Passions of New Pompeii Read online

  It was an interesting thought but also distracting, and they couldn’t afford to be distracted right now. “We need to focus on our mission.”

  “I know. It’s none of our business anyway. It was just fun to meet him, knowing how much he means to my best friend.”

  The Temple of Jupiter had been built in a position of honor for the king of the gods. The front overlooked the forum and the building backed to the energy barrier. They skirted the forum, careful not to draw the attention of the small group gathered there.

  Elaina crept along at his side, silent and agile. He led her toward the back of the building, pausing before he turned the corner, unsure what they would find. A lone guard stood by the secluded entrance. He dug in the dirt with the toe of his sandal, obviously bored.

  “I’ll get you close enough to strike.” Before he could agree or disagree with her plan, she slipped past him and walked directly to the guard. “I’m not sure I’m in the right place,” she said in a soft, silky voice. “Is this the Temple of Jupiter?”

  Theos hurried after her, remaining half a step behind.

  “Mistress Xyell, what are you doing here?” The guard snapped to attention, sparing Theos only one hurried glance.

  “Mikko asked me to talk with one of his captives.” She insinuated herself between the guard and the wall, slowly maneuvering his back around toward Theos. “I guess she’s been less than cooperative.”

  Easily reading her signals, Theos smoothly slid the guard’s sword from its scabbard and slammed it against the side of its owner’s face. The guard crumpled to Theos’ feet with a groan then lay still and silent.

  “That wasn’t nice,” Elaina whispered.

  “It was efficient,” he countered with a smile.

  He ducked his head inside the door and made sure it was safe before motioning Elaina to follow him. Blinking repeatedly, he waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim interior. Beyond the semi-enclosed back room spread the cavernous main chamber, empty and derelict from obvious neglect. It was sad that such a beautiful building was being allowed to decay. The founders should have found a different use for the structure rather than squander the resource.

  “This way,” he urged.

  “Sorry.” She dragged her gaze away from the empty temple and followed him toward the stairwell in the back corner of the room.

  “Mistress Xyell.” She was greeted by three additional guards as they reached the bottom of the stairs. They jumped up from the table where they had been playing cards, looking suspiciously guilty.

  Theos took stock of their weapons and anything in the room that could be used as such. Elaina offered them a bland smile then moved out of his way. Without warning, Theos grabbed the two standing side by side and slammed their heads together. One obediently collapsed while the other only staggered. A swift upper cut convinced him to join his friend on the floor.

  The rapid attack warned the remaining guard that he was in trouble. He frantically withdrew his weapon, but it was not a sword. His hand wrapped around the handle of the stout object, which was aimed at the middle of his chest. Not waiting to see how the object worked, he batted it out of the guard’s hand.

  The guard yelped and the object ejected a small burst of light. The light ball zinged past his hip and connected with something behind him. Theos kept his focus fixed on the guard.

  “Guns are illegal inside the barrier and you know it!” Elaina snapped.

  “Not all of us can afford gladiators!”

  Taking exception to his disrespectful tone, Theos sent him sprawling with a well-placed punch. Then he turned and gasped. The light ball had blasted a hole bigger than his head through the stone wall. “How is this accomplished?”

  “I’ll explain later. Someone was bound to have heard that blast.”

  She was right. They had to move and move quickly. The frightened women were more than ready to leave. Elaina found a tunic for the one who identified herself as Arllo while he spoke with the other two. He explained that a skyship was waiting to take them to safety, but they had one final obstacle first. They had to cross the city square.

  Apparently the light ball blast had not been as loud as they thought. They reached the Visitor Center without incident and found the private party exit. A tall, dark-haired man with sharp eyes and classically handsome features stood to one side watching everyone who approached.

  Elaina walked up to him and smiled. “Are you Caleb Thrax by any chance?”

  He shook her hand and returned her smile. “I was expecting someone a lot less attractive.”

  Warning him back with a look, she indicated the women. “We’ve brought your passengers.”

  Chapter Ten

  Mikko reclined against a pile of pillows, savoring the sensations gathering within his body. Anticipation was addictive. Most people focused on orgasm, the rapid burst of pleasure that quickly faded away. He preferred the steady climb, the escalation.

  The new house slave knelt between his thighs obediently sucking his cock. She was young and thin, with small breasts and long dark hair. What she lacked in skill, she made up for in eagerness. He’d been afraid she was a virgin—that he’d have to coax and cajole her. Instead, she’d met his suggestions with sultry smiles and brash enthusiasm.

  In less than two hours he would know the identity of his spy! He had been so sure it was Laetif and Quade until his plans had been thwarted while she was beyond the barrier. Not even his clever wife could monitor what went on in his city while she was on the outside.

  He dragged the slave off his cock and motioned for her to turn around. Without argument or hesitation, she turned and knelt before him, ass in the air. And what an ass it was, tight and smooth, so inviting.

  Kneeling behind her, he pushed his cock into her pussy, enjoying the rippling heat while he lubricated his shaft.

  “Sir, I hate to interrupt, but…”

  “What is it?” He didn’t pull out of the slave. Instead, he began a fast, focused rhythm that would quickly empty his balls.

  “There has been a raid on the temple.”

  His concentration shattered and he withdrew with a muttered curse. “We will finish this later.” He slapped her ass as he stood and adjusted his tunic. “No one else fucks you until I’m done with you.”

  “Yes, dominus.”

  He strode into the corridor, all thoughts of pleasure forgotten. “Did they get the girls?”

  “Yes sir. No one was killed, but—”

  “Doesn’t sound like they fought very hard then, does it? Damn it! I thought we had this under control.” He paused in the villa long enough to assure himself Laetif was in bed with her lover-guard. She looked up and glared at him when he opened the privacy curtain, so he didn’t bother with conversation.

  He stomped to the back of the villa and scanned open the gate leading to the ludus. “This wasn’t how I planned it, but it will work just as well. The cowardly spy can’t be in two places at once. The raid just happened, didn’t it?”

  “Yes sir. There is no way the involved party could have returned.”

  Mikko rushed to Max’s cubicle, relieved to find the trainer snoozing on his cot. Max was a trusted member of his staff. His loss would have been truly upsetting. “Assemble the men. We have a traitor in our midst!”

  Max shot him a confused glance but didn’t question the order. His voice rang out through the ludus, calling the gladiators to the training field. One of the Fedoran guards unlocked the barracks and the gladiators rushed out, most of them not bothering to dress.

  Hostility churned inside him as he scanned the line. Mikko tried not to draw a quick conclusion, but only one man was missing. “Where is Theos?”

  “With Doctor Thrax,” Max reminded. “He was heavily sedated and could not return.”

  He turned on Max, fists planted on his hips. “Are you sure Theos was sick? Did our medicus examine him before you dragged him down the hill?”

  “He thrashed about like a madman and his skin was hot to t
he touch,” Max defended.

  “He looked bad, dominus,” Sextus said. “I saw him too.”

  “Well, I think it’s time to pay Doctor Thrax a visit and see how our patient is doing.” Max didn’t argue with the plan, but it was obvious he was uncomfortable. “Is there anything I should know? If I find out any of you were involved in what happened tonight, there will be grave consequences.”

  “I just can’t believe Theos would betray you.” Max sounded sincere and looked confounded.

  “Everyone back to bed!” Mikko gathered his guards and headed down the hill, knowing full-well he would not find Theos at the clinic.

  * * * * *

  “Am I boring you?” Despite her playful smile, there was an edge to Naloni’s tone.

  “Of course not,” Elaina assured. “Theos is just fascinated by everything. It’s hard not to share his enthusiasm.” The gladiator in question stood in front of a massive window watching the ships with obvious awe.

  They were in a private lounge in the spaceport waiting for a “friend of a friend” who would take them to Outpost Seven on Racine Colony. According to Naloni, Outpost Seven was one of the nicer settlements. It was also among the largest, which would make it easier for them to assume their new identities.

  “This will be temporary,” Naloni stressed. “Think of it as a vacation. I’ve arranged for documentation crews to be at the festival on Friday. Once they’ve gathered the evidence I need, it will force Father to get off his ass and confront Tarhee. Once Tarhee and Mikko are in custody, I’ll send word to you.”

  “None of this would bother me if it weren’t for Fez.” Elaina shivered as his precious face appeared within her mind. “I hate that he won’t know I’m all right, and I’m terrified that they will find a way to use him against me.”

  “Nothing will happen to Fez. I’ll tell Father the boy could be in danger before I begin. Father loves that kid. There is no way he’ll allow anyone to harm him. Fez is safe, and so are you.”

  She managed a weak smile and hugged Naloni. “I left the hardest part for you. That doesn’t seem fair.”

  Naloni chuckled. “I have a few more resources at my disposal than you do. Besides, I love a good challenge.”

  “Thanks for all of this. There’s no way we could have done it without you.”

  “If you really want to show your appreciation, then enjoy every minute of this time together.”

  “As if it were our last?” Theos suggested from across the room.

  “Not even close,” Naloni shook her head, reinforcing her disagreement. “None of us is going to think about endings. You two are going to love each other so well and so long that it makes the rest of us nauseous!”

  “A far better goal,” Theos agreed.

  Not wanting to draw attention to the unimportant though wealthy couple, Naloni departed a few minutes later. A young man arrived twenty minutes after that asking for “Mr. and Mrs. Tyndale”. Theos acknowledged the man with a stiff nod and Elaina fought back a smile. The inherent disdain of the ultra-wealthy came rather naturally to Theos. It would work to their advantage if no one questioned his directives or expected him to explain his requests.

  The luxurious cabin cruiser kicked Theos’ fascination into overdrive. They were escorted to their cabin and the amenities were explained then the young man left them to their own devices.

  “I thought your friend said she had arranged ‘modest accommodations’.” Theos turned in a slow circle, taking in every luxurious detail of the room they would share for the next two days. From the highly polished teak accents to the mirrored inset cabinets, the cabin really was beautiful.

  “In Naloni’s world, these are modest accommodations. You should see Olla Palace. It’s obscene.” Elaina crossed to the closet and pulled open both doors. “As promised, we both have a new wardrobe. My measurements were on file. Let’s see how she did with yours.” She pulled an elegant suit off the rack and brought it to Theos. “Try it on.”

  “Are you sure this is not a clever trick designed to get me naked?” His dark eyes gleamed with awareness and the first sparks of desire.

  “After I see you in the suit, I’ll enjoy stripping it off, piece by piece.”

  “With your teeth?”

  She laughed. “If you like.”

  Not having expected additional passengers, Caleb did the best he could to provide them with Fedoran clothes. Theos wore a pair of uniform pants that pulled across the thighs and a t-shirt that outlined every muscle. Elaina enjoyed the formfitting garments, but it would be harder to convince anyone they were part of the idle élite with Theos’ physique on display.

  He pulled the t-shirt off over his head then bent to tug off his boots. The muscles in his shoulders and back rippled and flexed, making her fingers itch. Maybe it didn’t matter if the clothes fit. Maybe she should simply keep him naked for the rest of his life. A guilty smile parted her lips as he shed his pants. He was already hard, obviously aware of her bold scrutiny.

  She pulled the new pants off the hanger and handed them to him. The garment fit perfectly, outlining his lean hips and tight, round ass. “Naloni must have captured your measurements during a recent bout. No one can guess that well.” He pulled the jacket on without bothering with a shirt and the fit confirmed her hypothesis. Even with a wide section of his chest bare, the perfectly tailored suit accentuated his nobility. “Very nice.”

  With deliberate slowness, he shrugged off the jacket and handed it back to her. “If that is settled, Mrs. Tyndale, I would like to fuck my wife.”

  The growl in his tone made her smile. “What if your wife isn’t ready to be fucked?”

  “Then I will kiss her until she rubs her breasts against my chest.” He caught her wrist and pulled her toward him, his gaze locked with hers. “Then I will suck her pretty pink nipples until she shivers and moans.”

  She licked her lips, anticipating what he described and more. “And then what?”

  “I will bury my face between her thighs and slowly lick her pussy. Then I will suck on her clit and fuck her with my tongue.”

  Her body heated and melted, preparing itself for his. “Will you let her come with your tongue deep inside her, or will you make her wait for your cock?”

  “Why don’t you find out?”

  His arms wrapped around her and he swooped in for a deep, devouring kiss. She parted her lips and offered her mouth to the warm thrust of his tongue. So good, she would never tire of these feelings, of his taste and the warmth of his breath.

  His hands pushed her shirt up, forcing their lips apart while he quickly rid her of the garment. With a determined yank, she brought his mouth back to hers and kicked off her shoes. Neither of them could stop kissing long enough to undress, so they fumbled along as best they could while doing both. He tugged on the drawstring at her waist then she brushed his hands aside and unknotted the laces. With a hurried wiggle, she shed the pants and kicked them aside.

  Panting harshly, he stepped back to admire her body. His gaze moved boldly over her curves as he took off the rest of his clothes. “I want your mouth on my cock, but I am desperate for your taste in my mouth.”

  A wicked smile bowed her lips. “Will you let me come as often as I want if I can show you a way we can do both?”

  His brows knitted for a moment then he agreed. “Demonstrate.”

  “It works best if you’re on the bottom, but it can be done with you on top.”

  “I do not understand.”

  “Lie down on your back on the bed. Your head needs to be about three feet from the headboard.”

  He crawled onto the bed and stretched out on his back. “Like this?”

  “Scoot down just a bit more.” He did, and excitement bubbled within her. Sharing new things with Theos was almost as much fun as experiencing them for the first time herself. She knelt at his side and kissed a line from the base of his throat to his navel. His cock bucked, obviously eager for the promised attention.

  Careful not to kn
ee him in the face, she swung her leg over and straddled his head. His hands moved immediately to her hips as she arched over his body. “I like this position,” he murmured against her folds then his mouth went to work on her slit.

  “I thought you would.” She guided his cock to her mouth and sucked him inside.

  It began as a slow, sensual dance. Her mouth slid up and down his shaft as her tongue swirled over and against his tip. He licked and sucked her pussy, paying special attention to her swollen clit. She used moans and shivers to express what pleased her most and let his pleasure prolong her own.

  Suddenly he rolled, taking her with him. He supported his weight on his elbows and knees, but the dynamic of the embrace changed drastically. He was in control now, commanding her pleasure as he took his own. His cock slid with the rocking of his hips instead of the bobbing of her head. Tucking her knees beneath his arms, he kept her open and accessible to his pillaging tongue.

  “I like the top better.”

  Of course he did. He couldn’t help it. Dominating her was instinctive for him, as natural as desire itself. She was pinned beneath him and yet she felt completely secure. He had trusted her with his life, stepped through the barrier without hesitation. Now she would offer her surrender as unconditionally.

  She kept her lips tight and sucked firmly on the plush head of his cock. His mouth was every bit as demanding. He traced her slit and sucked on her folds, occasionally swiping his tongue across her clit, but not yet ready to let her come.

  “Use your finger.” He pulled up, momentarily freeing her mouth. “Get it good and wet and…you know what to do.”

  She chuckled as she wet her finger. “You want this sliding in your ass?” Why could he request the stimulation, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it?

  “Yes.” He sank back into her mouth, his movements slow and distracted.

  Parting his cheeks with the heels of her hands, she positioned her dampened finger and matched his next inward stroke. He drove into her mouth and she pushed into his ass, synchronized, in perfect unison. He groaned, his anus tightening spasmodically.