<strong>~ Liliana sitting with Aulus in a secluded garden nook, between the outer and inner courtyards of the ludus ~</strong><br/><br/><br/><strong>“A sweeter cup?  But wasn’t that wine you told him to watch yours?”</strong><br/><br/>Liliana’s gentle laughter bubbled easily over her lips at Aulus' innocent question, her violet eyes sparkling with kindhearted humor. Her delicate feminine hands still nestled his large masculine hand between them, and she lightly squeezed Aulus’ hand as it rested on the silken fabric draping her lap. Tilting her head slightly to the side, she regarded the man sitting next to her with confused curiosity, her long dark hair shifting to fan silkily over her shoulder.<br/><br/>“Aulus, truly ~ you do confound me. I don’t think I have ever met a man of such contradictions as you seem to be.”  Her eyes traveling appreciatively over his body, she continued, “I see a man with pleasing face and form, a fine soldier with body honed and hardened in battle.”  Smoothing one of her small hands slowly over his wrist and forearm, continuing up to gently encircle his firm bicep within her slender fingers, Liliana’s voice held a soft huskiness as she spoke. “And yet, the hardness of your body does not appear to extend to your heart, nor do I believe to your spirit. I see the boy you have been, struggling to survive within the man you have become. I see the hesitation, but I also see the hunger.”<br/><br/>Not removing her fingers from his arm, but gently releasing his other hand from hers, she gracefully in one smooth, fluid movement, changed her position from sitting next to him on the bench to resting her softly-firm bottom on his thigh, sitting sideways on his muscular leg, the long green fabric of her silken gown swirling over his uniform. Her other hand slid bewitchingly up along the side of his neck, softly caressing the expanse of skin bared above his collar.<br/><br/>Resting her forehead lightly against his as she softly stroked her fingers against his neck with one hand and along his arm with her other hand, she purred huskily, her warm breath a sweet whisper against his lips. “Life is not meant for the meek, Rabbit.  I would have you learn, there is room within you for both the man and the boy. And both may rejoice in their full purpose.”  Using her grip on him to pull herself closer to his body, her lush softness pressed enticingly against him, her soft curves tucked along the length of his body. Her smooth, perfumed skin a silken touch feathering over his more weathered skin, she nestled against him for a few moments, enjoying the feel of his hard body pressed tightly against her softly curved hip and lushly rounded breast.<br/><br/>Not wanting to alarm him too much with her unabashed forwardness, Liliana smoothly slipped off her perch upon his thigh to stand alluringly betwixt his legs, tenderly holding his face between her hands. Pulling his face gently up toward her to ease him to his feet, she smiled into his blue eyes, her own eyes warm and encouraging as they gazed into his. “Come, let us share our plan with Antonious. If General Pompey himself saw fit to leave you in his fine care, I am certain of his support for your cause.” When Aulus had stood up fully, she clasped her hand in his, lacing her fingers with his as they strolled back toward the merchant’s kiosk in the outer courtyard.<br/>