Electricity

Electricity
Fiona

I watch the children’s faces light up as the parade moves through the square. Julia points toward the dancers. “Can I be like them when I’m big, Mother?”

“Of course you can, if that’s what you want, sweetheart,” Cornelia says.

Gaius catches a ball one of the jugglers tosses his way and immediately hands it to Felix. The dog lies down and chews on it, making the children burst into giggles.

I look up at Marcus and am completely amazed by him. He could’ve laughed in my face when I told him I’m from the future. He could’ve called me a liar and a lunatic when I told him that the mountain is going to erupt… but he didn’t. He trusts me, and he believes me enough to help me get the people of Pompeii to safety. We might just change history within the next couple of days, all the while being drawn to one another in a way that is causing me to want to lean over and kiss him again right this second. It wouldn’t be good etiquette, so I control myself, though I find myself yearning to be alone with him.

“Did you tell them?” I whisper in his ear.

“I did. They trust us. Quintus said he’ll help relocate the festival, and then he’s taking his family to Neapolis.”

I smile up at him. “I’m so glad.”

“Yes, tomorrow we’ll go to my parents’ house and convince them that they’re going to have to move. I don’t know how we’ll do that. They’ve lived in the same house for thirty-five years.”

“We’ll figure it out,” I say. “I’ll help you.”

He nods. “It’s been a long day. Would you like to retire? We could go check on Lucius and then perhaps have a drink?”

“That sounds wonderful right now.” I squeeze his hand, thankful to have met such an amazing man.

Marcus leans over to tell Quintus that we’re leaving, but I can’t hear Quintus’s reply over the parade drums, though I assume he’s telling Marcus when and where they’ll meet again. When they’re done, we wave goodbye to Cornelia and the children, and Marcus whistles for Felix as we walk away. The dog jumps up and follows us, parts of the stuffed ball in his mouth, other parts littering the street.

We walk back to Marcus’s neighborhood under the light of the moon. “I’m sorry I’m not very talkative tonight. We used our voices quite a bit today,” he says.

I turn to him. “It’s thoughtful of you to apologize, but it’s not necessary. I understand completely.”

He reaches over, takes my hand, and a jolt of electricity runs through me. I hope I’m not blushing too much, but our kiss earlier was incredible, and I hope we get the chance to do it again soon.

When we reach his house, he unlocks the door and holds it open. Felix and I step inside first, and the dog goes straight to his food and water as if he hasn’t eaten all day.

“You must be starving, Felix,” Marcus jokes.

“Yes, I hear his owner is a cruel man who serves him nothing but gruel,” I tease. 

Marcus laughs as he closes the door and locks it behind us. “I think I’ll go give the staff the night off. Make yourself at home, and I’ll return in just a moment.”

I nod, intrigued by the idea of Marcus dismissing his servants, and make myself comfortable on his sofa while I wait. My feet are killing me—we’ve been walking all day.

When he returns, Marcus asks, “Would you like to come with me to my bedroom and check on Lucius?”

“Yes,” I say quietly. “Perhaps I can be of some help to him.”

As we walk down the hall, Marcus whispers, “He might be asleep. Aurelia said he was feeling much better—that he was talking and ate well today—but that he is still in a lot of pain and needs to rest.”

I nod. “I’ll be quiet,” I reply.

We get to the door of his room, and Marcus lightly knocks. When Lucius doesn’t answer, he slowly opens the door and steps inside. I watch him from the threshold as he checks on his brother, feeling his forehead, checking for fever, and leaning down to make sure he is breathing normally.

When Marcus is satisfied, he comes back to the door, and I step out into the hallway with him. He softly closes the door behind him.

“I think he’s going to be all right,” he whispers.

I nod, and we both walk back into the living room.

“He will definitely recover, thanks to you,” I say. “You saved his life. But how are we going to get Lucius out of the city?”

“You bring up a good point,” he says, stepping over to where his wine is kept, choosing a bottle and a couple of goblets. “He’ll definitely need to use my carriage. In fact, I should send him ahead tomorrow.” We sit down together on his sofa, each with a goblet of wine in hand, and Marcus looks at me. “You’re very brave,” he says quietly, resting his hand on my knee. “To tell me… to trust me with your secret. Not many people could do what you did, and I feel very grateful to be able to know you.”

I shake my head, feeling a flush creep up my neck. “I had to,” I whisper. “If no one knew…”

“And you’re thoughtful and kind,” he interjects. “You’re trying to make sure as many people survive as possible. I’ve never met anyone like you. Will you tell me more—about your time?”

I pause, thinking about how to say it without sounding foolish or overwhelming him. “In my time, cities are enormous. Buildings rise so high you almost can’t see the top from the ground. People live stacked above one another in levels all the way up. We don’t travel with horses,” I continue. “We have vehicles that move on their own. They’re like carriages but with engines that move faster than any animal. You could get to Neapolis in half an hour.” 

He gasps. “Surely, you’re not serious?”

I laugh. “I’m completely serious.”

“Moving that quickly must be phenomenal. Please tell me more.”

I feel the wine going to my head and the warmth of Marcus’s hand on my knee. Smiling, I continue to tell him about the future. “Like some of your buildings here, clean water runs into every home through pipes in the walls. No one has to carry it or fetch it. It just runs straight into the tub or the sink. And light isn’t from a flame. We make it from something called electricity. It runs through wires, and you can turn on a light whenever you need it.”

Marcus looks at me for a moment, trying to imagine it. “So everyday life is much easier?”

“So much easier. And people live longer. There are places called hospitals where sick and injured people go to become well. Illnesses that would kill people in your time are easily treated in mine.” 

“You must miss your own time,” he says, his tone more serious now. 

“I do, but I’m finding this place to be more enjoyable every day. There’s something else you should know,” I say, placing my empty goblet on the table in front of us. Marcus sets his down, too. “In my time, women are much more direct about what they want. And, Marcus… I want you.” I feel bold and brave at the moment, looking at him this way, knowing all that is about to happen.

He stares at me for a moment before he leans in and kisses me gently. Message received.

I wrap my hand around his bicep as his mouth opens to mine, deepening the kiss. He moves his hands to my waist, pulling me closer. The kiss intensifies—hungry and urgent–until I shift my body to straddle his lap on the sofa.

His hands roam up my back, finding the clasp of my stola. He unpins it with a flick, and the fabric loosens, slipping down my shoulders to expose my breasts. I moan into his mouth as he cups my bare skin, thumbs circling my hardening nipples. 

I tug at the ties of his tunic, loosening the fabric until it falls open, revealing his smooth, tan, toned chest. I rake my nails over his pecs, feeling his muscles tense beneath my touch.

He pulls back from our kiss, just long enough to take off his tunic completely, his cock already straining against the undergarment wrapped around his hips. I reach down, untying the knot, freeing his thick shaft. 

I wrap my hand around him. Marcus groans, his hands sliding down to hike up the hem of my under-tunic. He pushes it aside, exposing me, already wet and aching for him. His fingers part my folds, and I gasp, rocking against his hand.

“Fiona, you’re so beautiful,” he says, his voice rough as he finds my most sensitive spot. 

I can’t help myself. The sofa creaks under us as I lift my hips again, positioning him at my entrance. I sink down slowly, inch by inch. A whimper escapes my lips as I take him fully, clenching around his length. Marcus's hands grip my bottom, guiding me as I ride him. 

His hips buck up to meet mine with each thrust. I brace my hands on his shoulders, nails digging in, as the pleasure builds. He captures my breast in his mouth, teeth grazing the sensitive peak, and I cry out, grinding down harder.

He moves inside me, close to the edge, and I clench my inner walls around him. The sensation tips me over the precipice, waves of ecstasy crashing through me. I shudder on top of him and feel his warmth spread inside of me. We're both spent, collapsing together on the sofa in a tangle of limbs and discarded clothes.

“That was amazing,” he whispers, kissing my cheek. “You’re incredible, Fiona.”

Looking into his eyes, I say, “I’m so glad I found you, Marcus.” I rest my head on his cheek, feeling secure in a world that’s falling apart because his arms are around me.

As we lie here together, I think about the last few days. When I got on the plane to Italy, I never imagined myself in ancient Pompeii, and I certainly never imagined falling in love with a man of this era. Now, as Marcus holds me close, I have no doubt that I belong with him.