“Well that was a bit weird,” he stated out loud as his horse started out the main gate of the manor house. He wondered if Lady Diana was unwed because she was completely mental. Then again, if she were he doubted that Proculus would have asked her to oversee his estate for him.
It was almost nightfall when Artorius arrived back at Lugdunum. He stabled his horse and made his way back to the barracks flat. It was dark inside, with the only sound coming from Decimus’ loud snoring. The legionary had come down with a fever earlier in the week and was confined to bed rest while doped up on the gods knew what. Artorius realized he wasn’t remotely tired and that his loins needed some serious relief. Self-pleasuring himself on the road had been amusing, but by no means satisfying. With an air of determination he grabbed his money pouch and made for his favorite brothel.
He walked in to the dimly lit house, where a curtain of beads hung in the entranceway. The madam gave him a smile and walked over to him. She was certainly not an unattractive woman in her own right; probably in her early forties, with a pleasant face average-sized body. Artorius wondered what tricks of the trade she could teach him.
“I’m going to have to start charging you extra,” she scolded, pointing an accusing finger at him, though she bore a bemused grin. “You leave my girls marked and worn to the point that they are of no use to me for at least a couple days!” Artorius shook his money pouch and smiled back.
“Oh I’m sure I can make it worth your while,” he said with a wink. The madam nodded curtly and guided him through an open doorway and onto a waiting couch. The room reeked of the incense burners that hung in every corner. Here was where clients were allowed to peruse the wares before deciding on a playmate for the evening.
“Any special requests tonight?” the madam asked with her hand on her hip. She rather liked the young Decanus. He paid well, plus her girls found him exciting even when he did leave them savaged with visible bite marks apparent.
“Well you know I have my favorites,” Artorius replied; his chin resting in his hand in contemplation. “However, I think I’d rather fancy something a bit more fresh and unspoiled if you know what I mean.”
“Hmm, I do indeed.” The madam looked up, deep in thought for the moment. Her eyes then glowed in realization. “Of course! I’ve got one who just came to us yesterday. Pretty little thing; don’t know what her experiences were before but at least she hasn’t been broken in
“Excellent!” Artorius said, smacking his hands together in anticipation. “ How young is she?”
“Fairly so. I know she’s of age, but yes she is a young one. Kind of petite too, so you’ll have to be gentle with her. No biting this one yet!”
“Well, perhaps someone would care to accompany me to show me how to be gentle with one so delicate.” There was a gleam in Artorius’ eye and the madam immediately picked up on it.
“Are you coming on to me?” she asked, her face showing her disbelief. Artorius replied with a shrug.
“I might be,” he confessed, his own grin broadening. The woman laughed out loud.
“Oh my,” she replied. “Well you know I myself am not for sale. I simply keep this house in order and take care of the girls is all.”
“Sure,” Artorius conceded, “but you cannot tell me that a woman of your experience doesn’t have certain…abilities. Perhaps you can teach both of us a thing or two. Call it a favor for an old friend.” He winked at his last remark. Her face a deviant smirk, the madam grabbed Artorius by the hands and pulled him to his feet. Her ample breasts felt good pressed against him and she immediately started to massage his engorged manhood through his tunic.
“You have no idea the things I could teach you,” she whispered into his ear as she flicked it with her tongue.
“I think you will find me a willing student,” Artorius replied, reaching around and smacking her hard on her bottom, giving it a squeeze. He was pleasantly surprised to find that she was quite firm and not all soft and frumpy. She then guided him to the stairs and told him to wait there. She went to one of the other rooms on the bottom floor and soon returned with a rather attractive young woman, who she gently guided by the hand. She was blonde with a fair complexion. She was fairly short and thin, but at least was filled out in the places a woman was supposed to be. The last thing Artorius wanted was anything that could possibly resemble a boy.
“Now it’s going to be alright my dear,” the madam said to the girl, who looked like she was trembling a bit. She took a step back when she first set eyes on Artorius, her eyes wide. “This is your first client. Don’t worry; I’ll be there to make sure he doesn’t hurt you.” She then took them both by the arm and guided them upstairs. On the top floor they hear the sounds of boisterous laughter. Artorius was surprised to see both Valens and Svetlana, arms around each other, trying to fumble their way into one of the rooms. Both seemed to be a bit inebriated and having a wonderful time.
“Hey Artorius!” Valens said in a voice far too loud for how close they were. Svetlana placed her head on Valens’ shoulder and waved at Artorius and his companions. “You should see the new plaything we found! These girls really do know how to have fun!”
“Yes they do!” Svetlana replied, kissing him aggressively. Artorius laughed and shook his head. It seemed as if Valens had indeed found his true partner in crime, as it were. He then wondered how Magnus would take it if he knew and couldn’t stop laughing at the thought.
He was taken to one of the vacant rooms where he immediately got out of his restrictive clothes. The madam helped the young girl out of hers, who seemed almost powerless to do anything herself. Artorius apprised her with a raised eyebrow, shrugged, and then went work. The madam had discarded her own clothes and was lying next to them on the oversized bed, massaging herself. Finally she shoved the girl off the young soldier and took her place on top of him.
“Out of the way girl!” she snapped. “I’ll show you how it’s done. Watch…and learn…” She was a woman who Artorius could be his usual rough self with. The young girl sat at the head of the bed, her legs crossed under her, watching intently. As Artorius’ deviancy came unleashed, the madam would at times grab the girl and have Artorius do to her the same things they had just been doing; only he had to be much gentler with her. After what seemed like a couple hours of pure lust and fury all three of them collapsed. Both Artorius and the madam were panting while the girl trembled slightly.
“Well that was fun,” the madam said with a loud sigh of relief. She took the girl by the hand and helped her back into her clothes. She then told her something that Artorius could not hear, smacked her on the behind and sent her on her way. Artorius thought he heard the girl crying.
“Is she going to be alright?” he asked as he sat upright. The madam gave a dismissive wave.
“Ah, she’ll be fine. They’re all like that at first. Takes a bit for them to get broken in…kind of like a wild horse. Give her a few goes and she’ll quit blubbering and getting all emotional.” She then leaned down and kissed the young soldier passionately. “And feel free to come back here anytime.” With a spring in her step she left him alone. He then thought some more about the young woman they had just ‘broken in.’ He started to take pity on her, wondering what would drive someone to a life of prostitution. He then dismissed the notion. Prostitutes may have been amongst the dregs of society, but they were not slaves; no one forced them to spread their legs for a living!
Artorius then stretched his arms overhead and decided it was time for him to leave. He threw on his clothes and headed out into the night. It was only when he was halfway back to the flat that he realized they had neither negotiated nor exchanged any money. He laughed and wondered if the madam had given him a free pass, or if in her post-orgasmic glow she had simply forgotten. Within a few days the sense of leisure for the Third Cohort would come to a brutal end.