Skaia (66 page)

“
Yes, Master.”

Thaddeus arched his brows. “Oh—what will you say to him?”

“
I don’t know, sir,” Skaia admitted, though he was sure he would hate him.
This slave, who had shared Glaucus’ bed.

Thaddeus laughed again and pulled Skaia to him. “You will probably be responsible for showing him around the household.” At Skaia’s continued silence, Thaddeus lowered his head and brushed his lips against the boy’s mouth. When he spoke, his voice was very quiet. “This may be our last kiss.”

Skaia jerked slightly in his arms. “Oh.” He sought Thaddeus’ mouth and kissed him back, pushing his tongue against Thaddeus’ lips. Thaddeus opened his mouth and let Skaia guide the kiss. It became deep, and a sweet battle of tongues.

Reluctantly, Thaddeus pushed him away. “We’d best stop now, Skaia. Or this will not end with just a kiss.”

“
Yes, Master.”
Oh, Belenus. I do not want to lose him…
As Skaia looked into the deep brown eyes that had become so dear to him, he whispered softly. “Perhaps we should not let it end with just a kiss, sir.”

Thaddeus smiled happily at the prospect, and led the way back to his chamber.

But once inside Thaddeus’ bedroom, Skaia’s certainty crumpled. Glaucus was on his way—almost home.
I shouldn’t do this. Not now. Not voluntarily. Not if I want to go back to Glaucus.
But he wasn’t sure he did… He froze in the overwhelming complexity of his feelings.

It was obvious that Thaddeus had no such concerns. He was stripping off his clothes, dropping them carelessly, and when he released his loincloth, his fully erect cock jutted upward from its mat of brown curls. He turned to grin at Skaia, and found the boy still fully clothed. The good mood in his eyes disappeared. “What the fuck is this, Skaia? You were the one who wanted to make love. Get out of your clothes.”

Skaia shook his head and stepped back. “It’s wrong, Thaddeus. Glaucus is almost back. I can’t.”

Thaddeus moved closer. “We’ve done this hundreds of times before, Skaia. Once more will make no difference.” He reached for the hem of Skaia’s tunic to pull it over his head, but Skaia was suddenly fighting him, pummeling Thaddeus’ large, muscular chest with his slender hands, refusing to cooperate.

“
It’s
wrong
,” he got out as Thaddeus overpowered him easily. “Stop it,” Skaia almost screamed. “Let me go.”

Paying him no heed, his own fury raging that the slave would defy him, Thaddeus ripped Skaia’s tunic at the neck and discarded the torn garment on the floor, before yanking the thin breechcloth aside. “You little shit. Until my son is back in this domus, you still belong to me. And I can still flay every inch of skin off your back if you refuse to obey me.”

Skaia trembled. His genitals were drawn tight to his body, but when he looked up Thaddeus could swear he saw relief on the boy’s face. Could Skaia have wanted it like this?
Why?

But regardless, Thaddeus would have him. Before Glaucus returned and ended everything. He became angrier with that thought, and his cock throbbed at the sight of Skaia’s fear and helplessness. Picking up the slender body, he threw it roughly on his bed, pounced on top of the boy, and covered his mouth, kissing him brutally and possessively, all the time twisting and squeezing Skaia’s nipples savagely. He felt Skaia try—uselessly—to push him away. And was excited even more.

When Thaddeus finally broke the kiss after tasting the boy’s blood, Skaia began to beg. “Harder, Thaddeus. You must force me. Please. Take me, slam into me. You must hurt me”

Thaddeus stared down, appalled. For
him
to be angry—to want to own Skaia, was one thing. But to have Skaia begging to be hurt… He knew by now that Skaia enjoyed a certain amount of rough play, knew he enjoyed being controlled. But the boy had never actually sought pain to this extent. “Why, Skaia?” he demanded. “Why is it so important that I hurt you?”

“
Just do it! Stop questioning me and just do it.” Skaia pushed himself up and struck at Thaddeus’ chest again, baring his teeth in his anger.

It was too much—Thaddeus slammed him down and reached for his groin, finding Skaia’s cock was hard, his scrotum swollen. He twisted the boy’s balls in their sack until Skaia screamed. Thaddeus stopped as he suddenly realized what he was doing. “Skaia, I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“
You have to. Take me, Thaddeus. Please. Take me hard.”

When Skaia started to turn over, Thaddeus let him. He was still appalled, but convinced now that this was what Skaia wanted. And he was more than ready. Skaia’s deliberate defiance had excited him—made him
need
. And the firm rounded globes were too enticing to resist. He spit in his hand and rubbed his cock, smearing what was dripping from him as well.

With no other preparation, he slammed into Skaia’s hole. And pumped brutally, knocking the boy forward with each thrust, holding his hips tightly to pull him back. In spite of Thaddeus’ effort to make it last, he climaxed after just a few minutes, shooting his seed deeply into Skaia’s body.

As his breathing slowed, and he could think again, he reached to feel Skaia’s genitals, discovering that the boy had climaxed too.
Thank the gods…

He pulled out his rapidly deflating member, relieved at seeing no sign of blood, and turned Skaia to face him. Tears were streaming down the slave’s face, but he reached up to put his arms around Thaddeus’ neck and, burying his head into his master’s chest, he sobbed.

Thaddeus held him gently, stroking his back until he quieted, all the time wondering what had happened. Eventually, Skaia looked up. “I should get cloths to clean us.”

But as the boy tried to get up, Thaddeus pushed him back down. “No. Not until you tell me what that was all about.”

Skaia shook his head, but Thaddeus’ hands gripped his arms painfully. He gave up. “I… I wanted you so much, Master. But Glaucus is coming home. I couldn’t come to you willingly. Not this time. I’m sorry I made you hurt me. I know you didn’t want to. I’m sorry.” He curled against Thaddeus’ chest again. And felt his master’s strong arms embrace him.

“
Never do that again, Skaia,” Thaddeus whispered. “I never want to hurt you again. Promise me.”

“
I promise, Master.”

“
Thaddeus.”

“
I promise, Thaddeus.” Skaia lifted his head and smiled. “I forgot how strong you are.”

“
Idiot,” Thaddeus laughed softly. “You’ll have bruises and a cut lip to greet Glaucus now. He’ll be sure I’ve abused you constantly.” He pulled Skaia’s head back down to his chest and fingered his curls. “I understand, Skaia,” he said very softly. “And I’ll let you go. But I love you.”

Skaia’s voice was ragged as the words slipped out. “I love you, too, Master.”

Thaddeus just continued to hold him, wondering if Skaia told the truth. But it couldn’t be
.
The boy wanted to be with Glaucus, not with him. Accepting that was excruciatingly painful, and Thaddeus held back his own tears.

Eventually he realized the bedroom was almost completely dark, and night was almost on them. Thaddia and Crassus would be waiting for him in the dining room. “Skaia, we have to get up. I need to wash.”

The boy shifted, and this time, Thaddeus let him get go. Skaia lit lamps and came back with a wet cloth. “The water is cold, sir. I’m sorry.”

Thaddeus nodded and looked at Skaia’s chest as the boy washed him. The nipples were red, but only slightly swollen. His lips appeared little different than they usually did after sex—the cut was small. Maybe just a little swollen. “Are you in pain, Skaia?”

“
Only a little, Master. It will pass.”
Except the ache in my heart and soul.
That, Skaia feared, would never go away.

Thaddeus had Skaia help him dress, but when the boy started to pick up his own clothing Thaddeus stopped him. “You’re not serving tonight. I’ll have someone fill the bathing pool. Wash yourself and relax. I’ll bring food when I come back.”

Skaia just bowed his head, but he was relieved to be left alone. He felt like a fool. His thoughts were confused and he had no idea how he felt. Except that he was so drawn to Thaddeus. Wanted him. But he could not forget Glaucus, and all they had shared.

It was another of the household men, Decius, Skaia thought, who announced the bathing pool was ready, and he went to it quickly. The water was very hot, but he sunk into it and dipped his head several times. After washing, he refused to think, and just relaxed. Without realizing it was happening, he fell asleep.

He had no idea how much time had passed, but he woke to Thaddeus’ voice. “You’ll look like a dried prune. Get out, Skaia. Dry off and go ask for water for me.”

Skaia looked at the water. The surface was covered with Thaddeus’ seed that had leaked from his body, and the oil he’d bathed in. “I should clean the pool first, Master. I’ve made an awful mess.”

“
Just pull the plug and tell Phaelas. He’ll take care of it. Go to bed once you’ve talked to him.”

Hurrying to do as he was told, Skaia then lay on his pallet. But, when Gotus announced the new bath water was ready, he didn’t hesitate to get up again and follow Thaddeus to the pool. “I can bathe you, Master, if you wish, sir.”

Thaddeus nodded and let Skaia wash him, though he was careful not to let the boy touch his groin. Instead, he took the sponge and washed himself.

When he climbed from the pool and started to dry himself, he finally spoke. “You know Glaucus has had sex many times since he’s been gone. With many different partners. And now he has Nicea. Do you really think he will want you so much when he gets here?”

“
No, Master,” Skaia answered honestly. His hands were trembling as he helped Thaddeus into his robe.

“
He has not been so kind to that Greek boy, you know. He shares him with his friends. And uses him as a pack animal when he travels. Do you really think he loved you? Do you think he loves you still, Skaia?” Thaddeus’ hands gripped Skaia’s arms painfully, in the same places he’d hurt him before. When Skaia didn’t answer, Thaddeus shook him. “Do you?”

“
No… Maybe. I don’t know.” Skaia’s voice was breaking. Tears threatened again. Thaddeus noticed and felt satisfied. He released Skaia’s arms, knowing he had succeeded to this degree. The slave had no confidence in Glaucus any more—or in himself.

But it was a bitter victory. It brought him nothing he really wanted.

Glaucus woke slowly as the morning light gradually entered his window.

Nicea.