Chapter Four
Seppius absent-mindedly tugged at a loose thread on the black tunic he had been wearing for the last week and a half. Today was the last day that he was required to wear his mourning clothes, and he was looking forward to again being able to dress in the sumptuous fabrics Avelina always selected for him whenever he assigned her such a task.
Avelina…..he had not spoken to her for days. Not since he had attacked her so viciously after speaking with Varinius, the day after his cousin's murder. He missed her company more than he cared to admit, although he was disturbed as to why he was so stirred up about his harsh comments. Everyone he was acquainted with spoke to their slaves like they were dirt, so why should he be any different?
Deep down, he already knew the answer: because it was her. When he was younger, just beginning to become a man, he could not help but notice her stunning beauty. He would watch her whenever he was given the chance, his eyes greedy for the slightest glimpse of her. Before his father died, he had almost worked up the courage numerous times to touch her. It was as though she was created for the sole purpose of testing his control. She was incredibly seductive without even knowing her appeal.
She would bring him trays of figs and cherries from the garden, as he was lounging on a chair in the sun; his cares few when he was not running the household. As she leaned over, he would stare at the cluster of freckles between her breasts, a beautiful constellation. He wanted to run his lips over them, and allow them to guide him to where he really needed to be.
She was not like any woman he had ever known. She was different than any of the young and silly Roman girls he had the option of perusing in order to find a suitable partner. There was an innocence and purity to her, as it was unnecessary for her to scheme and plot her way up the rungs of the Roman society ladder. But when it came to her presence in his bed, she transformed into an uninhibited tigress and left him breathless.
Sitting at his desk, he became inspired immediately by such a comparison. His eyes flitted over to his bed, and he pictured her naked and sprawled out, her golden hair splayed across his pillows, the sapphires of her eyes half-lidded with lust as she looked up at him, burning with need, and longing for his touch, her lips parting invitingly, prompting him to taste them at once. She was the perfect distraction to everything else. The world could spiral out of control, and as long as she was here with him, he would never even notice.
On a day months before, Avelina had brought in some fabric to show him, asking him to choose which ones he wanted constructed into clothing. While she excitedly displayed the materials, he barely listened. Instead he softly brushed her hair aside and learned down to press a kiss into the crook of her neck. She stopped speaking at once, and turned to face him. Without a word, she pulled a sash of cloth from her pile of goods and gently tied it around his eyes so that he was robbed of sight. He frowned and went to pull it off, disliking the vulnerability and lack of control it created for him, but she grabbed his wrist. Before he could protest, she kissed him deeply.
"Trust me," she whispered against his lips, and he gave in, allowing her to push him down onto the bed. She undressed him, and then took off her dress, moving his hands over her skin. Seppius found it incredibly erotic, his other senses heightened due to his lack of sight.
Avelina planted kisses down his chest, stopping to scrape her teeth over his nipples. He groaned contentedly, waiting impatiently for her to reach her destination. When she did, he expelled a strangled growl from his throat, lost to the warm wetness of her mouth as she used it to bring him close to the edge. When his breathing turned into rapid exhalation, Avelina ceased her attentions, and slid herself down onto her, sighing with fulfillment as she appreciated the feeling of him deep inside her.
She slid her hands up his arms in order to anchor his wrists against the bed, although she knew he could break free and take control if he so desired. For this moment, she was his Domina and she was in charge.
As though he read her mind, Seppius flipped her over so that he was above her, speeding up his thrusts. Avelina cried out with every movement, kissing him to keep herself quiet. When she felt herself nearing her climax, she arched her back off of the bed. Seppius recognized the action and ripped the covering off of his eyes, so that he could look deeply into hers.
"I want to watch you as you finish," he told her, his eyes not leaving her face. She moaned low in her throat, and gripped the bedclothes, crying out his name. He followed her soon after, closing his eyes as he felt her clench around him. He rolled off of her, and turned to regard her as she struggled to regain her mind. She was pink-cheeked and smiling, and Seppius loved it when she looked completely ravished by him, his male ego thriving from an excellent job. She looked over to meet his gaze and slid her arm across his torso, holding him close.
"Gratitude," was all she said. Seppius appeared confused.
"For what?" he asked, reaching down to squeeze her backside affectionately. He pulled her over so that more of her delectable body covered his.
"For playing my little game," she responded. Seppius raised an eyebrow.
"I should be the one to give thanks." Avelina giggled and kissed him. Seppius searched for the sash she had used, reaching his hand out, hoping she would be too distracted to notice. When his fingers grasped it, he pinned her to the mattress once again.
"Now we play my game," he told her. Arousal flickered in her eyes along with a curious glint, and then she gasped when he tied the sash tightly around her wrists.
"I will not be able to touch you," she whined. Seppius shrugged.
"I was denied the sight of your beauty. It is your turn to be deprived." Avelina continued to protest, but Seppius ignored her complaints, trailing his mouth down from her breasts to the place he held the most fondness for.
"Seppius, I beg you to untie – oh!" Her request was interrupted by the blissful feeling of his mouth on her. Seppius smirked at her being so easily distracted. She could feel herself become rapidly untethered from reality, and opened her eyes to peer down at his dark head between her thighs. He looked up at her, a sly grin on his face, and she was overwhelmed by how much she wanted him. He was such a beautiful man, and she felt fortunate that he had found her just as appealing.
"Are you enjoying this?" he inquired, his voice thick with desire, his fingers stroking her while he spoke.
Avelina writhed before him. "You know I am…."
Seppius shifted uncomfortably in his chair, hardening at the memory of such an intense encounter. The scowl on his face deepened when he thought of his outburst towards the girl who sponsored his satisfaction.
He had been shocked when she struck him with her hand, although even he could not deny that it was well deserved. Many other men would have seen her whipped or even killed for such an offense. If it had been any other slave, he would have made sure that they paid the ultimate price for their assault. If not killing her or brutally beating her, he should at least have Avelina sold to the mines, forced to live out the remainder of her days in the misery that bred there.
But when he thought of the idea of a whip slashing her skin to shreds, marring perfection or slashing a blade across her throat to forever silence her, he felt ill. Even to give her to another man, so that he could use her like Seppius was unimaginable. He could not fathom any man forcing himself upon her, not appreciating her delicate beauty. Or even worse: the idea of her enjoying the attentions of another man, looking at him with the same desire, or trusting him enough to fall asleep in his arms. It was all too much for his mind to grasp, and his hands tightened around the edge of his desk. He needed to see her. To make things right again. To have her back in his bed.
xxxxxxx
Since their fiery confrontation over a week ago, Avelina felt nervous and apprehensive most of the time, waiting for Seppius to finally come to his senses and get rid of her, but the moment had not arrived thus far. She spent most of her effort attempting to avoid him and kept herself busy all day in the gardens, helping the yard slaves.
When Seppius' mother was alive, she noticed that Avelina enjoyed gardening, and had sectioned off a quarter of the property for her personal use. There, Avelina had cultivated some beautiful flowers, and many visitors complimented the family on their stunning garden. She spent as much time as they allowed in her tiny little sanctuary, coaxing the plants to sprout their glorious blossoms.
It was here that Seppius had first seduced her. One night, she had been outside, tending to the trellises by torchlight, when she heard footsteps approach. Looking up, she saw her Dominus standing before her. He had attended a dinner at his cousin's home, and had returned filled with the euphoric numbness the wine had given him.
"Now that the spring approaches, your garden will be all the more breathtaking," he commented, swaying slightly.
Avelina smiled nervously and thanked him. Since they had grown from children into adults, she had noticed that the boy whose home she had been brought to had turned into a rather handsome man, and being in close proximity to him made her feel strange.
"Although whenever you are out here tending to your flowers, I believe it is rather unfair to them."
"Why do you say such a thing Dominus?" she asked, confused. She swallowed when he stepped a little closer to her.
"Because they cannot compare to the beauty of their caretaker." At this compliment, he moved even closer and cupped her cheek, stroking the soft skin with his thumb. "You have flourished into an exquisite woman," he murmured, and her breathing sped up considerably. She gave a small gasp of surprise when he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her softly. He tasted of wine, and his stubble rubbed up against her skin, although she did not find the sensation unpleasant.
She broke away from him. "Dominus, do you think this is a suitable venture for yourself? I feel it would be better if –"Her worries were cut short when he kissed her again, this time more passionately, and she relaxed into his arms. From that moment, she surrendered herself to him completely until the confrontation in the atrium. It was all for naught. What did she think was to become of their attachment? Seppius would eventually marry, and Avelina would either have to see him exist in wedded bliss, or be sold to another household. She honestly did not know which was worse.
"Avelina!" called Bilius, one of the yard slaves, running up to her. "Dominus demands your presence."
Avelina felt nauseous. Internally, she sent a quick prayer to the Heavens, and headed for the house. This was the moment she had been dreading for the past few days. Seppius was finally going to throw her out of his home. She half expected to see a slave trader waiting by the entrance, ready to transfer her servitude to another location, most likely the mines, but the villa was quiet. Puzzled, and now even more anxious, Avelina walked hesitantly into Seppius' chambers. He sat there, vigorously writing something down, looking weary and strained. The pursuit of Spartacus was taxing, and his cousin had not even been dead for two weeks. So committed to his mission, he did not see Avelina enter.
"Dominus?" she called, timidly, her voice shaking. His eyes travelled from the scroll to her face, and she could not read his expression. He stared at her for a long moment, and Avelina held her breath, trying to prepare herself for the blow she was about to receive. He stood up, still wearing his black clothes, and she noticed he had the beginnings of a beard. His hair was also becoming unruly, and she would have found it endearing if she was not terrified in the present moment.
"The mourning period has finished," he told her, while she stood there awkwardly, trying her best not to twitch nervously. This was not what she had expected him to say. "As such, I am now able to bathe." She still remained silent, wondering why he was telling her these things, and Seppius moved closer to her.
"I will also need to be shaved and have my hair groomed. I will have you do so."
Avelina stared at him in shock for a moment, unable to process his request. "Is there part you need reiterated?" he asked.
Avelina shook her head. "No Dominus, I will prepare your bath." She moved into the bathing chamber and collected the proper tools for his grooming, still reeling from the strange turn of events. They had not spoken a word to each other in days, since their horrible clash, and now he wanted her holding a knife to his throat, while he was naked? She marveled at the irony of it, since he had accused her of holding that desire the night his cousin was murdered.
Avelina hurried to prepare his bath, wanting to step into it before he did so that he caught the smallest glimpse of her nudity as possible, but she was unsuccessful. Seppius walked in behind her, and quickly undressed, leaving his mourning clothes in a heap on the floor. He stepped into the water, and turned so that he sat facing towards her. She took a deep breath and slowly undid her dress, cautiously looking up to see him watching her, an unreadable expression in his eyes. He had not seen her unclothed for a time, and his eyes made her feel even more exposed. She followed him into the water, allowing herself a moment to revel in its relief after working all day under the hot sun in the garden. She picked up the tools and sat down next to him, trying to keep their bodies from touching.
They did not talk or interact as she worked, gently sliding the blade on his skin. It was unusual, since when she usually shaved Seppius, she could not consistently perform her task. Seppius was far too eager to kiss and fondle her while she was trying to work, which led to her abandoning her duty in order to reciprocate. She was thankful for the silence, as she did not know what she would say if she was forced to speak. Instead, she focused on his face. Her eyes wandered from the strong line of his jaw, to the lips that had been on her own so many times, before finally looking into his dark eyes. He was watching her just as intently, noting that since she had spent many hours outside, keeping herself out of his way, the sun had left its stamp on her skin, which had transformed into a lovely bronze, while her cheeks were now permanently pink and her hair was streaked blonde. It made the blue of her eyes so vivid, and he wondered if she was just more beautiful and desirable to him now because he had not touched her in so long, and his body craved hers.
When she was finished with him, she hesitated before finally speaking. "I am finished, Dominus. Did you require anything else?" Immediately upon voicing the question, she regretted it. She reluctantly met his eyes and the tension hung thickly in the air. He swallowed and shook his head.
"No, that was all I needed," he answered, his voice heavy with something she could not identify. He stood, turning to leave the bath and Avelina could not help but run her eyes over his body while he was drying himself off. When he was a child, he had a passion for swimming and his growth into a man had benefited from such activity. He was long and lean, with definition in his muscles, and a backside Avelina had always appreciated.
She followed him out of the water, and walked past him to retrieve her dress. She could feel him studying her as she went to cover herself.
"Wait." His voice rang through the air with such force he gave her a start. She halted her action and turned towards him, still nude.
"Come here." This he said with more softness, and she obeyed, approaching until she was only inches away from him, also still naked. She could see the look of lust in his eyes, one that was familiar to her, but she expected it to disappear after she slapped him. Slowly, he reached out and ran his fingers gently down her spine, from her neck to her buttocks, and then back up again. Avelina felt a shiver of want and despite trying to resist, her eyes slid closed at the sensation. Seppius pulled her closer, so that her breasts brushed against his chest and he sighed, still caressing her back.
Seeing that she did not recoil from his touch, he lowered his head and slowly placed soft kisses from her shoulder to her neck, making her moan. He slipped his hand between them and slid it between her legs, stroking the spot he knew she enjoyed. Her moans increased in volume and she pressed more tightly to him.
"Have your thoughts explored why I have not sold you to another man or condemned you to work in the mines?" he whispered in her ear, as he dipped his fingers inside her, and she cried out in surprise, wrapping a leg around his hips, giving him better access. In her passionate haze, she nodded instead of answering.
"Because I know that with one look upon your lovely figure, they would want to enjoy you as I have. To taste what I have tasted." His lips traveled from her ear to her breast, swirling his tongue around her nipple and she was consumed with searing desire for him.
"At the thought of their fingers upon you, I am overcome with jealousy. I would rip them apart with my bare hands if they ever thought to touch you. Do you want another man's hands stroking your skin as mine have?"
Avelina shook her head forcefully. "No, I long to have only yours upon me."
Seppius smiled. "Then you have answer." With that, their mouths met hungrily and Avelina felt as though he might devour her. He seemed a parched man after being denied drink for days, and finally having water slide down his throat. He broke away from her to gasp for air, and cupped her face in his hands, pressing her forehead against his.
"Forget all remarks from previous days. Grief had taken hold of me and left me unable to see sense. I strive to replace old words with new sentiments."
Avelina nodded and stroked a hand down his freshly trimmed hair. "I have already removed them from concern."
"Gratitude," Seppius replied, before melding his mouth to hers once more.
So engrossed in his kisses, she was surprised when she felt the mattress underneath her, realizing that Seppius had backed her into his sleeping chambers. He lay down beside her and smiled.
"I have been too long deprived of your warmth," he told her, kissing her hungrily once more. He pulled her on top of him, and sat up, allowing her to wrap her arms around him. Their breaths mingled as they moved together, and they never broke eye contact. Avelina held his face tightly in her hands as she increased her pace. She revelled in seeing his expression contort in pleasure. His eyes burned with intensity and his hands gripped her hips hard.
"You are reprieve from my mind's anguish," he whispered to her, now splaying his fingers across her back, holding her as close to him as possible. "The comfort of your body soothes the wounds that have been inflicted in the weeks past."
"It lifts heart to know you appreciate my company in your bed," she sighed, breathless as she neared her peak.
"My appreciation for you is not expressed by mere words. I endeavour to demonstrate in other ways." With that last comment, Avelina reached completion, throwing her head back and crying out to the Heavens. Seppius thrust upwards a few more times before joining her, then lay back on the bed, utterly spent. Avelina slumped forward, resting on top of him.
"Then you have achieved desired result," she teased, kissing him tenderly. He chuckled softly, stroking the skin on her back. They were quiet for a few minutes, while they attempted to catch their breaths.
"I feel as though I could sleep for weeks," he mused, toying with a strand of her hair, twirling through his fingers. Avelina gently traced her fingers over his chest and sighed.
"Too many concerns plague you," she told him. "You must allow yourself some peace."
Seppius shook his head. "I cannot have peace until I obtain vengeance for my cousin. He was a noble man. He deserved many things in life, and a brutal death was not one of them."
Avelina kissed the spot over his heart. "He was fortunate enough to call you dear relative. A man who takes what he wants, who is ambitious and passionate."
"I want Spartacus dead," he said, coldly. "Nothing will give me greater happiness or fulfillment." He turned his head to look at her. "Except perhaps when I am with you," he added.
Avelina gazed up at him, surprised. "Seppius –" she began, sounding troubled.
Seppius quieted her by kissing her once more, long and deep. "Let us rest for now," he replied. "We can discuss these matters tomorrow." And within a few minutes, he was fast asleep. Avelina stayed awake a little longer, watching him as he slumbered. This was what she had been concerned about since he had first bedded her. They were not meant for each other, even though she could not imagine it any other way. But how could she alter what was written in the stars?