My eyes twinkle at him. "Boom. Brownie points." His 'sexy as hell' smile fills his face, as he leads us toward the exit.
The hostess tells us. "Good day."
"Have a good one." I tell her.
We stand waiting on the elevator.
"You really are a sweet man."
"I know."
Chapter Six
When we enter the elevator, I grin at Aurei because we are alone. He pushes the lobby button and pulls me to him. He kisses me the entire way down. When we land, the doors slide open and he kisses my forehead. "Ok. Let’s go shopping."
"Do you like shopping?" I ask him as we walk out hand in hand. "Most men don’t."
"No. Not really."
I stop at the top of the stairs. He steps down and turns to look at me. "Why are you going with me then?"
"I want to make sure you have the appropriate attire."
My eyes narrow and I say with a testy attitude. "Appropriate?"
"Warm." He clarifies.
"Warm as in covering most of my body?"
"Yes." He nods, then he realizes why I’m frowning. "I like your taste in clothes, Siri. This outfit is sexy as hell and you are fully clothed." He grins. "But the material is wrong for the unpredictable weather of Rome this time of year. It can be sunny or wet, but cold. There aren’t a lot of warm spring days."
"I don’t like to be cold." I admit. "But I don’t see why you would torture me by coming along. I am perfectly capable of shopping by myself and for myself."
He laughs and pulls me down the stairs. "We aren’t shopping the way you are used to doing it. We won’t be browsing the aisles for bargains. We are going to Via Condotti. It is quite an experience. Come on. We are walking."
When we enter the lobby area, I see Carlo is back behind the front desk. Franco is at his post discussing something with two new arrivals. Both lift their heads as we walk by. Aurei doesn’t look their way, but I do. I wink at them both and crinkle my nose. Neither of them break their professional facade but both of their eyes smile back at me.
We walk for about 10 minutes, holding hands and enjoying the morning. When we enter the street, there are people everywhere milling around, going in and out of stores. Some carrying bags and bags with designer names, like Gucci, Prada, Ferragamo, Bvlgari, and Louis Vuitton. Aurei takes me first to Gucci where we shop for a light weight, yet warm coat. He likes a white wool peacoat with a price tag of $2,500, but I protest. "Aurei! I will only wear this thing while I’m here in Italy. I have no use for it in Vegas."
He gives me his sweet, tolerant smile then tells me. "Yes. But you will be returning to Rome and Italy with me for visits regularly and you will need it." He turns to the store representative and tells her something in Italian that makes her smile and she walks off with it.
"Did you just buy that?" I ask him.
"Yes. I did. No arguments." He raises his eyebrows at me, challenging me not to. "You will wear it out of here, and you will be beautiful, and happy, and warm in it."
"Hmmph. I can see how this is going to go."
He grins. I roll my eyes and giggle. For the next few hours, I get a taste of Aurei’s idea of shopping. Which turns out to be us in a private sitting room with him explaining what he wants to buy; them parading items by us; us choosing the ones we like; then them taking me back to a dress room where they dress me in them; and me modeling it for Aurei to approve and purchase; and them packaging them in boxes; and labeling them with our Hotel name and room number.
I can’t help but tease him while he sits so confident and even cocky in the various chairs in the various boutiques, watching and passing judgement on my attire. I bend over to touch my palms to the ground with each outfit and he chuckles. "I had no idea the criteria a dancer uses to determine if an outfit is comfy." Occasionally I stretch my legs by putting one above my head in a standing split or placing my foot on his shoulder and swinging my hair around, or doing a booty bounce or twerk in them, but whatever I do, I am constantly checking the "roominess" and "movement" of the clothing.
When we leave the last shop, he drapes his arm over my shoulder, puts my head in a headlock and rubs my hair with his knuckles. "That didn’t hurt too bad, did it?"
I laugh and squirm against him. "Oui! That hurts much worse."
He laughs and lets my head go, but hugs me tight to him. "Admit it. I have excellent taste." He teases me as he dials his phone and he says into it. "Angelo. We are finished."
I laugh too. "Yes. You have excellent taste, and I did have a very nice time shopping with you, but you spent entirely too much on a wardrobe I won’t be wearing very often."
"Ah. But you will be." He smiles at me. "I don’t intend to let you out of my sight and I have to come to Rome often for business."
"But I dance a lot! All the time. Six days a week."
He stops and kisses me in the middle of the street. His tongue slides between my teeth and my mouth takes him in. I lose my protests, and my thoughts know only Aurei is my world now. His kiss is so comfortable. When he releases me, I’m breathless and he smiles. "Can you think of a really valid reason why you have to dance six days a week, fifty-two weeks out of the year?"
My eyes are glassy as I stare into his. "No. Just that I have to dance. I can’t quit."
"I’m not asking you to quit. I’m only asking you to not dance that much."
"I’ll think about it." I grin at him.
He reaches down and pinches my ass. "That’s a start." He cinches my hand again, and we start walking up the street. "You look very fly in that pantsuit."
"I feel much warmer in it too." I’m wearing the last outfit I tried on in the last shop. It is a chic pants suit with boots from Bvlgari.
"We have one more shop to visit before your surprise."
"Oh shit! I can’t believe I forgot about my surprise. I can’t wait!" We walk down a block and stand on the corner. Angelo pulls up in front of us in the Maserati Quattroporte, and Aurei opens the door for me.
I slide it. "Ciao, Angelo!"
"Ciao, Siri. You look radiant today."
"Thank you! I feel very pretty too."
Aurei slides in and says. "Funny how spending money on a woman has a way of making her feel good."
Angelo laughs. "It works for me! If Mia is unhappy, the whole house is unhappy so I take her shopping. Works every time."
"Men! We are not hard to please!"
Angelo laughs out loud. "No. That is very simple. Shopping."
"That’s not what I meant." I swat at him and we all laugh.
"Where to boss?" He asks Aurei. Aurei tells him and he pulls away.
Chapter Seven
My nose finds the window again. Aurei puts his hand up my shirt and plays with my bra strap. "Angelo, please become the tour guide again." I request and he begins talking. When we reach our destination, there isn’t any available parking, so he stops in the road and we get out. Aurei tells him to return for us in two hours, then he leads me into a very secluded but swank shop. Immediately the older woman at the counter comes around and greets Aurei. They converse and she smiles at me, then motions for me to follow her. Aurei settles onto the couch. I follow her into the back of the shop curious what kind of clothes he will let me choose without him. When she stops, she waves me to an elevated platform in the center of the room. I can hear a sewing machine sewing just out of sight. She indicates I’m to get undressed and stand on the platform. I strip down to my new navy undies and climb up. She breaks out the soft fabric tape and proceeds to gather my measurements. She measures every dimension imaginable of my body. I guess they don’t use 3D scanning here. She goes back and forth from me to Aurei and I hear them discussing what I can only assume is me and the outfit he is ordering. When we leave, I have no idea what he just bought. "I guess this is one of my surprises?"
"Yes, but not the one you are getting today."
I take his arm as we walk up the street. We round a few corners during the walk and then he stops in front of a brick
high rise down a back cobblestone street. I look up at the building as he enters the passcode to open the door. He pulls the door open for me and his phone dings. I enter into a very large foyer alone as he stops outside to answer it. The floor is pale gray marble and the walls are a dull red tone. The effect is cold yet warm. Interesting color scheme. I walk across to the closest door. There is a small vertical window and I peer in. It is an open bay area. Nothing inside, but concrete floor. A parking garage, maybe? I walk to the other end and pull the door open. LED lights instantly come on. Stairs. I look back over my shoulder. The CEO of Maximus Enterprises is still outside talking shop. I’m going to start without him.
The heels of my new boots step soft onto the cold gray marble. The walls in the stairwell are the same dull red, softening the harsh effects of the bright lights. The bannister is carved wood much like the one at the Hotel only more modern. My hand flows along its top rail as I start my ascent. On the second floor landing, the door is a lead stained glass house door. The picture is of a sun. The golden hues jump elegant against the dark red. Gorgeous! I try the door, and it’s unlocked. I slowly pull it open. I poke my head in and find an apartment under renovation. Better wait for Aurei before I explore this. I close the door and continue up to the next floor. This door is wrapped in gold wrapping paper and has a big blue bow on it. Obviously my surprise is in here. I def have to wait on Aurei.
I continue up the last flight of stairs and find a golden hued stained glass door with a picture of a monstrous bear! Fucking crucial! Standing tall and proud, it towers above the landing and stares out at something unseen in the distance. It’s magnificent, but intimidating! Not sure if I really want to, but unable to help myself, I lay my hand on the handle and test it, but it is locked. The echo of the door downstairs opening and closing drifts up to me, then I hear Aurei’s footsteps on the stairs. He is taking two stairs at a time. I trot down to meet him in front of the wrapped door. When he comes around the last landing, he is grinning. "Did you peek?"
"No." I smile back at him. "I wanted to wait for you."
"Good girl." When he steps up the last step, he takes my hand, cinches it and puts it behind him, drawing me up against him. His breath blows hard against my cheek, and his lips only graze mine. His eyes dance excited, sparkling as they crinkle in the corners. He is so fucking cute! "I can’t wait for you to see this." He positions me to face the door, and stands behind me. I can feel him but he isn’t touching me.
Looking at the locked door, I wonder what stained glass design will be on this door. "You’re very pleased with your choice." I smirk, looking over my shoulder at him. "It’s all over your face."
He laughs. "Yes, I am." I reach my hand out to the paper. "Don’t unwrap the door yet. I want to show you what is behind the door first." He puts his arms around me and snugs his body up on mine. "The key code to unlock the door is special. It’s taken from what you said to me when I took your precious virginity. Do you remember what you said?"
My eyes drop to the locked door handle. "Not really. I was so horny." I laugh. "I had been so horny for so long too. Waiting for you, Sugar Bare." I kiss his cheek. "What did I say?"
He laughs softly, then lays his lips on my neck. He pulls the skin off in his slow, seductive nibble. Goosebumps pops out all over my body. I lean my head over to give him full access and he starts slow, nibbling, sucking, pulling, small mouthfuls. "Umm." He moves my hair out of the way with his face and becomes more aggressive with his neck love. Still nibbling, sucking, and pulling, but larger mouthfuls. The feeling is like being eaten and devoured while being cherished and desired. "UMMHMM!" My hands try to find his cock, but he has them pinned. My legs grow weak and I lean my weight on his body. Mouthfuls of my skin in his mouth, driving me wild, making me hot, I moan loud, then he stops and breathes on the wet kisses he has left. Small goosebumps from the cold temperature break out and run down my skin.
"You said to me. 'Ah, don't stop, baby.'" His voice inflects the exact way I said it. "Sexy, wasn’t it?"
"Ummhmm. Is that the key code?" I ask confused. "Ah, don’t stop baby?"
"No." He chuckles.
"Sexy?" I lift my head and look out of the corner of my eye at him.
His eyes are crinkled and dancing at me. "No, Sexy Thang."
"Sexy Thang?"
"No." He laughs, then his face drops onto my neck again and his deep voice vibrates into my throat. "I want you to know. I will never stop ... wanting you, needing you, desiring you. Only you." I spin around in his embrace. He lays his sweet lips on mine. "The key code is 'unstoppable.'"
My heart almost stops with his romantic words. His lips seal themselves over mine and his tongue floats into my mouth. I lick it, tasting it as if for the first time, then I close down on it and suck him in. I massage his tongue as his hands slip around my neck, holding my head still, captive. When he lets me go, we are both breathless. Our foreheads touch and we breathe each other’s air.
"I wouldn’t have guessed that word."
"No, but it’s fitting. What word would you have guessed?"
"Truly."
"Ah. Now that’s a great word too. Are you ready to see your surprise?"
"Absofuckinglutely!"
He spins me around to face the door. "Open it." I enter 'unstoppable' and the latch clicks open. His golden hand moves to the door handle as he says. "Close your eyes. Take five steps inside, then open them." I close my eyes, then hear the door opening.
The smell of fresh flowers fills my nostrils. "Umm. Flowers!" I look at him.
"No peeking! Close your eyes, Naughty Thang." I giggle and close them. "Now five steps and open them. Go on."
I take the five steps, then open my eyes. I’m gobsmacked! My hands fall first to my sides, then to my heart, then to my face as I squeal. I whirl around and pounce, wrapping both my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.
He laughs as he catches me. "I guess this means you like it?"
Overwhelmed by what I saw, my face is hugged up tight to his neck. "Ummhmm!" Is all I can say with my face buried.
"I’m glad you do, Wild Thang. I thought you might." He holds me tight allowing me to nuzzle him until I catch my breath. After a few moments of intense emotions running through me, I lean back, and stare into the happiest green eyes on the sweetest man in the world.
"Oh My Fucking Golden God!" I shower him with kisses upon kisses upon kisses, covering every inch of his face, on his lips, his straight nose, his soft cheeks, his scruffy jaw. He holds me tight, letting me indulge myself. One last, loud smack on his perfect lips and I drop to my feet then spring around to view the room. I stand still shocked by the enormous perfection.
The room is a dance floor as big as a stage. Looking to the left, I see a single chair sitting next to a long thin table filled with the fresh flowers I smell. There are bottles of water and a small Bose sound system sitting on top of it. These are the only two pieces of furniture in the whole, expansive room. At each end are high, short windows with white sheers covering them, allowing soft, natural light to fill the room. Every wall is covered with mirrors, so the perfect lighting is amplified. Down the length of each of the side walls sits a ballet barre placed waist high. But the best part is what sits under the rear windows. I smile at it. Sitting alone in the middle of that area, is a simple stripper pole.
"Aurei! A pole! It’s perfect!" I tell him as I unbutton my new peacoat and drop it at his feet. When I look up into his eyes, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and I throw myself on him again. "You’re perfect!" I smack him loud once more on the lips then sink to sit on the floor and pull my boots off.
Chapter Eight
"What are you doing?" He laughs.
"What does it look like?" I giggle as I stand up. "Stripping." I toss my top at him and it lands on his head. I hear him laughing as I run to the table. I dig my iPhone out of my pocket and plug it in, then unzip my pants while my playlist loads. "You are in for a real treat, Maximus Aurelius Moore. Get ready." The fi
rst notes to Flashdance floats out and the Bose fills the empty room with luscious sound. I lean my head back, and spread my arms wide. "I love this song! I already knew I was a dancer, but after seeing this movie with my Grandmother, I knew I had to learn ballet." I push my pants off and step out of them, then trot out onto the dance floor in my navy bra and matching panties.
The song starts over and I hear Aurei say, "Ballet. I knew it."
As I kneel on my knees, touch my forehead to the floor and spread my arms out to each side, I wait. When the music starts, I dance. Lifting my arms, I spread my wings like a swan and dip them, then I lift my head and my arms to the ceiling. I slide my right foot out into a split, pull my left leg to me and spin around. Sitting, facing the opposite direction, I hug my knees and follow the dance. I dance it with all the passion of someone who loves the art of dance. Someone who is passionate about dance. Someone who can’t live without dancing. When the choreography ends, I sprint to the pole and launch myself on it as the song ends. Swinging around, I push my feet into the air and then free-style, celebrating the freedom of pole dancing and expressing the beauty of the body. When the music stops, I stop where I am. Hanging upside down, I look out over the room to see Aurei is leaning on the wall watching, captivated.
The next song on the playlist starts. It’s the Violin Cover by Robert Mendoza of David Gutters’ "Dangerous." I slide down in a free fall. At the bottom, I cinch the pole tight, stopping the momentum of my death drop only inches above the floor. My hair splays out in all directions.
"Da-yum!" Aurei exclaims with an Alabama accent.
Placing my hands on the floor, I glance at him. He has pushed off the wall, watching, totally captivated. I balance my body, spread my legs, then rock them side to side, calling him to me with the hypnotic motion.
I hear his shoes tap the floor as he moves to me and another country boy, "Da-yum!"
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