Corvin and Livia were so exhausted they didn’t wake up until noon. Aurelia had told them that they needed to leave the house by two. So, Livia shot up, panicked.

“Corvin,” she said urgently.

He snapped awake. “What’s wrong, Liv?”

“It’s 12:00.”

“I know,” he laid his head back down.

“We need to be ready to leave by two,” she said.

Livia attempted to crawl out of bed, but Corvin snagged an arm around her waist and stopped her.

“Hun, can I have two minutes to hold you first?” he requested.

“Hold me?” Livia asked, confused. “Why?”

“Cause I like you,” he answered.

There was packing to do and lunch to eat and loading up the cars, but Corvin only wanted two minutes.

Livia sighed. “Fine.”

Corvin tried not to make a show of the fact that he had Taurus strength now, drawing her close to him slow and steady. Livia recognized the measured strength immediately. It didn’t scare her, but it did make her hyperaware.

She watched his hand lift when she was finally settled against his chest. She kept a close watch, trying to sense his intentions. He was going to touch her hair, then hesitated. His hand settled on her shoulder instead. He inhaled. Livia recognized what was happening immediately.

“It feels different,” she said.

“Yeah.” Experimentally, Corvin brushed the side of his thumb across the backside of her shoulder. “Did I scare you, Hun?” Corvin asked.

“No.”

“You certain about that? You’re pretty wary—”

“It doesn’t always feel bad,” Livia told him.

Corvin nodded. “It’s not. It’s just…more. It’s fascinating.”

Livia ran light fingers up the length of his arm. Corvin jerked away from her touch on instinct. His eyes shot down to his own arm in surprise. “Huh. Do it again.”

Livia stroked his arm again. Corvin’s lips pursed, but he didn’t jerk away. Corvin eyed her and swept his hand down the sway of her back to ease her body against his. Livia’s heart quickened.

“I can tell you’re Lupus,” Corvin murmured, cupping her hip in the curve of his palm.

Livia’s eyes shot to his. “How?”

Corvin’s head settled further into his pillow. He seemed content with their current position, which eased some of the butterflies that had erupted in Livia’s stomach.

“Last night in the shower. When you were able to recognize and explain the difference between feeling attraction and your sensory issues—”

“You think that’s because of being Lupus?” Livia asked.

“You would have figured it out with the right experiences, but it would have taken more repetitions. Makes me wonder if marrying this way will be an advantage to working through some things.”

“You think so?” Livia asked.

“I hope so,” Corvin said. “I know things won’t be easy, and it’ll be rough sometimes, but I’m committed to working through whatever we need to.”

Livia inhaled. “I’m going to really try, Corvin. This was a huge risk.”

“I know,” he said. “For both of us.”

“But I love you, and I’m going to try to do whatever I need to do to make this work,” she said.

“That’s all I ask,” he said. “We can’t give up on each other.”

Livia sighed as the weight of what they’d done pressed down on her. Corvin pressed his forehead to hers. “Hey.”

“What?”

“I love you, too.”

That made Livia smile. “Thank you, Corvin.”

“For what?”

“For being honest.”

“About what?” he asked.

“You were considerate of me every moment last night.”

He smiled. “You were so brave. I am so proud of you.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“I was brave?” Livia asked.

Corvin’s eyes twinkled. “You wore a bikini for me, Liv.”

Livia laughed. “That ridiculous speedo!”

Corvin laughed too. He turned his face into her hair. “You still smell like tea tree and lavender,” he murmured.

Livia closed her eyes as Corvin inhaled and exhaled deeply. She draped her arm over his chest and enjoyed being close. She tried to sense if her uncomfortable sensory prickles would kick in, but Corvin’s touch was warm and cozy. The weight of it comforting on her skin. She realized suddenly that she was Taurus tried still.

Then her eyes shot open. “Hey, Corvin, are you Taurus tried?”

“Probably because I want more.”

His hand ran over her bottom and then snagged the back of her thigh. He pulled her leg over his so she draped over him. She giggled as heat spread over her cheeks.

“Do you like it?” she whispered, bold enough to let her lips brush against his ear.

“It’s so comfy, Liv,” he said. “No wonder you bake so much. It’s like insta-zen.”

Corvin pressed his hands into her back, lowering his lips to her neck. It was a special kind of divine that Livia had never imagined. Warm and soft and wickedly pleasant. “Corvin,” she breathed.

“Yes?” His teeth nipped her skin gently.

Livia managed a faint, “It’s been over two minutes.”

He laughed. “I thought you were going to tell me how nice that was—”

“Can you tell?” she whispered.

Corvin laughed again. “Yes, Hun, I can tell you like it. It’s in every line of your body.”

Livia knew it was true. She tried to pull herself out of it, but her body betrayed her. It was hard for Livia to let her emotions be so visible. She grew up trying to be unnoticeable to survive. Big feelings were only allowed when she was alone. She wasn’t emotionally prepared for how scary it would be to let Corvin close enough to see these things.

She pulled away. “I can’t.”

Corvin eased away from her. “It’s alright, Liv. It’s alright.”

“I’m sorry,” she cried.

“It’s okay,” Corvin repeated.

Livia covered her face as her heart raced. “How am I going to do this?”

Corvin sat up and sat crossed-legged. His voice was calm. “It’s not the physical part that’s stopping you now. It’s the emotional part.”

“I’m sorry. I know it’s crazy—”

“It’s really not, though, Liv,” Corvin said. “It’s not crazy.”

Livia uncovered her face and looked at him. “But—”

“Considering how the human mind works and everything you’ve been through, your reactions are natural, Livia.”

Livia’s heart slowed down as a feeling of reassurance settled over her. “You don’t think I’m crazy?”

“No.”

“I feel crazy.”

Corvin smiled. “It’s funny, but the people who feel crazy aren’t the crazy ones.”

Livia laughed. Then sobered. “I’m sorry, Corvin.”

“It’s okay, Hun.”

“It’s not fair—”

“I didn’t expect it to be fair; however, I believe my relationship with you will still be rewarding in many ways.”

“But…how do we fix this?”

“It’ll take time,” Corvin said. “But you’ve already come a long way, Livia. Even in one evening, you’ve made huge strides forward. I am still incredibly proud of you.”

Livia’s eyes filled with tears. “You’re so nice—it’s unbelievable.”

Corvin grinned. “It’s a Tullian trait. You’ll have to get used to it.”

Livia asked, “A Tullian trait?”

“Ask my Mom,” Corvin challenged.

Livia laughed. “She trained you then?”

“She did,” Corvin said. “And she trained me well.”

“Do you think some of that training can rub off on me?” Livia asked.

“You want to be kind, Livia?” Corvin asked as if he already knew the answer.

She nodded. “I want to be Tullian kind.”

Corvin gave her a soft look. “That’s something I love about you. You have a good heart.”

“I’m rough around the edges,” she objected.

Corvin grinned. “I hope you don’t lose all of that. It’s something else I love about you.”

“You’re making me want to come back over there and kiss you,” Livia muttered.

“Why don’t you?” Corvin challenged, grinning.

“I’m hungry,” Livia said, crawling off the bed.

“I am a little, too,” Corvin said thoughtfully. “Hmm, interesting. Hunger doesn’t feel the same. I could wait a little longer to eat.”

Livia looked at him, amused. She opened the door an inch and peered out into the hallway. “There are people in the kitchen,” Livia whispered.

“I am not in my speedo,” Corvin whispered back. “There is no need to ninja through the house.”

Livia giggled.

Someone in the kitchen stopped and looked around at the sound. Livia opened the door so the person didn’t think they’d gone crazy hearing random voices.

Livia stepped out and walked into the kitchen. Aurelia was cleaning up the breakfast mess. She smiled at them. “Good morning, you two. We set aside two plates for you.”

Livia followed her hand gesture and saw two plates of pancakes and eggs on the counter.

“Thank you, Mom,” Corvin said.

He stepped close to his mom and gave her a light hug. She smiled up at him. “If you’d like, you may eat in your room,” she said.

Corvin looked at Livia, trying to read her reaction. Livia actually wanted to eat outside the room. Being married shouldn’t mean hiding away in a single room. She tilted her head toward the barstools along the counter.

Corvin followed her lead. “We’re fine at the counter here. How goes the packing?”

“The girls are getting all their things packed. After I’m done cleaning here, I’ll pack my things.”

Corvin smiled at his mom. “It was an unforgettable Christmas vacation, wasn’t it?”

“Life-changing,” she joked.

“Indeed,” Corvin said, chuckling. “Do you think the family will be mad?”

“Some of them, but the ones closest to you will understand,” she said. “Did you two have a good evening?”

Corvin leaned in toward Livia, answering with an amused smile. “We did.”

Livia grinned back. “We loved the cheese board. Thank you. That was nice.”

Aurelia looked pleased. “I’m so glad you liked it.”

“Everything was really nice,” Livia said. “All of you did a wonderful job of making the day special. Thank you.”

Aurelia looked at Corvin. “Son, You’ve married an appreciative woman. I hope you never take that for granted.”

“Oh, I know how good I’ve got it,” he said. “Livia made things loads easier every step of the way, didn’t she?”

“She’s so practical and decisive,” Aurelia said.

After breakfast, Livia and Corvin helped Aurelia finish cleaning up the kitchen. Then, they got ready for the day and started packing.

“Liv, Hun, are you okay with driving me home in your car?” Corvin asked.

“Who will drive your car?” Livia asked.

“My Mom,” he said. “Dad went down in their car last night to be at the Senate meeting this morning. So everyone can fit in if I go with you.”

“That’s fine,” Livia said.

So, Corvin hauled all his luggage into the trunk of Livia’s car. They cleaned the entire house, and everyone was ready to leave by 2:00. Livia and Corvin were the first people out the door and in their car.

“We good to go?” Livia asked Corvin.

Livia watched as Epiphany loaded Verity into the booster seat in Corvin’s SUV. Verity looked unhappy about the situation.

“We’re good to go, Liv. Whenever you’re ready.”

“Is Verity okay?” Livia asked.

“She hates leaving the ranch. Pru doesn’t like it as much, but Verity loves the long, quiet days. Pru thrives on the structure at home, and she gets bored out here. So she gets excited to go back to the routine.”

“Funny how they’re so different,” Livia muttered. She watched Prudence skipping to the car, holding Mel’s hand.

With the little kids accounted for, Livia backed out of the driveway. Then, she started the drive back to Caesarea as Livia Tullius.