The Next Generation

By D.J. Manly

To follow in his father's footsteps, Gold's son will need to defeat Ariston in the arena to become champion...but Ariston might be the love of his life.

Nicolaus has lived in the shadow of his father all his life, a father who was the greatest gladiator of them all. His desire is to prove himself in the arena, even though it is against his father's wishes. He also has other desires, forbidden desires for his father's lover, and a love/hate relationship with the slave he must defeat if he is to reign victorious as a gladiator in the arena.

Ariston falls in love with Nicolaus the moment he sets eyes on him. A slave all his life, he has never known freedom but he is the unbeatable champion. The fact that Nicolaus can't decide whether to bed him or kill him greatly complicates his life when he becomes the newest addition to Gold's ludi.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Oct 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9780857157218

D.J. Manly

D.J. Manly is first and foremost a writer, but is also a college professor, a small business operator and a sociologist who works as a consultant on research projects. D.J. is a proud Canadian who lives in French Canada, and speaks both English and French. Human rights are a great concern, and D.J. longs for a peaceful world free of sexism, racism, and homophobia. D.J. writes for the pure love of writing, and always with the reader in mind. If D.J. doesn't enjoy reading it, it won't be written. Great characters, great sex and a great love are the elements you’ll find in D.J’s work. There is nothing quite as exciting as beautiful men falling in love. Come taste D.J’s work, but be careful, you may become as addicted to reading it, as D.J. is to writing it. One reviewer said of Manly’s work that reading it can give you “…third degree burns in an air conditioned room…” I think that says it all.

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A Total-E-Bound Publication

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The Next Generation

ISBN # 978-0-85715-721-8

©Copyright D.J. Manly 2011

Cover Art by April Martinez ©Copyright October 2011

Edited by Stacey Birkel

Total-E-Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing.  Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2011 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

Warning:  This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers.  This story has a heat rating of Total-e-burning and a sexometer of 1.

Gladiators

THE NEXT GENERATION

D.J. Manly

Book four in the Gladiators Series

To follow in his father’s footsteps, Gold’s son will need to defeat Ariston in the arena to become champion...but Ariston might be the love of his life.

Nicolaus has lived in the shadow of his father all his life, a father who was the greatest gladiator of them all. His desire is to prove himself in the arena, even though it is against his father’s wishes. He also has other desires, forbidden desires for his father’s lover, and a love/hate relationship with the slave he must defeat if he is to reign victorious as a gladiator in the arena.

Ariston falls in love with Nicolaus the moment he sets eyes on him. A slave all his life, he has never known freedom but he is the unbeatable champion. The fact that Nicolaus can’t decide whether to bed him or kill him greatly complicates his life when he becomes the newest addition to Gold’s ludi.

Dedication

To the spirit of the Gladiator!

Chapter One

House of Nicolaus

Forbidden Longings

My gaze followed Samson around the room as he playfully flirted with my father. The sun had barely risen in the sky and he was still a little drowsy from sleep.

Why must you always arise so early, Gold? Samson murmured, leaning down to kiss my father lightly on the top of the head. The training will wait.

The festivities begin Saturday, Samson. My father gave him a slight push away. Everything must proceed smoothly if we are to gain favour.

Favour with whom now? Samson grinned at me as he said it before popping a grape into his mouth. I don’t care about those stuffy noblemen. Do you care about them, Nicolaus?

I think I might have blushed. I’d been doing that a lot lately. In fact, all Samson had to do was speak my name and I blushed. No, no, I don’t care.

Listen to him. Gold shook his head, motioning to the slave called Pleasure to pour some more water into his goblet. Father always saved a special smile for Pleasure, which I knew grated on Samson. You want to gain a reputation in the arena, then you must care about the nobles.

Of course I took that to heart. I didn’t dare not to. My father had been one of the greatest gladiators of all time. His prowess and skill never ceased to astound even now. I asked only that I be half as good as he one day. Why not let me compete, Father? I looked up from where I sat on the settee. I’m ready. Julian says so.

Julian is not your father. I say you’re not ready.

Gold, Samson said, do you not remember what it’s like?

Don’t you start now, Samson, my father warned as he walked across the vast floor. I was against this from the beginning. Nicolaus will go into the arena when I say so!

But Petorio is already involved in everything. I jumped up, ready for yet another verbal battle with my father. And he’s mediocre at best. Everyone says I am better than he!

Petorio is involved in managing the ludi…training. He doesn’t compete in the arena.

You’re better than me, are you, cousin? We all turned to look upon the owner of that snarly voice. I already knew it to belong to my half-brother, Petorio. My father had been bought by his own brother—the father of Petorio and Garner—and freed. When my uncle had wanted to go into the arena as a free man, my father had trained him—promising to look after his family if anything should happen. My uncle was slain in the arena and my father became head of the family, looking after his wife and children and eventually marrying his brother’s widow. My uncle’s widow gave birth to me and died shortly after I was born. This had created the rather bizarre circumstances where my two cousins were also my two half-brothers.

I braced myself for his onslaught. He’d always picked on me while I was growing up, punching and beating on me when he thought no one was looking, always referring to me as his cousin, rather than his brother. Since I’d grown, he’d stopped doing that, especially when I began to punch back. I harboured a special dislike of him.

My father headed his nephew off before he got to me. I’ll have none of that in this house. Save your energy for the festivities on Saturday, Petorio!

Gold had his hand on Petorio’s chest and Petorio relaxed. He’d never take on my father. He knew better.

It’s not fair, Uncle, Petorio grumbled. Nicolaus thinks he’s better than I and—

I am better. I narrowed my eyes. All the shit I’ve eaten from you, I snarled, and this is my compensation for it—one day going into that arena and proving myself.

Petorio pushed against Gold’s palm again and Gold fixed him with his gaze. Enough I said! Nicolaus, apologise to your brother.

He’s no brother to me. I glared at Petorio. We may share the same mother but it means nothing. He prefers the title of cousin and so do I!

A mother you killed by being born. Petorio spat on the floor.

I shrugged as if I didn’t give a Zeus’ cock.

There was an uncomfortable silence.

That was uncalled for. It was Samson who came to my rescue. Your mother dying in childbirth was not the fault of Nicolaus. And he lost his mother as well. Why can’t the two of you get along?

One day, cousin, Petorio seethed with his gaze on me, I’ll meet you in the arena, and we’ll see who is better. Petorio pushed away from Gold and stalked out of the room.

Gold shook his head. No one is going into the arena. That is settled.

I ignored my father. It will be my pleasure to take your head! I screamed after him. Cousin!

My father gave me one of those looks. Must you do that?

Me? I asked, outraged.

Yes, you.

He has treated me with disdain since the time we were children. See how he refers to me? Only Garner treated me like a brother. Father, please let me fight. Please.

First of all, you are too young. Secondly, you are not a gladiator.

Petorio thinks himself one! I protested.

Petorio is only allowed in minor competitions and for fun. It’s not to be taken seriously and I don’t approve! He wasn’t allowed to do even that until he was twenty years old. You are barely eighteen. Why are you so anxious to be bruised and battered?

I sighed. There is no reasoning with you.

I don’t understand. Gold shook his head. This was the last thing I wanted for you. I didn’t elevate my status so that my own son could become a common gladiator.

You put yourself down, Father, I pointed out.

I was a slave once. I had no choice but to fight, and to be the best if I was to survive. You boys have a choice and yet you’d do anything to fight! I don’t understand. Is it for the women? To prove something? What?

Are you saying you never enjoyed it, weren’t disturbed when you were forbidden to fight because the master cherished you so? You are just like Simeon and Phineas—you are the master and I am nothing but your cherished slave!

I saw the shock settle on my father’s handsome face as I turned on my heel and left the room.

I ended up where I always did—in the garden outside, wrapped in the comfort of the fragrant blossoms. I was shaking. In part, I regretted the words I’d said to my father.

I waited, trying to calm myself. I knew that once Samson attempted a few words of comfort to Gold, he would come and find me here.

When I was a boy, Samson would take me on his knee and stroke my hair. I’d feel so safe. He’d tell me not to fret about Petorio. One day you will be a greater man than he. You are Gold’s son, he’d whispered, the greatest gladiator of all time.

He couldn’t hold me on his knee anymore. I was over six feet tall, and I made sure to work out with the gladiators every chance I had, under the tutelage of Julian, the head trainer. My muscles were well developed and I was strong.

And if the truth be known, I wanted Samson to do more than just comfort me. I would have fallen gratefully into his strong arms and surrendered to his every desire if he’d ever given me the slightest encouragement. But he belonged to my father. Their devotion and love over the years was nothing less than inspiring.

It was only recently that I began to see the strain between them and even though it shamed me to think it, I secretly rejoiced at the thought that they were drifting apart.

Samson stood before me now. I lowered my head and he came and sat beside me, waving his hand at the servant. Leave us.

We were completely alone.

Samson raised my chin with his finger and smiled at me. He was so handsome, his green eyes crinkling at the corners, his fair hair thick and extending almost to his shoulders. He had a boyishness to him which was coated with a mature masculinity I found intoxicating. He will let you fight eventually, my Nico, even if I myself cringe at the thought.

I felt something tremble inside me. I folded my hands together. Whenever he said my Nico, my insides went soft. He will never let me be a gladiator. He will only tolerate minor skirmishes for fun like Petorio does. I want to be a gladiator, Samson!

Samson shivered, as if cold…then I realised it had nothing to do with the cool air of the garden.

Why do you cringe?

I hate the thought of seeing you in pain or hurt. It’s a normal reaction.

I regret what I said to Father.

He knows that. You have his temper. Samson smiled tenderly at me.

Will he let me, Samson? I can hardly wait any longer. I taste it on my tongue. I want it so badly.

I’ll see what I can do, he sighed.

Petorio— I began.

Samson shook his head. You mustn’t let Peto get to you. He is jealous of you. Samson released my chin. He is twenty and seven. He attempts to show off his strength in his awkward contests but still he impresses no one. It hurts him deep down and your father…

Has always favoured him, I finished.

We have gone over this a thousand times, Nico. I’ve been telling you since you were a boy that your father overcompensates with his brothers’ sons. He didn’t want them to think he favoured you over them, so he is sometimes a little harder on you. He loves you so much. That’s why he doesn’t want you to be a gladiator. He can’t accept that it’s in you as it was with him.

Samson… I said emotionally.  If I never told you how much I…

And you never need to. He stood. I love you like my own. I look at you and I see my Gold from years gone by and… He stopped and turned away, seeming to choke.

I jumped to my feet and placed a hand on his shoulder. Samson?

Sometimes I think that Gold is lost to me forever, he sighed, turning around. He looked so sad. The ludi, politics, the wars and you boys… He…carries a great burden. His eyes filled with tears and he cleared his throat.

Be patient with your father, Samson managed eventually. He has a lot on his mind. If it is meant to be, there is nothing your father and I can do to stop it—as much as we might want to. Your turn in the ring will come and you will be as great as your father was…maybe even greater.

Samson hugged me briefly, letting go all too soon. I was left alone in the garden to contemplate his words and allow the sensation of his embrace to warm my entire soul.

I realised that if I was to become a gladiator, I might have to renounce my birthright and give myself over to another ludi, even give up my rights as a free man for a period of no less than five years. If my father refused to yield, he’d leave me no choice.

* * * *

A little while later, I decided to seek out my father, thinking I should apologise for my outburst, which in retrospect seemed a little immature. I wanted him to know that I was all grown up now, ready to take on anyone in the arena.

Pleasure, I called out as I walked through the grand house, where is my father? Is he still at the ludi?

Pleasure put down the vase he was wiping clean and hurried to my side. No, master, he said. He’s there. He pointed to the open doors of the balcony.

My father often stood there on a warm day, soaking up the breeze which came off the water. It was his refuge.

I smiled at Pleasure and told him to stay. I wanted to talk to my father alone. I could tell that he wanted to advise against my interruption of my father’s solitude, but I didn’t give him the chance.

When I stepped out on the balcony, he didn’t move from his place. He was leaning forwards across the rail, his head down. I knew he’d taken a great risk in creating the first free man gladiator school. The king put pressure on him to take slaves into his ludi, what with the prisons overflowing with criminals and prisoners of war.

Father stood firm. He was adamantly against it. His past had marked him and he spoke out against slavery to whoever would listen. He detested the idea of one man owning another. Nothing could change his mind on that score, but I was hoping to

Reviews for The Next Generation

[silversurfer_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Book four in the Gladiators SeriesTo follow in his father’s footsteps, Gold’s son will need to defeat Ariston in the arena to become champion...but Ariston might be the love of his life.Nicolaus has lived in the shadow of his father all his life, a father who was the greatest gladiator of them all. His desire is to prove himself in the arena, even though it is against his father’s wishes. He also has other desires, forbidden desires for his father’s lover, and a love/hate relationship with the slave he must defeat if he is to reign victorious as a gladiator in the arena.This was a terrific ending to the series. I think the author has ended it, as far as I can , I don't think he can take these character's further.A very enjoyable conclusion.Ariston falls in love with Nicolaus the moment he sets eyes on him. A slave all his life, he has never known freedom but he is the unbeatable champion. The fact that Nicolaus can’t decide whether to bed him or kill him greatly complicates his life when he becomes the newest addition to Gold’s ludi.