The Emperor's Daughter

Chapter Four: Aurelia

Aurelia didn't think much before grabbing him from behind an olive tree and pulling him to her. She didn't think about whether she'd like it, if he'd push her away, or pull her close. The thoughts of him stopping her from helping the dogs were gone. All she'd seemed to think was how he wasn't Avitus.

He was tall, so tall she had to reach up on her toes even while pulling him down to her. His torso was broad and arms so thick with muscles she would have known he was a gladiator even if she hadn't seen him at the Colosseum. Soft brown hair that slid through her finger as she reached a free hand up.

She hadn't even time to take in his eyes, but really what did it matter when they were set in such a handsome face?

Fingers as unbending as metal came around her wrists, engulfing them in large hands that pulled her hands off his skin. He arched up, freeing himself from her spell. He looked a bit dazed and more than a little shocked as he blinked down at her with brown eyes.

Aurelia felt a little dazed herself. It wasn't her first kiss, yet it felt like it. A blaze of heat and want had passed through their lips, making it far more enjoyable than any other kiss she'd had. It was certainly better than that sloppy, dead lipped thing the Auster boy had forced on her.

Caius stared down at her, blinking rapidly as the wants seemed to pass just as quickly behind his eyes. He didn't know what to do, and perhaps Aurelia shouldn't take advantage of that...but she did.

She yanked him back down to her lips, inhaling the pleasantly sweet scent of strawberries on his lips. Her hands came up to the sides of his face, thumbs stroking the prickle stubble of an unshaved jaw.

Caius had brought his arms around her small frame when she suddenly giggled. Surprised though he might be, Aurelia knew he was just as effected by the heat. A certain appendage was coming to life against her body and an understanding smile curved her lips against his.

He reeled back, easily breaking her hold on him again. "I-wha-I shouldn't-"

The curve of Aurelia's lips deepened. "Not at all," she replied cutting off what she surmised to be a stuttering apology. "It was my doing. I apologize if you felt uncomfortable." She didn't think he was uncomfortable though if his lower extremity was anything to go by.

He blinked again, seeming unsure what to make of her. "You didn't. It was very..." he searched for an appropriate word. "Pleasant."

Aurelia nodded in agreement. He seemed to have only an inkling of just how pleasant she'd found it. "Consider it my thanks for what you did."

A slight red tinge was crawling up Caius' neck to Aurelia's further amusement. This large, muscular mountain of a gladiator seemed entirely flustered by what she'd done. And though it was rather out of character for herself, Aurelia didn't regret it; her lips still tingled and she was rather debating whether to do it again or not.

"Come," he said waving her back the way they came. "I should get you back to the city. I imagine your family will grow anxious if you're not home soon."

Aurelia's eyes sparkled with amusement. Here she'd all but bruised his lips against hers but his only thought was to chivalrously return her home. There was clearly more to this gladiator than she'd thought.

"Perhaps," she allowed. "My father won't notice though."

"Your mother will," he said pulling an olive branch out of her way. "Mothers are always concerned for their daughters."

"Not mine. She has gone to the Underworld already," she explained finding it rather refreshing that he didn't know who her mother or father was.