Corinthian Slave (Book 3)

Chapter 8

AN - I am so sorry it has been so long, but this is a chapter to get me back writing on this book again. Work is piling up at the moment and this book really takes a lot out of me, so I hope you can understand and here is a new chapter for you! Az xx

Chapter 8

Breathing heavily would not help her case if she bumped into anyone on her furtive trip back to her rooms. But it picking up her pace would help her get there quicker, the entire situation was not getting any easier, even as her chest pumped up and down with her burning breaths. However, her swift feet were at least helping her to gain distance from the private inner courtyard. Leaning back against the wall she took a second to try and listen above the sound of her thudding heart and her harsh breath. There was a sheen of perspiration clinging to her skin as a chill ran through her at what could be happening, what could be being said. But perversely, part of her was more worried about Bion as she had left him doubled over in pain as she had fled, than herself. Pain was coming her way no matter what, but Bion did not deserve that all he had wanted to do was what no one had ever wanted to do before. He had wanted to help her, to save, to see her for who she truly was.

Shaking herself back from her stupor, movement caught her attention and had her moving swiftly on, though not quite at the speed she had been on before. No, this time she had a more sedate, if slightly rushed, walk. Not passing a soul, which was peculiar for this part of the house. But not something really to raise a brow at. The guilt was starting to eat at her, the worry over what had happened to Althea whether she was alright and already telling tales and the need to get back to her rooms was all coming together in one big mash of emotion which was a tumbling roar of sensation. Which was not what she needed when she was trying her hardest to find somewhere safe for a few moments, before the storm hit her. She had to have some sort of story ready for when someone turned up at her door for her.

One more corner, in this maze of corridors and then she was safe. Well, not entirely safe, but having a semblance of safety that would be snatched from her the moment Althea screamed for someone to help her. Even though she was only a body salve, Charis knew Althea would have whatever revenge she deemed necessary. Charis was mistress in this house by name only, the truth of all this was that Charis was the one with the least power of all. Which meant Bion had been the only person in her life so far who had wanted to help her, just for the sake of helping her. It would mean that she could always keep that safe within her mind, allowing her to know someone cared for at least one moment. It had also been the person she had fantasied about coming to save her, who had wanted to do so, which only meant that she could take those feelings forward knowing she had dreamt of something that was true.

Whilst she was so in her head and trying to control her outward show of the tumultuous emotions rioting through her, she forgot to focus on the little things. Expecting something to come at her full force, she missed completely that in this house she was in more danger from the smaller things that could be missed by anyone who did not live in constant fear of a small look or a whisper in the corner. It was why when the hard hand grabbed her elbow, the short squeak which erupted from her was quickly dulled by another hand over her mouth.

The hard hand over her mouth was sweaty and soft as it stayed in place whist she was dragged to the left and through a small doorway. Pushing her front hard against the wall as she tried to breathe through her nose as her chest tried to expand between the wall and the flabby body pushed harshly up against her. The foul stench of his unwashed and sweaty body almost made her gag as his voice came whispering close to her ear. "I have watched this foolishness that my father is putting you through. Putting other men in your bed. Slaves in your bed, to try and sire yet another child, but he need not look to those who are beneath notice. Not when I am right here and more than willing to partake of you. Trust me, I am working on my father to let me do so and then this ridiculous competition will be put asunder and I can claim that which I have longed for." He nuzzled into her neck, making Charis swallow loudly as she tried not to vomit the little she had eaten this day.

Grogos was a vile creature at the best of times, but at least he had his own lodgings with his family on the other side of the city, so they only saw him every few days. But as he had been yesterday, talking of the business he had to conduct, she had not even thought to expect him back today. Let alone be skulking around and holding her trapped and hardly able to breathe. "I promise once my father dies, you will not be put aside, you will most definitely will have a position in my household...for as long as I wish it." Rubbing his lower body against her she felt a shudder of revulsion running through her at what she felt nestling between her buttocks through their clothing.

"I think you may wish to let go of her now."

Bion groaned, clenching his teeth against the pain as he watched the bare feet of the one woman who had ever brought him low run from him. Whilst trying to 'protect' him. Well, not really protect his future line, but protect him right now from whoever else was in this courtyard with them. Voices came over him, washed through him without him really registering what was being said, only a high pitched voice and several other lower, male voices replying. Heading to the wall he propped himself up against it, waiting for the pain to pass, or at least until the pain had subsided so he could move and function as he had trained himself to do.

He would take her to task for this, yet at the same time he was impressed with her ability to catch him off guard, no male ever did this in a fight, well at least not often and had not for a very long time. A soft snorted laugh came from him as she shook his head. The one he had fantasied about was about to be offered on a platter for the winner of a fight in a matter of weeks. Yet he was interested in her for more than the prize, in fact, he did not think he could do anything if he did win, not after the strength he had seen in her, the want he knew was in them both. He would not let her husband and lord know that he could manipulate them whenever he wished into his bidding. He also did not think that she would want to be a part of what her husband wanted, but if they had met under other circumstances, he would have to say he would not let anything come between them.

Waiting until the others in the courtyard had departed, in the opposite direction to Charis, he finally made his way out, a little twinge here and there as he walked. But he gritted his teeth as he waited made his way forward. Unsure precisely which way Charis had gone, there was a part of him which could not leave her be. She had bested him and a part of him cringed at that knowledge, but another part wanted another round with her to see what happens next. How could she best him next? Not that he would let her, but he would enjoy the challenge she presented. How he ever thought of her as an airheaded woman was beyond him. No there was an inner strength within her that was calling to him along with the fragility he saw in her very structure. It was, however, her eyes which had captured him fully and now held him enthralled, so as he turned into a corridor, now completely lost, he knew that whilst he should be nowhere near this opulent part of the house, he would also not turn back either. Not until he had found her once more. Made sure that she was safe and that she still had that fire burning within her, that it had not been dimmed by the circumstances she had to live with day by day.

Ignoring the slight twinges still making themselves known. He hurried down the corridor. Upon a noise at his back, he dove into the nearest doorway. Yet what he saw made his blood boil. How she managed to get into these situations he had no idea, she seemed to fall from one bad situation and into another. Had her life always been like this? Whatever the reason, he found he did not care in that moment, only that the slimy looking old male before him, had his hands and body tightly clamped against the one and only person that Bion had to bring a little light to his dark nights. Even if she did not know how much a vital part of his sanity she had become, even if it was not truly her, he could not let what he saw before him go unchallenged. It would probably end in him being punished severely, and most probably Charis being hurt somehow, but he could not let this slimy male touch her, not when he could stop it right now.

Or at least let her know that someone cared enough to try and stop it, for he had seen just how little she meant to anyone within this house which was certainly not her home. Squaring his shoulders, he took a step closer and closed a rough palm in a tight grip around the shoulder of the squinty male. His voice coming low and harsh as he leaned in to breath. "I think you may wish to let go of her now."