Slave of Rome, The Emperor's Obsession. Book Two Read Online Free

curls, or her breath would catch in her throat causing her to make a sound that most people thought was a hiccup.   It had always been that way and she couldn't help it.  
    His dangerous menacing appearance almost made her gasp. He was so big. Enormous shoulders filled her sight as he looked down on her. He wasn't handsome in the same way like her husband. It was more like he was a god of war, to Silvanus' god of love. Commodus had the brutal features of a street fighter, his face too sharp, his complexion marred by a large scar that ran from his right ear, to his chin. She could feel his heat even a foot away and it made her body tense and her nipples tighten.
    "You are afraid," she saw his beautiful lips curve down in concentration, "Don't fear, little one, I'm your friend, not your enemy." She realized her entire being had suddenly filled with irrepressible emotion.
    "Does my presence trouble you, Myra?" She permitted herself the slightest nod and felt him motion something to the men surrounding her. They retreated and she felt her lungs relax and she could breathe easier. Myra steeled herself and fought back the tears that threatened to burst upon her eyes. She finally looked up and gazed into his dark eyes, getting her first good look at him. She felt mesmerized, intrigued even as her body relaxed a tiny bit. There was a sadness about him that made her instinctively want to care for him; inexplicably he seemed strong yet fragile, like a beautiful clay figurine of an ancient god of war. He took a step forward and her body tensed again. For a moment, she noticed a fleeting smile cross his dark eyes.
    "I know you are here because of a promise that was made," she saw repugnance wash over his features. "The Majordomo offered to help out your family, in return for one year of service." He looked at her, his sadness returning. "You are worried about your little brother... About the cough, that keeps him up at night; you don’t think he’ll make it through the winter..."
    His gaze bore into her. She felt him searching, probing. She was stunned by his words, he knew so much, he knew everything...
    As if reading her mind, he said: "One day, soon, you shall have no secrets from me."
    He circled her and she felt her own hand search out to a string of springy curls by her ear.
    "He will be fine, your brother. I can promise you that. He will not die, not now, not like your father..." he sighed. She couldn't explain it but his sadness made her heart heavy as well. It was as if his proximity caused her soul to meld with his and her empathy for him grew.
    "There is something else I sense, however," he said. "I can see that there is a hesitation in you. Your heart has not accepted what your mind commands your body to do."
    He stood in front of her for a long time as he allowed the silence to build. The drumming in her chest subsided, her vision opened up, the perfumes of the orchard filled her. She could see his temples move as his mind was clearly deliberating something.  
    "The promise that was made to you, you have until tonight to decide whether you stay or you go. You shall join me for dinner tonight. At the end, after we have dined, you will tell me of your decision. Not before. You came here to be my slave, this will not change. However, if you choose to stay, you will only be a slave in the privacy of my chambers. Otherwise you will be who you truly are — a free woman of Rome. For one full year you will live with me here in the palace. You will wine, dine and enjoy your heart's desires. However, when I call, you shall come."
    He made to leave but stopped and turned. "One last thing — other than the Majordomo and myself, no one is to know. I forbid you from telling anyone of our arrangement. If you do," his features   clouded over, "you will deeply regret it.   To everyone you know or meet, you will simply be a visiting friend of the Majordomo. You will fast learn that I accept no excuses."

Chapter Four

     All this time