Passions of New Pompeii by Aubrey Ross

curious about what lay beyond
the house. “Is it your intention to find it?”
    She moved to the window and raised the shade,
revealing a steep incline and the energy barrier pulsing in the
distance. The sun had started its daily descent but had not yet
surrendered its light. “It’s my intention to expose what the
proprietors are doing. Visitors contact the House of Morpheus when
they want to live out particularly violent or depraved
fantasies.”
    His dark gaze searched hers for a long moment
before he asked, “Who decides what is depraved? Fucking in public
is considered depraved by many, and no one will deny that the games
are violent.”
    When Laetif explained her concerns about
Mikko’s new endeavor, Elaina hadn’t thought about the parallel to
the gladiator games. But she should have. The similarities were
unmistakable. “This is different. If my information is accurate,
and I have no reason to doubt the source, these fantasies hurt, at
times kill Pompeii’s inhabitants.”
    “As do the games.” He strode toward her, his
gaze narrowed on her face. “Are you still on a campaign to end the
games?”
    “No.” The response sounded sharp and
defensive, so she pulled back and reconsidered the question. “I
don’t know. If gladiators were given the choice whether or not to
fight, I would not have a problem with the games.”
    “I chose to become a gladiator. I am content
with this fate.”
    “I know. Laetif told me.” Elaina sighed. This
wasn’t supposed to be about him. She wanted to work with him to
right a wrong, not continue to tear apart the things he valued.
“But you’re the exception, not the rule. Most of your brothers were
captured in battle or… Would you go on fighting if other options
were open to you?”
    “What other options? Become a tradesman or a
soldier? Die of boredom or die on the battlefield?” He shook his
head and crossed to the window. “I would rather die with honor in
the arena, the crowd’s cheers echoing in my ears.”
    She moved up beside him, leaning her hip
against the window frame. “The House of Morpheus allows visitors to
rape and torture innocent inhabitants. I will debate the morality
of the games another day. This needs to be stopped right now.”
    Without turning his head, he asked, “What do
you want from me?”
    The list was endless. She wanted his arms
around her and his body sliding against hers. She wanted the
unexpected warmth of his all-too-infrequent smiles. She wanted to
snuggle against him as she fell asleep, knowing he’d still be
beside her when she woke up.
    “I’m hoping people will be more talkative if
one of their heroes is translating for me.”
    “Your questions will have to wait until
morning.” He motioned toward the gathering darkness. “We have lost
the light.”
    She nodded, feeling the distance between them
widening with each passing moment. “Why don’t we take a bath? It
will help us relax.”
    “Whatever pleases you, domina .”
    “Do you want to return to the ludus ?”
    His head whipped around, anger burning in his
eyes. “Do not threaten me. You will not like the result.”
    “I didn’t mean it as an ultimatum. I don’t
want you to stay here if you don’t want to be here. I’m giving you
the choice.”
    “Spend the night pleasuring you or return to
the cold isolation of the barracks? Does that sound like a choice
to you?”
    For someone content with their fate, he sure
had a lot of pent-up hostility. “You’re right. Please stay here
where it’s warm and comfortable. But if you don’t honestly want to
‘pleasure’ me, I’d rather you didn’t—”
    He pulled her into his arms and silenced her
with his mouth. Their lips meshed and parted, their tongues gently
dueling. His hands ran up and down her back, pressing them together
from shoulders to knees. “Does this feel like obligation? How can
you doubt I want you?”
    His cock bucked against her belly and she
gasped. “Maybe the bath can wait.”
    “No.”