His felt like cold stone as he continued to remain in a semi-knelt position.  Nothing he hadn’t experienced before however, during his training days there were exercises and techniques to help ignore such anguishes for hours, and of course how to recover. In this case though he pondered whether perhaps Liliana enjoyed herself watching him in this position.  Certainly all the attention towards him was evident enough.  Was she not married? Was it perhaps a bad marriage?  It would explain for her interest in the youth of both the soldier and the slave stock that had just recently arrived, which only made it more evident with Liliana’s next move.<br/>When she made her first movements towards him it was only natural to alter the position of the mirror so to allow her a different perhaps even better angle for her viewing pleasure.<br/><br/>Unfortunately his attempt would be thwarted by her hand slowly pushing down on the mirror as to lower it.  It surprised him how she wished not to look at the mirror but it was her wishes and he could only comply in return.  Lowering the mirror aside it allowed Liliana and Aulus to look gaze with one another once more.  From a child’s point of view it looked like the two were perhaps engaged in a staring contest. In reality though it was like tigers ready to jump at one another in order to defend their own pride.  It most certainly would have aroused anyone’s suspicions were to witness it.  Unfortunately for Antonious, Liliana had taken the liberty of blocking his view but also provided him an interesting view.  With the sun being at its brightest it gave away the shadow of slender yet supple figure.  His primary being that of her hips as the shadow outlined her luscious thighs, only to imagine the thought of him suckling her breasts.<br/><br/>While Antonious remained engrossed in his own daydream, the tigress known as Liliana would make the next move once again.  Her fingers glided along the traces of his mark.  He had to wonder if perhaps her interest in him was solely based on his history with the army.  “Is there per chance any interest you wish to know about the Legion?”  While he had his suspicions he made sure that when he asked her the question that it was indeed what he wished to know.  The question though would only be a secondary thought as he found the touch of his skin with her fingers quite distracting.  Her touch was like a soap that cleansed the toughest of stains from ones skin.  Aulus’ skin complexion was the result of bloodline mixed with years of serving in the Eastern campaigns.  While not bronzed or darken like the Egyptians or Nubians, his skin carried a light tan complexion which many believed suited him best, especially she that was in front of him.   Every advance she made upon him carried with it a wave of nervousness.  He had never…..entwined with another woman which made his face all the more readable.  The gliding of her hair against his shoulder, the range of her breasts towards his lips, the scent of rose and myrrh engulfing his senses; all examples of his drifting from stature and resolve.  His face was able to limit that amount of flush at the cheeks but it was clear that curiosity and nervousness was written all over his face.  Beads of sweat formed across his brow as he attempted to force himself still like statue, which then proved very difficult.<br/><br/>The worse though was to come after her lips gently parted next to his ear,  “My sweet Aulus; I find I much enjoy seeing you in this position before me, and have serious contemplations about inviting you to accompany me to my home so that you may repeat your pose under conditions providing more...opportunity.”  Because it was but a soft whisper, it dared not reach the ears of Antonious, of course with all the slaves that surrounded such an estate, one can’t help but wonder if a guard or even slave caught the scandalous words.  A married noblewoman proposing such promiscuous ideas to a soldier, such thoughts would erupt in a sea of gossip.  The strongest effect though would be received by Aulus as her words struck something outside his natural control.  A feeling of warmth began to grow underneath his garments.  His body and mind now began to falter as what seemed all of his fiber and being began to escape somewhere he was not familiar with.  What was this feeling?  It tore his mind apart setting aside his nobler side only to replace by the instincts of an animal.  His breathing became heavier, perhaps almost erratic like a predator fighting effortlessly just to score his first skill. This was something he needed to stop immediately if not for sake of himself, but the customer as well.  Plus he couldn’t let down his guardian, not while he had gotten this far.  He was fortunate to have caught a break the moment she had turned from him allowing him the chance to close his eyes and slow down his breathing.  Perhaps it was the fatigue of his frozen position that allowed his mind to falter so easily, whether or not that be the case, a solution was dire.<br/><br/>Taking this opportunity he slowly stood up once more, leaving with it a powerful stinging sensation from his legs being forced to come awake once more.  Timing his breathing he moved slowly to the back of the kiosk returning to rearranging some of Antonious’ wares.  His eyes ever vigil in keeping watch over her.  It was strange, such a sensation he had never felt before, but he had been told of it before, back in the camps during the Pontus campaign.  Men would drown themselves in wine and feast on the spoils of war; slaves.  Aulus at that time was a more devoted soldier then conqueror so he took the liberty to enjoy in such luscious sins, perhaps though for better.  Had he indulged in such pleasures we would not be seeing the Aulus we be seeing today.<br/><br/>His thoughts though became distracted by another calling towards the Liliana.  The servant was young, perhaps even Aulus’ age as well.  Only further evidence that perhaps the woman had a craving for youth to fill such desires that her husband is unable to fulfill.  When she made word of having the wine prepared his curiosity once again got to him.  The truth was he had never drank wine, had always stuck to water.  Back at home, the income for the family was livable at best, which always left Aulus to thrive on water and leave the wine to his father and mother.  Wine was a foreign to him as slaves, and in some cases women.  “Is the wine to honor these so called……Gladitorial games?”  His question clearly directed towards Liliana.  Since this was not of gift from Antonious it was only proper to ask about it which would be rewarding for her since it would allow her continue the exchange of dialog between her and Aulus, and distract her all the more since now he was standing now, and the beam of the sunlight gave away at the gloss of skin mixed with his sweat.  The heat was quite enduring for him, and having a lack of cover only allowed the sweat to grow not just as head brow.  Beneath the leather confines of his tunic sweat poured all over his chest making his tunic slightly damp but carrying a stench that demanded immediate attention.<br/><br/>Aulus had to be fast since he wished not to attract too much attention.  Returning to his personal satchel bag he uncovered his goat skin containing water for the trip.  First he took the liberty of drinking a few swigs so allow his body to briefly cool from the inside which even he had to admit to was invigorating.  The leather padding of his tunic was kept attached by buttons that rested on his shoulders.  removing the clips only on the left side of his tunic it allowed the top left half of the tunic to drop revealing fine tan skin much like the skin Liliana’s fingers had trailed across at his neck.  Taking the goat skin he allowed a small stream of water to escape the water container and splash at this face and neck.  The droplets of cold water beaded against his personal leather hide creating an effect like that of the mirror he had carried.  It allowed his chest to give a reflection of everything that made him a soldier.  Besides the distraction of such fine human craftsmanship made thanks to the world’s greatest military schools, his body riddled with scars. Wounds caused by arrows, daggers, even swords even. So not only was he a man of youth, but his scars indeed proved his worth and experiences.<br/>