Page 36 of Unforgettable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #3)

The realization that I would follow him to the ends of the earth, to the moon and back, or where the stars dance settles on my heart, and my wildness rests.

I'm content for the first time in my life, and I know my home is here ... in his arms wherever that may be.

When our kiss is finished, we stare into each other's eyes.

I see his acknowledgment of my complete submission with the slightest of expressive movement on his face as his muscles draw tighter into a pleased, peaceful smile.

My face mirrors his, then he lifts his chin slightly, and I know to bow my head to receive sanctuary in his love.

He tells me as he places a sweet butterfly kiss on my brow. "You are my Fucking Fantasy."

"Mmhmm. You are mine too."

He stands and holds his hand out to me. "Let's dance."

I slip mine into his and give him the most beautiful smile I possess. "My second favorite thing to do."

As Aurei takes me in his arms on the dance floor, the instrumental of "Heaven" plays, and he sings softly with his perfect tone and pitch in my ear so only I can hear.

Our dance is nothing more than holding each other and swaying to the music, but it is so powerful.

I feel as if I'm floating in the clouds of Heaven already.

I lean my face against his, listening and thinking about how everything he does has meaning.

Then I really think about that point and remember from the very beginning.

When he captured and held my eyes that very first time, I was so clueless, but now I know that that first day he was waiting for me to return, and when I came bouncing in with my groceries, he waited for just the right moment to set his trap.

When the elevator doors closed out the rest of the world, he locked me down with his piercing gaze, grabbed hold of my heart, and captured me.

Ha! He knew exactly what he was doing! From calling me my lady to courting me with rain checks to cash in later. Everything was planned to win my heart.

Sweet Zeus! I'm wild for this man! I'm a lucky girl!

When the song ends, he kisses the top of my head and slides his hand down my arm in that sexy cinching move. I smile at the floor as he leads me back to our table, knowing he is communicating to everyone here tonight in the way he treats me.

When we arrive to our table, the dessert dishes have been cleared away, and Quintus has arrived too.

As soon as we sit, he rises and comes to squat between us.

He puts his hands on the back of our chairs, and we lean over to hear what he has to say.

"The press conference went well. Better than I expected.

" His smile is pure charm, and I feel the hair on my skin standing up with his electricity.

His fingers absentmindedly flirt with my shoulder strap, and his eyes twinkle when they touch mine.

I lean back, not wanting to be caught in his dangerous web while he and Aurei discuss the minor details of how the press reported it.

Then he rises and, acknowledging my withdrawal from his charismatic aura, pulls a lock of my hair, making me frown at him before he walks over to congratulate Augustus and Oriana on their marriage.

When I turn back to Aurei, he is smiling. "I trust Quintus."

"I'm not sure I do."

"He's just a rebel."

"Why am I not comforted by that?"

He chuckles, "He's in a motorcycle club."

I smirk, "Figures. He would choose to be an outlaw."

"He's a badass." Then he tells me in his straight line, not curved tone. "If I'm not around, I want you to trust him. If someone comes in and says the building is on fire, but Quintus says to stay, then you are to stay. Do you understand?"

I frown at him. "I don't think you know him as well as you think you do."

He frowns at me. "I know him better than you do."

"Ok, but he doesn't override Brutus."

"Agreed, but he does override Antonio."

That revelation surprises me, but before I can question him about it, the music stops, and Zita stands. Everyone falls quiet and listens. "Liotine men, it's time to draw straws."

Aurei kisses my cheek and tells me, "We'll be right back."

"Where do you go to draw them?" I ask as they rise.

"Outside."

All the men, young and old, filter out the dining room and exit to the patio through the door the DJ came in.

All the women sit tight until the doors are closed.

Then Zita says. "Liotine women, are you prepared for Karaoke tomorrow night?

I hope one of you will take the title this year!

Please tell me we have some real doozies chosen for them to sing. "

Karaoke? Oh boy!

I lean across the table and ask Vanessa. "Is this an annual event?"

She smiles and nods. "Big Al loved to sing. When Luciana was alive, he sang 'Love Story' to her, then when she died, he sang it to her picture."

"Oh my! How romantic!"

I look back to Zita and see that Oriana is leaving the table. She walks right past Mia and Gio without speaking. I try not to notice as my eyes follow her that they are shooting daggers at me with pure unadulterated hate.

Great. Now Enemy #1 has recruited Enemy #2.

Zita makes her way around the table to where I am, and she sits down in Aurei's chair. "There's no need to ask if you are having a good time. It's obvious you are."

My face flushes. Not a bright embarrassed red, but definitely pink, and she laughs.

"It's quite alright, honey. We have waited a very long time for our super picky son to finally find a woman he cares enough about to bring to our family to meet.

His actions speak louder than any words could.

He has dressed you in the color that his grandmother wore to this family gathering each year, and he has taken you onto the dance floor. "

I'm gobsmacked by her words! I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out.

She chuckles and pats my hand. "That's a lovely necklace you are wearing too.

" My eyes widen, and now she laughs at me.

"It's not my mother's if that is what you just thought, but I'm wondering if there is an inscription on it? "

Now my heart starts to race, and the blood drains from my face. "Yes, ma'am. It's in Italian. I don't know what it says. He hasn't told me yet."

She nods, then asks, "Do you sing? We need to win Karaoke tomorrow night. I'm hoping you sing as beautifully as you dance."

I smile, "I can hold a tune."

"Good! I expect you to join in the competition then. I really want to win. The men have had bragging rights for the past couple of years, and Bob loves to rub it in." She rolls her eyes.

I grin at her. "I'll think about it."

"Excellent." She stands. "Each person picks a song to be added to the playlist. It's supposed to be top secret, but we are a very competitive group, and everyone cheats.

No one admits it, though. The first person to sing will be a man chosen by the men, and he will sing the first song randomly selected from the playlist. Only he will see the next song to be sung, and he will choose a woman to sing it.

That's how the game is supposed to be played, but it doesn't always work out that way.

Some like to sing, so they sing more than one song.

The crowd applause picks the winner, but you get five extra points if no dogs howl during it, and the DJ gets 5 points per vote.

He is usually very drunk by the end of the evening, so the dogs are in charge. "

I crack up laughing. "What kind of dogs?"

She laughs too. "The hounds that live in the barn."

"Oh, lord!"

"I bring earplugs." She pats my shoulder. "The men will be returning in a little while. I need to make sure our worst singers aren't participating, and our best ones are ready. Excuse me."

As she walks away, I ask. "How long does the drawing take?"

"Not more than an hour."

"An hour?"

"Sometimes less." She smiles then walks across the room.

Everyone is laughing and having a good time, but the two wicked women at the other table, Mia and Gio, are still glaring at me.

Great! An hour of bitch daggers, and I don't have my phone to play Angry Birds. I look around the room again, turning my back on them. At least Oriana isn't glaring at me. She is sitting with some older women.

The thought of following Zita around the room seems like a good idea, so I stand, but then a waiter intercepts her, and I watch her follow him out onto the patio too.

The air fills with 'you are not welcome' tension from Enemy #1 and Enemy #2, so I decide to go to the ladies' room.

I take a few steps, and the patio doors open.

Zita, Bob, and Aurei enter the dining room, followed by Quintus, Antonio, and the rest of the men, loud and laughing.

Aurei smiles his winning smile at me and tells me when he comes up.

"There won't be a battle tomorrow. First time in Liotine history. "

"Really? What happened?"

He laughs. "I was right about Quintus." My eyes squint with my confusion. He laughs and drapes his arm over my shoulders. "Sit. Zita will explain."