Seduced by the Gladiator Read Online Free PDF

walked into the room slowly, and his handsome face merged with those of a dozen others in my mind’s eye. The brave, strong Lilia who had risen from the ashes of the woman tormented by those faces crumbled, and I could not help but whimper, pressing my back flat against the cool stone wall.
    This was supposed to be my safe place, where I could be the woman that I actually was, not the gladiator who had to fight her way through every day, proving herself worthy of standing among men.
    Now that there was a man in this space, in my safe haven, the terror of years ago reached out and wrapped its tentacles tightly around my innermost self once again.
    “I must apologize for my actions this day.” Warm golden light from the candle that I had lit for my kills danced over the strong features of Christus’ face as he stepped toward me. I held out a hand and tried to force some sort of strength into my voice.
    “Stay away. Stay over there.” I hated the fear that made my words tremble. I could best Bavarius if I needed to. Christus, however, was an unknown entity, a large man with a rank equal to my own.
    I hated to even think it, but I suspected that if he wanted to force me beneath him, he could.
    Christus halted in place as I had requested, which abated my fear only the smallest bit. I swallowed hard, trying to force it down, to think rationally. I was not new to the ludus anymore, was not weak in the body or the mind. I was a warrior.
    “Why are you frightened?” That he saw my emotion infuriated me, and I was glad of it, for it added some steel to my spine. I sat up straight, moved to the edge of my bedroll, and planted my feet.
    “Who says that I am?” My words were hollow in the small room, and we both knew it.
    I did not know what to make of the concern that played over the man’s features, or the anger that quickly followed.
    “Do you know who I am?” My throat was dry, and I had trouble forcing the words out.
    Christus looked me over as if seeing me for the first time, and his stare was inexplicably tender, waking things inside of me that I did not want awakened.
    “I do.” He seemed to be such a serious man. What had made him that way?
    It did not matter. I should not care.
    “You are Lilia, the most ferocious woman in all of Rome.”
    I should have felt pride at his words, but was too caught up in the intensity of the moment. How was it possible to feel so much, all at the same time?
    “I am not just the most ferocious woman. I am the most vicious gladiator, woman or man.” My voice shook with the effort of not succumbing to the man’s obvious concern.
    I could not trust it. I could not trust any man save Darius, and my friend had earned such trust only because I knew he had no interest in thrusting his cock between my thighs.
    “You are the only female gladiator.” Was that wonder that I heard? Why was the man looking at me warily, as if I both fascinated and confused him? “You are special.”
    “Do you fear me?” I meant to try to intimidate him. Being loud, brash, and bold had served me well with other gladiators. Nothing in the way that Christus stood, watching me, told me that he was afraid. If anything, he seemed . . . protective, was all that I could think. As if he wanted to wrap me in his arms and save me from the world’s hurts.
    The man shook his head, and I thought that the ghost of a smile whispered around his lips. Thinking that he mocked me, that he jested over my strength, I tensed, preparing to attack.
    “Who has hurt you?” The incline of his torso told me that he wanted to step forward, to touch, to soothe, and that he held himself back as I had commanded.
    That was all well and good, but I knew that men changed in the dark.
    “I am not hurt, Christus of house Manius.” I forced myself to my feet, willing my body into a combative pose. Perhaps if he feared me, he would leave me alone.
    I did not care for the way his eyes swept over me. They were not lecherous like those of