Page 47 of Enslaved
Marcus strode toward her purposefully. “Refuse? I don’t believe I heard you correctly.” His tone was harsh, forbidding.
Diana swallowed hard and lifted her chin. Foremost in her mind was her promise to obey his orders implicitly before others. If she violated their agreement, he was free to do the same. In fact, by the look of him he would welcome the excuse to do so, even relish it!
When he spoke again, it was as the all-powerful Roman. “You will return to your chamber and change. When you return, you will fulfill your sole purpose in life: giving me pleasure!”
Chapter 14
Diana’s lashes swept to her cheeks. Her fingers dug into Kell’s arm in frustrated fury. If she lost her temper and berated the Roman before his slaves, she would lose what little power she had gained. She knew she had little choice but do exactly as he commanded.
With quiet dignity she turned and left the room. She was grateful that Kell did not remind her that she should have taken his advice. Sylla awaited her with the brief tunic ready. She had known Diana would be sent back. The general never allowed disobedience.
Diana decided she would have to overcome her shyness. Modesty was not allowed in a Roman household. She had no choice but to be obedient in front of the other slaves, but once she and Marcus were private she would give him a piece of her mind and show him just how outraged she felt at being forced to display her nudity before others.
Diana removed the lovely white silk and allowed Sylla to slip the tunic over her head. It, too, was white, but the material was more diaphanous, allowing the color of her flesh to show through. As Sylla fastened it on one shoulder with a huge ruby brooch, Diana stared at her reflection in amazement. She had never even imagined herself in a garment that concealed one breast while totally revealing the other. It was a most erotic garment. Nay, it was more, it was decadent.
She felt her cheeks become warm and saw the blush that suffused them in the mirror. Well, she might as well get ail her blushes over with, for in a moment Kell would see her, then Marcus and the slaves who served tonight would be able to observe her at leisure all through the evening meal.
Sylla handed her a pair of sandals with long, golden ribbons. Diana removed the toe ring, the golden anklet and bracelet, then crisscrossed the ribbons up her bare legs. Finally, she selected a pair of gold and ruby amulets. When she clasped them about her upper arms, she felt decidedly un-Christian. She felt and looked like a Sybarite. Before Diana left her chamber, she dipped a towel into a bowl of rose water, then held it to her burning cheeks to cool them.
Once more Kell escorted her to the triclinium, his hooded gray eyes concealing his thoughts completely. This time Diana held her head even higher. Marcus Magnus behaved as if this were the first time she had come down to dine. His face was no longer grim, his voice had lost its icy tone.
“Greetings, my lady. It is a pleasure to be home at last.”
“Greetings,” she murmured, without using his name or lifting her lashes from her rosy cheeks.
Diana circled away from him and sought her couch immediately. She sat down, lifted her legs to the couch, then carefully arranged the hem of the tunic so that it completely covered her thighs, for she wore no undergarment beneath its diaphanous skirt. She did not tuck the small gold cushion beneath her elbow because she did not wish to recline. She noticed that the couch had been completely recovered and new gold cushions set out to replace the ones that Petrius had soiled.
Two male slaves served them tonight. Because of the tremendous energy Marcus had expended during his rigorous day, his appetite was enormous. Tonight there was a whole turbot with fennel sauce, followed by a steaming venison pie, and an assortment of roast partridge and peacock.
Tonight they drank calda made from mixing wine, spices, and hot water. It was the same recipe as hippocras and Diana thought fleetingly of Peter Hardwick. He would have been the first man to make love to her if she had not gone back in time. She shuddered at the very thought. In one way she had had a lucky escape. She glanced across at Marcus and realized that in spite of the gulf that separated them in attitude, in thought, word, and deed, there was no other man she would rather have make love to her.
“Did you enjoy the demonstration at the river today?”
“May I please tell you when we are private?” she begged softly.
“Of course you may.” He wanted her to say his name. It gave him untold pleasure to hear it on her lips. He wished she would entertain him with conversation while they dined. He had thoroughly enjoyed last evening until Petrius had ruined it.
“You were asleep when I came to my chamber last night. Did I disturb you?”
“May I please tell you when we are private?” she again begged softly.
His dark brows drew together. She was deliberately trying to annoy him. “No, damn you, you may not. You will answer whatever questions I put to you.”
“May I have permission to answer your questions truthfully?”
Marcus knew this was some devious female trick. His black eyes narrowed. “You may answer my questions any way you like, so long as your reply gives me pleasure.”
Diana bit her lip. He knew they were playing a cat-and-mouse game.
“We shall begin again. Did you enjoy the demonstration at the river today?”
“I enjoyed it above all things, master.”
Marcus grit his teeth at her subservience. “Did I disturb you last night?”
“Your nearness always disturbs me, master.”
His patience snapped. “Leave us,” he bade the serving slaves. “Close the door behind you.”
