In Veritas Memento
Rating: NC 17
Disclaimer: I own nothing. All aspects of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena are owned by Steven De Knight and Starz. This is for pure entertainment value alone.
This story takes place after the episode Missio, yet it veers completely into an A/U after the events of that episode. I am a huge fan of the series Spartacus; however, my favorite character is Gannicus. This is his story…
Warnings: M for a reason. This story is much like the show. It contains foul language and smut! If that is not your cup of tea, turn back now.
Pairings: There is multiple pairing in this story. Gannicus has more than one partner in this story. However, Gannicus/Melitta is my end game. If you are offended by multiple pairings of the characters, then this story is NOT for you.
If you are like me and just want Gannicus naked as often as possible, then read on. LOL
Chapter 59: ad libitum: to one's pleasure
Aurelius Domus: Octavia's chamber:
Opening day of the Ludi Apollinares festival dawned bright and balmy. It was a glorious day, and after such an unsettling night with Claudius, Octavia was of a mind to see mood lightened. Claudius, who had awoken with a happy smile, to her relief, had already left for Capitoline Hill for the beginning of the Pompa Circensis (1) procession as it traveled through the city towards the Circus Maximus stadium. The parade took several hours and since she had no desire to follow a lengthy procession throughout Rome.
Octavia had other plans.
She had taken her bath with warmed water and milk, a delicious mix designed to soften the skin, leaving the bather soothed and silky to touch. She wanted her skin to be as smooth as silk when Gannicus arrived. She had been forced to absent him from sight last night due to Lucius' presence. Well, her barbarous brother was no longer under foot. She was nearly giddy with anticipation.
"Anya," she said, taking her body slave by the arm. "Send Hector to the gladiator lodgings and summon Gannicus. I want him brought to me here." She let go of the woman's arm to hold up a wispy golden gossamer tunic that would hug her curves perfectly yet allow her lover glimpses of treasures underneath the silky fabric. She studied her reflection within the looking glass, and frowned, unhappy with the garment.
"Discreetly," she added, setting aside the gold, and sorting through the dozens of other beautiful under tunics she had in effort to find the perfect garment to greet him in.
"Yes Domina," Anya said and exited the room quickly.
Octavia continued to look through her vast assortment of luxurious underwear, unable to find just the right one. In a fit, she threw them all to the floor, almost in tears because she simply could not find what she was looking for.
In that moment Anya returned. "Hector is to purpose, Domina," she said, picking up the numerous articles of clothing strewn about.
"What does it matter when I shall greet him as hag in naught but boring old robes!"
Used to her mistress' mood swings, Anya efficiently went through the garments, finding the one she sought. "You must choose this one, Domina," the woman said, holding up a light purple gossamer gown that had amethysts sewn throughout the stitching of the garment, making it glitter and sparkle as it moved. It was a sensual creation meant to entice. "Its beauty is rivalled only by your own."
Mood brightening immediately, Octavia chuckled at her slave. "You flatter," she said, but her pleasure at the compliment was obvious. She took the garment and held it against her body while admiring it in the looking glass. "It is lovely," she said, biting her lip.
"And feel how soft," Anya said. "It will be pleasurable to his hands as well as his eyes, Domina."
Octavia rubbed the see through shimmering gown against her cheek. It was soft and silky, she was pleased. "I believe you are right." She handed her slave the garment to set aside. "Gratitude Anya. What would I do without you?"
"Never worry about such things, Domina. You and the Dominus have my loyalty for life," the older slave said. "Now we must find the perfect final garment," she said, placing several tiny scraps of clothing on the sitting couch for Octavia to view and choose from.
She began perusing the small articles of clothing. "In this, I must choose carefully. He has special interest in this particular item of clothing. It must be perfect," the blonde Roman said, remembering how Gannicus thoroughly enjoyed untying or (most often) tearing it off her.
Anya handed Octavia the one she thought best. "This will go beautifully with the amethyst tunic," she said, smiling. "It is silky and it's strings have small amethysts attached to the ends, giving it added allure."
Octavia accepted her choice. The tiny triangle meant to cover her woman's mound was made of lilac silk. The material was so fine and soft, it was near see through. It tied on either hip with two strings that did indeed have small amethysts attached. There was also a small strip of silk that slid between the cheeks of her ass. The provocative garment was meant to cause lover to lose all control.
"It is beautiful, is it not?" Octavia breathed.
"It is." Anya nodded. "You will glisten like gem, making his cock hard as stone for you, my beautiful Domina."
Octavia moistened at the thought.
Gladiator's Lodging:
Gannicus had arisen early, unsure what he was to do, since there was no Dominus or Doctore to give orders. It was an appealing realization that he oversaw himself presently. First, he went to the training arena and worked the palus there for a time before returning to the small villa he and his brother's shared to break the morning fast. They enjoyed morning meal together without having food fight, although each of them secured extra honey cakes to bring to their rooms for later.
Gannicus, Duratius and Barca were heading back to the arena to spar when the house slave who had been performing for Octavia's brother arrived and told Gannicus he was summoned to the big villa.
The three paused, and Duratius and Barca shared a worried glance with Gannicus, but since they were not asked to come to the villa, there was naught they could do.
Gannicus waved them off. "Ease mind. You will not be rid of Gannicus so easily, brothers," he told them. "I shall see you later." He flashed a cocky grin and a wink before following Hector from the gladiator's domicile to a side entrance of the main villa.
"Where do we go?" Gannicus asked, unease beginning to fill him as they climbed a darkened stairwell out of sight of the villa's main floor.
Gannicus was unsure why he was being secreted into the villa as thief in the night. When he had arrived, he had been treated to a tour of the villa, Aurelius himself had thanked him for pleasing his wife so well. Why was he being relegated to back stair ways? Perhaps it was not Octavia who summoned. Gannicus' gut knotted at the thought that he could be walking into his death if it was Octavia's brother summoning him...
"Domina is waiting for you in her chambers," Hector replied, easing mind.
Gannicus nearly sagged with relief. At least he would not be fighting for his very life presently.
Hector knocked on a large white door that stood tall as two men. The door opened and Gannicus recognized Octavia's newest body slave, Anya. His eyes took note of her thick dark hair and blue eyes, even past prime, Anya was a handsome woman, probably a true beauty in her day; a little old for him though. The gladiator had no doubt part of Anya's appeal to Octavia was that the woman was old enough to have given birth to him; he could only hope that would eliminate Octavia's irrational jealousy. He would hate to see Anya go the way of Yadira.
He was led by Anya into a large, beautiful room. Much like her villa in Capua, it was lush and lavishly furnished, with a bed large enough to sleep four or perhaps five grown men! Octavia was standing by the bed, her hair done up with pins and jewels and dressed in the most enticing gown he had ever laid gaze upon. He swallowed thickly and his cock immediately started to swell at the sight of her. For a moment guilt hit him. He did not love this woman. He loved Melitta. Why did his body respond so quickly to her? But, just as quickly, he shrugged it aside. What did it matter? The fact that he got hard at the sight of her, made task at hand easier. He would not argue the matter when he had no choice but to perform.
Octavia's eyes dropped to his obvious reaction to her and her breathing sped up. "Anya, leave us, and please ensure we maintain privacy," she said.
Anya bowed her head. "Yes Domina," the woman said, exiting the room, but staying just outside the door.
"Do you know, the sound of your footsteps causes thighs to moisten?" She was breathless with anticipation of having him within her.
"I would see them drenched." Gannicus strode across the room, his eyes roaming her body displayed so temptingly in her glittering gown and took her face in his hands, burying his fingers within the silky strands of her long golden hair and sending pins holding her carefully groomed hair in place scattering across the floor. "You are fucking vision," he said gruffly, boldly pressing his erection against her. "One to harden cock upon sight." And with that he dipped his head and captured her lips with his in a deep, wet kiss, his tongue thrusting into her mouth, in much the same fashion as his cock would shortly.
Octavia whimpered, clinging to him as he overwhelmed her. "Please..." she whined, rubbing against him, desperate for the relief only he could give.
Gannicus leaned back, a sensual curl to his lips. "Please what...?" he asked, daring her to play their game with him. His eyes promised her untold sensual delights if she agreed.
"Please Dominus," she whispered.
Gannicus gave a deep growl and lifted her into his arms so she could wrap her legs around his waist. "What you do to me when you call me that..."
She tunneled her fingers into his long blonde hair and leaned down to brush his lips with her own. "I would do anything for you, my Dominus."
"Fuck!" his bit out gruffly, lust making his voice rougher than normal. Eager to come to purpose now that he was aroused, Gannicus palmed her shapely ass and began to walk them towards her bed. "I will have you fucking now."
Her lips continued to pay homage to his neck until she got to his ear and took a small bite.
Shivers raced up his spine. "I shall return favor shortly," he promised huskily, giving her rear a playful smack.
She gave a little shriek of surprise at being spanked.
He chuckled. "Hush slave," he said, near purring with satisfaction as her eyes darkened. He gave her another slap just to watch them turn near black with lust. Gannicus was halfway to the bed, when he spied the indoor bathing chamber and turned in that direction instead. The memory of their night in Capua, where she first called him Dominus as she fucked him in the heated mineral springs was still an extremely pleasurable memory; he would see it repeated.
Rome: Aurelius' City Domus: Guest cubiculum
Batiatus had arisen early, his excitement to begin the day made sleep an elusive thing. Finally, he decided to forgo sleep and simply embrace the dewy morn and the first day of the Apollinares. He poured a cup of wine and took several deep sips. "Gannicus shall be the wings which elevates our House to Olympus itself!" he crowed, spinning in a circle, arms outstretched happily.
Lucretia rolled her eyes at his antics. "You are the wings that give our House flight, Quintus," she said to him. "It was your vision for the man that has gotten us this far. And it is your vision that shall see us receiving proper honor after Gannicus wins his bout in the Primus of the Apollinares!"
"And not just Gannicus!" he chortled gleefully. "Barca and Duratius have honored matches as well! The Gods have finally removed cock from ass and truly bless us."
Gaia entered their cubiculum at that moment. She was dressed in a silken pale green under garment, with her ebony locks flowing long and free about her shoulders. "Deservedly so," she said, producing the small clay pottery that held the opium from Cypress. She sprinkled the fine powder into the amphora of good falernian wine. "After Gannicus' showing in the Vinalia and the Floralia, the Gods were well sated..." She poured herself a cup of the tainted brew and drank deeply, emptying glass and refilling it. She turned to Batiatus, a smile on her lush lips. "All are eager to see your man upon the sands, bringing honor to the ludi Apollinare here in Rome as well."
"And they shall," Batiatus said, pouring both himself and Lucretia a fresh glass of wine. "All of Rome shall bear witness to Batiatus' Mighty Gannicus, God of the Arena as he spills enough blood upon the sands to shower us all with good Fortuna from the Gods!"
Lucretia shook her head when Batiatus offered her the cup. He shrugged, puzzled, but did not question her, instead he drained her glass himself before setting aside empty cup.
Gaia drank deeply of the opium laced wine as she began to sway seductively. "Fuck spilling blood," Gaia teased. "As long as your man spills seed for Octavia, we shall all be blessed with good fortune for as long as we desire!"
"To Gannicus' cock then," Batiatus toasted, laughing as if tipsy as he held glass aloft. "And the good fortune it brings to the House of Batiatus."
Gaia stumbled in her effort to toast him and clutched Lucretia to maintain footing. Her giggles filled the room.
Lucretia kept Gaia on her feet...barely. "We shall make our own good fortune," she said, shaking her head at both her husband and her friend.
Gaia produced the small clay pottery that carried the opium powder from Cypress. She held it up to Batiatus. "More?" she asked, raising her brow.
"Perhaps we should refrain until after the ceremonies of the day," Lucretia suggested.
Batiatus shrugged off his wife's comment and held out cup for Gaia to sprinkle more opium into his cup.
"Fortune favors the bold, Lucretia," Gaia said and dusted some of the opium into Quintus' glass. "One should never put off the pleasures offered freely." She ran a finger down Lucretia's neck to her collar bone. "Because one never knows when good fortune will expire."
Lucretia rolled eyes. "According to you, our good fortune is tied to Gannicus and his cock."
"And if it is?" Gaia asked, a seductive smile curling lip.
Lucretia's mouth curled up on one side, but she finally decided to join them in their fun. She took Gaia's cup and took a healthy sip of the drug laced wine. "Well, if Fortuna does indeed favor the bold, then our good fortune shall never fade for the man's cock appears forever erect and strong of purpose!"
Gaia gave a small girlish laugh. "He is quite the beast, your man. If Octavia would not lose mind, I would be of a mind to experience the forever erect marvel myself."
Lucretia's smile evaporated. "Gaia, to do so would see Octavia's favor and hospitality vanish and us cast out without patronage to see us back to Capua. She is obsessed with the man."
"Apologies," Gaia hastened, promptly going to Lucretia and hugging her. "I meant words in jest only. I admit to finding the man exciting, but I would never jeopardize dearest friends with base desires."
"It is I who apologize, Gaia." Lucretia said, accepting the hug. "I know you would never do such a thing."
In effort to change mood, Quintus began pouring everyone more opium wine. "Ha! Let us see sour words sweetened with wine," Batiatus said, handing Lucretia and Gaia their cups. "To Gannicus and his forever erect cock!" he chortled, amused at such a thing.
"And the Aurelius coin that comes with it," Gaia reminded.
"Yes, through Gannicus we shall ride a wave of Aurelius coin..." He broke into laughter again, proof he had partaken in much of the opium laced wine Gaia provided. "And with that wave of coin, means to absent myself from overbearing father as well!" he added merrily.
Feeling the effects of the wine, Lucretia and Gaia sauntered up to him, one on either side of Quintus, each rubbing against him suggestively.
His arms encircled each of their shapely hips. "Has a man ever been so blessed?" he murmured, kissing first Lucretia, then Gaia.
Giggling in a drug induced euphoria, they all fell to the large bed Lucretia and Quintus shared in Aurelius' guest cubiculum, hands roaming each other's bodies.
Batiatus gripped his wife's hips as he fell to his back and both women climbed atop him.
Lucretia moaned deeply as she straddled Quintus and took him inside her while Gaia cradled her from behind, holding bountiful breasts, squeezing and kneading them gently. The two women shared a deep kiss while Lucretia began to move on top her husband, slowly at first and then with more purpose.
Gaia's hand was between her legs as she began kissing her friend's neck, moving with Lucretia as the other woman rode her husband to completion.
The three of them climaxed together, sharing pleasure, laughter and opium laced wine to add to their gratification.
Rome: Ludus Magnus:
Location: Via Labicana, Equestrian Hill
Tullius, patted the heavy purse he had pocketed within his robes as he waited for the gladiator Argonaut to make appearance after being summoned. The gladiator lived and trained at the well-known Ludus Magnus off Via Labicana at the bottom of Equestrian Hill (2). He was here for final solution to nagging problem. After months of plotting, Tullius had been foiled at every turn to have Gannicus added to his stable. Recently, he had finally come to bitter realization that the handsome Celt would never be his. In retaliation, Tullius had planned the death of the blonde gladiator, and with his demise, the fortunes of Batiatus would wither and waste away. With the utter failure of that attempt, he had placed himself in the crosshairs of fucking Claudius Aurelius!
In a vain attempt to save himself, Tullius plotted to have Aurelius destroyed, only to be faced with abject defeat. First, Vorsutius, a man he had known for many years, outright dismissed any plan to go against Aurelius; the man was an Aventine Hill thug, yet he had respect, even fear of Claudius. Tullius had been surprised, then enraged. He had counted on the man, but he had not lost hope yet. The wealthy merchant then approached a select group of Senators at Capitoline Hill, the ones whose House was in desperate need of coin to return to prominence. Tullius had thought they would be interested in his cause if enough denarii found way to proper hand. Instead, he had been looked down upon, as if he were beneath them and told they could not act against a man of a man of Claudius Aurelius' worth on accusation born of air and vengeful eye of simple merchant from Capua. Patrician cunts!
After that, Tullius had realized there would be no help coming by way of Rome. He now sought out simpler, more violent, Capuano means to final solution.
Argonaut was already scheduled to fight Gannicus in the Primus of the Apollinares. According to advertisement for match, Gannicus and Argonaut would team up to battle six men, three a piece, working together to kill the lesser men. Once goal was accomplished, Argonaut and Gannicus were to battle each other. Tullius had heard it on good authority the match would not be a Sine Missione contest, instead it was to be just enough blood spilled to whet the mob's appetite for rematch at the Ludi Romani. Tullius was of a mind to see any hope for rematch ended by offering much larger incentive for the man to kill Gannicus when they meet, rather than rough him up as the Aediles wanted.
Tullius was aware a man would do anything, rise to Olympus itself, or sink to the depths of Hades, if offered proper amount of coin.
A huge, heavily muscled man approached his table, and the blonde Capuano was impressed at the sheer size of the beast. He was dressed for the procession this day in a Roman military styled cingulum over his subligaria. A dual sleeved Galerius, the armor that protected a gladiator's arms and shoulders, and a large breast plate covered his pectoral muscles, the straps stretched taut and crisscrossing Argonaut's massive chest. He had thick steel greaves that protected his knees and shins and durable manicae that would help to rebuff a sword's blade to a gladiator's forearm. Finally, he was wearing a helmet with ornate plumage and carrying a sword along with a huge oblong scutum (shield), his heavy armor and shape of his shield announced Argonaut's gladiator style of provocator.
Argonaut was a fine specimen of gladiator strength and power, but Tullius had seen Gannicus take apart men bigger and more dangerous; he had genuinely believed Negrimus would defeat the blonde gladiator. In truth, he did not think Argonaut stood chance at all to beat Gannicus, unless he were to take the Celt by surprise.
Argonaut removed his helmet. Tullius winced, the man's face was meant for a helmet. His nose was flattened from being broken far too often and much of the brute's face was scarred with pock marks; he must have caught the plague at some time. Thankfully, most of the pock marks were covered by a heavy beard and mustache. His light green eyes, which were far too pretty for such a face, quickly took stock of the man seeking him out. "To what purpose are you here to visit Argonaut? Unless it is to fuck your woman, I have no use for you," he said in a heavily accented voice.
His arrogance was as obvious as his thick Germania accent. Tullius supposed with an undefeated record of ten wins and, according to gossip, a cock to rival Priapus, the merchant supposed some bravado was acceptable. He set a purse on the table, so heavy with coin it made a loud *clunk* sound as it hit the wood. "I have no need of your cock, just your sword," the blonde merchant said, a slow sinister smile curling his thin lips upward.
The big gladiator took a seat. He smiled, showing a face full of dirty, stained teeth. "Argonaut will hear what you have to say."
Tullius looked away, wishing the man would replace the helmet...
Rome: Aurelius City Domus
Barca and Duratius were sparring in the arena, preparing for their matches in the simultaneous Primus' they would be in at week's end. Gannicus had still not yet returned from earlier summons...
"I know he stands as champion," Duratius said, "but should he not still prepare for match?" Duratius swung his huge hammer, knocking Barca back several steps in the doing. "Would the woman not mourn his passing should he fall to Argonaut?"
"Apparently they do not feel that is a possibility, Duratius," Barca replied. "Else brother would be here, upon the sands with us, not inside yonder villa giving noble woman yet another taste of his cock!"
"She should allow him to train," Duratius complained.
"She does," Barca said with a filthy grin and a grab to his crotch. "Between her thighs with cock inside her!"
Duratius gave a short laugh. "Then let us hope cock does not absent itself due to fateful blow from Argonaut's sword."
Just then two guards came to the arena. One was a big brute of a man, the other was shorter, but stocky with muscles displayed in his military garb. "Gladiators, get your gear, you are to join procession," the larger guard announced.
Barca and Duratius shared confused glances.
"The fuck you say?" Duratius asked, letting his hammer hang by his side.
"To begin ceremonies of the Ludi Apollinare, there' s a procession of all performers throughout the city, man," the shorter of the two guards said. "You are performing in the festival, are you not?"
"We are," Barca confirmed.
"Then get your fucking gear and come with us," the short, stocky guard said.
As Barca and Duratius followed behind the guards, the big Egyptian whispered to his brother, "What about Gannicus?"
Barca shrugged. "The man is busy putting cock to noble cunt."
"Should we not tell the guards that we are one gladiator short?"
Barca laughed. "And which of us shall be lashed for disrupting Roman pleasure, brother? Us or the Roman soldiers?"
Duratius nodded. "Point well received. The woman must know we are leaving."
"She must. Or perhaps, she simply does not care so obsessed is she with our brother's large cock!" he replied with a lecherous chuckle.
Duratius joined in on the laughter. "Fucking Gannicus. Only he would miss procession throughout Rome for fucking cunt!"
Aurelius' Domus: Triclinium:
Gaia and Lucretia were laughing as they enjoyed a late jentaculum in the triclinium. Quintus had left to view procession through Rome, so it was just the two of them and their body slaves.
"Where is Octavia?" Lucretia asked, as she sampled some of the dried fruit and honeyed cakes offered to them by Calia.
"Must you ask?" Gaia replied, taking a nibble of one of the honeyed cakes that Aurelius' kitchen slave, Haggitha made.
Lucretia rolled her eyes. "Does she never get tired of fucking him?"
Gaia, her eyes widening as the delicious, sweet bread practically melted on her tongue, moaned. "Sweet Ceres! These are divine." She took a sip of her wine, washing the cake down before answering her friend. "Lucretia, you must see judgement put aside. Your words, upon her ears could see her favor removed."
"I do not judge," Lucretia started, but Gaia shook her head, stopping the excuse before it began.
"You do." Gaia sat up and took dearest friend's hands in her own. "Just this morn you reminded me how easily favor could fade, now I am reminding you." She brushed a kiss upon Lucretia's cheek. "Let us not cast aspersions upon dear friend, especially with friend as generous as Octavia."
"Words well received," Lucretia said. "Gratitude." She reclined upon her couch, her tray of dried fruits, nuts and honeyed cakes set before her. She too took a bite of the delightful, sweet bread. "Let us turn conversation to a pressing matter I have been waiting on bated breath to hear from your lips."
Gaia made a face of distaste and set her own honeyed cake down and instead reached for her wine. "You speak of Lucius Severus?"
Surprised Gaia seemed so repulsed by the man, Lucretia nodded. "And why does the man's name bring scowl upon brow as if asked to take up residence upon the Aventine?"
Gaia snorted. "That would be preferable. Trust words."
Lucretia's blue eyes grew large. The man was an Imperator and Octavia's brother; not to mention incredibly handsome. "Gaia break open head and explain meaning behind such words."
"I speak of tale only because you are my dearest friend," she began. The brunette Roman inclined her head to her body slave. "Ivana, close drapes."
"Yes Domina," the blonde slave said and began to close the purple drapes that surrounded the dining area.
Without being told, Melitta immediately began to help the girl.
"Gratitude Melitta," Gaia's slave said softly.
Melitta gave her a gentle smile. "None required Ivana. All chores pass quickly with an extra pair of hands. Do they not?"
Ivana's face broke into an honest grin, and it was startling how pretty the girl was when she was not presenting herself as terrified of own shadow. Together the two women had the numerous drapes closed, effectively blocking the triclinium from prying eyes.
Lucretia took a sip of her wine as she waited for Gaia to reveal what about Severus caused such disgust.
"Lucius is a brutal man, Lucretia, and I do not speak of his years spent as soldier." Gaia picked up her wine, rose to her feet and took a seat on the same couch as Lucretia. "I do not wish to shout. A tale such as mine should only be spoken in hushed words and kept to dust and shadow. You must promise to never repeat what I am about to tell you, Lucretia."
The auburn haired Roman started to nod, but Gaia took her hands in hers and squeezed them tightly to give added weight to her words.
"Quintus to be included, Lucretia. I must have your word."
Lucretia's heart began to pound. This was no idle gossip Gaia was about to share, and for a moment, the lanista's wife worried if perhaps it would be best to remain ignorant of Gaia's news; enlightenment was not always a thing to be rejoiced. However, curiosity won out. "Freely given, Gaia. Your words shall never be echoed through my lips, not even to loving husband's ear."
Gaia drained her wine and, to everyone's shock (slave and noble), without waiting for Ivana to refill her cup, she poured her own. "Upon meeting Lucius Severus, like you, I thought him handsome, desirable. I flirted with him shamelessly, despite Octavia warning me not to engage with him. I was blinded by his form and position, and did not heed words of advice from the woman who knew him far better than I."
The brunette's dark brown eyes glistened and Lucretia's shock grew twofold. She could not recall ever seeing her old friend cry. This truly must be harrowing tale. She reached out and took her friend's hands in hers. "Gaia, I would never ask you to speak of something that troubles you so." She brushed a kiss upon Gaia's lush ruby red lips. "Let us strike it from thought..."
Gaia shook her dark head. "No. Best you have clear understanding of the measure of this man, Lucretia. Never let your guard down when he is in proximity."
Chills raced up Lucretia's spine at those words and she began to get an ugly idea of what Gaia spoke. "What did he do to you?"
"As I said, I flirted with the man shamelessly. Decimus was always traveling to dusty little cities for trade, so I was alone quite often. Imagine my surprise and pleasure when Lucius came to call during one of Decimus' trips to Naples." Gaia took a deep breath and a gulp of wine before continuing. "I thought to enjoy pleasant conversation with attractive man." Again, she paused, before admitting, "perhaps even an amorous adventure..."
Lucretia saved judgement. She was well aware Decimus had been old enough to be Gaia's grandfather! "As a woman must when married to an ancient husk," Lucretia said.
Gaia chuckled softly, but for once there was no joy in Gaia's laughter. "The first time I entertained the man, I let things go too far..."
"You fucked him." It was not said as question.
Gaia sighed and nodded. "To my eternal shame, I did." Her dark eyes hardened. "And the cocksucker promptly told Octavia about assignation, adding his own twisted brand of lies to the telling," Gaia said. "For a time, until she visited your villa, it cost me her friendship."
"What did he say to her?" Lucretia asked, reclining onto the couch.
"I know not," Gaia replied. "To the day, she has never broken words on the subject."
"And that is why you despise him so?"
"If only," Gaia retorted with a look of sheer disgust. "If that was his only crime, I would call him typical man and left it behind in dust and shadow like ghost of Decimus, but he took more from me than Octavia' friendship, Lucretia..."
Lucretia had worried it might be ugly tale. She sat up and put her arm around her friend. "We need not speak of it."
Gaia shook her head. "No. We must. As I said, it is imperative you know the nature of this man." Her hands were trembling as she took another sip of wine. "After he dropped venom from tongue to Octavia's ear, the man returned to my villa when Decimus was, once again, traveling." Gaia's chin rose. "Being the glorious sun that I am, I, of course told him I had no desire to see him and promptly dismissed him."
Lucretia could not help it, she smiled. "Of course you did. You are a woman who knows her worth."
The brunette shivered and took another drink of wine. "He became enraged. He attacked me in my own villa. Dragged me by my hair to my cubiculum and..." She grimaced. "He brutalized me, Lucretia," she whispered. "The man took pleasure in inflicting pain unlike any I had ever known before or since, and what is worse, he enjoyed my screams. They gave him pleasure," she said with a shudder.
"Gaia," Lucretia whispered, utterly horrified. She gathered her friend again into her arms.
"That is the nature of Lucius Severus," Gaia said softly. "He stands a sadist."
Lucretia's blue eyes teared up at Gaia's horrific tragedy. Octavia's uncommon quietness the previous day now became clear. Lucretia hugged Gaia tightly. "If I could, I would remove memory from brain. I would strike the man down and send him to Tartarus!"
Gaia returned Lucretia's hug and even managed a teary-eyed chuckle at Lucretia's comment regarding sending Severus to Tartarus. "I fear even the Furies would quit, tail between legs in the face of Lucius Severus' evil!"
"I shall heed warning, Gaia, and apologies for causing you to relive even a moment of such a horror to break words of explanation to trusted friend."
"None required. The memories are not as gruesome as they once were." She kissed Lucretia's lips gently. "Present company has done wonders to improve mood and spirits."
After taking a moment to compose herself, Gaia suddenly got to her feet and spun around in a circle. "Let us strike the animal from mind and instead expound upon the virtues of a true man." Gaia's cheeks pinkened. "What think you of Vettia?"
And with those words, Gaia was once again the charming beauty who her husband called a "force of fucking nature". Lucretia had never heard truer words. She had to be to not take blade to breast after such cruel treatment. Lucretia turned mind to how she could take vengeance upon Lucius Severus and make him pay for what he did to cherished friend. She would have to give it some thought...
Aurelius' Domus: Octavia's Cubiculum:
Sounds of lovemaking were loud in the room. The slapping sound of flesh meeting flesh, along with the heavy pants and breathless cries of two people swiftly rising towards blissful end made it clear what was happening within.
They were laying sideways on her overly large bed. The covers were torn asunder, kicked aside, with many of them lying haphazardly both on and off the bed. Gannicus' tanned body looked dark upon her pristine white sheets as he braced himself above her, his hips moving quickly, fucking her with reckless abandon. He threw his head back as he moved, blonde hair wild, like a lion's mane from Octavia's fingers running through it.
"Fuck!" he growled, his thrusts increased in speed until he was slamming into her hard and fast.
"Gods!" Octavia cried, moving in time with him, nails digging into his sleek shoulders and down his back as he thrust into her. "You truly are a God!" She was so close... Just a little more... "Please!"
He looped his arms under shapely knees and bent knees backward toward her chest. She gave a sharp cry as new position had desired result and his cock hit new depths within her. He swirled his hips as he moved, grinding his pelvic bone against the apex of her thighs, hitting that spot between her legs that never failed to make her howl with pleasure.
"Fucking Gods yeeesss!" she screamed, sharp nails clawing at him, raking his back hard, desperate to achieve climax.
Gannicus grunted in pain as she drew blood. He felt it running down his back, mixing with his sweat; he kept on fucking her, never pausing in quest to bring them both to completion.
"Please! Oh, Gods please..." And then she said it, "Dominus."
He chuckled softly, pleased at his power over her. It spurred him on. His thrusts increased even more, and he pounded into her with brutal efficiency. Feeling his own time coming, he reached between them, letting his thumb rest upon tiny nubbin of nerve endings that held the secrets to a woman's pleasure. He pressed down upon that nub, giving it the added pressure needed to bring her to release as he fucked them both towards glorious finish.
When her orgasm hit, Octavia jerked, nearly bucking him off her so violent was the pleasure assaulting mind and body. "Oh Gods! Gannicus, I love you," she cried, loud enough for Gannicus to worry they might be caught.
He sought his own pleasure quickly, and within moments, he was climaxing as well. He tried to remove cock to spill seed, but she clung to him, wrapping arms and legs around him tightly to keep him seated, not allowing him to pull out of her.
"Octavia," he gritted out, trying to hold off. "Ease hold, I am about to fucking cum."
"No," she whimpered, "I desire your seed in me." Her legs tightened like vise around his waist, as her inner muscles continued to pulse around his cock with her orgasm.
He cursed softly as the throbbing within her passage and the gush of wetness that flooded it as well milked his release from him. "Fuck," he muttered, and lost his battle for control, spilling cum within her before collapsing on top of her, utterly spent from morning exertions.
Afterwards, as they lay together in her bed, Gannicus brushed her mass of blonde hair back so he could see her face. "You wrap legs around me as if I am to attempt escape," he told her, his confusion obvious. "You no longer allow me to pull out when my time arrives. To what purpose do you keep me inside you?" he asked, frowning at the question and possible meaning behind it.
She used to be so adamant about him pulling out, but since he arrived in Rome, things had changed. Instead of forcing his withdrawal, she now forced him to stay inside her. He would have answer and explanation. And yet, worry over answer nearly had him holding tongue. Nearly.
"See scowl removed, Gannicus," she told him, sitting up and pouring them each a glass of wine from the amphora by her bed.
He sat up as well, placing one of her plush pillows behind his back. He ran a hand through his sweat dampened hair as he accepted the wine, waiting to hear meaning behind her actions. "Break words and explain purpose, Octavia."
Octavia took a sip of the delicious Falernian wine to wet her throat. "Things have changed," she told him. "My husband and I will never have children because..." She hesitated, thought of spilling Claudius' preferences stilling her tongue. "Well, because we cannot."
His heart sped up. Fuck! Uncaring as to the whys they could not conceive, Gannicus was more stunned that she wanted to conceive with him standing as father. Thinking he needed more wine for this conversation, he gulped down the glass she offered and promptly poured another. "You would deliver unto your husband the child of a slave and tell him it is his?!"
"Not at all. I would not attempt suck trickery."
"So, you would tell him I stand as father?" Becoming embroiled in a shit storm such as this was not a thing Gannicus desired. It would, at best, tie him to Octavia for life, at worst, it could mean his death!
"I would," she conceded.
He wondered briefly if a person could die from shock? He felt as if he might presently. "Have you lost fucking mind?!" he near shouted, setting his now empty cup aside and making a move to absent himself from her bed.
Octavia grabbed his arm, halting his escape. "You misunderstand." She imagined trying to fool Claudius into thinking he fathered a child when he has never put cock to cunt, and she started to giggle; it was ridiculous!
When she began to laugh, Gannicus paused to stare long and hard at her. Had she gone mad? Had he fucked brain from skull?! "Octavia," he snapped, "quit laugh and speak fucking sense!"
Knowing how fond he was of his wine, she poured him yet another cup. "Pause a moment to hear explanation," she told him, wanting to ease mind. She ran her thumb along his stubbled jaw. "I said I would never attempt to trick my husband in such a manner, and I meant it. I could not even if I wanted to Gannicus."
"Break words and explain," he said, setting his once again empty glass down and crossing his arms over his muscular chest, obviously agitated.
Octavia was unsure how to do so without bringing to light facts that honorable husband would rather bed her lover than her. "Can you not simply trust words he would know?"
He shook his head. "How would he know?"
Finally, she told him the truth. Perhaps, it was best. Claudius desired to watch Gannicus fuck her. This was opportunity to lay foundation for the matter. "He would know Gannicus because Claudius has never fucked me." She gave him a wicked little smile. "At least not in my woman's parts."
Gannicus' eyebrows shot to his forehead as it dawned on him. "He prefers cock to cunt," he said. It was not a question.
She answered anyway by nodding. "We have arrangement. He has his pleasures," she ran a hand along his chest, "and I have mine."
"And now you want a child?" he asked, still in disbelief.
She pouted, becoming irritated by his questioning. "I am not trying to become with child, Gannicus, but if such a thing were to happen, Claudius would not turn such a gift away."
"And he would accept this? A child borne not of his loins, but from a slave, as heir to his House?" He rolled his eyes and snorted. Having known Romans most of his adult life, he scoffed at the very idea. "I find that fucking hard to believe!"
She shrugged. "Your belief is not necessary," she told him before reaching down to his lap and taking hold of his now flaccid cock. "I simply need this to give me children."
It was meant to be humorous, but Gannicus was not finding situation at all laughable. Her words penetrated skull. Wait... Children?! Meaning more than one. Fuck!
Seeing his frown, she sought to ease mind. "What troubles you?" she asked as she lay on top of him, her ripe breasts pressing against his muscled chest. "You are more than capable of filling my belly with child." She leaned forward and kissed him, nibbling his bottom lip. "And, you definitely enjoy putting cock to cunt," she teased, rubbing against him like a cat in heat. "So, who better to give me children than you? The glorious gladiator I have lost heart to."
She gazed up at him under her lashes and Gannicus found breathing a difficult thing the longer she spoke. Again, she said children, as in plural. How many children? Was he never to be free of this woman?
And then there was her expression as she lay there gazing up at him. She had let him know before she left Capua that she had lost heart to him; he was certain she was expecting him to return her affections at some point. Apparently, time for his declaration was upon him presently. He cursed fluently within head. He had been in this position before. It did not bode well since he had no words of love to offer. Gannicus was all too tragically aware of damage a woman scorned can unleash. It was for this reason alone he kept to the company of whores; they never asked for your heart, just your coin.
Fuck the Gods!
As silence stretched thin, Octavia's face became a distorted sequence of painful comprehension. Her green eyes teared up. "This is what truly troubles mind. Being tied to woman you have no love for," she murmured, voice breaking on last words and she immediately began to push away from his side. "Perhaps if it were Melitta asking you to plant child in belly, you would present cock and be happy to do so. Would you not?"
Stunned she had found truth with no words from him, Gannicus saw bad situation moving towards deadly situation. He could not let her leave believing he had no care for her or worse, that he wanted Melitta to give him a babe! Even if the idea gave him an almost giddy feeling of excitement. He struck it from thought as quickly as it came.
He had to mend this now. Gannicus wrapped strong arms around her before she could flee. "Octavia, quit. Do not absent yourself from my presence," he said, pulling her back to lay upon his chest. "You misunderstand confused silence for lack of sentiment."
He tilted her chin up, wincing at the sight of her pale cheeks wet with tears. He needed to mend rift or see Batiatus reign shit upon not only his head, but Melitta's as well. Gannicus said a prayer to Gods he did not believe in to give him the acting skills needed to convince her his heart was involved as well.
He used his thumbs to wipe her tears away. "I stand surprised at your desire to have me put a babe inside you is all," he murmured softly, kissing first her cheeks, then her lips, encouraging her to change mood. "I promise, there is nothing more to it than that," he said, lying quickly and (he hoped) convincingly. He could not allow her jealousy to run amok yet again. "Turn thoughts from Melitta, please. We have had this conversation more times than memory allows. My answer stands the same each time."
"You were quiet for long moments, Gannicus. And I bore witness to your face when my brother made request to have that Egyptian gladiator take Melitta." She stared into his eyes. "Your expression was as if Lucius was asking the man to fuck your wife, not your brother's."
He cupped her face in his palms. "I cannot stand to see her mistreated. Why is that surprising to you? She is dear friend. Oenomaus is my brother. How much guilt do you wish to heap upon my shoulders?" he growled, warming to this argument. "I already carry the burden that I put cock to his wife. Would you have me carry added shame that I stood by while Duratius took a turn on her too?"
By the time he was finished, he was genuinely irate. Truth apparently helped cause because her face crumpled, and she began to offer apologies for her behavior, her brother's and Romans in general!
Having her repentant was a start, but Gannicus knew he had to ease mind regarding his care for her as well. He had to convince her he had love in his heart for her. To further his purpose, he turned thoughts to Melitta. The way her eyes danced when she teased him, her smile and how feeling her heart beating next to his brought him great joy...
He gathered Octavia in his arms and cradled her to him in gentle embrace. "There was a time when I did not believe myself capable of love," he told her softly, truthfully. "And yet, when I look into your eyes, my heart pounds and I lose breath. Is that love?" he asked, then shrugged in answer. "I know not, but I do know you make cock hard and knees weak when you smile at me. I ache to hold you in my arms and when your heart pounds next to mine..." He sighed, thinking of big dark eyes, ebony locks and lips as red and luscious as ripe berries. "I have never known greater joy with a woman."
It must have worked because she climbed up his body to sit astride his lap. "Your words," she whispered, as she cupped his cheeks in well-manicured hands and stared into his face with adoring green eyes. "Cause heart to flutter in chest like bird's wings, soaring into the heavens!"
She kissed him deeply as her hand sought him out under the silken sheets and began to stroke him to hardness. Gannicus closed eyes and fell back to his pillows, hands gripping her hips as her hand moved up and down his cock, thumb swirling around and over the tip as she knew he liked. In moments he was standing erect and strong to purpose.
She kissed him with joyous abandon. "My heart...it overflows with love for you. I have never felt the like," she told him breathlessly as she guided him inside her. "You could crush me with a word. I pray you never do."
Relief she believed him, fear she would one day slay him, and the utter lust he felt when they fucked all swept through him simultaneously; a bizarre blend of emotions certainly, but strangely, it was a brew he was becoming all too familiar with when it came to his Roman lover.
As he filled her once again, Octavia met his gaze as she began to ride him. "You did not say the words, but intent was felt in every syllable." She gasped when his cock hit that special spot inside her. "Gods!" she whimpered, shuddering at how wonderful he felt inside her. "That is love, Gannicus. Our children will be borne of love."
And with those words, Gannicus knew his fate was sealed. He banished thoughts of the woman who had inspired his ability to lie so easily and focused simply on the pleasures of the flesh he felt with the woman presently availing herself of his cock.
He did not want to whisper words of love or promises of children to come. He just wanted to fuck. It was what he and her did to perfection. He wrapped a hand around the nape of her neck and brought her lips to his. "Do you know what I love about you," he told her, his voice a deep growl of pure lust. "The way your cunt squeezes my cock so tightly when you are about to cum." He bit his lip as she tightened around him at his words. He got to his knees, keeping her astride his lap, cock inside her the entire time. He used his knees to propel himself upwards, making his thrusts into her deeper, more powerful. "Yes!" another thrust. "just" and another, "like" another deep thrust... "that," he groaned softly, finally getting lost in their fucking so he would not weep for the woman he truly wanted to lie with in the dark and make love with.
Octavia kissed him again. "Yes, my love," she cried, as he took her to heights never achieved. "Just like that!"
And once again, there were no sounds in the room, but the visceral music of flesh meeting flesh accompanied by the soft sighs and deep growls of a man and woman racing towards climactic end.
(1) The Ludus Magnus was an actual Ludus in Rome that was created in patronage to Emperor Domitian in the late 1st Century AD. I took creative license here and used it, but it was not actually around in the day and age of Gannicus and Spartacus.
Thank you to each of you who take the time to let me know you're enjoying this story. It helps to keep me inspired.
