3―I don‘t want another man,‖ Chloe said softly. ―I want Titus.‖
―And I want a firm ass and a unicorn. We don‘t always get what we want.‖
****
Despite Muffin‘s warming, Chloe tried her hardest to circumnavigate Titus‘s curse. She wrote lists of unselfish acts that she could perform before he left – everything from a blowjob for Titus (which would end up being selfish because she loved to put her mouth on his cock and his reaction was an intense pleasure for her) to taking out a line of credit, buying the statue, and then donating it to a museum.
But every idea she came up with could be traced back to a selfish need behind it. Buying the statue would be because
she
wanted it.
When she couldn‘t get anywhere with lists, she spent the rest of her time googling ancient curses, Roman curse tablets, and ways to break such curses. She checked with ten different auction houses in seven nearby states – only two had even heard of a curse tablet, and neither had any at their museums.
She contacted antiquities dealers, and even called a few museums in Rome. She bought books on the subject and brought them to work, showing Titus the pictures in the hopes that he might be able to read the markings on the tablets and tell her if he was mentioned.
Nothing. Titus would merely flip through book after book that she brought him, the sad, hopeless expression on his face as each tablet proved to be no closer than the last.
And slowly, Friday night crawled around. She‘d woken up that evening, fighting to hold back the intense loneliness that threatened to overwhelm her.
3Tonight was her last night with him. She wanted it to be special. Chloe spent a few extra minutes curling her hair, painting her nails, and moisturizing with a delicately scented lotion. She wore a red dress that she knew was his favorite, and black strappy sandals, and she packed a surprise for him in her purse.
Tonight, she decided, was going to be memorable for both of them. And if she couldn‘t have him, she‘d carry the memories of him and this night with her for the rest of her life.
Chloe blinked back tears at the thought. She had to be strong. She could be strong. She‘d spent so many years being strong…strong and alone. Titus knew and understood. He was the only one that understood her. She loved that about him. She loved a lot of things about him, and the thought of not being able to see him again made her heart hurt in ways that she thought were five years dead.
With time, she knew she could love Titus. They just didn‘t have time.
Still, she could give him what little time she had.
Work was silent that night, and even the security guard seemed unusually absent. He‘d just
started a new book, so she dropped off his evening Starbucks treat with a murmured greeting and headed into the main gallery. There were a few others in that night, making last minute adjustments to the inventory that would go up for auction that next morning. The auction would be held in a separate wing of the gallery, so everything had to be ready to move to the other wing first thing in the morning.
It was an hour or two before the last assistant ran out the door, and every minute wasted made Chloe want to scream even more. They were stealing precious minutes from them, and she needed those minutes. But finally, they were gone, and she quickly ran after them and locked the door behind them, then turned to face the statue.
So beautiful. So strong and noble. And so lonely. Could a statue seem alone? Titus did. She moved forward to the sculpture. Tonight had to be perfect. She wanted it to be memorable and wonderful 3for Titus, so he could take it with him whenever he went back to the in-between place he was cursed to dwell in.
A naughty idea slid into her mind and she embraced it. That would be the perfect wake up.
Crouching in front of the statue, she moved forward until her cheek was close enough to that fig leaf to touch, and then she gave it a long, slow, sensuous lick. The marble felt smooth under her tongue and cold, but she continued, lapping at the sculpted fig leaf there, waiting for the shimmerlight to appear. Waiting for his change.
It came soon enough. On her next lick, the fig leaf fell away and she heard a low groan overhead.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the air shimmer.
A hand fisted in her hair and pulled her down against his cock. Excited at his obvious pleasure, she took his now-hard cock in her mouth, enjoying when Titus‘s hand encouraged her to take him deeper into her throat. The thick head of his cock butted against the back of her throat and she whimpered with pleasure. Her hands curved around the thick base of his cock and pumped, even as she released him from her throat, sucking on the head instead.
―Ah,‖ he said in a low, husky whisper. ―Sweet Chloe. Feels so good.‖
She pumped the root of his cock again, then took him deep in her mouth, sucking hard. He
groaned and thrust over and over, fucking her mouth as she greedily pulled him deeper. Her fingers slid to his sac, grazing the soft skin there as she grasped the base of his cock, squeezing to give him additional pleasure.
―Not so fast, Chloe,‖ he said raggedly.
But she wanted to make him lose control. She needed to feel him come in her mouth. So she
began to hum in the back of her throat, the vibrations tickling his cock as she slid her tongue over it.
3His fingers twisted in her hair and he stiffened against her. She felt the hot jets of his release down the back of her throat. She swallowed it all, her hands still pumping the thick length of him, and his hand massaged the back of her head as he mumbled words in Latin. He always switched to Latin when he came, and just hearing the words made her wet and slick with need.
Then his hands were pulling her to her feet, and he greeted her with a long kiss, the taste of him still in her mouth. ―You have returned, my sweet one.‖
―Always,‖ she said softly.
―It was a most impressive way to be awakened,‖ he said with a smile, his fingers brushing the curve of her lower lip. ―Let me return the favor, little beauty—―
―Wait,‖ she said when he began to drop to his knees. ―I have an idea for something else.‖
―Oh?‖ The smoldering look in his eyes made her blush.
―Yes,‖ she said. ―But not like that.‖ Her hands moved to his and she tugged on him, pulling him down from the pedestal. ―I brought you some clothes. I want to show you what my city – my time – are like. I want you to see how the world has changed.‖
His eyes sparkled and she knew that he loved the thought. He‘d been fascinated by the things she‘d shown him – books and computers and fast food. To go out and experience them on his own? Of course he was excited. As soon as she said it, she immediately regretted she hadn‘t thought of it sooner.
―Is it safe, do you think?‖
She swung his hand in hers. ―Just don‘t let go of me and we‘ll be fine.‖
He dressed – not an easy task when he didn‘t understand modern clothing, and she had to
constantly touch him to keep the curse from returning. Eventually, she dressed him herself, taking pleasure in the freedom of running her hands all over his beautiful body, and knew that it pleased him too.
3She hadn‘t known what size clothing to buy him, so she‘d bought athletic pants with an elastic waistband.
They‘d fit, but his thighs were so muscular that they were clearly outlined in the nylon fabric, making him almost indecent and making her pussy wet all over again.
It didn‘t matter, she told herself, pushing the shirt over his head and then kissing him. He could be indecent as long as he got to experience what the night had to offer.
When he was dressed, hand in hand, they crept out the back door of the building. The security guard was fast asleep – as usual – and didn‘t stir.
Chicago was cold this evening, but crisp. The skies were clear and the city bustling as she took Titus by the hand and led him through the streets. Downtown was bustling with people, and his steps slowed as he tried to take it all in.
―The temples,‖ he breathed, staring up. ―So tall.‖
―Not temples,‖ she corrected softly. ―All kinds of buildings. From offices to apartments.‖
She tried to explain, but the more she explained, the more there was to explain. Eventually, he broke off her rambling explanations with a kiss, laughing. ―Your world is so different from mine! I would that I could have the time to explore it.‖ His face was lit up with wonder. ―This must be a marvelous time to live in.‖
―It‘s pretty special,‖ she said softly, but her gaze was on him. She‘d never thought about what a blessing it might be to live in a modern time, in a safe city where most people had safe homes and jobs.
Where you never had to worry if you would wake up to a conquering army on your doorstep. ―More so with you here to enjoy it. Come on.‖
She took him through the museum district, and they marveled at the buildings, and then to the theater district, not stopping in, just admiring the buildings and the people that wandered the streets. They 4stopped at a street vendor and Titus ate hotdogs one-handed as she watched him, her hands tightly clinging to his free one so he might enjoy this moment without worry.
They circled back to the art gallery a few hours later, and Chloe‘s spirits plummeted at the sight.
Returning meant that this lovely night had to end.
Titus must have sensed her unhappiness. He turned and gave her a smile, then pulled her hand to his mouth for a kiss.
Heat curled through her body and she stared at him with longing. She wanted forever with this man. It wasn‘t fair. But if she couldn‘t have it, she wanted him – pressed against her skin, kissing her, his body sunk deep into her own.
As if sensing her thoughts, he nodded and pushed the door open. They raced back into the
building, rushing to get back to the art gallery room and to the place that had become theirs.
No sooner had she shut the door than she was on Titus, her mouth pressed to his. His kiss had an air of desperation to it, and she wanted to weep. This wasn‘t about sadness, she realized. She wanted to celebrate life with him tonight. Even if they went their separate ways after this, he would be free from the curse in time, and that was what she wanted for him. If this was their last evening, she wanted to spend it enjoying him, not miserable.
She pulled away from his kiss and smiled softly at him. ―It‘ll be all right, Titus. Everything will work out just fine.‖
His hands slid over her hips, over the red dress, his gaze sliding over her body with love. ―If only we could find the tablet…‖
―Muffin knows a way to free you,‖ she said softly. ―We just have to be patient for it.‖
4―But you won‘t be there,‖ he said roughly, his voice harsh with sadness. ―I am to wake up in another strange time, without you.‖
―Maybe I‘ll live to be a hundred and twenty eight,‖ she said with a smile. ―If so, I‘ll drop by and say hello.‖
He averted his face, his jaw clenching.
She laid her fingers to his chin and forced him to look at her. ―We have tonight,‖ she said softly.
―Let‘s make it special.‖
Titus leaned in and kissed her, his hands going to her ass and pulling her against him. Heat thrilled through her body, making her toes curl. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss, enjoying the slow, soft brush of his tongue against her mouth, the sensual thrust of it against her own. Each touch of it seemed designed to make her body pulse with need. She moaned into his mouth, unable to remain silent.
―My beautiful Chloe,‖ he said huskily, the words dancing across her lips. One large hand moved to her breast, cupping the rounded softness of it.
She arched against his hand, thrusting her breast against his palm, enjoying the scrape of her nipple against him. Her breasts ached for his touch. ―Touch me, Titus. I ache for you.‖
His eyes were intense as he leaned in and gave her another soft kiss, his other hand cupping her other breast. ―I would learn all of your body tonight, Chloe. Hold nothing back from me.‖
―Nothing,‖ she agreed softly, staring up at him with trust. ―I want everything you can give me.‖
He tugged at the neckline of her dress, exposing her bra underneath the red fabric. The dress was a wrap-around that tied at her side, and she tugged the string until it fell open, revealing her matching bra and thong of sheer black lace.
4He groaned with need at the sight, tugging her to the floor. ―You are the most beautiful thing in this new world, Chloe. I would look at your body for all eternity if I could.‖
She felt the same way about him, her fingers tugging at the ugly, cheap sportswear she‘d bought him. It wasn‘t beautiful enough to suit the lean perfection of his body. ―I want to feel you,‖ she said.
―Take this off.‖
With her help, they shed his clothes within seconds, and her hands automatically went to the hard, hot length of him, fully erect and magnificent. His cock was beautiful to her, and she immediately wanted to take him into her mouth, to feel the thick head of it slide against her tongue, taste the salty wetness that it brought.
―Not yet,‖ he said huskily, as if sensing her thoughts. He tugged her back to the floor and loomed over her, devouring her with a look. His gaze slid to her hard nipples, peaked and tight under the sheer lace bra, and he brushed a thumb over one. She gasped and arched under him, feeling the pulse of desire straight to her pussy. His fingers tugged the material aside, catching it under the rounded curve of one breast and plumping it forward as if offering it to his mouth. She watched, breathless, as his dark, curly head descended to the aching tip, watched his tongue slide from between his lips and flick against the taut nipple.
A whimper escaped her throat. ―Please.‖
He looked up at her, his dark eyes hot with desire, and as his gaze met hers, he leaned down and took the peak in his mouth,
Chloe gasped as he bit the tender, swollen peak. Dual points of pain and pleasure had shot
through her body, and the sensation was more intense than anything she had ever felt. Her fingers slid to her other breast and she fiercely plucked at the neglected nipple, craving more of the wild sensations he filled her with. ―More, Titus.‖