"What did he want?"
"He wanted her to be his."
"Umm. That’s the right answer."
"While he waited for the date to arrive, he flew to New York City and found the finest goldsmith. He had the jeweler craft a special necklace for the Golden Dancer. Finally the news came that the Growling Bear had been granted his wish. In three days, he would have her! He flew out that night. When he arrived, he went to find her, but she wasn’t there. He left and went back the next day. As soon as he walked in, he saw her! She was more beautiful, more perfect, than he remembered. He called the Jeweler and had the necklace flown on winged horses to him. It arrived that same day. The Growling Bear had a plan. He would wine and dine the Golden Dancer. He would make her laugh and make her tingle from his touch. He would seduce her, and try to have sex with her, but he would not force her. He would not break her; he would tame her. When she wanted him, he would collar and claim her with the golden necklace!"
"Ummhmm."
"The hour came. The clock struck midnight and just like Cinderella, the Golden Dancer vanished. The Growling Bear was devastated! He was so horny and needy for her! Damn! It was bad!"
I giggle. "Poor Bear!"
"Yes. He was a very poor bear and wanted to rip the head off of the devil, but knew he would never see her if he did. So he got the hell out of there and flew home to wait for her return. He called every week asking if she was back and making sure the devil knew he would have his date. Then your friend, Karma, delivered her right to the Growling Bear’s door."
"I think Karma delivered the Growling Bear to Golden Dancer’s door, but we’ll let that little detail slide. Go on. I’m interested now to see how the story ends."
"It doesn’t. It goes on forever." He kisses my hair.
"Oh my gosh! You are so sweet!"
"But I’ll continue my tale. When the Growling Bear sees her, he is stunned! Not only because she is simply stunning, and flashes her perfectness at him, but because he realizes she could be perfect for him. Wisely, the Growling Bear changes his game. Now he wants all of her, not just her body, her heart too. The Growling Bear works very hard to go slow with the taming of the Wild Thang, making sure he doesn’t scare the Golden Dancer away. A funny thing begins to happen to the Growling Bear. Do you know what happened?"
"No. What?"
"The more he was with the Golden Dancer, the less he growled inside. She transformed him."
"Yes, she did. Now he is a Sugar Bare!"
He laughs at that. "Now he is her happy, content and complete, Sugar Bare."
I roll over again and stare into his green eyes. I see peacefulness. "And they lived happily ever after?"
"Yes, but wait. There’s more to this story."
I grin as I put my lips on his. "Ah. I like Moore!" I roll back over to spoon again. "Continue."
"Remember the necklace the Growling Bear bought?"
"Yes. It’s beautiful and the Golden Dancer loves it!"
"Well, when the Golden Dancer gave her hearts to the not so Growling anymore Bear, he had the necklace engraved with a secret message for her."
"Does the Golden Dancer ever learn what it says?"
"She does." I wait for him to tell me, but he doesn’t say anything he just holds me tight.
"Does the Sugar Bare ever tell her?"
"Yes. He tells her while he holds her in his arms."
"Good because she really wants to know."
"It says. Cielo è uguale sposar mi."
"That sounds so super sexy. What does it mean?"
"It means he promises to never let her go."
I kiss his arm. "Heaven equals holding on?"
"Sort of." He sounds amused.
"Heaven equals forever yours?"
"Sort of." He brushes my face with his fingers. "The complicated lives of Sugar Bare and Golden Dancer must play out a little more before the secret is revealed, but Sugar Bare promises Golden Dancer that it will be worth waiting on."
I yawn, then tell him with a light hearted answer as I flip over. "Screw you, Aurei. You and your secrets!"
"I know." He yawns too, pulls my body up close, and squeezes my tit, then slides his golden rod into my holding zone. I squeeze my ass cheeks against it and he tweaks my tit. We lay there holding each other thinking, then I hear his breathing become steady.
"Goodnight, Sugar Bare."
"Goodnight, Wild Thang." He buries his nose in my hair. "I love the way you smell."
I wait for his soft snoring to begin. It is like a fan you get used to falling asleep with. I close my eyes and sigh. This is Heaven.
I wake when I hear his boots clicking on the tile floor. He is heading to the Bear door! I jump up and throw back the bed curtain. "Aurei Moore! Your ass better not be leaving me without a goodbye kiss!"
I hear him stop, then the clicking gets closer. He comes back to the bed explaining. "I kissed you, but you were...." The Bastard Son of Thor in all his thunderous, gorgeous Golden God glory pushes the curtain away and smiles at me as he sits his helmet down and leans over to give me what I want.
"Snoring?" I finish for him.
His eyes crinkle. "No. Purring." He purses his lips and exhales mimicking me, then he gives me a peck. I put my arms around his neck and give him an Eskimo kiss. "Go back to sleep. The sun isn’t up yet."
"I’m glad I don’t have to worry about you getting hurt today."
"I’m glad too."
I chuckle and let go, falling onto the pillow. He picks up his helmet, reaches for something at the foot of the bed, then tosses Titty Bare to me. "Here. You two girls snuggle together while I’m gone. I’ll see you later on."
I wrap her up and spoon with her. He closes the curtain and as his clicks go to the door, I tell him. "I love you, Maximus Aurelius Moore."
"I love you too, Siri Wild Thang Wright."
The Bear door clicks softly and he is gone. I drift back to sleep and dream peaceful happiness.
When I wake, I’m not sure if it is morning or not. I stare up at the Heavenly mosaic and it appears to be bathed in soft natural light. I lay on my back with Titty Bare in a tight hug and think about nothing while the cobwebs of heavy, restful sleep clear. "Umm, you smell like Aurei." I stick my nose on her face and take a deep breath. "His scent is so intoxicating. Heavenly."
Suddenly flashes of images, thoughts, words and hints fly across my mind. My eyes shoot wide open. My breath and heart crash.
I think I know what the inscription is.
Panic fills me. I sit straight up and grab Titty Bare. I hold her out in front of me and ask her. "Do you think that’s what it is?"
She stares blankly at me and I hug her tight to me. Oh My Golden God! That thought scares the hell out of me.
But my heart soars with it. I hold her out again and ask her. "Could that be it? Surely not!" I look up at the mosaic and feel in my gut I’m right. "Sweet Zeus! Father of the Fertile Gods! Holy Mother, Hera! What if I am right?"
My breath and my blood start pumping as the dam breaks. I jump out of the bed. Siri! Don’t even go there! Trying not to flee from sheer panic, I head for the pool. The blinds have been pulled and the room is dark, but when I snatch the door open, bright midday sun blinds me. I stagger to the edge of the water and dive in. It’s a nice refreshing temperature, but not warm. The shock helps to settle my nerves. As I swim, pulling myself through the water, forcing my breath to be deep and cleansing, shutting out the turmoil of the world, hearing only the muffled sound of water and my own breath blowing bubbles, while my eyes focus on the pattern on the pool bottom, flipping at the ends and pushing off, gliding, then kicking, then stroking, my head clears of the panic and my thoughts slow down.
I swim laps thinking thoughts that terrorize me.
Everything he does has a purpose! I said that last night about him. So if this inscription says what I think it says, I need to be prepared to give him an answer.
Do I?
I def do!
But would I?
But should I?
That’s the question.
If I do, what will he expect from me? And if this does say that, when? Now?
It isn’t now! But once he translates it, when will he expect it to happen? How will my life change?
His life is about to change dramatically. Perhaps this is cautionary for him. Perhaps he intends for it to be in the distant future, and he wants to make sure I knew how long ago he wanted this to happen.
That sounds like Aurei. Always prepared. And if it doesn’t work out, then I would never have known because he kept his intention a secret in Italian. Hmmm.
But I need to be ready if or when he does. I want to be honest with him. That’s only fair to both of us.
How can we make this work?
Because we love each other to the stars and back ... and there would be no real life without him in it.
Sweet Zeus! He had it inscribed so quickly. Saturday. Surely I’m wrong! How could he possible decide something so life altering after only one hookup?
Don’t jump to any conclusions, for Zeus’ Sake, Siri. He is Maximus Aurelius Moore! He has given whatever this is considerate thought.... It may not even be what you think it is....
But ... he has been actively searching for someone far longer than I have ... and he has been loving me far longer than I’ve been loving him too....
I know I’m right. Heaven equals a forever commitment, and he and I know I will say yes, despite the 'should' I.
The only question really is when?
I stop swimming and glide in the water. When I lose speed, I dive like a dolphin, and come up out of the water, doing an Ariel hair flip, spraying water everywhere. I look up, smiling as the water lands in big droplets around me.
Heaven would equal that.
I wipe the water from my face and tell myself. "I need to get out of here. I can think about this and the implications later. Right now I need to get up to the big house to be with his family. Family first." I wade through the water to the ladder, trailing my fingertips along the top. "Ann and Bee should have arrived by now. Now that’s a heavenly thought!"
Walking through the bedroom, dripping water on the floor, I spot Titty Bare in the bed. I run over to her and give her a quick hug, kiss the top of her head, and sit her up on her throne of pillows. Then I head to the bathroom to shower and get dressed.
When I walk through the dressing room, a white toga dress hanging on the rack in a plastic bag catches my eye and I change direction to examine it closely. It literally shimmers with beauty when I unzip it and remove it from its cover. It is trimmed with gold braid and has gold and what looks like diamonds threaded throughout. It is the most incredible gown I have ever held in my arms. My breath and my heart crash again when I realize what it is.
"OH SHIT SIRI!" I shake my head. "You’re right! You are DEF right! Holy Smoke! This is beautiful!" The gold broach that holds the gathered fabric on the shoulder is a solid gold ring and hanging off is a heart locket of sapphires and diamonds. I gently hold it, treasuring it. "What a thoughtful man! What a sweet man! Damn he has good taste too." I chuckle as I reach for the bag to put it back. There is a note attached. The first words are written in Italian, then under it is scratched the translation in English.
'Thank you for trusting us with this honor. We are proud to deliver it ahead of schedule.'
Ahead of schedule.
Last night’s fairytale words echo. 'The complicated lives of Sugar Bare and Golden Dancer must play out a little more before the secret is revealed, but Sugar Bare promises Golden Dancer that it will be worth waiting on.'
"Oh yeah. You are definitely worth waiting on, Sugar Bare. There is no one like you on this earth."
I remove the bag, then hit the button to push the clothes along looking for a colored bag to put it in instead of this clear one. I don’t want Aurei to even suspect I saw this. As the clothes move by, I realize about half are women’s clothes. I slow it down and begin to take notice of what is in here. There is a wide variety of colors and styles of suits, and t-shirts, dresses for casual and dining. Everything a woman needs. I’m again gobsmacked with the smallest details that Aurei has taken into account on my behalf. He is the most competent man ... person ... I have ever met! Why would I worry? He has everything under control. Just trust him, Siri! He’s got this!
I don’t find a colored bag, so I put the Goddess gown back in the clear one and hang it on the rack. I whisper to it as I hit the button to store it well out of sight. "Laters, Babe! When my Golden God is ready." Then I sit down on the bench and just breathe, feeling Aurei’s essence whispering in my ear. "Breathe, baby. Breathe with me, Sweet, Wild Thang. Slow down. Nice and slow." I close my eyes and breathe, stabilizing myself. In. Out. In. Out.
I smirk. Good Girl Goddess takes on a whole other meaning! Ummhmm.
My phone dings, breaking my thoughts. It’s Aurei. I make a mad dash for it into the bedroom, and almost bust my ass on the wet floor. Grabbing it, I read as I make my way back to the dressing room.
My Golden God: *Good afternoon, My Every Thang. My Find Friends app tells me you are still in bed. Wish I was there with you. I have laid out your clothes I want you to wear. Yes. The panties are a must and you know why. ;) Maybe we should nickname them drip pans. I see you smiling! Here’s a song for you too.*
It’s "Hold That Thought" by Chuck Wicks. I click play.
It’s so freakin’ sweet! Gawd! How I do love you! I pull it close to my breast and sway with it.
*Umm. I’ll hold that thought forever whenever we are apart!*
*Stop dancing with it!*
*Ha! You know me too well!*
*Get dressed bc I need to see you in all your beauty shining on me from the stands. I want to hear a genuine Alabama Yee-haw too!*
*Getting my ass in gear.*
*The keys to the Roadster are on the counter. Don’t leave the compound!*
*LOL! Yes sir!*
Chapter Thirty
I look around for the clothes, but don’t see anything, so I go in the closet. There on a hanger is a petite size yellow J-Crew shirt and folded neatly under is a pair of skinny blue jeans. Laying on top is a matched set of Victoria Secret aqua colored bra and panties. Ha! Drip pans. He’s so funny! On the floor is a pair of aqua color high heel sneakers. Ha! He’ll be the only one who knows the shoes match my undies. That’s so like him!
I dance to the shower and make it quick, then mousse my hair so it will be light and fluffy, but naturally wavy and full, then get dressed. When I walk by the mirror, I see myself as a cute, young, sweet thang, not the Vegas Diva, and def not a whore. I give a big "Yee-Haw" to the Bear Cave as I leave. Snatching up the keys, I dance out to the Roadster, back her out, and turn her to the house. There is a short, fit woman with light brown hair cut short over her ears, walking on the side of the road, heading up, so I stop and put the window down and ask. "Do you want a ride?"
She puts her hands on the window and I know immediately who she is. Tattooed on her fingers are the letters. B.E.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. When her face appears, I know it’s true. The clearest blue eyes sparkle at me with the biggest, flirtiest smile. "You must be Siri!"
"And you must be BEE!"
She backs away as the door unhinges then she slides in. Her breasts are enormous and she has a slight bulge in her belly. "Thank God Aurei found a Southern Girl for me to hang with. These Italian bitches don’t take to me." She offers her hand and I shake it. We are best buddies immediately!
She talks the entire way up to the house, filling me in on the details of the family members and giving me the skinny on as many as she can in the short ride up. The only thing she says about Mia is what I already know.
"She’s the bossiest bitch of them all. I try to steer clear of her at all cost." She rolls her eyes. "It’s just not worth the confrontation."
"Why do you think she’s like that?"
"She is jealous of my influence over Ann. Before we were a couple,
Mia was Ann’s best friend while they were in Italy. When I came along, she didn’t want to share her, but I think it’s really more a territorial and power thing than a genuine BFF thing."
"What about Gio?"
"She’s harmless unless Mia puts her up to something. Most the drama is stirred up by Mia, by the way. If shit starts to go bad, look for her to have started the whisper."
"What kind of confrontation have you had with her?"
"I don’t like to be bossed around. If she chooses black, I’ll choose white. That sort of thing."
When I park, I tell her. "Thanks for the intel."
"Sure. No problem."
As we walk up to the house, I ask. "How long have you and Ann been together?"
"Forever!" She laughs as she opens the door for me.
As soon as we enter the room, Zita comes over and hugs Bee. "Did you have a good flight? How do feel? Did you rest?"
Bee rolls her eyes at me and tells her. "Yes, ma’am, to everything! I’m good to go."
Zita smiles warmly on us both, then turns and tells the waiting women. "The family is all here. Let’s eat and go watch our men show off now."
The crowd of women make their way outside to the exercise area where tables of finger food and drinks are set up. We serve ourselves. Then we randomly board the ATV mules and golf carts that wait to transport us. I recognize several of the ranch hands as drivers. Bee makes sure we are in the same vehicle and that we aren’t in the same one as Mia.
The mood of the women is festive and happy. We take a different route down, coming in the front. The road is landscaped with beautiful trees that form an arch over it. It is peaceful and serene, but the women are loud and rowdy.
When we pull up to the entrance, everyone makes their own way into the stadium or they wait in the parking lot. Bee tells me that the children have been all week in a camp and will be joining us before the show starts. When we walk in, I again appreciate the architectural design that blends the modern with the ancient. There is an air of excitement that fills the stadium. Many people are already here. I ask Bee. "Is this open to the public?"
"Oh hell yeah! You didn’t know that? This is big damn deal, girl! These Italians take this shit seriously! I heard there isn't going to be a hand to hand combat battle anymore. I’m glad. I didn’t care for the blood, but removing the battle element will probably make the future attendance drop. Blood lust fills the stands. Not that a big attendance is important, but Big Al’s memory is."
Being In Love (Siri's Saga Book 5) Page 19