Lugdunum,

Gaul Lugdunensis,

170AD, autumn

Marius Sabinus smiled to himself and raised the glass to his lips, silently celebrating another fruitful evening of business. His tavern was full of customers, the wine flowed like a river and all of his girls were busy and booked for the rest of the night. Around him men of every social class were busy drinking, playing dice, or were "entertained" by his lupae in the little rooms on the upper floor, while others waited their turn impatiently.

The innkeeper and brothel owner was still congratulating himself for his good fortune when the door of the tavern opened and a woman dressed in a long black cape stepped inside. Sabinus’ smile became even wider as he saw who she was: the Golden Kyria (lady) was back and that meant his purse was going to be even more heavy than predicted by the end of the evening.

The portly man watched as the newcomer crossed the hall, walking between the tables with the regality befitting an empress and the lightness of an Egyptian dancer. A slave followed her, ready to take her cloak when she finally decided to get rid of it and expose one of the most beautiful bodies Sabinus had ever seen.

Almost as if she had heard his thoughts, the woman stopped near a couch in the corner of the room and freed herself from the black coverings. The collective gasp of the assembled men punctuated her moves as lusty and hungry eyes took in the beautiful forms she had just revealed, barely concealed by golden veils and silk wrapping, which seemed to blend with her long dark blond mane and managed to be tantalizing and elegant even if they left little room for imagination. But her most intriguing feature was, as usual, a mask of pure gold that covered all the upper part of her face, leaving only her mouth and her brown eyes visible, and gave her an aura of mystery that was irresistible to most of the men.

As the Golden Kyria reclined on the couch, Sabinus looked at his customers, noticing how many of them tried to return to their previous occupations while others, bolder than the rest of the group, approached the woman, wanting to offer her a drink or start a conversation in the hope of entering into her good graces and be chosen to share her bed for that night. The innkeeper observed the "candidates" and bet against himself as he wondered who would be the lucky one, all the while thinking about who was the woman hidden behind the mask. He had a theory, like everyone who had seen her, but it truly was not his business: the only thing that mattered him was the lady gave him a lot of money to use one of his rooms and that her presence was such a powerful attraction for his place. Not to mention the fact her sex appeal was so stunning that it worked better than an aphrodisiac, arousing the men and causing them, more often than not, to find release with Sabinus’ girls.

With a wide grin pictured on his face, the innkeeper raised his glass in silent salute to the Golden Kyria and returned to his job.

*****

In a corner of the tavern, a young tribune, Maximus Decimus Meridas, watched, bemused as his companion, a grizzled centurion named Claudius, stared open mouthed at someone who had just walked behind his own back.

"Close your mouth," he said, "It does not befit an officer."

Claudius seemed to not even hear him and Maximus sighed, returning to his wine, wondering for the tenth time why he had let his friend drag him into that lupanare. The young soldier hated those places, because he did not enjoy having sex with paid companions, be they whores or the slaves the Empire put at the soldiers’ disposal. The act gave him physical relief but left him empty afterward, curiously unsatisfied in his heart, as if something important was missing. He had had a glimpse of what it could be almost two years before, but his relationship with Lucilla, Emperor Marcus Aurelius’ daughter, had never progressed that far. However, there wasn’t much choice for an unmarried 23 year old legionary, and Maximus knew it. He sighed loudly again and shook his head, as Claudius finally seemed to regain his composure.

"She is extraordinary," he commented, still watching her, "I have never seen a more beautiful woman."

"Oh, please, you say it one day in, one day out!" said the tribune, who was feeling bored and wanted to return to the camp to write a letter to his parents in Hispania.

"Ah, you are being a pain in the ass!"

"But it is true!"

"Maybe, but she is really the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Turn around and you will see what I mean."

Maximus sighed again and did as his friend asked.

What he saw made the breath leave him in a rush: never in his life had he seen such an intriguing creature. His eyes could not drink in enough of her bronzed skin and voluptuous curves, while her masked face exercised a strange, mysterious attraction on him.

"Who is she?" he asked in a whisper and Claudius grinned in triumph upon hearing his awed tone, enjoying the look of pure lust that had appeared on the tribune’s handsome face.

"They call her the Golden Kyria."

"Oh," Maximus commented, trying to shake himself from his almost trance-like state, but was unable to stop staring at the woman sitting in the other corner of the room. The centurion observed him and decided to have a bit of fun: it was so rare to catch his friend and superior off-guard, he was always so in control of himself and so serious, that Claudius had no intention of letting his chance to tease him slip away.

"Do you see all those men?" he murmured in the younger man’ ear in a conversational hush.

"Yes..." Maximus nodded, wanting the other to go on.

"They all would like, just like you, to hit the sack with her, but I bet that many of them, if not all of them, are going to be refused and will have to stick it somewhere else."

"Why?"

"Because the lady is very picky and selective with the men she decides to take to bed."

"Oh." Maximus was conscious he was not sustaining an intelligent conversation, but it seemed his body had taken control of his brain, as he continued to devour the woman with his blue-green eyes and his hand twitched with the desire to touch her golden skin.

"Hey, did you hear what I said?" Claudius exclaimed, nudging him in the ribs with an elbow.

Maximus flushed red and shook his head.

"I told you should go over there. Maybe you will be the lucky one this evening." And speaking thus the centurion gave his friend a long appraising glance.

The tribune was about to turn around and face Claudius with a, "Do you really think so?" when he caught a devilish glint in the other man’s eyes and understood the centurion was only teasing him, not believing the serious minded officer would ever do such a thing. Maximus’ eyes narrowed and he suddenly decided to wipe that smug grim from the older man’s face. Thus he stood up and, flashing a winning smile to his friend, he said, "Don’t wait for me here. This will take awhile."

And before Claudius was able to say a single word, Maximus left the table and walked over to the couch.

*****

The Golden Kyria refused the drink offered by the middle aged man at her side and scanned the room with her keen brown eyes, her grimace of annoyance hidden by her mask: was it possible there was not a single man to her liking that night? Her time of freedom was wearing out and she did not want to waste it. On the other hand, she was not so desperate to choose someone that did not excite her... She had just finished formulating that thought when she saw a man in uniform advance in her direction. She usually did not like soldiers, but something in the way he moved, with the strength of a bull and the grace of a tiger, captured her attention. Her appreciative eyes lingered on his ruggedly handsome young face, with its almost delicate features and sensual mouth hardened by a well-trimmed dark beard. Then she lowered her gaze from his strong neck, to his broad shoulders, whose width was beautifully evidenced by leather cuirass, and then down to the portion of bare, tanned legs she could see under the end of his wine red tunic and above the top of his boots. He was a magnificent specimen, with a charismatic, commanding aura wrapped around him like a warm cloak, and the Golden Kyria smiled in satisfaction: she was going, after all, to have her man for that night. In a sensual movement, she uncrossed her legs and rose from the couch, locking her eyes with the legionary’s wonderful blue-green pools. She winked at him in silent invitation.

"Good evening, lady," said the man as he finally stopped in front of her, smiling with a mixture of boldness and sweetness she found irresistible, while his deep throated, low voice sent shivers along her spine.

"Good evening to you, soldier," she replied in her most sultry tone, "Would you like some wine?"

He nodded and she motioned her slave to bring her two cups of warm Falernian.

"Here," she said, giving one to the young man in front of her, caressing the back of his hand with her fingers as she slowly withdrew her arm. She felt a bolt of energy shake her and saw the man swallow loudly, as his eyes darkened with desire, a sure sign he had felt the same.

The Golden Kyria sipped her wine as she continued to study her choice for the night from above the rim of her cup, noticing he too was doing the same, his hot gaze almost burning the skin of her barely covered breasts with its intensity. She decided to play the same game for a while and her roving eyes, clearly visible even with her mask, began to roam over his form in a way that attracted his attention, before dropping to his lap and stopping there. She grinned wickedly when she noticed his reaction and, returning to his face, she licked her lips with intent, making him almost sputter his wine. They were totally captivated with each other, so much that neither of them noticed the murmur of disappointment of the other men around them, or the envious looks they threw at the soldier as they returned, scorned, to their seats. Finally the lady decided it was time to end the game and, putting down her cup on a table, she reached out her manicured hand and whispered, "Come with me, soldier, it is time to see how good you are with that sword."

*****

Maximus’ pulse quickened even more at the mysterious woman’s blunt innuendo and the muscles in his belly tightened at the mere thought that extraordinary creature had really chosen him. He put down his cup and eagerly accepted her hand, letting her lead him to the staircase and then up to a little bedroom at the first floor, barely noticing how her slave followed them.

Once inside the room, the woman let go his hand, closed the door and turned to face him.

"There are few rules inside here, soldier," she said, "You must not try to remove my mask and you must do what I say. Do you agree?"

Maximus nodded without hesitation: he was so aroused he would have done just about anything to have her. "Yes," he added, his voice hoarse.

"Good," she commented in a whisper and, with a sultry smile, she started to undress in front of him, without haste, a piece at time, moving her hips in a slow, languorous, hypnotic way, as if she was dancing to the rhythm of a music only she could hear. Or perhaps not, because, almost unconsciously, Maximus began to imitate her, removing his uniform with her same, sensual cadence, until they both stood naked in front of each other, their bodies already glistening with sweat.

The tribune took some moments to observe her beautiful form: she was of medium height, slender but not too skinny, deliciously curvaceous in all the right spots. Her breasts were firm and ripe and he raised a trembling hand to touch them in a slow caress.

She smiled at him and stepped forward, letting him embrace her and crush her form against his heaving chest.

Maximus wanted to kiss her mouth but it was immediately clear the golden mask was an insuperable obstacle for his lips because he could not come near enough. So he contented himself by kissing her neck, shoulders, and breasts. And while he did so, the lady was not still: her hand moved restlessly along his back, sides, abdomen and then down to his most intimate and aroused flesh, squeezing and caressing him, enjoying fully his magnificent body. As the passion and the heat between them escalated to dangerous levels, she said, in a whisper that was both a suggestion and an order, "Lie on the bed, I have a surprise for you."

His mind dazed, Maximus lost no time, backing to the cot and stretching on it without breaking their eye contact, and almost unbearably aroused by the lustful way she was looking at him. He watched with half closed eyes as she gracefully walked to the bed, sat down, and then caressed his hips and lower belly, causing him to buck in reaction. She grinned at him and then, before he was able to understand what she was going to do, the lady bent her head and did a thing nobody had ever done to him: she took him in her mouth, driving him wild, rapidly reducing him to a panting and moaning heap on the bed with her maddening actions. Maximus’ hands gripped the sheets as he thrashed his head, overwhelmed by the new sensations she was giving to him. As he thought he was going to lose control, the mouth suddenly left him, causing him to groan in frustration.

"Please...." he begged her, and it was another first for him.

The Golden Kyria smiled and murmured, "Shhh... Calm down." She observed as his broad chest rose and fell quickly, fascinated by the play of shadows and light the flames of the lamp cast on his sweaty skin. In the end she took pity on him, and straddling his hips, sat on him and took him deeply inside her.

Oh Gods! Thought Maximus as he felt himself being engulfed by her warm and slick body. He groaned as the lady began to ride him hard and fast, up and down, moving in perfect rhythm with the strong thrusts of his hips, her hands braced on his chest to give her more balance.

As their passion increased and their skin shone with sweat, she closed her eyes tightly and wildly threw her head back, causing her long hair to brush his thighs. Maximus roared with desire and pushing himself upward, he embraced her and rolled them both on the bed, never stopping his thrusts. She responded to his actions by wrapping her legs around his waist, spurring him with words and movements to give her more.

Maximus willingly obeyed, pounding into her with all the force of his powerful lower back, bringing both of them to the pinnacle of sensations until they came, together, crying out in unison.

When he recovered, long minutes later, Maximus raised his head from her breasts and looked into her eyes. "Kyria," he murmured in Greek, trying to find the words to tell her he had never experienced such pleasure in his life, but he was not able to do more than stare at her. However she seemed to understand nevertheless because she whispered, "I know, soldier, I know." Then she pressed his head back on her chest and caressed his hair, shoulders and neck, until he fell deeply asleep. She then slowly disentangled herself from his arms and stood up, walking around the room to retrieve her clothes. As she dressed, her eyes never left the slumbering soldier: he had been as wonderful a lover as he was handsome, and she felt the desire to caress him again, to wake him up and share her body with him another time. But she could not: it was already well past midnight and she had to return home.

The Golden Kyria took the coverlet which was folded at the end of the bed, covered the beautiful young man and then, in an unexpected and impulsive move, she freed her face from the mask for just a moment and bent down to kiss him softly on the lips. Then she put back her golden covering, turned around and left the room without another glance.

*****

For the umpteenth time that night, Maximus’ head turned around at the sound of the tavern door opening and closing but, once again, his hopes were disappointed: it was just another customer not the golden woman who had haunted his dreams for more than a week. The tribune returned to the study of his drink, losing himself in the ruby depth of his wine as he let his mind wander and, predictably, remember the first time he had been in that inn. His body reacted as he re-lived his encounter with the masked lady and a bout of longing gripped him. Never before in his life he had experienced such pleasure, and never before had a whore remained in his thoughts for so long. But was she really a prostitute? Maximus doubted it. When he had awoken after their meeting, finding himself all alone in the room, he had been ready to pay to the innkeeper whatever sum he might require but, to his surprise, he had been informed there was no fee to be paid. The Golden Kyria had already settled the bill for their wine and the use of the room. Maximus had been surprised by the news, but he had no time to ponder the matter further because Claudius, who had waited for him, had slammed his back in congratulations and pestered him with questions.

The Spaniard smiled: his friend had tried for days to pry information from him, but the tribune had resisted, keeping his unique experience all for himself. However, as time passed his desire to see the mysterious woman again had increased to the point it was now almost an obsession. During the days he carried on as usual, doing his duty as second in command of the camp to the best of his capabilities, but during the evenings, now that winter was approaching and many of his friends were on leave, his thoughts always returned to his night of incredible passion. Maximus had tried to forget, to push those memories away, but after a week of burning sexual frustration, the young man had finally decided to return to the tavern, hoping to meet the Golden Lady once again. A laughing Claudius, who still could not believe his serious and grounded superior officer could be so smitten, and was also more than a little envious, had teased him unmercifully, before telling him the lady never took the same man twice. But Maximus had not listened to him and now there he was, alone, a barely tasted cup of wine in front of him, his nerves tense as a bowstring. The tribune sighed and looked out the window: the moon was already high in the sky and perhaps he should have to resign himself and return to the camp. He stood up and walked to the counter to leave his glass and pay, just as the door opened again. Maximus forced himself not to turn around but when the conversations in the room suddenly stopped, he literally spun around, his heart almost skipping a beat as his eyes stopped on the masked woman.

*

The Golden Kyria noticed the soldier, her soldier, at once. He was standing near the counter, only a brief distance separating them and he was staring at her with his burning blue-green eyes. The woman blushed under her mask as she felt his hot gaze caress her and started to move in his direction, blind to other people in the room, as if an unstoppable force was pulling her to him. She did not care about the fact she was going to break one of her own rules, to never have the same man more than once, the only thing that mattered was her desire for the magnificent young man in front of her. She stopped a few feet from him and without saying a word, she reached out her right hand, which he took without hesitation, following her eagerly as she led him to the staircase.

*

Once again Maximus could not believe the pleasure the woman had been able to give him. Inside himself he had been afraid he had magnified their past encounter in his mind and that the actual experience would not be up to his memories, but the doubt had lasted for just a moment, disappearing with the first touch of her lips on his neck.

As during their first night, she drove him to total exhaustion, leaving him drained physically and mentally but incredibly satisfied. And this time, when he recovered, he was not alone in the room. The Golden Kyria was sitting near the bed, dressed once more, looking at him with fondness.

"My lady?" he had said, sensing she wanted to say something.

"When you will be free next time?"

Maximus’ heart had almost stopped in his chest as he had realized what she was really asking, "I am free every night, there is nothing to do in the camp in this time of the year."

"Good." She stood up and added, "See you in two days, soldier." Then she left, an ecstatic young man lying behind her grinning on the bed.

*****

That was the beginning of their "relationship": they met at Sabinus’ place every two or three days, arriving just after the sunset and leaving around midnight. For Maximus life became divided in two parts: during the days he was the Tribune Decimus Meridas, irreproachable second in command of the Felix Legion III, the officer everyone in the camp took as model and wanted to imitate, but during the nights he spent in town, he was just a man, free from responsibilities and given to the needs of a young body and sensual soul. Sometimes he thought the Golden Kyria had cast a spell on him but deep inside he knew she had just brought out a side of his personality he had always possessed but never given free rein to.

He was amazed by the way the masked woman was able to use that magnificent body of hers to take him higher and higher. She was so experienced, but not in the vulgar ways of the whores, her techniques and movements tasteful and refined as if she was practicing an art. She had no scruples in telling him clearly what she wanted, without any fear and expecting to be obeyed. Maximus loved her dominance because he knew that, after she had her fill, the tables would be turned and she would let him do everything he wanted, leaving him always exhausted and sated.

As time passed Maximus became more and more intrigued by the woman, by his lover. She was a still a mystery for him, outside her body he knew nothing about her and he spent the evenings he was not with her wondering who was hidden by the mask. He had reached the conclusion she was a rich lady – the mask was made of pure gold and she always paid for their room – perhaps married and probably older than him because he doubted a young woman of his age would be so daring and sure of herself as she was. They talked to each other very little and she even did not know his name, because she had stopped him from telling her with a finger on his lips. "I don’t want to know," she had said in her low sensual voice, "I don’t care who you are outside of this building. It only matters who you are in this bedroom, my wonderful playmate and passionate soldier."

Maximus had understood what she had really meant, that she did not want any strings attached to their relationship, and he had respected her wish, refraining to do what his military mind wanted, to follow her home and discover her real identity, deciding instead to keep his curiosity under control.

*****

"Maximus?" the silver haired man called, poking his head inside the tribune’s tent.

"Yes, sir?" replied the officer, rising at once from his desk, "What I can do for you, General?"

"At ease, boy, I am not here for business, I just wanted to ask you if you want to come with me to dinner."

"Sir?"

Maximus cocked his head at the other’s not very enthusiastic tone and General Sergius explained better, "The governor of the province returned yesterday from a long trip; he will be here for only a couple of days before departing again and today he sent me an invitation for dinner. I cannot refuse it, but the man is such an insufferable pompous ass that I don’t want to be alone with him, because I might decide to strangle him before the meal is ended. And thus I would like you to join me to keep me from committing irreparable actions."

The older man smiled and Maximus imitated him."I will be honored to help you in such a delicate matter, Sir," the tribune joked and both men exploded in a hearty laugh before Sergius regained his composure and said, "Thank you Maximus. I just hope I am not going to ruin your plans for the evening."

"I had no plans outside writing to my family." Maximus looked down at the piece of papyrus on his desk.

"Good! I would have hated to take you away from your lady!" The general winked and Maximus blushed: it was a known fact in the camp the tribune was now the Golden Kyria’s only lover, and the old man could not resist teasing him a little bit. Then he patted the younger man’s shoulder and said, "Now I leave you to your letter. I will send my manservant to alert you when it is time to go."

Maximus nodded and then watched his commanding officer leave his tent, before returning to his writing.

*

Later that evening Maximus and his general walked inside the Pro-praetor’s domus in the center of the town. It was a great building, designed to impress guests with its opulence, but it did not have that effect on the two soldiers, who only saw a big, colorful box without any content, just as the master of the house seemed to be. Livinius Priscus greeted them and from his very first words Maximus understood why the general had wanted his company. The politician was a fat, balding, overbearing and overly proud man who considered Gaul as barbaric a place as Germania was, even if it was instead a very Romanized province, and boasted himself to be have been a great soldier, when instead he had served in the legions for only four years, the necessary period for access to the political offices. He had been stationed in Hispania, the quieter area of the Empire after Italy, a place where a legionary could only risk dying of boredom.

Livinius did not talk, he declaimed, with a patronizing tone Maximus found insufferable. He had just gotten there and was already eager to leave. General Sergius was not in a much better mood but luckily the sound of a bell announced that dinner was ready.

"Follow me," the Pro-praetor said, leading them into the triclinium, where a woman with intricately arranged blond hair and an elegant white and red dress was waiting, her eyes and face demurely lowered to the ground. Livinius seemed to ignore her as he sat at the head of the table, reclining on the couch and motioning his guests to do the same. Maximus and Sergius glanced at each other and then at the woman, not knowing how to behave in her regards. The politician seemed to notice and gesturing to her with his hand he said, "This is my wife, Iuliana Ceionia Prisca."

Maximus’ indignation at the way the man treated his wife in front of strangers transformed to pure shock as the matron raised her head and their gazes locked. There was no way he could not recognize those brown orbs, he had stared at them too many times as he made love to the Golden Kyria’s body. His glance betrayed all of his surprise but he recovered his wits when he understood the tricky situation they were in. Clearing his throat and noticing Livinius was already busy eating, he said, "Lady Prisca, let me introduce General Sergius Servilius." He watched as they exchanged a greeting and then added, "I am Tribune Maximus Decimus Meridas."

"Honored to meet you," she replied taking his hand and not betraying any of the inner turmoil that was shaking her.

The introductions completed they sat down and began to eat.

*

That dinner was one of the greatest testings of his patience Maximus had ever sustained: not only had he to suffer through Livinius' continued talking and self-praise but, even more disgusting, he had to witness in silence the horrible way the other man treated his wife, showing her no respect at all and generally behaving as if she were a slave.

"Worse," the tribune said to himself as he thought about the considerate way he treated his own serving boy, Cicero.

Maximus was furious but there was no way a man in his position could ever raise objections to Livinius’ behavior.

So he concentrated on eating his food, trying valiantly not look at Iuliana’s beautiful but sad face. Her features were a perfect match to her body: her nose was well made, her cheekbones finely sculptured, but her mouth and eyes were lined, not because of her age, even if she was older than Maximus, but because of the worries and the offences she was obliged to swallow in silence.

*

The meal was difficult for Iuliana too. She had never imagined that one of the high-ranking officers her husband had invited to dinner was ‘her’ soldier. She had been stunned to see him and then shocked when she had realized he too knew who she was.

All during dinner she felt Maximus staring at her. When she met his eyes with her own, she found that his blue-green pools were full of curiosity but also of moral support. On many occasions those bright and clever eyes flashed with anger directed to her husband, and she was pleased to see her young soldier was so protective of her. It was nice to discover that she was more than a warm body to him... and in reality it was not so surprising: how many times he had tried to start a conversation and she had stopped him, not wanting to became too intimate with him for fear to begin to care too much for him?

But now it was too late, she thought. It had always been too late, from the first time their eyes had locked and he had spoken to her with that low and warm voice....

"It is time for you to leave us alone," Livinius’ voice intruded on her thoughts and abruptly brought Iuliana back to the present. "As you command, domine," she replied, her voice carefully modulated to show no feeling. She stood up and both the general and her soldier did the same, while her husband remained seated. Iuliana exchanged a brief salute with the older man and then turned to face the tribune.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Prisca," he said, "I hope to see you again in the future." It was a common sentence of farewell, but she understood its real meaning: Maximus wanted to see her again, and soon.

She nodded and replied, "I too hope the same, Tribune, it was very nice to meet you." Once again a polite line of circumstance that hid a deeper meaning and she underscored it with a nod and a glance of understanding. Maximus nodded in return and, with a last curtsey, Iuliana left the room.

*****

The next time the Golden Kyria met her soldier everything went as usual in front of Marius Sabinus and the customers of the tavern: the lovers greeted each other, the lady stretched out her hand and together they left the hall and stepped up the staircase. However, once inside the bedroom things changed: there was no sensual strip and no frantic shared desire but both of them directed to a couch and a chair, sat down and Iuliana removed her mask. They stared at each other for a long time and then she said, "I think I owe you an explanation."

"No," Maximus shook his head, "You don’t owe me anything, but I would love to listen to you if you want to speak." His gaze was frank and not judgmental and Iuliana felt it was safe to free her soul with him.

She nodded, "I want to tell you everything." She frowned as she collected her thoughts and went on, "It is difficult to say where this story must begin, but perhaps I could start with my marriage to Livinius: our match was decided by our fathers when I was still a girl as a way to cement a political and economical alliance, as it is for almost all the weddings celebrated in Rome. At that time, I was sixteen, I liked Livinius, he was a polite and graceful young man and I was happy to marry him. Actually, I think I even loved him when we married after two years of engagement." Iuliana stopped and took a deep breath, casting a quick glance to Maximus to gauge his reaction, then went on, "However, as soon as we started to live together, he clearly stated he had no other interest in me outside me bearing him sons. He was in love with a plebeian girl he was not allowed to marry and he had no intention of ending his relationship with her. I was devastated by his revelations: my dreams of love were shattered on the very first night of my marriage." She took another deep breath and continued, "I’ve been raised to bring honor to my family, giving sons to my husband and grandchildren to my father and thus I put on a good face and went on with my life. The first years were not so bad. Livinius respected me and kept his lover away from me, in another house. But as time passed and I remained childless, his consideration of me dimmed and then disappeared. He considers me useless because I failed to give him the only thing he wanted from me: sons."

"But I am sure you have many other qualities worthy of the greatest approval!" Maximus exploded, unable to watch her desolated face.

Iuliana smiled bitterly, "I have indeed, Maximus. I am educated, I can speak four languages, I could direct a shipping company alone and even govern this province if it was allowed. But Livinius is not interested in them, he only uses them against me, telling me I am so good in men’s tasks but I am a failure as a woman. And he mocks me, parading the sons he has from his mistress under my nose." She stopped talking and lowered her head to look at the floor.

"Forgive my question," Maximus said in the silence that followed, "but why he does not ask for a divorce?"

Iuliana raised her eyes and smiled, "You don’t come from Rome, do you?"

"No, I am a Spaniard; I’ve never been in the Capital."

"I surmised it. If you had been from the Urbe, you would have known my father, Lucius Ceionius, is the youngest brother of the Co-Emperor Lucius Verus. His support has been – and is – vital for Livinius’ political career and he is very ambitious. He cannot divorce me and thus he loses no chance to make me pay for being necessary, as you have seen."

"And why don’t you speak with your father? The way Livinius treated you in front of strangers was abominable, I am sure your family would not tolerate such behavior, because it is not only an offence to you, is an offence to all the group." The young man’s eyes blazed fire and Iuliana gently shook her head.

"I have never said anything because I am proud, perhaps too much for my own sake. When I was a child I was taught not to cry and I learnt that lesson well, Maximus. My father would be devastated to know my situation and I don’t want to confront him with my failure to become a mother: for the moment he does not know who is responsible for the situation and I don’t want him to know. I cannot risk losing his esteem and so I grit my teeth and go on with my life as best I can."

Maximus nodded slowly, understanding her reasoning and wondering, for the first time, about how hard women’s lives could be, since they did not have the same rights of men. "You are a great woman," he said with sincere admiration.

"So you are not scandalized by my rash behavior?"

"No, not really: Livinius does not deserve the gift of your faithfulness. However I am curious to know how all of this started." They smiled to each other, and Iuliana relaxed even more now that she knew he was not judging her as a whore but was indeed on her side. It was a pleasant sensation to discover she had been right about her soldier’s gentle nature.

"It was a sum of factors," the woman began, "One day I read about Empress Messalina’s habit of visiting brothels with her face covered by a mask and, before putting the scroll away and forgetting it, I wondered why she did so, what pushed her to behave in such a way. Then one evening, months later, Livinius treated me worse than usual, saying such horrible things I had to hide in my room to avoid to breaking down in front of him. I was very close to tears and my maid, Sibilla, tried to cheer me up, telling me my husband was a stupid ass to prefer an uncultured plebian to me."

"She was right!" Maximus interjected and she flashed him a grin before continuing, "Sibilla also said to me I was beautiful and that every man in his right mind would have loved to be with me. I wanted to believe to her but, after spending ten years with someone always telling you are worth nothing, you begin to believe it is the truth... I was afraid my maid was lying because she is my friend. And so I decided to see if it was really true. I remembered the book about Messalina and I sent Sibilla to a jeweler because I wanted a mask just like the one used by the Empress. Then one evening, while Licinius was away for one of his trips, I went to Sabinus’ lupanare to see what happened. I thought it would be the only time, but I was not prepared for the effect I had on the men or my reaction to their obvious... desire. They made me feel like a woman for the first time in ten years, treating me with respect and grace..." she breathed deeply, before finishing her tale, "I returned home deciding to forget everything but it was not possible and thus, the next time Livinius abused me, I went back to Sabinus’ place.... and the rest is history. The Golden Kyria was born."

Maximus nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. What she had just said should have scandalized him but having seen the way Livinius treated her, he knew he could not feel so. In fact his thoughts turned on a totally different matter: as he looked at the beautiful woman in front of him, he wondered who was the real Iuliana, the demure lady he had met at dinner or the tantalizing woman known as the Golden Kyria?

Iuliana seemed to read the question in his eyes and said, "I think the real me is a blend of both of them. This," and she touched the mask in her lap, "only hides the sad wife of Livinius but does not bring out the Golden Kyria."

Silence fell in the room as they stared at each other, communicating with their eyes.

"Do you still want me?" Iuliana seemed to ask, worry and nervousness clear in her gaze.

"Now more than ever," he replied as his eyes darkened with mounting desire.

They stood up at the same time but Iuliana did not begin to disrobe as she usually did, she simply looked at him, until Maximus reached out both of his hands and she took them eagerly, letting him pull her against his chest. They stayed almost nose-to-nose for several seconds, and then he bent his head, kissing her for the first time. Maximus was surprised to sense how inexperienced she seemed to be and he shivered when he understood that the kiss was more intimate for her than all the sex they had shared. No one of her previous lovers had ever kissed her because of the mask and, considering his attitude, the tribune doubted Livinius was keen to kiss his wife when he claimed his marital rights. And thus Maximus used all of his experience to be sure Iuliana enjoyed the act, alternating sweet, playful kisses with deeper and passionate ones, until she grabbed his head and began to respond to him, matching his ardor. Almost without breaking the contact, they stripped each other, tumbling on the bed and pressing their bodies together as if they couldn’t get close enough, beginning to make love, touching and kissing each other in the places and the ways they liked best. But even if their gestures were usual, it was not so for their meaning ... because tonight, moving on the bed at the same rhythm and synchrony of two experienced dancers, there were not the Golden Kyria and her soldier, but simply Iuliana and Maximus, with no more barrier or deception to separate them.

*****

During the following winter months Maximus and Iuliana’s relationship continued and grew in intensity. Now their meetings were no longer a mere encounter of bodies but a true blending of souls and Maximus felt happy as he had never been before, having understood in Iuliana’s arms what was the difference between having sex and making love. They spent as much time talking as they passed in bed and they enjoyed both the activities equally. Even Maximus, who had never been much of a talker, loved it, having found in Iuliana a perfect partner, with whom he could be serious and playful, certain she would match his mood. They loved to argue their points of view on many subjects and they talked of everything, from gossip to philosophy, from tales of their childhood to their plans and dreams for the future.

Dreams and plans: that was the greatest gift Maximus had given to Iuliana. Before meeting him, she had thought the future had nothing more to offer her, that her existence would continue as it was, bearing Livinius’ offences in silence, without any hope for a change for the better. Now instead Maximus had given her his will to fight and she had decided to swallow her pride and write to her father, to tell him the living hell her life had become. She did not know what would come out of it, but she was determined to stop suffering in silence.

For one thing, her days as Golden Kyria were finished forever. There was no way she was going to continue her double life in Rome and not because the risks of being caught, but because she no longer needed nameless men to tell her she was desirable: Maximus found her so, and that was all that mattered. In his strong arms she forgot all her thoughts about having wasted her best years on a man who did not appreciate her. They were very happy together but they both knew their relationship had no tomorrow, that it was only a brief, stolen season. Soon Livinius’ duties in Gaul would finish and he and Iuliana would have to return to Rome, while in the spring Maximus would have to march to Germania with his legion. They both tried not to think of it, to not wish for something that could never be and to simply seize the moment, but it was easier to say than to do and when the dreaded moment of farewell arrived on a rainy March morning, it found them totally unprepared.

*

Maximus escorted Iuliana home, trying to control the pain that was gripping him, making him walk stiff-legged and constricting his throat so much he could barely breathe. When they arrived at the villa, they stopped in front of the door and stayed there unmoving, not knowing what to say.

Maximus had not predicted that saying goodbye would have been so hard: his mind kept telling him there was no way he and Iuliana could stay together, but his heart refused to listen. Being with Iuliana had finally brought him the emotional fulfillment he had craved and he did not want to give it up. He was sure he was in love with her and the mere idea of letting his beloved go away with her husband was almost unbearable. However he had no choice and he hated feeling so powerless. And he promised himself that next time he allowed himself to fall in love, it did not matter when, it would be with someone suitable for him, because he could not bear to have his heart broken again.

Iuliana too was feeling her heart break in her chest: she was in love with her soldier and she was going to be for the rest of her life. She was going to pay for her winter of love for a long time, but she was also sure the rewards would last for a lifetime too: she had proof of it in her heart and body and it pained her she had to keep silent with him.

They stood still in front of each other for a long time, saying with their eyes everything they could not voice with their lips, the tears mingling with the rain on their cheeks. Then, moving in unison, they fell into each other’s arms, hugging with all of their strength. In the end Maximus stepped back, straightened in a military stance and, appealing to all of his discipline, he whispered, "Goodbye, Lady Iuliana, may the gods smile always on you."

"Goodbye, Maximus." She bit her lower lip to stop it from trembling, "I will never forget you."

"Nor I you."

Neither of them moved as the pouring rain continued to soak their clothes and in the end Maximus understood he had to be the stronger one. "Go inside Iuliana," he gently commanded, "You will take a chill."

"Yes, I will enter... but you too must go away."

"I – I will do so once you are safe inside. Go now."

"Maximus..." she began, not really knowing what to say, but not wanting to be the first one to leave.

"Go... please." He murmured, his voice strained as he battled to avoid breaking down in front of her.

Iuliana stared at his pain-filled eyes, knowing it was probably the last time she was going to lose herself in their sweetness. In a sudden move she stepped forward, grabbed his head with her hands, gave him a desperate last kiss, murmured, "I love you" near his ear and then turned around, entering the gates of her house with such speed it left Maximus paralyzed on the spot. It took the Spaniard some time to recover but when he did, he simply whispered, "I love you too, Iuliana," before he resolutely turned his back to the closed wooden door and began his walk to the camp.

Rome,

182 AD, late summer

General Maximus Decimus Meridas, the Protector of Rome, was walking in the extensive gardens of the Imperial palace on the Palatine hill, his hand brushing the top of the well-cared-for low fences that bordered the gravel-covered paths between the flowers-beds. He enjoyed spending time outdoors when he was not busy locking horns with the Senate. The peaceful atmosphere of the gardens soothed his often strained nerves. He had always loved nature, but now more than ever he liked to be surrounded by living, growing things which made him forget the dead world he had left behind in Hispania. He had been informed by his caretaker that the pink-stoned villa had been rebuilt and that the fields were thriving again, but still he had yet to visit the place, and not only because his duty as Protector did not leave him enough time. The villa had been created to host a family, but Maximus no longer had one and he was determined it would remain so: caring, getting emotionally attached to other people was too painful and he had decided to never put himself again in that situation.

He had his job, his animals, and the gardens and that was enough for him... or at least it was what he repeated to himself every day. A sudden hiss near his ear made Maximus duck his head to avoid a flying object, but it was not an arrow, as it had often been during his days in the army, but only an innocuous ball of brown fabric stuffed with straw, which, after landing on the ground, slowly rolled to a stop at his feet. The general bent down, grimacing a bit as the muscles damaged by Commodus’ stab wound screamed in protest, picked up the ball and then straightened, waiting for its owner to arrive and reclaim it. Maximus had few doubts about who it would be and in fact, as predicted, he soon heard the sound of running feet, followed by the appearance of two boys who skidded to a halt when they saw him and tried to recompose themselves.

Maximus smiled at Lucius’ flushed face and, holding out the ball, he commented, "Are you looking for this?"

"Yes, Sir. I am sorry if we disturbed you," Lucilla’s son said, retrieving his toy.

"You did not, Lucius, and please, don’t call me ‘sir’ when we are not in public, my name is Maximus." The general had to restrain himself from ruffling the boy’s hair.

Lucius smiled in delight, "Yes, Si- Maximus." Then, suddenly remembering his playmate standing silently behind him, he added with a grin, "Maximus, let me introduce you.... Maximus. He is my cousin."

The general’s eyes moved to look to the other boy, who was older and taller than Lucilla’s son, already a young teenager, with bright blue eyes, brown-black hair and cleft in his chin. The boy was staring at him wide-eyed as his cousin listed all of the general’s accomplishments, obviously very proud that the ruler of the Empire had given him leave to call him by his name as only friends did.

Maximus watched at his namesake with a smile and then said, "Don’t let him impress you, I still put on my boots one at time!" Then he winked to the boys and waving his hand he saluted them, as he returned to his walking and the youngsters to their game.

*****

His walk completed, Maximus returned to his apartments to work some more before dinner time but was interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

"I hope I am not disturbing you," said Lucilla, his friend and trusted advisor.

"No, you aren’t. I was just reading Senator Gracchus’ proposed law once again, but it can wait. Do you need something?" Maximus’ voice was gentle and polite.

"My brother-in-law has just returned from a long sojourn in Syria and he is staying here in the palace till his house is ready. I wanted to know if it is all right with you if he, along with his daughter and grandson, will dine with us."

"Grandson? Do you mean young Maximus?"

"Yes... But how do you know about him?" Marcus Aurelius’ daughter was surprised.

"Oh, Lucius introduced us: I met them while I was walking in the gardens and they attempted to take my life with a ball." The general’s eyes sparkled with amusement and Lucilla smiled in return, pleased by his reaction. In the year passed since his last duel with Commodus, Maximus had been indifferent to anything that did not concern Rome, the Empire and its government. It was as if the man inside his body was dead, and only the soldier and the ruler existed. He spent all of his time working, with only brief pauses to walk in the gardens, and stayed always alone, reading or writing, participating in social gatherings only when his role as Protector required it. For the rest of the time Maximus lived like a hermit, keeping his distance from the other people, being always nice and polite but distant, as if he were afraid that if he let his guard down he would begin to care for them. Lucilla had watched the Spaniard retreat into his shell and raise barriers she was no longer able to break, and her heart had wept for him when she had understood why he had done so. She had tried everything to bring him out of his self-imposed emotional isolation, but she had failed. It pained her to see him always so alone even when he was in a room full of people and she prayed every day that something would happen to show him that caring for someone could bring joy and not just pain.

*****

When Maximus arrived at the big triclinium, Lucius and his cousin were already there and he watched unnoticed as the boys, probably famished after their afternoon spent playing outside, raised all of the silver and gold covers of the food containers, to see what was hidden by them. When the last cover was again in its place, the general cleared his throat, announcing his presence. The two boys flushed red and snapped at-attention like veteran legionaries.

"Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me." He winked at them, surprised by his sudden playfulness.

The youngsters smiled back and came over to him, captivated by the gentle eyes of the powerful man. Maximus the boy was attracted by the gold decorations on the general’s breastplate, so the Spaniard began to explain the meaning of each symbol as he indicated them one by one.

When Lucilla and her relatives entered the room, the boys and the man were still engaged in conversation, the topic having switched to life in the army, and Marcus Aurelius’ daughter could not help but smile upon hearing Maximus’ tone: so much time had passed since she had last heard him speak with such enthusiasm!

"Mother! Grandfather!" exclaimed the older of the boys, seeing them for first, "The General was telling us about how the testudo works!" he walked to the newcomers and added, "Do you know the General’s name is Maximus, just like me? And you told me it is a rare name!"

"It is," said Lucilla, "You and the General are the only persons I’ve ever known to have it."

"Great!"

Maximus smiled upon hearing the boy’s tone and, having finished talking with Lucius, turned around, ready to meet Lucilla’s guests. But his welcoming smile froze on his lips as he recognized the woman standing between the former empress and an elderly man: she was tall, with brown eyes, finely sculptured features and a blond mane arranged in an elegant way. His eyes widened as his heart began to thunder. "Iuliana," he whispered as if he did not believe what he was seeing.

"Maximus..." she replied, as shocked as he was, and then her eyes left his to look at the boy standing near her father. The action was brief, it lasted only a moment, but Maximus noticed it and his eyes retraced the same path, stopping on the youngster’s face... on her son.

Her son.

The Spaniard looked at the young face with more attention and the world began to spin around him as he studied it: the brown-black hair, the blue-green eyes, and the cleft on the chin... Almost unconsciously his hand rose to touch his own chin and the cleft barely hidden by his beard. "My Gods," he said, his voice strangled. He then turned to look at Iuliana, a mute question in his eyes.

"Yes," she said, in a low whisper only he could hear, "He was named after his father."

Maximus’ mouth opened and closed many times but no words came out, only hurried breaths.

"Maximus?" asked Lucilla, concerned.

"General?" Young Maximus’ voice was full of worry.

The Spaniard looked at him, then at Iuliana. "I –I must go," he stammered, "I need air... I need..." and without adding more he turned around and almost ran out of the room, his wine-red cloak swirling behind him.

*

Lucilla watched Maximus bolt from the triclinium and turned to look wild eyed at her relative. Seeing the general and the boy side by side had opened her eyes like a sort of a divine enlightening and, even if it seemed unbelievable, she knew Maximus was Iuliana’s boy’s father, the likeness between them was too marked to be only casual. Iuliana’s father too had reached the same conclusion and was now staring at his daughter with surprise but without any reproof. Lucilla searched Iuliana’s eyes, wanting to ask her thousands of questions, but knowing it was not the place.

An uneasy silence fell on the room only to be broken by Lucius’ question, "What happened to the General? Why has he hurried away?" Both of the boys had sensed the tension in the air but they could not explain it.

"He – he is not feeling well," replied Iuliana.

"Oh," commented the boy before adding, "I hope it is nothing serious."

"I am sure it is not," answered Lucilla, trying to sound convincing, "Now sit down to the table, we will begin to eat soon."

Young Maximus and Lucius grinned as they thought about the succulent dishes hidden by the silver covers and obeyed at once, engaging each other in a race to see which of them was going to arrive first at the table.

Lucilla watched them with indulgence and then turned to look at the other woman with a smile, ready to comment on their performance but the words died on her lips as she saw the way Iuliana was staring at the corridor where Maximus had disappeared. It was a look so full of longing, pain, hope and love, that Lucilla felt her heart constrict. She did not know what had happened between the General and her cousin, nor did she know how and where they had met, but it was clear they now needed to speak to each other. Lucilla had been praying for something to shake Maximus away from his emotional prison for so long and now the gods seemed to have granted her request.

"Go to him," she whispered to Iuliana, "I will take care of the boys."

"Yes, my daughter, go to him. I think you two have many things to say to each other." Added her father.

"Thank you," Iuliana murmured, grateful for their understanding, and without wasting time she left the room and disappeared along the hallway.

*****

Maximus ran to his chambers and slammed the door. He was breathing heavily, almost hyperventilating, and he lost no time divesting himself of his leather cuirass and cloak, throwing them to the floor. He went then to the basin and with shaking hands he splashed water on his face, trying to calm down and failing.

He had a son.

He had another boy.

And Iuliana was his mother. His mind tried to rationalize the fact but he was too shocked: the walls he had erected around himself against any kind of emotional involvement in the last year had been thrown to the ground in few moments and he did not know what to do. There was too much turmoil in his heart to think straight. Maximus went to his chair and collapsed on it as if he was drained of all his strength, only to stand up once again after few seconds because he was unable to stay still. Several minutes later, a soft knock on the door made him almost jump.

"Who is?" he called, even if in his heart he already knew who it was.

"It’s me, Iuliana. May I come in?" her voice was soft, hesitant... but hopeful.

Maximus went to the door and opened it slowly, letting her in. They stared at each other for long time, unable to speak, until Maximus recovered his wits and gestured her to sit on a couch that stood near his desk, before lowering himself on a chair. "May I offer you something to drink?" he asked, needing to say something.

"No, thank you."

They stared at each other in silence, not knowing what to say, until Maximus made the first move, "How did it happen?" he murmured, "I thought you could not have children."

"It was not I who was barren... It was Livinius."

"Oh."

"It turned out that the three boys he was always showing me as proof of my failures were not his sons. His lover confessed it to me when she asked me to buy one of my slaves, who was the real father of her children."

"I see." Maximus felt a brief bolt of malicious satisfaction at the thought that pompous man had finally gotten what he deserved. "What happened to Livinius?" he then asked.

"He caught a fever while we were returning to Rome and died in just few days. He never knew I was pregnant."

Maximus nodded again and then asked lowly, "Why did you not try to contact me?"

"I wanted to!" Iuliana exclaimed, "I even enquired with my father about the possibility of getting married again..." her voice died.

"And?"

"And he said that it was all right for him, but given our connection with the imperial family, I would have to choose a suitable man as husband, which translated in a patrician or a very rich and politically influent eques."

"And I was neither."

"Exactly," Iuliana’s voice was pained as she remembered those times, "I wanted so badly to write you, to tell you about the baby, but I then remembered how much you desired a family and I thought it would have only pained you to know you had a son but not be able to claim him as your own... It was a difficult choice, but the only one I could make. I hope you don’t hate me, I did it for your sake." She lowered her eyes.

"I don’t hate you, Iuliana, how could I? You have just given me a treasure.... you don’t know what it means for me to discover I am still a father..." Maximus’ eyes brimmed with tears.

Iuliana could only nod, her throat too tight to say anything. That afternoon Lucilla had informed her about the Protector of Rome’s story, telling her his family had been killed by Commodus. Lucilla had always referred to him as General Maximus, but having spent nine years in Syria, Iuliana had not be able to make the connection: after all, Maximus was a rare name, but it was not unique.

Once more they stayed in silence for a long then Maximus said, "I – I am happy to see you again, Iuliana. You look wonderful."

"Do you really think so?" At forty-three she was still slender and without any white hair and it pleased her to hear him, the only man she had really loved, told her so.

"Really, you are exactly as I remember you." That was true: Maximus had never forgotten her. He had adored his wife, he had lived for her and their son, but even in all his happiness he had never forgotten Iuliana, thinking often about her and praying the gods to give her a better life than that she had with Livinius. They seemed to have listened to him and now here she was, her golden mane shining under the lamplight, her skin tanned. It looked as soft as he remembered and Maximus’ hand twitched with the desire to caress it, just as had happened twelve years ago, in a brothel in Gaul.

The general bit his lower lip to repress the sudden bout of desire that had coursed along his spine. It was as if his body, which had been numb since the day he had discovered his wife’s corpse, had suddenly woken up, and was reacting to her beauty with same intensity as the first time they had met. How could you think about it? Maximus thought, irritated. And what would she think if she knew those kind of ideas were running in his mind? They had just met again after more than ten years, she had just told him she was the mother of his son and the only thing he wanted to do was to jump on her! He was so lost in reproaching himself what he did not notice the hungry way Iuliana was staring at him, the look on her face mirroring his own. But her self-control was not as strong as his, she had dreamt so many times of meeting him again that now that he was really in front of her she decided to follow again her motto: carpe diem, seize the moment.

Iuliana stood up and when Maximus raised his head to look at her, she reached out a hand and whispered, "Do you want to dance, soldier?" For few, interminable seconds she was afraid he was going to refuse her but, after he had looked deeply in her eyes, he nodded and took her hand, rising on his feet and standing in front of her. They stared at each other for several moments and then they stepped forward in unison, falling into each other’s arms and embracing tightly, savoring their closeness. After a while Iuliana freed herself from his hold and smiling at him, began to disrobe, moving slowly, at first awkwardly and then with more sureness as her body remembered the old rhythm.

Maximus watched hungrily as one by one her clothes fell to the floor, and then imitated her, stripping away his tunic, belt, loincloth and boots, until he stood naked and proud in front her. Iuliana’s eyes moistened as she saw the scars on his chest and arms, scars that had not been there in the past, and she began to kiss each mark softly, as if the touch of her lips might make them disappear, taking away the pain he had suffered when he had received the wounds that created them. When she finished, she moved to his nipples, kissing and licking them. Maximus moaned and buried his hands in her hair, freeing it from the pins, pressing her mouth closer to his chest. Iuliana smiled and then traced a damp path along his skin, peppering his shoulders, neck and jaw with little nibbles before reaching his mouth and claiming it for a long, passionate kiss. When it ended it was Maximus’ turn to take the lead and his soft lips trailed along her ear, throat and down to her breasts, where he began to suck hard at her nipples until she moaned and her knees buckled. In a rapid move he bent down, forgetting for a while his painful back, and took her in his arms, walking to his bed and putting her in the middle of it. For just few seconds he remained standing, admiring her body with loving and lusty eyes, until Iuliana reached out her arms, inviting him to lie atop her. They caressed and stroked each other in the places they liked best, their memories returning in a rush along with their passion, and Iuliana arched her hips against Maximus’ hardness as her hands restlessly roamed his back.

"Iuliana," he groaned, driven wild by the pressure she had put where he needed it most. "Please... It has been so long... I want you so badly..."

"Then why are you waiting? I am ready, my love, come to me." Iuliana spread her legs wider and Maximus lost no time sliding inside her, causing her to cry aloud with pleasure but also a little pain, because so much time had passed since the last time she had made love. Maximus sensed her discomfiture and, biting his lower lip, he forced himself to stay still, until he felt her muscles relax and she wrapped her legs around his waist and grabbed his bottom. He began to move, first slowly and then faster and harder, pumping into her with total abandonment as Iuliana’s head rolled from side to side and she moaned and writhed beneath him. In their highly excited state it could not last for long, and it didn’t: they came closely together, first Iuliana then Maximus, both shouting their pleasure aloud.

When the Spaniard recovered, he raised his head from Iuliana’s breasts to look at her: she was smiling, joy clear in her eyes and he felt his heart swell with happiness. "I love you," he whispered, as the old feeling, buried but never forgotten, returned in overbearing manner.

"I love you too," she echoed, "I always have."

He passed his arms under her shoulders and moved to roll them over when a sharp pain in his lower back made him wince. "Ouch," he said, unable to stop himself.

"What is it?" Iuliana asked worried.

"Nothing of importance... just a thing I have in my kidney region. It is already passed." Maximus tried to diminish the extent of his problem but her look showed him she was not convinced. Iuliana’s hands roamed his lower back until she found the scar left by Commodus’s stiletto.

"What is it?"

Maximus sighed, "I will tell you everything, but not now. It is a long story and we must return to the dining room: they will be waiting for us."

Iuliana nodded, "You are right, we had best go."

As they stood up and began to retrieve their clothes and put them back on, Maximus asked, "Do you think your father will approve our marriage?"

Iuliana’s heart skipped a beat at his so certain words and then shook her head in amusement, "Are you kidding? He will be enthusiastic: after all you are the most sought after party in the whole Empire!" she smiled to him and then added, "I think he had already understood you are my son’s father: he had always known Livinius did not sire Maximus and more than once he commented how strange it was the boy had blue eyes while mine are brown, as my late husband’s were."

"I see." The Spaniard fastened the buckles of his leather cuirass, "And Maximus? How will he take it?"

"He will be delighted. He.. well, he knows that his father is not the man who was my husband, but someone I loved but I could not have. You see, our boy is very sentimental and he likes the idea of two tortured lovers." Iuliana commented, as she walked to the mirror and tried to arrange her hair in the same style of before.

Maximus followed her, wanting to help with her pins and commented, "Really?"

"Really. He will jump with joy when he understands you are that man. I noticed how he looked at you before: it was pure hero-worship."

"I don’t want Maximus to see me like a hero, but if it will make it easier for him to accept me, well, I won’t complain." The general smiled at the woman in the mirror and she grinned back.

Finally Iuliana gave a last pat to her hair and said, "I am ready. Let’s go."

"Yes, let’s go." Maximus offered her his elbow, she took it eagerly, and together they walked out the room, happily going toward their new future together.

THE END