**All characters are over 18
**This is a SERIAL so it is a running story so please look for the previous/following installments!
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Previously on Just In Time: Justin is sent back in time and goes undercover in Cleopatra's palace as a servant of the historian Strabo to prevent the theft of Cleopatra's poison! Justin is told of three suspects: a tall beauty in Octavian's retinue, a suspicious doctor and a newly hired servant. But all work and no play takes the fun out of time travel and Justin is jumped first by Cleopatra's servant Charmion and then Cleopatra herself. And although he doesn't know it yet, Cleopatra's other servant, Iras, hungers for Justin as well.
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"There he is my lady," Iras said under her breath.
Cleopatra looked over where Iras had been looking and saw Octavian. Cleopatra smiled sadly. He reminded her of her Caesar. But now her Caesar's grandnephew sought to destroy her. And her people.
Cleopatra smiled when Justin came into view. Justin reminded her of Caesar too. But in a good way. The lust he initiated in women was the same intangible that made Caesar Caesar.
Justin looked over where they all were staring and saw Octavian.
Charmion came up behind him and gently touched his arm.
She motioned him away from the group and whispered conspirationally, "let me come to your room tonight..." she began.
Justin shook his head, "I have to play my part here," Justin said, motioning toward the guests pouring into the dining hall.
A look of annoyance passed over Charmion's face quickly but passed when she said, "then I'll see you tomorrow morning."
She left with a satisfied smile on her face and Justin smiled in spite of himself.
The tall mystery women they had mentioned before approached from behind Octavian and Justin's breath stopped low in his throat. She was remarkable. Not in any conventional sense. But Justin had never thought of himself as conventional.
She was tall and thin with an angular jaw and a sharp nose but her eyes sparkled and Justin sensed fire beneath them. Her raven black hair danced on the shoulders of her thin frame. Her breasts were shown off by a scooping neckline and a large gold necklace that Octavian appeared to be showing to some of his guests. Or perhaps Octavian was showing them her breasts.
"There's Strabo," Iras whispered to Justin.
Justin approached the historian and made his introductions. Strabo seemed to be amiable enough and said that he had to make a formal introduction to Octavian.
So Justin approached Octavian with Strabo. Strabo's eyes were on Octavian, Justin's on Octavian's mystery woman.
Strabo said something to Octavian but Justin was locked on the woman. Finally out of the corner of his eye, Justin saw Strabo point at the woman and Octavian motioned her forward.
She had noticed Justin's attention and smiled at him with an amused look at her face.
"She is beautiful is she not? And quite tall. Almost abnormally so. But alas. She is mute," Octavian was telling Strabo.
Justin's eyes shot to the woman's. Her eyes seemed to be laughing at Justin.
"...I call her Atia, after my mother..." Octavian continued.
Justin bowed low and withdrew.
"I'm going to go see the doctor," Justin said to Iras.
"You don't know where he is!" Iras said exasperatedly.
Cleopatra smiled at them, overhearing their conversation, "go with him," Cleopatra urged, with a twinkle in her eye that was reserved for Iras.
"I don't think it's the woman, although she seemed to know a hell of a lot. Or she was just having fun with me. But she's beautiful, there's something striking about her that other women don't have..." Justin trailed off when he saw the crestfallen look on Iras' face.
He opened his mouth to apologize but Iras cut him off.
"We're here," Iras said, motioning at a room right outside the palace.
"Can you help me?" Justin asked.
Iras seemed to be torn between her anger and jealousy -- and something else -- but she relented and nodded in agreement.
"I want you to ask detailed yet inane questions. Where he was born, where he studied, where he worked before, all that. Can you do that for me?" Iras looked puzzled.
Justin felt guilty about not letting her in on anything.
"It's just so I know if they belong or not," Justin added.
Iras nodded and opened the door.
"Why come in," a voice called from inside.
Justin and Iras stepped inside the room where there was little light. Justin had a flash of apprehension that vanished when the doctor lit a candle.
Justin took in the doctor and his hopes fell. The doctor was a hunchback. That was why they thought he looked strange. He wasn't really out of the ordinary. Not in the way Justin had hoped.
Iras asked her questions but Justin's mind was elsewhere.
Iras pulled him out a few minutes later.
"Was that enough?" Iras asked quickly.
"You were great, thanks," Justin said.
Iras smiled. A big smile. The biggest Justin had seen on her face in the brief time he had known her.
Iras stood on her tip toes and half jumped, to kiss Justin quickly on the mouth. Justin was only a little surprised but he bent his head down to return to kiss.
Iras opened her mouth and tentatively pushed her tongue into Justin's mouth. When Justin responded Iras arched her chest forward and pushed her mouth deeper into the kiss.
Iras broke away from Justin and looked over her shoulder where the lights of the dining hall remained lit.
