I stare at him without answering and he stops in the sun to study me studying him. His dark eyebrows cut his face in two, defining his angular features. His straight nose is accentuated by the light. The sun rests on his broad shoulders and the shadows enhance the angle falling down to his narrow waist. "No, I can’t get enough of you."
"I was talking too much about myself." He looks sheepishly at me. His perfect lips turn up into a perfect smile and his white teeth almost glow with the brightness of the sun. He takes the halter and rope off his shoulder and switches sides.
"I want you to know, Maximus Aurelius Moore, that I’m truly happy right now. Walking peacefully with you in the woods of Italy. It’s like I fell into a dream and if I am dreaming, Sugar Bare, I don’t ever want to wake up. My heart sings with the joy of being in this moment."
"Come here." He commands.
His soft green gaze fills my eyes with peace and love, and his beautiful smile greets me with hope and happiness as I obey, collapsing onto his chest. He reaches one hand around and pinches my ass.
"Oui!" I jump closer to him.
"You’re not dreaming. This is real." His hand cups my ass and holds me against him.
"That feels real...." I giggle. "Big."
He lowers his lips to mine and whispers. "Shh. Don’t move. Caesar is watching us."
"What?" I whisper too.
"Caesar is watching us." He says again. "He is standing in the shadows behind you."
"Where?" I start to turn my head and look.
"Don’t move means don’t move." He tells me with a soft voice as he forces my mouth back to his.
I try to focus on the delightful feeling of him kissing me, but I’m more curious about Caesar. "Is he still there?" I ask in my own soft voice.
"Yes. When I release you, slowly glance back. Try not to spook him."
When he releases me, I do as I’m told. "I don’t see anything but blackness."
"Look down at the ground for his hoofs. Can you see them?"
"Oh yes, there he is." I can see his hoofs standing in a pool of sunshine. Following them up, I can barely make out the outline of a black beast standing still as a statue. I whisper, "He’s a big boy."
"Yes, he’s a Friesian Horse. He stands 17 hands." Aurei eases his embrace and I turn slightly to look at this monster horse.
I hear him snort air like a deer. "He’s a cautious one."
"Yes."
"How do you catch him?"
"We usually herd him up, but he might come to me when we go to the practice field."
"Do I need to do anything to help?"
"No. He either will or he won’t."
"He’s not trained like a dog then?" I can’t help the poke.
Aurei chuckles, "No, only Flash comes when you whistle."
"That’s right because I’m the Horse Whistler." I say, making Aurei chuckle again.
We casually stroll down the path, arm in arm, and I glance back. When Caesar steps out of the shadows into the sunshine, all I can say is, "Holy Hades."
He is a beast! His long, arched neck holds his well-chiseled head high. His shoulders are powerful, and he measures every inch of 68 inches at the withers. His compact, muscular body is followed by strong, sloping hindquarters. His thick mane and low-set tail are long and wavy, but unkempt, and full of twigs. Still, "Grandeur" is the first word that pops into my brain as he makes his way to the path. When he steps onto it, I see his long, silky hair on the bottom half of his legs.
Wow! He is every bit a stud as his master.
"Aurei, he is black and beautifully wild." I whisper as I turn to watch the elegance and grace of this magnificent beast following us. "And Caesar suits him."
"I’m afraid I have neglected him trying to tame another Wild Thang’s tail. He needs a bath and a brush. Bad!" He winks that killer wink.
We walk the rest of the way in silence and every now and then, I look over my shoulder to see if Caesar is still there. Aurei never looks back. Caesar keeps the exact same distance between us. When the trees begin to thin, Aurei slows down, then stops before we reach the edge. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I walk forward alone a few more yards leaving the path behind and stepping out from the woods into full sunshine. The sight before me takes my breath away.
I’m standing at the top of a small hill and the practice area is spread out before me. Looking down into a natural bowl shaped valley with a flat floor. Bright green grass covers everything except the center circle. It is outlined by a small retaining wall defining the arena area. There are a few aged trees that provide nice shade sprinkled around. I stand stunned by the sheer beauty and majesty of it. I turn around to tell Aurei, but he isn’t there. Neither is Caesar.
They are making their way down the gentle slope on the right side. Caesar is right on his heels now, following like a faithful friend. Aurei smiles at me when he sees me watching with my hands to my mouth. I can’t help the feeling that wells up inside me at the picturesque sight of my Golden God and his Dark Warhorse.
He’s my hero. How did I ever exist without him?
When they reach the circle, Aurei continues in through a small break in the wall to the center, but Caesar hesitates and stands at the edge. Aurei turns to face him. He doesn’t try to coax him. He simply stares with respect and Caesar appears to be doing the same. His head is held high and like his master’s, his posture is also perfect. Then Caesar drops his head and sniffs the ground where Aurei entered. For a moment I think that he will begin to graze, but then he paws the ground. I smile because I know the horse is thinking hard about giving in and going in. I walk down the slope to sit under one of the trees to watch and wait.
No telling how long Caesar will take to decide. Wild and free or tamed and controlled. I know how you feel, buddy. I know how you feel!
When Caesar finally steps in, he walks with his head down. Aurei holds his hand out now and when Caesar stands before him, he raises his head and sniffs it.
I know how you feel now too. I can’t resist him either.
Aurei rolls his hand over very carefully and rests it on the side of Caesars face as he eases up to the big horse. His head drops and I know he is whispering soft words of love to him. As he reaches for Caesar’s neck, he drops his shoulder and allows the rope to slide off onto his forearm and then into his hand. Caesar’s head jerks and bobs, but he doesn’t bolt. He stands tall and proud. His tangled mane, fluffed from freedom, gives him a look of pure power. As Aurei runs the rope up along his withers, Caesar flares his nostrils and tosses his head, but he stands still. Aurei neither hurries nor flinches. His calm and control settle Caesar down as the rope falls over the horse’s neck. Aurei strokes him as he reaches around to grasp the other end and just like that, Caesar is caught. Aurei puts the halter on with one hand while holding the rope with the other, then he leads him to the edge of the arena.
The bonding between them was poetry in motion and I feel honored to have witnessed it.
Aurei calls up to me. "Come down and meet my faithful friend."
"I thought the same thing about him, a faithful friend." I tell myself out loud as I make my way down the slope. When I step over the wall, I walk over to them, then stop and let Caesar check me out.
Aurei is holding his head and rubbing his jaw. His ears are at full attention as his flared eyes examine me. When he settles down, I approach and stand beside him. He sniffs me, blowing his heavy breath over my clothes and skin. When he is satisfied, he nuzzles Aurei and ignores me. "He’s even more beastly beautiful close up."
"He is a beast, but like I said, he is beautiful after a bath and a brush." He laughs.
Leaving the practice area to take Caesar to the stable, Aurei explains as he points across the property. "We only practice here. We hold the Celebration Battles in the actual Arena over there."
"Oh! Really? You mean you and Antonio actually fight?"
"The battle is more a friendly battle of wits rather than actual fighting. We are careful not to
hurt our opponent, but yes, you will see one, but not necessarily between Antonio and me. We draw straws to see who fights."
He looks at me and I roll my fingers. "Come on. Keep talking. I’m all ears."
"There are six Liotine men between 18 and 35 who are in the fight pool." He tells me their names. The last one is Quintus.
Quintus! 'Maybe you won’t draw Quintus.’ Ann said.
He stops walking and looks at me with an 'ahha' face. "He can be my media guy. He’ll be perfect for it." He takes his phone out and I peer carefully as he types. *Hire Quintus as my media liaison.*
*Great idea! On it.* Antonio responds immediately.
Aurei smiles at me and I ask, "Who is Quintus?"
"He’s Antonio’s younger brother."
"Oh, he’s a handsome hottie then?"
Aurei smiles, "Yes, we called him Cassy when he was little."
"Cassy?"
"Short for Casanova. It pissed him off because he thought we were calling him a girl’s name. When he got older, and learned who we were referring to, we all laughed about it."
"Poor guy." I laugh. "Why Casanova? Or do I need to even ask?"
"Growing up, he never got into something he couldn’t charm his way out of. He was a smooth talker and was well on his way to being a little shit. We gave him a reason to fight. It was good for him."
I laugh again. "Is he a badass then?"
"He excelled in his training. So yeah, I would say you could label him a badass."
As we get closer to the stables, Caesar begins to prance and our conversation ends as Aurei handles his stallion with a firm but gentle hand. When he gives the rope over to Paolini, he smiles as his Warhorse shows his ass, but enters the area.
Walking back to the car, I yawn and Aurei yawns too. We grin at each other and I state the obvious. "I’m sleepy."
"Let’s go to bed."
Chapter Six
When we arrive back at Aurei’s cabin aka "not little" house, he drops me off at the front door. Rain clouds have moved in and it’s starting to sprinkle. I run inside to the bathroom, grab a towel, then stand waiting for him at the front door watching the flood erupt as he runs with his shoes in hand. His 'magnifico' mounds of flesh jogging up as his feet push him forward, then down when they hit the earth.
He projects power, but he’s so graceful.
When he runs onto the porch, his clothes are soaked and plastered to his body. "Whoa, that came up quick." He tosses his shoes to the wall by the door and then shakes his head. Small droplets of water fly off and spray me. I block them with the towel, giggling. When I peer over the top, he has started taking his shirt off. His arms are crisscrossed and he holds the hem. With one strong move, he heaves. The suction sound as it peels off his skin makes my tummy lurch.
Da-yum!
He rings the water out and the sound of the liquid hitting the porch is drowned out by the downpour. He hangs it over the back of one of the rocking chairs. Then he undoes the button of his jeans, slides the zipper down, sticks his thumbs in the waistband and pushes them off his maximus ass, Calvin Klein's and all.
The wet jeans stick to his thighs and he bends over, hooking his thumbs again and repeats the push. Only this time, he adds a cute little tail wiggle to his 'shuck my jeans' dance.
I hide my laughter in the towel. When he walks up to me naked, I hand it to him and he rubs his wet head with it, then his body. "The hot tub will have to wait until post nap. There is lightning in the distance." He cinches the towel around his waist and I remember peeking at his perfect body through the peep hole in my apartment. "Thanks for the towel." He leans over to give me a quick kiss.
I smile as my hand slides around his waist as his lips touch mine. "I like thunder."
He leans in closer and opens his mouth. His tongue slides in and my other hand hooks his neck to keep his lips locked to me. His breath from his short jog blows from his nose and the essence of Aurei caresses my cheeks. When he draws away, his green eyes have darkened, his facial expression has tightened at his eyes, and loosened at his jaw. His eyes hone in on mine, narrowing slightly, as the chemistry that is us fuels our passion. I know his look well now. He is hungry, and needy for me.
We hold each other enjoying the love that flows freely between us now, then his phone rings. It’s an old fashioned ringtone, loud and annoying, and it totally pops the serene bubble of the moment.
Aurei lifts his head and kisses my cheek. "I’ve been waiting on this call." Stepping away, he grabs his jeans and digs for his phone.
I twirl around, rolling my head so I get maximum hair toss, and go back inside, playfully telling him with a British accent. "Laters, Babe!"
"Moore, here. Yes, I’ll hold." I hear him say as I walk off.
I can feel his eyes watching me, then I hear, "Hey, Wright."
"Yes, Moore?"
"I’m on hold. Sing Whitney Houston for me while I wait." His commanding tone is back.
Standing in the doorway, I turn to look at him, put my hands on my hips, then I tilt my head as I lift one eyebrow and let my eyes twinkle playfully to him. "Are you asking or telling?"
"Telling," he laughs.
I twirl around, hair flying, to strut to the kitchen.
"Ok, asking. Please?"
I laugh at him and look back. He stands in the door frame, then he adds for brownie points. "With Sugar Bare on top?"
That makes me laugh. "You win. I’ll sing Whitney. What song did you have in mind? She has so many."
"You can pick, but I want to hear you coo too."
"Coo?"
"Coo her vocal runs."
"O.... K...." I smirk, "Whatever."
"Siri, give me your best now."
"I always give my best when I perform." I look insulted at him.
"And no dancing. Just singing." He eyes me with a serious look on his face.
"Why not? I can do both."
"I know you can, but let’s say this is an exercise in self-control."
"Excuse me? You think I need self-control?"
"Oh snap, this isn’t going the way I intended." He smirks now. "I want to hear your beautiful pipes and I don’t want you to dance yet. I’m not ready for the feeling I will get when I watch you. I need sleep first."
I lean forward and smile. "Good recovery. I’ll try."
"There is no try. Do."
I smirk back. "Master Yoda, close your eyes."
"Watch, I will." His eyes crinkle with his laugh. "Extra motivation I will give you. If you belt a full-on rendition of Whitney AND not dance a single step, just stand there and sing, then I’ll not only be on top tonight, I’ll give you both a wild ride and one to remember."
My eyes twinkle wickedly into his and he grins at me. "Challenge accepted."
He leans on the door frame, grinning at me very pleased with himself as I walk to the center of the room. I stand silently, thinking of which song to choose. Then I hit upon the perfect one. I smile, knowing tonight will be one wild night I won’t ever forget.
I look down at the floor and remember my instruction all those years ago when my voice coach wanted me to harness and control my emotions, allowing my feelings to flow through my vocal cords instead of dancing out of my body. He told me, "Your ears are absorbing the song into your heart and with each beat it fills your soul with overflowing joy. It is a gift you have been given. But you must learn to harness this uncontrollable urge to dance and turn it into an unforgettable singing performance. I will teach you to control it and allow your joy to flow through your vocal cords. You will sing a cappella until further notice."
I clear my throat, take the posture I was taught, take several deep breaths, then relax my shoulders, look up at the ceiling, and find my center.
Then I hear Cat’s words as she hugged me in the beginning before each Surreal performance when I was nervous and didn’t really believe in myself yet. "Siri, let your talent go, Baby, go! Believe in yourself. Diva-ness is in the details."
To which I would
say with fake confidence as I took a deep breath and stood behind the curtain waiting for my cue. "I got this. Let’s do it."
When I walked out and became the Diva I was impersonating that night, I would hear her cheering.
Diva-ness is in the details and I am a Diva of details.
I see Whitney Houston in my mind’s eye and transform myself, taking on her persona of sweetness along with her elegance, grace, and beauty. She was a Divine Diva with the voice of an angel and deserves to be represented that way.
When I look back at Aurei, I am a Divine Diva and I tell him as if I’m performing on a stage in front of a massive audience. "Maximus Aurelius Moore, you are my heart, my hunk and my hero. I sing for you."
I hum the musical score before I begin singing and when I start, I give him everything I have. My eyelids droop, I tip my head back and I express my love for my soulmate. Singing softly at first, completely controlling my breath, my expressive tone and my delivery, I have to release the full range of my natural vibrato to sing the song the way Whitney did.
His amused grin at my theatrics falls off his face and he stands up straight with a look of stunned silence on his beautiful face as I sing, "I Believe In You and Me" from the Motion Picture "A Preacher’s Wife." My performance leaves no doubt what I believe about this beautiful thing we have found. He is my one, my only, my every thang too and I love him.
He smirks, and gives me a man nod when instead of calling him "Boy," I call him "Bare."
I sing to him that we were both lost, but now found and free, that I will always be open to him, and that he is the only one who has ever been deep down inside my soul where the wildness lives. As the song gets more passionate, I belt the words, telling him he is my miracle, my dream come true, and I truly believe in me and you. Us! When I finish, I pause for just a moment, then say, "I love you, Sugar Bare."
With tears shinning in my eyes from the tremendous emotion required to put forth a delivery it that way, I turn away to hide them from him.
"Siri," I hear him call my name. His voice is husky with emotion too and it sounds deliciously sensual in the silence.
Being In Love (Siri's Saga Book 5) Page 4