Chevi

Calpurnia was still fascinated by the sounds of the arena; it was almost like descending into a whole other world. The Underworld, maybe, with the sounds of beasts and the smell of damp walls, and the flickering light of flames. But she trusted Alexius, and she needed no better bodyguard. "I know it's not the best place. I just... I hate that I can't touch you." He pulled her closer and Calpurnia smiled, leaning against his side. "I've missed you." she said quietly. @Atrice

"As I said, this is not how I usually celebrate Floralia so you'll excuse me if I didn't know that." Now that was an Ovinia Lucius recognized. Strangely, it was comforting. He squeezed her hand as they walked back to the bench. "I don't think you ever answered my question, which was very rude of you. How do you usually celebrate? And what does one...do with the bunny, after one's caught it?" "I like to come out to the gardens. People are... always happy at this festival. And catching bunnies is great fun." he grinned at her. "After that... it's really up to the person. Some sell them, some eat them. Some keep them as pets." They walked past the bench and they paused; he glanced around before leaning in to kiss her one last time, and his eyes caught on something. He pressed a finger to Ovinia's lips, pointing towards the bushes. @Sara

"Do what? Catch a rabbit?" Lucius chuckled as she tugged him along, winding their way between the bushes and flower beds. "I mean, there are probably good techniques for it... but for the festival they usually just release a whole bunch of them. And some goats. And people just... run around. That's part of the fun."

"It has to be somewhere discrete. And...I mean...I don't mind cheap. But I'd rather it wasn't...you know..." "Yes. I know." he nodded. Not a shack, obviously. Also not cheap, because Ovinia, as lovely as she was, didn't like anything cheap. He knew that already. "I am sorry again." "Don't be." She pulled him down and he kissed her back gently, feeling the sigh against his lips. It would take time. But she loved him. She loved him. All the rest, they could figure out later.

"I know full well I'm not perfect. The you of several arguments ago pretty much told me that." "Well the me several arguments ago was an idiot" Lucius muttered with a smirk. She might not have been perfect. But she was perfect for him. "I do. But not...right now. Do you...want to go and catch me a rabbit?... I don't know where we would go though..." Lucius helped her up, standing too and wrapping her palla around her shoulder again. His hands smoothed along her arms, then he tilted her chin to make her look at him. "Let me worry about that." he smiled, kissing her nose. "In the meantime, let's go get you a rabbit." @Sara

Lucius held her, allowing her to trace her fingers over his hand. He felt her slowly relax against his side. "You are not ruined. You know that right?" he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "You've gone through something horrible that should have never happened... But he's dead, and you are here. And you are... amazing. And perfect. And it will get better. You just need time." Time, and someone to comfort her when she was scared. He smiled a little at her feeble joke. "I'll take you anywhere you want. If you... still want that." @Sara

"I've ruined everything." "No you haven't" Lucius said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. On his part, he felt like he had ruined everything, but this was not about him. "I...wanted to...I was...excited... Do you think...it was divine intervention? That made me feel like that? That led us here so that we wouldn't... Maybe it was a sign." "I... don't think it was." Lucius shook his head. Not out of self-interest, although she might think that. His hand stroked her hair. "I think it had to do with... what happened to you. And I am truly sorry about that, I should have known better." @Sara

Lucius held her, sitting in the grass, humming and stroking her hair as she cried. He had not had the time to comfort her like this after the attack; they only had stolen moments together. He had wanted to be there for her like this. And he would stay as long as she needed. When she finally pulled back, her eyes were red and her cheeks soaked in tears. Lucius raised the hem of his cloak to wipe her cheeks gently. "Whatever you want, love" he smiled softly, kissing her on the forehead. @Sara

"I know." Lucius tugged on her hands, pulling her into a hug and wrapping his arms around her. "I'm so sorry, love. I'm an idiot. I should have known." He never knew all the details of what had happened to her, but he knew enough. He held her tightly, making a soothing, humming sound. He'd have time to feel guilty later. "Shh, it's alright. You're alright."

"Ovinia?" She was terrified. Lucius had never seen her like that, not even after... Lucius, you fucking idiot. Of course she was terrified. "Hey." Lucius knelt down next to her. She grabbed for him, and he held her hand, carefully helping to peel her palla away. "Ovinia." he said gently, hand smoothing her hair back. Her flowers slipped off. "Ovinia look at me. You're safe. It's alright. Everything is alright. I'm here." @Sara

He could see the change in her face. She looked... scared. Lucius opened his mouth, but she bolted for the door, trying to get it open, gasping. "Hey..." he said gently, but she didn't hear him. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach, seeing her scared. He reached for the bolt, opening the door and letting her tumble outside. "Ovinia?... I didn't..." @Sara

Lucius' heart was beating just as wildly as he led Ovinia to the hidden shrine. Were they actually... going to do this? He was still not sure. As they walked in, he could see Ovinia was none too impressed by the place. He half expected her to walk right out. Instead, she asked if the door locked. Lucius swallowed. "Yeah." He pushed the door closed and bolted it. That was it. They were alone. Hidden. He watched her, with specks of dust dancing in the few stray beams of light. "We don't have to do anything." he told her "Nothing you don't want. I promise." @Sara

“We need to be back well before sun down. For Lucia. And… To catch a rabbit.” That was not a no. Lucius grinned at her brightly, slightly breathless. He was still not sure he believed what was happening. He stood, pulling her along by the hand, walking around the bench into the bushes. There was no path here, but he had spent enough time in this part of the city, and knew the gardeners enough to know where he was going. The small building was made of brick, with a roof of moss-green tiles. Once upon a time it had been a shrine to some long forgotten nymph; more recently the gardeners used it for shelter when it rained. "It's not exactly glamorous" Lucius noted as he opened the door; it was always open, as there was nothing to guard inside but some chairs and a table where the altar used to be, some blankets and some baskets and tools in the corner. "It used to be a shrine. The gardeners use it sometimes, but they are all too busy selling flowers for Floralia now..." @Sara

"We are" he pressed his lips agasint hers gently in a soft kiss. He knew all of this was madness. He did not want her to feel like they had gone too far. "So is everyone else. It's Floralia." This corner of the gardens was still very much out of the way. Lucius glanced around. "I... know a place." he said more quietly, looking up at her. "But only if you want to." he reached up, stroking her face gently. "Or we can just stay here. I'm happy with that too." @Sara

He could feel her trembling in his arms. There was no reason or logic to this. They had done nothing yet, they had just kissed, but if the wrong person found out, she would already be ruined. And if they did... more, she would be ruined too. He was not dumb; he knew they would never be able to be lovers. She would not go that far. But now she knew... more than she had before. "I don't want to ruin you" he sighed, hand traveling along her thigh. "I know we can't..." As much as he wanted to. "I just want to... give you pleasure. I would love to see." So that he could never forget it for the rest of his life. @Sara

Let's not talk about the future. He knew she was right. Because there was no future. No way they could be together, without risking absolutely everything, her more than him. They had to stay in the moment, wrapped in a dream-like haze, as long as they could, before reality caught up to them. She smiled at him, really smiled. Whatever happened, she loved him. She wanted him. Lucius would die a happy man, knowing that. He dropped his head to her shoulder, pressing a soft kiss to her collarbone. "I want to touch you." He whispered against her skin. @Sara

Ovinia was clinging to him, and Lucius kissed her with all he hand, arms wrapped around her body to hold her close. This was not a game anymore. It had gone beyond everything he'd ever felt, or pretended to feel. He finally pulled back, resting his forehead against Ovinia's, and lifting his hands to brush her cheeks. "I want you" he muttered, trying to catch his breath. "I want to be with you." @Sara

Lucius was at a loss of what to say. This utterly amazing, maddening woman on his lap wanted him, and... thought about him, in very intimate ways, things that he had never dared imagine before. He was sure he was going to pass out from how she made him feel. He didn't know what to do. He knew what he wanted to do, but... well, they were still in a halfway public place. “I think I love you.” He choked, staring at her. He probably looked dumb at this point, but he was struggling to convince himself this was not a joke, or a dream. Because what she said... changed everything. Absolutely everything. They were both damned. "I love you" he said finally, hands moving up to frame her face. "Gods help me Ovinia, I love you." He had, for a long time. But never said it, even to himself. He pulled her close again, trying to pour all that he was feeling into a kiss, because he had no words for it. @Sara

The squirming was definitely not helping. Lucius' hands pressed against her, trying to keep her still. She blushed a deeper shade, looking adorably hesitant. “I didn’t know…there were…things that people could do… By themselves.” Lucius' mouth opened as he finally caught up to what she was saying. She had been... “That’s…when I’ve been thinking of you.” He was sure she could hear the blood drumming in his ears. Gods. He could picture her clearly, thinking of him... learning to be bold about what she wanted. "Fuck, Ovinia..." he breathed, staring at her, clinging on to the last thread of his self-control. @Sara

Lucius blinked, looking up at her. So something had changed. He could see she was nervous about admitting it. Things had not changed that much. He smiled, still very much flushed, and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "No. In a very good way." he stated, looking up at her. His thumb brushed her hip in slow circles. "So someone... talked to you about...?" @Sara

“I have some idea.” Gods. This was different. Ovinia was different. The way she looked at him, like she knew exactly what she wanted, the way she pulled him into another kiss... it was different from before. Less innocent. Lucius made a surprised sound, then caught up to the kiss, humming in pleasure as he returned it. Less careful this time, as he gently nipped at her lip. His hand stroked up her thigh through her dress, feeling the curve of her hip. She was beautiful. "This is different..." he muttered against her lips, smiling. @Sara

She tasted amazing. Her skin was soft, and she smelled like flowers, and the sigh that left her lips was the best sound in the world. Lucius lost himself, more so than he had before, one hand tracing her thigh and the other her back. “I’ve been dreaming of this… Of us.” Dreaming. Of us. Lucius shuddered, hand squeezing her thigh as he looked up her her, eyes dark. "Do you have any idea what you are doing to me?" he breathed, smiling a dazed smile at her. He was halfway convinced he was dreaming right now. @Sara

No, they definitely shouldn't. Chaste or not, if her father or brothers saw them like this Lucius would be skinned and the crucified. But all of those things felt very theoretical when she was touching him, body against his, and kissing him with more hunger than before. Lucius moaned, a deep sound in his chest, his hands exploring her body through the soft fabric of her chiton. Dammit. The kiss felt like the ones they shared at Saturnalia now, urgent and deep. He finally broke away from her lips, catching his breath, and, just like at Saturnalia, trailed kisses along her jaw and neck. @Sara

They parted, breathless, as close as they could be while still sitting next to each other. She smiled, and leaned in again. Lucius hummed, she was gorgeous and attractive and maddening. Emboldened by her kissing him again, he finally grew frustrated by their position, and wrapped his arms around her, lifting her lightly onto his lap. @Sara

Kissing Ovinia would never get old. He doubted he would ever get enough of it. She made a soft sound and he pulled her closer, hand slipping into his hair. Their flower crowns rustled as they brushed against each other. He kissed her slowly, knowing it would be another fleeting moment. Gods, this woman. His other hand slid to her waist, drawing her closer against him. @Sara