"Cool.Did you have shields too?"
"Oh yeah!We even had horses."
My eyes light up."Horses?Did you have chariots?"
"No.No chariots.We would ride into our arena on our horses.Sometimes we battled with our swords on them.Sometimes we fought on the ground."
"That's fly!"
"They got pretty elaborate when I started spending the summers here."
I look at him, surprised."Weren't you 14 when you started staying the summers?"
"Yes.Why the shocked look?"
"Weren't you a little old for pretend?"
He laughs."We weren't pretending by that time.We were training."
My face is even more surprised."Training?"
"Shhh."He winks.We've caught up to the group, and he listens attentively to the tour guide, completely ignoring me.
I whisper loudly at him."Don't shush me!Explain training!"I see a trace of a smirk hovering around his mouth."Aurei...."
"Shhh.Kitten Thang, it's time to listen now."
I give him a low growl, and he chuckles."Where were the Tigers caged?"He speaks up and asks the tour guide.
"We will be visiting that area next."She smiles at him."This way, everyone."
I pinch him."Very funny!"
He looks down and grins at me."I'm def surprising you tonight."
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
* * *
Aurei
* * *
At the end of the tour, I lead her to the grass spectator area.She sits, listening attentively to the architectural details, and absorbs it all as I share the ancient lifestyle.
She grins up at me, and I ask."What?"
"I was just thinking how fucking ferocious you would look in a Roman Soldier's helmet."
I grin, knowing how she will respond."You weren't listening?"
"I heard every glorious word, but the atmosphere here has my imagination visualizing how awesome you would have been in those times.I want to hear more about your home training."
I laugh, "I'm not going to get away without explaining, am I?"
"Absofuckinglutely NO!You are not."She laughs with me.
"Antonio and I played Gladiators until we were 8.We would pretend, and we were careful at first, but then."I look away."He struck me too hard, and I got pissed."I look back with a sheepish smile and try to leave it there.It's not something I'm proud of.
