Warning! This story is a work of fiction written by a legal age adult. Any similarity between the fictional characters and any live person is purely coincidental. This story contains fictional descriptions of sexual activity between consenting minor youth. If you are under the age of 18, and/or if you are offended by this content, and/or if it is illegal in your jurisdiction to possess or read such material, please leave now and do not read this story as neither the internet host nor the author can be responsible for your actions. All rights reserved. No part of this story may be transmitted or reproduced in whole or in part in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the Author or Publisher. Copyright (c) 2012 by Copyright © 2012 Remmy Meggs I reserve all rights.

Remmy Meggs 

Grapes of Italy – Chapter 19

The Senate met most of the day five days a week. Lothario excused himself from afternoon sessions to go to school. Not that he wanted to go to school, but it was better than the boring Senate. Ettore, Anthony, Emilio, even Cyrus and others went to school the complete day. The teacher was exciting, so it was easy for everyone to have a good time. The teacher spoke of history, math, Roman and Greek languages, the religions of both, and separated the fact from legends. Although as he pointed out all legends were based on some type of fact, it could not be proven. He also taught about military, science, philosophy, and the known world.

At night as often as they could Ettore and Lothario played their favorite game. It had become more sensual over the weeks, and more pleasurable and fun for both of them. It was on the sixth week that Fedele called for them. The next morning they would ride out to property that Fedele was told about, and it was for sale. The boys did not grasp the idea, thinking Fedele was buying property and wanted them to go with him.

The next morning just at sunrise after half the night of playing Fedele got the entire crew up for the ride. Naevius chose three others to travel with Lothario, another two went with Fedele, in uniform, and two went with Ettore, as well as their boys, and men slaves. The party consisted of two dozen. Ettore thought it was strange to have that many, but said nothing.

They traveled for only about half an hour when Fedele stopped. They looked around and Fedele finally said, "What do you two think about it?"

It was green, it was raw, and no improvements had been made on it. Lothario and Ettore looked at each other, "I thought you were buying an entire villa, there is nothing here but a forest and overgrown weeds and grass!" Lothario exclaimed.

Fedele smiled, "That is why it is so cheap boys. There are eight hectares here. If we split it up that gives you both four hectares each. You can build the villa of your dreams and be within an hour's ride of each other. You can take care of your duties to the Army and the Senate, have beautiful farms, and have the safety of being close by."

Ettore looked at Lothario, "He can't be serious."

Fedele turned his horse to face the boys, "I am very serious. You wanted to live near each other. You can't do that down south. It is true you will have to have a lot of slaves, freemen and citizens to clear and develop the land. Ettore you already have a villa down south that can be sold, or use it as investment to keep a good income flowing in while this property is being set up. Lothario has his money saved up and can live with his parents until everything is finished. Now let's ride around the property and see if it will suit your needs."

Ettore looked at Fedele, "Even so, it will take at least three years to have decent crops come out of this land if all of it can be cleared in that amount of time. Even if the villas were built in just weeks, we are talking going broke." He thought aloud as they rode around.

Fedele smiled, thinking positively. "Here you can build a road directly to each other's villa, and the new road that the senate has decided to make will run right in front of the property. Look there is the first waterway, enough water flow for irrigation and your villa. There are several others on the property, enough for both villas and farms to do exceeding well, maybe in less than three years, at least part of the property."

Lothario liked the idea but so far Ettore did not seem happy about it. Fedele continued, "The first thing is to let the council decide what trees to keep, and what land should be developed for the farms. Then the slaves can start clearing it. When an area is cleared, it can be planted right away. The council will find a beautiful place to put the villas themselves. Then architects can work with you to build a custom villa for each of you. Once that is completed, we can bring in a master builder and his artisans and have both completed in just weeks."

Lothario grinned. Ettore looked at him, "I take it you like this idea?"

"Four hectares each Ettore, that is larger than father's villa, and yours combined. We will be close to each other which is what you wanted. I can see this now as a beautiful place to live."

"You would be several days journey from your mother and father, and I would be more than that from my mother and brother." Ettore sighed.

Fedele grinned and explained, "Ettore your family could live here too. You just have someone run the villa to the south. You don't even have to go there except twice a year to check the books. Lothario's parents bought the house they are living in, in Rome. His father is hiring an overseer for the villa down south as well."

"What about the Sabine's?" Ettore asked.

"We have a full militia in place now. Any sign of trouble we have them to take care of it and notify us immediately. You think either of you could handle a Sabine army with just the two of you?" Fedele asked.

"Look Ettore! A waterfall!" Lothario became excited.

"I am told there are several on the property. We just have to find them." Fedele said.

Ettore stopped riding, "How much will all this cost, and why hasn't anyone else bought it before you found it?"

Fedele sighed, "The land belongs to one of the old senators. When I told him it was for the two of you, and that at his age he could not hope to develop it, he agreed to sell at a reasonable price, if it were in gold. I talked to the magistrates for the area, and they agreed not to tax the property for three years, so you could get your first crops in."

"Ettore this is too good to be true! Fedele does papa know about this?" Lothario asked.

Ettore looked at the expression Fedele wore on his face, "Not exactly, but if we work fast enough, he won't be able to stop it. Boys, he is over reacting to what you guys want. He told me to make peace between the three of you, and that is what I am trying to do. You both want it your way, and he wants it his way. This would be a compromise."

Lothario smiled, "Si, it would be."

"There has to be a catch to this Fedele that you are not telling us." Ettore stated, "Like Lothario says this is too good to be true."

"Is there?" Lothario asked.

"You two are too smart. Si, there is a condition. You will both have to marry by the time you are sixteen summers. That is what I want to propose to your father. He has made it my job to not only find you suitable Roman girls to marry, but to find ones that you both like." Fedele explained, "And the sooner the better."

The boys looked at each other while behind them Emilio and Roman giggled. Anthony as usual spoke up, "They will have to be very pretty. They would have to obey Lothario and Ettore. They should have a huge dowry and their parents should pay for the wedding."

Fedele glared at Anthony, "Si, I can see who will be running the villa already; from someone that hasn't even learned to write yet."

"I may not know that stuff Fedele but I am not dumb."

Lothario smiled, "You have to admit, he is really smart."

Fedele turned the horse, "Come, let's look at the rest of the property. They will have a slave auction this evening, and you will need a new servant Lothario, that won't leave you to go gambling."

From behind you could hear Anthony and Roman mumble about the statement. Ettore spoke up, "What if you can't find any cute girls we like?"

Fedele laughed, "Believe me, I will find them, or you can, either way you have to make a contract with Don Nico, that you agree to it."

Ettore frowned. Lothario grinned, "That is a long time from now Ettore. It is not like we are getting married tomorrow."

Rubbing his chin roughly Ettore pronounced, "Fine, I will do it only for Lothario. It will make him happy and get Don Nico off my back."

Fedele smiled, "The magistrates wrote up the bill of sale. We should ride to Don Rubin's villa now. That way we can get back to Rome at a decent time. I will find an architect this week. We can buy the slaves once everything it set in motion."

They turned around and headed back to the horse trail. Lothario frowned, "Doesn't the Consul have to approve it? That will mean papa will have to see it."

"Si, I know, but there are two Consuls, your father doesn't have to see it right away."

Anthony grinned, "For someone that tells everyone I am too sneaky for my own good Don Fedele, I think this is the sneakiest thing I have ever heard."

Everyone laughed but Fedele, "Si, but this is something of major importance to all of us you cheeky brat."

They laughed again.

They returned to the slave market just in time for the opening, signed papers in hand. Ettore looked at Lothario, "This time buy someone you won't set free in six months."

The three of them listened to the auctioneer talk about the candidates. In the first group, Lothario was not pleased, "I have Roman and Anthony to take care of me personally. I need someone older this time to take care of other things."

"Are you really going to have Anthony run the villa?" Fedele asked.

"Si, he is learning every day. He can write somewhat now. Teacher said he is learning faster than most. Roman can already read, write and do math. Together they will make a good team."

"Why Anthony?" Ettore asked.

"Because he is not afraid to tell me what is on his mind. Wouldn't you think that is important? Roman is more shy when it comes to those things. He has expressed an interest in the stable and has been learning the difference between a good horse and a mediocre one."

Fedele looked at the boys, "Pay attention."

Two soldiers came up to Fedele, "General?"

Fedele looked at them, "I am sorry but the Consul has declared that horses cannot be on the market street during market day. He says the streets are too crowded. You will have to have someone lead them to the stable, and lead them outside the city again if you need to ride."

The General frowned and turned to Lothario, "Did you know about this?"

"Not really, when I left for school the other day they were discussing it. Really though it is a good idea. No one has to step in horse crap." Lothario smiled.

Fedele turned to the soldier, "Very well." He turned to everyone else, "Dismount. Lothario can you have one of your..."

"Roman, Anthony, Cyrus take the leads and take them to the stable until we go home." Lothario ordered.

Ettore frowned, "Pretty bold when he isn't your slave."

Fedele snapped, "Stop it, both of you and pay attention. We already missed the second group because of the chatter."

A senator saw Lothario and came over to the group, "I have never seen you at the market Lothario, how are you?"

A fight broke out at the edge of the square. Ettore frowned, "I will go take care of it."

Fedele grabbed his shoulder, "Let the men do their job. Having you watching or interfering they will think you don't approve of how they handle things."

The senator and Lothario have a quick hug. The senator smiled, "I hear you have bought quite a piece of property."

"Don Trais, where did you hear that?" Fedele asked.

"The magistrates of course, they are in town and went to talk to the Consuls."

Ettore's face turned red, "Some plan and we are already caught."

The auctioneer caught Fedele's attention and he went to the platform to look over the group of slaves. Lothario was grinning, "Don't be hard on him Ettore, he really is trying to make things work."

The senator closed an eye, "I am guessing the two of you have a secret planned that General Fedele was involved with, and you didn't want Consul Nico to find out about it."

"It's a little late now. By the time he finds us he will go nuts on us." Ettore sighed, very unhappy with the circumstances.

The old senator smiled, "The two of you are too old to spank, so it will probably just be a scolding for going behind his back."

Fedele called to Lothario to come up on the platform. Lothario turned to the senator, "Excuse me, he gets impatient."

Ettore spoke to the senator while Lothario was busy. "What about this one?" Fedele asked Lothario.

"What about him?"

"I wish you would listen, he was a foreman, clearing out land, trees, plows. He is good with working cattle. This is someone you both need."

Lothario looked at the man, "Can you read and write Roman or Latin or Greek?"

"No."

"Why are you a slave?"

"I am Etruscan."

Lothario frowned, "Being Etruscan does not make you a slave, we have them all over, so why are you a slave?"

"I borrowed money and could not pay it back."

Lothario looked at Fedele, "Okay we can bid on him. But Ettore wants me to find someone to take care of my things, and he said something about head of household."

"In due time Lothario, but we can see about someone to take care of things for you. You both need to have households before you need to buy heads for them." Fedele held back a laugh, which Lothario noticed.

They walked down the line, "This one is twenty-two summers I would guess. He is fit."

"What would I do with him?"

The slave laughed. Fedele frowned and hit the young man with the back of his hand. Before Lothario gripped about it Fedele turned to him, "You do not own him yet. On second thought he can work for one of the abusive Don's out there, I can't have him mocking you every time you turn around."

The General walked Lothario down three men and stopped, "This one is a little older, but he is familiar with horses. He worked as a freeman in the service setting up and caring for the camp area. You might recognize him from Don Moretti's household."

Lothario swallowed hard. He didn't really want the older man. "We can buy him."

Fedele nodded, "That is it in this group."

They left the platform and waited for the bidding to start. Roman and Anthony ran up to them, "What do you think Lothario?"

Lothario looked them over and grinned, "Those are beautiful tunic's boys."

Ettore came up frowning, "You both know that every time you buy something Cyrus about cries. That makes me feel bad."

Anthony held up a package, "This is for him, and it is proper for a slave, it is just nicer than what he wears. We got him a new pair of sandals too, so you don't have to fuss about spending money on him."

"Piss off Anthony. I just don't think he is better than the other slaves."

"Settle down Ettore, he just wanted to do his friend something special." Fedele said as the bidding started.

"It's his smart mouth that bothers me more than what he did." Ettore shot back. He turned to Lothario, "Are you going to let him get away with that?"

"Are you going to bid Lothario or do you want me to?" Fedele asked.

"I really am not interested in either. You can bid." He looked at Ettore, "It is a beautiful gesture Anthony. When Ettore settles down he will realize that you did it out of friendship."

Ettore threw his hands in the air and walked off. Roman grinned, "I told you he would act like that Anthony. You are not making it easier on yourself aggravating him like you do."

"When he is in bed with Lothario I leave him alone, any other time he is fair game." Anthony giggled making the sign for sex.

Lothario heaved and sighed, "That's enough."

The bidding was over. Lothario turned around and watched Fedele pay the slave trader. Lothario mumbled, "More clothes to buy, and I bet he isn't finished."

Fedele came back to the boys as the next group was brought out. Fedele was talking when his attention was brought back to the platform, "Ettore come here!"

Ettore came through the crowd with Cyrus holding a large amphora of plum juice, "What Don Fedele?"

Fedele looked at Cyrus, "Put it down son." He looked at Ettore, "I hope you don't expect him to carry that home."

"I don't see why not." Ettore frowned, "He has carried much more and further than the apartment. What did you want?"

"There is a young man up there I want you to look at. Come with me please."

Ettore followed Fedele and they looked over a man about twenty-six summers. For that time period, he was a very old slave already. They came back to the group, "I said okay Fedele. I just don't see why I need them both. Cyrus has been able to do everything I want. I am not spending a lot of money on him though, and I don't want any of you buying him stuff if I get him."

Fedele sighed, "What is wrong with you today? You are not trying to get along with any of us."

"He hasn't had any sex in at least two days that I know of." Anthony giggled.

Lothario blushed. Ettore grabbed Anthony's tunic, "You are really pushing it Anthony!"

Anthony glared at him, "You may be Lothario's mate, but you need to let loose of me right now. You can't treat me like you do Cyrus. If you don't want to be friends with me, fine. I will totally ignore you, but get your hand off me."

Ettore frowned realizing little Anthony was right, and slowly let loose of the tunic, "Forgive me Anthony, and all of you. I guess I am in a bad mood today. I feel like everyone is pushing me to do things I am not ready for."

Another group was brought out and Fedele was drawn to the platform, "You both come and look, at least you won't be fighting with everyone."

Lothario took offence to that but realized it was directed at Ettore. They with other buys and slave masters started looking over the meat on the platform as the auctioneer gave details about each man. Lothario came to one man whose head was completely down looking at the ground. The man he was looking at was a eunuch. When it was announced, several buyers took an interest in the man. Lothario looked at Fedele, "Why so much interest?"

Ettore listened close to Fedele's answer, "It is because if they have women or children in their homes, they cannot be raped. This man is from another country where it is common. Here if someone is unmanned, they are killed. In other places they do it humanely for household staff."

"I want him!" Ettore exclaimed.

Lothario and Fedele turned to him, "Why?"

"I want to give him to Lothario." Ettore smiled.

Fedele frowned as well as Lothario, "For what purpose?" Lothario was a little uneasy.

"Because when I am gone, I don't have to worry about such things."

Roman was on the ground but could hear what was being said. He turned to Anthony, "Let's hope Ettore doesn't come up with that idea about us."

There were three more in the group that Fedele talked the boys into. One was a boy about eleven to be used as a step stool and other odds and ends. This eleven summer's boy was hefty and could take the weight of Ettore and Lothario both, when they needed help mounting their horses. He could also groom, feed and care for the horses during battle.

Lothario reluctantly agreed. Then Fedele got an idea in his head. He said nothing at the moment, but was already planning his next move. The boys bid on the slaves, but Ettore didn't like the idea of the bidding going as high as it did. The eunuch he wanted was up to 500 coins before Lothario grinned, "I guess that one is out huh?"

To say Ettore was frugal was an understatement; he increased the bids by one coin at a time, even when those around him were bidding five and ten coins at a time. "He is big, ugly and probably worthless." Ettore grimaced as the bidding went to 600 coins.

Lothario almost laughed, "It is okay Ettore and we don't really have to have him."

Furious Ettore yelled out. "One thousand!"

The crowd grew quiet. Lothario's mind reeled. What was Ettore thinking? Ettore won the bid. Cyrus's mouth dropped open and he looked at Anthony, "I was only worth twenty coins, but he pays that much for some ugly old guy?"

Lothario wanted to go home but Fedele wanted to see everyone. Actually Lothario and Ettore would have gone home except for the fact they didn't want Fedele spending their money without knowing what they were buying. Ettore turned to Cyrus, "It looks like we are going to need grape or plum juice, whatever you can find, try and get some bread and cheese, it is going to be a long afternoon."

Several citizens around sixteen showed up, several with large purses. Fedele saw them and grumbled as another fight broke out. This time a pick pocket was caught and stabbed right in the middle of the street. A merchant was watching the trading when the pick pocket grabbed his purse. The leather was new on the purse, so it didn't break as it would normally. The merchant turned and stabbed the man but did not kill him. Soldiers went over and grabbed the man, and two took him to the magistrate.

Fedele fussed, "It is things like that that make us look bad as a people. We need workers, but they would rather steal than work."

The next group was younger boys. Almost all were trained in the baths, some were pretty, others were cute, and some were not as good looking as the others. Anthony's eyes widened. He tugged on Lothario's Senate robe, "Lothario see that one? I would like to buy him if possible."

Lothario walked down the row until he stood in front of the boy Anthony wanted. Lothario stooped down and spoke to Anthony, "You wanted a horse and clothing and many other things, and why do you need a slave?"

Anthony sighed, "You wouldn't understand, but can I buy him?"

Lothario stood and spoke with Fedele. Fedele answered, "Well, he is free; you are going to make him a citizen soon. He has money, so there is no reason he can't have a slave, but it seems pointless to me."

Lothario looked at Roman, "How much does he have on him?"

"I counted out twenty copper, in case he wanted something special, I didn't think he was going to want to buy a slave though." Roman answered still frowning at Anthony.

Fedele spoke loudly to Anthony, "He is going to cost much more than twenty and that is saying he passes all the health problems. Don't even think of borrowing money Anthony, or you could end up a slave yourself again."

Anthony's reasoning as boy of fifteen summers was simple. If he had a slave, and he needed alone time, the slave could take care of Lothario. The boy he wanted was thirteen summers at the most, and could do the things Anthony was used to doing. Fedele was not interested in the entire thing and he and the boys walked down the stairs to the ground before the bidding started. When it got to the boy Anthony was the first to bid five copper. One of the boys' three rows back bid fifteen copper. Anthony turned to see one of the new citizens bid.

Nervously, Anthony bid sixteen. Two of the boys came through the lines and pushed Anthony on the ground, "Don't bid against Jacob, this is a warning, and the only warning."

Roman attacked one of the boys and a fight broke out. Anthony stood up and joined and the four were battling it out. The guards covered Lothario and Ettore. Ettore had a mischievous grin, "They are going to fight over a slave?"

Lothario bid forty coins. He won the bid and the four boys stopped fighting and looked at him. The two ruffians looked at Lothario's toga and backed off. Anthony's look was disbelief. Roman started brushing the dirt off Anthony's tunic. Anthony whined, "You knew I wanted him and you bought him instead. You knew I didn't have that much on me!"

"What would you do with a slave anyway?" Ettore almost laughed.

"He would be someone to take care of my horse and clothes for one." Anthony pouted.

Fedele sighed, "I have had enough of all of you today. Let's go through the market and get supplies you want for the week and then head home. All of you are testing my patience."

"What about the slaves?" Ettore asked.

"I will send the slave master down in the morning to get them; he can buy them clothes when he is here." Fedele answered pushing the boys along as they headed for the stable.

The boys were not exactly arguing about the day's event but they were having aloud pointed discussion about the unfairness of everything. Cyrus and Roman stayed quiet. They weren't about to get into it with the others, actually they had no need to. They walked the horses through the marketplace in single file, which shut them up for a little while as they shopped. Fedele bought chees, wine and bread, Lothario grabbed all the fruits he could and even some he had never eaten before.

Roman tasted grape, plum and something new called cherry juice. He called Lothario and the others over to taste it. They had cherry wine, cherry juice and cherry seeds. After tasting it and finding out there they came from Lothario about four bags of seeds, two amphoras of cherry wine for his father and one amphora of cherry juice for he and his men. Anthony paid a copper for several peaches and oranges thinking they looked funny. As they walked he shared with everyone else. After Ettore tasted them he went back and purchased seeds for growing them. He noticed he was not the only one, and Lothario was not the only one buying the exotic seeds.

One Roman vendor had Pomegranate, Plums and Raspberries. Lothario and Ettore talked about them for a few minutes and bought from the same vendor. When they came to the vegetable section of the market Ettore was not interested, but Lothario persisted that they try a piece of everything, including asparagus, broccoli, and cabbage. Celery is something Ettore tasted and liked so he bought that. Cucumbers, Lentils and lettuce were other things that Ettore especially liked.

Onions and olives would be a staple for any farm and both boys purchased them. Fedele was getting nervous, usually a farm and one or two items they made and sold. The boys were buying wagons full of seeds of everything they liked. Fedele grinned when he turned to them and asked, "Si, you are doing well, but who is going to plant all these seeds, who is going to harvest them, and most of all how are you going to sell them?"

Since they had already paid for delivery Lothario and Ettore frowned and looked at each other. Fedele smiled, "We will work on it, but you are going to need a beekeeper, even if it is only for your own use and for making juices and wines. You haven't purchased anything sweet at all."

When they got home, Nico was with his wife in the living room and they were talking and laughing. Fedele, Lothario and Ettore all took deep breaths and walked into the room with half smiles. Don Nico jumped up grinning from ear to ear hugging Fedele immediately. He then hugged Lothario and Ettore at the same time. "My favorite people, don't you think so dear?" He asked his wife. She grinned and hugged them as well. Roman and Cyrus became worried; this was too much for Don Nico.

"Come in Come in, you must have had a busy day. I see you brought fresh food with you for the week. Matino was at the market and said you boys were spending a fortune for seeds. I have to wonder where you are going to plant so many of them." He said as the group relaxed on the seats and divans.

"Okay that is enough of tormenting the boys. So you have already found out. Not surprising since you have eyes and ears all over." Fedele sighed.

"Si I do. Did you really think you could hide such large purchases from me? Lothario, exactly where on my land where you going to plant so many things, or did you plan on buying one of the villas? Your mother and I thought maybe you would like the di Gotti villa, but is hardly large enough to plant so much. It is a shame because it is such a beautiful villa. So did you have a place in mind?"

"Alright Nico, so you know everything." Fedele stated pulling out the contract. He handed it to Nico. Nico read over it, then he read it to his wife. He said and turned back to the three culprits, "So in exchange for the two of you getting married before you turn sixteen, I am going to pay for this land and both villas, while you buy slaves and plants to grow. You are going to clear the land correct?"

Don Fedele nodded. Nico stood up and walked around the room, "I suppose this is the tradeoff. The boys are within an hour of each other, and I get what I want. There is nothing in this contract stating that Ettore will be one of my Tribunes."

Lothario stood up red in the face, "That is not going to happen unless he wants it, so forget it papa. Fedele has tried to work this out, we think it is a grand idea, we all get what we want, if he has to move over for you to have a tribune, it will not work."

Nico raised a hand, "Settle down, Centurion Andio has accepted my offer, reluctantly but he did accept. I will choose two others for the other two slots. I have already signed the papers and paid for the land, and your mother and I spent the morning talking to architects as soon as we heard you made agreements. That is what we were talking about when you came in." He sat back down, "I can't say I am completely happy about it, after all I could have Ettore taken to the arena and killed for raping you. That would end my frustration completely wouldn't it? No, we will let you live happy lives as much as you can be happy in these troubled times."

Nico looked at the contract again, asked for a quill, and then signed it. "Now if you don't get married before your sixteenth summer, I keep the land, the villas, and Ettore goes to the arena as a rapist. I hope we all agree on that."

"They won't convict him. I will have to say I wanted it, and they will kill both of us. You better think that part over papa. But if I have done so wrong in your eyes, then just do it now, and save us a few years of torture." Lothario said without facial expression.

Lady Alis frowned, "You tell them Nico or I will. I am tired of you torturing the two of them." She waited and when neither Nico nor Fedele said a word she continued, "I want all four of you boys to listen to me, but especially Lothario and Ettore." The boys took notice; Lady Alis rarely said a word in a group of men.

She looked at the boys firmly, "I think it is wonderful that the two of you are in love. You found someone special to be in your lives. However as Citizens you have the responsibility of getting married and have many children. I was only able to have one, and even after that Nico kept me. That is a show of love and support too. He never left my side."

She smiled, "When your father met me Lothario, it was explained that he had a special friend, which could not be separated from him, they meant Fedele. We were young and I didn't understand exactly what that meant. Later on I did. When the two of them saw you two in the bedroom they both became furious, but it wasn't because of what you were doing. Lothario gave his father and Fedele everything he had, they were his heroes, and he couldn't live without them. When he met you Ettore, and whatever happened on that battlefield over a year ago, they lost Lothario. He was never again the doting son waiting for his father to look at him. He was never again the little boy that yelled in glee when Fedele showed at the door jumping on him. You and you alone took the place of both of them."

She wiped her tears and continued, "That is what his meanness is about. He and Fedele both feel you took something precious from them, it has nothing to do with the acts you have done." She looked at Nico, "I guarantee neither would not let anything happen to either of you if they could, for he and Fedele have probably had more horseplay that either of you at your ages. After talking to other women, I am not the only wife in a similar situation. When you marry your wives will find others and somehow you will all get through it."

All four boys' mouths dropped open. With the truth out, Nico was devastated, he lay on a divan and looked at the ceiling. Don Fedele pushed his way between Lothario and Ettore and rubbed their necks, "That is why I did everything I could to keep the peace. Now that you both know, we shouldn't have any more disagreements."

Nico was upset, but not angry; he was in more or less of a stage of deflated ego. He turned and looked at the boys. Ettore had tears running down his face. Nico leaned on one elbow, "What is it Ettore?"

"It's that the two of you would be jealous of me. All I hear all day long is papa says this, Fedele says that. Hundreds of times a day he talks like that, hardly saying anything about the two of us. You are jealous? You have no idea what it is like to feel second to the two of you!"

Lothario grabbed Ettore's big hand, "Si that is true, but when I am with others all I talk about is you. Ask anyone Ettore."

"Si all he talks about is you... not just to Anthony and me, but to everyone. `Ettore says I would watch my money more carefully but he has not shown me what he means.' If it wasn't for Ettore I would be living in the street, Ettore is so smart compared to me.' When you are not around, Si you are all that is on his mind."

Ettore had a surprised look. Nico frowned, "Si, I am well aware that Ettore is on his mind all the time. Maybe that was part of my problem, but it couldn't have been all of it. I was jealous of the attention I have lost, so was Fedele even though he might not say it out loud. Even your mother felt pains of loss. It seems we all had the same feelings and blamed each other."

Lothario who had been quiet the entire time grinned, "I knew. I knew it all. I just couldn't prove it. I saw how much you love mother and I saw how you and Fedele looked at each other sometimes. I listened to you fight and argue all the time. I knew, deep inside me I knew."

Fedele laughed, "Si you have always been too smart for your skin."

Esta came into the room, "I hear we have more slaves coming tomorrow. I will have you know I am not cooking for them all. Now get ready to eat your dinner, it is a small one as usual, but I don't want you to waste anything. Ettore your mother expects you home for dinner. That cook of yours has made a celebration dinner." Then she turned and went back to the kitchen.

Ettore and Cyrus left as Esta and her staff put out the cheese, wine and fruit on the table. Lothario frowned realizing there would not be any meat served, but he had grown used to that lately. His father looked at him, "So tomorrow you have no school and the senate is in recess. You and Ettore will meet with the architect, with your mother and Ettore's mother. You also have military duties this coming week. Andio will work with you so you know your job."

"Why are the mothers going to be at the meeting?" Lothario asked.

"Because they have style, and know how a household should be set up. They can also direct you on how to make a beautiful villa for much less than those thieves can. They have already told us they are bringing in over five hundred artisans and workers; it shouldn't take more than a couple of months to build both, but if there are delays it could take months. The pillars and roofs are the hardest to do. Now they tell us there is a more closed in design to keep bad weather out. We do not get snow, but a bad storm could make a mess. Your mother told then you would look at the designs. I told them that you were used to more open areas. They really wanted you to look at the new ideas." Don Nico smiled.

"Si I will look. I didn't want anything fancy." Lothario sighed.

Lady Alis grinned, "It doesn't have to be fancy Lothario, but it must look large and stately for a senator's home."

"I won't always be a senator." He replied.

"Si you won't." Don Nico laughed, "But after your military career, whether it is a few years or the rest of your life, you will want a space for all your guests, as well as all your children. After they leave you will go with me to the docks. We have ships coming in with supplies from Asia, and at least one from Greece. You need to see how this operates. Fedele tells me that you already have connections in Greece for farms."

Lothario shrugged, "I have no idea what he is talking about. I am wondering where I am going to get the money for this one. My cohorts after this month are free for three months so there will be no benefits to speak of, and the regular pay for a tribune is hardly what a general makes."

Lady Alis frowned, "Your pay is just fine. Your father and I built up several farms, and villas with the money he made as a Tribune. You will do just fine." She turned to Don Nico, "Anthony is too young to be his overseer. He needs someone with experience while Anthony is in training. Nico, it is a vast amount of money and he already has a large treasury. Anthony can keep the overseer honest, but really he also needs a couple of years of training before he takes over. Don't you agree Lothario?"

"Si mama, Anthony will need a lot of help before he is ready. I never expected him to just walk in and know it all. I may be small but I am not an idiot." Lothario answered.

Nico stuck a pick into a piece of cheese, "She didn't mean that you were. I will ask around. Most of the citizens are well off, but there may be some about ready to have positions. I will let you choose your own, I am not like Fedele. I will find a few and send them to you and you can choose who you want, the same for Ettore. Just go with your gut feeling like you did with that Tito and Abalone, you will rarely be wrong." He smiled, and then added, "Of course you don't want to put yourself in danger whether you are right or wrong at any time." He winked referring to the battle at the lake.

The next morning before the meeting with the architects Ettore took two parchments from his horse and took them inside where he unrolled them and just weights to hold down the corners. Cyrus watched, "What are those for?"

"It's my ledger. I have to write what I spent on those slaves yesterday. That way I know how much money is in my treasury. Fedele has a lot of money so he doesn't realize others have to count coppers just to get by." Ettore sighed.

"Master, then you are not as rich as others think you are?"

"I am not rich no, and almost everything came from my father. I have taken everything he wrote down and added my things to it and subtracted all the spending over the last year. We will survive, but I am not as wealthy as Fedele imagines."

Cyrus sat and thought about that. He realized that Ettore watched his spending because he did not have as much as others believed. He would suggest he tell Lothario, but he knew that Ettore was too proud to ask for help. Cyrus was lost. He knew that Lothario had an overseer. One his father had hired maybe thousands of years ago? For an uneducated Cyrus he was at a loss to help his master. Then suddenly he came up with an idea, "Master, maybe the overseer has made mistakes. You should go to the villa and look over his papers. Or at least ask Don Fedele to look over them. Maybe a mistake was made."

Ettore looked at the boy and back at the two papers. The year before his father died, the villa sold more than what was expected. The crops this year sold less than half the normal over the last five years. Ettore knew he needed help, but where to get it. Lothario could never know, asking for Fedele's help would make sure Lothario knew. This is something Ettore had to do on his own.

He and his mother went to Don Nico's house and together with six architects; Don Nico, Lady Alis and Lothario went over the designs. All were impressed with each of the drawings and explanations. The men were masters at their work, it seemed that no detail was left out. Two of those architects covered more in the way of water. Both stated that in time of drought the hot water from a single source could possibly make the water unusable, and the worst is to not have any at all. They had a plan where the cold water could be turned to the hot spring by using an aqueduct. Don Nico was impressed, but his face showed no sign of it.

Lothario's mind wanted to know about slave quarters, stables, a way to store supplies and product under the ground where it was always cold, and finally the twelve altars for the gods, with a large one for the god Mars. Don Nico explained that the men present only worked on the villa itself, not the things that slaves built. Lothario stood up and walked around. Ettore walked with him. Don Nico smiled at the architects, "Just give them a few minutes, Ettore watches money closely, and Lothario spends too much. They have to make decisions together."

The men chuckled, but nervously. Times were not hard, but the up and coming leaders were few and far between. Usually they dealt with building a small newer villa for some old senator, or housing for Citizens on a senator's property. To get a dual contract with the most modern architecture available, would keep any of them financed for years.

"Lothario, maybe we should wait to build the villas. We can live with our parents for three years, until the crops begin to come in. The land can be cleared and made to look beautiful just like you said. Then we will have a lot of money toward the villas." Ettore smiled while he held Lothario's hand.

An alarm went off immediately in Lothario's mind, "You were the one that wanted this. Fedele and father have made it happen. What is it that is bothering you?"

"Nothing." He lied, "It is just that you want so much. I bet you do not even know how much is in your treasury." Ettore half smiled.

Lothario leered at Ettore, "How much do you have in your treasury Ettore and tell me the truth." Lothario stopped walking near a bench.

Ettore swallowed hard, his boy adam's apple showing stress, "About six hundred in gold."

Lothario turned pale and sat. He looked up at the sky and then at Ettore, "How could that happen? Your father built bathhouses for your villages, he was always loaning money and helping others. The land has soil better than fathers, even with the sandy areas. What happened?"

Ettore sat next to him, "I don't know. I should go check on the numbers that the overseer has, I just know that I am broke."

Don Nico, who grew impatient walked out and spotted the boys in a deep conversation. He walked over to them, "What is it boys? They are waiting for you."

Lothario blurted it out to Ettore's dismay. Nico squatted on the ground while he listened. When they both stopped talking over each other, Don Nico stood and rubbed his hands through their hair, "Settle down. I want you both to go back in there and act like you are the wealthiest men in the entire world. I will take care of what has happened at the villa. Ettore, your father and I talked almost daily about your villa. What you are saying is impossible. I will send some men, a magistrate and scribes down to look over things. We will find out what happened and correct it."

"Si and thank you, but I still have no money."

Don Nico pinched the boy's cheek until Ettore said `Oww', "Don't you ever listen? I said I will find out what happened and take care of it. Now do as I say, now!"

The boys had four days to look over the plans and decide one what to do. They needed overseers, which Don Nico promised and they had to choose one or several. Fedele could hardly wait until market day to take them to buy slaves. During that month Lothario and Ettore had to be on the city watch, with Andio and Pao showing them how to run things. There was no school or senatorial duties for Lothario and Ettore took advantage of it each night. By the end of the month, Lothario was worn out.

In bed that night Lothario was being cuddled by Ettore. He grinned and said, "You ever get the idea we are not really in charge of our lives?"

"Si, I have felt that way for the last year."

"Really, we report to Fedele or papa. They spend our money. All of the spending is to benefit us, but it is not like we had a choice. The villas for instance, Si, we got the best and got to choose, but they did all the work. I wonder if their parents did the same thing. Then there is the military thing, why did we get stuck with guarding the city for the month when we could have been at war with the Etruscans? This thing with the senate, I vote on most of the stuff, but when I have something to say it's like no one listens. I am not even sure they are counting my vote, and it is so boring listening to them with petty complaints."

"You think too much." Ettore replied. He leaded over and started kissing Lothario's chest, licking his nipples.

Lothario looked down at his hair, "I am not in a mood for your playing. Besides you will probably be bald like Fedele in four years."

Ettore stifled a laugh but continued with the kissing and licking leading down to Lothario's stomach muscles. Lothario lay there still thinking of what will happen if they didn't find the error in Ettore's calculations. Oh he could feel that warm tongue tickling him rubbing against the most sensitive parts of his muscles, trying to get a reaction. Lothario grinned, "It is not going to work, and Roman and Anthony will be coming in soon, they will see you and start pulling on themselves."

Lothario's mate spread his legs apart and knelt in-between as he continued kissing. Lothario looked down, "I don't know what you got on your mind, but it won't help you. You just want to put your monster ding inside me and fill me up with your goosh." He said as he had an involuntary shudder. He had important things to think about before bedtime and here Ettore wanted to play.

Lothario felt his body shudder again and he looked down, "It's not working Ettore. Why don't you go to sleep and we can go look at the property tomorrow and see what is being done." Lothario grinned watching Ettore when he shuddered again and whimpered. "This is not fair at all. I am too weak."

Ettore said nothing as he spread Lotharios legs more and lift his behind up some, and started licking and kissing even more. Ettore's efforts began to play out as he licked the boy's muscles down to Lothario's groin and headed to his love spot. Ettore licked around it as Lothario started his telltale wiggling and whimpering. Lothario quit trying to get Ettore to stop, he knew he couldn't in the bedroom and he started to give in.

The warm wet tongue of Ettore circled Lothario's love spot. Each time he would back off to see the little rose open and close as Lothario whimpered. Then he would do it again and again until Lothario began a wiggling movement. That was not enough for Ettore however, he wanted more out of Lothario and he would get it. He continued licking and his tongue would suddenly flick Lothario's Rose, Lothario's body started to hump only for a second with an up and down motion. Ettore looked up and saw that Lothario's ding had become engorged and then went back to teasing his love spot.

Lothario moaned and between the wiggling and the up and down motion of his behind Ettore grinned and knew he would get to make love. Over the year he learned to make Lothario beg for his Ettore's thick long ding, and again Lothario was getting to that point. Ettore's ding had been leaking fluid for over half an hour making his ding slippery and wet.

Lothario begged for the wet ding several times, but Ettore held back. He stuck his tongue into Lothario's love spot just long enough for Lothario to have his first dry orgasm for the night. Ettore was proud of himself. As mean as Lothario could be outside the bedroom, he turned to mush when Ettore was in charge.

He kissed Lothario's legs and thighs and then lifted the boys behind up a little more. Inching into Lothario, his big ding began rubbing Lothario's love spot and Lothario was ready to scream. Ettore's thick stem rubbed the leak from his body onto Lothario's rose. Ettore poured oil onto his fingers, and slipped them in with his own juices in Lothario's rose. Lothario was all over the divan. With his other hand Ettore placed it on Lotharios stomach so he didn't roll off and his two fingers slipped in and out making the last preparation for love making.

Lothario had another dry orgasm and was going wild. Ettore pulled his fingers out, and Lotharios fists hit him in the arms, "Don't you dare stop!"

Ettore was far from hurt, he put his hands around Lothario's behind and pulled him into position and slid his over juiced red top pressed against Lothario's squirming body. This was not the easiest part, Ettore had to wrap his hands around Lothario's pelvis to push his red top into his love. He did just that, making Lothario whimper and hold still just for that moment and then Ettore thrust the red top into his love. Lothario had another dry orgasm, his body stiffened, and Ettore pushed in a little further.

Lothario gasped and whimpered, he felt that huge ding rub across his special place inside and he grabbed Ettore tight as Ettore's sensitive ding started pushing in and out. Deeper and deeper, slowly and sweetly as his own hot flesh entered Lothario. Ettore hung on as long as he could until his engorged ding exploded inside his love.

Lothario felt Ettore stop and stiffen. He looked at the boy he loved and frowned, "You better not be..."

Ettore kissed him and looked in his eyes, "No I am not done."

WC: 9,277

 

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