His wrap dropped to the floor as he pulled her to him, kissing her with remarkable softness. “Are you sure this is truly what you want? Once I start, I may not be able to stop again.”
“Yes. I want this more than anything.” To prove her point, her hand wandered down his abdomen and started to stroke him. “I just hope that my innocence does not prove a disappointment.”
He let out a deep growl as her hand created havoc. “Sweet Goddess, you could never disappoint.”
Laying her down on the cushions, Marcus dropped down beside her. He touched her birthmark and Jenna felt some very strange sensations running through her entire body, like she was on fire. “Don’t fight them, just embrace them,” Marcus murmured.
She would never forget that night in the gazebo, it was when she completely lost her heart to Marcus.
Marcus woke in the early hours with Jenna’s head on his chest. He could not control the smug grin he wore. It had been truly wondrous, definitely worth all the agonies he had suffered. It was not easy keeping his mortal form as he made love to her, he had needed all his control to maintain it. He stroked her soft creamy white shoulders, he could feel himself getting aroused again, but he would have to give her time to recover. More importantly, he needed to get her inside before morning. Scooping her up in his arms he transported directly into his bedroom. She barely stirred as he slipped under the sheets.
She woke just before dawn, a slightly startled expression on her face. “How did I get here?” a faint flush filled her cheeks.
“You were fast asleep so I carried you,” he brushed his mouth across hers.
“Should I not go to my bed?”
“Absolutely not,” he pulled her close to him. “I want to wake up with you in the morning.”
“Your parents…?” she started to object.
“Will be delighted we have advanced our relationship.”
She flopped her head back down on his chest. “Last night was beautiful.”
“It was the best I have ever spent,” his hand fingers played with her blond curls. It genuinely had been, and he had more than enough experience to compare it to.
The feather-light kisses she was dropping on his chest were driving him crazy. “I take it you’re no longer in a hurry to leave in the morning?” he murmured.
“No. Perhaps we could stay one more day.”
“Good. Because I don’t plan to let you out this room for a very long time,” he groaned huskily as he moved her on top of him.
“We can’t stay in here all day,” Jenna giggled sleepily. “What will your family think?”
“That I was doing all manner of deliciously bad things to you,” he said thickly as he proceeded to take them both on another trip to Elysium and back.
“You are looking far too pleased with yourself, Juno,” Jupiter glanced over at his wife.
“I am,” she beamed. “It has happened.”
“What has?” Jupiter was obviously not on the same line of thought.
“Mars and Jenna. Their union.”
“How do you know? I hope you haven’t been spying on them.”
“No, silly. Can you not feel it? The darkness that drives our son has lifted.”
“About time,” Jupiter rolled his eyes. “I thought he was losing the art of seducing a woman.”
“It’s far more than about that,” Juno swatted his shoulder, “and well you know it.”
“Yes, but his prophecy is a long way from complete. He now has to reveal his deity before he can harangue her into marrying him.”
Juno waved her hand dismissively. “Jenna loves him, that should pose no problem.”
Jupiter was not so sure. Jenna wanted to believe in the Roman deities, but had already admitted several times that her brain was not wired to cope with such a reality. He still expected many an eruption on the road to wedded bliss for his son.
CHAPTER 13
Amelia was missing Jenna, she desperately needed her friend to talk to. She thought about heading back to McVale for a few days, but as Jenna was already away, she could not leave as well. Ares would go into a complete decline if she did.
“Jenna is due back tomorrow, so it is really no hardship if you want to go back for a spell,” Cassandra tried to cheer her up.
“It’s no problem. I’ll go tomorrow or the day after once we’ve had a chance to catch up,” Amelia put on a brave face. Inside she was a mess. She could not believe Augustus had cheated on her. He had done a really good impersonation of a naïve lovelorn soldier, whilst all along been a complete love rat.
And poor Julius had not known where to put himself. He was loyal to Jenna and her, yet Augustus was his brother, whatever he had done. She could not hold it against Julius, he was such a dear sweet boy. Ares was pawing at the bottom of her dress for attention.
“At least you’re fairly honest,” she picked up the kitten. “Cats are the prime example of cupboard love. You’ll go to whoever has the food.”
Cassandra popped her head into the back room. “Augustus is outside for you. Did you want to see him?” she asked gently.
Amelia was on the point of saying no, then thought about how Jenna would handle such a betrayal. “I’ll see him, but you might want to stay in here out of sight.”
With head held high, she strode out the temple and down the steps to where Augustus was standing next to his horse.
“Amelia,” he gave her a dazzling smile. “I have missed you.”
“Really?” she retorted sarcastically. Instead of reaching up to kiss him, she brought her knee up hard to his groin. As he dropped to his knees gasping, she drew her right hand back and punched him full in the face. “You’re a lying sack of shit. Come near me again and I’ll castrate you with your own bloody sword.”
She stomped back inside feeling remarkably empowered. It didn’t get rid of her heartache, but justice has been served. Although punching a man full in the face hurt like hell.
Augustus tried to stem the flow of blood from his nose. He had no idea what had gotten into Amelia, but it did not take a genius to realise her anger was aimed directly at him. He rode back home as he had some time off and as Amelia clearly did not want to spend it with him, he hoped at least Julius was free. It had been a while since he had seen his young brother.
“Augustus,” his mother was only too happy to see him. “We have missed you.”
“Mother,” he dropped a kiss on her forehead dutifully. “I seem to get precious little time off these days.”
“And when you do, I know you want to spend it with Amelia,” she smiled. “But what has happened to your nose?”
“I think Amelia was rather upset about something.”
“What have you done?” Syla fixed him with a stern look.
“I have absolutely no idea,” he was genuinely bemused. “Is Julius home? He spends a lot of time at the temple, he might know.”
Julius put in an appearance. “Are you lost?” he asked sarcastically.
“Sorry?” Augustus did not follow.
“I thought you preferred to spend your time elsewhere,” Julius shrugged heading to the door.
“You know I like to be with Amelia. If you would prefer I gave more of my time to you, I will speak to Amelia.”
“Why would I want to be with a lying, cheating dick like you,” Julius spat disappearing out into the street.
Augustus stared at the space he had left. “Has everyone gone barking mad today? I wish someone would tell me what the hell I have supposedly done. It would make my life a great deal easier.”
Syla reached up and touched his cheek. “Amelia does not strike me as a girl who is easily slighted. You need to think hard about your actions over the last few days to see if anything you have done could have hurt her.”
Augustus rode back to the Imperial Palace feeling bewildered and upset. He adored Amelia, he could not fathom what she was so upset about. And likewise Julius. There was obviously a misunderstanding somewhere which he needed to get to the bot
tom of. But right now he had an Emperor to protect.
CHAPTER 14
Luke was feeling a little torn. He said he’d go over and see Amelia yet he so wanted to visit Florentina. He was not sure how a lowly temple priest would be received by Florentina’s social climbing mother. His only plus side was that he was a good friend of Jenna.
He was pacing up and down in front of the temple. Amelia or Florentina? Miraculously his decision did not need to be made, Florentina had visited him. He tried his hand at a seductive smile, but it just came across as goofy.
“Hi Luke,” she smiled shyly. “I was hoping to catch you.”
“I’m pleased you did.”
“I’m interested in finding out more about the work you do with Maia.”
Luke led her over to a stone seat that had just been vacated. “There’s not a great deal to tell at the moment. I help her as much as I can with cooking and looking after the hundreds of street children. We not only feed them, but try and teach them some basic skills.”
“Such as?”
“Reading is important. As is an overview of how the city runs. And for the older girls, we teach them some fundamental cooking skills.”
“We?” Florentina queried.
Luke gave a broad grin. “Yes, we. I might be male, but I can cook. Albeit badly.”
“Did you learn this in Arula?”
“Yes. Largely from watching my mother.”
“I thought you were well born,” Florentina looked a little confused.
“I am. But we do not have slavery in Arula. Some of the very large houses and high up officials have servants, but almost everyone can function fully without them. I think even our Queen could rustle up a meal if she needed to. It is something we are also taught at school. And a person is valued very highly if they can do it to an exceptionally high standard.”
“Men cook as well?”
“Yes. In many relationships it is the man who cooks not the woman.”
“How fascinating,” her eyes sparkled. “This is your equality at work, is it not?”
“Very much so. Now it is your turn to tell me more about yourself. What does the daughter of a General do?”
“Not a great deal, I am sad to say,” Florentina let out a large sigh. “Whilst my father has no problem with me being somewhat unorthodox, my mother is the epitome of a Roman noble lady.”
“You appear far too curious about life outside your station for a normal young noble.”
“I am because there has to be more to life than being pampered and aiming to climb as high as one can go.” Florentina stood up and started to walk around the Forum. “Watching Jenna at the banquet opened my eyes to how different my life could be. The highest levels of society sought her out because she is herself, no pretences, no games. I think getting involved in the Emperor’s initiatives will help secure the life that I want.”
“Then you should go for it. Your involvement will hopefully push other young nobles to get involved as well.”
“I am eager to get my invitation from the Emperor.”
“He is waiting until Jenna returns from Cabrillus, which should hopefully be tomorrow.”
Florentina looked off into the distance and smiled. “What were the chances of my father coming across me?”
“Let me guess, you are supposed to be chaperoned?” Luke shook his head. “You are as bad as Jenna.”
She gave a light laugh. “Yes. But I can hardly have an interesting conversation with a chaperone sitting next to me, scowling deeply if I sit too close to you.”
General Tiberius rode over to his daughter, cutting almost a scarier figure as Marshall Vilnus. “Dare I ask what you are doing out without a chaperone, daughter?” he sighed, giving Luke a dark look.
“I wanted to speak with Luke, father. He is involved heavily with the Emperor’s social initiatives and I wanted to find out more before we are invited back to the Palace.”
Tiberius’ eyes were fixed firmly on Luke. “You are a servant of Mars, are you not? What involvement can you have with the Emperor?”
“Our temple used to supply to food for the lady in the Via Lata who now heads up one of the projects. I still spend a great deal of time in the region helping her and the children.”
“How very noble. Are your family from Rome?”
“I am Arulian, like Jenna.”
“Luke is a friend of Jenna’s, father. They travel together. Now please stop giving him an interrogation like mother.”
Tiberius laughed unexpectedly. “My daughter is right. I do apologise. I should trust her judgement of people.” He extended his hand to Florentina. “Come, I should get you home safely.”
Florentina turned back to Luke before they rode off. “I will hopefully see you at the Palace shortly.”
“You may count on it,” he grinned.
Laurentius was seated in Trajan’s study going over latest developments.
“Senator Livius is awaiting execution for his crimes,” Trajan announced. “Senator Riminis has already been stripped of rank and wealth. What of Grellus and Capilla?”
“My investigations are ongoing. But the shockwaves are already rippling through the Senate,” Laurentius responded.
“The only senators who should be concerned are those with something to hide.”
“Most of us have something to hide,” Laurentius smiled. “It’s just the corruption we are after.”
“True. Let us hope no-one else tries to silence you prematurely.”
“I no longer accept any refreshment from people I am investigating.”
“A wise move. Once we have this tied up, you will need to examine public finance. I have proof that money is being misappropriated.”
“It would not surprise me,” Laurentius sighed. “People have a habit of becoming greedy if they believe their actions will not be detected.”
“Much as I revere my predecessor, Emperor Augustus did not keep a close eye on where Rome’s money was being spent. And up until recently, neither have I. It is not something a General worries too much about.”
“True,” Laurentius smiled.
“Talking of the military, how are Dextus and Julius doing?”
“Set to become Rome’s next top generals,” Laurentius laughed with genuine affection. “I do believe I have almost adopted young Julius.”
“Jenna does hold him particularly close to her heart.” Trajan leant in a little closer. “Has Julius said anything about his brother Augustus in the last day or so?”
“No. The boy did seem a little subdued today. Why do you ask?”
“Captain Augustus returned to duty last night with a definite bruise on his nose. He is not the type of officer to get involved in a brawl, so I have a sneaky suspicion an Arulian might have given that to him.”
“I thought Jenna was out of town?”
“She is not the only Arulian in Rome,” the Emperor grinned. “I have a feeling a falling out has occurred with his lady friend and hoped Julius would know the reasons behind it.”
“Forgive me for asking, but are you not unduly concerned about the private affairs of an officer?”
“He is doing some investigations for me. I would hate for his work to have caused some personal conflict for him.”
“Now I understand. I will probe Julius next time I see him.”
Jenna could not have been happier. She and Marcus had quite literally spent the entire day in his room, emerging to the terrace occasionally to eat. Gazing into those black eyes, she never felt so safe in her life.
He ran a finger down her back, making her spine tingle. “There is one thing we need to talk about,” he murmured.
“What is that?” she purred.
“Our living arrangements.”
“I live at Apollo’s temple. You live in your villa. That has not changed.”
“I want you in my bed every night, Jenna,” he ran his finger back up her spine.
“You know that cannot happen.”
“What is
stopping it?”
“Whilst people live together unmarried in my era, they do not in yours. At least noble born ones do not. And I certainly do not want to be called your mistress again.”
“And I do not want a mistress, I want a wife.”
Destined for a Deity (Mark of Mars) Page 13
