Afterward we lay in a sweaty silence that might have been awkward, except that Sabina was never awkward. “Goodness,” she said, lacing her fingers comfortably through mine. “I think I can see what all the fuss is about.”

“Sorry if you hurt. I didn’t mean—”

“No, I’m just a bit sore. No blood, I think.” She sounded pleased. “And now I’ve got the hang of it, I’m sure I’ll be better next time.”

“Next time?” I picked my head off the pillow.

“Yes, please.” She snuggled her head against my shoulder. “If you don’t mind?”

“No,” I laughed up into the dark, bemused. “Most girls don’t put it that way, though. You’re an odd one, Lady.”

“I think you can call me Sabina now.”

“Sabina.” I felt strange suddenly, despite the comfort of her body pressed against mine in the dark. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“What question?”

“Why me? Why at all? Girls like you don’t go giving it up to a bodyguard.”

She gave that chuckle low in her throat, the one I already knew I liked. “You’d be surprised.”

“Don’t think so. Most well-born girls, they save everything for their husbands, or at least they’re supposed to. What’s your reason?”

“Maybe it’s just you.” She twined herself over my chest in the dark to kiss me again. “You are rather lovable, Vix.” Her fine hair curtained my face, and I slid my hands over her smooth waist and forgot the question.

Stupid boy. Vibia Sabina never did anything without a reason.

CHAPTER 5

SABINA

What a pity, Sabina reflected, that Vix couldn’t lie.

Oh, he could lie, but he was useless at it. His face flamed up till it looked as russet as his head, and after that he started hooking his thumbs into his belt and stammering. She’d nearly groaned aloud when she last saw him talking to her father.

“Fine day, isn’t it?” Marcus had said absently as Vix came dashing up to the litter still tugging his sword belt into place. “Not so hot.”

“No, Dominus.”

Sabina had been loitering beside the litter after getting her own good-bye kiss and could clearly see the flush start to rise from Vix’s collar.

“I understand you’ve had a wet summer? Pity for you my daughter was so insistent about staying in the city. Baiae was much more agreeable.”

“We’ve kept busy,” Sabina had said, bland, and Vix threw her an appalled glance over Marcus’s head that nearly had her laughing aloud.

“Good, good. Lend a limping old man a pair of strong arms, would you?”

They had handed her father up into the litter, and Sabina hoped he would be too preoccupied with the upcoming business of the Senate to give a thought to his bodyguard’s apple-colored face.