A/N: I want to thank everybody for their support. This story has been an exercise in growth that I have never had before. You have set the standards extremely high and I can't thank you enough for the encouragement. I've been through this chapter again and again, striving for perfection as always. I hope I have done well by these attempts. So here we go!

Warnings: Hot, beautiful, sinful man-sex ahead.

Disclaimer: I have never, nor do I currently, own Naruto or the characters herein. I gain no monetary compensation for this story. I do this for the love of my audience and the warm, squishy feelings I receive from their reviews.

Beta'd by: Itabitaboo, the Magnanimous.


The following week saw Naruto escorting the Emperor to his summer villa on the western coast. There he, along with four other Scholae Palatinae, were tasked to patrol the grounds and serve as bodyguards during daily strolls through the countryside and to market. The Emperor, for all the respect he commanded through ruthless warring and shrewd politics, appreciated the smell of salt on the warm air and enjoyed watching the season shift into autumn. The rest of the year, he would govern his Empire from the capital with taciturn calculation; but for these few short months, he would indulge himself in simple pleasures.

By all accounts, Naruto should have seen this vacation as a reprieve—an opportunity to warm his belly with wine and his bed with a paid body. His comrades certainly did. But Naruto's evenings were strangely unsatisfying, even the one night that he sought out a different brothel than that frequented by the other men. He refused to acknowledge his growing disinterest in whores and attributed it no significance.

As the months dragged on, Naruto discovered that he had an affinity for board games and an aptitude for petteia in particular. He spent his evenings in a quaint tavern, challenging the locals and denying the void he was attempting to fill.

He sat alone one evening, as he often did once the majority of the patrons had moved on. With nobody left to play, he drank his wine in silence and immersed his mind in mundane thoughts.

"What could compel such a handsome man to visit my tavern every night?" A raspy woman's voice traveled over Naruto's shoulder. He turned to regard her, slightly bemused. "Shouldn't you be showing some fisherman's daughter the pride of a Roman soldier?"

Naruto offered her a wistful smile as she moved around him to refill his dwindling cup. She was a petite woman, though her hardened features revealed her to be anything but frail. Her natural, graying hair was braided and coiled into a bun at the nape of her neck.

"I suppose I should," he said with an empty sigh.

The woman pulled a stool up to the long table, occupied by Naruto and another local man on the verge of passing out. She smiled as she sat down, her sharp eyes assessing him quickly.

"You have a woman waiting for you in Rome?" she asked.

Naruto lifted his gaze to hers, the corner of his mouth pulling up into a small, sardonic smirk. "No."

"Well, I've seen my share of melancholy in this place,"—she gestured to the room around them—"and I have learned there are few things that depress virile, young men, such as yourself. If it isn't a woman you have, it must be a woman you want."

Naruto took a sip of his replenished wine. "Is that so?" he murmured into the cup, then looked up to meet her eyes. "What is your name?"

"Euphemia, and yes." She paused and squinted as she scrutinized him further. "I can see it in your eyes. You're plagued by matters of the heart... and lower."

At that, Naruto had to laugh. "Well, Euphemia, perhaps you're right."

She nodded. "I usually am."

"So what advice do you give to all these sad young men you see?"

"Follow your heart," she answered sagaciously.

Naruto hummed as he took another sip. "And that works?"

With a grunt, Euphemia stood. "I'm no oracle. I can't tell you how it will end, but I can guarantee that the pain of rejection is still better than a lifetime of regret."

Naruto's eyes followed as the woman picked up a plate and bowl from an adjacent table and returned to the kitchen. He turned back to his wine and contemplated her words. It was disturbing to think that a stranger could mistake him for someone pining over a woman. Even more disturbing was the truth... he was pining after a man.

No. Naruto shook the thought from his head and finished his wine in two long gulps. He couldn't believe that Sasuke was the cause of his distress. He refused to believe it.

But some of Euphemia's words rang true. He was struggling with conflict; his melancholy did affect his libido; and he most definitely should be out with his comrades indulging in baser pleasure.

The sound of a dull thump caught Naruto's attention and he looked across the table to find the man at the other end had finally succumbed to drunken sleep. Naruto looked down at his own empty cup and frowned. He sighed heavily and stood, tossing a few quadrans on the table. As he exited the tavern, Naruto could hear the raucous sounds of a nearby brothel and he stopped to debate which direction to go. Should he return to the quiet, albeit lonely, sanctuary of his room, or should he once again seek solace between the legs of a whore?

His feet were moving before he was even aware of a decision, the shouts and laughter of the brothel dwindling with each step.

Eventually, the sky was gray more often than not and the morning fog was persistent enough to give the Emperor a chill during his visit to the market. The time had come to return to Rome.

It was night when Naruto entered his meager apartment within the imperial compound. He didn't bother to light the small oil lamp on the table next to his cot. He removed his gear with dispassionate habit—laying out his cloak and belt, unbuckling his bracers and greaves, and laying his tunic out over everything to keep it from wrinkling as much as possible. Sitting on his cot, Naruto removed his heavy sandals and groaned as he rubbed his blistered feet. Travel, it seemed, did not agree with him.

It was as he laid back and heard his shoulder groan and spine crack that Naruto decided a visit to the thermae was in order, before his body invariably fell apart. He valiantly battled the nervous flutter in his stomach and forced his mind to settle, allowing his exhaustion to drag him off to sleep.


Claudius greeted Naruto in the same robust fashion as always, clapping him on the back and guiding him through the atrium. With a teasing smile, he commented on the length of Naruto's hair and how the shaggy flaxen locks curled beyond his ears and along the nape of his neck. Naruto conceded, slightly embarrassed that he hadn't had an opportunity to visit the tonsor since returning to the city.

"I'll have Gaius attend you. He is quite good with the shears," Claudius said.

Naruto hesitated a moment. "I was wondering if Seraphinus might be available again? He was quite attentive before."

"Apologies," Claudius said, inclining his head, "but Seraphinus is unavailable at the moment."

Something raw curled tightly around Naruto's stomach. "I see. Then, I leave it to your discretion."

Claudius nodded and quickly turned to fetch the attendant while Naruto moved to the dressing room to disrobe. He could feel the way his face was pinched with tension; it was inexplicable and he took a deep breath as he forced the muscles to relax, smoothing his expression into a veneer of neutrality.

He hadn't come here to see Sasuke. He came to clean himself after long days of travel. He came to be thoroughly massaged and have his feet anointed. He came for any number of reasons, but Sasuke was not one of them.

Or so he told himself.

A soft, lilting voice drifted into his reverie. "Nereus?"

Naruto turned to see an auburn-haired man smiling at him. He raked his eyes up and down the attendant's frame in a habitual manner, though he found his scrutiny to include a new level of comparison. This puer was close in age to Sasuke, perhaps even a year or two older; but he was smaller in stature, slightly shorter and more thin. He lacked Sasuke's definition and strong angles. Naruto took note of the kohl-lined emerald eyes and the gentle sway of the attendant's hips as he moved forward a few steps. Everything about him was soft, bordering on feminine. He was undoubtedly a cinaedus—a blatant submissive.

"I am Gaius," the attendant said with a small bow. "Claudius mentioned you might like your hair trimmed. Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you."

Though his intonation was subtle, Naruto knew exactly what Gaius was alluding to. He didn't respond. He simply took his towel and moved into the natatio.

Gaius was an attentive and confident puer. It was obvious that he had many years' experience working in the bath house. He didn't speak unless prompted, but he kept Naruto engaged with coy smiles and sultry glances that lingered just a moment too long. His deft hands used the perfect amount of pressure while he applied the oil, and the strigil was the softest metallic whisper against Naruto's skin.

As Naruto soaked, Gauis watched him openly.

Naruto leaned against the far rim of the basin and queried, "Do you enjoy your work, Gaius?"

In truth, Naruto didn't know what compelled him to ask. Perhaps he wished to fill the silence with idle chatter. Or, perhaps, he was hoping to glean some insight into this life, into Sasuke's life. Although, what he planned to do with this knowledge remained a mystery to him.

Gaius lowered his gaze as his fingers traced the surface of the water. "I do," he answered quietly.

"What do you like about it?"

Gaius paused. "That depends..." His voice was lower, less enticing and more serious. "Are you asking as a customer or a man?"

"Both. Neither." Naruto shrugged. "I'm just curious."

Gaius simpered and looked up to Naruto with mirth glimmering in his seafoam eyes. "I enjoy cock." His gaze flicked down to the water, where Naruto's nudity was obscured by ripples. "Fat cock."

Gaius was quiet for a moment, his expression pensive as he considered the other half of his answer. It wasn't something he thought much about. After all, it didn't matter whether he enjoyed his work or not—he didn't have a choice in the matter.

When he returned his gaze to Naruto, the seductive glint had vanished from his eyes. "I believe a man should take pride in his work, even if it isn't a glorious vocation. As long as I continue to enjoy employment, I will perform my duties with the skill and grace expected."

"But you still consider them 'duties'?" Naruto asked.

"Of course," Gaius responded flippantly. Then, he added with a smirk, "A baker can enjoy kneading dough. It doesn't make it any less his duty."

Naruto huffed a laugh. "I suppose so." He stood from the water and ran a hand through his wet hair. "Let's see how you handle those shears."

Gaius guided Naruto to sit and combed his fingers through the thick blond hair, massaging Naruto's scalp. The slow, soothing circles lulled Naruto into a state of semi-conscious relaxation. Naruto awoke from his trance to the hissing snip of blades. He could feel tufts of hair falling over his shoulders.

"Tell me, Nereus, is it important to you that I am content in my position?" Gaius asked as he guided the shears behind Naruto's ears.

"I was just curious," Naruto answered simply, not caring that Gaius was brazen enough to question his motives. "I often wonder how somebody is able to detach themselves from their duty as whores so easily do."

"Admittedly, it takes time," Gaius said as he snipped away. "Some never master it."

"The last time..." Naruto stopped, remembering himself.

Gaius waited for him to continue, then probed as the minutes passed in silence, "The last time... what?"

"Nevermind," Naruto said, his tone curt.

Gaius ran his fingers through the golden hair, mollifying Naruto into complacency. "Come now, Nereus. You can speak freely here."

Compelled by Gaius' soothing nature, Naruto sighed and continued. "The last time I was here, I was serviced by the newest puer. It was Seraphinus' first time... here or anywhere."

The steady snip of scissors stuttered.

Gaius had often wondered about the man who'd deflowered his protege. Seraphinus had returned from his first customer obviously changed. What kind of man was capable of lighting those normally dispassionate onyx eyes? The moment of surprise quickly passed and Gaius resumed trimming along the nape of Naruto's neck.

"I just... wonder," Naruto continued, "if he..."

The words eluded him. He didn't know what he was asking or what he wanted to know. He didn't understand why it even mattered.

Gaius cleared his throat. "Seraphinus is adjusting well, especially now that he has learned the language." Finished trimming, Gaius resumed carding his fingers through Naruto's hair under the pretense of examining the evenness of the cut. "I think he has learned how to control his emotions."

"Oh."

Gaius hummed in contemplation. "But..."

Naruto swallowed. "But?"

"He did seem affected after his first day... in a way I haven't noticed since."

"Was it... Did it seem to have been a negative experience?" Naruto asked uncertainly, as if afraid of the answer.

"No..." Gaius answered hesitantly, "I wouldn't say that. He never spoke of it. Not a word."

"I see."

Gaius' hands slipped from Naruto's head, ghosting over his ears and jaw and along the column of his neck until they rested on his shoulders. Slowly, he began to knead.

"That's what's so strange about it," Gaius said, his voice low. "It's like his own little secret. You can ask about any other day, any other customer, and he will answer. But that first day... with you... never a word."

Naruto's chest was suddenly too tight, constricted by something foreign and unnerving. And oddly exciting. He had no reason to believe Sasuke's silence meant anything. And yet... he hoped. Hoped that perhaps Sasuke had also been plagued by bouts of longing. Hoped that Sasuke too awoke with an aching hardness and fuzzy images that bordered between dream and memory.

"Shall we head to the caldarium?" Gaius eventually asked, as Naruto continued to sit in quiet contemplation.

"Hmm?" Naruto hummed, looking up to Gaius. "Oh, yes. Of course."

Naruto did not take a private room in the caldarium as he typically would. He insisted that Gaius could anoint and massage his feet in the public sauna. It was obvious that Gaius was disappointed; but, nonetheless, he performed the requested service eagerly.

"Are you sure there is nothing else I can do for you?" Gaius asked one last time as he knelt before Naruto.

For the first time, Naruto wavered. News of Sasuke had stirred something inside him and his summer-long celibacy had left him abnormally pent up. But he steadfastly declined.

"I'm certain you excel at your services, Gaius, but they won't be necessary."

Gaius stood and bowed. "I hope to see you again. Your patronage is appreciated."

Naruto nodded, slightly amused with the formality of the statement. He watched as Gaius retreated, leaving him to finish his sweat in solitude. Well, relative solitude, as there were other patrons reclined on the benches throughout the space; and, of course, there was also the evidence of the activities taking place behind those thick curtains.

Ignoring the grunts and amorous slapping sounds emanating from the room to his left proved to be a challenge. Naruto took the towel off the bench and brought it to his head, thoroughly ruffling his now short hair and muffling the sound of an anonymous orgasm. A moment later, the sounds ceased and Naruto let the towel drop to his shoulders. He sat for another moment before determining he'd had enough. He moved to stand but froze in a stoop. His eyes followed a pale form as it ducked out of the private room and moved toward the exit.

Naruto sat back heavily as he watched Sasuke walk away, just as poised and confident as he remembered. One would never guess what activities he had just subjected himself to. After the initial shock, Naruto was left with a nauseating tension. He knew, of course, that Sasuke was servicing another man—Claudius had told him as much—but that didn't diffuse the jealous bile that climbed up his throat.

He stood quickly and moved in the opposite direction with such thunderous steps that many of the patrons scurried warily out of his path. Naruto continued to fume as he dressed, nearly ripping his tunic as he pulled it over his head. He left the thermae considerably more tense than when he had arrived.


Wrestling was a common pastime for respectable Roman men. It was an opportunity to test their virility and prove their social status. However, the kind of bare knuckle brawling that took place in the dark corners of Rome, while common, was not something that upstanding citizens participated in. Especially not Roman soldiers.

Naruto knew this. He knew the ramifications of his actions. But he simply couldn't take anymore emotional turmoil. He needed to find a release from the frustration that threatened to rend his sanity to ribbons. Drowning in wine didn't appeal to him and he already knew a whore would only exacerbate the issue. So he dressed in an old, stained tunic and walked a meandering path through the maze of back alleys to find a small crowd shouting bets and hollering jeers as they huddled around two grappling men. Naruto joined without hesitation.

With each swing—each crunching connection of fist to face—the roiling tension began to trickle free. And slowly—as one opponent after another slumped down into a growing pool of blood, sweat, and spit—Naruto felt relief. Even the blows that others managed to land on his jaw and torso offered a cathartic release.

Only when Naruto finally left the ring, collected his winnings, and began the trek back home did he contemplate what he was doing. It was ridiculous, he knew, to allow himself to become so agitated by something so trivial. Sasuke's paid to service men, he reminded himself. He wasn't emotionally invested in the activities he performed. He didn't care. And neither should I, Naruto thought bitterly. He was deluding himself by believing anything more than a transaction had taken place between them. And, yet...

Yet, it was impossible to ignore the emptiness he'd felt ever since that day, no matter how much he wished he could. He wanted to deny the longing and the frustration. But nothing could erase his memories, filled with fleeting images of dark eyes and sensual lips. He was haunted by that deep voice, echoing in his head just as clearly as it had off the thermae walls.

Once in his room, Naruto stripped off the ragged tunic and wiped the sweat and blood from his body. He stared into the fabric, considering the dirt and grime. His mouth twitched into a small smile. He would have to make another visit to the bath.


It was fortunate that Naruto was given a short respite after the journey back from the coast. Though he only had a few days, it was enough to get his affairs in order—launder his uniform, repair any equipment, and, of course, get cleaned up. However, two visits to the thermae in as many days wasn't a common practice, not even among the wealthy. And so it was with mild surprise that Claudius welcomed Naruto back.

"Oh my," the balenaetor said as he examined Naruto's bruised face. "What manner of trouble did you run into after you left my care?"

Naruto smiled sheepishly. "It was a sparring accident. I wasn't paying attention." He chuckled as he added, "I must have been too relaxed after my visit."

"Nonsense, Nereus. One can never be too relaxed." Claudius continued to guide Naruto to the dressing rooms. "Shall I fetch an attendant?"

Naruto nodded. "Please." He slid a few denarii into Claudius' hand. "I'd like Seraphinus again. If it's not too much trouble."

Claudius weighed the coins in his palm; it was more than necessary. "Of course," he said with a sly smile as he slipped the coins into his purse. "I'll bring him immediately."

Naruto was slow to remove his clothes. He was suddenly overcome by a sense of trepidation. He questioned whether this was an intelligent thing to be doing. Would seeing Sasuke bring him relief or simply rile him up further? What am I hoping to accomplish? He truly had no idea. All he knew was this compulsion, this raw need to see Sasuke again. To speak to him. To discover if he was alone in this raging torrent of longing. Naruto knew that he wouldn't be able to escape this misery if he didn't face his tormentor.

Hearing movement at the far end of the apodyterium, Naruto turned. As prepared as he believed himself to be, his breath caught in his throat. Sasuke also paused at seeing Naruto. His eyes widened by a fraction and his expression flashed with softness. But that was all quickly buried. Sasuke recovered from his shock and walked towards Naruto, his lean form carried with steady, confident strides.

Naruto's eyes raked Sasuke up and down—remembering that smooth, alabaster skin; those long, strong legs; and those semi-broad shoulders. The man that stood before him was the flesh and blood embodiment of the phantom that had haunted his dreams. Though his eyes were same unreadable, midnight pits that threatened to consume Naruto nearly every night.

"Naruto." Sasuke addressed him evenly, coolly.

The formality of his tone was like a spear through Naruto's gut. He considered simply turning on his heels and walking out, but fought the urge. He would accomplish what he came here to do. Whatever that happened to be.

"Shall we head to the tepedarium?" Sasuke asked, cocking his head towards the exit.

Naruto stared blankly for a moment. It was his first time hearing Sasuke speak a complete sentence and it caught him by surprise. He remembered Sasuke's voice being deep as he grunted and moaned, but in speaking it was smooth. Even with the strange accent, words flowed from his lips like honey. However, Naruto could still hear distance in the intonation, as if these words words weren't strictly his but, rather, a script to be recited.

Steeling himself, Naruto nodded. He took long, ground-swallowing strides that carried him quickly through the natatio and into the familiar, crimson room. A cursory glance of the space revealed only one unoccupied bath. Sasuke followed silently as Naruto moved at a brisk pace to the bench behind the basin.

Naruto clutched his towel against his lower abdomen as he watched Sasuke set down his tray of implements. The look of practiced detachment in those coal black eyes pummeled Naruto's core harder than any of the punches he'd received during last night's brawl.

Sasuke turned and regarded Naruto with a small, lopsided smirk. "You look tense," he said neutrally. "Why don't you sit down?"

Naruto did as instructed. He took a seat on the bronze bench and immediately fell into a slouch, elbows on his knees and head in his hands. Why did I do this to myself? He thought dejectedly. He knew he should have trusted his instinct on this matter—he should have buried his frustration until it dissolved into his being. It is only a duty to him. He told himself. Like baking bread. I am no more than dough to be kneaded.

He lifted his head with the intention of pardoning himself and returning home, when slick hands ran along his shoulders. His memories of those hands did them no justice. He could feel his muscles loosening with each strong rub.

"So tense, Naruto." Sasuke's voice was deep and soft. He applied extra pressure to the base of Naruto's neck with his thumbs. "Relax."

Naruto heaved a sigh and felt himself surrender to Sasuke's skilled hands. He focused on the sensation of fingers gliding along his muscles, carving through his tension and diffusing his apprehension. Once again, he found his determination to see this through. He would discover exactly what Sasuke felt for him.

"I was here yesterday," Naruto began, not quite sure how to start.

"I know," Sasuke replied. "Gaara told me."

"Gaara?"

"Gaius."

"Oh."

Sasuke leaned down, bringing his lips near Naruto's ear, and whispered, "I heard you requested me."

Naruto could not mistake that teasing tone; finally, an indication of a deeper connection. He opened his mouth to reply but soon lost all cognizance as Sasuke's hands slipped from his shoulders to slide down his chest and gently tweak his nipples.

"Why would you do that?" Sasuke asked as he pinched the rosy nubs.

Naruto had to apply tremendous focus to answer. "I would think the answer to be obvious."

Sasuke leaned over Naruto further, brushing his lips against the sensitive shell of Naruto's ear and sliding his hand further down to play with Naruto's navel. "Humor me." His voice was low and husky. It saturated Naruto's senses and seeped into his being.

"I-I..." The words caught in Naruto's throat. He swallowed thickly before finally managing to respond. "I wanted you."

Sasuke huffed a laugh and pulled back. "Of course you wanted me," he said as he walked around the bench and fell to his knees before the Roman. He spread Naruto's legs and scooted between them. Looking up with a simper, he added, "You wouldn't ask for something if you didn't want it."

Sasuke's hands slid from Naruto's knees, up his thighs, and then back down, nails dragging along the way. Naruto felt an unbecoming shudder travel through him but didn't bother to hide it. Sasuke continued to run his hands salaciously up and down those strong legs while his dark eyes stared challengingly into Naruto's.

Naruto could hardly believe this was the same man he'd been with all those months ago. Sasuke had adapted astonishingly well to his new vocation. He had mastered the coy, teasing demeanor that was so common among whores. The pride was still there, evidenced by his confidence and haughty manner, but the nervous uncertainty was gone, replaced by a hollow compliance. Sasuke's actions, while arousing, felt detached. There was a part of Naruto that was disheartened by this. He hated to think of the things Sasuke had endured that forced him to create such a facade.

"Now that you have me, is there something else you would like to ask for?" Sasuke asked as his fingers danced along Naruto's inner thigh.

Sasuke began to tug at the edge of the towel when Naruto snagged his wrists and halted his actions. He saw a flash of resolve in Naruto's cobalt eyes and didn't fight him.

"Are you teasing me Sasuke? Or do you treat all your customers this way?" Naruto asked firmly.

Sasuke's brow twitched with confusion. "Perhaps you could tell me the way you would like to be treated?"

He wanted to be treated honestly—not as a customer, but as a man. He didn't want to continue with this charade. Naruto released Sasuke's hands and grabbed the man's chin instead, thumb stroking his smooth jaw. He could see that defiant glint in Sasuke's eyes, though the months working in the thermae had dulled it considerably.

"Treat me, Sasuke," Naruto said sternly, "as a man would treat another man."

Sasuke blinked in response, not fully comprehending the meaning behind Naruto's words. He was a man servicing another man. He sat back on his heels as Naruto released an irritated sigh and turned away, his hand falling away.

Slowly, Sasuke began, "I'm sorry, Naruto, but—"

"Don't," Naruto cut him off, unable to listen as Sasuke rebuffed him. His eyes hardened and mouth drew into a thin line. "I was mistaken. You may treat me as any other customer."

Sasuke's brow furrowed into deeper confusion. "Mistaken about what?"

Naruto pursed his lips. He refused to sit there and spell out the terms of his rejection. He sniffed disdainfully. "Either suck my cock or get off your knees."

A silent moment bloomed into crackling tension as Sasuke's confusion morphed into outrage. He'd been insulted before—suffered derogatory remarks and been treated contemptuously—but Naruto's calloused words scathed him more than he could have imagined.

Sasuke swallowed his anger, though a residual tint could be heard in his tone. "I apologize if I have offended you."

"Offended me?" Naruto considered. "No. You haven't offended me."

"Then you are prone to such fits of moodiness?" Sasuke retorted sardonically, unable to restrain himself.

Naruto's eyes narrowed at Sasuke's tone. "I'm prone to being treated honestly and not appreciating liars."

"Liars?" Sasuke spat back. "How am I a liar?"

Naruto gave a derisive snort. "Don't play ignorant, Sasuke. It doesn't suit you."

"I am playing at nothing, Naruto." Sasuke was struggling not to raise his voice. Instead, he lifted himself up on his knees and hissed into Naruto's face, "And I don't appreciate your accusation."

"I'm not accusing you of anything you aren't guilty of, Sasuke," Naruto replied evenly.

"Which is what, exactly?"

Here, Naruto faltered. He had yet to admit the full extent of his feelings to himself. He didn't know if it would even be possible to articulate them to Sasuke. "Pretending," he said finally, "...to care. Pretending to feel something more for me. You made me believe I was more than another customer to you. But it's all a lie."

"How dare you!" Sasuke growled. "You come here, pay for my services, and then berate me for doing my job. And who said it was all a lie? How do you know I wasn't affected by you too?" Sasuke didn't give Naruto an opportunity to respond before adding in the same harsh whisper, "Well you are correct. I do pretend. I pretend every man I see is you. I close my eyes and picture your face and body. I pretend it's your cock moving inside me."

The frigid glint in Sasuke's eyes contradicted the heat of his words. Their gazes locked, too shocked to look away. Finally, Sasuke blinked and lowered his head—unable to bear the weight of his confession. He silently cursed his defiant tongue.

"What?" Naruto choked out, still stunned.

"You heard me," Sasuke answered with a softer voice, his anger having dissolved into resolution. He returned his eyes to Naruto's. "You say you want me... Well, I want you too. I've only wanted you these past months." Sasuke dropped his gaze again, unable to maintain eye contact. "I wanted to feel your hands on me, savoring my body and making me feel good. But instead..." He lifted his eyes once more, revealing bitter acceptance of his situation. "...I get these slovenly, greedy men that only seek to use me."

"Sasuke..." Naruto whispered, though any proper response evaded him.

An oppressive silence followed the revelation. Naruto couldn't pull his eyes away from Sasuke's, enraptured as he was by the honesty and pain glimmering in their abysmal darkness. He felt ashamed. Here he was, throwing a tantrum over his imagined insecurities while Sasuke harbored the demons of his profession.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke," Naruto managed weakly. "I'm an ass."

Sasuke blinked languidly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yes, you are an ass." He enjoyed the dejected look that flashed across Naruto's face. "I'll forgive you though," Sasuke continued, "if you can tell me why."

Naruto's blond brows knit together, his lips pursed. "I already told you."

"You told me you didn't care for liars," Sasuke replied and, with a tint of bitterness, added, "which I'm not."

Naruto stared for a moment, unsure of how to properly explain himself. Left with nothing else, he resorted to the truth—pathetic though it sounded. He sighed wearily. "You've gotten into my head." It actually felt good to say aloud, to finally admit the source of his angst. "I dream about you. I can't find satisfaction with any whore. I need you, to be inside you."

"And?" Sasuke prodded, taking obvious pleasure in forcing this confession.

"And..." Naruto chewed his cheek for a moment, allowing his uncertainty to show through. "...it wounded me to believe I could become so enamored by a charade."

Once again, silence settled between them as the truth of their emotions hung in the air. Sasuke returned his hands to Naruto's thighs, rubbing them soothingly. He could appreciate the weight of such an admission. It must have been maddening for Naruto to be so obsessed with a lover without knowing if the feeling was mutual.

"I didn't want to feel anything for you," Sasuke stated quietly. He lifted himself back up on his knees and peered up at Naruto. "I tried to keep you out... but I failed."

The compulsion was too strong to resist, Naruto reached out and sank his fingers into Sasuke's ebony hair, cupping the back of his head and holding him in place. Some part of him recognized how foolish it was to continue this affair. He knew his attachment to Sasuke was already bordering inappropriate, but his desire was too strong. He had exposed too much of himself to walk away now. He would have Sasuke again.

Naruto lowered his head, bringing his mouth dangerously close to Sasuke's. His lips parted to allow a ragged breath to pass. There was excitement shimmering in Sasuke's eyes and Naruto knew it was a reflection of his own burning lust. Then, the sound of splashing invaded their quiet moment and Naruto pulled back, remembering proper etiquette.

He stood abruptly and extended a hand down to Sasuke. "I'm clean enough."

Sasuke gathered his supplies and took the hand offered to him, barely containing a yelp as Naruto swiftly hoisted him to his feet. Naruto turned and walked purposefully to the entrance of the caldarium. Sasuke's hurried strides could barely keep up. They found the first room to the right unoccupied and Sasuke was quickly ushered inside. Naruto drew the curtains closed and turned.

The voracious desire that darkened Naruto's sapphire eyes would have been alarming, had Sasuke not met them with equal intensity. Naruto moved without preamble, grabbing Sasuke around the waist and pulling him roughly to his chest.

A moment passed between them as their bodies melded together. Naruto's gaze seared into Sasuke's before sliding down to his mouth. He licked his lips, his intentions obvious. Sasuke moaned into the ravenous mouth that descended upon his own. A wave of passion flowed through him and settled into a writhing pit in his stomach. Inundated with this torrential, uncontrollable desire, Sasuke wrapped his arms around Naruto's neck and lifted himself up on the balls of his feet to deepen the embrace.

Naruto's tongue was more than welcome as it plunged into the depths of Sasuke's mouth and rolled wildly. It was met with equal vigor and the two muscles tangled and thrashed together. After a lengthy battle, Sasuke forged a path into Naruto's mouth and swirled languidly, absorbing the flavor found there. The taste was heady and laced with need.

Naruto's hands ran across Sasuke's back, slipping under his toga. Sasuke shivered and broke the kiss, a breathy moan escaping as he tilted his head back; but Naruto was undaunted. His mouth continued to attack Sasuke's jaw and travel down the pale throat before he let his tongue out to slide back up.

"Naruto..." Sasuke murmured as he gripped the Roman tighter.

Naruto let loose something akin to a growl and began to move forward, shuffling Sasuke backwards until they collided with the wall. He slid his hands down Sasuke's sides, gripping him around the hips and lifting him up. Sasuke immediately wrapped his legs around Naruto's thick waist. Using his new leverage, Sasuke brought his head down to assault Naruto with a ferocious kiss. Overcome by a surge of passion, his lean body began to move of its own volition. His fingers dug into the flesh of Naruto's back as he ground himself against the taut stomach.

Strong hands roughly stripped the toga from Sasuke's frame, followed shortly by his loincloth and Naruto's towel—all left to pool on the warm marble floor. Now unimpeded, Sasuke ground his weeping cock against Naruto's, reveling in the sensation of hard, velvety flesh rubbing together. Their kiss became a sloppy, open-mouthed war for dominance. It was a violent clash of tongue and teeth that couldn't be contained. It spilled out over their faces, down each other's necks, and across every inch of available skin.

Sasuke threw his head back to release a desperate moan. Aching heat was spreading through his body, driving him further into frenzy.

"Naruto," he panted, "lay down."

There was a rumbling growl in response and Naruto attacked Sasuke's neck harder, gnawing on the muscle and sucking fiercely. He didn't want to let go. He refused to detach himself from the body he'd spent so many sleepless night imagining.

Snaking a hand between their bodies, Sasuke found Naruto's cock and gripped it firmly. His neck was released as he successfully garnered Naruto's attention.

"Lay down," Sasuke softly repeated.

Naruto sank to his knees, taking Sasuke with him. He loosened his grip as he laid back and Sasuke took his position straddling Naruto's hips. Sasuke continued to grind down, rubbing his smooth sac against the firm underside of Naruto's cock. The blond watched him through a lustful haze, knowing this was undoubtedly the most erotic thing he'd ever had the privilege to witness.

Sasuke's smooth, alabaster frame undulated slowly, his blushing cock standing proud and glistening with streaks of precum. He began to touch himself, skimming his fingers over his skin as if he were his own lover. Naruto's eyes followed the path of Sasuke's hands as they explored his body. They slid up his sides and into his ebony hair. He curled his fingers and tugged, his eyes fluttering closed as he pulled his head back and exposed the pale column of his neck. He was the very image of sex, the physical embodiment of passion. As he rolled his hips and nibbled on his luscious bottom lip, he became the definition of seduction and desire. He released his hair and dragged his fingers back down his body, trailing pale pink furrows down his flesh.

Naruto reached out, his fingers longing to feel that porcelain skin. They had just ghosted over Sasuke's thighs and were traveling up to his hips, when they were suddenly batted away. Naruto pulled back reflexively and blinked in surprise.

A devious simper pulled at Sasuke's lips. "Patience, Naruto," he teased.

Those pale hands took the path that Naruto had been denied, gliding over his hips. Sasuke cocked an eyebrow haughtily and returned one hand to his wild ebony mane, fisting it roughly, while the other slowly moved up his side.

"Would you like to touch me?" Sasuke asked as he trailed a finger over his ribs. "Here?"

The digit settled against a dark nipple. Sasuke stroked the flesh until it pebbled, then gave it a firm pinch. He caught his bottom lip between his teeth and settled his eyes on Naruto, enthralling him in their sultry depths, as he rolled the nub between his finger and thumb. Sasuke released the pert nipple and trailed his hand down once more.

"Or would you rather touch me here?" Sasuke asked coyly as his fingers slid lower and lower, coming tantalizingly close to the base of his prominent arousal.

Naruto watched covetously as the fingertips brushed against the flushed shaft, ghosting over the gently rolling veins. The feral gleam in Naruto's eyes only served to make Sasuke harder, forcing a pearly stream to leak from his slit and roll like liquid magma down his length. Sasuke's aching need, fed by Naruto's salacious gaze and enraged by his own teasing, grew too strong to be ignored. He wrapped one hand around his own length while the other sought out Naruto's.

Choking on a moan, Naruto fought to keep his eyes focused on Sasuke. He chewed his lip lecherously and watched as Sasuke's hands moved in tandem to stroke them both with the same languid rhythm. The teasing pressure and achingly slow pace had Naruto biting back growls for more.

Being with Sasuke, feeling his weight as he ground down and watching his hands as they pulled them both into a shared ecstasy, was so much greater than Naruto had imagined. Everything was intensified—the rough slide of Sasuke's palm, the sound of soft moans and the pulse of blood that seared through his veins at an alarming rate. It was no wonder that those other whores had left him so completely unsatisfied. They'd never stood a chance.

Certain he wouldn't be able to take this exquisite torment for much longer, Naruto brought two fingers to his mouth and laved them thoroughly. In one swift movement, he reached around and buried his fingers into Sasuke's hole. Surprised, Sasuke released their lengths and fell forward. He lifted his ass into the air, bucking back and silently begging to be taken.

Naruto ignored how easily his fingers had slipped into Sasuke's chute. Instead, he focused on the cries of ecstasy released as he pounded his fingers deep and fast. Sasuke nuzzled into Naruto's chest, assaulting a dusky nipple with his tongue while the digits inside him twisted.

Pulling his fingers out slowly, Naruto grabbed his shaft and positioned himself against the waiting entrance. Sasuke repositioned as well, until he was hovering just above Naruto's rod. Their eyes met and locked as Sasuke slowly descended. He rolled his hips as the smooth head breached the ring of muscle and gradually sank deeper. Naruto's brow twitched in pleasure as his length was enveloped in the heat. Sasuke's jaw went slack upon feeling that familiar stretch, his mouth falling into a small "o".

Once Sasuke was fully seated, everything else ceased to exist. Naruto reached up and cupped the back of Sasuke's head, pulling him down into a kiss. This wasn't like the manic, needy kisses exchanged earlier. It was slow and savoring. This was the deep, impassioned kiss of lovers. Sasuke pulled away, drawing back until their lips barely brushed and his breath fanned over Naruto's face.

He raised himself halfway up the length and slowly sank back down. That beautiful feeling of fullness washed through him, dizzying him with pleasure. Again and again, he impaled himself. His pace gradually increased as each descent plunged him further into ecstasy. Soon, his hands were splayed out across Naruto's strong chest to steady his movement as he neared a frenetic pace. He rode Naruto hard and fast, crying out with each spine-jarring collision of ass and pelvis.

With great effort, Sasuke reeled himself back from the precipice. He returned to a slower, more fluid rhythm that allowed him the opportunity to roll his hips and relish in the thick flesh buried inside him. He leaned back some, reached behind himself, and traced a hand along Naruto's inner thigh until finding his sac—swollen and sweaty as it was. Sasuke grabbed Naruto, fondling and squeezing his pouch. He extended his first two fingers and dragged them roughly against Naruto's taint as he kneaded the man's balls.

Naruto reared up at this, the pleasure breaking through his patience. He hooked an arm around Sasuke's torso and flipped their positions in one smooth movement. The wide obsidian eyes were almost comical until they rolled back and fluttered closed. Naruto wasted no time before he began to thrust ruthlessly. His body strained under the power of his passionate assault; throbbing veins and thick, sinuous cords could be seen under his sweat-slicked skin. Sasuke ran his hands blindly along Naruto's body. He could feel the way the muscles of Naruto's back and ass bunched and flexed. All this, accompanied with his feral grunts and growls, made Naruto seem less a man and more a beast; a lascivious creature, carved from legend.

Bent nearly in half with his knees pressed into his chest and feet dangling over Naruto's shoulders, Sasuke bore the onslaught. Each meaty slap of flesh on flesh tossed him about in a raging sea of bliss. He was pounded to within a hair's breadth of his sanity. Sasuke only vaguely recognized the sound of his voice—the screams and curses and graveled pleas for more—as it ricocheted around the room.

He didn't need to bring a hand to himself. Naruto's thick cock drove into that sweet bundle of pleasure with such precision that Sasuke was helpless to do more than claw at his back and howl as he was sent careening over the edge of his climax. He clenched down on Naruto's length and soared headlong into oblivion.

Naruto's arrhythmic thrusts stuttered to a halt as he buried himself to the hilt. His muscles seized as a monumental orgasm broke free. Months of frustration poured out of him in creamy spurts that coated Sasuke's bowels thoroughly. He almost collapsed, just barely catching himself on his forearms and hanging his head to rest on Sasuke's collarbone.

Eventually, the world returned to the spent puer. Reality reaffirmed itself in brief flashes, like puzzle pieces that slowly fit together. Panting, trembling breath. Warmth washing over his skin. A pulsing deep in his core. Liquid rolling lazily across his body and onto the floor. Deeply satiated azure eyes staring drowsily.

Upon seeing Naruto's flushed face, with lips parted to allow ragged breaths to pass, a small smile tugged at Sasuke's mouth. He brought his hand up to cup Naruto's heated cheek and trailed it back around his head to pull him down. Their mouths met cautiously, as if this delicate, post-coital moment could be ruined by too much movement. Gently, their lips melded together, moving in tandem to express the boundless satisfaction that words failed to describe. Naruto's tongue twined with Sasuke's in a dance of gratitude that was appreciated with a moan and gentle sucking.

Neither couldn't be bothered to consider just how wholly imprudent this was—far too intimate to be considered appropriate. One might even say it was dangerously improper.

These tender caresses and soft sighs had no place within their paradigm. But they chose to ignore that fact in favor of nuzzling into each other. Ghosting lips and roaming hands took precedent over judicial consideration.


Naruto did his best to monopolize Sasuke's time. It wasn't easy and it certainly put a dent in his coin purse. He scrimped and saved every denarii he could. He no longer spent his money frivolously on extra wine at dinner or the sweet pastries he fancied in the morning. He even started to launder is own clothes. Time off was a rare thing, but Naruto was vigilant; he often took the night shift, which had him off early enough in the day that he could take a short nap before heading directly to the thermae. Sadly, he couldn't afford daily visits, but he was a constant enough presence that Claudius was no longer surprised to see him. The moment he caught sight of the familiar blond head, the balneator was prompted to immediately seek out Seraphinus and send him to the dressing rooms.

Some days, they barely made it to the caldarium before assaulting each other with sloppy kisses and rough hands. On these occasions they engaged in one ferocious rutting session after another, until they could scarcely move. These intense meetings would often leave Sasuke with a limp and Naruto with a brilliant smile.

Other times, they would let the tension build. Sasuke would tease Naruto mercilessly, ghosting his fingers over the most sensitive parts of the oil-slicked body and brushing his lips across the golden skin until Naruto was wrought with goosebumps. Then, once safely hidden away behind those thick crimson curtains, they would engage in a long, slow, sensual round of intercourse.

Such was the case today.

Naruto reverently ran his hands down smooth, ivory sides. He gently cupped Sasuke's hips and continued to thrust into him at a leisurely pace. Looking down, Naruto appreciated the expanse of pristine, alabaster skin that wrapped Sasuke's lean figure. Naruto watched as the muscles of Sasuke's back shifted with each languid buck. It was a beautiful sight. Bending down, he ran his tongue up the shallow valley of Sasuke's spine. The hot, moist swipe drew a keen of pleasure from Sasuke's throat.

Gradually Naruto picked up his pace, until the sound of each deep thrust was met with a low grunt and soft mewl. The sound of fucking Sasuke was an aphrodisiac in itself. It would inevitably work Naruto into a frenzy, until he could no longer contain his lust. It was then that he would tighten his grip and pound that delicious hole until he released in an explosion of ecstatic curses and sizzling cum.

He never failed to take Sasuke with him, either with his cock alone or, like today, with a strong fist that twisted furiously with each powerful thrust. Sasuke cried out, fingers scratching at the marble floor. As milky white streams fell to the ground, Sasuke found himself appreciating Naruto for being such a generous lover. Unlike other patrons that couldn't care less about his pleasure, Naruto always satisfied.

Sasuke slumped to the ground and rolled onto his back. Naruto followed, laying down at his side. Heaving a sigh, Sasuke shifted closer until he was nestled against Naruto's body, his head resting on a firm shoulder. Absentmindedly, Naruto began to stroke the pale arm wrapped loosely around his torso. The intimate gesture was acknowledged with another soft hum.

This wasn't the first time they found themselves in such a position, holding each other in the afterglow of sex. They never spoke of the obvious implications of the action, for they didn't feel the need to taint the moment. In fact, they rarely spoke at all. This wasn't out of disinterest, but rather a lack of mutual interests. There simply wasn't much that a soldier and a whore held in common.

Wishing to remedy this, Sasuke pondered the many questions he had about the Roman. He wanted to know what kind of man he was. Who was he on the other side of that maroon curtain?

"Tell me about Gallia," Sasuke asked drowsily.

"What?"

"Gallia," Sasuke repeated. "Tell me about your home."

Naruto was quiet for a moment before finally answering. "There's not much to tell. I was very young when I left and I haven't been back."

"Oh..." Sasuke failed to hide his disappointment.

A small smile tweaked Naruto's lips. "I remember there was a glade outside the village with tall grass and a small pond. In the summers, we would play in the water, fishing and catching frogs. Our mothers hated it. We would always return home covered head to toe in mud and filth."

Sasuke allowed the faint trace of a smile. He tried to imagine this brawny man as a child, loud and raucous, clambering after frogs much more agile than him.

"What about your home Sasuke?" Naruto inquired. "You never did tell me where you came from."

"Ah..." Sasuke said, a measured amount of distance in his voice. He let his fingers trace over the plane of Naruto's chest as his mind wandered back to his village. "It's an island," Sasuke began. "You would know it as Wa, but we call it Japan. It's nothing like Rome. We don't have monuments or big cities. Many of the homes are thatched or wood. My village was wealthy, by our standards, and I grew up in a stone house. My clansmen are crafters—blacksmiths and weavers and potters."

Naruto felt his mouth twitch with a small frown. He didn't appreciate the clinical account of Sasuke's homeland. "What was it like growing up there?"

Sasuke hummed contemplatively. "My family was close. My brother followed after my father and learned how to forge metal. He didn't care for making weapons, so he made ornamental pieces. His work was very popular, and he made our father very proud. I tried to help him in the workshop when I was younger. I'd work the bellows and fetch him tools... but I wasn't good at the trade. It disappointed my father. I started to apprentice with my mother's brother instead, learning pottery. He said I had the right hands for working clay."

Naruto huffed a laugh, "You are quite good with your hands."

Sasuke responded with a sharp pinch to Naruto's nipple, who countered with a yip and an arch.

"It's a beautiful land," Sasuke continued. "There are tall mountains, some are capped in snow year round. We have dense forests, though many have been cut back in the last generation to make room for rice fields. Fog rolls in from the coast and covers the ground like thick smoke."

"You must miss it," Naruto said softly, almost apologetically.

"I do," Sasuke agreed, "but not all the time."

A lesser man might have blushed at Sasuke's coy tone but Naruto simply smiled in response. The implication of those words was a fertile soil for the silence that bloomed. Naruto resumed his gentle stroke along Sasuke's arm and felt the hand playing across his chest slide down his side and pull him closer.

"Naruto," Sasuke murmured, turning over to face the blond.

Naruto peered down. "Hm?"

A soft smile played across Sasuke's mouth. "Thank you."

"For what?" Naruto asked, his brow tweaked in curiosity.

Sasuke shrugged. "Just, thank you."

Naruto's incredulous expression deepened for a moment before he nestled his hand into Sasuke's hair and guided his head back down to his chest. They laid in silence a few minutes longer, until Sasuke spoke once more.

"I wish I could serve only you," he said softly.

Naruto felt his chest tighten with those quiet words. Suddenly, the reality of the situation came crashing down on him. The veil they hid behind was now falling away to reveal the truth of their relationship. Certainly, this was not the intention of Sasuke's statement, but it was unavoidable.

"But you must serve others," Naruto said with a sad resolution.

Sasuke sighed. "They only treat me as a body. A hole. What was the word you used..." Sasuke thought for a moment. "Ah, yes, a receptacle."

Naruto cringed as his own words were repeated. Perhaps that was what he had believed Sasuke to be that first time. But as time wore on, that idea proved false. Sasuke was so much more than that. Too much more.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke," Naruto apologized. What precisely for, though, alluded him.

Sasuke lifted himself up and peered down at the Roman. He found contrite eyes staring back up at him. "Don't be sorry," he said, his voice a low, commanding whisper. He brought a hand up to Naruto's face and gently stroked down the hard slant of his jaw. "Your visits are the only thing I have to look forward to, in this life." The earnest tone in Sasuke's voice soothed Naruto's guilt. Sensing the ebb of tension, Sasuke settled back down, his fingers resuming their dance across Naruto's chest. "It would just be nice if my other customers treated me as well."

That innocent remark seared through Naruto. It felt as if acid was churning through his veins. He knew, logically, that he shouldn't be offended. He knew jealousy was a ridiculous emotion, given their situation, but he couldn't let it go. He couldn't say which hurt him more: that Sasuke compared him to other customers, or that he was forced to share Sasuke with other men. He needed to leave, he decided, lest he be forced to dwell on the strange emotion clutching his chest.

Naruto sat up and Sasuke slowly slid off him, until he too was sitting. He looked to Naruto with mild surprise. They normally laid together for much longer.

"I will be escorting the Emperor to the the Eastern border. There have been some skirmishes that he must attend to." Naruto reached for his towel and stood as he wrapped himself. He looked down at Sasuke. "I won't be back for several months."

Sasuke hid his shock behind a carefully crafted, neutral expression. Naruto handed him his toga, which he accepted mechanically. He didn't know what to say. What should he say? Is Naruto expecting something?

He fastened his toga in silence and finally looked up to the azure eyes that watched him. "Your patronage will be missed."

Sasuke winced inwardly, knowing that wasn't what he wanted to say. Naruto's expression cooled markedly and he turned with a curt nod. Sasuke bit his tongue, cursing himself.

"I'll miss you," he called to Naruto's retreating back.

Naruto stopped, his golden head turning to cast a sidelong glance back at Sasuke. A pregnant pause filled the air between them, the silence growing thick and oppressive. Sasuke nervously licked his lips and took a step forward. Naruto was on him in a flash, sinking his hands deep into ebony hair and gliding his mouth over Sasuke's. He dipped his tongue into that sweet cavern, savoring the taste one last time before leaving. It was a long, long moment before they parted.