Page 57 of Enslaved
Diana extended her hand to the procurator and he raised it to his lips graciously. “Forgive an old man for staring at you, my dear, but you have a rare classical beauty.”
Marcus saw he was openly curious about her and explained, “Diana’s father was a scribe for the government who married a Briton.” He implied that she was half Roman and Diana simply smiled at the procurator. He was dressed in a long white toga with a wide purple border and actually wore a laurel wreath upon his graying head. Diana lowered her lashes to prevent herself from staring. She couldn’t believe she was actually dining with such a high-ranking official of Rome.
They moved into the triclinium, where three dining couches were arranged about the table. “Here is a perfect example of a blending of Britannia and Rome. If Diana graced the emperor’s table, she would stand out as an exquisite blend of beauty and culture. She is living proof that Britons are highly civilized.”
“Thank you, My Lord Procurator.”
“Oh please, call me Julius.”
Diana gifted him with a brilliant smile as she reclined on her couch and tucked a gold elbow cushion beneath her arm.
As the leisurely meal progressed, both Marcus and Diana felt the sexual tension build between them explosively. Though three dined, two of them were being driven mad with desire. Whenever Marcus’ black eyes caressed her, they smoldered with the dark fires of anticipation. Neither of them could wait for their guest to leave. When Julius finally stood up to depart, Diana was weak with longing.
Chapter 17
Marcus walked with the procurator to the atrium and saw him into his litter. Julius always slept at the praetorium, a spacious residence within the fort, but he had informed Marcus that he would be leaving at dawn for Glevum, where most of the retired legionaries now lived.
“You dog, Marcus. Where have you been hiding her and however did you find her?”
“I think of her as a gift from the gods,” Marcus said wryly.
“She said she came to Aquae Sulis to take the waters, but I think she stays for more personal reasons. You’d be a fool to let her escape, Marcus.”
“I’ll hold her captive, never fear,” Marcus said, laughing, as the litter moved off.
When he went back inside, Diana was leaning against one of the pillars. His arms encircled her waist and he held her imprisoned against the marble. “You were a charming hostess,amor”
Diana knew thatamormeant love. She lifted her lips to his. “And Julius was a charming guest, but you didn’t discuss your business.”
“We did that when we bathed. Steam not only opens the pores, it often loosens the tongue. Clothing is a barrier, and once it is removed, all reticence disappears.”
“So I’ve discovered,” Diana murmured wickedly, moving against him sensuously to unfasten his toga.
His mouth claimed hers in a passionate kiss that sent chills and then fire running along their veins. With his lips still against hers, he said huskily, “Do you think we can keep our clothes on long enough to get upstairs tonight?”
“It will be very hard,” she murmured wickedly, stroking his shaft with her fingertips.
He lifted her against his hard length and proceeded to kiss her on each and every step of the staircase. When they finally reached the sleeping chamber, Marcus said low, “I want to carry you to bed every night for the rest of my life.”
He was so earnest, Diana melted against him. Never one to lie to herself, she believed they were falling in love. She pushed the problems love would entail to the back of her mind. Nothing must spoil this special night for either of them.
Kell had lit a fire for them in the huge hearth and they stood before it now as Marcus disrobed them both. Then he took infinite pleasure in taking down her hair, allowing his fingers to become entangled in the silky mass, as he lifted it to his face to explore its texture, its smell, its very taste.
Marcus tossed the purple cushions from the bed before the fire, then pulled her down to him so she was cradled in his lap. He held her back to the fire and massaged her bottom cheeks. “I’ve been waiting to warm your bum all day.”
Diana clung to him as he kissed her deeply, then she took the chain from about her neck and put it over his head so the gold Caesar coin lay amidst the dark curls. “From my heart to yours,” she whispered.
Marcus watched the firelight turn her hair and skin to flame. His fingers traced over her flesh reverently, then his lips followed. “Diana, it occurred to me today, when I saw you astride the mare, that I have given you the means to escape from me.”
Her eyes widened, “I wouldn’t run away from you, Marcus. I have no desire to leave you.”
His arms tightened about her as a wave of protectiveness swept over him. “You might after tonight. I’m afraid I will hurt you.”
“Yes, I know you will. You are far too big for me, but your hands and your mouth work magic. They arouse me to such a frenzied peak of desire that I hunger and lust for us to join our bodies. My need becomes so great that fear of pain is nothing beside it. It must be the same for you. We become riven!”
“I’ll go slowly; I’ll stop at any time,” he pledged.
Diana pushed him back upon the cushions. “I won’t!” She straddled him with her silky thighs, then brought her breasts down upon his chest, so that his huge, swollen phallus was trapped between their bodies. The flames from the fire added to the heat in their blood, and as always, once they began to kiss, they could not stop.
