by Kate Hill
“I don’t have words,” Areus whispered. He bent and brushed his mouth with a kiss so tender Cassipor’s heart twisted. He loved this man and always would. Why couldn’t Areus have been a woman instead? That way Cassipor could have everything he’d ever dreamed of. He knew he was being selfish, but part of him couldn’t help it.
Neither fell asleep easily that night. They held each other, kissing and making love, until finally Cassipor’s mortal needs overcame him and he drifted off.
In the morning they returned to Ludus Magnus and their days of freedom ended.
Once his matches were set, it took Cassipor little time to attract the attention of certain Romans who were interested in entertainment outside the amphitheatre. With his natural talent combined with Areus’ superb teaching, he began a string of victories that made gladiator enthusiasts scream with anticipation whenever he stepped into the amphitheatre. His handsome looks and stunning physique caught the interest of several rich Roman women who summoned him for discreet affairs.
Though some were beautiful and pleasant enough in bed, none aroused his lust like Areus. In spite of the gifts from his rich lovers and his growing notoriety as a gladiator, he longed for nights alone with his mentor, like those they’d spent at Flavius’ villa.
Perhaps he’d been naïve or merely chose to ignore the possibility, but he hadn’t thought about being called to the cubiculum of another man. One evening he was taken to the home of Marcus Septimus, a close friend of the emperor. The man met him in a spacious cubiculum in an expensive home in the heart of the city. Sprawled naked on the bed, Marcus beckoned Cassipor with a finger. The slave who had escorted him to the room left them alone.
Cassipor moved slowly toward the bed, feeling numb and a little sick. Marcus Septimus was attractive enough in an effeminate way, but Cassipor had no interest in bedding him. For some strange reason, he took no issue with fucking women, but bedding another man made him feel as if he was somehow betraying Areus. Or perhaps he didn’t want a reputation as a lover of men. Once he earned his freedom, he imagined making some semblance of a normal life. When and if he asked Areus to make him immortal, there was a chance he could become a man of rank, an equal to his current superiors, men who paid to watch him bleed in the amphitheatre.
In truth, he wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted, only that he didn’t want to fuck Marcus Septimus.
The man rose, his rather close-set brown eyes gleaming with lust. When he stood in front of Cassipor, he needed to tilt his head to meet the gaze of the much taller man. A smirk on his lips, Marcus pointed to the bed. “Sit.”
Cassipor did as ordered. He was, after all, a slave. Property of the emperor. If he refused Marcus, there could be trouble. Serious trouble.
Using his bony knee, Marcus nudged Cassipor’s thighs apart and stepped between them. He draped his slim arms around the slave’s neck and kissed him. Marcus’ tongue forced its way between Cassipor’s lips. He tasted of strong wine and even stronger herbs.
Cassipor closed his eyes, partly so Marcus wouldn’t see his revulsion and partly because he thought if he could imagine being with Areus, he might be able to get through this.
And ruin his life. Cassipor had very definite ideas about who he wanted to be. Making love with men had never been included in his goals. His affair with Areus had happened by accident. The love he felt for his mentor was an oddity and something quite beyond his control. Fucking Areus was one thing. Fucking any man who showed the slightest interest in him was another.
* * *
Other than a request to pass the potatoes or the salad, an uncomfortable silence had settled over the group seated at Greg and Andrew’s dining room table.
Daniel had been starving when he’d arrived, but Nigel’s attitude ruined his appetite. What hurt was his denial that Daniel was his Creator. Anything else he could tolerate, but to deny one’s Creator without good reason was the highest insult one vampire could deliver to another.
Daniel could understand him wanting to keep their love affair a secret. He knew how many centuries it had taken Nigel to create the “perfect” image for himself. In spite of the fact that he tried not to care about his estranged offspring, Daniel had kept watch over him. The younger vampire had worked hard over the years and founded many successful businesses. He’d had relationships with wealthy, attractive women, both mortal and vampire. If he had affairs with other men, no one, not even Daniel, had uncovered them. Nigel had completely erased his days as a slave, except in his own mind where he was still, after two thousand years, trying to prove something to himself.
He knew Nigel had, in spite of his desire to separate himself from his Master, kept track of Daniel as well. They’d had other encounters over the centuries. In spite of the passion burning between them, they hadn’t fucked since those early days in Rome.
“Everything is delicious,” Hagen said, breaking Daniel’s thoughts.
“Yes, it is,” Daniel agreed and held Nigel’s gaze. “You really are a great cook.”
Nigel curled his lip and took a long sip from his water glass. Anger and arousal emanated from him, so strong that Daniel knew the others must sense it as well. He probably shouldn’t keep goading Nigel, but he couldn’t help it. Even after so many years, childish anger rose in him, too. He didn’t want or expect Nigel to announce they had been lovers, but he still believed he deserved acknowledgement as his Creator.
“Glad to hear you like the food,” Richie said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “I’d wanted to go with a fish dinner, but --”
“Nigel doesn’t like fish,” Daniel said. “Never did. As I recall, he had a certain passion for dormice back in Rome.”
“Dormice?” Sondra curled her lip. “Doesn’t sound too promising. What sort of dish was that?”
“You’d rather not know,” Nigel said curtly. “It’s not an appropriate topic for a modern dinner table. Some of us have progressed enough to recognize that.”
Daniel smiled slightly and continued holding Nigel’s gaze. “And some of us haven’t progressed at all, in any direction.”
“More mashed potatoes, anybody?” Sondra asked, a weak attempt at redirecting the conversation.
“Down here, please,” Andrew said.
The silver bowl of potatoes passed from hand to hand until it reached the armorer.
After dinner, Andrew suggested they go horseback riding. Hagen and Ruby declined and said they’d remain behind to clean the kitchen and make coffee to serve with the pies. Since there were five horses in the stable, Richie and Sondra decided to share a beautiful Clydesdale-Thoroughbred mix.
As they brushed the horses to prepare for the ride, Nigel glanced at Daniel and said snidely, “Would you like a sidesaddle?”
“No,” Daniel replied, a smirk on his lips. “If you remember, I prefer to mount from behind and then ride astride.”
Nigel’s face flushed a bit and he visibly gritted his teeth. He glanced from the others back to Daniel, as if hoping they hadn’t noticed the comment.
Moments later, they were riding. Andrew and Greg’s pet mastiffs tagged along, barking playfully every now and then. Richie and Sondra went off on their own. After giving a brief rundown on the layout of his property, Andrew rode away with Greg close behind him. The dogs followed their masters.
Realizing that the others had deliberately left them alone, Daniel and Nigel stared hard at one another for a moment. Daniel had to admit Nigel looked gorgeous astride the tall black horse that pranced beneath him, as if sensing its rider’s tangled emotions. Nigel turned his horse away from Daniel and kicked it into a gallop. Daniel considered letting him go, but something inexplicable made him chase after him.
The horse he rode was a tall, big-boned chestnut gelding. Young, strong, and surprisingly fast, the animal easily responded to Daniel’s commands and soon he was racing neck to neck with Nigel’s stallion.
His eyes tinged vampiric red, Nigel glanced at Daniel and urged his horse to go faster. Daniel chuckled. The ri
valry between them had always excited him as much as their passion.
The forest loomed ahead and Daniel shouted, “Race you to the trees!”
The horses tore across the grass, but at the last second Daniel’s pulled ahead by a nose. The men slowed their mounts and Daniel chuckled, patting the gelding’s neck.
With a swiftness that took Daniel by surprise, Nigel sprang from his horse onto Daniel’s. Using his knees as leverage, he locked one forearm across Daniel’s throat while his other applied pressure to the back of his neck.
“Gonna kill me, Nigel?” Daniel purred. “If you try, you better make sure it takes because, hon, I’ll come back with a fucking vengeance.”
Growling savagely, Nigel shifted his weight and knocked them both off the horse’s back. They landed with a grunt on the hard ground, limbs tangled and vampiric rage coursing through them like electricity. Daniel flung Nigel off him then leapt atop him. A moment later Nigel reversed their positions. He struck his Creator in the face and Daniel tasted blood. The flow of the delectable elixir infuriated and aroused him.
They leapt to their feet, fists raised in defense. Fangs flashing, they simultaneously locked in battle. Nigel jabbed with his left and threw a right hook, but Daniel evaded his blows. His fist connected with Nigel’s jaw. A snapping kick to Nigel’s midsection staggered him almost to his knees. When Daniel kicked again, Nigel caught his leg and yanked him off balance. Once again on the ground, the men grappled and sank their fangs into each other. The savage bites tore through clothing, staining it with blood.
Finally they broke apart, panting, their eyes aglow and more emotions hanging between them than either wanted to admit. “What the hell was with all those comments over dinner and in the stable?” Nigel gasped.
“You’re the one who made the sidesaddle remark. I was merely playing along.”
“Are you trying to ruin my life?”
“No,” Daniel snapped. “And I should know by now I’ll never be a part of it. Not even as your Creator. You can’t even admit to that.”
“You don’t understand my situation. I can’t admit to those people that a -- a vampire like you is my Creator.”
“Like me?” Daniel glared. “What are you talking about? Because I’m a Spartan, have black hair, like the color pink?”
“The last one is getting warmer and you know it. I can’t admit that my Creator is gay. If I do, they’ll know about us, even if we don’t tell the truth.”
“You think they don’t know the truth already?” Daniel scoffed. “Wake up and smell the Type A, hon. If the reason for this little get together isn’t obvious to you, then you’re getting senile and, sweetheart, that doesn’t usually happen to vampires.”
“Will you stop calling me sweetheart and hon?”
“I call everybody hon. It’s habit, hon.”
In spite of himself, Nigel grinned. He wiped blood from his lips and said, “You’re impossible. Always have been.”
“And always will be.”
The men stood and went to their horses. Daniel decided to head for the forest to walk out his mount. To his surprise, Nigel followed and they made their way down a well-trodden path. Moonlight shone through the trees, providing just enough light for vampiric eyes. When they reached a clearing with a brook running through it, Daniel paused. Seconds later, he felt Nigel’s arms wrap around him from behind. The other vampire’s smooth shaven face nuzzled his cheek in a way that affected Daniel more than he wanted to admit.
“I’ve missed you,” Nigel whispered, his voice husky. “Much as I wish I didn’t.”
Daniel tried to pull away, but Nigel tightened his grip. He ran his tongue along the side of Daniel’s neck then pressed gentle kisses along it. Daniel closed his eyes and leaned against Nigel, tilting his head so the other vampire had easier access to his neck. He felt Nigel’s swollen cock pushing against him and his own erection leapt in response to the sensation.
“Do you have any idea how badly I want you?” Nigel growled.
“No more than I want you.”
Grunting with scarcely restrained lust, Nigel shoved Daniel toward a tree trunk. Daniel’s heart raced with anticipation. He allowed Nigel to take control because that was how they both liked it. Daniel loved being possessed by the sinewy, blue-eyed vamp and Nigel loved taking him, plunging his cock into Daniel’s tight ass.
With deft fingers, Nigel opened Daniel’s belt, unfastened the button on his trousers and slid down the zipper. One swift tug and the trousers pooled around Daniel’s feet. He heard the soft zip of Nigel’s pants being undone, and almost expected Nigel to ram him painfully, punishment and passion rolled into one, but he didn’t. Instead he reached around, his cheek pressed to Daniel’s, and began unbuttoning his shirt. When he finished, Daniel shrugged it off and also kicked aside his trousers. Completely exposed to Nigel, he waited, his heart thrumming and hands braced against the tree.
“You know you’re the only man who’s ever made me this crazy,” Nigel said, licking the back of Daniel’s neck. He used his fangs to gently nip the flesh, then trailed his tongue down the length of Daniel’s spine. Thoroughly aroused by Nigel’s touch, he quivered with desire. His belly clenched and cock ached with need. Squatting behind him, Nigel began to lick and nip his ass.
“You always were a gorgeous fucker,” Daniel breathed, swallowing hard and arching his neck as pleasure grew. He’d had many other lovers in his long life, but never one who turned him on as much as Nigel.
Nigel chuckled, a sexy, throaty sound that revealed his arousal. He reached around and clasped Daniel’s cock, stroking firmly just the way Daniel loved it. While he stroked, Nigel continued trailing his lips over his ass. Just when Daniel thought he was going to explode, Nigel released his cock and grasped his buttocks with both hands. He parted the taut spheres enough so that he could tongue his sphincter.
“Ahh!” Daniel shouted and sank his nails into the tree trunk. This was too fucking good. Too damn hot to survive, especially after he’d spent the last few thousand years dreaming of being with Nigel again.
After a moment, Nigel released him. Daniel glanced over his shoulder and saw him rubbing lube from a sample size container onto his cock.
“You bring it with you?” Daniel wrinkled his nose. “Kinky.”
Nigel didn’t reply. He placed a rough hand to the back of Daniel’s neck and forced him to look at the tree trunk. Daniel’s fingers tightened hard on the bark as Nigel entered him slowly, savoring each and every moment.
It had been so long. So fucking long. Daniel could hardly contain himself. He moaned and bucked as Nigel began a rhythmic thrusting that enflamed their desire. Nigel’s hand slipped around and began pumping Daniel’s swollen shaft. His thumb brushed the head and teased the vein running along the underside.
“Nigel, oh, yes,” Daniel panted, his grip tightening even more on the tree. His eyes closed and he nearly shouted with pleasure when Nigel’s fangs sank into his shoulder, hurling them over the edge. Nigel shot into him and Daniel’s come spurted against the tree trunk.
For a several moments they leaned against the tree, Daniel’s body trapped between the trunk and Nigel. He felt his lover’s breath against his neck and heard the echo of his heartbeat. Nigel’s scent filled him, both soothing and stimulating.
Finally they moved away and Daniel hitched up his trousers, watching as Nigel did the same.
Now that it was over, Nigel looked distracted again, his lips pressed into a grim line. “I can’t go back to the house and face them all. Not after this.”
Daniel nodded. He wasn’t afraid of confronting the others because his love for Nigel had never shamed him. However, he was a bit angry with Richie for trying to manipulate him. If he had questions about Daniel’s past, then he should have come right out and asked him instead of engaging in matchmaking plans. It wasn’t Richie’s style. He didn’t doubt it was probably Ruby’s idea, but that didn’t absolve Richie. Daniel expected far more honesty from his offspring. Funny how his
offspring always seemed to disappoint him when it came to love or loyalty.
“Now I see why you made Sondra’s life so miserable when she started dating Richie.”
“Which one of them told you that?” Nigel snapped.
“I can assure you it wasn’t Sondra,” Daniel said. “She seems to respect you as her Creator, though heaven knows why after the way you treated her.”
“The way I treated her?” Nigel roared. “I love her like a daughter. I raised her since she was a mortal child. I --”
“You had her so afraid of your medieval attitude toward sex that she didn’t want to tell you about the man she loves because he’s a female impersonator. Because he has some gay friends.”
“I was trying to protect her. People can be cruel.”
“Yes, but you shouldn’t have been cruel yourself. Your self-disgust almost made her choose between her Creator and her lover. That’s a decision she shouldn’t have had to make! I assure you she could find no better husband than Richie.”
“And he could find no better wife!”
“Then you admit they belong together?” Daniel probed.
Nigel spoke through gritted teeth. “If I didn’t believe that I wouldn’t have tried so hard to accept him.”
Daniel snorted and shook his head. “As if you’re one to judge him.”
“This conversation is over.”
“We are over.”
“We never should have been in the first place.”
“Really?” Daniel scoffed. “You didn’t feel that way when you told me you didn’t want to die. That you were glad I made you a vampire.”
Nigel’s face went scarlet with fury. “How dare you fling that back at me?”
“How dare you try to hide the fact that I’m your Creator?”
They glared at each other for several long moments. Their chests rose and fell with emotion and both seemed beyond words.
Silently they left the woods and returned the horses to the stable.
* * *
Back at Andrew and Greg’s house, the others sat in the living room sipping coffee and devouring pie. Only Sondra had no interest in eating. She paced the room and said, “Richie, I’m really getting worried. Nigel and Daniel have been gone a long time.”