Replay Book 9: Gladiator

by Farrell, Nia

  Leda and Djiman volunteered to cook. While they worked, Marco and Lukas went to take the pictures that Ms. Bryan would need for a police brutality case. Antonio called Sir Piers, arranging to have Djiman’s bed replaced with a daybed and have Leda’s things brought in.

  Oatmeal was a staple of Lukas’s diet. Djiman found a small stainless steel stockpot and mixed up a batch of hot cereal. Leda focused on making eggs. She used a commercial-sized skillet to sauté onions, then turned the heat down and added a mix of eggs, salsa, diced tomatoes, and black olives. While the scrambled eggs cooked, Djiman finished slicing the avocados and found some sour cream to serve on the side. He set the table, adding a bowl of fresh fruit for Marco. Marco had a sweet tooth, he explained, and fresh fruit helped him avoid white sugar.

  Conversation at the table was subdued. Leda was heartened by praise from the men for her cooking. She was by no means a chef, but she enjoyed finding new recipes to try. As soon as she got her laptop here, she had a whole folder of recipes to choose from and add to, when time allowed.

  A crew from the resort came an hour later to disassemble Djiman’s stripped bed and take it away. As they were leaving, Sir Piers pulled up. Leda pressed a hand to her stomach and held her breath, dreading the conversation that they were about to have.

  She followed the men into the living room, where everyone had a seat. She was properly submissive, pulling a pillow onto the floor to sit at Lukas’s feet. She hoped that she could be his anchor like Sir Antony had been hers last night.

  Sir Piers nodded his approval. “I hear that you’re settling in,” he told her. “The daybed that Sir Antony selected should be delivered this afternoon.”

  Sir Antony allowed only the barest smile. Chances were, it would have a frame that lent itself well to kink. She could see herself lying on it, nude and bound for their pleasure.

  Sir Piers steepled his fingers, sweeping the room with his gaze before turning it back to her. “While your introduction to the household was unorthodox, and its ramifications were unfortunate, what’s done is done. The security camera footage, the phone records, and now the eyewitness have validated your claim of consent and the charges have been dropped. Sir Djiman, your immigration status is unchanged. Continue your studies and be prepared when test time comes for citizenship. Sir Lucius.”

  Leda felt him tense a bit. Hoping that she didn’t hit any bruises, she curled a hand around the back of his calf and lightly rubbed it. In response, he sifted his fingers through the dark silk of her hair.

  “Ms. Bryan shared the statement that you gave her with Marcus Vos, our head of security. He has discovered that the officer in question—the one whom you said tripped you, then claimed that you were trying to escape and beat you—was recently divorced. It seems that his ex-wife is a fan of yours. We shall do everything in our power to see that the full truth is revealed, but without another eyewitness, as of now, it is his word against yours. He still wants you charged with resisting arrest. Because of the conflicting testimonies, given the dismissal of the other charges, the judge has declined to do so at this point. It does, however, remain a possibility. Efforts will continue to see that it does not happen. By the way, you have an appointment with Sir Josef. All of you,” he added meaningfully. “Your allotted times are being texted to your phones. If there’s a conflict, he shall work with you to reschedule.”

  Leda waited until the resort owner was gone to speak. “I don’t have my phone,” she told Lukas. He had taken it with her purse and keys during her kidnap fantasy, and she didn’t remember seeing it when she’d searched for ibuprofen after their ménage with Sir Marcus.

  She looked at Sir Antony. “I’m sorry. I haven’t seen my purse since my first night here.”

  “It is safe,” the Spaniard told her. “Come with me, querida. I will get it for you.”

  He had made room for it in the top drawer of his dresser, which was now in Sir Djiman’s old room, along with his desk and chair. The pieces were moved as soon as the bed was out, while the workers with furniture dollies were still here. Djiman’s dresser sat on the far side of one wall. Antonio’s sat on the other side. Their two desks occupied the space between, extending from the wall and facing each other, creating a corner for each man. The rest of the room would be filled with her things, plus the daybed that was being delivered.

  Sir Antony put her purse on his desk and stepped aside. Leda fished out her phone and swept the screen.

  Her stomach dropped when the screen stayed blank. She pressed the on button and still got nothing. “It’s dead,” she told him. “My charger is at my apartment. When I get it, I’d like to get my laptop, too. The printer can wait until the rest comes.”

  “Do you have a charger in your car? We’re not allowed to park at the villa, but valet service should be able to have it here in a matter of minutes. While it’s here, we might as well go to your apartment. You want your laptop, but you need clothes, too.”

  She was dressed in another borrowed T-shirt and sweatpants. While she was grateful that they weren’t making her stay naked in January, she preferred to look nice for them. But first, she needed to know how much time they had.

  “Can you call and see when my appointment is, please? It won’t take long to gather my things, but I don’t want to be late for Sir Josef.”

  Her appointment was at four that afternoon. Lukas was first, at one PM, followed by Djiman, Marco, her, and Sir Antony. Having the last appointments gave the two of them plenty of time to collect what she needed from her apartment.

  She fixed a light lunch—turkey sandwiches with bowls of savory tomato bisque. The table held an assortment of cheeses, fresh vegetables, roasted red pepper hummus, and a bowl of fresh fruit. Lukas left for his appointment before the leftover soup had cooled. It was too good to just throw out. They’d had to do that to the paella, which was still cooling on the counter when the police came. It sat out all night before they remembered it.

  The bisque was still slightly warm when she put it in the refrigerator. With the last of the kitchen work done, she went to rejoin the men. She found them in the living room. Everyone was either on a laptop or their phone.

  Since she had neither, she decided to follow Sir Antony’s lead and do a version of knee time. She wanted to clear her mind before going to her apartment and seeing Dr. Josef Brandt. Sir Josef was the staff psychiatrist at Replay who had done the psychological evaluation required for her to work and play there.

  Placing a pillow on the floor by an empty chair, she folded her legs and sank onto it. Instead of assuming a submissive pose, she pulled her feet onto the tops of her outstretched thighs for a full lotus. Touching the tip of each index finger to a thumb, she placed the backs of her wrists on her knees and sought to empty her mind. She stayed that way close to half an hour, coming out of it when Djiman excused himself to get ready for his appointment at Replay.

  “We can take you,” Sir Antony offered. “Leda needs some things from her apartment. They can bring her car, and we’ll drop you off on the way.”

  Djiman smiled and nodded. “Thank you. That works for me.”

  Leda looked at her toes. “I need to get ready, then, too.” The socks that she’d worn here were tucked into her shoes by the back door. After the chill of the outdoor arena, she had relished the feel of the warmed tiles on her bare feet. “Excuse me, please.”

  She padded back into the living room when she was done. Marco was alone. “Do you want to stay here or come with us?”

  “Stay,” he said. “I want to be here for Lukas when he gets back. That’s assuming he comes home. He may linger at the resort a bit. He’s been talking about going back to the conservatory and seeing it in the daytime.”

  “It is lovely.” She sighed, feeling her body warm with the memories that they had made there. “It’s my favorite place to eat lunch, surrounded by all the foliage and blooms. Now that it’s officially opened, I suspect that it will be well-used on weekends. So, no more late night suppers there durin
g play hours. I’ll have to go back to my old haunt.”

  “Where’s that?”

  She smiled and shared her secret. “There’s a little bistro table and chairs just outside Replay One’s wine cellar. Down there, you’re surrounded by Old World style. The walls are stone. The doors are thick-hewn, studded with metal and hung on hand-forged hinges. It’s cool. Quiet. Perfect for sneaking away and hiding out. Until break time is up, then it’s back to work.”

  Marco nodded, his mind already clicking. The photographer was probably already imagining a photo shoot there.

  “Leda! The car is here!” Sir Antony called from the back door.

  “Gotta go. Give Lukas a hug for me. Very carefully. We’ll swing by here and drop off my things if we have enough time before my appointment. Later!”

  Standing on her toes, she brushed a kiss on his jaw and hurried to join the others.

  Chapter Ten

  By the end of the day, they had all been cleared by Sir Josef for work and play. Marco’s photo shoot with Lukas as a boxer was done, and Djiman’s old bedroom—rechristened as Leda’s room—had suitcases of clothes, her e-reader, laptop, and the charging cord for her phone. Djiman moved his toiletries to Sir Antony’s en-suite to make room for her personal things, including the toys that she kept by her bed.

  Sir Josef had listened to her nightmare and knew that she was dealing with issues, old and new. It was nothing that she couldn’t handle, but he recommended that she take the rest of the week off work to focus on healing. Leda was grateful. Working through the traumas would require every ounce of wisdom and strength that she possessed.

  Too, time away from the villa meant missed opportunities to bond with her four gladiators. She wished that she knew how to help Sir Antony express what his eyes said, that his feelings for Lukas ran deeper than friendship. It wouldn’t surprise her to learn that the swordmaster was in love with him, too.

  To give Lukas a break, Sir Antony recommended that they dine at Chez Cuisine, the upscale French restaurant in town that had catered the New Year’s Eve party. With only half of her clothes here, Leda was relieved to find the little black dress that she wanted and the accessories to go with it. Her ears dripped with diamonds. A diamond tennis bracelet encircled her wrist. A solitary stone nestled in the hollow of her throat. No matter how hard times had been, she’d refused to part with her mother’s favorite set.

  Djiman whistled softly when she came out, carrying a wrap and balancing herself on six-inch heels. “Princess, you are a queen tonight.”

  “A goddess,” Marco rumbled.

  “Divine,” Lukas said, catching her when her ankle started to twist.

  “Dangerous,” she laughed. “Maybe I should change shoes before I kill myself and take someone with me.”

  Antonio smiled. “I would die a happy man. Come, querida. Our chariot awaits.”

  Their limo driver tonight was Geoffrey. He dropped them off at the door and left to ferry patrons who were flying in for Iron Domination weekend at the resort.

  The meal was excellent. Her gladiators were the most striking men there. Wide shoulders filled out their tailored suits, and their handsome looks made heads turn. Everyone did a double take, of course, when they saw Lukas’s battered visage. Women cast envious looks her direction, which was entirely understandable. Leda only had eyes for Antonio, Marco, Lukas, and Djiman.

  At the end of their evening, Lenore picked them up in a different resort limousine. Lukas and Marco sat on one of the long, leather seats. Leda sat across from them, between Antonio and Djiman.

  Eating had satiated one hunger. Another rose in its place. The need to assuage it grew stronger with each minute that passed. By the time they reached the villa, she was ready to be ravaged.

  The men were happy to oblige.

  Marco pulled her from the limo, threw her over his beefy shoulder, and carried her into the villa. He didn’t stop until he reached the orgy beds in the banquet room.

  “On your knees,” he growled. “Take me out and suck me dry.”

  She was already wet. The way that he took command of her made her horny as fuck. Her swollen pussy lips throbbed, pulsing with the beat of her heart.

  Leda knelt in front of Marco. Reaching, she unzipped his trousers, slid her hand inside the silk boxers that he wore, and wrapped her fingers around his erection. She pulled his engorged length through the opened fly and aimed it at her mouth. Parting her lips, she opened wide and took him in, teasing him with her tongue, bathing his crown, circling the rim, and stimulating the point underneath that made him fist her hair and drive in deeper.

  He jacked his hips and fucked her face with a keen desperation, his hunger sharpened by the deprivation of last night. They should have spent hours making love. Instead, he’d been taken away, shoved into a cell, and stripped of choice. She felt when he was getting close. His rhythm broke. His testicles drew up tight. Two more strokes and he grunted, plunging into her mouth and flooding it with his seed.

  When she had swallowed the last of it, Antonio hauled her to her feet, stripped off her dress, and threw her over the end of the bed. Kicking off his trousers, he fisted his cock and shoved it into her pussy as far as it would go. He spanked her ass and drove in deeper. He spanked her again when he felt how wet that made her. Ten strokes, five on each cheek that left her craving more.

  “Please,” she whimpered. “Oh, please!”

  He fisted her hair and pulled it, making her back arch and giving her a clear view of Lukas climbing nude onto the bed. Desire burned in the depths of his jade eyes. Fisting his erection, he settled his feet on either side of her while Antonio fuck her, but he made no move to join them. Instead, he waited and watched, a voyeur to their animalistic mating.

  “Lie down, Lukas,” Antonio growled. “I’m sending her up to you. Take care of him, querida. Give him whatever he wants. Your mouth. Your pussy. Your ass.”

  Leda crawled up Lukas’s body, not stopping until her mouth was at his groin and his glans was intimately acquainted with her tonsils. He pushed against her palate, forging his way deeper inside. Spearing his fingers into her hair, he held her head while he fucked her face.

  He stopped short of coming. “Ride me,” Lukas grated. “Slide that tight, wet fotze onto my cock and ride me like an Amazon.”

  She moved higher, dragging her breasts up his body, teasing his nipples with her own. Reaching between them, she took hold of his slickened shaft, notched the head in her opening, and impaled herself on his length.

  The look on his face was fierce. Breath soughed between his clenched teeth when she started to move, using him like a sex doll for her pleasure. Angling her hips, she worked her pelvis against his, stimulating her clitoris in an erotic bump and grind.

  Beneath her, Lukas bent his knees and dug his heels into the bed to better meet her thrusts. Their bodies slammed together, filling the air with the liquid sounds of sex.

  Someone came behind her and began kissing his way down her spine. Only one of the men wore the short beard that was softly abrading her skin. Antonio licked and bit his way down her back. Claiming her breasts with his hands, he squeezed them in a bruising grip and tortured her nipples, making her pussy gush.

  Antonio went lower, testing the hollow of her back, finding the crease of her buttocks, rimming her asshole while Lukas drove himself inside her. She planted her hands on his chest and watched his face, nostrils flared, jaw set. His jade eyes were hooded and smoky with desire.

  Antonio pressed his face in so deep, his chin had to be bumping Lukas’s balls. Antonio shifted lower, dragging his tongue from her ass to her pussy, where Lukas’s length was still tunneling in.

  Lukas’s eyes went wide. He froze for a moment. A guttural moan escaped his lips. She could only guess what was happening.

  Antonio was baring his soul.

  And Lukas needed to let him.

  Leda lunged. Thrusting her fingers into Lukas’s golden brown hair, she pressed her forehead against his and flexed her
hips, freeing his cock for Antonio to worship. “It’s okay,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “It’s okay. We love you. He loves you, Lukas.”

  He came with a cry, chest heaving, his perfectly formed and sadly bruised body shuddering to a finish underneath her. Marco and Djiman joined them, lying on each side of Lukas, who was struggling to process the experience.

  “It’s true,” Djiman said. “He’s been waiting for the right time, but you never seemed ready.”

  Lukas looked at Marco. He could see the truth of Djiman’s words written on the photographer’s face. “How long have you known?”

  “Soon after we met. I’d been training with him at Replay. We became friends. One night I had him over for supper and a world cup soccer game. He saw your pictures. It was love at first sight,” he told him. “Or lust, anyway. When Antonio needed two more gladiators, he insisted on you. I talked him into Djiman, too. So far, it’s worked out well.”

  Marco and Djiman scooted over, making room for her and Antonio to lie beside Lukas. She could see the doubt on the Spaniard’s face. He was afraid that Lukas would reject him.

  Catching the swordmaster’s wrist, she laced their fingers together and guided their joined hands to rest over Lukas’s heart.

  She kissed the curve of Lukas’s shoulder. Antonio did the same.

  “It is true, querido. I have been waiting for you to look at me and see. But you were like a blind man. Anytime I tried to show you, you pushed me aside. I am afraid that I started pushing back. I wanted you to feel something for me. I took what I could get.”

  “Jesus.” Lukas blew out harshly. “I’ve never been with a man, and I thought you wanted me to bottom for you. I never thought…this.” He waved a hand and gestured helplessly.

  “I must be honest. I would enjoy having you bottom for me, but I would rather have you top me. I have dreamed of your beautiful chest covering my back while that cock of yours drives deep inside me. Whatever your mind is telling you, your body does not lie. It likes the idea.”