The picnic items were cleared away just in time when it started to pour like rain. Amaya had never experienced such a storm in Rome. It rained all evening and it seemed as if the storm would not go any further. Terra's friends gratefully accepted Terra's offer to stay at her place and Amaya prepared the guest rooms for them. Flashes of lightning repeatedly lit up the dimly lit room in which she was making a bed, and each time the thunder cracked, she jumped in shock.
This noise reminded her of the battle in Armenia against the Romans and she just waited for the usual cry of pain that followed. He did not come. All that followed the loud thunder was the loud patter of rain against the large windows. She ordered herself to remain calm and focused on her task again. _Luca. _Suddenly his face shot out in front of her eyes. Her heart started racing and she prayed to God that he was safe and that nothing would happen to him. When she was finished with the rooms, she went to Terra's room and informed her mistress about it. She coldly waved Amaya away and continued talking. "Anyway, I wasn't interested in him and glad he finally left. If you only knew how much he had annoyed me! I wish I had him...
LUCA!" Terra jumped off her bed and ran to the window. A horseman charged through the storm towards the mansion. "Amaya wake my father up!" she yelled and stormed out of the room . Amaya walked through the big house and knocked on the master's door. He finally opened it and looked out sleepily.
"Your son is back, sir," she said, ashamed of waking him. Now, however, he was wide awake and ran out of the room. Amaya followed him, but couldn't keep up. Terra, her friends, and her father were already standing in front of the front door when Amaya came. Another slave just brought a blanket and stood next to Amaya. "The master will catch his death at some point.", he whispered in her ear. Another slave just brought a blanket and stood next to Amaya. "The Lord will catch his death someday." He whispered in her ear. Another slave just brought a blanket and stood next to Amaya. "The Lord will catch his death someday." He whispered in her ear.
Luca had trouble getting into the house. There were people everywhere, talking to him. He was cold, soaked through and tired. A slave wrapped a blanket around him and his gaze lingered on Amaya. The voices of the others faded into the background and all he could see was her beautiful, worried face. His father put his arm around him and pushed him towards the bathroom. "You're going to rest for now. Cornu, let in a warm bubble bath." The slave disappeared into the bath behind Luca and Luca slowly climbed into the warm water.
He closed his eyes and enjoyed the silence that would soon end as soon as he left the bath again. Why did Terras have to Being friends and especially Lana here today... He pushed his thoughts of her aside and concentrated on Amaya's clear face in front of his eyes. Her full lips were slightly parted, there was concern in her eyes and she had been playing with her fingers nervously. And he walked past her like a wet dog... Yes, he missed her and was glad to be near her again.
The water cooled down and Luca got out of the tub. Wearing only a towel around his waist, he walked down the hall to his room. As he walked past his sister's open door, he heard her friends giggling and felt their eyes on him. He ignored them and slowly walked on. A faint candlelight appeared at the end of the corridor as someone came out of the slaves' small bathroom. Amaya quietly closed the door behind her and was about to continue to her room when she saw him coming towards her. She stopped abruptly and a soft blush hit her face.
Apparently she was already getting ready for bed and wasn't expecting him anymore because she was only wearing a thin nightgown. He couldn't help but grin at her embarrassment. She lowered her gaze and he quickly walked past her so as not to keep her in this situation, which was visibly uncomfortable for her, for too long. Nevertheless, he made sure that their shoulders slowly brushed as he walked past her and didn't miss her sharp intake of breath.
****
Amaya quickly went to her room and hugged the closed door. Her breathing slowly calmed down and she fell onto her bed. She was grateful that Luca was back, but she hadn't expected the wave of her feelings. As he walked past her with only a towel wrapped around his loins, she thought her heart was about to leap out of her chest and into his arms. It was nothing special for the Romans to walk around like that, but Amaya had never seen a man so exposed. His torso was muscular and his shoulders were broad. She had to look away quickly to stop staring at him any longer. At the point where he had touched her shoulder, a sweet tingling developed, which gradually spread through her whole body.
The next morning she went to work as usual. Terra and her friends had breakfast in the dining room and she tidied each room and put in fresh flowers Cornu had brought from his morning shop at the market. She quietly passed Luca's room, who was still asleep. His journey must have been arduous. Lana met her and went into the room that Amaya had just cleaned up.
"Will you help me?" she asked and sat down in front of the bow. "Braid me the hairdo you did for Terra this morning." Amaya obeyed and began combing her hair. "Terra doesn't deserve you. She's just using you to make us jealous - especially me. She thinks I don't stand a chance with her brother, but really she's just telling herself because she's afraid that I'll snatch her brother from her and then she won't be the only woman in his life who is important to him." Amaya was shocked by Lana's openness and couldn't believe how the friends talked about each other behind their backs. She said nothing and braided Lana's hair with skillful movements. In the past, she always had her hair done by servants, but Nila had taught her everything quickly. _Nila_... how long had she not seen her? She missed her. Whenever Amaya was actually free was she too exhausted to make the long walk to her old mistress, or still had to take on important tasks.
"I'll convince Terra of the opposite. Thank you. The hairstyle looks great." Lana got up. "Terra won't like it that you wear the same hairdo, Mistress Lana." She pulled up the corners of her mouth. "I hope so.", she said and left the room. Amaya followed her. "I can still do other hairstyles." Lana didn't react and went on. "Terra will notice what you're planning and will do everything to make sure you don't succeed. And she will win." - "Oh, how can you be so sure?!", Lana turned to Amaya and looked at her darkly: "I want Luca and I'll get him!"
"Because it is so. She always gets what she wants!". A door opened and Luca stepped out of the room sleepily. Amaya looked down quickly. Did they wake him up? "Is everything okay?" Hair. ,,Naturally. I only had to briefly explain to your new slave how life here in Rome works." Lana grinned seductively and Amaya tried not to glare at her. Luca nodded, but didn't seem to really believe her: "Are you done with that?". Lana's smile faded and she nodded. "Well, then Amaya can come with me now." Now Lana's eyes darkened. Luca put his hand on Amaya's back and gently, but firmly, turned her around and pushed her down the aisle. When they turned into the other hallway, stopped He tightened her wrist and stopped in front of her. "Is everything really okay?", He looked at her worried and Amaya didn't even dare to breathe anymore. She tried to look into his eyes and bring a small smile to her lips. ,,Yes Mr." - " Unfortunately, I know Lana too well. She is very own. Don't let her intimidate you. You don't belong to her."
You belong to me... he whispered in his mind and continued to stare into her blue eyes, which looked up at him trustingly.