Centurion's Honor (Imperial Desires, Book One)

by Aidan, Nadia

  Titus was not entirely certain he approved of the young girl being trained in the matters of war—he wasn’t certain he approved of any girl learning such things. Yet he appreciated Anan’s foresight. The Roman countryside, especially border provinces like Siga, was fraught with raids and enemy attacks. Perhaps it would be prudent for a woman to know how to defend her home and herself, if she should ever face such an attack.

  And Titus decided then, by the skillful manner in which she wielded her short sword, that if ever such an attack did occur, young Olivia would be more than prepared to defend all that she cherished.

  By the time the sun was fully awake, both women were exhausted, their bodies soaked with sweat, and they brought an end to their mock battle with the exchange of smiles and a warm hug.

  “Would either of you care to join us?” Anan asked, after taking a sip of water from her pitcher. “Or will you continue to laze about, watching us all day?”

  “Laze about?” Titus’ brow arched and he returned Anan’s teasing smile. “I thought we were doing our duty by guarding you.”

  A ray of sunlight shimmered along the sharp edge of the metal blade she held in her hand.

  “Guarding me, you say?” Anan’s eyes twinkled. “I think I have that task well in hand, I would say.”

  “Do you now?” Titus took a step forward, rising to her challenge. If she was determined to spar with him, he was more than ready to offer her a formidable opponent. He reached for the blade at his side, but stopped when he caught sight of movement from the corner of his eye.

  He did not recognize the man who walked behind one of Anan’s male servants, but he surmised Anan did when she lowered her sword to welcome the visitor.

  “Claudius,” she greeted. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your unexpected visit?” Anan’s smile was warm, the embrace she gave the man she’d called Claudius was equally so and Titus frowned at how close she stood to the man after their hug long ended.

  Claudius appeared slightly older than Anan, his closely cropped black hair tinged with gray along the temples. Titus noted grudgingly he was an attractive man, his body honed with muscle, the features of his handsome face chiseled and striking. From the golden finery of his garments, Titus also determined he was a man of means, quite wealthy if he were to hazard a guess.

  Claudius’ attention seemed to be riveted upon Anan, which Titus fully understood, so several moments passed before the older man seemed to notice he was not alone with Anan, though from his roving eyes upon her figure, Titus had no doubt that this Claudius wished to be.

  Anan quickly introduced them.

  Titus was pleasant enough, but he did not miss the strained tone, the almost dangerous edge to Cassius’ voice. The sound of it was what drew Titus’ gaze to Cassius, and when he took in the drawn, tight features of the man’s face, he could only give a subtle shake of his head and a disapproving glare.

  Cassius was determined to make a fool of himself, Titus decided, as he glanced between Cassius and Anan.

  Anan stood close to Claudius, chatting amicably, and she flirted with the man, her laughter soft and feminine as she found amusement with one of his jokes. Yet she did not touch him, and her gaze periodically strayed to him and Cassius, almost as if by habit. Claudius did not strike Titus as a fool, and he soon picked up on the subtle looks that passed between the three of them with a sharp, narrowed gaze, but other than that he said nothing.

  Anan may have flirted with the man, but she went no further, which was why Titus quickly relaxed. Claudius understood the message, and it was clear. The older man knew who Anan belonged to, and that was good enough for Titus. It did not appear as if that was good enough for Cassius, who stood rigid beside Titus brewing with anger.

  Titus had grown up in a home overflowing with sisters—he understood all too well the inner workings of women. Claudius was a friend, and Anan was fond of him, but there was nothing else between them, nor would there ever be. Everything about the way Anan looked at Claudius, the way she held herself told him this, that Claudius was not a threat, but it was obvious Cassius did not think so.

  Titus let out a drawn, weary sigh. He prepared himself for a long, arduous day because Cassius was going to make an ass out of himself with his jealousy, Titus was sure of it.

  Anan felt the weight of Cassius’ dark stare all the way to her toes. He was jealous, dangerously so, and she took a slight step away from Claudius, if only to placate him.

  It did not seem to work.

  She shot him a sharp look because this was not the first time he’d reacted this way. With the exception of Titus, every time a man came near her, even one of his own soldiers, he became overly possessive. He could not expect her to shut herself away from every man she knew. That was ridiculous.

  “Your lovers are quite possessive,” Claudius teased, his voice low so that only she could hear him.

  She scowled at him before her gaze snared Olivia. “And so is yours, apparently,” she muttered to Claudius even as her attention remained riveted on her young servant.

  “Olivia, we are done here. You may visit the baths now.”

  Her maidservant nodded curtly and quickly disappeared inside the villa, but not before she gave Claudius a look that anyone with two eyes would understand. It was a look of longing, of pure, feminine yearning for a man she should not want, and could not have.

  “She is your slave,” Claudius said in response to Anan’s statement, as if he was considering her words and now weighing Olivia’s merit as a potential.

  Anan bit back a dark frown. Olivia would never be a potential for a man such as Claudius.

  “She will be free soon, and I plan to send her off with a substantial dowry.”

  He chuckled. “That does not change the fact she is far too young for me.”

  Anan’s gaze sharpened on him. “Do not worry, you will hear no argument from me. I agree entirely. But she has favored you for some time, I’d hoped she’d grow out of such foolishness.”

  Claudius’ smile was sensual, full of secrets and sin, and she had no doubt if he’d ever smiled at Olivia in such a manner, it was no wonder the girl was so enamored.

  “You speak as if this concerns you, and the crush of a girl should not. As I told you, I do not seek a wife. And if I ever were to, your servant is simply far too young and inexperienced for me. But you have my word I shall not seduce her when she leaves your care.” His grin curled higher. “Which I know is what truly concerns you.”

  She peered up into his smiling face with narrowed eyes. “You had better not. You know I’d hoped when your youngest returned that he would be amenable to taking a wife, and I’m afraid I still have my eye upon him as an ideal match.”

  Claudius sighed, his expression pained. “You are still set upon that?” He sighed. “You worry of me but I would not wish Gaius upon one so innocent as your servant either. My youngest is a soldier, and a wanderer at heart. He wants a wife even less than I do and I am certain he will resist me on this.”

  “You mean you have not spoken to him yet? I heard word that he was positioned along the border within one of the centuries. He’s not even an hour’s ride away.”

  She frowned at Claudius who appeared sheepish. And her frown deepened when she gathered the truth from his expression. Of course he’d not spoken to Gaius of his desire to see his son wed. Gaius had joined the Roman army as an act of rebellion, the first of many to come. She’d known Claudius for many years and remembered well how he and his youngest had constantly butted heads like two bulls. She bit back an inward sigh of frustration. She should have known not to wait upon Claudius. Anan would simply have to send word to Gaius himself and invite him to her villa as her guest and then present her proposal.

  “I know that look, and I strongly advise against it.”

  “Gaius has always taken to me and on his last visit he seemed quite fond of Olivia.”

  “Because she is a beautiful girl.” Claudius shrugged. “And my son has always been quite f
ond of beautiful women.”

  The frown that was still etched across her face grew harder. Claudius seemed determined to thwart her plans, but she would have none of it. When Olivia was finally released from her service to Anan, she would go into the arms of her new husband with an abundance of land and coins. Anan was set upon Gaius as that husband, and Claudius’ stalling would not change her desires or alter her plan. “You fear Gaius’ reaction to the offer I’ve made on Olivia’s behalf, don’t you?”

  “Of course.” Claudius grinned good-naturedly, seemingly unperturbed by his obvious cowardice. “My son is rebellious and stubborn. He will not be forced into such an arrangement and if he takes it as an arrangement that I am forcing upon him, he will blame me.”

  Anan’s face softened with Claudius’ words, hearing what he did not say. A rift between the two men had seen Gaius requesting tours in foreign lands to be rid of his father’s presence, and many years had passed before they’d spoken again. It was because of that, Claudius would not draw the hard line with his son, not ever again.

  She understood Claudius’ position, which was why she would simply have to speak with Gaius directly. “Well, if you did not come here to discuss my plans for Gaius and Olivia, then what has brought you here? Not that I do not enjoy your company,” she added with a warm smile.

  “I heard word that you visited Quintus.”

  Her smiled disappeared.

  “I also heard word as to why.”

  Anan was frowning outright now as she studied Claudius with narrowed eyes.

  “Do not be suspicious. We have been friends many years, since your father died. I sought you out simply to tell you I would loan you whatever you need until you can sell your harvest—”

  “Claudius.” She was already shaking her head. “I will not take chari—”

  He held up his hand. “It is a loan between friends. I would give it to you as a gift, but I know you’re far too stubborn and full of pride to accept.”

  “Claudius,” she tried again.

  He shook his head. “Please, or I would be insulted.”

  A sigh escaped her. She could not deny the loan was welcome, but she hated being indebted to anyone. It had cost her a great deal of pride to go to Quintus, but she’d eased her mind by telling herself he was family.

  “Think of this as a goodwill gesture between future parents within the law if that unburdens your troubled soul,” he teased as if reading her mind, bringing a smile to her face.

  “In that case.” She embraced him in a warm hug. “Thank you, Claudius.”

  Claudius departed shortly after, taking with him a burden of worry she’d carried around since she’d risen to find half of her livestock dead. For a moment she felt as if she could breathe, that was until she turned around to meet Cassius’ dark stare.

  His eyes said it all—as soon as they were alone he would deal with her, though she’d done nothing wrong. Yet she was certain he would punish her, nonetheless.

  A shudder raced through her, and she had to bite back a moan. What it said about her that she welcomed such punishment, she did not know, but neither could she stop the pulsing heat that wound its way through her.

  She headed inside on her way to the baths, but stopped when Olivia appeared before her, already bathed and dressed in fresh, clean garments.

  “Yes, Olivia?”

  “I have returned to escort you to the baths, domina.” Ah yes, any other time, Olivia would help bathe and dress her, as was the case for any Roman woman of wealth.

  Anan’s gaze unwittingly darted over her shoulder at Titus, then Cassius, the latter of whom practically brimmed with anger and impatience to get her alone.

  “That will not be necessary, Olivia.”

  The young girl nodded, but Anan did not miss the scarlet blush that stained her cheeks as she gave the two centurions a furtive, curious look of embarrassment from over Anan’s shoulder.

  In many ways Olivia was wise and mature, but on other matters, especially ones of intimacy, the girl was as innocent as any other and it was times like these when Anan was reminded of just how young Olivia truly was.

  Olivia turned to leave, but Anan stopped her with the gentle touch of her hand against the girl’s wrist.

  She looked up at Anan with topaz eyes so open and full of trust that Anan was forced to sigh as she took a step closer to the girl so that Titus and Cassius would not hear what she had to say.

  “I have made no secret of my plans for you, Olivia,” she whispered, “which is why you must abandon this childish infatuation you have with Claudius Ovidius. With your dowry, you will be better suited to a nice young man—a wealthy farmer, is my hope.” Anan recalled the rumors she’d heard of Claudius then, of the ways in which he bedded a woman. Claudius had revealed as much to her in the past. He did not hurt his lovers, at least the pain was not malicious or sadistic, but neither was he a gentle lover. He was kind and generous, but nice wasn’t a word that came to mind when she thought of him. He was certainly not the right man to usher a young virgin into womanhood. “He is far too old for you.”

  “Yes, domina, I know that he has affections for you.”

  Anan could not manage to keep the scowl from her face. “You are wrong. Claudius Ovidius and I are friends and nothing more, but no matter his affections, even if they were toward you, I would still advise against this.”

  “Because he does not find me comely?”

  Anan decided it was wise not to tell her he’d called her beautiful and instead told her the brutal, honest truth. “Because he would hurt you, Olivia.”

  Olivia’s eyes flickered, but Anan could not be certain of what emotion she’d glimpsed in her warm brown gaze—disappointment, disbelief?

  Anan could not be sure.

  With a curt nod, Olivia dismissed herself and turned to leave.

  This time Anan let her go as she watched Olivia disappear into the villa.

  She was certain she’d done the right thing in warning Olivia off, not that she’d truly needed to. Claudius had no interest in Olivia, but Anan believed that was only so because Olivia was not yet a woman, not yet wealthy, not yet free.

  Anan wondered if Claudius’ opinion would change when Olivia changed. She more than wondered, she worried that it would. And if it did, Olivia’s infatuation for him would lead her to entangle herself with a man she was not skilled enough in the ways of love and desire to handle, a man who would only break her heart.

  Chapter Eight

  “Olivia is besotted with your friend Claudius,” Cassius said as soon as she entered the baths.

  Her back was to him and Titus as she stuck her toe into the warm water of the bathing pool.

  “I am aware of that,” she remarked, though he’d not asked her a question.

  “Claudius seems to be taken with you instead.”

  She let out a long, weary breath. She and Claudius flirted, nothing more, there had never been more, there never would be.

  “You are mistaken. Claudius and I have only ever been friends.”

  She could almost hear the frown in his voice when he spoke, but still she did not turn around.

  “He is quite handsome.”

  Anan finally turned to meet his gaze. With a shrug she said, “I really hadn’t noticed.”

  “Liar.”

  She bristled. “Yes, he is handsome, that is obvious to all, but I have never been attracted to him, and the same is true for Claudius of me. We have only ever been friends.” Her lips thinned as her brow furrowed into a frown. “Is this how it will always be between us? A man smiles at me, touches me, and you hurl insults at me out of jealousy?”

  One dark brow lifted above deep blue eyes and that was when she realized what she’d said, what she’d implied.

  She spun around before either man could glimpse the blush that now flooded her cheeks.

  What she’d said, what she’d implied—as if this was anything more to them than easing physical lusts, as if she meant more to them than just th
e lover they now enjoyed on this military duty, when on the next they would simply find another.

  She could not believe her mistake. She’d spoken so foolishly, without thought.

  “Yes,” Cassius whispered beside her ear, his body pressed against hers as his hands wandered beneath her tunic to push it upward. “Yes, I’m afraid this is how it shall always be between us. I am a jealous man, a possessive one. That I share you with Titus is enough.”

  She did not speak, for she could not as he eased her now naked body into the pool.

  What he’d said, what he’d implied—she did not wish to dwell upon the greater meaning of it.

  No matter the stirrings in her heart for both men, it was foolish to think beyond this moment. They were soldiers who could be called away at a moment’s notice, who could die in the moment after that.

  It was foolish to think beyond this moment, but Anan’s heart was stubborn, the yearnings of her body seemed equally intractable.

  She had not experienced passion until Titus and Cassius had come into her life. She’d not experienced desire at its purest.

  Anan did not want to give that up, did not want to give them up, but she did not think she would have a choice in the matter, and neither would they. They were soldiers who would one day be commanded to leave, who would be happy to be gone from these barbarian lands, it was simply a matter of when they would go. She knew she was not enough to hold them there, to hold them there with her. And yet, if by some twist of fate she was wrong, that they wished to remain, Anan was wise enough to know they would not be allowed to stay. After all, they’d been sent to Siga against their wishes, she knew that much.

  “Something troubles you,” Cassius said from behind her, and Anan jerked in surprise. She’d been so deep in thought she had not realized he’d entered the pool as well, that his naked body was now flush against hers.

  She spun around but did not speak. She could not admit her fears to them. They would think her desperate, they would think her a fool for reading more into something than there was. She looked away, unable to bear the heavy weight of his searching gaze.