Hello all! Thank you so much for reviewing my story. Apologies for taking so long but guess what! Its a long chapter! Hope your hearts are ready for MASSIVE FLUFF. Warning there will be a serious amount of fluff in this chapter. If fluff makes you uncomfortable this chapter may not be for you. :) I hope everyone is having wonderful holidays! Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not. Keep in mind what we are thankful for in our lives.
Cordy had finished dressing before she came to the throne room. Her heels clicking against the floor announcing her presence before she had even entered through the door. "Ah my darling," she heard Aro's cheerful voice as he approached her. His hand brushing against hers only to smirk. This caused Cordy to blush when she realized that he had seen. "There is no need to be bashful my darling." he smiled as he kissed her gently. The moment his lips touched hers she instantly seemed to relax. "How is your room my darling? Comfortable I presume?"
"It is. I have never been in a more exquisite bedroom in my life." She blushed softly seeing Aro brighten up with pride.
"This pleases us my darling. We want nothing but the best for you." He smiled and kissed her hand again before embracing her. The other two brothers followed suit. Aro's heart warmed with joy seeing his brother Marcus happen again after all these centuries. Cordelia was truly a gift from the gods.
"I wanted to run something by the three of you," Cordy asked as she continued to stand with Marcus holding her from behind. Her back pressed gently into his chest. Hands laying comfortably on her hip and belly.
"What is it my dear?" The older of the three asked gently as his nose nuzzled her cheek.
"I was thinking, what if once a month you each get a full day or a few days of just alone time with me? I know the three of you love me and this will be a way that allows you all the private time you really crave. Which...I know you do." She blushed again thinking back to Caius in the bath. "Sort of like a...date day?" Her eyes looked to each one nervously as she waited for their answers.
All of them seemed to be thinking about it very carefully. But soon their faces held the smiles again. 'I think that is an excellent idea mio amore." Aro was the first to speak which really didn't surprise Cordy in the least. He kissed her cheek and nuzzled her much in the way Marcus had done. "For I know sometimes I can be rather selfish."
"Sometimes?" Caius scoffed playfully to tease his brother. A smirk laying on his lips as he earned a roll of the eye from Aro. Marcus simply shook his head as he stood beside Cordy. She smiled and nestled herself into his chest as she felt his chin lay on the top of her head contently. He was the tallest of the three and used it to his advantage. "Who goes first for this date day?" Caius spoke up again as his curiosity was taking over. His eyes scanned over to where his mate stood. Her eyes met his before she looked to Aro and then up to Marcus. How could she choose between them? Would they be mad at her decision?
Aro seemed to pick up on her emotions and smiled softly. "I shall be happy no matter what," he spoke in his usual calm nature. It was something that Cordy loved him for. Loved...did she love them already? How else could she describe the feelings that flooded through her every time she was around them? "Caius…" Aro spoke up once more drawing Cordy's attention back to him. "Why don't you go first?" he smiled at his brother "Marcus can go second and I shall be last." Cordy smiled as she walked up to Aro and kissed his cheek. A smile grew on the King's face as his arms pulled his beloved to his chest. "I already know where I shall take you my darling," he whispered into her ear. His nose nuzzled along her jaw and cheekbones sending a shiver down her spine.
Cordy blushed and giggled softly to herself before she walked over to Caius. "What would you like to do?" She asked him softly as their eyes locked. This prompted a smirk from the blond king as he held out his hand to her. She gladly took it as they left the throne room. "I don't want to be disturbed while we are together," he said. "However, I do want to take you to one of my most favorite places." Cordy started to wonder what this place was. She still knew only the tip of the iceberg that was this complicated man. She only really knew the basics so far. He was born somewhere around 1300 B.C. in Greece. Just like Marcus and Aro were. She also knew he enjoyed painting and was extremely passionate about art. This was really no surprise from the ancient Grecian born man.
Grabbing her coat she found Caius standing in the garage next to one of the many luxury and sports cars. All of which were Italian made as expected. She smiled as he looked at her over the rim of his thick black sunglasses as he held out a gloved hand for her. She took it as he led her to the passenger door and helped her inside. Only once she was seated did he close the door and got in himself. "You know I may start having an affair with these cars." She smiled trying to tease him. Her only response was a smirk as those shades stared at her while the car roared to life. She felt her heart flutter and was instantly turned on as the car sped off out of the garage and out into the world.
Cordy wasn't altogether surprised when they pulled up in front of an art museum. She could see many women, and men, staring at Caius as he helped her out of the car. She started to feel herself becoming a little possessive because of this. Her body pressed itself against his to the point that not even a credit card could be slipped between them. Caius smirked at this feeling rather excited by the idea of his little human mate becoming possessive of him. God only knows how possessive he could become if the situation called for it. "Come, my love," he smiled as he placed a kiss on the spot just below her ear and instantly felt her melt against him. "Ignore them your only focus should be on me and what I am about to show you."
The museum was called the Guarnacci Etruscan museum. It was founded in the mid-18th century and showed many different pieces of Etruscan and Roman art. It housed many different funeral pieces, furniture, and many other beautiful pieces. Cordy walked along with Caius as he kept a hold on her hand. Their fingers were laced together as they walked through the museum at their own relaxed pace. All the while Cordy was admiring the artwork, Caius, couldn't keep his eyes off of her. From the way, her eyes would trace the pieces in admiration and stare at them as if they were the most beautiful things in the world. Even as she gazed at the urns full of ashes of the dead she still looked at them in wonder. Her face held no trace of disgust like some of the other patrons and tourists. "What do you think my love?" He asked not having torn his eyes from her.
"It is all amazing and beautiful. Thank you for taking me here." She looked up at him with a smile on her face. Caius couldn't help returning the smile.
"I come here to mainly reminisce about my lost mortality. How I used to think about my death. How would I be buried? Would I be welcome in the afterlife…but now I never have to think about that. The only thing I truly have to wonder is how my immortality will change. Being together with you each day for eternity…that alone will probably be the closest I can ever get to heaven."
Cordy pushed herself onto the balls of her feet causing the tips of her heels to leave the marble floor. She nuzzled his jaw before placing a kiss to his cool skin. "A future and a fate I will accept wholeheartedly." Caius let out a breath of air as he laid his head atop of her hers. The old vampire no longer required air to survive, however; it felt as if Cordy had stolen the very breath from his lungs.
"The day is not over yet my love," Caius said softly before he took her hand as they left the museum. Once inside the car he continued to hold her hand as he drove them back home. By now he had removed his glove so he could feel her skin against his own. It had been so long since he felt such happiness. His thumb traced along her skin over and over in gentle movements.
"What do you have planned now, my king?" she asked softly as the car was placed back into the garage. Stepping out he went around to the passenger's door in the blink of an eye. He held out his hand to her and smiled as he felt her skin on his again. He didn't respond as they made their way through the halls of the palace. He pulled her closer as they entered his private wing. His hand gently ran along her arm as he guided her down the long hall.
"Well my Queen," he finally said "I believe that it is time to update your portrait. With your permission, I would like to paint you. His ruby eyes gazed down at her awaiting her answer. Cordy looked up and smiled at him.
"I have never had my portrait painted before." She said as she leaned into him. Caius thought about her posing for him and started to let his mind wander till they arrived at a large old wooden door.
"This is my sacred space…the one place I can go to in the whole of the palace that allowed me any peace." He pushed open the door and Cordy was immediately in awe at the sight before her. There were several stacks of paintings that lined up against the wall to her immediate right. From small to large, some were darker, some light and in many different styles of art. From the Renaissance to Impressionist and everything else that ever existed.
"Caius...this is so beautiful," Cordy spoke softly causing Caius to beam with pride that his mate approved. "You did all of these?" She asked him as she turned back to look at him.
"Yes, it helps to pass eternity." His words were soft as his finger traced along a frame closest to him. Trying to keep myself from going mad over the centuries. People think vampires live this life of glory and parties..." He looked away from her. "Being immortal...is full of emptiness. You are surrounded by others of your own kind, yet, it is the loneliest existence." Caius felt her hand touch him in a gentle manner as her fingers closed around his. How he would savor her warm skin once she had been turned. His ruby eyes glanced down at her as he felt her fingers interlock with his.
"Now it is my job to keep you from your madness." She watched his eyes flutter closed as her other hand reached up and cupped his cheek. Slowly, she pulled him to her she nuzzled his nose with her own. "You have shown me so much love in the short time I have been here. More than I have received in my whole life. I can't even begin to tell you how much it means to me. To feel as if I am the most loved person in the world." She felt the strong arms of her mate pull her to his chest.
"There is no need. I can see it when you are around us. The need to be loved, and, I vow to love you honestly and truly...forever Cordelia. However," he stated with a smile as he leaned in to place a kiss on her lips. "There is one way you can repay me."
"Oh?" Cordelia asked as she detected that tone of mischievousness in Caius's voice.
"I was being serious about updating your portrait." He chuckled as he took notice of the way she was staring at him. As if he would spring a prank upon her at that moment or pin her to the couch and ravish her.
"Are you going to paint me like one of your French girls?" She said with a serious face but her voice was low and teasing.
'Oh the shy little butterfly was coming out to play' he thought as he smirked unable to help the growl that escaped him. "Is this your way of saying you want me to paint you while you lay naked on my chaise. Then we make passionate love in the back of a car before I die a tragic death to save you? Hm?" He looked down at her with a cocked brow and an amused expression that lingered in those deadly eyes.
"Nah," Cordelia said without missing a beat. "We can both fit on that door."
Then, Caius let out a loud and genuine laugh. For the first time in centuries, he laughed and he laughed. "You," he said between hearty chuckles "My love, are something else." He smiled as he kissed her "A good something else."
"You, Aro and Marcus...being with you...I feel as if I can finally be myself. I don't have to pretend anymore. I feel genuinely happy for the first time in a really long time." She looked up into his eyes and smiled up at him.
"I feel the same my darling," he kissed her again. "I feel the same." The kiss grew deeper causing a moan to escape from Cordy.
"I love you..." she whispered against his lips. Only once the words had been uttered she felt a tear falling down her cheek. "I do..." A shuddering breath left her lungs but a smile was present. "I love all of you." Caius kissed her harder before pushing her towards the couch. They fell upon the plush cushions all the while never breaking apart.
"Say it again Amore." He begged between kisses. "Say it again."
"I love you," she moaned as he traveled down her neck. Never once did he feel the need to feed on her. Her hands clung to his back as her body began to feel hot. Her heart sounded like thunder in her ears. His lips traveled along her neck and chest before returning to her lips. "Caius...wait...please" she begged of him between her heavy breaths.
"What is it, my love?" He looked up concerned that he had harmed her in any way.
"Its just...to fast..." she said as she tried to catch her breath. "I've never been with a man before." He watched her cheeks flush bright red.
"Never?" His voice was almost joyful. His mate was untouched...completely pure for him and his brothers.
"No. I couldn't when I knew that you were out there somewhere." Cordy smiled up at him. To Caius, she looked like an angel with her hair now sprawled about her like a halo.
"You have no idea how much this means to me. To my brothers...I will wait however long you need me to my love. I would never force myself upon you or force you to do anything you do not want." His smile was gentle as he kissed her once more. Caius adjusted them where he was on his side with her legs over his as they held one another. He was on the edge with her pressed into the back of the couch. She felt as if she was being wrapped in a protective cocoon. They laid there barely moving for hours. Her fingers ran through his soft hair as her nails ran along his scalp. It was so relaxing...so peaceful. God he wished he could sleep at that moment. Just to lay there with her holding him for as long as possible.
"I haven't felt such happiness...such peace in so many centuries." He looked up at her softly "I became how I am now...to swallow up my loneliness. I am a cruel being my love. That much is so."
"Will you be cruel to me?" She asked as her fingers now found his jaw.
"Never," his arms pulled her closer. "If I ever hurt you...I will have my brothers destroy me."
"Caius-"
"It is the truth. I love you." He sighed softly as her hand cupped his cheek gently.
"I love you too..." her voice was gentle as she nuzzled his nose just as she had before. "My King."