Centurion's Honor (Imperial Desires, Book One) Read Online Free PDF

too correct in his deductions—she was a bitter, childless, husbandless bitch who had neither a kingdom nor land. And yet when they looked upon her it was as if they did not see all that she lacked.
    They looked at her—the both of them—as no man had ever done so before. They looked at her as her husband never had.
    Her eyes bored into them, probing deep, and before she had a mind to stop herself, she blurted, “Why do you gaze upon me in such a way?”
    Anan directed her question to them both, but only Titus responded. “And how is it that we gaze upon you?”
    Her attention darted between the two men and she was suddenly nervous but she remained determined. “I-I don’t know. You gaze upon me with lust in your eyes.”
    “And do you wish us to stop?” She noticed Titus had drawn closer. Cassius remained rooted to his spot, but his eyes were now a swirling silver, with just the hint of blue.
    Her attention snapped to Titus when she felt the warmth of his breath graze her cheek.
    “I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. “No man has ever looked at me as you two do.”
    “Not even your husband?”
    Cassius had finally spoken and her gaze settled upon him, but she hesitated in replying.
    The wine had made her bold, but did she dare admit to these strangers, to these Romans what she’d admitted to no one ever before, not her sister, not even her dearest friend, Pithia?
    “No, my husband never gazed upon me in this way. He did not find me pleasing.”
    “Then he was a fool,” Cassius rasped harshly, and she found it odd that her revelation would upset him, but there was no doubt it had as she watched his hands ball into tight fists.
    “A man has not shared my bed in a long time,” she whispered into the silence. “I would be a fool to invite you now.”
    “It certainly would not be wise,” said Cassius, although she gathered Titus did not share his opinion if the glare he shot Cassius was any evidence.
    Cassius was right. It would not be wise for so many reasons. But how she longed to—how she longed to take a man to her bed who actually wanted to be there.
    Her husband had not desired her, touching her had been a burden. He’d only spent his wedding night with her because that had been his duty. After that, he could rarely be bothered, if at all.
    Her gaze danced between the two handsome, virile men before her. How she longed to take these men to her bed, who both wished to be there, who both seemed to actually desire her .
    “I think I should retire now.”
    “I think that would be best.” Cassius nodded, while Titus could only sigh, his eyes full of longing tinged with frustration. The former was for her, the latter, his comrade.
    With that, she bid them both good night and turned away with the expectation they would take that as their signal to retire as well, so she was surprised when a deep, husky voice floated across the room, halting her where she stood.
    She spun around with a small gasp, her hand tensing at the sleeve of her stola , which she’d already slipped off her shoulder.
    Titus’ gaze darkened from even that scant display of naked flesh. The burning intensity caused desire to knot her belly and she was suddenly grateful that he stood on the other side of her chambers hovering in the doorway, for if he’d been near she would have surely found her way into his arms.
    “Cassius would think your husband a fool, but I would add that he was also a liar.” Her breath hitched as Titus’ gaze speared her. “That any man would not find you pleasing is a lie.”
    An answering fire flared in her belly at the heat flickering from his eyes. Desire scorched between them, all three of them, if the embers sparkling in Cassius’ eyes were any evidence.
    The passion brimming between them threatened to burn out of control until finally Titus turned from her and left her bedchambers, along with Cassius, closing the door behind them with a muffled thud.
    With the absence of the two men from her