For a Roman's Heart (30 page)

“Please,” she whispered against his lips. “I ache.”

“We should not. Not here.”

“Please. I don’t care. Now.”

His breath panted through parted lips, his chest rising and falling. In the shadowy alcove, she felt as if they were miles away within their own special sanctuary.

She sensed him wavering, but not breaking. “Terentius, I need to feel you. Need to know you’re real, that we’re real.”

She reached between them and found his cock. Her fingers encountered thick, long, hard flesh. He removed his fingers from inside her.

She encircled him, and Terentius grunted. “By the gods, Adrenia.” Without another pause, he hitched her upwards, palms cupping her butt as he propped her against the wall. “Wrap your legs around my waist. That’s it.”

She heard voices not that far away but ignored them, inhibitions shattering as his erection teased between the soft folds. He felt like a huge intruder, a beast intent on conquering prey. His lips captured hers, unmerciful in passion. Her core felt achy, wanting...needy. He drew away from their kiss and buried his face in her hair. He eased forward. As the blunt tip entered, she trembled at the anticipation, this small taste of more pleasure to come.

Oh, yes.

As his breath rasped into her ear, she clutched at his shoulders, looking for an anchor in this incredible storm. Hard stone behind her ceased to exist, the cold vanished. As she squeezed his shoulders, he shivered and groaned. He pressed and to her delight his thickness sank inch by inch until it lodged as deep as he could go. Ripples of sensation pulsed as she instinctively arched her hips in his grip and tightened over his flesh. He groaned harshly.

He tore his lips from hers. “Am I hurting you?”

“No. I...it feels wonderful.” The last part came out on a sigh.

Lodged deep, he didn’t move, his breath puffing quickly against her temple.

The voices became louder, and then someone gasped. “Oh, my. Um...”

Adrenia stiffened and opened her eyes. Terentius turned his head and they both saw Capito and Longa walk away swiftly. Heat flashed in Adrenia’s face.

Terentius kissed her forehead. “We must stop.”

“No. They left.” She clenched around his body, determined to keep him within.

He laughed softly, his teeth white in the semi-darkness. “You are shameless.”

Not even embarrassment could destroy this fever raging within her body that screamed for escape. “I am... If this is shameless, I will do it again and again. I am in need of you.”

Her artless answer seemed to do the trick. His mouth sealed over hers once more, and as she clung to him, his hands tightened on her buttocks.

Terentius moved.

She moaned into his mouth as white-hot need crawled up and devoured her. His hips pumped, steady and long and sure. Each sinuous movement escalated the pleasure, twisting the growing excitement until it reached breathless heights. He touched something high up inside, brushing over that point, caressing until she whimpered and moaned with staggering pleasure. His fingers found her most sensitive spot. When he continued thrusting, she couldn’t restrain a wild gasp. Once more he kissed her, his kiss a lush and delicious descent into madness. She went out of her head, beyond the world she’d known into an insanity she welcomed.

His tongue found hers, tangled, brushed, devoured with a newfound passion that promised more pleasures than she’d ever imagined. She strained, writhing, consumed with bliss that rose on a fierce wave. His touch plucked, played, urged her arousal higher as his thrusts drove to the heart of Adrenia.

His incredible power added to the wild sensations heightening inside Adrenia. Her thoughts wouldn’t form, scattered by the tumultuous physical sensations overwhelming her body. She’d never felt this out of control, yet this free. Had any woman felt these things as intensely as her before? Ah, but if they did, she understood why they came back for more. This man was so strong, so forceful and yet tender, his charisma destroyed thought and dissolved her into a million star-bright pieces threatened to scatter. His thumb moved, and the pleasure building grew in passion and fire. Though his movements quickened, his breath rasping in her ear, she knew he waited. For what, she didn’t know. Until the swelling delight reached a heady point of no return. Ecstasy tightened, swirled, hung on a plateau, burst. She cried out, muffling her scream against his shoulder as pleasure tossed her upward to a place only the gods resided.

With a restrained growl, he thrust one last time. He stilled, on the apex, then shivered and gasped. Deep inside Adrenia felt heat flood her, and knew his life-giving seed erupted within.

For what seemed forever, they stayed immobile. He withdrew as her legs released him. Terentius stood her on her feet. Terentius’s gaze scanned her as his chest rose and fell. His eyes remained hooded, his lips parted, a flush on his cheeks. As she rearranged her
tunica
, he did the same with his tunic.

“That was...” She smiled when the glow didn’t fade.

His eyes lightened as a large smile curved his mouth. “Yes. It was.” With a touch so gentle, he brushed over her cheek. “I think we shocked someone. This isn’t a proper place for lovemaking.”

Heat flooded her face, as if she’d never heard the term before. “I think I liked it. I mean, this place.”

He laughed, but the teasing in his voice held understanding. “You surprise me. You are so innocent, but you are not.”

She chewed her lower lip. “It was...beyond anything I imagined.”

His eyes heated once more, a passion inside their depths she hoped would never leave. “When that gladiator came into the ring, and I understood I had to fight to the death, there was only one other thought within me save survival.”

“Yes?”

“Having you close to me again. In my arms.”

Thrilled, she smoothed her hand over his powerful shoulder. “You were magnificent out there, but seeing you in danger terrified me. I never want to feel that way again.” He tilted his head to kiss her, and she placed her finger over his lips. “Is there more of what we just did? It was even more incredible than our times at the baths. I didn’t want it to ever stop.”

He cupped her elbow and steered her toward the reality outside their secluded hideaway. “There’s much more.”

As they left the gladiatorial area, she asked, “Will Capito and Longa think the worst of us?” She touched her flaming face. “I’m not sure I can face them.” He threw his head back and laughed, and she frowned. “I don’t think this funny, sir.”

He sobered, but humor remained in his eyes. “Adrenia, I imagine when Capito has been long on campaign and comes home, Longa is happy to accommodate him where the mood strikes.”

Her face flushed again, and as they entered into the sunlight, she had renewed cause to feel uneasy. Victor sat upon his horse holding Terentius’s horse’s lead. Next to Victor, Capito and Longa sat upon a wagon. All three of them beamed. Adrenia knew they understood what had happened between her and Terentius.

Terentius took his horse’s reins from Victor. “Thank you for waiting.”

“My pleasure.” Victor’s voice sounded smug, and he winked.

Flustered, she covered her awareness with genuine concern. “Were you injured in the arena, Victor?”

“Not at all.” Victor’s eyebrows waggled. “And it seems Terentius was energized by the fight.”

Capito and Longa laughed and Adrenia’s face flamed. At the same time, she couldn’t suppress a satisfied amusement. She gave them a wide grin.

Terentius held his hand out to her. “Come. We’re off.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts.”

Cicero

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

“This cannot be.” Terentius heard the strain in his own voice as he stood in Capito’s quarters.

“Indeed, it cannot.” Victor’s echo and the stark look on his face betrayed his disbelief.

Capito settled behind his commodious desk. “It comes from on high. See for yourself.”

Terentius stepped forward and took the message from Capito. “Why did they send this through you instead of directing it to me?”

Capito settled back in his chair, his hands folded over his stomach in a pose Terentius knew was deceptively relaxed. “Perhaps they feared you would ignore the demand in favor of capturing Sulla.”

Resentment boiled up inside Terentius with a fierceness that choked off his voice. He glared at the paper, words incomprehensible for a few seconds. He shook his head. “So, my legion has so little faith in me they believe I’d shirk my duty? Go against a direct order?”

Capito put up one hand. “Ho, there. Don’t jump to conclusions based on my conjecture. This is an order from much higher than the legion, but from Marcus Aurelius himself.”

Terentius saw around his fury long enough to read. The order had come through a long line from the top. “Victor and I are indeed ordered to Germania.”

Capito’s silent stare said all. Terentius glanced at Victor, whose expression held continued confusion. Terentius handed the orders to him.

“This makes no sense to change our mission part way through,” Terentius said.

Capito shrugged. “Men higher up the food chain believe Rome needs help saving face.”

Victor crumpled the orders in one hand, then relaxed his fingers and smoothed out the document. “They think winning wars against the barbarians far more important than catching one murderer.”

The plain truth hurt. Disappointment, and for the first time in Terentius’s military life, self-consciousness overwhelmed him. “They think we’ve failed our mission.”

“Bah.” Capito stood. “You’ve done an excellent job as
beneficiarius
. Your duties comprise far more than man hunter. You’ve quelled riots, investigated and solved two murders, one rape and looting. That does not count other duties you’ve performed far beyond any
beneficiarius
I’ve seen these long years.” He leaned his palms on his desk. “You’re one of the finest soldiers I have ever had the privilege to meet.” Capito smiled at Victor. “And you, sir, are a formidable optio with fine interrogation skills. Would that I could have such an optio.”

Terentius wanted to believe Capito, yet at the same time self-doubts eroded confidence.

Capito sank into his chair again. “You fear that he might try and harm Adrenia or perhaps come after Pella again?”

“Yes.” Terentius gripped the hilt of his
gladius
. “As long as Sulla is free, he can continue his murdering ways.”

“He may have moved on,” Capito said. “After all, you found his den of bodies. Perhaps he left the area entirely.”

Terentius took the orders from Victor and folded them. “While that holds some appeal, it also means our jobs are more difficult.”

Capito pointed at him. “You’ll find Sulla eventually.”

When Terentius and Victor left, Victor didn’t wait long to speak. “You’re still angry.”

“Very. There are tribes to the north in Caledonia beyond Hadrian’s Wall that still rattle their swords and others within Britannia herself that vow to expel all Romans. We’re needed here. Sending us to Germania is a waste.”

“Legio II Italica was raised by the Emperor two years ago to fight in Germania. Perhaps in those two years he’s lost many men to battle.”

“I don’t care. He has plenty of men in Italia to take their places. Bringing us from Britannia makes little sense.”

“You don’t believe what Capito said about your abilities? Perhaps the emperor realizes he needs stronger men in command.”

Terentius managed a half smile. “You compliment yourself.”

Victor laughed. “Indeed.”

Terentius moved through rows of soldiers heading outside the main gate in a steady flow. “If I can’t find Sulla, I’ve failed.”

“It goes deeper than that. You worry that if you can’t find Sulla, you’ve failed Adrenia.”

Terentius clenched his fists and stopped walking. Victor came to a halt beside him. “Adrenia is a part of this mosaic. She...she is an innocent in so many things that have happened. I’ll protect her from Sulla if it is the last thing I do.”

Victor placed his hands on his hips, his cape swinging out with the movement. “An admirable notion, certainly, but flawed.”

“What?”

“Adrenia has done a fine job of surviving for twenty years without your help. She’s a strong woman.”

Victor’s wise words stung. “She’s the most extraordinary woman I know. That doesn’t keep me from wanting to protect her.”

Victor clapped a hand on Terentius’s shoulder. “And so you shall.”

“Is something wrong? I thought you had a good day. You are opening your new shop tomorrow,” Terentius said to Adrenia as they walked toward the home of Spurius Laelius Piso, the most important centurion on the post.

“Nothing.” She said the word with caution. All day she’d worried over this evening, a foreboding hanging over her she couldn’t pinpoint.

“You’re acting strangely.” Terentius’s voice held an edge that warned Adrenia.