Girls Getting Off by Elizabeth Coldwell

Author:Elizabeth Coldwell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Xcite Books
Published: 2013-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Pleasing Claudea

by Jayne Wheatley

As a wave of late summer air brushed against my skin, I shivered as though in protest to what I was doing. My neck prickled in anticipation. My feet were scratching the dusty ground with each tired step I took, and fear was gripping inside my body. Besides the long sea voyage this was the most afraid I’d been. No one had spoken to me, only occasionally passing me wine and water to drink and bread to eat. And now through the narrow streets I shuffled, held tight by a man behind as if I would escape in this unfamiliar city. The words they spoke I could not understand, and the deeper into the city we got, the more people lined the streets. There was laughter, excitement, and people all trying to get a view of me. I felt on display, like a prized animal led to its slaughter.

I had been dressed in suitable robes, wrapped around me much like all the other women, but I knew I was different. I had been plucked from my own settlement, chosen especially to represent my people to the emperor. I was not sure what to expect, but a sparkle of excited tension passed through me, making the fear peak once more. I could see hills topped in temples and olive trees sprawled out behind. It looked enviably calmer up away from this bustle now ahead of me.

Even as my legs seemed to want to give way beneath me, I was ushered still forward into a big, open square. People had gathered in several crowds and we wound a path through them, yet as we reached some stairs, I was pulled down to my knees by the man who had up to this point been pulling me along; not roughly, but the action surprised me and I let out an involuntary shriek. Upon the high stairs, a very fine woman laughed behind her hands. I looked up to her fully, taking in the image of her curves under her own cream robes. She looked back, aghast that I would dare initiate contact, her sharp but beautiful features accentuated in her disdainful glare. A warming glow radiated from my loins, a moistness forming as I realised how I could affect the lovely woman.

From somewhere within one of the columned buildings – such wealth as I’d never seen – a low horn sounded, and immediately everyone dropped to their knees. A silence fell among the masses, and I followed their example by bowing my head. A breeze whipped up dust from the ground as a voice spoke, foreign words to me, but the crowd cheered loudly. I chanced a look up, and found the sight of the dark, bronzed man a little overwhelming as his presence preceded him. His robes were of the purest white, and upon his head lay a band of golden leaves. He raised a hand, speaking more words to the people around me now rising from their knees. I followed suit, and as I did his gaze fell upon me.

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