Caesar stepped into the expansive peristyle garden of Marcus Crassus, one of the last to arrive at the symposium. He estimated the number of guests at thirty. Crassus was infamous for his over-the-top entertainments, which was likely Roxanna's reason for having chosen this event for Caesar's 'official debut.' He had been under Roxanna's tutelage for just over a year and she had insisted that he put the knowledge she had instilled in him to the test.
The thought of Roxanna was enough to bring a smile to the face of any man. Caesar was relying upon his many heated memories of her to help get him through what might prove to be an uncomfortable evening.
Caesar took a cup of wine from a tray offered him by a servant and began searching for likely prey. The most influential men in the city were present, many accompanied by their wives. Caesar was not planning to risk his life for this conquest, so he continued looking. His eyes met those of Sempronia Tuditani, who stood across the garden, conversing with several other matrons. She smiled enticingly at him.
"Gaius Julius," Crassus' voice boomed just before he slapped Caesar's back, "it is good to see you."
"And you, Marcus Licinius. Your invitation was most welcome."
Pleasantries aside, Crassus led Caesar out of earshot of the others and spoke to him in a confidential low voice. "I sense that you are up to no good," he laughed. "It's about time; I was beginning to think I was funding a love affair. Just stay away from my Tertulla," Crassus joked before greeting a high-ranking senator.
The guests filed into the triclinium for the meal, which promised to be an epicurean delight. Caesar had little taste for exotic fare and dreaded the whole ordeal. He was seated beside a wealthy member of the knight class, an amicable man known for his wit. Caesar's body servant had just removed his sandals when he felt the weight of the third party on the dining couch and turned to see who would be occupying his other side. He was somewhat shocked by the discovery.
"I am afraid someone has already taken my seat and I do not wish to be rude. Do you find it disagreeable to share your dining couch with a woman?" Sempronia purred, batting her dark lashes at him.
"I am honored," Caesar smiled, trying to make it look genuine.
"I am Sempronia Tuditani," she said.
"The wife of Marcus Fulvius?" Caesar asked.
Sempronia rolled her eyes dramatically. "That depends on your definition of 'wife,'" she said, under her breath.
"I am Gaius Julius Caesar, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sempronia," he gave her his most charming smile.
"Gaius Julius Caesar," she repeated, her eyes roaming over his face. "Yes, I knew your father."
Caesar was not surprised, given her age, which must have been at least double his own. He sighed, swallowing his negative thoughts as he glanced at the woman beside him. Sempronia was not without charm. She was quite voluptuous and the cut of her gown accented her large breasts. Had he not known her age, he would have thought her to be in her thirties. There was no gray in her black hair, which was pulled back into a chignon wrapped with braids, a few of which hung down her back. Her dark brown eyes were large and wide-set. Her lips were full and rouged to make them look even more so.
Sempronia was an attractive woman. Caesar knew the problem was not with her, but within himself. He was a rational being and realized it was ridiculous for him to feel guilty for an act he had not even committed himself to carrying out. He had spent the past year learning how to please a woman from the most gorgeous, uninhibited creature in Rome and, after a year, his passion for her was nowhere near sated. Roxanna, however, was being paid for her services. Sex with a prostitute was not adultery in the eyes of the law. Despite his feelings for Roxanna, he had been able to avoid most of the guilt because of the situation. Tonight he must take the next step; he must break the faith of his wife. Caesar had risked his life when he had refused Sulla's order to divorce her. Now, he wondered if he was truly prepared to commit an act that would provide grounds for divorce, even for those joined by the sacred rites of confarreatio marriage.
There was a commotion in the room and Caesar realized one of the consuls had arrived. The office of consul was the crowning achievement of a political career. Caesar squared his jaw, took a deep drink of his wine and turned his attention back to Sempronia.
The table became a parade of gilded eggs, oysters, snails, eels, roasted flamingo and several other dishes that Caesar did not care to remember. He picked at his food, indulging mainly in bread and the vegetables stuffed inside, or used to garnish, the less appetizing items. Sempronia warmed under the diffuse light of his subtle charm. The fresh fruit was served, marking the end of the meal.
Caesar had just bitten into a perfectly ripe peach when Sempronia whispered in his ear, "There is a divine little grotto in the dark back corner of Crassus' garden." She was interrupted by Crassus' wife, Tertulla, inviting all the women to join her in the back of the house. Sempronia rose and exited with the others. With the women gone, the men were free to drink themselves into a stupor.
Caesar waited several minutes before excusing himself. He made his way into the garden and saw immediately that one of the back corners was free from the lamps that seemed to light every other inch of space. He looked around to make sure he was not being watched before he hurried into the darkness.
Sempronia reached out and caught him in her arms, pulling him down beside her on a bench. "I've been waiting forever," she whined in a high voice. "You must be very nice to me or I shall be angry with you." Caesar did not have time to respond before her lips were on his, her tongue probing his mouth, as she climbed onto his lap, straddling him. The shock quickly passed and he returned her arduous kiss, running his hands over the silky smooth flesh of her back.
"Come on, be quick about it! You know I must go soon," she urged, her words flashing a warning signal in Caesar's head. He moved his hands around to her breasts and, though they were perfectly nice, they were nowhere near the size of Sempronia's. He froze. The hand searching beneath his tunic found what it was seeking and, grasping him, also froze. There was a beat of silence between them.
Caesar planned his escape. The bench was directly against the garden wall; as soon as she screamed, he was going to jump onto the bench, throw one leg over the wall, hope the ground on the other side was not too far below, and make a run for it. She did not scream, however. She ran her small hand over his length and giggled.
"My, my. I do not believe WE have met." Her hand continued its ministrations. "That is easily remedied. I am Claudia. Who are you?"
"My identity does not seem particularly important to you at the moment," he answered.
She giggled again. "I admit I am most taken by your impressive manhood; but you speak like an orator. Are you?"
"Perhaps I am a well educated slave."
Claudia pushed down one of his hands until it rested against the moist, hairless and heated flesh between her legs. She gasped at his touch. Caesar closed his eyes in the darkness. She was ready to be taken. Her whisper was teasing, but he could hear the urgency in her voice, "Tell me your name and I'll put what is in MY hand into what is now in YOURS."
"Caesar."
"Now I know why you Julians claim descent from Venus," she giggled, squeezing him. "Well, we both seem to be in the right place at the right time and, given the particular place and time, I would wager we are here for the same reason. Shall we have at each other like a pair of animals?" He felt her mouth on his neck, her teeth nipping him playfully.
