Page 32 of Unforgettable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #3)

I hear Zita say to us as my consciousness drifts back, and my eyes follow Aurei's as he looks at her.

"I'm sure she is beautiful in every color.

" She smiles at him, and I feel the deep underlying communication her eyes and her smile tell him.

She knows her son is in love. My eyes drift to Bob's, and I smile at him too.

They get our connection because they also have it.

She turns her sweet gaze on me and asks, "Would you like me to introduce you to the family? "

I look at Aurei, and he says, poking fun. "I'll be right here."

I roll my eyes, and everyone laughs. I answer Zita, "Yes, please."

We stroll around the room together, making small talk with each other.

She also makes family small talk with everyone as we pass, calling their children's names, remembering birthdays and unique little things about each one.

I realize she is quite the woman in charge and is a fantastic politician.

She introduces me as either the daughter of one of her dearest friends in Alabama, or she goes into more detail telling them that they play tennis together and what a pleasant surprise that Aurei and I are in love, and what a small world it is that we found each other without hers and my mother's matchmaking help.

Her acceptance of me in this way sends the message to everyone that there will not be an issue with me as far as this family is concerned.

Several times I look up to see Aurei's eyes resting on me while he stands with Bob and greets his cousins.

When our eyes touch, fireworks fly between us.

I can see how happy he is that I'm here.

His "fuck 'em" was only a flippant remark.

He didn't mean it at all. He loves his Italian family.

I feel honored to be among them as his girl, and I display my most charming side to them.

Laughing at their jokes and making sure I say how happy I am to have met them, calling them by name before we move to another group. I, too, am a master politician.

Finally, the dinner bell rings, and our men come over to us. Aurei's fingers cinch our hands together again, and his lips hold a playful smirk as he tells me, "You need a color kiss, Wild Thang."

My eyes close in anticipation as he leans down. My lips puckering, reaching out to his. When they touch, my soul sings. Damn! What this man does to me. As he pulls away, my eyes open to watch his retreat, and I see the matching hunger in his. Our eyes lock in love.

I whisper, "Thanks. I needed that."

"You're welcome." He winks, and his sexy as fuck half-smile plays across his face.

Again I hear Zita's voice drift to me. "Aurei, you and Siri will be sitting at our table tonight."

Aurei's eyes hold mine as he answers her. "Yes, ma'am."

Bob says, "This way, you two."

Aurei lays my fingers on his arm, and we follow his parents to the dining room.

Through the windows, I can see the tables under the tent for tomorrow night's dinner. "How many out of the 200 guests expected tomorrow night will be here tonight?"

"Sixty."

"Are they all family?"

"Yes."

"Are they all employed by you?"

"No. My mother."

"How many do you employ?" I realize I never asked that, and I look at him curiously.

"Total or Italian family?" He asks for clarification.

"Italian family."

"Only Antonio and Mia are full-time. I guess I have to add Quintus too now." He grins. "Occasionally, Angelo, if I need a driver."

"I assumed there would be more."

"My businesses are American."

"Oh, gotcha," I nod.

We stop at the door of the dining room and wait to enter.

I look back through the windows and notice along with the far edges, barbecue grills are set up, but not being used.

Buffet-style tables line the fence row. There is a dance area roped off and a wooded dance floor laid down.

I smile up at Aurei. "Let me guess. Tonight is formal because tomorrow night is a Texas-style barbecue? "

He grins. "Ye'p'."

I giggle. "I would have loved Big Al!"

The doors open, and Aurei guides us to our place, where we stand next to our chairs while waiting for everyone to file in and find their seats. The tables are round and packed in. The seating arrangements have been predetermined. Zita and Bob are opposite us.

As we wait for the others to join us, Aurei plays absentmindedly with my hair. "I really like your hair like this, Siri. You look like a goddess." His tongue touches the corner of his mouth.

"Looks are deceiving." I grin.

"I don't think so." His tongue slides across his lips, and my pussy soaks itself.

"They are." I take a deep breath, pushing my tits against the tight fabric and sending them bulging out the top for him to enjoy, covertly teasing him.

He chuckles, "On second thought, you're being, I mean looking, decadent."

"Busted." I chuckle.

"I like your busts."

I cock my head and smirk at him. "You love my busts! But you are wrong."

He chuckles again. "Yes, I do. But I'm rarely wrong."

"True that too." I lick my lips. "But I'm not really goddess material."

"Yes, you are." He sounds very sure of this fact.

"How can I be? I'm Moore's whore."

He chuckles, and his hand pulls a lock of my hair. "You definitely own that title, but I intend to mold my whore into my Goddess."

"A Good Girl Goddess?"

"No, MY Good Girl Goddess."

I smirk. "You've got your work cut out for you."

"Haven't you learned by now? I'm up for the challenge."

I almost snort. "Oh, I've learned that hard fact for sure."

He chuckles.

"But this girl is not going to give up being your whore without a fight."

"Who said anything about giving that up?" He leans in and smells me as his lips find the nape of my neck, kissing it tenderly, making goosebumps pop out and my nipples hard. His eyes devour the view.

I crinkle my nose. "We agree then. Excellent, because I like being bad. I'm just not a good girl."

His tongue tickles my skin, and like liquid fire, the wet warmth floods my entire body with desire. "You taste pretty damn good to me." He blows in my ear. "I want all of you, Angel Thang."

I whisper, melting. "You win."

He chuckles and stands up straight, towering over me. His perfect posture dominates me.

He is one handsome motherfucker! I whisper up to him. "Fuck you, Aurei Moore. What you do to me!"

He nods and smiles at some people passing by, totally ignoring the wet mess standing next to him. When he looks at me again, I pretend to see up into Heaven. "I like Angel Thang."

He laughs out loud.

Just then, a very handsome man in his fifties comes up to us.

On his arm is a voluptuous, young, pretty woman in her thirties.

He opens his arms wide, and he and Aurei embrace, then they both stare at me with crinkled eyes.

One is a little deeper than the other, but both are the same. "Siri, I want you to meet Augustus."

"Ah! The infamous Augustus. Thank you." I smile as I offer my hand. Aurei's laughter fills the air again, and Augustus chuckles as he takes it, flips it over and lays a soft, seductive kiss in the center of it. "You do not disappoint." I twinkle at them both.

"Siri, it is my pleasure to meet you." He tells me as he lifts his face and looks into my eyes. The warmth feels like melted chocolate sliding down my insides, and I smile. Everyone loves chocolate.

"Likewise."

He steps back and reaches for his girl. He holds her tenderly, and she gazes up at him with love and admiration. He introduces her as his wife, Oriana, and Aurei slaps him on the back. "Oriana, you are a lucky woman! Congratulations."

She beams at us, and we all shake hands, then Augustus guides her to their chairs. He is seated next to me, and she is next to Bob. Augustus introduces her to them, and when I look back at Aurei, I expect to see him beaming at them, but instead, he is beaming at me.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing." He leans over, and I peck his pursed lips.

"Do I look pale?" I ask.

"No. Heavenly."

"Ah! You are such a wicked man!"

He chuckles. "I thought I was a sweet man."

"Hmm." I roll my eyes.

A rather round man taps Aurei on the shoulder, and he turns around then embraces this man too, along with his middle-aged wife. He introduces them as Milo and Vanessa. They are polite to me, then they step to their chairs. She is seated next to Aurei and him, Zita.

When Zita spots them, she leaves Oriana and Augustus to greet them with big hugs and double cheek kisses. She is obviously very happy to see them, and I grin, watching the family interact. Aurei whispers in my ear. "Zita grew up with Milo. She considers him more like a brother than a first cousin."

"It's obvious they have a special bond."

Antonio also stops by to shake hands. His wife, Gio, who I notice is out of shape from bearing children, gives Aurei a cold bitch glare, ignores me completely, and continues past us.

Angelo stops to speak with Mia. She smiles at us both, but it's definitely fake, and she doesn't hang around to be formally introduced to me.

"Gio doesn't like you at all, and Mia is still very mad at you.

" I tell Aurei when Antonio and Angelo join their wives at the next table.

"Affirmative." He says without any emotion attached to it.

Zita takes her champagne flute and holds it high in the air. The conversations die down as everyone takes theirs. When all is quiet, she proposes the same simple toast Aurei did earlier. "To Big Al!"

"To Big Al!" Everyone salutes him, then takes a drink and begins to sit. The noise level escalates immediately with people speaking to each other and all the chairs sliding on the tile floor.