At the peak of his exhaustion, Lucianus couldn’t fight against his drowsiness. He crawled into bed before the sun had set, grateful that he was able to sleep in his bed once more as his consciousness drifted away. He slept like a log and was in a slumber so deep that he couldn’t recall any of his dreams. When he awoke, he had completely lost track of time. He wasn’t sure if it was in the middle of the night or if it was at the crack of dawn.
Still half-asleep, he’d assumed that Dominatus had slept with him that night, but no one was beside him. For some inexplicable reason, Lucianus’s thoughts had reverted to the time when he paid the gladiator to sleep with him. Why is he gone? Lucianus wondered. Has he already gone home? Tears filled his eyes as he was overcome with grief and sorrow. He loved Dominatus so dearly, and yet, he was unable to convey his feelings. He wanted to be loved, but he wasn’t able to be honest with himself.
“Dominatus,” Lucianus murmured. He called his beloved’s name, his heart trembling in his chest. “Dominatus. Dominatus.”
Like a child calling out for his mother, Lucianus continued to mutter the gladiator’s name. It only made the noble yearn for his beloved even more, but his senses were slowly returning to him. I don’t have an unrequited love for him. He’s my lover, and he swore his love to me. That’s right. Dominatus swore his love to me.
I finally returned to Dyna. Why isn’t he here? If he won’t come meet me, I just need to go to him. Propelled by some unknown force, Lucianus got out of bed. I must meet Dominatus right now. That was the only thought that filled his mind as he tossed aside his nighttime robe. He slipped a tunic for outings over his head and in his impatience, he couldn’t fasten his belt properly.
“Where are you going?” a man called behind him.
Lucianus almost jolted in surprise as he turned around and saw Dominatus standing there, by the entry to the garden.
“You snuck in again,” Lucianus accused.
“That’s an unkind way to phrase things,” Dominatus replied.
His cheeky response and fearless smile hadn’t changed, mimicking his mannerisms from that special night—when he told Lucianus that his battle against Grucos had been decided.
“Were you planning on going out at such a late hour?” Dominatus asked.
“That was my plan,” Lucianus replied. “My lover wouldn’t come meet me, so I thought I should go meet him.”
“What an awful lover you’ve got,” Dominatus whispered. He approached Lucianus. “Who in the world would make such a beautiful lover like you feel so lonely?”
“I agree. If I see him again, I’ll slap him.”
In response to Lucianus’s serious reply, Dominatus turned his cheek. He had no other choice. “Go ahead,” he said. “Slap me as much as you like. It’s my punishment for being so late to meet you.”
“Your attitude is laudable. I won’t hold back.”
Lucianus raised his hand in the air, and Dominatus closed his eyes. Lucianus took his chance and raised his other hand to cup the gladiator’s face gently. Lucianus drew Dominatus close and kissed him passionately.
“I wanted to see you so badly,” Lucianus whispered. His eyes started to sting with tears. “Dominatus, do you understand just how much I wanted to see you?”
“I feel the same,” Dominatus replied. “I can finally hold you in my arms.” He pulled the noble in for a tight embrace.
“It’s these arms,” Lucianus said, his voice trembling. “I’d been dying to be in your arms once more. They hug me tightly and refuse to let me go. And your lips. They’re so sweet as they steal my heart.”
Lucianus placed his fingers against his beloved’s lips. Dominatus grasped the slender fingers and kissed them.
“I’d been dreaming about you too,” Dominatus said. “Your eyes. No matter how much I peer into them, they dazzle beautifully, and my heart is always stolen by your gaze.”
Lucianus started to chuckle.
“Why are you laughing?” Dominatus asked.
“Your words. You sound like a poet,” Lucianus replied.
Dominatus grinned. “Do they not suit me?”
“They don’t. But I can tell that you’re trying your best to choose those words for me, and they make me so happy.”
“I suppose I shouldn’t do things that I’m not used to. You’re a horrible man for laughing at my heartfelt words of love.” Dominatus scooped Lucianus up and laid him onto bed. “You smell sweet. It’s the scent of lilies. Did you know that I was going to sneak into your bedroom again?”
“Of course not. Don’t be so conceited.”
Dominatus smirked as he removed Lucianus’s clothes. “Is it conceit? I thought you loved me deeply. Am I wrong?”
“Not at all. But I don’t do everything for your sake. Dominatus, let’s talk later. The night is so short.”
Lucianus removed his waistcloth in front of his lover, his cock already standing erect with anticipation.
“You’re rather assertive today,” Dominatus said.
“But of course,” Lucianus replied. “We’re finally reunited. If I’m not assertive here, when will I be? While I was in D’Aleppo, I’d been dreaming of the day you’d hold me again.”
“I’m sorry to make you feel so lonely, Lucianus.”
Dominatus leaned over the noble and kissed him passionately, trying to devour Lucianus whole. The noble, in turn, begged for his lover’s lips and entangled his tongue with the gladiator’s. Dominatus’s warm hands glided across Lucianus’s body, and Lucianus couldn’t suppress his moans. He was so sensitive that a mere touch made him feel like he was in the midst of climax.
“You’re a bit too loud,” Dominatus warned. “You’ll awaken your servants.”
“C-can you blame me?” Lucianus stammered. “Every place you touch feels good. There isn’t a single spot on my body that’ll reject you. It feels so good that I feel like I may die, Dominatus.” They were only kissing, and already, Lucianus was out of breath.
Dominatus chuckled. “You’re too adorable.” His gaze was kind as a fierce twinkle glimmered within. Lucianus felt like he was having sex with a prideful beast, filled with love.
“You’re my wolf,” Lucianus said. He couldn’t help himself. “You’re my beloved wolf that belongs to me, and no one else.”
Dominatus gazed at Lucianus quizzically.
“Is something the matter?” Lucianus asked.
“No, nothing at all,” Dominatus replied, spreading Lucianus’s legs wide and stretching Lucianus’s hole with his fingers before he entered his beloved. Amid the pleasure, Lucianus’s mind and body were overjoyed to be in the arms of his lover once more. The delight poured out of Lucianus with no end in sight.
“I became yours…” Lucianus gasped. “We’ve become one again.”
“That’s right,” Dominatus replied. “As our bodies connect, you become mine, and I become yours. You’re my precious sheath, my precious light, and my precious life.”
He started to thrust aggressively, and Lucianus desperately clung to Dominatus’s back for fear that they’d be torn apart.
“Ah… Mm… Dominatus, you’re going too fast,” Lucianus gasped.
“Forgive me. I can’t stop myself. My heart and body won’t stop as I yearn for you.”