"Come here, Baby Thang.Hold Caesar."
"No, I want to know first."
"Siri.Come here."His tone is the most commanding it has ever been to me.I look at him and cross my arms, pooch my lips, and outright pout, but I obey him.
As I take Caesar's bridle and hold him, I tell them both."I'm not happy with either one of you assholes!"
Aurei takes my face in his hands and makes me look into his eyes.The love I see looking back at me makes my eyes tear up.
"Don't!"I whisper, then his lips cover mine, and he blows lightly in my mouth.My arm goes around his waist, and I cling to him.His lips release me, and I lay my forehead on his chest, fully submitting to his wishes.I feel his hands moving into my hair as he unfastens it.The necklace comes free, and as it slides down my throat, I feel strangely naked without it.
He holds it out for Quintus with one hand while his other encircles the emptiness.I feel his gentle pressure against my jugular, then his fingers are back in my hair, and he is sliding it back on.He whispers."You are mine."He cups my face again, and I stare into his eyes.
I respond."I am yours."
Aurei's arm goes around my shoulders, and he holds me against his body.We turn and face Quintus.Aurei asks him, "Satisfied?"
Quintus doesn't make any remark or give any acknowledgement at all as to what the inscription says.His poker face is perfect, but I can read his eyes, and they tell me that Heaven means something solid.Something concrete.Aurei's level of commitment to me is no longer an issue.
He states."I came down to tell you Zita and Bob left Venezia early.They will be at the house in time for lunch.Marco said to tell you he will be serving Chocolate Soufflé today too."He holds out his hand to shake Aurei's again."I need to get back up to the house.I have to change before my first press conference."
Aurei's eyebrows raise as he takes his hand and pumps it."Press conference?"
"Yes, I'm going to introduce myself and let them know who's in charge of your image."He smiles, and the charm is thick."And it sure as hell isn't them."He bows slightly to me and says."Miss Wright."Then he heads back to his bike, mounts it, slides on his helmet, cranks it, then spins off.
Cocky and Dope!That is one slick, sexy bastard!Damn.He's going to be perfect at the job.
Listening to the last sounds of Quintus' motorcycle, we stand silently next to each other.Neither of us wanting to discuss what just happened, but I'm truly thankful it was nothing bad.That could have been disastrous!I hate my necklace was undone to prove a point, but it appears the point was totally put to rest with it, and that's a plus!I sure don't need to have to worry about Quintus lusting and pushing our buttons.
Caesar bobs his head and tries to pull away.I tell Aurei, "If you aren't finished, I'll take a seat and watch."
He looks at me with that concerned, caring look.Knowing I was distraught with the necklace coming off, but not knowing how hurt my feelings are over it.I lean over for a kiss."I'm not upset.Ok?I would have liked it if my necklace would not have been undone, but I understand cooperation and compromise.I'm a big girl."I lean in for a kiss."And apparently, whatever it says, put his damn fire out, and that's a good thing."
His eyes relax, then they smile at me."Give me thirty more minutes.I need to put him through the drills a few more times.Then we'll head back up to the house."
"You got it!"I throw my hand up."Not a problem.My cute little ass will sit right over there and watch your handsome ass."
He throws his leg over Caesar and sits his handsome ass down, then pulls his horse's around as I take a seat in the stadium.Watching them together, I wondered how many hours it took to master that level of precision.I know how many hours it took to train Flash, but we raised him.
When Aurei is satisfied, we leave, but we don't take the direct route back.He gives me a tour of the property.It's expansive and impressive.
10
When we finally return to the stables, the ranch hands stop working and watch as we ride back in.Paolini comes out of the barn and greets us.He asks how it worked out.Aurei tells him beautifully, and they agree to do it again tomorrow."I will put two men on it at daybreak and have Caesar ready before he is needed."We tie the horses up and follow him back to the barn.As we walk back through the stables, I can feel eyes watching me.
"I think you've impressed the whole lot."
"Fully clothed too!"I take his hand and cinch our fingers."I have multiple talents."Then I swing them between us as we walk back to the house.I feel his phone vibrate in my pocket, and I dig it out."You've got a call coming in, Sir," I tell him in my secretary voice."Shall I answer it for you, or will you take it yourself?"
"I'll take it."He smirks, then looks down and frowns.When he answers, he speaks Italian, drops his head, and veers off the path.He leans against the fence and puts one leg on it.I can tell this is going to be a long conversation, so I decide to work too.I dig my own phone out and walk away from him.I can feel his eyes on me.I set my phone down on top of the fence post and turn on "Happy."I review the video, then put it on loop.I need to make sure I impress James when I do it for him the first time.I step back into the path and start.My mind fills with the images, my ears hear the melody, and my heart takes up the beat.
My body expresses them all.The hand gestures flow, pouring through me, and I lose myself in the music.My gift and my talent pour out with passion.For the four minutes of the song, I become one with it.Pharrell Williams and everyone else melds into me.When I reach the most challenging point, I manage to move between the two with lightning-fast reflexes, then pull it off flawlessly.I know I'm going to fucking own my return!I bounce right up and give the rest of the wiggling body dance exuberant love!When I spin around and around at the end, I can hear the crowd clapping.I finish with a pretend hat pinch and come out of my dance trance.
There's clapping!
I focus my eyes on a table under the giant tent and see two beautiful people clapping.One is a man that looks exactly like my Golden God, only older.The other is a petite black-haired woman.
They must be Bob and Zita.I grin at them and take a bow.They rise from their chairs, and I glance at Aurei.He sees what's happening and pushes off the fence.He hangs up the phone and waves to them.I stand exactly where I am, frozen to the spot from nerves and fear, waiting for the Moore's to join me.
