Skaia (28 page)

After that, he hit the spot repeatedly until Skaia cried out loud, “I can’t wait Master. I can’t…” and spilled himself over Thaddeus’ hand. The boy’s muscles clamped Thaddeus’ cock in wonderful tightness. Almost pain.

Thaddeus thrust twice more, rougher now, harder, and orgasmed with a loud grunt. He was aware of the moment of release, and then all was just physical pleasure as the waves of sensation overtook him and he filled the young slave’s body with his seed. He held still, until his mind cleared and his breathing calmed.

When he finally withdrew, he turned Skaia over in the bed to face him. “Was it good this time?”

The boy’s face reflected his confusion. “I didn’t know… I never thought…” he whispered. “That must have been what Glaucus had intended.” As soon as Skaia realized what he’d said, he tried to pull away. “I’m sorry, Master. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

But Thaddeus only laughed, somehow not capable of anger at that moment, and even hugged Skaia closer. In spite of all his protests against feeling fondness for a slave, he was delighted that he had managed to bring Skaia such pleasure.
Like I felt with Thane,
he realized with a start.

He was vaguely aware they should clean themselves, but couldn’t bring himself to care. He cradled Skaia’s head on his chest and slept quickly with the boy’s heated body so close.

Skaia was awake longer, his mind wandering back over the years—thinking of Thaddeus and Glaucus. Glaucus had been kind to him in so many ways. But this…
Oh, Belenus.

I still hate him,
Skaia told himself, trying to rekindle his anger. What Thaddeus had done this once could not change everything else that had happened. It couldn’t!

Or maybe it could… In some ways, he realized, it was reassuring to be controlled so completely. To have no rights—no responsibility—for what he felt, what he did or what was done to him…

It was an appalling thought, but at least for the moment, the sexual release had left him sated and at peace. Eventually, Skaia ceased to think and simply held onto those feelings. And he made no attempt to escape from Thaddeus’ easy grip.

IX

Skaia awoke because of the abrupt sound he had heard coming from outside the room. Something had fallen.
What?
The answer came when he heard a loud voice just outside Thaddeus’ chamber. Angry. Another—softer, apologizing. And then silence again.

House slaves,
he thought.
Already about their pre-dawn duties.
Making certain that everything was perfect when the masters would get out of bed. He only vaguely remembered his time with them, when he would come up from the basement cells and Castor would set him about some simple task

No more… He felt a certain warmth as he remembered being with Glaucus. But that, too, was over. Now he was with Thaddeus. In Thaddeus’ bed, he suddenly recalled, and pushed himself up on his elbows to look at the man. Still asleep, softly snoring. When Skaia lay flat again, he became more aware of the stickiness between his legs. For several moments, he allowed himself to think of the sex… and how… amazing it had been.

Why didn’t we wash?
Thaddeus, of course… He had not suggested cleaning, had just gone to sleep afterwards—and had held him so he couldn’t get up either. Skaia slipped out of bed now, suddenly anxious to be clean. He froze when he heard Thaddeus stir. But then the master was still again… The snores resumed.

Skaia quickly pulled on his tunic and sandals and left the rooms. Walking brought his first awareness of pain. It wasn’t awful. Nothing like with Glaucus. Still, once outside Thaddeus’ chamber, he paused to steady himself against the wall before heading to the kitchen. All he wanted was to wash. And see if there was blood. Bringing hot water might appease Thaddeus if he had wakened.

Oh, Belenus,
Skaia prayed silently,
please don’t let him be angry with me.
After yesterday’s strange events, he had no idea what to expect.

Castor was not in the kitchen and only one older woman was present.
Bella,
Skaia remembered. She had been bought only a few years ago, to replace one of the cooks who had died. She looked at him curiously, but did not speak. He watched her for a few moments before he dared step closer to address her. “Please forgive me, Bella. I have come for some hot water to wash my master.”

“
He’s up already?” she asked, glancing at him. “I thought Castor always had to wake him.” She shrugged and turned back to her morning chores. “Get a bucket while I heat the water.”

Skaia nodded gratefully and walked to the wash room where he could find the bucket. He stopped to wash himself in the cold water that was always kept there for the slaves. He wished he could have some warm water for himself, but already knew he wouldn’t ask.
Wouldn’t risk anyone’s displeasure…
After he had scrubbed the mess from his belly and between his thighs and buttocks, he sat and looked at the messed cloths. No blood.

Sighing thankfully, he pulled off his broken sandal and the cloth that bound his foot. It hadn’t hurt badly when he walked this morning—or perhaps he hadn’t noticed - and he saw now that the flesh was already healing. Replacing the cloth and shoe, he stood to search for a fresh loincloth, grateful that Castor had started keeping a supply on hand.

Feeling as clean as he was likely to get, he took the bucket and went back to Bella. She scooped steaming water from a pot on the stove, and poured it into his container. “Thank you, miss,” he whispered as he turned and left.

Back in Thaddeus’ rooms, he was pleased to see that the master still slept. Yet it left him unsure what to do… After several moments of indecision, he set the bucket on the floor near the washstand and lit two of the small clay lamps before moving his cushion to the corner of the bed-chamber. Glancing once more at Thaddeus, he knelt and simply waited for him to wake.

He realized as he settled into the now familiar position that he was no longer in pain. His back was just a little uncomfortable; his anus felt strange, sore… but did not actually hurt any longer. Briefly he wondered how that was possible; Thaddeus was much larger than Glaucus. Could what Thaddeus did—the prodding at his body—all the cream—have made so much difference? It must have…

His thoughts were interrupted when Thaddeus shifted in the bed and reached his hand to where he should have been. Skaia watched as Thaddeus seemed to feel for him and then sat up quickly, his eyes moving around the room.

They stilled when he found the boy. “What are you doing there? Why are you not here in bed with me?”

Another poor choice
, Skaia feared as he stood and walked toward the bed, his eyes determinedly downcast. “Please forgive me, Master. I woke early, sir, and went to wash. I… I brought you hot water, sir, if you would like to wash, too.”

Thaddeus’ expression gradually changed to a smile. The slave had taken initiative in pursuing ways to please him. Of course, it was technically wrong—slaves should do as they were told and nothing else.
But then I shouldn’t be keeping him so close. Giving him the opportunity to know what I like.
He almost laughed at himself. He definitely wanted Skaia to learn how to best please him in bed. Where would he draw the line?

Lying back he ceased to think about the paradox. Skaia was right—he did want to be clean. But another way might be more pleasurable than getting up and washing himself. He focused on Skaia again. “You can wash me,” he said softly.

With my mouth, after Thaddeus penetrated my ass?
was Skaia’s first panicked thought. He was immensely thankful when he saw Thaddeus glance at the washstand. Feeling reassured, he dipped some clean cloths in the bucket of hot water and returned to the bed. After he pulled aside the sheet, he washed the master carefully and gently, intending nothing but to clean him.

But Thaddeus’ partially erect cock twitched to life at these easy touches, and Thaddeus seized Skaia’s wrist. “I seem to have other needs of you,” he smiled. “Wash me well, little slave—for your own sake—and come back to bed.”

Skaia did wash him again, no longer so skittishly, since the course of the morning was set. Heart beating fast, he returned the cloths and the towel to the washstand and came back, removing his tunic and shoes before climbing into bed. Without waiting for instructions, he caressed his master’s inner thighs gently, feeling the muscles quiver under his fingers, seeing Thaddeus’ cock swell further.

Gradually, he moved his hands to that growing length and it took only a few soft touches for the foreskin to unfold, revealing the mushrooming head. Skaia stroked with more pressure, and the flesh in his hands grew harder and started to throb. He leaned forward to carefully lick at the clear liquid that escaped the slit.

Thaddeus was gentle enough with him, but he purposely resisted, and Skaia had to suckle him strenuously before he began to thrust. When he climaxed, Skaia swallowed all of his seed, and then licked him clean. Thaddeus stroked his head softly after his breathing slowed. “You do this very well, now. Though there are some techniques you still need to work on. We’ll try them tonight.”

Skaia lifted his head and the words slipped out. “Just with you, sir?”

Thaddeus looked at Skaia’s face
. Why does the boy do these things? Why does he persist in thinking he has choices?
But he laughed softly. “You don’t like sucking my friends, Skaia?”

The boy looked down again, and held his hands tightly closed not to reveal his trembling. “I will do whatever you tell me, Master.”

Thaddeus’ hand gripped Skaia’s thigh, and squeezed hard until Skaia gasped with pain. “Yes, you certainly will do what I tell you, boy. But I want you to be eager to please me as well. And especially when I want you to play whore to my friends.”

I’m not a whore,
Skaia wanted to scream. But it would do no good.
And maybe I am…
He bowed his head even more submissively. “I will obey you, sir.”
And survive until Glaucus comes home.

Thaddeus squeezed harder, until he saw tears of pain spill from Skaia’s eyes. “But not eagerly?” he pressed.

“
I do not want to be a whore, Master,” the boy said softly, his voice small and tight with pain. “And no matter how much you hurt me, you cannot make me
want
that.”

Thaddeus released his grip and started to rub at the marks he’d made on Skaia’s leg. “We’ll see about that,” he said mockingly. “With proper training, a slave can be taught to do anything—to want anything. You should know by now, I can get whatever I want from you.”

Not that,
Skaia thought.
Never that…
But he answered dutifully, “Yes, Master.”

After only a few moments of silence, Skaia reached out to touch Thaddeus’ hand on his thigh. “Master,” he asked very softly, “is Glaucus in danger in Greece?”

What, Glaucus again? Does the blasted slave think of him constantly?
Thaddeus was furious. Not even his orgasm just minutes earlier could calm his anger. “Glaucus is not your damn concern,” he growled. “I thought I made that clear last night.” He moved to get up, and Skaia quickly got out of his way and followed, helping him to dress, before slipping on his own tunic and sandals. Thaddeus noticed the cloth around his foot. “What’s wrong with you?” he demanded

Skaia looked down at the now dirty cloth. “Nothing, sir. Just a blister. My sandal has a tear in the sole.”

“
Come,” Thaddeus commanded coldly. Though, on some level, he regretted the boy was hurt, regretted that he had given no attention to the limp yesterday, his anger was far stronger. That the idiot slave asked about Glaucus, after he’d specifically been forbidden to mention his name, and that he argued about what he would and would not do. Actions unforgivable for any slave. But especially for this one, who was supposed to be separating from his son and learning he was no longer favored.

Following him, Skaia had no idea where they would go. Still, he was surprised when Thaddeus stopped in the antechamber and picked up the chain. Thinking he knew what would happen now, he stood still in anticipation of being chained again. But Thaddeus went further than before as he hooked the chain to Skaia’s collar and proceeded to bind the boy’s hands behind his back with the excess length. “Lie down,” he barked, showing his anger clearly.