Thawed Gladiator: Lucius by Alana Khan

A touch that bridges centuries…

Known as “The Ghost” in Rome’s bloody arenas, Lucius’s alabaster skin marked him as a spectacle rather than a man. But when a gothic podcaster with death-themed tattoos appears in his midnight sanctuary, something long dormant awakens within him.
Her touch burns hotter than a Roman summer, making him question boundaries he’s maintained since awakening in this bewildering modern world.
… a woman marked by death’s kiss…

After surviving clinical death at seventeen, Raven built walls around her heart as carefully as she constructed her gothic persona. Her paranormal podcast gives purpose to her brush with death while keeping emotional connections at arm’s length. The last thing she needs is an attraction to an ancient gladiator who views her interest with justifiable suspicion.
Yet each moment with him chips away at the persona she’s hidden behind for years.
… passion that transcends time itself…

From moonlit cemetery walks to the jubilant celebrations of Día de los Muertos, their carefully maintained boundaries dissolve beneath undeniable chemistry. But when their private connection becomes public spectacle, they must decide if what they’ve found together is strong enough to withstand both his past and her ambition.

Thawed Gladiator: Lucius is a steamy, slow-burn, fish-out-of-water time portal romance featuring forbidden attraction, emotional healing, and the courage to choose vulnerability over safety.