strip and lean against the wall. Skaia had argued before obeying, and even then had been none too quick. Glaucus had beaten him without counting the strokes. None of the whip blows had been particularly hard, but the multitude of strikes had eventually been very painful. Skaia had cried out before he collapsed on the floor.

And Glaucus had run to fetch his father.

Which made everything worse. Thaddeus had lectured his son for losing his temper and had then chastised Skaia for his lack of obedience and respect. When Thaddeus left, Glaucus had been remorseful, had even gone for warm water and cloths to clean his back.

But it had marked a major turning point in Skaia’s life. He had accepted on some deeper level that he was truly a slave. After he was sure Glaucus slept that night, he had wept alone on his mat. And afterwards, he had always obeyed Glaucus immediately. If he had objections or questions, he never voiced them again unless Glaucus specifically asked his opinion.

Glaucus didn’t recognize the changes in Skaia. From his perspective, things were simply how they were supposed to be. He did, however, turn more of his energy into his lessons and actually urged Skaia to compete with him rather than disapproving of his slave’s efforts.

In time, the relationship turned back almost to what it had been before, a friendship between boys. But Skaia never forgot the lesson he had learned that night. Regardless of the relationship he might have with his master, he would always be just his slave. Nothing would ever change that.

Perhaps it was why he had been so surprised by Glaucus’ actions today. He had foolishly allowed himself to share Glaucus’ dream of traveling almost as an equal. But he had believed Thaddeus the first time he disapproved, and had known it would not happen.

It was Glaucus who had learned the lesson today. And his reaction had been to declare love…

Skaia was still awake when Glaucus got up to use the chamber pot. Skaia scrambled to his feet, ready to offer help, in case help was needed. But Glaucus was steady on his feet now, so Skaia only stood back and watched until his young master went back to bed. Pulling the covers up again when Glaucus was lying down, he asked softly, “Are you well, Master?  Is there anything I can do for you?”

“
Just come to bed with me, Skaia.”

Skaia looked at him in surprise.
In the bed?
“Your father would not approve, sir,” he said quietly.

“
I am not my father, Skaia. Come to bed with me.” Skaia obeyed of course, moving awkwardly to lie down next to his young master. He felt Glaucus’ hands on his body immediately, clumsy, but trying to be gentle. “You don’t need to be afraid. I won’t hurt you,” Glaucus assured him.

Before Skaia could get out his, ‘Yes, Master’, Glaucus had covered his mouth. It was still awkward. Glaucus was hardly experienced, and Skaia had never kissed anyone like this. But what the kiss lacked in expertise was made up for in passion. Skaia submitted totally, and let Glaucus do what he would. He gasped in pleasure when Glaucus’ hand touched his penis, and he felt it throb to a life of its own. When Glaucus told him to touch him the same way, Skaia did, and felt his master’s hard, erect cock, so much larger and harder than his own. “Stroke me as you would yourself,” Glaucus instructed.

It was disconcerting to realize his master knew he did such things, but any embarrassment was soon gone at the feel of Glaucus’ hands. He obeyed. He stroked Glaucus, and felt him thrust into his hand. In turn, he pushed himself into Glaucus grip.

Glaucus leaned into him and lapped at his nipples. A surge of pleasure ran through Skaia’s body, directly from his chest to his groin, and he could not suppress a moan. Glaucus laughed, and the warm breath on his wet nipple soon had Skaia arching his chest into Glaucus’ mouth.

Just as Skaia was sure he would explode in release, Glaucus withdrew his hands. And his mouth. Skaia felt devastated. “Please, Master,” he whispered. “Don’t stop now.”

Glaucus laughed again, very softly. “We’re not stopping, Skaia. But you must turn over now.” Skaia wondered why, but he obeyed without question and followed Glaucus’ instructions. To spread his thighs. To lift his hips.
Like in the pictures,
he realized.

When he felt Glaucus’ fingers begin to part his buttocks, he flinched. “What are you doing?” he dared ask.

“
Making love to you. Relax, Skaia. I know what I’m doing.”

Although Skaia could not exactly manage to relax, he still submitted, finding the touches exciting and pleasurable. Until a finger broached his opening. He did not pull away, but he felt his erection sag. Glaucus moved his other hand around Skaia’s hip, and handled him again, bringing him back to full hardness quickly.

Skaia gasped. The finger in his anus was only a small discomfort, compared with this intense pleasure. And when Glaucus removed the finger, Skaia felt strangely empty and he groaned. But Glaucus entered him again, this time with two fingers.

“
It hurts, Master,” Skaia whimpered.

Glaucus clucked softly, amused at Skaia’s inexperience. “It will pass,” he assured his slave, “and become pleasurable. Trust me.”

And Skaia
did
trust him. His fear disappeared and he grew excited that he would finally experience this completion. He relaxed his muscles as best he could and gave Glaucus full access to his body. When Glaucus withdrew his fingers this time, Skaia waited in anticipation of ecstasy. He knew Glaucus was positioning himself to enter his body, like in the pictures, and he was eager for it.

It came as a complete shock when the bolt of pain exploded in his backside. He almost pulled away. Only his long ingrained sense of obedience kept him in place. He bit his lip not to cry out, but his arms collapsed and his head fell to the bed. The pain was awful, worse than anything he had ever experienced. Moving up his spine and down his legs. All he could do was wait… and wish for it to be over.

And it soon was. Glaucus stilled over his back, and Skaia felt warmth fill his body. Glaucus stayed there, caressing Skaia’s sides gently, before he pulled away. He embraced Skaia again, and turned him over to face him. “You are so wonderful, Skaia. I love you.”

Saying nothing, Skaia just lay quietly, waiting for the pain to pass. Glaucus kissed his cheek before he rolled away. And slept.

Skaia stayed in bed, tears rolling silently down his face. When the pain lessened, he moved his legs—and almost cried out when the hurt overwhelmed him again. Very slowly, in small increments, he moved out of the bed. His legs shook when he stood and he waited for them to steady. Finally he could make his way slowly to the basin of water he had brought earlier to clean Glaucus.

Carefully he wiped away the fluids running down his legs, and staggered to his mat.
The lamp will go out soon,
he thought, but he could do nothing now as his body throbbed with pain. He managed to lie down but he could not sleep.

In time, he heard Glaucus’ voice. “Skaia, where are you?”

“
On my mat, Master.”

“
It’s almost dawn,” Glaucus said excitedly. “We have to get up. There’s so much to do today.”

Skaia looked to the window that opened to the peristylium and thought he could see the beginning of light. “Yes, sir,” he replied, trying to hide his weariness. “I will get your breakfast.”

“
Light another lamp before you go,” Glaucus added as he stretched in pleasure.

“
Yes, sir.”

Glaucus continued to lie in the bed, remembering the night. He was very pleased that he’d finally had sex with Skaia. His slave was far more attractive than the boys at the brothels.
Pretty,
Bessus always called him. Glaucus laughed softly to himself and thought the term appropriate.

He remembered the penetration had been painful for him at first. Skaia had been almost too tight. But then his slave had loosened some and had become moist, like all the other boys he’d used. It had been pure pleasure after that, resulting in the best and most intense orgasm he’d ever had.

Throwing back the sheet, Glaucus saw blood on his cock. He touched it, wondering why he bled. There was no pain and it had never happened before when he fucked a slave. Then he saw the blood and semen on the sheets. And for the first time, it occurred to him that Skaia might have been the one to bleed. But why? He hadn’t done anything to him that he didn’t do to the other slaves.

And those boys never bled. They always assured him they enjoyed what he did. He climbed from the bed and went to wash himself off. Once clean, he knew for certain that it was not him who had bled. It must be Skaia. Panicking now, he pulled on his clothes and went to his father’s bedroom.

Thaddeus was still sleeping when Glaucus got there. Alone, thank the gods. “Father, wake up please. I need to talk to you.”

Thaddeus was startled, but he braced himself on his elbow, enough to see his son. “Glaucus, why are you awake at this ungodly hour?  You don’t leave until tomorrow.” Grumpy, sleepy words.

Glaucus shook his head, irritated by his father’s response. “I got up early to begin packing. We leave at dawn tomorrow. I want to join you and my friends at the baths this afternoon. Then, there’s the party tonight. I needed an early start to make sure everything is ready.” He paused for a breath. “Besides, I didn’t come to you about the damn packing.”

Thaddeus sat immediately at Glaucus’ tone, noticing the look of anguish on his son’s face. “What is it then? Is something wrong?” he asked, his voice suddenly full of concern. “Are you hurt?”

“
No. No, I’m alright. But I…” Glaucus almost stopped, embarrassed to tell his father what had happened.
Except it’s the reason I barged in!
“I had sex with Skaia last night. And I think I made him bleed.”

“
How?” Thaddeus asked calmly, his worry already gone now that he knew the slave was the problem.

“
I don’t know. I did the same things as with the boys at the brothel, like you told me. But… but I think I hurt him.”

Thaddeus asked questions and learned what had happened. He was far more amused at Glaucus’ innocent ignorance, than he was concerned for Skaia. He kept his voice carefully neutral as he patiently explained that slave’s who knew they would be fucked, always took care of the details to protect themselves. They would stretch their holes, and apply lubricant inside, as much for their own sake as for freeing their customers of the unpleasant duty.

“
If you’d told me your intention, Glaucus, we could have had Castor prepare Skaia. The boy would have learned what to do.”

Glaucus was horrified at his father’s words. He’d had no idea… “Then I
did
hurt him.” He blinked away sudden tears. “Father, I told him he would enjoy it. And then I hurt him.”

Torn between wanting to console his son and wanting to knock some sense into him, Thaddeus forced himself to respond calmly. “These things happen all the time to slaves. Especially to virgins, until they loosen up a bit and learn to take care of themselves. Skaia will recover, Glaucus. I’ll see to him while you’re gone. We’ll have him treated today, and then he can rest. This is not something you need be concerned for. I promise you.”