For a Roman's Heart (26 page)

“If you keep saying that, my ego shall grow too big to be contained.”

He laughed softly. “That’s a good thing in your case. There is something else wrong, Adrenia. Tell me the truth.”

She closed her eyes so that she could avoid the vivid discernment in his gaze. “Everyone in that room is so far above me in station. Some try to pretend I’m the same as them. They have extraordinary manners...some...well, some have the reaction I’m used to and expect. It just gets very tiring enduring their attitudes.”

“Especially Cordia?”

She dared open her eyes. “Yes.” Urgency compelled her. She touched his forearm. “There’s something I must tell you before someone finds us here, and I don’t have another chance. Cordus is intent on you marrying his daughter, and she has said as much again.”

Tucked close to Terentius, she savored what few moments they owned. “Ignore the young twit. As I said before, I have no intentions of marrying her.”

“Even if her father offered a large dowry?”

“Not even then.”

“What of your attempts to find Sulla? I’m afraid that he will come by the villa or perhaps try and harm Pella again.”

He drew back and gazed into her eyes, his expression hard with determination. “We are following up on all leads to find him. There are twisted men who do heinous things like this over and over again in a ritualistic fashion. Sulla is one of them. He will slip up.”

She nodded. “As I told you before, I think my parents helped him harm women and girls.” She shivered again and slipped her arms around his waist. “How is such a man to be captured? How can anyone stay safe with him on the loose?”

“Stay in the villa until you and Longa can secure the new shop. Even then you must take every precaution. We will hire guards to stay at the store during open hours. Anything to keep you safe. I’m sure Capito will want the same for Longa.”

Before she could speak, his mouth found hers. Adrenia sank into his swift kiss with enthusiasm. Without preamble his embrace turned passionate, his tongue finding hers with hot strokes. Her hips arched upward and sought his heat and hardness. With Terentius she couldn’t hold back and deny the single most vivid pleasure she’d ever known. Trained by his previous embraces, she responded and tasted with equal fervor. One hand cupped her ass, digging gently into her flesh, while his other palm sought her breast and cupped and teased. When his thumb passed over her nipple, she gasped into his mouth. Shimmering pleasure touched her deep to the core.

His mouth separated from her long enough for him to whisper into her ear. “Feel what you do to me, Adrenia.” His fingers pressed, found her nipple and clasped it. He tugged. Sweet pleasure darted from the aroused tip. She squirmed in his arms.

Nearby someone cleared his throat. She started, and Terentius released her. Victor and Cordus stood silhouetted in an archway nearby.

Cordus’s tight expression darted from Adrenia and Terentius, still standing close together. Cordus’s face said it all. He didn’t like what he had just witnessed.

“Sir,” Victor said. “A message was just delivered. We are recalled on urgent business. There is another uprising in Durovigutum.”

Terentius nodded and with one last longing look at Adrenia, he left her side. “Cordus, I thank you for the fine meal and company. I’ll leave the loom outside. If you could have your slaves carry it in for Adrenia.”

Cordus’s expression didn’t hold the usual smile for Terentius, but the stiffness of a man scorned. “Of course. Of course.”

Adrenia’s stomach dropped as Victor and Terentius left. She expected Cordus to approach and perhaps even lambaste her.

Instead his cold look pierced to the heart. “So, that is the way of it.”

“Sir—”

But he’d already turned and left.

Chapter Fourteen

“Friendship makes prosperity more shining and lessens adversity

by dividing and sharing it.”

Cicero

Roman Author, Orator, and Politician, 106 BC–43 BC

“There are games this afternoon.” Victor stood inside Terentius’s quarters. “We’re required to attend by Capito.”

Terentius wanted to tell Capito what he could do with his games. “We don’t have time for this. We need to find Sulla.”

“True. But as centurion and
beneficiarius
you’re required to attend games. You know how it is. Politics are a nasty bedfellow, but a necessary one. Fuck the right people first, then go on to the woman you want to fuck.”

Terentius shook his head, amazed and half-amused. “You are the only man I know who can say something that outrageous and have it make perfect sense.”

“It’s a talent I have.” As Terentius started to leave Victor asked, “Where will you be?”

“Cordus Villa to see Adrenia.”

Victor’s eyebrows waggled. “Uh-huh.”

“Bugger off and do your job.”

“I intend to. And you need to make sure Adrenia is all right.”

Terentius stared at Victor like the man had lost his head. “What in the gods of the triad are you getting at?”

“I saw how you were with her last night.”

Terentius’s frustration grew. “What are you trying to say? Spit it out.”

Victor’s eyes danced with mischief. “You are a lamb around her. She’s captured your heart. When you shared a plate of food with her, the heat between you practically scorched my eyeballs. You’re a hard soldier and a relentless one. Only a woman could alter that. Marry her and make good of it. A centurion with ambitions can go far with the right wife. Of course, if you want to be politically expedient, you can marry Cordia.”

Terentius groaned. “The mere thought emasculates me.”

Victor gestured. “There you have it. Your answer. You know the woman you want. Have her before it interferes with capturing Sulla.”

Terentius considered Victor’s words and sneered. “You’re insane. Nothing interferes with my work. If you know what is good for you, you won’t either.”

Victor wore a sheepish expression. “I only say what I mean. You know that.”

“Saying what you mean does not make it fact. You’re a good man, Victor, but stay out of my personal affairs.”

“Affair is right.”

Terentius planted his hands on his hips, his anger tempered by rising amusement at the optio’s boldness. “Get out.”

“Yes, sir.”

Before long Terentius rode toward Cordus Villa alone, Victor’s earlier rantings on love echoing in his head.

Love

He didn’t understand it. Well, perhaps he did. His mother and father had experienced a passionate relationship. He’d always admired their affection for each other and the warmth and understanding they had brought to his life. The love his mother and father had given him, and the deep respect and love he’d felt for them—yes. He did believe in that sort of emotion.

But the mysteries of Eros he could never quite grasp. He thought of Longa and Capito and recognized genuine love in their relationship. Love wasn’t practical. It wasn’t tidy and organized and didn’t follow a set of rules like his military life.

What he felt for Adrenia was humanity. His father had taught high respect for women and instilled in Terentius a belief that women deserved cherishing and protection. That explained the feelings that twisted inside Terentius whenever he saw Adrenia or thought of her. She must be cherished and protected at all costs.

When Cordia had taken great pains to cast aspirations on Adrenia, he’d wanted to chastise the silly chit in front of the crowd. He’d accomplished that in a small way.

Adrenia deserved far more than life gave her, and yet she never complained. She took what the fates supplied and worked with them. She was as strong as many men he knew.

Terentius understood his obligations to track down Sulla, but he wouldn’t abandon Adrenia. Not now. When she’d come apart in his arms, whimpering in climax, he’d felt a satisfaction more powerful than any he’d experienced in a long time. The thought of the sweet heat between her legs made his cock turn to solid rock. He remembered how her sheath had tightened around him as orgasm had broken her apart. How her cunny had throbbed and clenched until he couldn’t hold back. Keeping his hands off her would prove difficult, but not impossible.

He continued down the road toward the villa, not certain he understood all of his feelings for her.

The guards along the property allowed him in without question. They knew and respected him. A slave greeted him at the door, and allowed Terentius into the atrium. Terentius asked to see Adrenia, but learned she was talking a walk around the villa grounds. Terentius started to leave. Cordus entered the area and stopped him with a greeting.

“Terentius, it is good to see you again so soon.” Cordus had dressed so elaborately he looked like a senator. “What can I do for you?”

“I came to see Adrenia, but I hear she is talking a walk.”

Cordus’s expression went from cordial to cool. “Yes. Listen, Terentius, I respect you greatly. You are a fine soldier, but you are young. I had hoped that you and I could make a family alliance.”

“You hoped I’d see political advantage in offering for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

Cordus nodded. “That was my hope and my wife was very happy with the idea. At first, when I saw you kissing Adrenia, I was angry. But then I realized late last evening that it doesn’t matter. Your match with my daughter doesn’t require love. It requires only my consent and your agreement. You can take concubines whenever you wish.”

Terentius boiled over. “Adrenia is not a concubine, and I will not have her talked about in such a way.”

Cordus nodded. “As you wish. We quite hoped she would provide us with additional monies by staying here at the villa and weaving.”

Terentius’s respect for Cordus dropped a few notches. “And you would marry your daughter to a man who desires another?”

“I would. It is done all the time.”

Terentius smiled without humor, his disgust laced in every word. “I see. Such things are done all the time. As her father, though, you should want a man who could make your daughter happy.”

Cordus laughed. “I know my daughter. If you have enough money and allow her to spend some of it, she’ll be happy. If you rise in rank, she’ll be happy because it means more money and status for her.” The older man stepped away from Terentius, his face suddenly weary. He sank down onto the bench by the
impluvium
. “My daughter did not find the idea of marrying you unwelcome. When I told her about you and Adrenia...” He laughed. “Well, she already knew. You see, my daughter may be cold-hearted, but she is clever. She’s attracted to you and thinks lust is enough. Sometimes it is.”

“You think she would find marriage to me agreeable knowing I desire another woman? How can you say for certain?”

The old centurion shook his head. “My daughter may not love you, but her lust is possessive. She would want you all to herself and wouldn’t tolerate another woman in the picture.”

Terentius paced around the
impluvium
. “You think I’d do all this for the political advantage a marriage to your daughter would provide?”

“Yes.”

Terentius didn’t have to think. He knew his answer. “Than you don’t know me. No, I won’t marry your daughter.” Terentius stopped in front of Cordus. “I wouldn’t marry your daughter for wealth or privilege or to move up the military ladder.”

“Then how did you get to where you are, Terentius? By purity and piousness?”

“Hardly. But my word is my honor. You are a powerful man in Durovigutum, Cordus, and could do things to make my job harder. You could...but you won’t. You want to know why?”

“You’d tell me even if I said no.”

“Because I’d be forced to kill you.”

Cordus laughed. “That you would. I’d be surprised if you didn’t.”

“I don’t know whether you’re a savvy bastard or just a bastard.”

“Probably both. I didn’t get where I am being a completely honest man.”

Terentius strolled from one side of the substantial atrium to the next. “If this is what it takes to get this—” Terentius gestured all around. “—this lifestyle in Durovigutum, I don’t want it. At least I’ll be able to sleep at night.”

Terentius stopped in front of Cordus again and looked down at him. Cordus’s eyes fogged with something that resembled physical pain. “You’re an honorable man, Terentius. I admire that trait despite the fact I think you are rash for not taking advantage of my patronage.” He stood slowly, as if his bones creaked and protested. “That is it, then. My daughter will have to find another man to tolerate her.”

“With your connections, that will not be difficult.”

Cordus made a short laugh. “Ha. So you say.” Gravity replaced all humor in his eyes. “Despite the power I wield in this household, it is amazing what the wrath of woman can do to make a man’s life miserable.” Cordus spoke with a deadpan voice. “But my obligation is to my family. I’m the
paterfamilias
after all. You’ll understand that one day when you have a wife and a daughter.” The old soldier shifted on his feet. “I wanted you for my daughter’s husband because you are honorable, and I won’t be around much longer to protect her. The
medicus
says I have something growing in me they cannot fix.”