Skaia (86 page)

“
Relax then,” Thaddeus said patiently, as he removed his fingers from the boy and positioned his weeping cock at Skaia’s entrance instead, pressing gently to get past the tense muscles. “If I’m not to hurt you, you must let me in.”

As Skaia concentrated on trying to relax, Thaddeus watched in awe as the bulbous head of his erection slipped inside the young slave’s ass. He took Skaia’s slender length in his hand, and pumped it until the boy was rocking his hips upward, impaling himself further on Thaddeus’ hard length.

Skaia lifted his other leg to grip around Thaddeus’ back, and tried to pull him closer. But Thaddeus held himself back deliberately, and watched in fascination as he slid in and out of Skaia’s tight body, seeing the tender flesh of the boy’s hole follow his motions. When he could stand it no longer, he slammed in deep and hard. He knew he was hurting Skaia, but he couldn’t stop. Though he carefully stroked the boy’s length, and teased the tip of his erection, until Skaia was pushing back just as hard.

Thaddeus felt the tension in his body build, felt his balls go taut, and he pushed in as far as he could, holding Skaia’s hips snugly. Wave after wave of climax washed over him, pleasure filling him from head to toe as he flooded the slave’s bowels with his seed. Skaia climaxed soon after, and Thaddeus watched as the boy’s face and chest flushed deeply with the power of his own orgasm.

In time, Thaddeus pulled out his flaccid cock and lowered Skaia’s legs, relaxing gently on top of the boy’s panting body. He put his hands around Skaia’s head, and claimed his mouth once more. “I never want to be without you again. I’ve missed you so much.”

Skaia’s eyes were focused, his need fully sated now. “Thaddeus… Master… you are all I want.”

“
It was good for you, Skaia, even without the pain?” Thaddeus asked.

Skaia dropped his gaze. There had been pain. Always there would be pain. But he knew what Thaddeus meant. “There was no need for me to be hurt this time. There is nothing to forget.”
There was never anything to remember…

After Skaia had cleaned them both, they lay quietly together. Thaddeus rolled over and put his hand on the boy’s flat belly. “You are mine, now. Never doubt it again.”

Skaia fought down the half-formed urge to deny him. Not just because of Thaddeus’ physical power or his position, but because a part of him, a huge part of him he admitted silently, wanted to surrender to this man, to acknowledge his ownership. He lifted Thaddeus’ hand to his lips and kissed it. “Yes, Master. I belong to you.”

Thaddeus rose from the bed. He walked across to the low chest in the room, returning with the silver collar and ring. Skaia lifted his head when Thaddeus held out the collar, reading the engraved inscription again.
Property of Gaius Thaddeus Suetonius.

There were tears in Skaia’s eyes as he looked up at the man standing before him. This was for always—not just the moment.

“
Do you willingly accept it?” Thaddeus asked softly.

The tears escaped Skaia’s eyes, but he kept his voice steady. “Yes, Master.”

Fastening the collar about the slave’s neck, Thaddeus leaned down to kiss him lightly. Then he held out the ring and pushed it onto Skaia’s finger. Satisfied, Thaddeus walked about the chamber, putting out the lamps before returning to bed, pulling the boy close, and holding him tightly.

In time, Skaia moved within Thaddeus’ embrace. “Where is Nicea? Please tell me. Is he safe?”

Thaddeus nibbled Skaia’s ear, toying with the earring before answering. “Yes, he is safe,” he replied. “I gave him to the man he visited before. Abrahm has admired him for several months. If Nicea will permit it, I think there can be real affection between them.”

“
Will I ever be allowed to see him again?”

Thaddeus considered the boy’s question, and was surprised at the rush of jealousy that flowed through him. “What did you share with him?” he asked, his words coming out far sharper than intended.

It took Skaia a few moments to form his response. He had answered this before, and he didn’t want to anger Thaddeus. Not now. “Friendship, sir. Just friendship.” He turned his eyes upwards, hoping his sincerity would be evident.

“
And you never had sex with him?”

“
No, I swear. I told the truth before,” Skaia whispered. “We kissed, but nothing more.”

Thaddeus squeezed the boy’s arm painfully. “You will never kiss him again. You will never kiss anyone, other than me, ever again. Do you understand?”

Skaia tried to pry the hurtful fingers loose, but Thaddeus only tightened his grip. In this too, Skaia finally surrendered, the allure of belonging to this man overwhelming. He sighed. “I understand.”

Thaddeus loosened his hold and lay back on the bed, using his hand now to stroke Skaia’s chest. “Then, you may see him again.” His tone became light, almost cheerful. “Abrahm wishes to build a garden in his courtyard. I’m sure Nicea could use your help.”

Leaning closer, Skaia kissed Thaddeus’ neck, expressing his gratitude for the man’s kindness. “Thank you, Master.” Then, resting back, he wondered how all of this had come to pass.

His memories were still vivid of his first weeks in Thaddeus’ household. He remembered how foolish he was in the beginning, to think he could refuse to be naked around Thaddeus, and when he had naively thought sweeping and scrubbing floors were the only things that would be required of him. He recalled the time he had spent with Glaucus, how they had grown and learned together.
And thought we were in love.
Looking back, he thought himself stupid, not to have realized Glaucus’ youth. But he had only been a boy himself, and he had clung to his hopes and dreams as any young boy might, regardless of how unrealistic they might have been.

Skaia felt Thaddeus’ arms go around him, and he let himself enjoy the safety they promised. He raised a hand to the collar he now wore, fingering the inscription.
Property of…
Somehow, its presence had turned from being distressing, to comforting. He belonged to this man—of his own free will and choice. He curled his body into his master’s, and at last, he slept.

Peacefully.

Shortly before Glaucus’ marriage, Thaddeus kept his promise and accepted an invitation to Abrahm’s home. Skaia and Nicea greeted each other cautiously under the eyes of their masters, but when they were left alone, they spoke freely.

Nicea was content, but still afraid to embrace his good fortune. Skaia almost laughed, thinking how typical that was of Nicea. But he refrained, and listened as the other boy talked excitedly of his master’s horses, telling of how he had gone to the stables outside the city. Skaia listened to him prattle, and seemed amused at his friend’s enthusiasm for grooming horses.

Feigning an offended look, Nicea’s eyes twinkled with humor. “Brushing horses is much better than scrubbing floors. The horses appreciate your efforts, and respond.”

“
Certainly the floors don’t do that,” Skaia agreed with a smile. “My knees ache just thinking about the brushes.” He followed Nicea to look at the garden he was beginning. It was in the middle of the courtyard, an area covered entirely with massive paving stones, except for those just recently removed and stacked to the side. “Don’t tell me you had to dig those out yourself,” he said.

“
Oh, no. Not at all. Master Abrahm has his Nubian litter bearers do this sort of work.” Nicea held up his arms to show off his weak muscles. “But I work the soil once the stones are gone.” He pointed out how all the earth was loosened. “Tomorrow, dirt is being brought from the country, and I have to work it in. Can you tell me how to do that?”

Skaia knelt next to the loosened soil and felt it with his fingers. “It’s not too bad. But it must be dug deeper, and then the new dirt mixed in.” He demonstrated, and then made suggestions to improve the soil by adding in old chipped leaves and bits of softer dried greenery.

Nicea listened carefully, and worked the dirt through his hands as well. “Where do you get such things, Skaia? Obviously, we don’t have any chipped leaves.”

Skaia laughed. “Neither did Master Paulinus. We bought them at a small store that carried plants and garden supplies.”

“
I’ll tell Master Abrahm tonight. He’ll probably take me.”

“
He talks to you, and takes your advice?” Skaia asked, sitting back on his heels.

Nicea looked up and smiled. “Yes. But I am careful only to tell him things I am sure of.” After digging in the soil for a while longer, Nicea enquired shyly about the collar. “You don’t mind wearing it?”

Skaia shook his head. “No, it’s not so bad. I hardly notice it now. I… I think… ” He hesitated, not sure how to explain what he felt. “I think the collar means that Thaddeus values me.”

It was Nicea’s turn to laugh. “Of course he values you. How many times did I tell you?”

“
You were never very forceful about it,” Skaia smiled. “I believe it was something even you were not so sure of.”

Nicea smiled as well, but his eyes quickly became serious. “We can be sure of so little in our lives. But I knew Master Thaddeus wanted you, Skaia,” he said, standing up and brushing the loose earth from his knees. “Come, I’ll take you to the kitchen, and we can get a cool drink.”

Once they had washed their hands and quenched their thirst, and had come outside again, they found Abrahm and Thaddeus waiting for them.

Abrahm examined Skaia’s collar more closely, and then called Nicea to him. “Perhaps you should have one as well,” he said, brushing his fingers against the boy’s bare neck.

Nicea looked up, his face flushed, his heart skipping a beat. Then, remembering his place, he lowered his eyes. “If that is your wish, Master.”

Smiling, Abrahm turned to Thaddeus. “Did you whip this boy constantly?”

Thaddeus held up his hands in mock protest. “Never,” he protested with a grin, and everyone laughed.

Eventually, Thaddeus told Skaia it was time to go home. The day was getting late. Skaia turned to Nicea and embraced him, both boys holding each other tightly, neither knowing if they would ever meet again. Thaddeus watched, and then touched Skaia’s shoulder gently. “Come, we have to go. We’ll come back some other time.”

They left, with Abrahm calling out to them that, one day, they should all go together to see his new horses. Putting his hand on Skaia’s shoulder, Thaddeus called back, “That sounds wonderful, Abrahm. We’ll do it, just as soon as the wedding is over.”