His Adam’s apple bobbed. “By the gods, Azurha, you make it hard for me say no.”
“I’ll settle for just making you hard.” She grazed the erection forming under his tunic and leaned in to whisper in his ear, “What brings you to my cage in the middle of the day?”
He caught her hand and frowned. “Why do you call this a cage?”
She sighed. The moment was ruined, and she didn’t have the energy right now to orchestrate a complex seduction. “I’m confined to the harem, unable to come and go as I please. What else would I call it?”
“If you’re unhappy here—”
She silenced him with a kiss. Only nine of the fourteen days she had to complete her assignment remained, and she refused to spend them with Titus worrying about her living conditions. She’d survived far worse than this.
She pulled away, leaving a dreamy smile on his lips. Her heart wrenched at the sight of it. If she had been born as someone else, she could have openly loved him. Or perhaps, she could have lived her life never knowing him. But the cruel fate of the gods had placed her in the middle, letting her know full and well what she could never have.
“I doubt you came here to watch me take a nap in the sun.” She pulled her dress over her head and retreated to the cool sanctuary of the harem.
“Actually, I came to see where you stayed when you’re weren’t with me.” He surveyed the painted frescos on the walls, his eyes widening a bit at the erotic content of some of the scenes. “I’ve never been inside the harem. My father closed it down before I was born.”
“As I could tell by the layer of dust when I arrived. Your staff has done a remarkable job turning it into a mini-palace for me.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “First, it’s a cage, and now, it’s a palace?”
“It’s nicer than some of the places of I’ve lived in. I have my own bath.” The last sentence hung heavy with suggestion, and much to her delight, his gaze flickered in that direction. No doubt, he was remembering taking her in the tepidarium. Her sex clenched from the memory of it. Perhaps it wasn’t too early to take a dip in the pool.
His voice shook. “What else do you have here?”
The gods save him, he was trying so hard to resist her.
“Rooms for at least a dozen concubines.” She pointed to the rows of open doors that formed a “U” around the courtyard. “An area to lounge, eat, or entertain. And a room I believe was set aside for when one of your forebears came to visit.”
“Oh?” He followed her through the main chamber to the room near the front door to the harem. Veins of bronze laced the columns inside, and the frescos on the walls were enough to make even her blush, despite the exquisite artistry. But his attention focused on the various novelties available. He picked up a pair of cuffs with a chain between them. “Why is this here?”
Memories of her old master rose like bile from her stomach. “Some men enjoy restraining their women while they fuck them.”
He dropped the cuffs at the sound of the acid in her voice. Moving on to the collection of dildos in a drawer, he picked one up and examined it. “And these?”
Azurha couldn’t contain her laughter. For an emperor, he seemed awfully naïve of what happened behind closed doors in his realm. Had he never been to one of the lavish orgies his nobles were so fond of throwing?
She snuck up behind him and stroked the crack between his buttocks. “You usually insert them in here.” He gasped, and she removed her finger. “But they can go anywhere you would stick your cock. My mouth. My cunt. Anywhere you’d like.”
The marble dildo in his hand slipped out of his grasp and shattered when it hit the floor. Titus sucked in a breath through his teeth. “Has a man ever done that to you?”
His chest rose and fell like he was running, and the thin rim of blue around his large pupils told her how much he struggled to contain his desires. Her sex grew damp from watching him. By the gods, she wanted him inside her again. She’d even welcome a dildo, so long as he controlled the penetration and whispered naughty things to her while he made her come.
“No, I’ve never experienced one before.” She removed her dress and bent over the bed in the center of the room, giving him ample view of her slick sex. “But you’re welcome to try.”
As the seconds ticked by, she wondered what insanity had seized control of her. When she had been a slave, being forced to have sex was the most humiliating experience she’d endured. Yet her trust for Titus now extended to offering her body completely to him. She’d enjoy it, just as she had last night.
The familiar scent of rich sandalwood announced his approach. His fingers meandered down her spine. His voice sounded hoarse when he asked, “Azurha, what are you doing?”
“Hoping you won’t wait too long to fuck me.”
Both of his hands now caressed her back, growing rougher as they moved closer to her buttocks. He dipped his finger into her sheath, sending a shiver of delight through her body. “Eager?”
If he hadn’t been the emperor, she would have probably thrown him to the bed and mounted him, riding him until she relieved the growing tension inside her womb.
He continued to stroke her inner walls until she whimpered. What kind of cruel torture was this? She wiggled her ass back and forth, discovering the hard erection he kept inches away from her. Why was he holding back? She bit her lip hard enough so the coppery taste of blood trickled into her mouth. Anything to keep from begging him to fuck her.
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are with your body on display like this?” His breath warmed her skin, and he pressed his lips against the back of her neck. The head of his cock teased her. “How could I resist you when you want me so badly?”
“But do you want me?” She held her breath while she waited for his answer.
“More.” He slid into her with agonizing slowness until his balls pressed against her buttocks. He circled his finger around her other hole. She imagined him contemplating how he’d stretch the puckered edges to accommodate him. “But I’m not ready to take you here yet. In time, if I feel I need something more than this.”
He punctuated with the last few words by withdrawing a few inches and ramming into her with such force, her toes curled in pleasure. He was right. They didn’t need to explore different fetishes until they fell into a boring routine. The intense fire of their coupling satisfied her for now.
Azurha bunched the sheets in her hands and angled her hips to allow him to go deeper. A growl formed in the back of her throat. There was something so raw, so primitive about the rough way he hit the sensitive areas inside her, sending jolts of delight that bordered on pain through her body. And yet, she wanted more, wanted him to go harder, deeper. To make her scream his name just before he sent her over the edge.
Her lungs struggled to gulp in air, but she still didn’t want him to stop. As if he knew what she was thinking, his thrusts became faster and more furious. His hands squeezed her buttocks, and she stood on the brink. She wanted to say something to encourage him, but her tongue stumbled as she tried to form the words. A series of explosions rocked her body, and she surrendered to the powerful orgasm that seized control of her.
“I could spend all day like this, buried deep inside you, hearing your cries of joy and knowing I caused them.” The words seemed to drain him, and with a final grunt, he spilled into her.
After his own orgasm tapered, he collapsed on top of her. The sound of their heavy breathing filled the room, and the scent of their musk mingled with the perfumed oils they wore. Sweat trickled between her breasts. She closed her eyes and savored the sensation of having him this close to her.
Titus covered her hands with his own and tucked them next to her sides. “I love how you give yourself so freely to me, Azurha,” he pressed his lips between her shoulder blades, “and still desire me for all my shortcomings.” He stilled. “Have I gone too far?”
She pushed herself off the bed and turned around to face him. Any other man in his position wouldn’t have cared enough about someone like her to ask if he’d gone too far. They just took what they wanted and walked away, just like her old master. Titus put the rest of them to shame. She traced the lines of worry on his face. “I’ll let you know if you do.”
He tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her gently. “I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want to be anything like that monster who owned you.”
She weaved her fingers through his hair and held him motionless so she could search his face. What she saw deepened the ache in her chest. They weren’t an emperor and a concubine. Those titles meant nothing at the moment. They were just a man and a woman caught up in their storm of emotions. But the storm was in danger of changing from lust into something deeper.
“You’re not. I wouldn’t let you touch me if you were.”
A soft chuckle lit up his face, and he helped her up from the bed. “You amaze me sometimes.”
She gave him a restrained smile. He only knew one side of her. If he knew the reason she was here with him, he’d readily hand her over to his executioner.
A click signaled the release of the locks to the harem, and Titus jerked his tunic down. He stood between her and the door, shielding her from any prying eyes. The simple act stirred something deep inside her chest. He’d never leave her naked and exposed for all the world to view. At least, not for now. If he ever learned the truth, would he betray her trust in him?
“Lady Azurha, is Emperor Sergius here?” Varro asked from the doorway of the harem.
“I’ll be out in a moment.” Titus picked her dress up off the floor and gave it to her. “I’ll be counting the minutes until I can be with you again.” He kissed her fingers and followed Varro out of the room.
Azurha sank onto the bed. She’d crossed the line, and that placed them both in danger. Now another assassin would take them both out.
10
Titus fought to catch his breath as he followed Varro back to the throne room. Why couldn’t he resist Azurha when she tempted him that way? He honestly had come to see where she stayed all day, not to take her in the quick, desperate way he had. The moment he saw her lying naked in the sun, his cock stiffened, and when she bent over the bed, displaying the slick, pink folds he’d come to crave, he became blinded with lust.
Even now, he could smell her on him. The scent of her arousal mixed with the jasmine perfume she favored awakened the fresh memories of sliding into her over and over again, each thrust more exquisitely delectable than the last.
“I apologize for interrupting you with Lady Azurha, but Governor Pacilus was growing rather, um, impatient.”
Any embarrassment Titus may have felt over nearly getting caught once again with Azurha quickly faded when he learned the reason the steward sought him out. “You can tell me what you really think, Varro. Governor Pacilus was probably making an ass of himself, right?”
Varro cleared his throat. “You didn’t hear it from me, Emperor Sergius.” He held the door open to the throne room and raised both brows as if to say he didn’t envy him.
Hostilius Pacilus jumped to his feet as soon as Titus entered, giving a quick bow when he stood a few feet away. “Your Imperial Majesty, thank you for seeing me.”
Titus caught a glimpse of Varro rolling his eyes before leaving them alone. Hostilius probably came in demanding to be seen and harassing the staff until he got his way. “What brings you here on such a fine day?”
“I’ve come to deliver my coronation gift.” The gleam in his icy blue eyes set every nerve in Titus’s body on edge. “I hear you’ve started your own harem, and I wanted to make a contribution to it.”
Nausea rolled in the pit of his stomach.
Please don’t let this be the start of a very unpleasant trend
. He’d been reluctant to accept Azurha, but what would he do with the poor girl Hostilius brought him? Deep inside, he feared he might develop such an insatiable appetite for women, he might forget about all his plans for the empire.
Relief flooded him when he felt nothing for the woman Hostilius presented to him. Blond hair gleamed from underneath the thin veil she wore, and a pair of cold blue eyes stared at him. A Deizian.
“I give you my daughter, Claudia.”
Titus’s jaw almost dropped. What kind of man would offer his daughter up as a concubine, especially a noblewoman? But when he saw the matching ambitious expressions they both wore, he realized the plot for what it was. Hostilius thought that if he could get his daughter into the emperor’s bed, she might become the next Empress. He almost choked on his disgust.
“This is quite an unusual gift, Hostilius.”
“Only the best for the emperor.” He ushered his daughter closer to Titus. “I’m sure you would prefer the refined breeding of a Deizian instead of an Alpirion. It’s quite shameful that Pontus would think you’d find his gift suitable for someone like you.”
Titus closed his eyes and took a deep breath to keep from saying the string of curses that formed in his mind. Hostilius’s comment felt like a slap in the face. He not only insulted Azurha, he also implied that Titus had sullied his reputation by spending time with her.
“It would be my pleasure, Emperor Sergius,” Claudia purred, dragging one of her nails up his neck and along his jaw.
His skin crawled from her touch. He took a step back. “Claudia, you do not have to enter the harem if you do not want to.”
Hostilius’s upper lip curled into a snarl. “Are you saying my daughter isn’t good enough for you?”
“No, not at all. I just don’t believe any person should be forced to do something against her will.” He remembered what little bit Azurha had shared with him about her life as a slave, and his hands curled into fists. If he accomplished anything during his reign, it would be to free the slaves.
“But Emperor Sergius, I want to serve you.” She coyly bit her lip, knowing he could see her flirtations through the whisper-thin veil.
He retreated to his throne, eager to put more than an arm’s distance between him and them. “If you’re determined to stay, I’ll have Varro show you to the harem.” Just because she refused to leave didn’t mean he’d have to pay any attention to her. Right now, he only desired one woman.
She dropped low into a curtsey and slipped out of the throne room behind the steward.
Hostilius approached the throne. “You should be quite happy with her, Your Imperial Majesty. Claudia is a widow, so you won’t have to teach her how to please you.”
Titus knew the story of Claudia, as did almost every Deizian in the empire. She’d been married three times already. Each of her husbands had died under unusual circumstances. In some circles, she was referred to as a black widow, and he had no desire to become tangled in her web. “Hostilius, are there any matters in your province that you wish to discuss with me?”
“I heard a rumor that you were thinking about building a new aqueduct in Lucrilia.”
“I was, but I found a better location.”
Hostilius’s face twisted in fury, but he caught himself and diplomatically smoothed it out. “Oh?”
Titus knew the loss of gold and the potential to garner other favors from the empire fueled the governor’s reaction to his news, so he let the momentary lapse in behavior pass. “Someone pointed out to me that building an aqueduct in Volsina would help alleviate their annual flooding. I felt it was the best decision for the empire.”
“There are many whispers about what you have planned for the empire.” He leaned forward and leveled his gaze with Titus. “Some of these ideas are considered quite radical by a few Deizians I’ve spoken with. They may react badly to them if they are implemented.”
Molten steel flowed through his veins, instantly hardening as he stood. Even though his dais only raised him a few inches above Hostilius, Titus felt like he towered over him. “Are you threatening me?”
Hostilius backed away with wide eyes and stuttered an apology. “Of course not, Your Imperial Majesty. I’m merely repeating what I’ve heard.” He adjusted his tunic and retreated further. “I hope you will be kind enough to remember your servants in Lucrilia. We are a small province, mainly relying on the labor of our slaves. If we lose what little assets we have, the results could be devastating for our people.”
Some of the rigidity eased from his muscles. Nothing ever came easy. To free the slaves, he would destroy the economy of Lucrilia and other provinces like it unless he came up with a plan that would help streamline the transition.
Maybe he would ask Azurha if she had any ideas. Her recommendations were honest, without any ties to political and financial gain, and offered more insight into his plans for the empire than any of his advisors. In truth, he trusted this Alpirion woman more than the Deizian governor before him.
“Your concerns are noted.”
“Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty.” He lowered his head in a quick bow and ducked out the throne room.
“He’s right you know,” Marcus said as he appeared from one of the side rooms. “Rumors of your plans, no matter how ridiculous they sound, are riling up the Deizians and even some of the Elymanians.”
Titus sat on his throne and ran his fingers through his hair, lingering to massage his temples. Whoever desired to become emperor needed to have his head examined. They probably only saw the wealth of palace life and understood little of the weighty decisions that needed to be made daily. “What are the rumors?”
Marcus laughed as he carried a chair across the room and sat at the base of the dais. “That you drink the blood of your subjects and eat their flesh.”
Titus caught the mischievous twinkle in his friend’s eyes and laughed with him. “Thankfully, that rumor will be easy to refute. But seriously, what of the others? I haven’t even been officially crowned emperor, and I already feel the tide rising against me.”
Marcus nodded. “But you handled Governor Pacilus appropriately. I think he almost wet himself when he realized you wouldn’t be intimidated by his threat.”
“Did he think I would cower from it?”
“You’ve led a very reserved life, Titus. Most of the nobles know very little about you other than your preference to hide your face in a book rather than indulge in their parties.”
His hand curled into fist. “They think I’m weak.”
“They just don’t know you. My father always told me to beware of the quiet ones. Those that make a lot of noise are usually trying to compensate for something.” He rubbed the arms of the chair. “It seems odd that Hostilius would donate his daughter to your harem.”
“No, it isn’t. He thinks she’ll worm her way into my bed and make me husband number four.”
“But you already have a bedmate.” He gave Titus a sly grin. “Speaking of which, how are things going with Azurha?”
“What do you mean?” He jumped to his feet and went to the small table nearby. His hand shook slightly as he poured a glass of wine. Was it that obvious that he’d just been with her?
“I mean, I’ve noticed a change in you since she arrived.” Marcus joined him at the table and grabbed his own glass.
“Good or bad?”
“Good, for the most part. You seem more relaxed, more confident, and I can’t help but think she has something to do with it.”
Confident? Would that be the right term? “I enjoy her company.”
“I bet you do.” Marcus winked and nudged him with his elbow.
He set his glass down with a bang. “There’s more to her than what’s just between her legs. She listens to me, gives me ideas, encourages me.”
His friend’s smile faded. “Just be careful, Titus. She’s a gift from Pontus, and she may be trying to further his agenda.”
“I doubt it. So far, she’s been trying to help me with my plans, not his.”
“And does that involve changing the location of the aqueduct?”
“The new location certainly isn’t benefitting Pontus, is it?”
“Far from it.” Marcus knitted his brows together. “I know you’ve become fond of her, but be careful breaking too many of the old traditions at once, Titus. If you want your changes to succeed, you need to infuse them into the empire gradually, not completely destroy the foundation and try to rebuild it.”
“And how would having a harem full of concubines be breaking with tradition?”
Marcus stared at Titus in one of his rare serious moments. “Can you honestly tell me that you consider Azurha just a concubine?”
The question sobered him and revived the question that had been plaguing him all day. He was beginning to fall in love with her, and he didn’t know how to fight it. In truth, he didn’t want to fight it. “So? I’m the emperor. My Will dominates the empire.”
“Yes, but with the crown comes certain responsibilities. You’re expected to produce a Deizian heir. Azurha can only be a concubine, nothing more. Please remember that before you lose your head.”
“I’m in no danger of losing my head.”
“Just your heart?” Marcus sighed and began pacing in front of him. “I knew you when you were married to Lucia, and you avoided her as much as possible. You didn’t return to your chambers with a smile on your face and lightness in your step like you do now.”
“Is it that obvious?”
He stopped. “Only to those of us that know you well.”
“Do you want the truth? Yes, I’m beginning to care about her, but I also know where my limits are. Please, just for now, I wish to enjoy my time with her before I have to take a new wife.”
“I’m sorry, Titus.”
“Don’t be. This is my problem to sort through.”
“Just know you don’t have to sort through it alone.” Marcus gave him a light smack on the back. “Care to join me in the gymnasium? Arrius Lanatus is in town, and I owe him a rematch from the last time we wrestled.”
Some of the heaviness lifted from Titus’s shoulders, and the corners of his mouth curled up. “Think you’ll last longer than three seconds this time?”
“If you think you can do better, by all means, feel free to try.”
Titus laughed as he followed his friend out of the throne room, leaving his cares behind for a little while.
…
Azurha lay in her bed, replaying Titus’s recent visit. A warm glow flowed through her body, pooling around her heart instead of between her legs as usual. Could he actually care about her? She laughed at her naivety. She was sent here to kill him, not be his lover. As soon as he learned the truth, her head would decorate the city’s wall.
The door clicked, and she jumped to her feet, hoping he’d returned for another round. Instead, she heard Varro’s voice, followed by a woman’s.
“This is the famed Imperial Harem?” Sarcasm dripped from the woman’s voice, accentuating her Deizian drawl. “I would have expected more.”
“This is a harem, Lady Claudia, not the royal quarters, but you’ll have all your needs tended to.”
Azurha peered out of her room to the new concubine. The woman was elegantly clothed in white, and the sunlight reflected off her golden hair in an almost blinding radiance. A frown marred her otherwise pretty face, highlighting the displeasure in her icy blue eyes.
“I suppose it will do, considering I don’t plan on staying here very long.”
Azurha’s mouth went dry. Had Titus already replaced her? A tremble started at the base of her spine, rapidly amplifying until her hands shook. She balled them into fists and jerked her back straight. She wouldn’t let this woman take her place without a fight.
Claudia spotted her and beckoned her over. “Good, you already have slaves in place. Girl, please lay out my blue gown and press any wrinkles from it. I want to look my best for the emperor tonight.”
Azurha’s temper flared, and her fingers itched to claw the woman’s eyes out. Her body was propelling forward when Varro cleared his throat and stopped her.
“I think you are confused, Lady Claudia. Lady Azurha is the emperor’s other concubine.”
“A slave?”
Azurha held her arms out so the sun reflected on her gold bracelets. “A freed slave for many years.” The low hiss of her words echoed in a way that made the other woman gasp.
Claudia regained her composure and smirked. “This is what Emperor Sergius has had to settle for? The poor dear. I should think he’ll look forward to sharing his bed with a proper woman.”