"Yes."I stop Rosso for emphasis, but Aurei continues walking, so I kick Rosso and trot past.
Aurei is frowning when he looks at my determined face, but he doesn't stop, so we continue walking side by side.As he hooks the helmet onto the saddle, he says."There is nothing more to tell.She's a selfish bitch that stirs shit up.I've tolerated her because she's good at her job, and I needed her to hold down the fort when I was deployed.That's it."
I watch the helmet as it moves up and down with Caesar's gait."Aren't you forgetting the part about 'she was my first fuck?'"
"And she was my first fuck."He states but doesn't take the bait to tell me more on that.
I look up at him, and our eyes meet.I see thunder in his.I know he doesn't want to talk about Mia, but I feel compelled to.My eyes narrow, and I ask, "Is there more to that?Because she seemed awfully possessive of you entering your house to confront you, knowing you had your whore in your bedroom and were fucking her brains out."
He stops now and says to me."Listen to me, Siri.Mia is a nonissue.She isn't important.She used me, and I let her, but I used her too.Then and now.That's the extent of our relationship."We stare at each other.Neither backing down."I see you giving me your Wild Thang look."He finally smirks.
"Aurei, best I can tell.She is Enemy #1 to us, and if she is as manipulative as you say, she will make our lives hell, but if I can understand her better, then maybe I can bring her around.Tonight will be my first opportunity to win her over.I want to be prepared to battle her, but I want to win!There is strength in knowledge, so tell me everything about her."
"You don't have to battle her."
"There you go again with your naive assumptions.Yes, the fuck I do.She is playing a game of Chess within your organization.She thinks she is the Queen to your King."He frowns."And she probably has been, but she sees me as the Enemy Queen trying to dethrone her rather than both of us being on the same team.Your team!"His eyes narrow, but he doesn't say anything."Listen to me, Aurelius Moore.I was right about Ruthless, and I'm right about Mia.If I'm going to become a part of all this ...Oh!"Aurei's hand grabs my arm and snatches just as Rosso bolts.As I slide out of the saddle, reaching for him, he pulls me easily into his lap.I sit cuddled in his arms as he steadies Caesar."What the hell?"
He chuckles."Rosso always bolts right around here.Ann and I usually race back to the barn."
"Remind me to spank Ann!Shit!That scared the hell out of me."
He laughs."I'd like to see that!"
Now I laugh, "Fuck.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 puts 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 fucking awesome the whole thing was and how fucking 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.
