Page 95 of Axios
“We best not keep him waiting then,” I said and got to my feet.
“Of course. Anything to please the king.” Eryx scowled at me before standing as well.
His jealousy made me shake my head.
“I thought you said you would put that in the past,” I said, arching a brow.
When he curled his lip at me, I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.
“Why is he jealous?” Theon asked, appearing on the other side of Haden. “What did we miss?”
I had never told them of my time with Agesipolis, and I did not intend to. Mainly because I knew it would further anger Eryx to have it mentioned again.
“Perhaps it is a story I will tell you one day,” I answered.
“One day before I die, I hope,” Theon said, rolling his eyes. He was so impatient.
Smiling, I started walking to the hall with them at my side.
***
Feasts in Aphytis were unparalleled to those in Sparta. Not only was the architecture of greater elegance, but the food was as well. Fish, fruits, and an assortment of cheeses and bread—I had to force myself not to over indulge on it all. We were given wine to drink, but the potency of it was lower from the type from home, so I allowed myself to enjoy it without fear of drunkenness.
Two or three cups would do no harm.
The king sat at the head of the grand feasting table, and the rest of us men sat at the sides of it. He was the same man I had met long ago, but he also seemed different—less of the quiet and reserved king and more of an authoritative ruler.
But when other men’s voices boomed in the room and the attention was taken from him, I would see it. I’d see the king I had walked through the meadow with and chatted with about all things, the one who smelled of the dew that covered the land on spring mornings and the scent of flowers in the midday sun.
He hadn’t eaten much during the meal; only picked at his food. His skin didn’t look as golden as it once had, but I assumed it was from his time spent indoors, trying to settle political affairs. A king’s duty was never done until the breath left his lungs.
When the food was devoured and all that remained was our goblets of wine, Agesipolis called two serving boys over.
They looked to be of age twenty as one had a dusting of hair on his chin. Both were bare-chested and wore only thin breeches that flowed like a type of toga. The raven haired one sat on the king’s lap and leaned into him, taking the king’s earlobe into his mouth. The other one had golden hair and he did the same on the right side, rubbing his hand along the king’s chest.
By their behavior, it was clear they had done that before. They knew what Agesipolis wanted and gave it without him having to voice it.
Heat spread to my groin at the sight, and I looked away.
“Now see who is jealous,” Eryx said in a bitter tone, watching me.
“I am not jealous.”
Aroused? Yes.
My lover regarded me then as if he knew my meaning, and I heard him growl low in his throat. Not in anger, but with the same lust I felt running through me. His hand gripped my upper thigh and trailed up higher to rest upon the thin cloth covering my twitching cock.
Music filled the air as men began playing lutes and other instruments I did not know while scantily dressed women danced in the center of the room. Jewelry decorated their naked skin and jingled as they moved. Spartans looked upon them with hunger in their eyes… all except for a few.
Haden averted his gaze from them, uninterested. Quill glanced their way, but there was no desire behind his stare, only curiosity in their performance. And Theon watched Quill. When Quill caught him staring, they exchanged a smile, and in a movement so inconspicuous most others would have missed it, they moved closer together.
Eryx’s hand caught my focus again when his touch became heavier. His fingers traced the outline of my stiffening cock through the material before moving to the tip of it and giving a slow stroke down the length.
I bit the side of my fist to keep from moaning aloud.
Some men stood from the table and approached the women after their dance, and others sought out the women who sat at the other tables. They were on the prowl for potential bed partners, but I already had mine and craved privacy.
Fortunately, their leaving was the opening I needed to stand and pull Eryx from the table and head toward the exit.
