Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
I’m still not ready to wash it off, but I don’t want to appear too eager to him, so I reluctantly drop my hands and arms under the water and let the rough current wash it free.
A deep loss hits my core when I see it travel away and disappear down the drain.
The only solace I have is knowing that this will not be the last time this happens.
Kaeso is not the only one prepared to burn down Rome to keep us together.
I’m sitting in Kaeso’s lap as he hums softly to me while playing with my hair. He lets it run through his fingers as he stares at it like it’s the golden strands of hair from Venus herself.
“Kaeso,” a masculine voice says from the other side of the bars.
His grip on me tightens. “Go away!”
“Can’t do that, old friend.” It’s Septimus. The man who purchased me and brought me here. He arrives behind the iron bars dressed in a fine red robe with a golden trim. He has the look of a wealthy man—the look that travels right over the heads of us lesser slaves. “General Gaius Agricola has arrived in Rome. He wishes to watch the great Kaeso compete.”
“I’m busy here,” Kaeso grunts as he continues dragging his fingers through my hair.
“Perhaps, this is the Emperor’s attempt to regain the General’s loyalty,” Septimus says, ignoring him. “There are rumors that General Gaius is fomenting a takeover.”
“And there are rumors that my cock is as long as a spear.”
I stifle the giggle that bubbles up to my lips. I can make a few guesses on how that rumor was started. Anyone who saw my man disrobe would swear to that being true.
“Maybe so,” Septimus says with a deep breath. “But the Emperor has commanded you to battle in three hours time.”
“No.”
“You tell the Emperor no?”
A defiant fierceness flashes in Kaeso’s bold brown eyes. “I’ll tell all the gods in Olympus no. To their faces.”
“Well, you don’t tell your master no. Get up.”
He doesn’t move.
“Two more fights and you’re free.”
This gets my man’s attention. He perks up and looks at Septimus for the first time.
“When I complete my one-hundredth fight and win my freedom,” he says with a possessive look in his fiery eyes, “you’ll give me Elovissa. She’ll be mine. You’ll give up all ownership to her and give her to me.”
“This slave girl?” he asks, looking at me like I’m worth less than the tattered dress on my body. “If it gets you to fight today, then sure. She’s all yours.”
“She’s already mine,” he growls. “Nobody touches her.”
I swallow hard with the way he’s clutching me like he’s never going to release me. It’s making my pulse race with the need to be alone with him once again.
“I will tell all the guards that anyone who touches this woman will face the wrath of Rome’s greatest champion,” Septimus says. “Now, we must go.”
“I’ll be back soon, my Venus,” he whispers before kissing my forehead and letting me go.
“Be careful,” I shout a little too loud, a little too panicked. I don’t like the idea of him being in any sort of danger. What if he doesn’t return to me? What will I do then?
The nerves invading my belly seem to dissipate a little when he stands up and I see the truly impressive scope of his stature.
Could the gods themselves beat this man in a duel? I doubt it…
All I can do is trust him to return.
Deep in my heart, I know that he will.
Chapter Four
Kaeso
“We who are about to die, salute you!” I shout as I stare at Emperor Vespasius with my sword in the air.
The Colosseum is packed tight with people from all over the Roman Empire and they all lose their minds, cheering and shouting as loud as the crack of Jupiter’s lightning bolt when I walk to the center of the arena. Rows upon rows of people reach into the blue sky, all full of people who came to watch me do what I do best—kill.
Emperor Vespasius has a guest sitting next to him in his luxurious box—General Gaius Agricola, commander of the Southern armies. I don’t care much for politics, but even a slave can’t help but overhear the gossiping of the guards. It’s rumored that General Gaius is not a fan of the Emperor and would rather rule the Empire himself. Perhaps, the Emperor has invited him into the city to strengthen their alliance.
Which makes me the entertainment.
“The greatest warrior Rome has ever seen,” the announcer bellows in his deep penetrating voice, “needs no introduction. Behold, fighting in his ninety-ninth match in the sands of the Colosseum…”
The thunder of the crowd builds like a crescendo as I walk around, bored, just another day on the job.
“Kaeso Vinicius!”
I can feel the excited roar of fifty thousand Romans hollering at the top of their lungs. The only damage inflicted on me from this place won’t come from the sharpness of a sword or the quickness of an arrow, it will come from these wretched people destroying my ears with their bloodthirsty howls.