A Slave in Imperial Rome Pt. 06

As the girls twirled the long silky voluminous skirts raised up and displayed their lovely legs with tantalizing glimpses of their milky brown thighs. The skirts were worn low on their hips and their taught bellies were shimmying to the beat. The dance was highly erotic and I could feel my manhood stir at the sight of these slave girls. Rebekah put her hands on my shoulders and began a soft massaging motion. She leaned into my ears and asked, "Master, are you enjoying this dance?"

I turned and smiled at her and I believe she knew what they were doing to me.

The music changed again into a slightly more languid tempo and one by one the girls slipped their simple vests off while looking intently at the men staring at them. Their smiles were warm and inviting. Now only the beads hid their breasts. The girls were clearly mature women but their breasts were delightfully firm and enticing as their mounds peaked out from between the beads. One girl after another shimmied over towards a man as they held out the beaded strings. Starting with the governor he slipped them over their heads as the dancers bent over to aid the removal. Soon many of the men held strings of beads in their hands as the women now shimmied with their lovely breasts swaying to the music, covered now by only a string or two of beads.

Suddenly a discordant note was sounded and the music changed. Into the room a large figure strode confidently into the middle of the dancing slaves. He was wearing a large turban on his head and long voluminous leggings. A long curved sword hung at his waist on a jewelled belt. With crossed arms he looked from on high at the women dancing around him.

Rebekah whispered in my ear, "He is playing the part of the master of this harem of women. He is their owner and ruler."

"Or would he be the head eunuch?" I wondered aloud.

"No. See how the women are now dancing suggestively around him. They are trying to entice him. A eunuch would be immune to such behaviour."

Rebekah was right about the dancing girls actions. They moved closer to the imposing figure as the music intensified. They began running their hands erotically over his chest and arms. The slaves then swayed to their knees, still moving to the music and began to caress his manhood through his clothing. As this display became more lewd I felt my slave bury her head in my shoulder. The women pulled off all their beads, baring themselves above the waist, their breasts and hands rubbing against the man's cock. One girl slowly pulled down the swordsman's pants freeing his cock while he looked down on the fawning slaves with a look of lustful contempt. The women then began to caress and kiss the man's impressive member as it stood straight out proudly.

I pulled Rebekah's head from my shoulder and looked at her distressed face. Tears were trickling out of her eyes. "What princess? Is this dance disturbing you?"

"Master, I think these women are made to perform such acts against their will. I feel very sad for them."

"But are they not slaves or whores, I'm sure? They must do what their owner trains them to do," I replied. I watched her bow her head and look away from the scene on the stage.

She then whispered quietly, I felt more to herself than to me, "Yes, we slaves must do what we are commanded to do. We have no choice." Looking directly at me Rebekah then asked, "Marcus, would you make me do such immoral things?"

"My princess, you would do this dance only for me and no one else would see you. I want you to dance for me like that and arouse my cock like these women are doing to the man. But just for me. Will you do so willingly?"

"Marcus, I am here to do as you wish. But yes, I would willingly dance for you."

I took hold of Rebekah's hand and moved around the mesmerized men towards our host. I wanted to take Rebekah out of here. Glancing at the performers the man was now plunging his cock into one of the women from behind while another of the dancers kissed and licked his neck and the other massaged the man's testicles. The men in the room were roaring their approval and clapping their hands. I wanted my slave away from this scene but at the same time I wanted to take her as soon as we were in my quarters. The wanton performance had me aroused and I wanted to fuck my slave.

Giving my regards to our host he just smiled at me and gestured towards Rebekah who had pulled her cloak over her head. His meaning was clear and we both knew what I wanted. But I also didn't want to subject my woman to more of the performance. We then slipped out of the room.

That night I mounted my slave slowly and carefully despite how aroused the erotic dance had made me. While it was my right to take her in any manner a master might wish I could see she was jarred and upset by the lascivious dance. Again, I was confronted by my lack of knowledge of her culture and the level of modesty she knew as a child. It shouldn't matter I knew - she was mine to do with as I pleased - but at the same time I derived much more pleasure from her body when there was a smile on her face and she willingly enjoyed my cock. And I sensed the gods approved of a happy slave as I certainly did.

And more and more my enjoyment of her mind, her thoughts, her smile as well as her body grew with every day I owned this small creature.

****

As Titus's mission moved on from Caesaria Maritima our days in Judea were filled with meetings and interviews with local Roman administrators, tax collectors and local Jewish tribal leaders. At first Rebekah had been kept locked in a wagon until her translation or accounting skills were needed. I bristled at Titus's requirement that she be locked up or bound to me or a soldier if I was not available. He felt that now she was back in her homeland escape was a much more feasible action for her. He was determined not to lose her services, and I suspect that he held thoughts of eventually owning her himself.

To that end he had a circular silver collar made especially for her. That day he had me bring her into his quarters. I knew not what he had planned and when we arrived I was greeted by him and two large rough looking men.

Titus smiled at us and said, "Marcus, I am very concerned for the safety of your slave. As you both know the countryside is still somewhat unsettled from the past war. I insist that we protect her from the robbers and brigands. I have made her a collar, quite attractive I might add and made of the finest silver, that we can attach a chain to. That will allow us to keep her safe and her whereabouts always known."

Rebekah gasped as she saw the metal ring in the hands of one of the men. She shrunk back as I proclaimed to Titus, "Sir, I am sure the collar is unnecessary. I will keep her constantly at my side and will protect her."

"Marcus, I'm sure you will be diligent but I will need you to go on specific errands where she will not be allowed to accompany you. And Marcus, need I remind you that although I'm sure she is your dedicated servant she is in her homeland and the lure of rejoining her people might sway her in the wrong direction. And we both know what would happen to her if she did run and was recaptured. I find it unthinkable that she would be marred in such a manner." He was speaking of branding.

"Sir, I do not believe she will run," I said forcefully. But truth be told I was also concerned about losing her now that we were much closer to her home and people. There was always a part of Rebekah that I really didn't know. Perhaps I would never know completely. What did she really think of me and more importantly, had she accepted her fate.

Titus took the decision out of my hands. "Come my dear, lets not waste any more time. These men will affix the collar to you." One of the men grabbed Rebekah by the arm while I looked on in disbelief at what was happening. She was forced to sit in a chair in front of a low table. Her head was forced to the surface of the table and held rigid, her hair pulled back and held out of the way. She was blubbering and pleading for them not to do it but I knew nothing would dissuade Titus. The other man slipped the hinged collar around her neck. With her head held out of the way a small anvil was place next to her neck and ring and the blacksmith hammered a pin to close the clasp of the collar.

It was done and she was released to sit up. I quickly moved over and held her to my chest as I whispered soothing words in her ear.

Titus came over to inspect the work. "Let me see, little princess. I believe you will come to like your new jewellery. The silver looks lovely on your neck." I held her as Titus inspected the collar. I tried to hide my anger but he took no notice of it.

He brought over a light chain with a rope extension and a lock on one end. "Here Marcus, you connect this to your woman. These are the keys to unlock the chain." He handed me the leash and proceeded to connect the lock to Rebekah's collar. I bristled as he adjusted it around her neck.

***

Today I was ordered to bring her before a group of local leaders and she was needed to translate.

After her collaring I led Rebekah back to our quarters and immediately unlocked the chain. I said, "Rebekah I will have the collar removed as soon as we return to Rome. I do not agree with it at all but I must defer to Titus."

She gave me a weak smile and said, "Master, do you fear I will try to escape?"

"No my flower, I don't, but I also know of your love for your country and people. Would you not want to be re-united with them?"

She didn't respond for some time and I was prepared to wait. It was an important question. Finally she replied, "Marcus, my immediate family were all slain. I am the only one left. Your family has given me a home and truly have been kind to me. You have been a benevolent master." She paused for some moments and then continued, "But I am not free and as a slave no matter how well I am treated, I am not a person in the eyes of Romans. It is the way of slavery. Your home is in a strange land and my religion is not practised there. However, having my cousin close has made me very happy."

She stopped again and a blush spread over her face. She said almost in a whisper, "And there are certain things we do together when alone or in the baths that I have come to enjoy." I smiled broadly at that.

"My flower, I would miss you so much if you left. I couldn't bear to part with you," I said, wrapping my arms around her and pressing her slender frame to my chest. As I looked down, I could see a smile on her face.

Shortly after we left for the meeting with the local administrators.

***

The meeting was held over tea and sweets and lasted over two hours. I had connected the chain and leash to Rebekah as we approached the meeting location where Titus was waiting. Once in the meeting space I quietly removed the leash and Rebekah was brought to the front and sat kneeling beside Titus.

The leaders had brought their own translator but Titus made it clear he wanted Rebekah to translate. Both the local Roman officials and the Hebrew leaders were dismissive of Rebekah at first but in her own way she effectively set the pace of the discussions. Her timely prompting of Titus that subtly directed him to delve deeper into certain areas of interest, particularly around crop yields and local trade, led to admissions of lax reporting and questionable taxation policies. She seemed to know where the Legate wanted to go with the inquiries and I believe, without him really fully realizing what she was doing, she had played a key role in a good outcome of this and many other meetings like this one. I had watched her work from the sidelines and I was incredibly proud of my woman.

Titus was also exceptionally please with Rebekah and I believe he sensed that her role had evolved away from straight translation. I knew he wanted her more and more.

After parting from Titus and the other Romans I decided that she and I would wander through the marketplace and craftsman's shops of the ancient town. The market square was alive with people selling and bargaining for produce, crafts and meats. Once out of sight of Titus and the other Romans I removed her leash and wrapped it around my arm.

We wandered for some time until my attention was caught by a sword maker's stall. The craftsman had just finished a beautifully finished curved blade in the style of the region. It was inlaid with beautiful patterns in the highly polished metal. I examined carefully the inscriptions and design and tested the weight and heft of the sword. It had a very different feel from the short heavy sword of a Roman soldier as was our custom. I was carefully considering buying the weapon, possibly as a gift to my father.

As I stood there admiring the craftsmanship I suddenly sensed that I was alone. Whipping around I saw only unfamiliar faces in the crowded marketplace. I yelled Rebekah's name over the noise of the square and people stopped and looked at me. But she didn't reply. Panic was setting in. I started to moved quickly through the crowd pushing people roughly out of my way as I scanned for my slave. She was nowhere in sight.

Fear was rising in my chest. Had she been accosted while I was distracted? Why hadn't I heard anything if she had been grabbed? Did she move off and become disoriented? The weight of her leash was heavy in my hand. How would I ever explain her disappearance to Titus. I would be ruined in many ways.

She was definitely not in the square. Leading out in at least five directions was a series of winding pathways. Which one to search? I had to choose but how would I know which? I stopped and looked around and had no idea where to look next. Panic was now gripping my chest.

Over the noise of the square and the sound of blood rushing in my ears I noticed the sound of music and singing coming from just off the square on one of the side streets. With no other plan I was drawn in that direction. I pushed passed more people searching desperately for her, but nothing.

And then the worst fear of all rose in my mind: she had escaped. Everything she had told me was a lie. She must have been waiting for the first opportunity to flee. My heart sickened at the thought.

Desperately looking I reached the source of the mournful singing. It was coming out of the entry way to a large room. Inside I could see people facing a man who was leading the song, almost a chant. For some reason I was drawn in and I sensed I was looking at some sort of religious rite, one completely unfamiliar.

And then I saw a shape in a cloak that looked familiar. The figure of a woman, on her knees, was facing the man and I could hear a lovely voice joining in with the chant. My heart leapt.

In two short strides I reached the side of the woman and turned her around by the shoulders. It was Rebekah, thank the gods!

Her face broke out into a radiant smile and she said, "Master, this is my place of worship."

And my mind seethed with every emotion I have ever felt: anger, relief, joy, annoyance, happiness and then anger again. And I didn't know what to do with her first as I dragged my slave out of the temple.

****

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