Mark of Mars Page 13

  Augustus knew better than the question his commanding officer. He urged Amelia to follow. “It is not wise to question the Marshall,” he murmured.

  “But Jenna. I can’t leave her,” Amelia protested.

  “She will be fine. The Marshall is an honourable man.”

  Amelia looked back over her shoulder. She could see trouble brewing in Jenna’s eyes, she was about to blow. Perhaps it was as good job she and Augustus were well out of range.

  Jenna turned to face Marcus. Her temper wasn’t just bubbling, it was about to boil over. “Take your hand off me, Marshall Vilnus.”

  He tightened his grip in response and pulled her out of sight of the square. “What in the name of Mars did you think you were doing back there?” he thundered, his face almost purple with rage. “You could have been killed.”

  “I was protecting myself. What I choose to do with my life is none of your business, Marshall,” she spat back, ignoring the stinging pain in her arm.

  “As a citizen of Rome, it is very much my business.”

  “In that case, you’re doing a lousy job of making the streets safe,” she squared right up to him.

  “You have been warned to stay in a well-protected area, instead you wander recklessly into a riot area.”

  “Unfortunately the poor children do not come into the rich neighbourhoods. For some strange reason, they are unwelcomed there. Poverty is like Rome’s dirty little secret, everyone knows it exists but no-one in power wants to deal with it.”

  “You’re a foreigner,” he bit back. “Don’t you dare stand in judgement of this city.”

  “As an outsider, I am the best person to judge. The way you deal with the riots is barbaric.”

  “Barbaric?” he spat out through clenched teeth. “They break the law, they are dealt with. What would you have me do? Invite them for dinner?”

  “They are rioting for a reason. Is there not the smallest flicker of thought in your brain questioning what they are risking their lives for?”

  “I don’t give a damn what they are rioting for.”

  “Spoken like a true Roman nobleman,” Jenna glared at him. “Now let go of my arm before you get a genuine Arulian response.”

  “Did you just threaten me?” His eyes were almost ablaze with anger.

  Before she could reign her temper in, her right hand curled itself into a tight ball and she punched him full in the face. It was like hitting marble. “Shit, that hurt,” Jenna squealed. But it had the desired effect, he released her arm as he took a couple of steps backwards.

  “Do you know what I could do to you for that?” he asked incredulously, the blood was already running down his nose.

  “I did warn you. It’s not my fault you were too stupid to listen.” Jenna rubbed her injured hand. It felt like she had just hit steel.

  Marcus muttered something under his breath and the next second Jenna found herself flung unceremoniously over his shoulder.

  “Put me down at once,” she hollered.

  He responded by slapping her hard across the butt. He reached his horse and dumped her up front. “Don’t move,” he barked before leaping up into the saddle. The look on his face told her not to argue, it was set hard.

  They rode in silence until he pulled up in the courtyard of the most stunning villa.

  “What is this place?” She tried to hide the tension in her voice.

  “My villa. We need some time to talk undisturbed.” He lifted her down off the horse.

  “There is no way on earth I am going inside. Anything you want to say to me can be done in public.” She stood with her hands on her hips.

  Marcus swore under his breath and in the next instant Jenna found herself flung over his shoulder again as he carried her indoors.

  Jenna struggled like a fiend. “Put me down at once, you barbarian,” she shrieked.

  “Stop wriggling. I’m not going to hurt you.”

  He deposited her in the atrium, the villa’s entrance hall. Jenna’s eyes widen at her surroundings. The place was quite outstanding, white marble everywhere.

  Marcus handed his servant, Aius, his helmet and cloak before removing his chest armour. He then took Jenna’s wrap before leading her into a huge reception room.

  “I’ll be back with you in a moment. I need to wash the blood off my face,” he threw her a hard look before disappearing through a door.

  Jenna found herself in a living museum. Most Roman villas were quite sparsely furnished, but not this one. The marble columns were highly ornate, and huge urns and bronze statues filled the room, along with lots of foliage. And gold, plenty of gold.

  It was amazing. She ran her hand over an urn. The detailing and design on it was fabulous. She had never seen one this good, but then it had not been made two millennia ago. And the bronze statue, she had both hands run over its sides. Quite exquisite. She was in seventh heaven. So many objects to look at.

  “Do you have to touch everything you see, Jenna?” Marcus murmured softly in her ear, he was standing so close behind her.

  She turned to face him. “Sorry, yes, it’s how I commit things to memory, by touch.”

  “You have not yet committed me to your memory,” he held her gaze. He loved the way her cheeks turned a soft pink.

  “People I can remember very well without touching.” Her eyes caught sight of his biceps. It was the first time she had seen him without his cloak and armour, and his muscle definition was just perfect. She resisted the urge to touch.

  She noticed he was still wearing his sword. “Do you consider me dangerous, Marshall?”

  “Highly,” he responded. “You almost broke my damn nose.”

  “Are you ever without your sword?”

  “I tend to take if off in bed.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. You could have a frightful accident otherwise.”

  She continued to examine all the items in the room, stopping before a marble statue. “Why is it that despite having a very relaxed and open attitude to sex, all Roman statues, be they of Gods or famous warriors, are portrayed with minimal manhood?” She hoped that was put politely enough.

  Marcus laughed and Jenna continued. “Take this chap, he is beautifully built but his equipment is certainly not to scale, at least I hope not!”

  “Perhaps it is for modesty. If you are concerned about the size of my manhood, you are more than welcome to check,” he challenged.

  “I’ll pass on that for now,” she scowled at him and continued to run her hand over just about everything until it was well established in her mind. “It really is a most beautiful collection. I must admit that you have actually impressed me.”

  She could have sworn Marcus looked slightly bashful at the begrudging compliment she gave. “Now, if you really want to impress me further, I would like to see the sword you are so fond of.”

  Marcus sighed and pulled his sword form its sheath, holding it up horizontally in front of her. “It is too heavy for a woman to wield.”

  “I think I’ll be the judge of that.” She took a firm grip of the hilt and took it from him. It really was a work of art. The hilt was ornate, and just below it was a mark she knew well. Mars’ logo. She ran her finger over it, trying to ascertain its meaning. Perhaps it meant he was a warrior for Mars? It would explain why she was so good at combat if she were a warrior also. She swung it around in her hand, it was weighted perfectly. “Your estimation of a woman’s strength is way off, Marshall. This sword is light as a feather.”

  She pointed the sword at his heart. “And you should not allow yourself to be so easily disarmed. By a woman, no less.” Her gaze held his, wondering if he was going to rise to the challenge. Much to her annoyance, he remained impassive. She handed the sword back to him. “That is one beautiful sword, and yes I have seen many in my lifetime.”

  Marcus was stunned to his very core. Only a deity should be able to lift that sword, yet she had. Her power was starting to worry him. She could stop him in his tracks with just one touch, had in
credible combat skills and now could handle the one weapon that could harm him. In fact she could quite easily have killed him had she so wanted. But she seemed quite oblivious of this.

  Jenna reclined nonchalantly on a bench. “Now, I do believe you brought me here to bully, intimidate or otherwise cajole me into something. So let’s get on with it as I am needed back at my temple.”

  “You will one day learn to respect a man, Jenna,” he grumbled.

  “Perhaps, but not today,” she chirped.

  Marcus poured two goblets of wine, and thrust one at her. She took a large sip and her face automatically screwed up in response; luckily wine production had come on leaps and bounds in the last two millennia. Marcus chuckled at her expression. “No, it is not poisoned. It just contains a potion that will turn you into a sweet, compliant maiden.”

  “You wish,” she smiled.

  Actually he didn’t. He liked her just as she was, fiery yet innocent. And watching her sitting on the bench, he felt quite unsure of how to deal with her. Quite embarrassing really for a God to admit, but she rendered him almost powerless. All he knew was that he wanted to feel her warm, naked body against his, have her small hands caress him. His bedroom was close and the urge to carry her off was almost overwhelming. He sat down on the opposite end of the bench. He had a hard time taking his eyes off her mouth, it looked so inviting. “Oh, Jenna,” he murmured and pulled her too him.

  His kiss quite literally took her breath away. The movement of his lips on hers was intoxicating, his breath was exceedingly sweet, with just a hint of wine. It was actually quite delicious. She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him back. As his kiss deepened, her lips parted to allow his tongue to explore her mouth. He held her tighter to his chest as her hands buried themselves in his thick hair. He was causing her pulse to race far too fast.

  He suddenly lifted his head, looking over her shoulder. “Yes, what is it?” he snapped impatiently, not relinquishing his hold.

  “Marshall Vilnus, Senators Lucius and Agrigor have asked for an audience with you.” Aius did not seem intimidated by Marcus.

  “Can’t it wait?” he growled.

  “They did say it was urgent.”

  Marcus muttered something she didn’t understand. He ran his hand down the side of her face, his black eyes looked so fluid. “I will be as quick as I can.” He kissed her softly once more before standing up.

  Jenna got to her feet, a little shakily. “I….I need to go, Marcus. They will be expecting me back at the temple.”

  Marcus caught her by the waist and put her back on the bench. “You are to stay here until my meeting is over. I have not finished with you.”

  “I will not. You cannot detain me against my wishes.” He might kiss well, but she wasn’t prepared to give him what he was really after.

  “I think you will find I can.” Marcus turned to Aius. “Under no circumstances is Jenna to leave.”

  Aius nodded in acknowledgement.

  Jenna responded maturely by sticking out her tongue at his departing figure. She had no intention of staying so needed to find an alternate exit.

  She started to explore the other rooms in the villa; they all faced out onto the peristyle, the enclosed courtyard. The dining quarters held no real interest for her, but the room after well and truly caught her attention. It looked like a weapons room. A myriad of daggers lined the walls. She picked up one, it felt truly magical in her hands. She studied the markings on the blade, it too bore Mars’ logo. This would come in useful if she had to wander the streets in the dark; a sword was a bit too conspicuous for a temple handmaiden. She put it back in its sheath and strapped it to her thigh.

  She blushed as she opened the next door, it was his bedroom. It was decorated in gold and white, and looked very regal, not as masculine as she thought it would be. The bed was large, which was unusual for Roman times. She ran her hand over the gold silk covering, and wondered how much activity it had seen. Then she regretted having that thought.

  At the end of the corridor was a narrow set of stairs which she followed up to the roof terrace. A very self-satisfied grin crossed her face. She had found her escape route.

  CHAPTER 16

  “We need your advice, Marshall,” Senator Lucius was in full flow. “We want to try and persuade the Senate to look at other ways of controlling the riots.”

  “Go on,” Marcus sat behind his desk. This was the last place he wanted to be. He finally had Jenna where he wanted her and these wretched Senators were stopping him from achieving his goal. The Fates really disliked him.

  “The army are doing a splendid job suppressing the riots, but they keep springing up. If we continue down this route, we’d have killed off half the population of Rome. Perhaps it is time to think about meeting with whoever is orchestrating these riots and seeing if we can come to a mutual agreement.”

  “We do not negotiate with rioters,” Marcus responded flatly.

  “I agree, but we need to ascertain what is the true cause behind these riots and see if we can bring harmony back to the streets of Rome,” Senator Agrigor responded diplomatically.

  “I take it you’re not here to ask for my negotiating skills?” Marcus threw them a dark look. He noticed a blond hair on his tunic. Just the memory made his pulse beat a little faster. She fit so beautifully into his embrace, her lips were as soft as he imagined and her kiss sent small sparks through his body. He had never experienced such a reaction before, and he’d had rather a lot of women over the last millennia. And she had used his name not his title for the first time; he loved the way it sounded with her faint accent. He let out a small sigh.

  He glanced back up to see both Senators starting at him oddly. “Are you quite yourself, Marshall Vilnus?” Lucius asked.

  Marcus shifted uncomfortably; he had completely zoned out for a while. “Yes, please continue with your proposed strategy.”

  “When you next address the Senate, we would like you to comment on the viability of the army continuing to supress riots over the next year or two. We ask no more, just your view that this state of affairs cannot last.”

  “Actually that is your view, Senators, not mine,” Marcus drummed his fingers angrily on his desk, regretting that he had agreed to meet with these fools. Actually they weren’t fools, he was for letting work come between him and Jenna.

  “You are happy just to continue slaying fellow countrymen?” Agrigor sounded shocked.

  “I’ll slay anyone who breaks the law and endangers the lives of decent Romans.”

  “Would you not prefer to see a lasting peace on the streets?”

  “Yes, but remember Rome is a symbol of power to the world. If we show any weakness, the effect could ripple shockwaves through to our territories. There is more at stake here than you realise.”

  “In argument, we are showing our territories that we cannot even bring a lasting peace in our city. That our own citizens are not happy with Roman rule.”

  “You are forgetting that Mars, your God of War, sired the founders of this city and as such plays a very great part in everything we do. We will not dishonour him with meek and mild actions. He will be shown the respect he deserves.” Marcus stood up, quite happy to sing his own virtues. It was time to bring this meeting to a close, he had other things on his mind.

  Agrigor and Lucius got the message that their meeting was at an end.

  “We apologise for disturbing you, Marshall,” Lucius sighed in defeat.

  “I am here to serve the city,” Marcus responded dutifully and saw the two Senators out of his study.

  He headed eagerly back to the living area, ready to pick up where he’d left off with Jenna. However she was nowhere to be seen. He strode out to the peristyle, she was not there either. He searched every room of the villa, even half hoping she might have been waiting for him in his bedroom, but to no avail. He finally noticed the door to the roof terrace open a fraction, he raced up. Empty. He jumped onto the roof and walked across the tiles to the far
end, staring out into the dead of night.

  Perhaps he should just abduct her and be done with his torment. He found most women weren’t that upset at being taken by a God, especially when they realised how skilled he was in the bedroom. But Jenna was different. She would not just succumb to his charms and give herself freely. He truly had to win her over. He let out a frustrated howl towards the sky which sent reverberations around the city.

  To make his evening turn just that little bit more sour, his father appeared.

  “Has an announcement been made at the Curia Julia that I am receiving Senators tonight,” he threw a dark look at his father.