She couldn‘t let that happen. Heart aching, she knew what she must do.
She turned to the woman and gave her a faint smile, masking her pain. ―Congratulations on your win.‖
The woman grinned, an expression of pure pleasure. She fanned herself with her bidding card.
―Thank you. I‘ve had my eye on that statue for a long time. It‘s going to make a wonderful addition to my family‘s collection.‖
5Chloe barely heard what she was saying. The smile on her face felt plastered there. ―Can I tell you something?‖
The woman‘s smile grew less easy. ―Of course.‖
―That statue is actually a man. He‘s been cursed to exist as a marble statue, but if you touch him with desire, he can come to life.‖
The woman stared at her, then began to get up.
―Please, listen to me,‖ Chloe said, grabbing at the woman‘s hand. ―I know it sounds crazy, but he‘s a wonderful man and he‘ll be so lonely if you don‘t talk to him. Please, tell me that you‘ll waken him.‖
―Security!‖ the woman called in alarm.
Suddenly, Muffin was at Chloe‘s side, frowning. ―Oh dear. Chloe, my girl, what have you done now?‖
Chloe refused to release the woman‘s hand. The stranger shook it, trying to dislodge Chloe, but she was determined to hold on until the woman listened to her. ―All I‘m asking is that you wake him up and talk to him. He‘s trapped in there!‖ Her voice choked on a sob. ―He can‘t be in darkness for another hundred years. It‘s too hard on him.‖
The woman wrenched herself free and then ran to the far side of the room. ―Security!‖
Chloe moved to run after her, but Muffin grabbed her arm instead, halting Chloe in place. ―Hang on just a minute. You told her the secret of the statue?‖
―I had to,‖ She turned desperate eyes on Muffin. ―I can‘t have him, but he deserves happiness.‖
5A smile wreathed Muffin‘s lined face, and the air began to shimmer. Chloe‘s eyes widened and she turned to the statue. The marble melted away and the fig leaf fluttered to the ground. The spear clattered to the floor, and a second later, Titus stepped down from the pedestal, tossing aside the helmet.
A wide grin of pure delight crossed his face, and he strode toward Chloe.
―You broke the spell!‖
But…how? She hadn‘t even touched him. She looked over at Muffin in surprise.
―An unselfish act, my dear. Only takes one.‖ Muffin winked at her.
―Oh, but…‖ Chloe said, confused. She reached for Titus and was swept into his arms, and into a passionate kiss. When they separated, tears of joy began to run down her face. ―Titus, but…I thought you were meant for someone a hundred years from now!‖
―That would have worked,‖ Muffin agreed. ―But you two make a cute couple, and how can I
stand in the way of true love? This works just as well.‖
―Why is that man naked?‖ A voice said from across the room. ―Where did my statue go?‖
Chloe‘s fingers ran across Titus‘s collarbones, so warm under her grip. He‘d never become cold marble again. Ever. The thought was dizzying with the pleasure it gave her.
―It‘s a good thing you‘re here, young man,‖ Muffin said, unfurling her turban and handing him the length of cloth. ―I am looking for an expert on Roman antiquities and ancient Latin for my art gallery.
We seem to have a deficit of a hundred and sixty thousand dollars to make up this quarter.‖ And she gave him an exaggerated wink.
―Of course,‖ he murmured, his warm gaze on Chloe.
5―Good, good, Muffin muttered. ―There‘s a lot I need to tell you about the job, but that‘ll hold until I tell these people where that nice naked statue went, and how this equally naked nice young man got here.‖ Muffin wandered off, fluffing her curls with one hand.
Chloe grinned.
Titus smiled back at her, his hands going to Chloe‘s waist and pulling her tight against him, as if afraid to let her go.
She suspected that feeling would stay with both of them for a long while…and she didn‘t mind.
It‘d give her a great excuse to touch him constantly every day for the rest of their lives.
Chloe turned to her soldier and smiled, her expression brilliant. ―Speaking of telling, I never thought I‘d get the chance.‖
―What‘s that?‖ Titus asked, leaning in for a kiss.
―To tell you that I love you, too,‖ she said, and pulled his mouth down to hers.
**The End**
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