Passions of New Pompeii Read Online Free Page A

both hands
and angled her hips as he slid his cock across her clit.
    “Stop it.” She pushed against his chest, but
he ignored her. “I said, stop it!”
    A frustrated growl escaped his throat, but he
stopped rocking. His hands, however, remained on her ass. “Why do
you deny what we both want?”
    “I don’t—”
    He squeezed her hard enough to make her yelp.
“Speak the lie again and I will find out for myself if your body is
ready for mine.”
    She swallowed hard. Her pussy felt heavy and
achy. She was doubtlessly wet. “Do you take every woman you
encounter simply because you want her?”
    “I seldom encounter women.” He moved his
hands to the wall again, shifting his body away from hers without
releasing her completely. “Females are not allowed in the
barracks.”
    “Still, you understand my point. Your life is
about discipline and control. Wanting something is not reason
enough for taking it. Other factors must be considered.”
    A slow, unexpected smile parted his lips. “I
thought you knew nothing about gladiators.”
    He towered over her, imposing and indomitable
yet undeniably attractive. She still felt caged and vulnerable, but
they were talking, so she left well enough alone. “I know far more
about this world than my brother will let himself admit. He’s
convinced I don’t understand how things work in New Pompeii. The
truth is, I understand. I just don’t approve.”
    A lock of her hair had escaped the twisting
upsweep. He took the shiny red-gold tress and curled it around his
finger, apparently fascinated. “Why do you disapprove?”
    She chose her words carefully. How could she
explore his perspective without contradicting the lies he’d been
told by the founders? She’d promised that she wouldn’t violate the
noninterference clause. Then what was she doing here?
    “Do you enjoy what you do?”
    One corner of his mouth lifted and his dark
gaze sparkled. “I was enjoying it very much before you stopped
me.”
    Heat suffused her face and she lowered her
gaze, unwilling to admit how much she’d been enjoying it too. “I
mean in the arena. Do you enjoy fighting, sometimes killing other
gladiators for the amusement of the crowd?”
    “I do not kill other gladiators. I kill
criminals who have forfeited the right to live by their despicable
actions. Gladiators are rare and valuable. We fight for honor and
the reputation of the brotherhood.” His shoulders squared and his
chin lifted with obvious pride. “ Ludus Xyellus produces the
fiercest fighters in all of New Pompeii.”
    “What if you weren’t required to fight? What
did you want to be before you became a gladiator?”
    “Such questions are useless.” He released her
hair and took another step back. “I am a gladiator.”
    “How did it happen? Were you born a slave
or—”
    “I was taken in battle, defending my people
against the cursed Romans.”
    She pushed off the wall and moved to an angle
where the torchlight illuminated his face. “But Mikko referred to
you as ‘the Roman’. He said it more than once.”
    “I was trained in Rome.” His gaze narrowed
and his lips tensed. He obviously had no intention of saying more,
but he’d piqued Elaina’s curiosity.
    “Then what were you doing in Pompeii during
the evacuation?”
    He moved to the railing and stared out into
the night, firelight dancing on the masculine planes of his fierce
features. “I had been sold to a new master three weeks before the
evacuation.”
    “You would have preferred to remain in
Rome?”
    He shot her an impatient glare and said only,
“Yes.”
    “Why were you sold?”
    Turning his back to the night, he leaned
against the railing and crossed his arms over his chest. “How will
the events of my past help convince you to discontinue your
campaign against our city?”
    It was obvious he didn’t want to tell her,
which made her more determined to know. “I thought direct exposure
to one of the city’s inhabitants might temper my resistance