reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve no need for falsehoods when it’s easier to speak the truth.” His warm fingertips brushed her cheek and trailed down the sensitive line of her jaw. Gripped by the too-pleasant sensation of his touch, she prayed the dim candlelight disguised her response.
She eased out of his reach and nearly fell backward when she bumped into a table behind her. He reached to steady her, but she righted herself in time to escape his help. Hot-cheeked and mortified by her lack of grace, she was appalled to realize what a challenge it was to string coherent thoughts together when he touched her.
Outside, a rooster crowed. Morning was nearly upon them. Awareness grew between them until a slow smile curved Alexius’s full lips. “Shall we spend the day admiring one another or will you tell me more about why you’re here?”
“I wasn’t admiring you,” she denied. His smirk told her he knew otherwise. Grappling for control of her wayward nerves, she backed away another step and forced herself to concentrate. “As I said, my father wishes me to marry. Last night, he held a banquet.”
“Yes, he hired several of my gladiators for his guests’ entertainment. He sent the largest number of them back untried. Knowing him, he’ll demand I reimburse his fee. He’ll be disappointed.”
“It’s my fault the evening was a failure. The banquet was held in celebration of signing my betrothal contract. Before it was signed, I…I displeased Lepidus, my intended husband. He left amid a storm of indignation. Needless to say, I’m doubtful the agreement will be mended.”
“What did you do?”
“I’d rather not say. It’s…embarrassing.”
Alexius shrugged, not pressing her. “So your father finds a new man. Surely, Tiberius doesn’t want a son-in-law who’s too weak to harness a spirited girl like you anyway, does he?”
Her left eyebrow arched. “I’m not a horse, Alexius.”
He chuckled. “Of course not. But most men want a wife for breeding purposes, so in that regard you’re similar to one, are you not?”
“I see your point. Most men are arrogant barbarians. In that regard I can see you’re sim—”
He laughed, a deep throaty sound that should have annoyed her, but lightened the mood and tempted her to smile instead.
“I’ve always enjoyed your quick mind, Tibi, but go on. I’m intrigued. You were saying that your spineless intended broke the contract.”
Scowling, she continued under duress, her humiliation rising along with the first rays of the sun outside the window. Her father would awaken soon and wonder where she was.
And be murderous when he doesn’t find me.
“Father claims there are no acceptable men left in Rome who will bother with me. He’s decided if I’m to be of any use to my family, he’ll have to buy me a position as a temple priestess in the hope of garnering a blessing on his house.”
“Which order?”
She hesitated. “Opis.”
All humor left Alexius with a swiftness that shocked Tibi. Except for the arena where Alexius was purported to be as solemn as the grave he fought to avoid, he was known for his carefree manner and unique ability to laugh off almost any situation. “Why a priestess?” he asked with deadly calm. “There must be a legion of men in Rome willing to marry a girl with your dowry and family’s connections to Senator Tacitus.”
“He wants to be rid of me.” A lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed the pain.
“You think Caros and Pelonia will protect you.” It wasn’t a question. His mood had not lightened. If anything he’d grown more intent, more furious beneath his inscrutable veneer.
“Yes…no.” Her head throbbed with tension. She began to pace the tiles again. Why was Alexius angry? Did he think she’d implicated him in her scheme by coming here? “I don’t know what I thought exactly, just that I had nowhere else to go. My friends will never defy my father. My sister agrees with him as well.”
“I’d expect no less from her,” he scoffed under his breath.
She paused. It was no secret that Tiberia disliked the lower classes, especially gladiators and their trade, but as far as Tibi knew no one ever found fault with her sister. Tiberia was the epitome of what a Roman woman should be—beautiful, graceful and well-connected in her happy marriage. For the first time she noticed Alexius was aware of her sister’s prejudice and that he bore Tiberia no fondness, either. “I suppose I hoped Pelonia and Caros might have a way to hide me or suggest a safe place for me to go outside of Rome until my father forgives me. I realize now that I was—”
“Desperate?”
“Imprudent.”
A half smile curved his lips, but failed to hide the flintiness of his gaze. “I’ll keep you until they return. Then the three of you can decide what to do.”
“No. My father might make trouble for you if he learns you’ve helped me thwart him.”
“You don’t worry he’ll cause problems for Caros and Pelonia if they do the same? They’re Christians—easy targets for anyone who knows their secret and wishes to take aim at them.”
“I’m certain they’re safe or I’d never have come here. Father wants to punish me. He has no wish to shame anyone else in the family—or his good name by association.”
“Good. I’d hate to have to kill your father for harming my friends.” Alexius sat on the edge of his desk and gripped the carved edge on either side of his narrow hips.
“You wouldn’t really murder him, would you?” she asked, frightened by the depth of his calm, yet aware that he was entirely capable of killing and with great ease.
“I’m very protective of my loved ones.”
She thought she saw a flash of pain in his eyes, but it might have been a flicker of the candlelight. “I didn’t intend to cause trouble for you by coming here. I think it’s best that I go.”
“No. Stay until Caros and Pelonia arrive. They’d never forgive me if I allowed you to leave and harm came to you.”
“My family knows they’re on the way. What if my father or sister suspects that I’ve sought them out and comes to search for me here?”
“I won’t let them find you.”
She bit her lower lip, confused by his willingness to help her. The sound of servants performing their morning chores filtered in from the hallway. She was running out of time. If her circumstances were any less dire, she’d never contemplate his offer. As it was… “My family can be very adamant.”
“I’m very convincing.”
She caught her breath, momentarily stunned by his smile, yet encouraged by his confidence. “They may insist on searching the ludus for me.”
He shrugged. “Let them. I’ll enjoy holding them off.
