By the time Ariostos and his guests returned to the chamber Meli was bathed and had arranged lamps, and jars of sweet oil with which to perfume the air, around the room. He knelt in the centre of the room awaiting instructions, still afraid of what might befall him over the next few days - but unable to take any action other than complying with Ariostos' wishes. As he entered Ariostos took in the sight with satisfaction.
"Good Meli," he said, and turned to his guests. "This is Meli-mateos, he is ours for the three days and nights my friends and he is a very willing pet. Is that not so Meli?" He asked, turning to regard the boy.
"Indeed it is so Master. Your wish is my command." Meli replied, lowering his forehead to the floor.
The four other men with Ariostos took in the sight of the slender, naked youth prostrated before them.
"Will you not greet your Masters properly boy?" Asked one. "I have need of a cooling drink and a massage for my tired limbs." So saying he threw himself onto one of the couches and gestured for Meli to attend him.
At once Meli rose to comply. "I apologise for my thoughtlessness Masters. Please seat yourselves and be comfortable and I shall bring you wine." He said.
Ariostos smiled again, congratulating himself on his foresight in planning this event. His standing amongst his fellows would surely rise as a result of the next few days.
"Meli, this is Nicodemus," he said , indicating the first man who had spoken, "and these are my good friends Xenon, Cyrus and Adeimantus."
Meli bowed low. "Welcome masters." He said., and he took the wine flagon from the small table where Pandros had left it and served each of the five men in turn - taking care to start with Nicodemus and leaving Ariostos until last. It would never do for a host to be served before his guests, however powerful. Meli's training in the duties of a household slave had been equally as thorough as his training in the brothel. Ariostos noticed the practised ease with which Meli moved among his guests. He had been right in his assessment of the youth's biddable nature and in seeing that, with Meli's previous training, he would have no need of other servants to wait upon the assembled company. All the more freedom for them to enjoy themselves without restraint he thought.
Meli finished serving the wine and turned to Nicodemus. " You wish me to massage your limbs Master?" He queried.
"I desire you to make my limbs ache less and I want to see what you are capable of Meli..I have heard your gifts spoken of with much praise by Ariostos and I would experience the truth of his praise for myself."
"Master Ariostos is too kind, but I shall do my humble best to serve you. If you will but lay on this bench whilst I prepare the oils Master Nicodemus." He said, indicating the bench near the window upon which clean cloths had been placed for this eventuality.
Nicodemus licked his lips. His eye was filled by the youth's lithe body, he watched as Meli moved with unconscious grace toward the bench and began to warm some oil in preparation for the massage. The others watched also interested to see how far Nicodemus would ask the youth to go with his massage.
Ariostos spoke. " You may all of you ask Meli for whatever you desire. He is here to do our bidding and we have plenty of time to indulge ourselves."
Nicodemus moved to the couch and leant toward Meli. "Then boy I would have you begin with a massage to ease my aches and after I shall see what sweetness your body has to offer me."
Flushing slightly at the thought of performing in front of the critical eyes of the other men..whom he knew he would also have to serve, Meli simply smiled winningly. "It shall be my pleasure to serve you Master Nicodemus." He said, and he helped the man to disrobe before he lay down upon the bench. He then began a thorough palpation of the muscles in Nicodemus' arms and legs. The man was tall and well built and had powerful muscles which were knotted from hard use. Meli worked his fingers well into the knots of each muscle to ease them, the massage made slower and more intense by the fact that both of Meli's hands were of necessity close together.
Nicodemus was lost in the sensation of sensuality that encompassed his being from Meli's skilled touch. The boy had learned well and knew exactly how hard to press the areas he worked on without causing pain. He had, however, also been taught to utilise well the lightness of touch that would arouse his patrons. Knowing that the man wished there to be intimacy he began to employ these sensuous strokes as the muscles eased in their tightness. It was not long, therefore, before Nicodemus' obvious approval of these touches was evident both to Meli and to the others. The man raised himself slightly from the bench and signalled that Meli should stop his ministrations and approach him.
" Now Meli I will see if Ariostos spoke truly of your virtues." He said.
So saying he gestured for the youth to straddle him and he guided his erect penis to the tight bud of the boy's anus. This time the entry was eased by the oils used in the massage. In one fast stroke Nicodemus was inside him. Accommodating his size, Meli began to move in the way he had been taught in order to best please the recumbent man. His slow writhing movements caused the other men to catch their breaths as they focused first on the look of ecstasy on Nicodemus' face and then on the grace and beauty of the youth's motions which were like nothing so much as an erotic dance.
Xenon, unable to bear the wait any longer approached the bench and gestured that Meli should use his hands to pleasure him. It was not an easy manoeuvre to complete without upsetting his balance and causing Nicodemus discomfort, but somehow he managed to twist sideways and accomplish the feat of pleasuring both men. In doing so, in part because of his shackles, he had to strain his back and calf muscles and the pain it caused him began to spread throughout his entire body until the cramp was almost unbearable. He could not prevent a strangled gasp of pain escaping him at that point.
"Now then Meli my pet.. you will not disappoint my guests."
It was a command more than a question. Ariostos was standing over the boy with a look of pure savagery on his face. To cross this man would be more than Meli's life was worth. Unable to speak for the pain, Meli simply lowered his eyes and continued to fondle Xenon and ride Nicodemus until they both reached their climax. Neither man had made any attempt to touch Meli and he remained flaccid throughout.
Struggling to lift himself from Nicodemus, Meli's muscles finally tightened in spasm causing him to fall heavily from the bench, hitting the floor hard. He was winded by the fall which robbed him of his breath and he was in agony from the cramps in his legs and back. Ariostos glared at him angrily and ordered him to stand at once. Meli endeavoured to obey, only to fall again sobbing slightly, as he finally got his breath back, and clutching frantically at his legs.
"I think your pet is a little worn around the edges." Cyrus commented dryly. "Perhaps he needs a real man to show him the pleasures of the body."
So saying he grabbed the boy at the back of the neck and pushed him, face first, to the ground. "Be still boy and take it like a man." He said into Meli's ear as he entered him.
It was all Meli could do to refrain from screaming with the pain from Cyrus' rough entry as it added to the agony of his cramp, but he managed to focus on the motions of Cyrus and tried to respond in kind. ' I must stay calm and concentrate,' was all the thought he had time for before Cyrus covered his mouth and nose, cutting off all air, and he lost consciousness altogether.
As Cyrus continued to fuck the now limp and unconscious boy Adeimantus rose to his feet.
"Well Cyrus, he may have been worn around the edges, but it seems that you have broken our toy - now how shall we play?"
Ariostos too had risen to his feet. "Do not fret friend Adeimantus. Our pet will regain consciousness soon enough. Until then if you desire anything from his body it is yours to do with as you will."
He indicated Meli's inert body. Cyrus had left him and was now helping himself to more wine.
"Do not tell me you have not ever experienced this friend." Cyrus said. "Dear Adeimantus, you should know the sweetness of this sensation, there is nothing so sweet as when there is no resistance."
"That's as may be Cyrus, but did you not think the rest of us might enjoy a more responsive body? Could you not have waited a little more time before rendering him insensible? There would have been plenty of time hereafter when we had all taken our pleasure to treat him thus."
"He needed to be shown who was in control!" Cyrus snorted, moving toward Adeimantus threateningly.
Ariostos frowned, this would never do, to have his guests come to blows with each other would do nothing to earn him the status he desired.
"Friends, friends, there is no rush, please. We have the entire festival period before us and no-one need feel that any of their desires will not be met."
Cyrus recognised that he had overstepped the bounds somewhat with Adeimantus and stepped back a little. " I apologise my comrade, I was overhasty in my actions. Come drink some more wine, and if taking the boy now is not to your taste you have only to wait a while longer. I assure you he is but unconscious nothing worse, he will stir again soon."
Indeed, as Cyrus spoke, Meli's body twitched. His eyes fluttered as he regained his senses. His lips began to lose the blue colouration that had stolen over them as he had struggled for oxygen. Seeing Meli's return to the world of consciousness Ariostos bent down and pulled his head up by one ear, with the other hand he slapped Meli across the face.
"Wake up Meli," he said harshly, "there will be time enough for sleep but this is not it."
So saying he shook the boy until he opened his eyes. The cramped muscles in Meli's legs and back had completely relaxed as he had lost consciousness, but the resulting knots and kinks were not so easily eroded. He was stiff and sore and disoriented as he came round. As he became more fully aware of his situation he curled into a foetal position and mewed softly.
"Please Master. I apologise for my sloth, please do not beat me, I will do better." He pleaded.
Memories of Ariostos' past treatment of him, of the ways in which he enjoyed punishing him for small transgressions came flooding back. He was more terrified than he had ever been in his life. He knew that Ariostos was capable of the most savage behaviour. That his guests were made of the same mettle was without question. Ariostos pulled the boy to his feet and slapped him once more.
"I will not beat you yet Meli, but fail me again and you will feel my lash." He threatened. "Now boy, Master Adeimantus has need of your services. Go and tend to him quickly."
Meli was shoved toward Adeimantus and he stumbled, falling against the man's legs. He gasped an apology and cringed, waiting for the blow to fall. It did not, however. Adeimantus reached for Meli's chin and raised his head. He studied the boy closely, seeing the fear in his eyes. He found it intensely arousing as his growing erection plainly showed.
"Well now Meli, you are awake again and I would play with you."
His voice was soft as the wind whispering through the grove of linden trees in the summer, but there was an underlying edge of steel to it that Meli recognised and it made him more rather than less fearful. Taking a deep breath Meli tried to relax.
"What is your desire Master Adeimantus? How may I serve you?"
Adeimantus chuckled mirthlessly. "Ah so sweet and compliant. You have been well taught child." He said. "Let me see how well you can use that mouth of yours for things other than honeyed phrases."
He grasped Meli's hair and pulled his face down close to his groin. The boy closed his eyes for a moment before tentatively kissing the now fully erect penis. He began to use his tongue to lick and swirl in tantalising patterns. Up and along, down and round. Until he could tell by the man's breathing that he was close to the edge. Opening his mouth he engulfed the man's throbbing erection and began to suck. Adeimantus emitted a deep groan of satisfaction and then moved his hands from Meli's hair to his shoulders, pushing him back. Meli's gaze lifted to the man's face in confusion.
"Is there something wrong Master?" He queried.
Adeimantus caught his breath and paused for a moment before replying.
"Nothing is wrong child, but I rather think my host is in need of your services also."
Ariostos looked at Adeimantus, a grin forming on his face. They had shared before and he was more than ready to do so again. He signalled to Meli to move to where he sat and repeat for him what he had done for Adeimantus. Meli moved swiftly to his Master's side and bent to give him the pleasure he desired. As he did so Adeimantus came up and entered him from behind.
As Adeimantus' thrusts pushed Meli forward he struggled to prevent himself from choking on Ariostos' erection. The two men began stroking each other tenderly as one lover to another whilst Meli continued to suck Ariostos' cock and Adeimantus thrust deeply into him.
At no time during this or any of the other events of the evening did any of the five men touch Meli with tenderness. Nor was he at any time sexually aroused, he merely performed as he had been taught.
Over the next three days and nights the men continued to use Meli thus, leaving him naked and unfed throughout. Meli had been required to continue to serve food and drink to Ariostos and his guests, and during this time the men became more and more drunk and less and less controlled in their actions. More than once Meli had been rendered insensible by blows from one or more of the men he served. Even that had not prevented them from using and abusing his unconscious body. By the morning after the third night, when Sulla's servant came to escort Meli back to the brothel, he was almost incoherent and scarcely able to stand. There were livid bruises and open cuts all over his body.
Pandros had done his best to coax Meli to his feet when the summons came for the boy to return, but Sulla's servant had less patience. He hauled the boy to his feet by means of the chain between his wrists, ignoring the hiss of pain it elicited. Since Ariostos had refused Pandros permission to issue the boy a new loin cloth Meli had been dragged back through the streets still naked and covered in sweat. The forty silver drachma bonus had also been withheld by Ariostos on the grounds that it wasn't earned by slaves who "slept on the job".
Sulla's fury on hearing that was ferocious and he had taken his crop to Meli, ignoring his pleas for mercy. His final stroke had shattered the bone across the bridge of Meli's nose. Only the scream it forced from the boy's lips brought Sulla out of his fog. The boy would have a scar for the rest of his life but he was still the most marketable property in his stables, he would do well not to damage him further. It was not quite enough punishment for Sulla even so. He dropped his crop and gave instructions that Meli be shut in one of the empty and unfurnished rooms formerly used for goats and other livestock. For two days he had been left there untended, spending the time slipping in and out of consciousness, wracked with pain and fever. Eventually, fearing that he had gone too far and would lose the boy Sulla had called a healer to tend to Meli's injuries.