The master of the villa returned after a long campaign in the North. He had been off battling the Gauls for nearly two years with only two visits to his home. After the latest victory, he would be able to spend more time tending to his business. The Emperor was far to the South and had little concern of the Northern provinces these days.
As Legatus, he commanded a Roman Legion of more than five thousand men. His villa and lands were protected by two Centuries of his soldiers during peacetime. His personal guard was made up of twenty of his most trusted calvarymen. They rode into the courtyard with him on that warm afternoon.
As he climbed down from his large white stallion, he was greeted by the servants from his household. The horses were moved to the stables and he entered the portico to his house.
He was generally considered a fair man and was well liked by most of his servants. Most had come to the villa as slaves, either captured in battle or purchased for their skills. After ten years of service they were typically given their freedom. Many stayed on as paid servants. They greeted him and welcomed him home.
He was told of the preparations for a huge welcoming feast the next day. Gaius Marrious always enjoyed a celebration and this one would last at least three days. Already the smell of the meat being cooked on large spits in the courtyard reminded that he hadn't had a good meal in the three weeks of travel he'd spent to get home.
Before entering the villa proper, his squire helped to remove his leather breastplate and leggings. The armorer took his sword belt and weapons to be maintained. The under tunic and short leggings were soaked in the sweat of a long journey.
His wife, Livia met him at the door. She smelled of fresh flowers and vanilla. They had married young, by arrangement between their families. But over the last three decades together they had fallen in love and lust with each other. Four sons and two daughters had been born to them, all with children of their own now.
Livia was three years younger than Gaius' fifty five years. She was barely five feet tall with the blonde hair of the Northern people and piercing blue eyes. Six children had given her a large ample bosom, even then, her breasts were very large for a woman of the time. Her amazing curves continued around to her backside which was also curvy and sensuous.
She embraced him and kissed his mouth. Her tongue explored his and instantly he found himself aroused. It had been ages since he had her. She pressed into him, meeting his arousal with her soft belly. After breaking their kiss, she stepped back from him.
"You smell of horse and sweat and travel. Go and bathe before you dare touch your delicate flower of a wife!" She grinned and sent him off. She yelped when he slapped at her round ass. He was also rewarded with the feel of her flesh under her thin Summer toga.
She leaned back towards him and whispered "Dear husband, you should be sure to eat and drink, perhaps nap. You will need your strength this evening." He smiled to himself. Her voracious appetite for acts of love was well known to him, and to many members of his household staff.
Then he thought to himself "Perhaps I should be prepared for her or I could be injured!" The thought of surviving so many battles only to die in bed while servicing his wife made him chuckle. But he couldn't imagine a better way to go.
He entered the bath and was greeted by Julia, his personal servant and Marcus, his barber. Marcus had been with the Legatus since his first command as Centurion. Marcus was as skilled with the razor as he was with the Roman gladius sword.
As he sat on the marble step, Marcus cut his hair and then shaved his beard off, leaving him with a smooth face for the first time since the previous Fall. Marcus commented that Gaious' hair had gotten grayer since his last trim. "War takes its toll on this old body." was his response.
"Right!" Snorted Julia, with a quiet laugh. She had known him for her whole life. And for many years, she had known that he was anything but old, especially in bed.
Julia was the daughter of slaves captured in Britannia. Her father had died long ago and her mother worked in a kitchen of Gaious' senior Centurion.
Julia was in her twenties, her hair was long and fiery red, a rarity in the empire. Her eyes were sapphire blue. She had been freed after the death of her father and she stayed in the villa as a servant. Rather quickly she found favor with the master and mistress of the villa and came to be a part of their personal household.
Her body had lovely curves of a healthy house maid. Her breast ere large, firm and set high on her chest. Their weight pulled them down, but the heft made for an extremely enjoyable motion under her tunic as she walked through the courtyard or market. They were even more beautiful when they were uncovered. She had soft and very sensitive pink nipples that seemed to be constantly erect. Her ass was set high and tight above her long legs. The Summer sun left her freckled on her unprotected skin.
After finishing the master's haircut, Marcus gathered his tools, cleaned up the hair and left the bath.
The bath room was covered in marble. There was a large tub in the center, with room the sides around for lounging. Two fires burned along the side of the room, with huge iron pots filled with water. Other buckets of tepid water were placed nearby. Julia filled a bucket with a mix of hot and tepid water and brought it to his side. She began to undress him, stripping him of his travel attire. First the soft shirt that was worn under his leather, then his leggings and finally his loincloth.
He sat down against one of the marble lounges. He was tired and sore from his travels and mentioned his age again.
"Hardly the body of an old man" she commented. He was lean and strong. Covered in hair to match his salt and pepper head. She used a large sponge to wash his head and body. He sat with his eyes closed, breathing deeply and clearly relaxing. She knew he was tired when she worked her way along his belly and down to his cock. As she washed it, he barely stirred. She washed him to his legs and even his feet. He didn't speak and she completed the first wash.
While he rested, she filled the large tub with warm water, scented oils and soap. Then she called to him to move to the tub. He stood slowly and walked to the tub. She saw the scars of battles long ago in the light of the room. She found him very sexy.
She had not always felt this way, when he first brought them here she hated him for how he had humiliated her father. Later as she got older, she saw him treat her father respectfully, eventually freeing her father and placing him in charge of important projects across Gaious' vast holdings. Her father often provided insight on infrastructure and managing the properties which the master appreciated and heeded.
She learned from the others in the villa that he was a kind and fair man. The only servants put to whip were those that stole from him.
The most intriguing thing about him was when some of the household women spoke of his prowess in bringing pleasure. After hearing that gossip, she paid him more attention. He was very sensual with women, a hand placed on a hip, or butt, or shoulder. Even moving her hair, he seemed in control.
He was confident in talking to women and often took the measure of a woman as he spoke to her. Measuring her, undressing her with his eyes. Rather than feeling ashamed, most woman seemed to want his approval. She had seen the wives of Senators and kitchen servants respond the same way to his attention.
