Gaius raised his chin, he would not feel ashamed of his thoughts. ‘I gave her a promise that I had done my time for Rome, that my life was hers now, that we will always be together.’
‘You can still have all that, in six months, a year...find someone as strong as you to put in your place and you can hurry home sooner.’
‘I do not wish for her to be alone.’
‘She is hardly alone, she has an entire houseful.’
‘Regardless, her position is precarious without me.’
‘You only have yourself to blame,’ Tiberius tsked, filling his palm with grapes and then his mouth, chewing as he spluttered, ‘It was you who chose to take a slave as your wife.’
‘She is no slave.’ Gaius’ voice rumbled through his chest, his anger hitting every syllable.
‘Nonsense,’ Tiberius dismissed, unperturbed by the edge to his voice. ‘You freed her to marry her, she was a slave.’
‘I don’t care for your opinion,’ Gaius said, his teeth gritted, his pulse working tangibly in his jaw. ‘Unless it aids me.’
Tiberius puffed his cheeks out on a breath. ‘I care for you, Gaius, but do not take that to mean you can speak how you choose.’
‘I seek only to ensure my wife is happy.’ He spoke steadier this time––to anger the Legatus would no better serve him than his outright refusal to do as he asked. ‘So long as I know this to be the case, I can fulfil my role with no distraction hanging over me.’
Tiberius erupted with a surprising laugh and pushed the plate away. The girl dropped to kneel at his feet, placing the plate on the ground as Tiberius lowered his palm to stroke over her hair, his expression thoughtful.
‘Very well, Gaius,’ he spoke eventually. ‘I have an idea that could serve you and your marriage well. In fact, you may consider it a gift from this house to yours, a gift of two halves.’
‘Two halves?’
Tiberius looked to him, a self-satisfied grin lifting his features, ‘I think both you and Aurelia will be more than happy.’
‘And what is this gift?’
He chuckled again and snapped his fingers, his body slave stood and curved into him. ‘All in good time, Gaius, all in good time. Right now, I have other pleasures to indulge. I’d offer you the same,’ he gestured to the raven-haired slave still waitin
g in his shadow and crooked his finger, ‘but I sense she is not for you.’
She stepped forward, sauntering towards her Dominus, and Tiberius followed her move, his eyes already glazing over with lust. ‘I will call on you tomorrow with your gift, Gaius, and also send word to Augustus Constantius that you will be in position before the month is out.’ She folded into his free side and greedily, he palmed both girls by their behinds, sweeping them closer, his eyes flicking briefly to Gaius, ‘Now go and enjoy your wife.’
He dipped his head, it was about as much agreement as he could muster before Tiberius turned and walked away, flanked by his women.
Fucker.
Gaius threw back the last of his drink, eyes boring into the other man’s back as his women fawned over him and each other, the sight fuelling his blood to do exactly as the man had dictated, enjoy his wife.
And as for the gift––no gift was greater than the life he dreamed of. The life he’d believed they now had.
He tossed the empty goblet aside and strode for the door, anger surging with the heat of desire in his veins. Home could not come swift enough.
Aurelia
Aurelia had given up on sleep. Ever since Gaius had been called away she’d been unable to do anything but worry. She’d even tried to read, to work on her language to please him upon his return, but her brain had failed to stay on task. And now the sun had set long ago, and her tummy rumbled miserably, but the only noises she cared to listen to were the ramblings of her panic-ridden brain.
What could Rome want with him now?
Hadn’t he given them enough?
Hadn’t he promised he was done?
She paced the bedroom, ignoring the observant gaze of Livia and Tiro, her slaves, her protectors. She’d tried to dismiss them but as always, Gaius’ orders overruled her own and they insisted on their post. But she wasn’t blind to the glint in their eye. She could read the resentment like an open book and couldn’t help wondering if they took pleasure in her discomfort.