Hello all! Thank you very much for the reviews! This story is slated to be 10 chapters, with a sequel already in the words, so please stay with it. I would also like to thank my lovely beta Olansamuelle, for going over my stuff and making it readable. Please read and review and con crit is welcome!
Once again, I own nothing. Spartacus and all charecters within belong to Starz.
With Titus's death, uncertainty reined in the House of Batiatus. Quintus Batiatus spent the days raging and mourning, alternating between cursing Tullius and berating the gods. Lucretia was busy with making arrangements for the funeral, and Melitta stayed by her side, avoiding Gannicus and Oenomaus. For his part, Gannicus tried to stem the flow of his friend's grief, which was considerable, for he had loved the old man. Yet the thoughts of that night lingered in their minds, distracting them at inopportune moments.
To Titus's death Gannicus was indifferent. He had never liked the paterfamilias of the House of Batiatus and sentiment had been bluntly returned. Titus had never thought Gannicus should have been the champion of his ludus, and Gannicus, in turn, shed no tears for his death. His only sorrow was that his friend was so grieved for the loss of the old man.
They sat talking in Oenomaus's cell. Titus's funeral was the next day, and his friend was reminiscing about his former master.
"He was as a father to me." Oenomaus told Gannicus, refusing the wine offered. Since he learned that it was the wine that had killed Titus, Oenomaus had abstained from the drink.
"I loved him," he continued. "He gave my life meaning. A portion of my existence is over. I will never hear beloved voice again, never ask for counsel." Gannicus remained silent, letting Oenomaus talk. He paused, then continued quietly.
"He gave me Melitta you know."
Gannicus gritted his teeth. Another reason to hate the old bastard.
"Told me that he was giving me a wife. Said I deserved her most of all." Oenomaus sighed. "I will always be grateful for that. Melitta has been a companion above all others, easing mind and erasing my loneliness." He did not see the look of discomfort that flashed across Gannicus's face before he mastered the expression.
Silence reined in the cell as Gannicus tried to push past his disquiet and find words to comfort his friend.
"You should remember the times of joy then." He finally said. "And realize that he is at peace now, watching you from the afterlife." Probably criticizing his son and me even as we speak. He added silently.
Oenomaus smiled sadly, and nodded.
"Grieve today, but do not let it control you, Oenomaus. You must remember that you brought him great joy and take comfort from that fact. I content myself with the thought that at the last, he saw my worth."
Oenomaus sat up at that. "Do you know what happens now? Are you to be sold to Tullius still?"
Gannicus shrugged tension in his frame. "I know nothing. Dominus has not said a word regarding sale to Tullius."
"Surely he will not sell you now. Tullius murdered his father. Dominus will have vengeance."
Gannicus remained quiet, regarding his friend. But that creates more problems. I cannot stay here and not have Melitta. Damn the gods for this farce. What am I to do?
As if conjured by his thoughts, the cell door opened and the woman herself entered. She looked tired and sad, but to Gannicus her beauty shone even more in the drab cell. Melitta paused when she noticed him sitting on the floor of the chamber, but then turned to her husband, taking a place beside him. Gannicus felt gratified, then guilty, as she turned her face and kissed Oenomaus's cheek, instead of his offered lips.
"Apologies for not coming sooner. Madness and chaos yet reign in the villa." Melitta said, tiredly.
"How go the preparations?" Oenomaus asked.
"We are ready for the funeral tomorrow. Diona has not been found yet, and the fact upsets Domina, who worries about her welfare outside." Despite all that has happened to her at this ludus, the streets will be worse. ButDomina and I both understand why she fled…
"Little wonder she fled, after been subjected to what she was." Gannicus offered, pouring wine, offering some to Melitta. She hesitated, then took the cup. Both paused as their fingers brushed against each other. Melitta straightened hastily, and under Gannicus's gaze, leaned against the wall instead of her husband.
"I only hope that Dominus has learned not to indulge in such base activities again." Oenomaus stated, as he saw his wife sip the wine. A snort from Gannicus made him turn attention back to his friend.
"Our Dominus? Do you know nothing of the man Oenomaus? He sent a recruit to the mines for offering missio in play. That is not a man who holds high the idea of honor."
"He was blinded by his ambition. I believe he shall now honor the house and stay on the proper path, in memory of his father."
"Keep your delusions then, if they offer such comfort." Gannicus muttered, taking a deep gulp of his wine. Oenomaus frowned, opening his mouth to say more, when Melitta interrupted the budding argument.
"Let us not worry about what the dawn will bring. Why not share comfort tonight, to gain strength for the funeral tomorrow?"
"You and Gannicus share the same thoughts. He too was telling me that I should find joy in old memories."
Melitta paused, flustered, then rallied. "Well, he does have some good thoughts occasionally."
"Only on occasion." Gannicus replied angrily, frustrated with the direction of his thoughts, which continually reminded of their night together. "The rest of the time, nothing rattles in empty fucking head."
Melitta's reply was interrupted by a guard knocking on the door. "Doctore, you are summoned for urgent dealings. Dominus says it may take all night."
Oenomaus rose, and Melitta made to follow. He put a hand on her shoulder and halted her progress. "Stay. You and Gannicus have not had opportunity to laugh as you both used to. Use this time to share thoughts, but try not to indulge too much with the wine." He smiled again at Gannicus. "Despite the sorrow that permeates the walls, I am glad that the distance between us has been bridged again, Brother." He exited the cell, closing the door behind him.
Awkward silence reined in the small chamber, until Gannicus cleared his throat and broke it.
"Are we to ignore what is between us? Because if you recall, I tried to do so, and failed miserably in the attempt. So did you."
Melitta looked at the walls and the door, trying to avoid his desperate gaze. "Was one night not enough? Surely you can find someone better…you can ask Dominus for Naevia." That way the temptation is removed. And Naevia will be spared Diona's fate…right now this house is very dangerous for her because of her virtue. If she is given to Gannicus, surely she will be spared further humiliation. And I will find the strength to say no…
"She is untouched and…"
"No woman will make me forget you." He interrupted her half-hearted argument. "I told you that I tried to drive you out of my mind with wine and whores. Nothing worked, Melitta. These past few days…I cannot forget your touch…the feel of your skin…the taste of your lips. They haunt me." As he talked, he stood and walked towards where she was sitting. She made to interrupt him, but he put a finger on her lips, and she stopped, transfixed.
"If it was only base desire, then the wine and the women would have worked. But I sit in my cell and want to know your thoughts, your feelings…to hear about you, your people, to find out how you can remain so compassionate, so…clean in this world full of shit. I cannot…" he broke off, as he felt her hands on his shoulders. She seemed torn between pulling him close and pushing him away. He moved closer to her, voice dropping into a whisper.
"Oenomaus is my brother, yet I stand ready to sever that bond because what I feel for you drives me beyond all reason. The only thing stopping me is your strength." One arm went around her waist, molding her body to his, the other cupped her cheek. Her arms remained on his shoulders, fingers flexing against the flesh.
"Tell me that you do not want to continue this…tell me you that you came that night out of pity and friendship… Melitta." his voice was anguished and she let out a single sob, before moving her arms around his neck and pulling him closer, raising her head to meet his lips.
They kissed again and again, moving to the bed. Gannicus laid Melitta on the surface tenderly, and then laid his body over hers; dropping kisses on her face, pausing at her lips and neck.
She moaned softly as his hands wandered over her flesh, slowly and carefully, each caress setting her skin on fire.
Every sense in her body anticipated his lips on her skin as they traveled from her throat to her breasts, and then back to her mouth.
The scrap of clothing she was wearing fluttered to the ground, his subligaria joining it shortly thereafter. He lined himself at her entrance, and then locked eyes with her.
"You can still stop me," he whispered. In response, she lifted her hips, taking him in her with one smooth thrust. His breath hitched, in tandem with hers, as they both adjusted to the sensation. A few moments later, he stared moving, breathing heavily, and keeping his eyes locked on hers.
Melitta wanted to close her eyes, to savor each sensation, but she didn't. More than anything she wanted to know this moment was real and not a dream, and to do so she willed her eyes to remain open.
His rhythm picked up, and Gannicus drove deeper and harder into her depths, enjoying her hitching breaths and moans. No one had ever made him feel like this, and she was so warm and tight around him, he could scarcely breathe. A distant part of his mind wondered if there were guards outside, and if they would tell Oenomaus when he returned. The rest of him did not care. Melitta had acknowledged that she wanted to continue, that it was not a passing fancy- having her in his arms was all that mattered.
Melitta arched up, taking him in deeper, making tiny, desperate mewls of pleasure and need, which were captured by Gannicus as his mouth locked on hers.
Their bodies moved in tandem racing to completion, striving harder towards release. Melitta let out a loud sobbing cry as the wave of pleasure crested, and Gannicus give a last hard thrust as he climaxed as well.
In the aftermath, their breathing seemed loud, as the sweat dried over their bodies. Melitta stirred and lightly pushed Gannicus off. He nuzzled her neck and withdrew from her, grabbing both their clothing from the floor as he got up. In silence the two of them dressed, occasionally touching and kissing.
When they were both fully dressed, they sat on the bed again.
"What shall we do now?" Melitta asked plaintively, resting her head on Gannicus's shoulders.
"I do not know." He answered pensively. "I do know that I will not be able to stay in this ludus and be denied your touch. "
"Gannicus…" she made to move away, but he pulled her back, turning her to face him.
"You would take from me the peace I find in your arms…the contentment we both feel?"
"My husband is your best friend. And he would not appreciate such sentiment."
His fingers tightened. "This is not base lust. This is not indulgence. What we feel for each other is the only thing that makes sense to me in this world."
She shrugged him off, but then stilled, studying his face. "You truly love me?"
"Yes" he answered without hesitation.
"Above all others?"
"I have betrayed my dearest friend…my brother for you."
"And I have betrayed the husband I respect above all others...for you."
He studied her anguished face, then smiled softly. "So you do feel the same."
She let out a laugh that sounded like a sob, resting her forehead against his. "The Gods have cursed me with madness. Yes, I love you, you foolish man."
He hugged her, laying a kiss on her forehead. "Then we shall face challenges together." He looked into her eyes, solemn.
"Nothing will separate me from you."
Before she could protest, he sealed the promise with a kiss.