This update is shorter than the last but I really had no intention of updating again today anyway. You owe this one to speedy (Cathy) who left a review on Possessive asking for an update on this one. What can I say, it inspired me to write. )

At any rate, enjoy and please review!

-M

The night was cool, and had a peculiar smell that Caelia could not describe. She attempted to attach attributes to it. Was it the horses, the carriages, the people themselves? The food they bartered and sold along the streets, or the wine they drank at leisure? It was none of those things, and yet all of them. The stars above twinkled merrily, but puffy white clouds floated about – blotting them out only to reveal them once more moments later. Things felt peaceful.

"Quite the stargazer, aren't you?"

Caelia recognized the voice, and didn't turn. She was sitting within the arched doorway of the house they had settled in, looking into the small courtyard in the back. A light smile graced her lips in response to his query, and she replied.

"I don't want to miss a moment of this. Who knows when I'll leave the villa again."

Marcus laughed lightly, and settled beside of her.

"Do you mind?"

"Of course not."

Silence fell between the two, and then Marcus reached for her hand. She unwound her arm from about her knees and let him take it, a curious gaze falling upon his handsome features.

Marcus smiled up at her, the moonlight bathing her in an ethereal light that made her look like a goddess. He began to comment on that, and then thought better of it. Instead, he held her small hand within his palm and began to trace the lines with his finger.

The touch was more intimate than he could have known, and after only a moment a shiver passed through Caelia.

"Are you reading my future?" She teased lightly, after clearing her throat.

"Perhaps. Shall I tell you what I see?"

Caelia smiled. She enjoyed this comfort, the easy banter that fell between herself and Marcus. She still thought that he was terribly handsome, but the compelling nervousness she had felt around him had abated somewhat. He was not at all as ambiguous and strange as Lucius, and she did not feel that same tremor of excitement in his presence. This thought jarred her back to the present, where a frown had creased her features.

"Caelia?" Marcus asked again, a worried expression replacing his laughter.

"Mmm?" She asked, putting a smile on again.

"Where were you just then? Are you well?" Marcus canted his head to the side that he may see her features fully, and the gesture caused a dark curl to fall across his forehead. Without thought Caelia lifted her hand to brush it away, and he released a soft sigh at the touch.

"I am quite well. I was only thinking. Come now, tell me the story of my life.." she said, with a soft giggle that simply melted Marcus' heart and made him drop the line of questioning entirely.

"Well," he said dramatically. He coughed once, cleared his throat, and sat up again. He traced the lines one by one, with an intense expression. When Caelia could take it no longer she simply burst into giggles.

"You're really hampering the process," he teased.

Caelia sat up straighter, and glanced down at her palm once more.

"This line," he began in a sultry voice that caused her to shiver once more, "means that you will have a long life." His finger ran from beneath her middle finger, horizontally across her palm until the line ended. His touch was warm and light, and nearly tickled. Caelia only smiled, and he continued.

"This one," he said again, his voice softening even more, "means that you will have great happiness." His finger ran the curve beginning below her index finger and sloping around the palm of her thumb, until it ended at her wrist. His fingers stroked lightly there, and Caelia felt her breath catch.

"And this one," he continued without pause, "is your love line." His fingers stroked, again and again, the line in the center of her palm. When he didn't continue, she lifted wide eyes upwards to him and asked, "What does it say?"

"Hmm," he said softly, pretending to peer quite closely at her palm. "I cannot tell by sight."

Caelia nearly slumped against his shoulder in disappointment. "Oh."

With a teasing smile, he uncurled her fingers once more and lifted her palm to the cool night air.

"There is a way, however.."

"Yes?"

At that Marcus lowered his lips to her palm. They were warm and soft against her flesh, and a small gasp was her only reply. Marcus lifted his gaze to her, and the sultry way he stared up at her caused her to flush. The chaste kiss lasted only a moment, and then his lips parted. The heat and moisture of his breath expelled against her palm was nearly her undoing, and when his tongue darted out to trace the line she nearly moaned.

A handsome, devilish grin played upon his face as he pressed another soft kiss to her palm and then released her.

"It says that you will find a great love..."

Caelia curled her fingers into her palm, somewhat shocked by his brazen action. A giddy pleasure coursed within her, however, and she longed for nothing more than to feel that teasing kiss once more. Perhaps this time upon her wrist, or throat, or her own lips...

"A great love?" She whispered, for she could do no more.

Marcus simply nodded sagely, and with another shudder Caelia started to giggle.

"You're making all of this up, aren't you?" she asked, attempting to lighten the conversation and free herself of the blanket of desire he so effortlessly doused her in.

"Yes," he conceded, as he wound a single arm about her waist. Before she could discern his intent, he had pulled her against his chest and she was staring up at him in the moonlight. "But what if it could be true, Caelia?"

His gaze was intense, firey and searching. She felt pinned beneath it and as though she could hardly breathe.

"Marcus.." was all that she could reply, and then his lips did find hers. He held her against his strong chest, and Caelia lifted her small hands to curl within the hair at the nape of his neck. They shared a leisurely, exploring kiss for several moments until Caelia broke away, gasping for air.

"Caelia," Marcus whispered huskily. "I want to talk to you about something. Do you know what contubernium is?"

Caelia simply shook her head, her eyes still closed from their kiss. Marcus could not resist tasting of her once more, his hands lifting to stroke the smooth expanse of her shoulders that was exposed to him as he kissed her deeply.

A loud noise in the courtyard ended the intrigue and Caelia curled her fingers within Marcus' cloak in fright.

"What was that?" she whispered. Marcus stared into the darkness, attempting to locate the source of the noise. When he could not, he pulled Caelia to her feet.

"Into the house, Caelia. Send one of the other men. Do not leave your room unless I instruct you to."

Caelia hurried inside to do as he had said, and Marcus' question remained unanswered.

Crassus was weary by the time he reached his home. His wife and servants were all sleeping, and he tread quietly toward the room he conducted most of his business in. It was dark, as the moon was covered with cloud and he had not paused long enough to gather a lamp. He fumbled about within, dropping his cloak carelessly aside the doorway.

"Ah, gods.." he cursed as he thought about all the Emperor had said. What a terrible mess! He was too old to be involved in such things.

Out of nowhere a hand grasped his wrist and wrenched his arm behind him. He opened his mouth to yell and before he could a hand clamped over it. He was all but dragged backwards into the darkest corner of this room, and thrust unceremoniously against the wall. His arm and mouth were both released and he hissed as he rubbed the offended wrist. He still could not see his assailant, but the stealth with which he had been attacked left little doubt in his mind. With more than a little disenchantment and sorrow he said through a sigh.

"Hello, Lucius."