Amare II: Magister

Magister


Damianus and Timeus walked back to the villa. No lessons were learned and no scrolls were opened. They spent most of the day on the forest floor, hungry for the heat of the other’s body, pressure of the other’s lips, taste of the other’s tongue.

“Damianus!” Talia gawked, staring at her son covered in dirt, his face scratched from the fall.

“I am fine, Mother.”

Talia shook her head, ignoring Timeus’ dirt covered body. “What have you been doing?”

“Boys will be boys, darling,” Brutus’ voice boomed from his office. “I am sure Damianus and Timeus were distracted by the excitement of boyhood.”

“I am not a boy, Father.”

Brutus laughed, “I thought the same when I was young. Yet, I still rolled in the mud and fell from trees. It is what all boys do, no matter how old or young.”

Talia huffed, “Go get cleaned up. Alfredus will have dinner ready soon.”

Damianus nodded and tried to hide his smile as he turned toward Timeus.

Timeus looked at the floor, a smile spreading over his blushing cheeks. He stole a quick look from under his bangs as Damianus walked away. Timeus took a step to follow, but was stopped.

“I will have words with you, Slave.”

Timeus bit his lip and crossed his arms behind his back, “Yes, Domina.”

“I did not bring you into my house so you could roll in mud with my son. You are here for the sole purpose of teaching him everything you know and more. Is that clear to you?”

“Yes, Domina.”

Talia stepped closer, her voice dropping to a growl, “I do not believe you. Perhaps your barbaric brain does not comprehend anything I say. Perhaps your barbaric brain is only teaching my son the pleasure of pain. Little do you know that Damianus is not like you. He will be a ruler that will make his great descendants tremble at his name. I will not have his glory muddled by a boy who spends his days in trees rather than performing his duty. If this happens again, I will watch you die. I will watch from the minute you are tied to the wood to the minute you die on the cross.”

Talia stormed off, leaving Timeus’ mouth hanging to the floor. After a minute Timeus went to put his scrolls back in his room.

“Timeus!”

Timeus winced at the sound of the voice. He looked over and saw Damianus in the baths.

Damianus waved him over, “Timeus!”

Timeus entered, but stared intently at his feet.

Damianus’ eyebrows furrowed together, “Will you not join me?”

“I cannot.”

“Why?”

“Your mother does not want me near you unless I am teaching you.”

Damianus jumped out of the water and walked over to Timeus.

Timeus diverted his eyes from lingering on Damianus’ dripping, naked body.

Damianus cupped his hand to the side of Timeus’ cheek, “Then come and teach me something.”

Timeus smiled and shed his tunic before following Damianus into the baths. Damianus immediately pulled Timeus close, pressing their stomachs close together.

“What should I teach you today, Dominus?”

Damianus growled, biting on Timeus’ lip, “Teach me something that is unbeknown to many.”

Timeus kissed Damianus and pulled away, “Emperor Nero had five wives and three husbands.”

Damianus smiled, “See, I learned something.” Damianus’ hands slid down Timeus’ wet hips as they slid down into the water. Timeus pushed against Damianus until Damianus was sitting in the water and Timeus was on top of him.

Timeus held either side of Damianus’ face, his hands creating a shield against intruding water.

Footsteps echoed through the hall and Timeus quickly slid away to the other end of the pool. Ricardus entered, “Dinner is ready. Hurry,” Without a questioning glance Ricardus left again.

Damianus looked at Timeus as a smile plastered his face. They broke out into a fit of laughter before kissing each other once more.