The Emperor's Daughter

Chapter Nine: Caius

Caius frowned. He was warm, a soft linen sheet pulled over him, a soft bed below. The frown deepened as a small arm moved slightly against his bare chest. The girls he'd occasionally have in his bed didn't stay with him. Why was this one-?

Cinnamon filled the air, instantly reminding Caius of where he was and who the arm belonged to. His new room in the palace, not the cold quarters of the gladiators. Not a random girl who'd willingly accepted his offer to his bed. Aurelia who'd invited herself.

Her golden hair was beautifully splayed out across his chest smelling of rosemary and catching glints of sunlight in its strands. She'd need to go soon. If servants rose as early as gladiators, Laelia would be getting up soon to attend to Aurelia.

In his bed laid across his chest, she was easily the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. His goddess who'd made his heart race and blood sing last night. If she were a goddess perhaps that would be her duty; the goddess of singing. Caius didn't know if she could actually sing, but he enjoyed the idea of seeing her sing a melodious aria.

Kissing the crown of her head he shook his head to himself. How had all this happened? He was no longer a gladiator. The emperor's daughter was in his bed, her breasts pressed against him in a teasing manner that made him want to wake her and take her again. To see that look of startled surprise and pleasure on her face again.

For all the pain he'd felt at no longer being a gladiator and all the fear he should feel at Aurelia being found in his bed, all he could feel was calm happiness. The peaceful steady beat of her heart against him made everything else fade into nothing. He breathed her in, letting himself enjoy the moment for just a moment longer.

The sun crept higher a few breaths later and Caius sighed. It was time.

"Aurelia," he whispered running his hands up and down her back to rouse her. "Aurelia, you need to get up."

"Hmm?"

She was slow to rouse, use to the luxury of sleeping late.

When she got her eyes open she blinked up at him with those unfathomable ocean eyes framed in dark lashes. He saw memories of the night before flash behind them as they did his and she smiled shyly up at him. Some of her wildness from the night before had dried with the morning dew, making her cheeks blush the loveliest of rose pink.

Caius brought her to him, placing an assuring kiss on her lips. He couldn't do much more for her now though; sunrise was upon them, demanding they surrender to their usual lives.

"You need to return to your room. No one can find you here."

She frowned seeming to remember the life that was hers and nodded. Getting dressed quickly, Caius mourned as her body was covered by the white tunic, leaving only her white arms with the pale red marks where he'd held her still and slightly swollen lip, the only proof of their night together. It wasn't enough for anyone to notice, but both he and Aurelia would know and for that Caius felt a joyous pleasure fill his chest.

Crawling back on the bed, Aurelia straddled his hips. "Do not bring anyone else to your bed. Only me," she ordered leaning forward with her hot hands on his chest as she planted a whisper of a kiss on his lips. It was nothing compared to some of last nights, but a promise of more to come and Caius felt his skin prickle with the seductive promise. Inexperienced Aurelia might have been but she knew how to order people around and get her way. For some reason Caiuse' body found this more than a little maddening, he was lusting for her and was willing to wait all day.