Being In Love (Siri's Saga Book 5)

by Cindee Bartholomew

  He laughs. "I’d like to see that!"

  Now I laugh, "Geez, I forgot what I was saying."

  "Good."

  I pinch him and he flinches. "Oh yeah, I was talking about Mia. I’d rather find a solution than constantly clash with her."

  "Little Thang, you are worried too much about Mia. Trust me. She will be a nonissue if it comes to that, but I liked the last part."

  "What was that?"

  "About becoming a part of all this."

  "Oh, yeah."

  He talks to Caesar as he cradles me, controlling him. "Easy boy. Steady now. We aren’t going to run this time.... Whoa there...."

  While I listen to him calmly command his Warhorse, I see the Goddess gown and feel the choker against my throat. My fingers go to it and I stroke the inscription becoming quiet and trying not to think about my slip of the tongue.

  Becoming a part of all this. Oops. Don’t let on you think you know now. He has to translate on his own time. Maybe by then I will have an honest answer for him.

  Back at the barn, Aurei helps me ease off Caesar onto the fence. He unhooks the helmet and hands it to me. I slide it on and sit there on the top rail, watching him through it as he dismounts and put his horse in the paddock. He unsaddles him, and as soon as he releases him from the bridle, Caesar jumps away, shakes his head and runs to the other end, strutting his stuff again. I laugh, "He loves both worlds."

  Aurei throws the saddle over his shoulder and walks over, grinning at me. "He’s a lot like you. A Wild Thang, who only pretends to be tame because he loves to show off!"

  "Ha!" I tell him as I jump off the fence, and land lightly next to him. The helmet slips, falling down on my face and I push it up as I cinch our fingers again. "The same could be said for you!"

  He chuckles as we walk to the barn. "Did you like the Celebration?"

  "I know you didn’t just ask me that." I put his arm around my shoulders and wedge up against him, slipping my arm around his waist. "I spent five whole minutes of the ride back telling you how awesome the whole thing was and how amazing you are!"

  He laughs as a ranch hand comes over to take the saddle and bridle from him. "I heard you."

  "Ah! You rascal! You were playing me?" I swat his ass and the leather straps slap his legs.

  "Be careful there. I don’t play fair." He teases as we walk off arm in arm.

  "Ummhmm. I know how you play." I hook my thumb in the loop that holds his sword.

  "How’s that?" He sinks his hand in my back pocket.

  "You play by your rules."

  "Nothing wrong with that."

  Our gaits sync.

  "Not to you! They are your rules."

  "Are you complaining?"

  "Maybe."

  He chuckles, then he turns the helmet on my head and I can’t see a thing.

  I turn it back then hold it in place and glare at him through it. "Hey!"

  "I play by the Golden Rule."

  "Ha! The Golden God Rule."

  He laughs. "I like that! Clarify."

  "The Golden God rule says 'don’t do unto me, unless you expect to unleash the beast. You might get more than you bargain for, and you might not like it."

  "Ha!" He squeezes my ass. "But then again you might."

  "Ummhmm. That’s affirmative!" I cut my eyes up at him. "I might!"

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  We arrive at the BBQ right on time, but we cut it close. We had to hurry because we ended up soaping each other up in the shower and getting completely carried away with the suds. When we were finished, I sat at the dressing table combing my hair and putting it up in a simple ponytail, when he came in with a white towel wrapped around his waist, and hit the spinning rack.

  "Let’s see if the dress I ordered for you to wear tonight has arrived."

  I almost panicked because I thought the Goddess Gown might come by. I jumped up and ran to the bedroom. He called after me. "Where the hell are you going?"

  I laughed and told him I totally had to text Cat before we left. "I know she stalks my ass, and she can’t discover that awesome shit on her own. She would never forgive me! I trust your taste, Sugar Bare." I took my phone and there was an unread message from her. She’s already seen it!

  *I swear, Baby Girl. James is acting like he is on crack! He keeps giggling and saying. A Cirque Du Soleil show! Wow! We are producing a Cirque Du Soleil show! The whole place is rocking with the news! You are going to kill it! Can’t wait to see you!*

  I stared at the message for what felt like an eternity. When Aurei came in wearing a plaid shirt tucked in tight blue jeans and cowboy boots, he was carrying a simple bright pink muscle t-shirt, mini dress, matching bra, panties, and high heel wedge angle boots. He stopped in his tracks when he saw my face. "What’s wrong?"

  "Nothing."

  *Did Bart negotiate to bring one into the club? OMFG! He did, didn’t he? That’s awesome! Can’t wait to hear all about it! We should be leaving Italy tomorrow!* I told him as I typed, "Cat said Bart is bringing a Cirque Du Soleil show to the club and James is on crack because of it!" I giggled. "I’m texting her about the Celebration event page, and asking for a video of James!" My eyes were dancing when I looked at Aurei’s frown. "Why are you frowning?"

  "Is that all she said?"

  "Yes." I danced over to him. "This is fantastic news! This means I will be able to perform in a Cirque Du Soleil show too." I threw my arms around him, and leaned my head back. "Karma, you bitch! I love you!"

  He smiled at me and said very calmly. "Set your phone down. You’re leaving it here."

  "Yes, sir, Mr. Bossy Britches!" I danced over to the table and set it down, then spun around. "That’s not very much dress to wear to a family function. I couldn't hide it in there if I wanted to."

  He grinned. "It’s perfect. It glows in the dark."

  "I see what you are doing with that. All eyes on me, huh?"

  "Affirmative."

  "The boots too? Do they glow as well?"

  "Affirmative."

  "Cool beans. How about these?" I asked as I took the panties and stepped into them. "Does the drip pan glow too?"

  He chuckles. "Yes."

  "Crucial!" I bent over and touched my toes. "Then if I do this in the dark, you will see them?"

  "Ummhmm. I might regret that decision."

  "Ummhmm. You might."

  Walking in on Aurei’s arm, I’m surprised by the number of people here. I know the count was around 200, but it feels like more. The grills are smoking. The smells of barbecue fills the air. Waiters are serving drinks and appetizers while people are mingling. Some are sitting at the tables under the tents eating their meal. Children are running around. Music fills the air and the dance floor is full. The whole atmosphere is warm and inviting.

  A waiter comes up and takes our order. "Miss Wright, what may I get for you?"

  "Crown neat, please."

  "Mr. Moore? The same?"

  "Yes. Thank you."

  "You’re welcome." He says as he goes over to the open bar. There is a crowd of older men standing in front of it. They are wasting no time taking advantage of the free flowing alcohol. Their laughter is loud.

  Aurei takes my elbow and steers me to the tent by the dance floor. "Let’s look for Bee and Ann. They will have saved us a place."

  As we walk past people, we are greeted warmly and several men and a couple of women introduce themselves to us as reporters. I notice they have small identification buttons on their clothing. All of them are extremely polite and treat me with a great deal of respect. Much more than I’m used to receiving. Their attention is focused on Maximus and I’m a side note.

  Quintus did good. He may get a dance instead of two hugs.

  Aurei whispers in my ear. "See. Word on the Italian street is you are a Vegas Superstar. No one here is calling you nasty names."

  "It appears you are right again."

  He smiles at me and kisses my hand. His dark brows hide his green eyes in the shadows, b
ut I know they are needy right now. He cinches my hand and leads me through the maze of tables to where Ann and Bee sit with Quintus and a very attractive woman. He introduces her as Jemma and we shake hands. Ann and Bee stand and give me kisses and compliment the color of my dress. There are four empty seats and I ask Bee casually while Ann talks to Jemma, and Quintus discusses something with Aurei. "Who will be joining us?"

  She rolls her eyes and says. "Guess."

  "Oh hell no!"

  She laughs. "Oh hell, yes."

  Right on cue, they walk up too. Antonio and Angelo followed by Gio and Mia. The guys all shake hands, and I twinkle wave to them. They grin at me and give me the manly head bob at exactly the same time.

  Macho men. Gotta love them!

  I decided earlier I would really try to be civil to their wives, so I lean up and speak to them, but Mia pretends she doesn’t hear me. Fine as Frosty! Gio nods, then gives me the cold shoulder when Mia frowns at her.

  Bee whispers. "Ignore them. You’ll have a much better time."

  I laugh at her. "No doubt."

  The waiter walks the edge of the dance floor and brings our drinks. "Miss Wright. Mr. Moore." He says as he starts to set them on the table. The movement triggers his pilot reflexes and he turns his hawk-eyes on us. He hears the waiter when he says. "Your dress makes you easy to find."

  I wink at him. "By design."

  He grins at me as his eyes fall to my mountains of soft flesh, pushed up by the bra and spilling out over the top. Aurei clears his throat and it sounds more like a growl. The poor man tries to hide his smile as he ducks his head, then turns to leave.

  Aurei’s left eyebrow twitches when he looks at me. I offer a toast. "Here’s to being put in the spotlight. It has its advantages."

  He laughs as we clink our glasses and throw the gold liquid back. "Best to just face the music and dance then." We stand at the same time. He opens his arms to me, and I float in. We walk the few steps to the dance area and he looks at the DJ. The music stops and the dancers look around. When they see us, they begin to make an exodus. As the dance floor clears, I look up at Aurei’s handsome face. His expression is commanding. For a moment, I wonder what’s up, then it hits me. He hasn’t danced in years! Ever since his grandmother’s passing. These are her people. Her family. His family. This dance is significant! My eyes tear up realizing the tenderness of the moment for him. For them.

  "Oh Aurei," I whisper and give him a little reassuring squeeze. "Is this dance traditional too? Your mother told me about the red dress last night and the unofficial first dance."

  He leans down and gives me a sweet peck. When he stands back up, he towers over me, but his tender eyes hold mine captive. His arms form the dancer’s box, and I lay mine on him. "This dance is for you, Siri. You’ll never be invisible again."

  Right on cue, the music starts. He steps and I follow. We twirl and spin to "Invisible" by Hunter Hayes. I’m beyond touched by his words and his song choice. It’s one of the songs I sing to the girls in Been Jammin, giving them encouragement when they are hurting. It speaks of people who dare to be different, but who are lonely because minds are prejudice. It talks of trust and encouragement. No one is alone. No one is invisible. Be bold. Be brave. Be who you are. Don’t fight with hate. Fight with love. Life has so much to offer. Live it! It’s a song that salutes those who embrace their individuality and tells them that we have each other’s back.

  "One day all the pain you have felt will be gone. A distant memory." Aurei says to me.

  I know he arranged everything with the DJ ahead of time. The thoughtfulness and kindness of this thunderous yet gentle beast of a man makes my eyes leak onto my cheeks. His amazed smile shines on me when he sees my eyes begin to glow and it feels like the warmth of the sun, drawing the flower out from under a cold and dark blanket.

  As true dancers do, we lose our individuality and sync our bodies, melding as one to the rhythm of the dance. Losing all thoughts and allowing the music with the movement to express the passion we have for each other. The powerful yet subtle melody, lengthens our strides to give it full expression and our waltz becomes more of a graceful ebb and flow like gentle waves on a shoreline, rather than the stepping of a dance pattern. My arms and back are arched in perfect posture and form. My face is tilted away, exposing my jugular to him, knowing he understands the submissive message I give him. You own me. I am collared and gladly claimed. I understand deep within my wildness that being submissive to a man who loves you so completely, simply means trusting him completely. Submission isn’t about giving up anything. It is about letting go and letting that person know how much you trust them, and in doing that, you own them too.

  When the song ends, he pulls me into his embrace and slides his hand down my arm to cinch us with that sexy seductive move I know bonds us tighter than anything else he can do with me in public. I hold my tilted head still, knowing his lips need to kiss the softness of my flesh and feel my pulse beating for him. When they touch, I hear his throat moan loud with pure desire for me and an erotic explosion bursts through my veins and I gasp, then moan. His lips leave a wet mark on my neck and then latch onto mine. I suck his breath, then his tongue as he thrusts it deep. Once. When he lets me go, I open my eyes to see his are crinkled, content and truly happy. My expression reflects the same as I wipe my wet tears off my cheeks. Then an ocean wave of sound comes crashing in on the peacefulness that occurs when you’re in love and the world has fallen away. Applause. Not polite applause, or rowdy applause, but enthusiastic applause. Aurei ignores them, but the entertainer in me knows that is extremely rude, so I step away and give them a polite courtesy. There are a few bravo’s shouted from the men in front of the bar area as I back towards our table, but Aurei doesn’t move. He grins and his tongue slides across his bottom lip as he looks over my head.

  Quintus arrives with Jemma in tow, along with Antonio, Angelo, Ann and Bee. They line up next to us and I look up at Aurei for an explanation, but it isn’t necessary once the music starts. The DJ plays "DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love" by Usher featuring Pitbull. Everyone starts grooving as the dance floor begins to fill and then rock. I giggle at Ann and Bee, who dance like dead men walking, when the lyrics mention zombies.

  Those two girls crack me up!

  When the lyrics say to put your hands up, everyone around us does, but I slip into Diva mode doing the choreography while Aurei dances his sexy side to side step watching me, grinning, then covers his face like the video but instead of saying the lyrics, eyes, three times. He says. "Glowing green eyes." Then he stuns me when he slips right into the choreography alongside me.

  "Aurei Moore! You are one sexy son of a bitch!" I yell at him and he grins that wicked grin. We throw our feet to Ushers dance step, synced and being awesome together. Then I let him dance Usher’s sexy hunching shit alone. I pump my hands up with the others and my tits flow up and down for him. When he pretends to slide into position for the next part, I’m amazed to see his male cousins fall in step to do the hat trick with him. Even Angelo’s stout body is nimble when he dances. I’m cracking up and totally pumping the air enjoying them. They go back to jumping with their hands in the air while Ann slides next to him. Not going to be left out, I line up on the other side too. "Come on." He beckons and we finish that part of the dance. Posing then doing the hand play behind his back, patting him down laughing our asses off the whole time. When the chorus starts again, Aurei shows off his Usher dance moves and I’m impressed as hell! Everyone watching has smiles from ear to ear and I realize how much they have missed having him out here on the dance floor with them. When Pitbull starts to rap, Quintus naturally rocks it. He points to himself with the Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil lyrics and we point to him with the beat. Knowing what’s coming next, I lean way back almost touching the floor in preparation. Aurei’s grin is priceless, when he drops his hands to the floor then raises them, commanding me to 'rise off the floor' and I obey, then I dance around him doing the fight simulation, grinding a l
ittle and twerking some too, as we finish our hip hop dance to the song while everyone does their own thing, or jumps in on a few more moves. When the song is finished, Aurei salutes the DJ. "Thank you." Then turns to me. I have both hands in air waiting to give him two high fives! He slaps my hands and we laugh as he cinches our fingers, then he lowers them to my ass and pulls me against him.

  I lean back laughing into his happy face. "You rascal! You surprised the hell out of me!"

  "Did you enjoy it?"

  "Oh HELL YEAH! You dance some wicked Usher, Baby! He ain’t got nothing on you, boyfriend! That was dope!"

  He puts his arm around my shoulders. "I’m glad you enjoyed it. Come on, Dancing Diva Thang." Laughing, we follow his dance troupe back to our table. They poke fun at each other as we go, mimicking their moves.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  When we arrive, Aurei pulls my chair as close to his as it will go and my eyes twinkle at him as his devour me. "Your lap is softer." I tease him, but sit in the hard chair.

  His eyes crinkle and his tongue slides across his bottom lip, wetting them as he stares down on me. "Only part of it is soft."

  "Hmm. Better not sit there then." I bite my bottom lip. Letting my teeth tug it as they slide off, I give him a sexy smile as he sinks into his chair.

  "Best not." His thunder flashes behind his smirk. "It will be hard to hide." He leans back, spreads his legs and puts his arm around the back of my chair.

  The image of his sizable dick stretching across his briefs back in the apartment makes my hungry eyes drop to his lap. The evidence is already there. "Already impossible to hide." I grin. His hand finds my ponytail and tugs it.

  "Your turn to behave."

  I chuckle. "Ummhmm."

  "Here’s to our new Superstar! May our family enjoy this dancing talent for many years to come!" I hear Ann say.

  Aurei frowns at her. I turn to see her with her glass raised in the air, looking at me. Everyone reaches for their drinks, and we do the same. Aurei clinks mine and drinks but I have to stand to clink everyone’s glass. When I lean over the table, his hand slides under my skirt and he pinches it, then pulls it down, keeping me from flashing those behind us. When I sit, his hand slides across my butt cheeks and he dips his fingers in to check the status of my drip pan. It’s wet. When he leans forward, he hums in my ear. "I love how wet you always are."