Alexius entered his office to find Tibi pacing in front of the long row of arched windows overlooking the gladiators’ training field. Stars sparkled in the black sky behind her, a serene contrast to her obvious agitation.
He watched her for a long moment, suddenly unable to breathe. In the six months since he’d last seen her, she’d grown even lovelier than he remembered. Candlelight caused her golden braid to shimmer as she walked from one side of the room to the other and her fair skin was as smooth and creamy as a perfect cameo. For a man who enjoyed women of all shapes, sizes and looks, it was a new experience for him to be knocked breathless by the sight of one.
Shaking off her spell, he leaned against the door frame, crossed his arms over his chest and adopted a nonchalant tone. “Hello, Tibi.”
Tibi stilled, then spun to face Rome’s champion. “Hello…Alexius.”
“Why are you here?” he asked. “It’s a bit late—or early—in the day for you to drop by, no?”
Her cheeks burned under the heat of Alexius’s warm regard. Her heart fluttered wildly. Finding herself in his company was even more disconcerting than she remembered. Tall and muscular, he was a vibrant man who filled the room with energy and sent her senses reeling.
She dragged in a deep breath to calm her jangled nerves and swallowed thickly. “I understand Caros and Pelonia are coming to Rome for a visit. I’d hoped they were already here. I need to speak with them.”
Without taking his eyes off her, Alexius left the doorway and crossed the tiled floor to his desk. “I expect them some time today. Tomorrow at the latest.”
“Ah…” Tibi worried at her bottom lip as she struggled to hide her rising desperation. “I’m wasting your time then. I apologize for taking you from your guests.”
“No need to apologize.” He sounded sincere. “I’d much rather be here with you.”
His Greek accent whispered across her skin like the softest caress. Her eyes rounded with surprise before she quickly glanced away. How was it possible for him to touch her without actually touching her? “I must be going. I’ll come back later.”
“Where will you go?” he asked, easing toward her. “It’s the middle of the night. I suspect you can’t go home. You must be in serious trouble to risk the danger of wandering the streets like a common pornai.”
She breathed in his scent of smoke and the heady mix of exotic spices. “It’s nothing. I wished to speak with Pelonia. I…I’ve missed her this past year—that’s all.”
“I can tell you lie as plainly as I can see you’re trembling.” His calloused palms engulfed her cold hands, refusing to release her when she tried to pull away. “Tell me the truth and I’ll free you.”
She stopped struggling. It was no use to fight a man famous for his success in battle. “My father…”
“Go on,” he invited when she fell into silence. “What’s the old dragon done this time?”
Her gaze darted to the shadows dancing on the wall behind him. “He wishes me to wed.”
“No surprise there. He’d already prepared you for sacrifice on the marriage altar when I first met you three years ago. I understand you’ve…declined all your potential husbands.”
She froze. Aware that her inability to secure a husband had not only enraged her father but had made her a joke among the females of her social class, she was mortified to think of Alexius laughing about her with his women behind her back. “Are you mocking me?”
“No. If anything, I respect your unwillingness to accept just any man as a husband.”
“I haven’t declined all of them,” she admitted, disturbed by his nearness and the incandescence of his silver eyes enough to speak without subterfuge. “They don’t want me.”
She tugged free of his grasp, regretting the loss of contact the same instant. To her chagrin, his easy release of her hand when moments before he’d insisted on holding her smacked of rejection.
“Then they must have been deaf and blind as well as ignorant.”
Startled by the unexpected compliment, she reminded herself that Alexius charmed women with the ease of a cobra mesmerizing prey. And he was just as dangerous. To her, perhaps more so. “Now who’s the liar?”
He 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