Ancient Ties (26 page)

Janney had no defense against his sure, aggressive fingers.

Circling, sinking. Gently teasing. Teasing her everywhere. Her fingers curled into claws, scraping down his neck, across his shoulders, her breath ragged, anxious. “Mmmm?” It was all she could manage.

“Shhh…” His hot breath swept across her neck. “Won’t hurt you, my love.” He licked her just under her ear, pulled her earlobe between his teeth, and continued his finger play.

Her mind reeled at what he was doing at the same time her body responded to the exquisite, dark thrill. Groans tore from her throat as she rocked. Tremors shook her body, overwhelming her. With a high shriek, her orgasm hit and she contracted tightly around him. She actually felt his responding explosion, hot, powerful, and sustained. Felt the continuous jetting, the surging heat of his passion. Knew that they both throbbed thickly and heavily in time to the beats of their hearts.

Heard his breathless gasps.

“Love…” Tears washed down her cheeks. The force of her orgasm drove her fingernails into his flesh; her teeth clamped down on the muscles in his shoulder. She clung to him as his strong arms surrounded her. It was a long time before she could bear to relax her grip. A long time before she realized that he had moved again to sit on the stair, his front still plastered to hers. He hadn’t allowed them to separate.

Neither wanted to let go. Neither could let go.

A messenger from Gaius Marcellus arrived the next day.

Marek was to report to Aquae Sulis immediately. Conversation, while each prepared for the trip, was stilted, both shell-shocked that their idyll had come to an end. Marek knew Janney was afraid. She understood why they were going back.

He was also afraid, truly afraid this time. He almost hated Janney for bringing love into his life after all these years. He could handle the battles, the killing, the blood and destruction.

But love? Falling in love, holding her beautiful, responsive body next to him every night, and being with her every day. Now that scared him. The loss of it scared him even more.

The trip back followed the same trail as their trip out. The night they camped, they did not make love. Marek held Janney in his arms all night; she snuggled up to him and, like a child, gripped his tunic tightly in her fist.

Entering the city gates of Aquae Sulis, the pace of the horses slowed down because of the throngs of people and carts.

Janney’s heart thudded heavily. This is like coming home from a honeymoon. Not hers, she realized sadly. Not her first one, at least. Returning to the real world after weeks focused on pleasure and lovemaking. The time spent with Marek had been so much more. Out in the country, her life had been like a beautiful dream. Now, she wasn’t certain where the reality was.

She didn’t know what was going to happen.

Marek lifted Janney from her horse, holding her tightly, pressing a kiss on her temple. “I love you. Don’t ever forget,” he whispered for her ears alone.

This just added to Janney’s unease. She glanced at the place on the wall where the portal would be, if it were to appear. She caught Marek’s gaze and his look of relief that it wasn’t there.

Augusta flew out into the courtyard and hugged Marek first, then she held Janney at arm’s length to study her face.

Apparently finding what she was seeking, she embraced Janney tightly. Janney knew that Augusta wanted to know how deeply she and Marek had connected with each other. Janney also knew that she couldn’t conceal her feelings for Marek. Even though the older woman greeted her warmly, Janney was uncomfortable about her feelings for Augusta. The woman had

pretended to be a friend but had kept important information from her.

“Come and clean up. Your rooms are ready.” Augusta directed the couple toward separate bedrooms. “Eat. Rest. You both certainly look travel weary.”

However, Marek guided Janney, his hand possessively in the small of her back, Janney leaning comfortably into him, to the room normally used by him.

There was something different about Marek, though. A suppressed excitement. He had not said more than that it was army business that brought them back. Was he going into battle?

Did he want to? She knew so little about that side of him.

Marek had indeed been thinking about battle and trying to hide his thoughts from Janney. Most of his life had been spent on campaign. The army was all he knew, the sum total of his life.

Except now. Now, apparently, he had other options. For the better part of eighteen years, he traveled with the Sixth Legion of Rome and hadn’t ever wanted to settle down. Now he was a landowner. Was he ready now? He was of two minds.

First things, first. He had to find out what was going on at the camp. Why had he been called in? Poor Janney. She looked so stricken. None of this was her fault, and she was the one to suffer. In the privacy of their room, he tried to reassure her,

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back. I promise.” He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her, for the moment stilling her trembling lips.

“I’ll be back,” he whispered again, reluctantly releasing her but not before brushing his fingers tenderly across her cheeks.

As Marek left, he had to force himself to attend to the reason he was back in Aquae Sulis. He needed his focus off Janney and on his business. By the time he reached the camp, he had reoriented himself.

Marek entered the chamber of Prefect Alroy Capys Vitalis.

He noted that Gaius was also standing at the map table. It was odd that Gaius would be here at a war council. Had Marek himself been a topic of discussion? Justyn Crescens, his good friend, and Glaucus Tertius, detested enemy, both the rank of Primus Pilus, were in attendance, as well. Marek joined the four men studying the map, pointing out locations for the camp and then directions for the legion’s movements.

“Marek.” Prefect Vitalis acknowledged him with a brief look and then continued his report of the problem. Picts had revolted, reaching the northern boundaries of Roman influence in Britannia. Five cohorts were being deployed to repel them, leaving one for reinforcement. “But I am confident the last cohort will not be necessary.” Romans held little respect for the locals when it came to battle. The Roman way was to strike hard and fast at the first.

“Gentlemen, training will begin tomorrow,” Vitalis told the men. “And the day after, you will move out.”

As Vitalis finished, Marek felt himself covertly being watched again. Especially by Glaucus Tertius. Tertius had always hated him. Sometimes he covered it well; at other times, it was quite evident. He knew that Glaucus’s men hated and feared him. Fear being the overriding factor. Marek wasn’t fool enough to believe all the men subordinate to him liked him. It wasn’t necessary that they do so. They were required only to follow his orders. He was a fair and honest leader; therefore, Marek’s war plans had generally been more successful with fewer casualties.

Marek knew Glaucus would be satisfied if Marek was out of the way and not taking part in this campaign.

The men were dismissed. Vitalis asked Marek to stay behind. Not wasting a minute on preamble, Vitalis got to the point. “I need to know your readiness. Have you made a decision about your resignation?”

Marek had expected this question and had searched his soul for answers. The relationship between Vitalis and him, over their many years in the service of Rome, had become personal as well as professional. The Prefect would understand Marek’s reaction in battle and the aftermath. If Marek were going to fight now, Vitalis would need to be confident that Marek would perform properly.

“Yes, I’ve made a decision.” He had really been thinking of nothing else since this summons came two days ago. “This will be my last campaign.”

Vitalis nodded, “I understand.”

Both men stood at attention, respect obvious on each side.

Marek had spent the whole of his adult life as a soldier. It was all he knew. Until recently, he’d expected to die in battle. Now, he didn’t want to. His heart, an organ he thought immune to feeling, had started beating again. A woman, the improbable Janney Forrester, had been given to him by the Gods. As his son had many years before. He realized that now. He wouldn’t let either of them slip through his fingers again. Marek and Vitalis’s salute became a manly embrace complete with back slapping, and then Marek withdrew.

Gaius waited outside, resting on a claw-footed campstool.

Of Praetorian rank, and of the noble class, Gaius outranked Vitalis and could have remained in the office during the private discussion, but he opted to cool his heels outside the Prefect’s doorway. Marek wanted to conduct his own conversation with Gaius in privacy anyway, considering the unusual nature of the Paulinus’ houseguest.

Laughing, Gaius said, “I see you came directly from your travels. Good trip?”

Marek laughed, too. He knew Gaius’s subtle way. Augusta would gush and ask outright or actually, she would know what was going on just by observation. Gaius would prefer not to ask any questions directly about Marek’s relationship with Janney.

Gaius continued, after a searching glance, “You look good.

Rested. Fit.”

“Yes, I’m fine. After this campaign, I’m resigning.”

Gaius gripped Marek’s arm. Marek felt the affection, the warmth of Gaius’s hand. He was closer to this man than he’d been to his own father. Certainly had spent more time with him.

“I’m happy for you, boy.”

It was all that would be said between them on this subject.

All that needed to be said for now.

“Gaius, will you walk with me? I must meet with my centurions.” Their walk through the camp to Marek’s headquarters was spent in idle discussion. Gaius’s descriptions of various local legal disputes were sometimes entertaining, always enlightening. Marek was grateful not to have to contribute to the conversation. Relieved to have finally made the decision to resign, he felt a degree of relaxation about it that surprised him.

At the doorway to the wooden structure that was his headquarters, Marek realized he hadn’t really heard much of what Gaius had said. He’d been unaware of the sights and sounds of the cohorts of soldiers marching past, swords clanking, of orders shouted. Thoughts of the woman—his Janney—definitely distracted him. Something he couldn’t afford in the upcoming training and battle.

It was an easy matter to set up the training schedule. Justyn, Marek’s closest friend, would take over his command without difficulty and would be quite happy to do so. Marek respected Justyn’s soldiering abilities as well as relied on him as a friend.

Gaius and Marek left Justyn, promising to meet again that evening at Augusta’s reception.

Marek was surprised that he dreaded the party. Sharing Janney with the men in his command was not something he wanted to do. Justyn, who fought hard and played hard, was a

friend, and that was bad enough. Janney would be like fresh, tender meat. New, mysterious, beautiful. Then he’d be gone, and other men would be attracted to her like bees to honey.

Marek had to make it clear tonight that Janney belonged to him.

Janney spent the afternoon helping Augusta with preparations for a reception that she was certainly in no mood for. Servants did the heavier work. Augusta was quite particular and directed the placement of tables and foodstuffs with the precision of a military campaign. She appreciated that Augusta didn’t press for information, but Janney’s temper finally got the better of her.

“I should have known about Marek’s marriage. Someone should have told me that before I left with him.” Janney meant that Augusta should have.

“I’m sorry, Janney. You’re right,” Augusta said. “I debated with myself but didn’t feel it was my business to tell you. I was going to talk to Marek about it, but before I knew it, you both were gone. Believe me, I’ve worried about it.”

Janney, her stomach clutching in turmoil, turned away.

Ignoring Augusta’s expression of contrition, she strode to the perceived safety of the colonnade, hugging her middle, her arms crossed tightly around her waist. She knew why he was ordered back. Even the servants knew. There was to be a military deployment. Janney didn’t even hear the clatter of crockery being set upon the tables in the garden. She didn’t hear Augusta’s crisp orders, nor the servants’ murmured replies.

Marek was going back to war. He was leaving her. Just like her dad had done. Her mind was awash in memories and feelings. Her sobbing mother had been so distraught that her own daughter’s pain and confusion were ignored. Discounted.

Her father had been in the reserves for years and had never gone anywhere. Then he was one of the few killed in the senseless fighting in Peru. That fact hadn’t helped her mother’s grief. It hadn’t made Janney feel less abandoned, less alone.

Janney and her mother had been isolated from each other in their grief, in getting through the funeral with all the ceremony the military mustered. An Army chaplain intoning words about honor and country and courage. Her hysterical, grieving mother unable to accept the folded up flag. Twelve year old Janney eager to take it in her arms, needing something to cling to. The shocking noise of the twenty-one gun salute—she’d never forget the bang of the guns or the following chink of empty rounds being ejected from the rifles. Then screaming silence around her. Or maybe the screaming had been inside her head.

Janney unconsciously backed herself into a doorway amid the bustle of party preparations, completely oblivious to anyone around her. Taps. She heard again the trumpet’s aching sounds, its shrill timbre, the elongated notes.

That day of her father’s funeral began Janney’s lonely descent. Ed had come along to ease her solitary life. He’d been her best friend, and then lover and husband, but somewhere down the line, had turned back into companion. Apparently, he’d wanted more, and Lord knew she had been incapable of giving it to him. She was so afraid of failing again.

Now Janney had let herself fall in love—lust, or love? How was she to know? Apparently, Marek was making plans to leave her for war. Just like her dad left her mother, and her.