kalpanikata

In the heart of Rome, where ambition is sharpened like a blade and betrayal is as common as breath, Lucius Varro walks the line between life and death. A ruthless warrior, an assassin draped in shadows, and a man tangled in the throes of power, he becomes both predator and prey in a city that devours its own.

But Rome’s deadliest games are not only played in the Senate or on the battlefield. They are whispered in candlelit chambers, exchanged in lovers’ beds, and sealed with blood-stained kisses.

Each woman has her own web of lies, affairs, and betrayals—some with Lucius, others with men of power and influence. But as Rome teeters on the brink of war, passion and politics collide in a storm of lust, vengeance, and fate.

When the dust settles, will Lucius stand victorious—or will he be just another name lost to the empire’s cruel history?

Blood And Laurel

The night was warm, the scent of burning myrrh thick in the chamber, mingling with the lingering heat of their bodies. Livia stretched against the silk sheets, her skin still flushed from their earlier passion. Her gaze trailed lazily over Lucius as he lay beside her, his muscles relaxed, yet his mind clearly still restless.

"You brood too much," she murmured, trailing her fingers over his chest, tracing the ridges of old battle scars. "A man should not think so much after such pleasure."

Lucius smirked faintly, his fingers idly skimming over the curve of her hip. "A man like me has no choice."

She rolled onto her side, pressing her bare body against his, her breath warm against his skin. "Then perhaps I should remind you that there are still matters more urgent than politics."

Before he could respond, Livia shifted, straddling him with effortless grace, her fingers splaying over his abdomen as she leaned in. Lucius let out a slow exhale, his hands settling at her waist, feeling the way her body moved against his.

She smirked, feeling the undeniable proof of his readiness between her thighs. "Impressive," she purred, dragging her hips against him teasingly.

Lucius's grip tightened. "You enjoy testing limits."

She leaned closer, her lips brushing against his jaw. "Only when the reward is worth it."

Her teasing was short-lived. With one slow, deliberate movement, she sank onto him, her breath catching as she stretched around his thick length. Her fingers dug into his chest, nails leaving faint crescent marks as her body adjusted. Lucius exhaled sharply, his hands gripping her hips, feeling the tight, undeniable grip of her around him.

For a moment, neither of them moved—only the sound of their breaths filled the space between them. Then, slowly, Livia rolled her hips, drawing a deep groan from Lucius as she set an unhurried rhythm.

Their bodies moved in perfect synchrony, each thrust deliberate, each moment drawn out as if neither of them wished to surrender to the inevitable too soon. Livia's hands braced against his chest as she rode him, her head tipping back in pleasure.

Lucius watched her, captivated by the way she lost herself in the moment—the way her lips parted, the soft gasps that spilled from her mouth. He gripped her waist, guiding her movements, his own control slipping with every intoxicating roll of her hips.

Livia leaned forward, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, "Do you still feel burdened, Lucius?"

He answered with action rather than words. In one swift motion, he flipped her onto her back, pressing her into the mattress as he drove into her with slow, deep thrusts. Livia gasped, her legs wrapping around his waist as she pulled him closer, her fingers tangled in his hair.

"Lucius…" she moaned, her body gripping him tightly with each movement.

He buried his face against her neck, his breath hot against her skin. "You make a dangerous distraction," he murmured, his voice strained with pleasure.

She smirked against his lips, her body trembling as she neared the edge. "And yet, you can't seem to resist."

Lucius lost himself in her, in the way she clenched around him, in the way their bodies fit together as though molded by fate itself. When release finally came, it was a slow, consuming wave, leaving them both breathless in its wake.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. Then, as the night stretched on, Lucius pulled Livia against him, their bodies still tangled beneath the sheets.

"You'll be the ruin of me," he murmured against her hair.

Livia smirked, pressing a kiss to his chest. "Then let's make it a glorious downfall."

Chapter Eight: The Ties That Bind (Contains a detailed sex scene)