Page 19 of Deliverance
Mateo walked away then, just a few steps as he pondered what he was going to say. The distance he’d put between them gave him some time. He finally turned to face Titus. “You will always be my friend, Titus. But I think we both have different paths to follow from now on.” He approached him again, and this time, took both of Titus’ hands into his own as he looked up into the gladiator’s slightly confused gaze.
“I do not understand,” Titus said.
“You have the goddess, Odessa’s, interest, Titus. You should go to her. You say you enjoy women as much as men,” Mateo said.
“I prefer men over women, but I can and do enjoy myself with them, aye. But even still, just because she has enjoyed my cock and conversation and has spared my life does not mean she wants to take me as her lover,” Titus pointed out.
“I do understand where you are coming from, but I cannot give you what you want,” Mateo said.
“Why, did I not give you everything?”
Mateo let Titus’ hands go, then took two steps back. “You gave me what you were willing to give me had I continued to give you what you wanted. We were never equal lovers, Titus. And though I care a great deal about you… I do not love you as lovers would love each other.”
Titus snarled. “You cut me deeper with your words than you did with your sword.”
“I speak only the truth. You know this. You know the times when I did not want to bed you or suck your cock, the threats you gave to me, both veiled and outright.” Mateo shook his head. “I do not blame you for this. The world we were forced to live in made us all do things that hurt others. I hold you not accountable. But still, I have known what equal love is. What true choice is. It is not in your arms. We are not meant to be, Titus.”
“And in whose arms did you experience these things if not mine? Was it the god, Eloy, the one who beckoned for you so often?” Titus asked.
“And if it was?”
“Do you think he can give you what you think I cannot?” Titus asked and hobbled a bit closer.
Mateo reached out, instinctively to help him, but Titus slapped his hands away.
“Answer me,” he demanded.
“Do not make this more difficult than it has to be,” Mateo pleaded. “Instead, think about your feelings for the goddess, Odessa. Really think. How do you feel about her when you two have spent your moments in each other’s company? After and before the pleasure. She cares for you, Titus… why, she even visited you while you were recovering.”
“She did?” Titus asked softly.
Mateo nodded. “You should have seen Rama’s shock when she graced his door. My friend, I say this because I do care for you. I wanted freedom for you, so that you could have happiness. I beg of you, do not miss an opportunity that is best for you chasing one that is not.”
“Wise advice, young Mateo. This one can see now what Eloy has seen in the one that is you,” a soft, feminine voice said from behind them.
Both men turned quickly to face her. They gasped as they looked upon the beautiful goddess dressed in an iridescent gown of satin and lace with its flowing train. The gown shimmered as did Odessa eyes as she gazed at the two men. Mateo dropped to one knee and Titus grimaced in pain as he struggled to kneel before her as well.
Odessa held her hands out. “Do not attempt this foolish maneuver. Titus, you will rip your stitches,” she warned, forcing Titus to remain standing, but he kept his gaze down casted, as did Mateo.
“Th-thank-y-you goddess, for saving my life,” Titus managed to say in his humblest voice.
Odessa smiled and then turned her gaze to Mateo, who was still kneeling. “And you, rise.”
Mateo did as he was commanded, though he kept his eyes averted.
Odessa looked at Titus again and sighed. “It would have been such a shame and waste to have that one’s blood spilled upon the sands. Especially on the very sands that saw you rise to greatness. This one would not have it so,” she said. “Look upon this one, men, this one will see those faces.”
Both men looked up as commanded.
“Ahhh, so very handsome.” She looked at Mateo. “Does Eloy know of your relationship?”
Mateo shrugged. “He knows that I only want to be with him. What Titus and I had was out of necessity. Pleasure amongst the pain and despair. It was a means to an end that was sure to come one way or another, sooner or later, goddess Odessa.”
“Oh my, you speak so freely. Your tongue has no restrictions. This one sees that Eloy has treated you as equal,” Odessa said, noting how causally Mateo spoke to her.
“I meant no disrespect, goddess Odessa, only to answer you,” Mateo said.
“This one knows and was not insulted.”
