Fortune Favors

Chapter 16

Nico awoke to find his bedroom had darkened since the oil lamps had burned out. It was still night, and only faint light from the street torches crept through the shutters, so Nico knew he hadn't been asleep for long. He was still naked, under the blankets and propped up on a pillow. Sam was curled up next to him, his head resting on his hands and sleeping peacefully. Nico's bare leg rested gently against Sam's back, and he didn't want to move lest he disturb his lover.

Nico smiled to himself, and even in the darkness, he found Sam's beauty breathtaking. He was also worried. The Romans were famously backward about what they called "The Greek Habit". It was fine for men to use male slaves and prostitutes, but only if they were dominant and affection was prohibited. They rejected the idea of men falling in love, and they mercilessly demeaned men who took pleasure in taking rather than giving cock.

In his culture, even gods like Apollo and heroes like Achilles and Hercules fell in love with men. While it was true that aristocratic men were still expected to marry and have children, most people in his homeland understood that some men were simply not inclined to marry. There were even villages and neighborhood where men could live together and bond together as brothers, becoming legally bound to each other as strongly as married couples. In Alexandria, male couples could marry and even be buried together as spouses.

Nico wanted this trade deal to work out, so he could earn enough money to establish his own household in one of the more friendly neighborhoods in Athens or even go to Alexandria. He had always hoped to find a young man to join with him, and now he had found that young man.

Of course, the gods had a sense of humor. Sam was married and his wife was expecting a child.

Sam was honorable. He wouldn't abandon his wife or child. As jealous as Nico felt when he thought of Sam's wife, he knew that he had rescued the girl from destitution after her father had been killed. Sam, when he was only a boy, had been gallant enough to pledge himself to a girl to save her. That endeared him to Nico more than it alienated him.

As much as he didn't want to awaken Sam, he couldn't help but caress Sam's golden hair. Sam moaned a little and shifted in his sleep, and then his eyes fluttered open and he looked up at Nico and smiled.

"I thought maybe I had dreamed of being with you," whispered Sam. "Am I dreaming?"

Nico leaned down and kissed Sam's mouth. "If you are, I hope you never awaken."

Sam laughed and he turned and embraced Nico. Nico gathered Sam into his arms. Sam's skin was so warm and smooth, and his body so firm, Nico felt gripped with desire. No, it was more than desire. He felt love. He wanted Sam's company as much as his body.

Sam smiled. "I know it's not a dream because I've never had a dream so joyous."

Nico inhaled, "So, you've no regrets? I know there's no shame in what you allowed me to do, but I know the Romans feel differently."

Sam looked up at Nico. "For all that I am a citizen, I am not a Roman, any more than I expect you are. I was born in Gaul and raised to be a Roman outwardly but I was also taught the old, Gaulish ways. Before the Romans came, my people married multiple times, without divorce. If a man loved two women, he could marry both of them.

I know little of what they thought of love between men, but I do know they believed in love, and that taking a lover bonded you to that person. I feel that, like we have bonded to one another. It wasn't nothing, what we did." Sam's voice sounded hesitant, as though he feared Nico would reject the idea.

Nico inhaled and closed his eyes. He pulled Sam close. "It wasn't nothing. I fear we've both been hit by Cupid's arrow."

Suddenly, Sam moved out of Nico's embrace and propped himself up on his elbows. "Why do you fear? Do you regret it? I know I've got entanglements...I...I..."

Nico's heart nearly broke at the fear he heard in Sam's voice. He was so young, just a boy really, and he was soon to have a man's responsibility. Nico shook his head and he took Sam's hand and put it on his heart. "No," he said. "I've no regrets, but I have fears. We've only known each for a few days, and we must be discrete about our feelings."

Sam nodded. "Agreed. If people knew, I could be disgraced."

Nico looked into Sam's eyes. "I'd die before telling anyone what precisely we did tonight, so no fear there."

Sam smiled. "I trust you," he replied. "Tonight...I assume it's early morn..tonight you will meet my family. They can't know."

Nico took Sam back into his arms. "As I said, nobody will hear it from me."

Sam seemed to take comfort in this, and Nico placed a gentle kiss on his forehead as they settled back and tried to sleep again.