The Gladiator’s Master

by Fae Sutherland

Caelius took his place at the balcony next to Petronius and his wife. Now that the moment was here he was full of excitement. The men’s attitude had worn off on him. They weren’t afraid. They were exhilarated, and very sure of their skills.

  Though, if he had become this distressed over a mere exhibition where the chance of injury was unlikely at best, he could not even begin to imagine how plagued he would be before the actual Lupercalia.

  Excitement flowed through him. Anticipation. It had been too long since he’d fought, and even though this was just an exhibition and he trusted Demos, it was still a battle with spectators and live blades. He itched to feel the ripple down his arm as steel met steel.

  “Do not hold back tonight, my friend. I look forward to a strong battle hard won.”

  Demos chuckled. “Oh trust me, ‘Lion,’ I will hold nothing back.” The other man gave Gaidres a good-natured smirk. “I cannot believe he gave you such a grandiose title. I do not recall your skills in bed making any mountains move.”

  Gaidres’s lips twitched. “Bed? Who has need of a bed? We spend more time up against the wall.”

  “Filthy bastard. I do not need to know that!” Demos shoved him in the shoulder and glanced over as Hierocles approached to hand them their weapons to begin to warm up a bit while the opening bouts began in the courtyard.

  “You brought it up.” Gaidres chuckled and dodged a swipe of Demos’s longer, heavier blade.

  “I take it back.”

  “Enough! Prepare yourselves,” the doctoré barked. “This is no time for children’s games!”

  Kashta and Marius emerged first and Gaidres watched from the sidelines as they came forward to pay their respects before the balcony. He did his best to watch the match, not Caelius. Easier said than done. The exhibitions flew by, each one garnering the kind of attention from the spectators that must please Caelius. One by one until only his match with Demos remained.

  “Fellow citizens, allow me to present the final exhibition for the night.” Caelius’s voice rang out. “The Lion of Fidena and the noble Demos will face each other not with practice blades, but with live steel!”

  They emerged and Gaidres gestured to the balcony of observers with his sword. His eyes found Caelius, and though the helm kept Caelius from seeing his gaze, his lover felt it. Gaidres knew because their eyes met as if there were mere inches between them. Then Caelius smiled, the same smile he gave when Gaidres would stalk toward him in his chambers. The one that said he could hardly wait to be devoured.

  Soon the gathering would be done and he could do just that.

  When he turned to face Demos and Caelius raised his hand, the thrill of battle, even mock battle, overpowered the lust.

  “Begin!” Caelius dropped his fist to his palm and then the clash of steel and shield was all Gaidres could hear or focus on.

  He crouched, circling Demos and then diving in to sweep his legs, but Demos was quick and leaped out of reach. The flat of his blade knocked Gaidres off-kilter for an instant. The crowd yelled and Gaidres steeled his focus. He just knew his friend was laughing behind that helmet.

  “Laugh now, sniveling girl.” Gaidres spun to catch Demos from behind with a hard shove. Demos stumbled and barely managed to block a downward strike.

  Gaidres pounced, his sword coming down in a flurry of ruthless blows. With any other fighter, the bout would have been over then, but somehow Demos managed to roll under another swing and leap to his feet.

  Gaidres spun and swung. He could almost see the rhythm flowing between them as they matched move for move. Caelius would be very pleased with this final match and it would surely bring intense interest to the ludus, come the Lupercalia.

  Then he had no more time for thought as Demos attacked with a roar that, were this a true battle in the arena, would have sent a shiver down his spine. He could hear the cries from the crowd and knew they were on the edge of their seats.

  Then he saw his opening. The slightest mistake on Demos’s part as he hefted his shield. Gaidres grinned and swung, sword coming down full weight upon the other man’s shield as it seemed time stood still inside a breath.

  Something was wrong. Instead of the shudder of impact he expected, the sudden slam on momentum that always came, he felt a give. A sickening screech as his sword instead began to bend and then shattered.

  Instinct took control as he bent backward and dropped with a thud to the hard-packed dirt, helmet knocked loose. The blade of his sword flew end over end, the sharp, curved tip just grazing his left cheek as it passed over him to land and skid across the ground.

  Caelius’s heart leaped into his throat, strangling his cry of fear. Demos surged forward to take advantage and all Caelius could see was steel flashing down toward his lover and Gaidres too stunned to defend himself. Then Gaidres grabbed Demos’s arm, using the man’s momentum against him, throwing him off balance and sweeping his legs out from under him.

  In a flash Gaidres was on his feet, Demos’s sword in his hand as he pointed it at his friend’s throat. Silence fell and then lifted to a deafening roar as Demos lifted up two fingers indicating that he yielded the contest. Gaidres turned to look up at the balcony and Caelius swallowed convulsively as he saw the blood on his cheek.

  He couldn’t hear what everyone around him was saying past the roaring in his ears, but they sounded ebullient. They had not expected this sort of exhibition and it would only increase their interest. Talk of this night would spread and anticipation would grow. Lingering fear had him too caught up to appreciate it.

  Caelius held out his thumb, pointing it up as his guests voiced their approval and Gaidres stepped back to let Demos up to his feet. He clutched the edge of the balcony. It had looked for all the world as if Demos had been trying to kill Gaidres in truth. It had been so close. The others around him spoke in excited murmurs but every bit of his attention remained fixed on Gaidres.

  “You should get your men better equipment.” Petronius murmured it for his ears only and Caelius’s fury came back tenfold. “Unless of course you staged it this way to draw more attention…If so, you’ve succeeded. There will be talk of nothing else in the weeks to come.”

  Caelius didn’t trust himself to reply. All he could see was that sword seeking Gaidres’s life over and over in his head. But something had to be said. He lifted his hands, his heart pounding. The audience fell silent as he looked at Gaidres. “My champion, you have brought great honor to the House of Laraniia.”

  Their eyes caught and held and he could breathe again. His lover looked so fierce with the naked sword in his hand and the blood on his cheek. By the gods, Caelius loved him. One day soon, he would win over Gaidres’s heart and be able to tell him so.

  “You have found yourself a true prize, Caelius.” Petronius gestured toward Gaidres. “I found it hard to believe that Craxus left anything salvageable. I was sure you would have to start from the beginning.”

  Caelius watched Gaidres until he disappeared into the ludus before tearing his eyes away to meet Petronius’s searching stare. “It took hard work and dedication, and the men gave both in equal measure.”

  “I never understood what it was about you that garnered such loyalty and dedication. You must tell me your secret.”

  Caelius’s mind raced, impatient to get rid of his guests so he could check on Gaidres and find out who was responsible for this. Felix would be with the gladiator, but he needed to see for himself. “Everyone must have their secrets and even if I told you, you would never believe me.”

  The guests seemed to linger forever and Caelius’s frustration grew until all of his slaves began casting him sideways glances and whispering among themselves.

  “How do Gaidres and Demos fare?” Caelius snapped at Felix, who had appeared at his side to pull him away for a moment.

  “They are well and sit with the rest of the ludus, partaking of the food and wine you ordered. The medicus told me that the bleeding stopped and did not require any stitchery.”

  Relief flowed th
rough him, though it didn’t quell the need to see Gaidres. “I want to know what happened, Felix. I want to know who was responsible for that sword. We paid good money for the best. Not to have equipment broken the first time it is tested!”

  “I will see to it, Dominus, starting with the doctoré and the weapons-keeper tonight and the blacksmith and merchant in the morning.”

  Caelius nodded as he turned back toward his guests, still trying to think of a way to rid himself of them before dawn. Felix would not be the only one to address everyone involved. He’d speak with them himself.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Gaidres was all but vibrating, blood pumping wildly through him as he and the others filed into their quarters inside the ludus. The talk was of nothing else but the dramatic ending to his bout with Demos, wondering what had gone wrong, praising them both for their quick reactions and ribbing Demos for still managing to lose.

  Demos clapped Gaidres on the shoulder as they sat to enjoy the wine and fine food waiting for them sent by Caelius in reward for their performance tonight.

  “Do not fret. Tonight you were the better man. I admit as much.” Demos’s grin was infectious. “But I promise you next time you won’t be so lucky, oh Lion of Fidena.” He chuckled and ambled off to get his own portion of the feast.

  Gaidres paced, taking a long drink from his jug of wine. The only thing in a long while that made him feel half as alive as battle was…Caelius. The thought dampened his elation. He shoved it from his mind, as he often had to do when such thoughts came to him.

  He did, however, let himself hope for an audience with his dominus later. The bloodlust of battle had become lust for the soft skin and warm body of his lover beneath him. Gaidres glanced toward the courtyard and the villa beyond, wondering how long he would have to wait.

  Caelius had damn well better summon him, else he would demand an audience himself.

  Long hours passed, until he began to wonder what could be taking so long. The others had begun to find an exhausted, drunken sleep one by one and still Gaidres paced his cell, every moment only adding to the anticipation growing inside him, the need to seek out his lover and sate them both until they could not move.

  The sound of footsteps alerted him and Gaidres stilled, turning toward the ludus entrance just as Caelius stepped through. Their gazes clashed and Gaidres ceased his pacing to stare at him. He couldn’t contain the low growl that escaped him as Caelius approached his cell. The other man shuddered and gestured to Felix.

  “Unlock the door.”

  Gaidres almost stopped him, almost said Wait, go back to your chamber and summon me from there. The lust roared through him, seeking an outlet. One that Caelius was about to provide.

  The key grated in the lock and as it swung open, Caelius took a step forward. Gaidres barely managed to keep from grabbing him and dragging him into his cell to throw him down on the thin pallet. Instead, he tightened his jaw until he thought it would crack and followed him.

  Through the ludus, through the courtyard, down the short tunnel and into the villa. It was as far as he could hold himself back and as they entered the atrium where just hours before he had been displayed for Caelius’s guests, his control snapped.

  It was Caelius who would be displayed now.

  Caelius gasped as Gaidres turned to face him in the middle of the room. All sense of restraint fled as need surged to the surface.

  “Leave us,” Caelius gasped to Felix as Gaidres brought his mouth down hard on his lover’s, demanding, taking.

  Caelius moaned with loss as Gaidres broke the kiss and stepped back. “Gaidres, please.” He reached for him again.

  Gaidres shook his head, savoring the shudder that racked Caelius as he tore the fine robes from his body until his lover stood before him naked. He had no care for where they were or who might come upon them.

  “You’re mine, Caelius.”

  “Always,” Caelius whispered back as Gaidres sank to his knees, hands holding Caelius’s hips to steady him. He sank his mouth over Caelius’s cock and the other man cried out. “Gaidres!”

  Gaidres growled in his throat, sucking Caelius deep and tightening his hands on his lean hips when he swayed. There would come a point very soon when he would not be able to remain upright. Until then, Gaidres planned to torment him.

  “Oh gods…Gaidres…I can’t…”

  He pulled off with a snarl, tongue lapping the salty tip of Caelius’s cock as he looked up and met his stare fiercely. “You can and you will. Do not move, Dominus.” He sank his mouth over his lover’s cock and took him down right to the balls.

  Caelius cried out, hands fisting in Gaidres’s hair as if he could hold himself steady that way. “I…I am not your dominus.” Caelius’s hips bucked helplessly. “It is you who…oh gods…who own me.”

  Gaidres’s cock surged even harder, at that vow. He began to pull back, maintaining the hard suction all the way to the tip and then rose fluidly to his feet, one hand in Caelius’s hair to jerk his head back. He nipped the man’s lips. “Say it again.”

  Caelius shuddered again, swaying with a sharp cry as Gaidres’s free hand closed on his cock and stroked. “You own me, the gods know it is true.”

  “Again, Caelius,” Gaidres said with another stroke of his hand, his lips and teeth tormenting Caelius’s throat. “Beg me.”

  Caelius clung to Gaidres, trembling. “What would you have me say?” He groaned, arching his throat as Gaidres tormented it with tongue and teeth. “I belong to you. You’ve set a fire in my blood that nothing will quench. Take me and make me yours again.”

  “Not enough, Caelius.” Gaidres nipped at his lips, his cheek. “More. Show me your surrender.”

  He urged Caelius back against a marble column and took his lover’s cock into his mouth.

  He arched with a sharp cry that echoed up through the atrium to touch the night sky. “Gaidres, please!”

  He didn’t know what would satisfy the unbridled need inside him. No, that wasn’t true. He did know. Caelius. Only Caelius. Gaidres sucked harder, deeper, digging his fingers into Caelius’s hip. He used other hand to push between the cheeks of Caelius’s ass and rub his entrance.

  He glanced up, watching as a bead of sweat rolled down Caelius’s neck in a slow trail down his torso to rocking hips, where it gathered in the warm cleft of thigh meeting groin. Gaidres groaned and swept his thumb over the spot, bringing the moisture to his lips and tasting it.

  “Oh sweet gods…I love you.” Caelius shuddered the words out on a broken breath and began to sag to the floor.

  Gaidres released the cock from his mouth and caught the other man, stretching out over him and staring down at him for a moment in shock. Had he heard Caelius correctly? Did Caelius even know what he said? When Caelius reached for him and lifted his mouth to be kissed, Gaidres forced thoughts of those shocking three words from his mind. He must be mistaken, or else he’d driven Caelius so mad with pleasure that his lover had lost his mind. Either way, Caelius was kissing him and wordlessly pleading for him to finish what he’d started. Gaidres groaned and did so, pushing two fingers inside Caelius. His fingers thrust in the same ruthless rhythm as his tongue swept into the other man’s mouth. Over and over, relentless, designed to steal his lover’s senses.

  From the desperate sounds and the way Caelius moved beneath him, it had done just that.

  Gaidres broke the kiss, panting as he reached down and tore at his subligar, growling in frustration until it fell away and he settled between widespread, eager thighs that clung to his hips and lifted in offering.

  “Please…please, Gaidres, I can’t…” Caelius panted, arching hard.

  Even amidst the pleasure, the almost mindless need to take and claim and fuck, Gaidres managed to slow, to gentle. He scanned the room with wild eyes in search of anything to ease his passage and then they fell on the table where the remains of the lavish meal had been left. His lips curved in a feral smile and he scrambled to his feet once more, hushing Caelius’s dis
appointed cry and hurried to snatch a small bottle of olive oil from the table. Returning to his lover, he slicked his cock and as he eased himself against Caelius’s entrance, before he could even think, Caelius lifted his hips hard and Gaidres sank inside him.

  They both cried out at the sudden penetration, and the desire in Caelius’s eyes didn’t flag.

  “Fuck me.”

  He needed no further encouragement. His hands grabbed Caelius’s wrists and swept his arms above his head to pin them to the marble floor. Their eyes met as Gaidres pushed the rest of the way inside, his grip bruising.

  “Do not.” Hard thrust. “Look.” Another hard thrust. “Away.”

  Gaidres’s gaze held Caelius captive even as his hands on his lover’s wrists did the same. Caelius wrapped his legs around Gaidres’s waist, and lifted his head to kiss him.

  Gaidres’s tongue sank into his mouth over and over, driving him nearer to the edge until the tension in Caelius shattered. He arched against Gaidres with a sharp cry, clenching around him as his orgasm tore through him, leaving him spent and their stomachs slick with his release.

  Gaidres stilled and broke the kiss. “Now, Caelius, you will truly scream and beg for me.”

  That was all the warning Caelius had before Gaidres thrust into his over-sensitized body. “Gaidres!” Caelius writhed underneath him, seeking escape, seeking more as Gaidres surged into him again. “Gaidres, please!”

  “More.” He nipped at Caelius’s lips, grinding hard into him, nudging that spot deep inside Caelius that drove him mad.

  “Gaidres, please!” Caelius panted, his head tossing on the floor. “I can’t…It’s too much.”

  “Beautiful liar, this is what you crave. It is what you have always craved.” Gaidres kissed him hard, leaving him breathless. “Surrender, Caelius.”

  Caelius’s breath came in sobbing pants. “I have…I have! Gaidres, please!”

  He laughed and shifted his hips, thrusting at a different angle so he hit that spot deep inside Caelius with every movement and his lover writhed as if he could not decide if he wanted more or a respite from the overwhelming sensation.