Page 19 of Over the Emerald Valley
“Very nice. And yours?”
Solon groaned. “Not very nice.”
The moment Solon shut the door, Temaj whirled and pressed them together, chest to chest. Temaj was bare except for a skirt and sandals. The thin linen of Solon’s shirt warmed upon contact.
“Then let me make your evening nice.” Temaj’s tongue darted out to wet his lips, which were pink with some sort of product and glistened with moisture.
The neat line of kohl around his lids made his imploring brown eyes appear even bigger.
Solon gripped him by the hips, intending to put some space between them, but was taken by the way Temaj fluttered his pretty lashes, so he only ended up holding the man close. His resolve wavered. Temaj felt inviting against him.
Too inviting.
It would be so easy to slide a hand up his back, stroke the ridges of his spine beneath his palm, maybe twirl a lock of hair around his fingers.
But no. Temaj didn’t really have a choice, and Solon wouldn’t take advantage.
Gently, he pushed the slave away.
“Thank you. I’m sure you could. But what I really need is a wash and a good night’s sleep. Maybe without you drooling on my neck this time, plucky.” He added a grin to be sure Temaj would know he was only teasing.
Disappointment flashed across Temaj’s prettily painted face. “At least let me wash you, then. And on the drooling, I can make no promises. I can’t help that you look good enough to eat.”
“The flattery is unnecessary. You’ve already won. You’re here, aren’t you?”
“What have I won, exactly? The luxury of listening to you snore?”
“I don’t snore.” Solon dodged past him and through to the washbasin off the bedchamber. “And I need no help to wash.”
Temaj followed. “It’s not about needing help. It’s about accepting the pleasure of human connection. I want to wash you, and I think you’d enjoy the experience.”
Human connection. Solon couldn’t deny a certain longing, the tug at his heartstrings that the offer struck. But their circumstances hadn’t changed, and besides, what Temaj was suggesting wasn’t a genuine connection nor a lasting one. A temporary fix wouldn’t do after a life without.
“No, thank you. I’ll wash on my own.”
Temaj’s face fell. Passing defiance quickly morphed into a more sullen expression. And that pout Solon had come to expect appeared. “If you must. I’ll just go warm your side of the bed, since that’s all you think I’m good for.”
Solon frowned and opened his mouth, but Temaj had already spun around and was sauntering off to the bedchamber before he could think of anything to say.
CHAPTER7
Temaj
The bed wasa thing of beauty. Humongous. Four could easily fit, and oh, the things Temaj could imagine with four.
As it stood, he only had a reluctantone.The bed’s feather-soft cushions, silken sheets, and yards of glorious space would likely go unsullied. A terrible pity.
Solon hadn’t even noticed his fuck-me sandals or his perfect makeup.
Temaj threw himself rather dramatically onto the bed’s center, drew his knees up, and undid the laces. Solon might not care for his clothes, but Temaj knew the man liked the look of him naked, whether or not he’d admit it.
Water sluiced and splashed in the other room as Temaj took off everything, even the beautiful jeweled collar, and set it all aside. He crawled under the covers to do as he’d said: warm up Solon’s side of the bed. How would he fall asleep at this hour, early for him, and with such temptation within arm’s reach?
With any luck, the general could at least be convinced to share his stories. Tales of Thebes perhaps, maybe Memphis and the great pyramids Temaj had heard of but never seen.
Life had a way of only revealing the dirty, the dark, and the cramped spaces of cities when slaves were being traded from one master to the next.
The slippery bedsheets were cool against his skin. Out of habit, Temaj reached between his legs and gave himself a few firm strokes. Most men would prefer him eager, and a hard cock was an easy way to achieve that goal.
