Friday, July 10th - Afternoon- Eighth hour (13:45)

Eighth hour (13:45)

Tita kept pace with Elena as they walked towards a large intersection. Tita recognized the location, having seen it in the morning when she and the Bactrian women first entered into Pompeii. Tita remarked that the public baths were close by. Elena commented that they would try the baths first. She did not believe the Bactrians would still be performing, given the heat and time of day, and that most people were taking their afternoon siesta. Tita had noted this custom in previous towns, starting with their night in Sinuessa. She had first heard the word siesta there, but did not quite understand what it was. The meaning became clear in Neapolis, when she and the dancers spent the whole day in town. People took a nap to avoid the heat of the afternoon.

The public baths were full, and Tita was reminded of the much larger bath complex she had seen in Rome, in the company of the Bactrian women. She had never seen so many naked women all in one area, and she remembered feeling giddy with excitement, but also very hot and humid. She laughed at the memory of how the dancers had surrounded and stayed close around her, hiding her spotted white skin from view. She felt wonderful to be so well protected, and excited to see all of them naked with their darker skin, hair and faces moist from the humidity in the baths. Elena’s mention of Tita licking vaginas came to mind and fired Tita up immediately as she saw the other naked women in this public bath. She blushed deeply, relieved that her shawl covered her face.

Elena briefly stopped and waved to a woman who was waving at her. Elena commented to Tita that the woman was one of her patrons. Tita asked if Elena had many patrons, to which Elena replied that she only had a few, since most of her time was spent teaching classes for the girls and helping Aurelia manage the business. Elena explained that when she had arrived the previous year, Aurelia only had twenty girls. But since Elena’s arrival and the reopening of the amphitheater, their business had accelerated significantly. Tita was astonished at how quickly Aurelia’s business could grow, realizing that Aurelia had significantly increased her workforce in only one year. Elena replied that Pompeii was a wealthy area, and such dramatic changes could easily happen in a wealthy area.

The baths were crowded as everyone was apparently trying to stay cool from the hot day. Tita followed Elena around the various parts of the public baths for women, but Tita did not see any of the Bactrians. Tita mentioned she would have expected the dancers to visit the baths all together, as they had done each day while they were in Rome. Elena agreed that was likely.

Not finding the dancers there, Elena guided Tita out of the public baths and to the right towards the forum. The large forum was virtually empty. There were only a few people walking about or chatting under the arcades. Elena and Tita took advantage of the shade provided by the western arcade. Tita sighed with relief to be out of the strong bright sun for a few moments. As they walked toward the southern end of the forum, Tita saw some of the merchants she had seen earlier that day, tending to their goods or sleeping in the shade of the arcades.

Elena commented that the dancers had probably set up camp along the Sarno river. Tita mentioned they had eaten at a tavern at the port that morning, so they had seen the river. Tita agreed that the river seemed like a good location, especially for a hot day like today. Elena guided Tita across the forum as they turned east towards the decumanus. Tita reflected how curious it was that she had taken the same route an hour earlier to leave the Bactrians. And now they were taking the same route to find the dancers again, only this time without her satchels and burdens. Tita imagined Zina and Zine would be overjoyed to see her again.

Tita felt the hot sun on her head and back. It was oppressive. Then Tita noticed Elena did not seem bothered at all by the heat and sun. She asked if Elena had always lived in warmer climates, and Elena nodded, complimenting Tita on her powers of observation, but then falling silent quickly. Tita noticed Elena was thinking deeply and decided not to disturb her thoughts.

Tita and Elena proceeded along the decumanus. Tita noticed she was getting used to the scent of Elena’s skin, though Elena’s scent still excited Tita. She could not describe the earthy scent that was mixed with the citrus perfume that Elena used. The only thing that repeatedly came to mind was clay mud mixed with lemons and oranges. Tita wondered what kind of sensuality exercises they might do and how Elena’s vagina might be. Aware that she was blushing deeply while her heart was beating strongly, Tita pushed the erotic thoughts away as forcefully as she could. She tried focusing on more neutral things, like the bricks of the walls, and the hot stones of the streets.

Tita realized that before seeing the Bactrians in Pisae, she rarely had such erotic thoughts. She was very grateful that the dancers had opened her mind to this universe of bodily pleasure. She had heard Claudia speak of it often, but she did not realize how powerful it was. Now that the dancers had given her a taste of this realm, she found her appetite was insatiable. Trust your body. Tita recalled Elena’s most important lesson. She noted that she owed the Bactrians a lot. She hoped to make it up to them in some way, Zina and Zine especially. Perhaps a gift through Claudia that she could repay over time.

Tita and Elena reached the cardo and turned south towards Porta Stabia, walking on the west side of the road to stay in the shade afforded by the buildings. They continued to walk quietly together, Elena still thinking as she kept Tita’s arm in hers. Tita noticed there were many passersby beyond the gate. She thought about her cousin, and now she could fully understand Claudia’s enthusiasm for the work. As Claudia had said many times, one of the positives of the work was that even if the client was boorish or unpleasant, you could still close your eyes and focus on enjoying your body for yourself.

As they approached the gate, Tita could hear commotion and she suddenly realized the whole town had been eerily quiet since she and Elena had left the tavern. In fact, the roads had been nearly empty in their walk together, whereas an hour earlier, Tita had to navigate a bit of pedestrian and chariot traffic, especially on the decumanus and cardo. Tita noted the whole town took an afternoon siesta.

Elena saluted the guards at the gate, who apparently knew her by sight. They went through the gate, exiting the city walls, and Tita was surprised to see the amount of people in the area. The same place had been fairly quiet that morning when Tita was with the Bactrian dancers. Now it seemed like all of Pompeii had decided to come out of the gate and enjoy the riverside walk and the river itself.

People were swimming, washing and playing in the Sarno river which flowed less than fifty meters away from the road they were on. To the right was a large sandy area at the river’s edge and Tita saw many families there with children wading and splashing in the water and playing in the sand. There were also people on the opposite river bank wading and swimming. Mostly, people were promenading along the tree shaded road that flanked the river and led down to the small group of buildings that constituted the mercantile port to their left. Between the shade provided by the large trees and the cool breeze wafting from the river, Tita felt this spot was significantly cooler than the city streets. She sighed with relief, and breathed in the cooler air with delight.

Tita reflected on how many river towns she had seen during her journey from Gergovia. Most of the important towns had rivers with busy river traffic. She loved the idea of being able to refresh herself along the river banks, an opportunity she did not have in Gergovia, where the nearest river was a few hours of walking. She envied how the children played freely in the water without a care for how they looked or what people might think of them.

Tita was also surprised by the number of boats in the river, either sailing down towards the bay or paddling upstream. There were many more boats than there had been that morning. Many of the sailors in the boats were loudly talking, singing or shouting lewd comments at women swimming in the water. Tita delighted in the entertaining ruckus. She reflected how idyllic the scene was in comparison to the congested river traffic in Rome. The Tiber river in Rome had seemed like hundreds of Massalia ports all crowded next to each other. She had never seen so many boats in her life.

Elena stopped to take a sip of water from her pouch and let the breeze cool her face and arms. Tita followed Elena’s example, enjoying the orange water even though it was warm. After a few minutes of cooling off, they continued on the road as it curved and sloped down towards the small port, passing by people leisurely walking to and fro on the road. As they approached the group of port buildings on the riverside, Tita recognized the tavern where they had eaten in the morning and pointed it out to Elena. Elena nodded and when they reached the tavern, they both stopped at the entrance to look inside. But it was fairly empty, with only a few families and other patrons.

Elena continued eastward along the crowded road, keeping Tita close to her as they negotiated the heavy concentration of pedestrians. The buildings on either side of the road provided even more shade and there was a stronger breeze flowing between the buildings. Tita saw they were going towards a point beyond the port buildings, where the stone paving stopped and the road became a dirt trail. Tita kept pace with Elena, comforted that Elena knew the area. Tita was getting more excited that she would see her friends soon and be able to enjoy hugging and kissing Zina and Zine again.

They left the small cluster of port buildings behind them and continued eastward along the dirt trail that flanked the Sarno river. Tita saw the trail ran under the trees that flanked the city walls, staying under the shade. Tita imagined Pompeiians had created the trail over years of afternoon promenades along the river. Tita remarked that the dancers would have definitely taken advantage of this location since it was cooler and the river provided water. Elena nodded silently.

As they continued eastward along the trail, Tita saw the amount of people on the trail and along the river’s edge was gradually diminishing. Tita could see that much further ahead in the distance, where the trail went beyond the edge of the city walls, she and Elena would be mostly alone on the trail.

Tita heard birds in the trees and she smiled. She had always enjoyed the chirping of birds, especially when there were many of them. She loved how they sounded with their various tones and sounds and repeated calls during their eating times. She wondered what kind of language they understood.

Walking further ahead, Tita heard the distant shouting of thousands of people coming from her left. She spotted the top of the amphitheater tent poles peaking above the tall defensive walls of the town. She deduced they were having an event though she imagined it was very hot in the stadium. She much preferred the shaded trail and the exciting scent of Elena’s perfume and her steady company.

As they walked past the city walls to their left, Tita saw the trail and riverside were mostly empty of people. The boat traffic was also less since some of the boat traffic at the port was coming from the bay west of Pompeii. Tita recalled that Zina had told her the Bactrians had performed dances for a week at the amphitheater in Carnage a month ago, before crossing the Mediterranean and going to Arelate, Massalia, Genua and Pisae. Tita wondered what it was like to travel on the Mediterranean Sea and what it was like to perform in front of thousands of people. She found both ideas very scary. But the idea of performing at the amphitheater also excited her. Tita assumed she would be very, very anxious if she had to perform there in some fashion.

Tita felt a slight tug on her arm and Elena pointed to a group of tents in the distance on the right side of the trail, arranged along a tree line that ran from the trail to the river. It seemed the trail entered a little forest at that point. The tree line bordered the far side of a grassy embankment that gently sloped down towards the river. The grassy field took up a large area since the river turned away from the trail and then curved back towards the trail by the tree line beyond. Tita noted it was an ideal spot to set up camp. As they continued walking, Tita recognized the large white colored tent with red stripes at its peak. She squealed with joy, indicating that was the group’s meeting tent. Elena smiled in return.

Elena kept Tita’s arm in hers, cautioning Tita that she should stay with her at least until Elena had finished talking to Zarina to make arrangements. Then Tita could have about half an hour to be with her friends again, while Elena spoke to Zarina privately. But after that, they would need to proceed to Aurelia’s villa. Elena noted that if the Bactrians accepted the invitation to stay a few days, Aurelia would need time to set up supplies and a location for them to camp. Tita nodded, remarking that she could have Zina help translate to Latin. Elena thanked Tita for thinking about that, but she knew many languages, leaving Tita dumbstruck. Was there anything Elena did not know about? she wondered.

As they neared the camp, Tita heard a familiar sound of four horn blasts. Tita deduced her Bactrian friends had spotted her by her light green dress. Tita smiled as she saw some women down by the river bank stand up while others who were swimming in the river stopped swimming as they heard the horn calls, surely played by Zarina’s son Adza. The horn calls signaled a tent meeting. Then Tita heard faint shouting from the camp as a woman waved at the women by the river and pointed in their direction. Tita knew that had to be Zarina, though they were too far away to recognize faces. Tita heard other shouts as the women in the river started getting out of the river to dry off and get dressed in their red brown tunics that they typically wore during the day. There was general commotion as other women appeared from the smaller tents, or from the tree line behind the camp. Tita giggled at their rushing about to welcome them in a proper way.

Tita was sorely tempted to run towards the camp, but she felt Elena’s arm around her arm slightly tighten. She sensed Elena had become a bit tense. But when Tita looked at Elena, Elena was smiling at the commotion they were causing. Tita was surprised how Elena seemed to enjoy the chaos, and yet seemed tense and also wanted to keep Tita close to her, almost as if by some invisible force. Tita realized Elena had truly incredible power and strength.

Tita wondered if Elena would be accompanying her these days and nights without a bodyguard. She asked if Elena had a pugio, and Elena quickly replied she had two of them, one on each thigh, under her dress. Tita gulped, understanding that Elena was a strong woman who could also fight. And yet, Tita thought, Elena seemed so graceful, so calm, so confident. Tita wondered if she could ever be like Elena. She felt privileged to be in her company.

As they walked closer to the camp, Tita started to recognize who was who by their demeanor, size, hair style and color. Kushana, Ardoksho, Hariti and Asia had been swimming in the river and were now dressed and walking up the field towards the camp. Bana, Ralik and Nana had been in the field and were already arriving at the camp. Zarina was directing them to form a welcoming circle near the meeting tent. Nana, Ziais and Roxana were helping with the slave women Leia, Kostantina and Marina to prepare cups of wine for everyone and bring them inside the tent. Zina and Zine had come out of their tent and were waving to her as they walked towards Zarina. Tita removed her shawl and smiled grandly, waving excitedly at them with her free hand.

In a few minutes, Elena and Tita left the trail and started walking across the field directly towards the meeting tent. Zarina and her son Adza started to approach them. Elena waved a greeting, and Zarina replied with her characteristic quick wave. In a few more minutes, they were facing each other. Tita saw that Zarina smiled tensely at first, but then her tension disappeared as Zarina looked at Elena with surprise. When Elena greeted her in the Greek-Bactrian language they spoke, Zarina was even more stunned and for a moment she was at a loss for words.

The Elena Effect, Tita thought, almost giggling at how Elena could overwhelm someone as strong and disciplined as Zarina. Tita had learned that Zarina was a woman who always had quick and sharp words, who could be very cutting with her strong and powerful tone of voice. During the journey, Tita had noticed that Zarina spoke to her in a gentle voice, but with the others she would shout, screech or bellow as the occasion required. Zarina was a woman who demanded respect and usually got it. Tita had seen that Zarina’s husband was the quieter, more carefree person of the pair. Zarina was the group’s real leader, commanding with a willpower and decisiveness that belied her slight, thin body.

But now Tita saw Zarina fall under Elena’s captivating spell, likely from Elena’s citrus scented skin. Zarina remained a bit bewildered while looking at Elena’s face, dress, hands and appearance. Then she became aware and stiffened up, introducing herself and her son with her tense smile.

Elena talked to Zarina as they all started walking towards the meeting tent. Adza walked on Tita’s left side as Elena maintained her arm around Tita’s right arm, while Zarina stayed on Elena’s right side, listening intently. Tita smiled at Adza who jumped up and down, calling her name with jubilation. She tousled his hair, and realized he was very much like Remo, a young fan of her ‘leopard skin’.

Elena motioned to Tita and Tita imagined Elena was talking to Zarina about her training for her work as a prostitute. Tita saw Zarina remained impressed by Elena, keeping her sharp black eyes fixed on Elena. Tita could see Elena was dominating Zarina, but in a gentle, effortless way. Experience, Elena had said. Tita started to wonder if Elena truly had magical powers. Was she hundreds of years old?

They arrived at the welcoming circle formed by the other women next to the meeting tent. Elena finally let go of Tita’s arm and Tita jumped over to hug Zina and Zine. They all squealed with pleasure while hugging and kissing each other. Zina kissed her deeply, and Tita returned the kiss in a tight embrace, Zina’s large brown eyes tearing from joy, while Zine hugged them both. Then Tita turned to Zine, who also kissed her deeply with a tight embrace and moan, and Zina hugged them both. Tita was overjoyed to smell their familiar scents of cinnamon-laced olive oil, fennel and the mint cream they both used on their skin. Tita noted how differently they smelled from Elena’s more captivating scent.

Suddenly all the dancers were greeting Tita. The younger ones Roxana, Nana and Bana gave her hugs and kisses. The ones close to Tita’s age- Asia, Ardoksho, Hariti, kissed Tita on the cheek and Hariti gave her usual bow and very light kiss of Tita’s hand. Then the ones closer to Zarina’s age- Dukht, Mene, Kushana, kissed Tita on the cheek ands shook her hands. Finally, Ziais and Ralik, the oldest women of the group, caressed her hands gently with wrinkled smiles. Tita felt overwhelmed and teared a bit, then she felt silly. She had only been away from them for a little more than an hour. Still, it seemed like she had been away for long time, maybe because she had not expected to see them again.

Zina asked how long Tita was staying. Tita let her know they were only staying for a short while because then she had to go with Elena to Aurelia’s villa. Zina translated this to the group and there was a moment of silent sadness. Then Zarina shouted sharply behind them, clapping her hands loudly- the sign that the tent meeting would start.

Adza opened the tent curtain so they could all enter. Zarina motioned everyone to go in. Tita looked at Elena who nodded for her go on ahead. Zina and Zine quickly pulled Tita in and they sat in their usual spot in the seating circle, directly across from where Zarina normally sat at the far side of the circle. Zina sat down on Tita’s right and Zine on Tita’s left side, as was their custom. No sooner had they sat down that both Zina and Zine were already caressing Tita’s arms while holding her hands. Then she felt Zina take her right hand and guide it under Zina’s tunic to let Tita know Zina was not wearing her subligaculum. Zine did the same with Tita’s left hand and they all laughed with mischief.

Tita noticed Zina and Zine had traces of olive oil on their legs and feet and she imagined they had been enjoying each other in their tent. She also noticed Zina’s eyes were a bit red. Tita deduced Zina must have been crying for a while after Tita had left them an hour ago. She imagined Zine was probably trying to calm Zina with caresses and kisses. It made Tita feel terribly guilty. She gripped Zina and Zine’s hands, her eyes tearing again, as Tita felt bittersweet for having to leave them again in short while.

As the others sat down on the circle of rugs, Tita smelled the odor of their spicy foods that she had learned to enjoy quite a bit. She remembered her first few days in Rome with them, how their spicy food had given her belly some discomfort and her morning bowels protested even more. But over the two weeks she had travelled with them, she became accustomed to their food and enjoyed it. The different odors of their food quickly brought back memories of their nightly meals together. The most powerful sense, Tita thought, remembering Elena’s comment about perfume.

Once the others were seated in their usual positions, Zarina and Elena walked into the tent and around the circle of seated women. Zarina sat down at her usual location on the far side of the circle. She motioned for Elena to sit to her right side. Elena bowed with a gentle smile, thanking Zarina while some of the women shifted over to make room for Elena to sit.

Zarina asked that the drinks be passed around and she introduced Elena to the dancers and toasted to her, taking a sip of their very strong wine that always made Tita a little dizzy. Everyone toasted to Elena, and Tita followed suit, feeling strange to do so. Zarina spoke to them about what Tita assumed was Elena’s invitation. Zina started whispering in Tita’s ear as she had done over the past two weeks, translating to Latin what Zarina said. Zina explained that Elena had invited them to stay at Aurelia’s villa, if they wished. Aurelia would provide food and drink and the dancers could offer dancing lessons to the girls there. Elena could organize classes with roughly thirty to thirty-five girls.

There was general murmuring among everyone and Zina noted with surprise that was a large group of women. Tita realized that during their journey together from Rome to Pompeii, she had never said how many girls Aurelia employed. She confirmed to Zina and Zine in a whisper that her cousin Claudia had told her Aurelia had thirty-two girls working for her, in addition to the slave help.

Roxana asked something in their native language, and Zina explained she was asking if Tita was returning to their group. Elena replied that no, Tita had decided to stay with Aurelia’s team and would be starting her training with Elena. Then Elena added Tita could stay as long as she desired, that there were no formal contracts with Aurelia. And because Tita was a freedwoman and not a slave, she had every right to choose her own destiny.

Then Elena explained what Tita had mentioned at the tavern, that Tita felt she had much to learn about dancing and that Tita felt clumsy because she was a novice. Elena added that she herself had long experience as a dancer, and that, as they all knew with their own dancing experience, it was important for any woman to practice and figure out what kind of dance was suitable for her. It was important for each woman to understand deeply their own passions, attitudes and bodies and what their bodies desired. So Elena agreed with Tita’s evaluation, because she was just starting to learn about her body.

Elena noted that Tita was an honest girl, who wanted to do things properly, and Elena thought taking time to learn more about her body was important preparation to let Tita understand how she wanted to dance, if she ever wanted to dance. Everyone in the tent murmured and seemed to acknowledge this, many nodding in agreement. Zina commented she thought Elena was incredible and extremely intelligent, and squeezed Tita’s hand, adding she was jealous of Tita. Tita felt proud to be Elena’s student, and she kissed Zina on the cheek for her compliment.

Zina continued translating in a whisper. Elena noted that Tita was staying with Aurelia for the time being and if the dance troupe wanted, they could return at a future date, or leave word of where they were. So that if Tita had a change of heart, Elena or Aurelia could contact them to make arrangements so Tita could travel to them. There was a wave of exclamations and nodding and smiles as the dancers looked at Tita and back at Elena. Tita felt overjoyed. Zina and Zine both hugged her tightly. Zarina nodded to Elena and she took Elena’s hand and squeezed it while smiling.

Zina sipped a bit of wine and then leaned close to Tita’s ear again to whisper her translations. Elena continued talking, looking at Tita and everyone else. Elena could see Tita had become a loved member of their dancing family. She thanked the whole team and especially Zarina for giving Tita some training and experience with bodily pleasure. She especially thanked Zarina for keeping Tita’s virginity a priority, and she added there would be a gift from Aurelia for such exquisite care and treatment of Tita. Elena explained that their enjoyment of Tita’s skin had already made Tita a more self-confident and passionate woman, which made Elena’s job much easier to train Tita.

Elena noted that if the troupe decided to stay for a few days, she would hope to be invited to see their nightly ritual adoration of Tita because she was always willing to learn new things. Elena felt what they had done with Tita was extraordinary, given what Elena knew of Tita from her cousin Claudia. Elena noted that Tita had started her journey as a girl with virtually no self-esteem, a girl who felt her spotted skin was a curse from the gods. But now Tita was a woman who could proudly confirm her spotted skin was loved by women. And more importantly, Tita confirmed that she loved women. She was now a woman who did not hesitate to enjoy in the pleasure of women’s love. Elena added she was sure Tita would never forget her experiences with them, no matter how distant or old they would become.

At this point Elena stood up and toasted to Zarina and the dance troupe and they all clapped in response and sipped the wine. Zarina thanked Elena and also stood up and toasted to her and to Tita. Elena seconded the toast to Tita, explaining that it had been Tita’s choice and luck to find them in Rome and bring them in contact with Aurelia’s group. The Bactrians acknowledged this with smiles and nods, sipping their cups of wine.

Zarina opened the group for discussion of Elena’s proposal. She motioned to Mene and Dukht who sat beside Zarina and Elena. Like Zarina, they also had husbands. Zina translated their concerns about the engagements their husbands were already making in Salernum. If they stayed in Pompeii, how would they handle these commitments and inform their husbands?

Elena noted that Aurelia could send a courier on horseback to Salernum to intercept them today. It was only thirty kilometers to Salernum and so a courier on horseback could get there in a few hours. If the courier found them that evening or tomorrow morning, the husbands would be in time to postpone any commitments they had made in Salernum for a few days. The husbands could also delay their trip to Brundisium and return to Pompeii to stay with them.

Zarina, Mene and Dukht continued discussing Elena’s proposal. Zarina then noted they had only one engagement already reserved in Brundisium, but no dates had been confirmed. She felt they could delay that engagement for a month or two without risk of losing the engagement. A few others commented that Brundisium was a major Roman port, and its port traffic, and the route to it along the Appian way could afford many potential patrons and offers. Zarina acknowledged that they would eventually get to Brundisium, and that it was only a matter of timing.

Tita watched Hariti, the only dancer with light yellowish skin and heavily slanted eyes. During Tita’s two-week stay with the group, she had noticed that Hariti was the most original woman of all the group. Hariti had come rom further east than Bactria, travelling a lot by herself on horseback. She was also a warrior who had taught some of the dancers about self-defense. Tita now realized Hariti had Elena’s self-confidence and the calmness of worldly knowledge. Hariti also had a lot of Elena’s grace in her elegant movements.

Hariti sat in her usual position next to Dukht and Dukht turned to her, asking her opinion. Hariti noted that Pompeii had an amphitheater, and she did not believe Salernum had one. She and the others looked to Elena, who confirmed the same, noting that Hariti made a very astute observation. Elena said that Aurelia knew a few of the event organizers for the amphitheater. Elena also noted that trying to schedule an event at the amphitheater would take time, likely a few weeks at a minimum.

Then Zina expressed surprise at what Elena was saying and became very excited. Elena suggested they could plan a dance spectacle with themselves and Aurelia’s girls. It could be a dance spectacle of 45-50 girls or more. It would require a lot of time for training, but the spectacle could get them many engagements in the area. Elena noted Pompeii was a very wealthy area.

Now everyone was talking excitedly about the idea, while Zarina and Elena also talked to each other. Zina and Zine were also chatting animatedly as Tita sat back to let them talk to each other. It seemed that Elena had raised an idea everyone had dreamed about before- having a large dance spectacle. Tita remembered Zina saying that Zarina, Mene and Kushana often talked about having a dance spectacle with many women. Zina had explained that the group had made good income from the week-long performances in the Carthage amphitheater. The older women were hoping to repeat that experience, especially so that they could also take a break from travelling and spend the winter without the anxiety of having to work every day.

Zarina stood up and clapped her hand to silence the group. Zina continued whispering her translations to Tita. Zarina said they would need time to consider the options. But she felt they could start by having Elena send the courier to alert their husbands before any more binding commitments were made. Then the group would have time to discuss the options available to them. Everyone agreed to this.

Zarina confirmed to Elena that they would stay, on the condition that their husbands had not made urgent engagements in Salernum. If so they would have to evaluate what to do. Zarina asked that Elena relay to their husbands via the courier the possibilities they had just discussed and they would await the word of their husbands tomorrow to make a decision and determine their next steps. But in the meantime, they could stay and be Aurelia’s guests.

Elena nodded, agreeing with Zarina’s step-by-step approach. Elena noted she wanted to speak to Zarina privately, and also let Tita enjoy her friends for a little time before they went back to Aurelia’s villa, which was only about a half hour walk from their location. Zarina confirmed and ended the meeting, releasing everyone.

Tita and everyone else stood up. Zina and Zine rushed Tita across the circle to Elena, who let Tita know she had about half hour before they would go to Aurelia’s villa. Tita thanked Elena profusely, and Zina and Zine giggled, pulling Tita away and taking her outside of the meeting tent.

Tita wanted to wade in the river and cool off, even though she could see from Zina and Zine’s expressions that they wanted to enjoy her skin. Tita asked if they could all go to the river. Zine remarked they could go to the river for a few minutes to cool off and then go to the tent. Zina remarked it might be better to go to the tent first and go to the river to clean up afterwards. Tita liked Zina’s idea, seeing how both of their eyes expressed desire. They giggled and quickly skipped, then laughed and held hands and ran down to Zina and Zine’s tent, the last tent in the line closest to the river. Tita realized she had not run in a long while and it felt good to feel her heart pumping and her body active. She felt giddy with joy and excitement, as she imagined being with her young lovers again.

No sooner they were inside the tent that Zina and Zine took off their sandals and tunics and started to disrobe Tita. Tita felt her blood boiling with desire, as she smelled the welcome scent of their cinnamon laced olive oil that perfumed their tent. Tita started quickly unlacing her sandal strings. Zine and Zina removed Tita’s shawl from her head and neck, then pulled her linen dress over her head and carefully folded her clothing and put it aside in a corner. As Tita removed her sandals at last, Zine undid the knots on Tita’s subligaculum while Zina undid the knots on Tita’s strophium to free her breasts.

At last they were naked, and they started with their custom ritual, which was to stand and look at each other while holding hands. It had been a ritual that Zina had first suggested the fourth night they were together, when they camped at Aricia, southeast of Rome. Tita saw Zina’s large brown eyes moisten a little from the joy of seeing Tita in her natural state. Tita saw Zine’s striking amber eyes darken with desire. She noticed how similar they were in their bodies and their faces.

Though they were not sisters, Tita had been struck by their sameness of style and tastes. The only strong differences were in their faces- Zine had a flatter, rounder nose and thicker lips, while Zina had a thin nose and lips. Zine was slightly heavier than Zina, with slightly larger breasts and butt. Zina had thin, long fingers, hands and feet, while Zine’s hands and feet where shorter and wider. Zine could do extraordinary things with her toes, while Zina could not.

The other distinguishing feature were the scars on Zina’s back, which Tita did not want to further think about. Instead, Tita saw they both licked their lips. Zina asked Tita to do the dance step they had taught her, and she did, slowly turning around so they could see her back and butt. Then Tita turned to face them and Zina and Zine did their little dance in their characteristic slow and sensual way that Tita loved.

To Tita’s surprise, they both unclasped their black hair and undid their braids to let their hair hang loosely down to their butts. Normally the pair kept their hair in braids wrapped around their heads in crowns or bows, so that their hair did not get wet with their olive oil. Only occasionally did Zina and Zine let their hair get wet with oil, for special dances or for treating their hair. But Tita understood they were freeing their hair for her on this special occasion because they knew she loved to see their hair loose. They turned back around to face each other, smiling and holding hands again, Zina and Zine still admiring Tita’s spotted skin and body.

Tita realized that Zina and Zine were both smaller and thinner than she or Elena. It struck her that she had not really noticed that before. Perhaps because Elena had accompanied her closely for the last hour and she and Elena were the same height. In fact, Tita realized that except for Hariti, Bana and Kushana, the other dancers were all a little shorter than she or Elena. Even so Tita loved Zina and Zine’s slender youthful bodies, with their gentle curves, smaller breasts and butts, slim legs and firm muscles. She also loved their dark tan skin, which was oilier than her drier skin. She had even come to like the pungent scent of their perspiration.

Zina squealed and threw up her hands, signaling the end of their mutual admiration ritual. Zine hopped to the corner of their tent to grab their jar of olive oil. Zine poured oil on her hands and started to quickly apply the oil on Tita’s legs. Zina did the same, applying the oil on Tita’s chest, and then on her own chest. As they did this they guided Tita down to the ground, arranging themselves on their customary soft animal hides, which Tita noticed were already humid with olive oil. She imagined what the pair had been doing before Tita and Elena had arrived, and the fantasy excited Tita considerably.

Tita noted how the smell of Zine and Zine’s cinnamon-laced olive oil filled the tent and displaced the smells of their own sweat. Tita did not like the smell of her own sweat, but during the journey she had gotten accustomed to the smell of Zina and Zine’s sweat, especially since they often played at night after their dance performance. Tita had noted Zine’s sweat was slightly more pungent than Zina’s sweat, but they both smelled very similar, and very different from Tita. Now Tita smelled the cinnamon in their olive oil. Zina and Zine tended to mix their olive oil with different spices, but they usually preferred adding cinnamon, mint and cardamom to give the olive oil a sweeter smell and taste. Tita dipped her fingers in the jar and licked them, enjoying the taste of their oil as she had done many times before.

Once they were situated on the hides, Zina and Zine caressed Tita’s skin more slowly, humming their usual tunes that Tita knew by heart. Tita hummed with them and poured olive oil on her hands to apply it on both of their bodies where she could. Zina lied down on her back and guided Tita on top of her to embrace her, hug her and then passionately kiss her. Zine caressed, kissed and licked both of them, as was their usual routine. Tita felt so excited to be with them, she sensed she was already close to exploding. She felt their fingers and hands everywhere, delighting in their soft, delicate, slow touch. Zina whispered if they could touch her vagina as she caressed the inside of Tita’s thighs.

Tita moaned with passion, but remembering what Elena had said earlier that they would practice the vagina later, Tita considered it for a moment and decided against it. Also because she was not quite sure about the details of virginity. Instead, Tita said she would use her own fingers to rub her vagina. Zina kissed her and Tita felt Zine licking the back of her neck, running her tongue down Tita’s spine, then kissing and licking her butt, all of which made Tita moan and shudder uncontrollably. Tita felt their gentle hands and fingers on her back, buttocks, neck and legs. Their caressing was incredibly delicious, and the pleasure was quickly building up in her. In a few minutes she exploded, her body spasming uncontrollably. Tita felt overjoyed to release all the tension she had built up during the past two hours. She realized she had orgasmed very quickly. Normally she took much longer to orgasm than even Zine.

Zina took Tita’s oiled hand and guided it to her own vagina, while Zine laid down next to Zina, took Tita’s other oiled hand and did the same. Tita sat on her knees and hunched over, watching them with renewed excitement as Zine and Zina kissed and rubbed each other’s oiled bodies while Tita caressed both of their vaginas. This was a new position they had not done previously. Tita found it exceptionally exciting to be able to see and stimulate both of them at the same time. Now she understood why Zine liked to watch and be able to stimulate both Zina and her.

The squelching sound of oiled skin being rubbed or caressed, mixed with Zina and Zine’s moans and groans excited Tita even more. She loved feeling the slippery wetness of her oiled hands on their skin. Though she had handled olive oil before, for cooking a few times, in this context the sensations, sound and smells took on entirely new meaning.

Tita relished the sweeter smell of their olive oil. She loved how the oil felt thick and warm on her skin, how it slid with such viscosity on their skin. Zina and Zine had made her get addicted to the olive oil. Tita did not think she could ever taste it without thinking about caressing with it and getting excited.

Tita continued fondling the vaginas of both girls. Zina writhed and gently moaned. She was already close to exploding. Zine also moved about but Tita knew from her movement that Zine had a little way to go yet before exploding. Tita saw Zina was getting very close and as Zina had taught her, Tita slowed down her fondling of Zina’s vagina and labia to very delicate touching, in order to delay Zina’s orgasm. It was a technique that Zina loved, and Tita enjoyed delaying her orgasm. Tita stopped moving her fingers as she saw Zina tense a bit and then smile with a slight moan. Then Tita barely tickled Zina’s labia. Zina moaned again, gave out a few gasps, and Tita lightly slid the tips of her fingers on Zina’s spot and vagina. Zina shuddered and orgasmed with her characteristic soft yelp, which Tita found endearing.

Tita loved to see how Zina gently spasmed, yelped and smiled after each orgasm. Tita liked licking Zina’s vagina to let her orgasm a few times and hear her cute yelp each time. She also loved how Zina could orgasm many times without tiring, while Zine had to rest after one or two orgasms. But what Tita liked most was Zina’s sensitivity, how Tita could use the most delicate touches and caresses to control the timing of Zina’s orgasm. Once Tita had seen Zine delay Zina’s orgasm by more than fifteen minutes, and she remembered Zina went crazy after that. She wanted to do the same to Zina.

Zine instead preferred feeling stimulation everywhere on her body and normally took longer to orgasm. Tita and Zina focused on Zine, with Zina caressing, kissing and licking Zine’s face and her torso, while Tita focused on Zine’s toes, feet, legs, thighs and vagina. Zine breathed heavily and moved her toes, feet, legs and vagina in response to Tita’s delicate touching. As Zina continued to kiss and lick Zine’s ears and neck, squeezing Zine’s breasts and nipples, Zine started moaning and gasping, her groans getting louder and louder. Her body continued to throb and writhe. Tita used both hands and all ten fingers to glide up Zine’s feet, legs, thighs and tickle and caress Zine’s vulva and labia. Zine strongly tensed with pleasure, arriving with her characteristic spasms.

Zine lay still for a moment, then begged them to continue. Zina kissed Zine deeply, and then turned to kiss Tita deeply. They both continued stimulating Zine for a while longer. Zina got excited and sat over Zine’s face, so Zine could lick Zina’s vagina. Zina pulled Tita towards her to kiss her again while fondling Tita’s breasts. In a few moments Zina orgasmed again in her short, intense way with her cute yelp. She smiled at Tita and joined her hands with Tita’s so that both of them stimulated Zine’s vagina and thighs together. Tita used her other hand to stimulate Zine’s toes, while Zina caressed Zine’s breasts. Zine writhed and groaned, and after a few minutes, she orgasmed with a loud cry.

Zina and Zine turned their attention to Tita, but Tita sensed it would take her too long to orgasm again. She preferred to lie with them for a little bit and then go to the river. So the three of them lied down, Tita lying between Zina and Zine. They wrapped themselves around her as they often did. Tita loved to feel their slippery skin against hers, the warmth and heat of their bodies on hers, their legs and feet intertwined with hers. She loved their oily cocoon, as she had come to call it. It felt incredibly delicious and she wished they had more time to stay like this.

But Tita realized time was passing quickly and she did not want to keep Elena waiting. As Zine and Zina were murmuring to each other, Tita whispered to Zina they should go to the river to wash up. They all moaned and sighed with regret as they sat up, but Tita felt very happy and satisfied to have shared passionate pleasure with them. She felt it had been a perfect moment of sensuality and release after so much stimulation from them and from Elena’s questions earlier. And Tita saw from their smiles that Zina and Zine were also satisfied and happy.