Page 37 of Unforgettable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #3)

When the men have returned to their seats, and the room gets quiet, Zita makes the announcement from the center of the dance floor.

She explains that when the straws were drawn, Quintus got the short stick.

Rather than face off with Aurei in a battle to determine who would reign as the ranking Liotine Lieutenant this year, he decided to make Liotine history.

He accepted the sword, then laid it at Aurei's feet in a gesture of unity.

"That's why I was called out to join them.

No one wanted to go against my wishes if I wanted the battle to be fought.

They would draw straws again, but loyalty at that level shouldn't be challenged, and no one was going to anyway.

" She pauses while everyone laughs. "It was very touching to see.

Therefore, we have decided that although the young men will continue to learn the skills of our ancestry, the Celebration will now only be a display of those skills and not hand-to-hand combat between them.

It's a new day in Liotine History, and I think Big Al would say. 'It's a good decision, y'all.'"

The room erupts with clapping and gets loud immediately. Aurei leans over to hear what I want to say. I lay my lips on his ear. "You are always right."

He whispers back in mine. "Most of the time."

Since we returned to the cabin, Aurei has been on the phone with someone. From the patio, I could hear him talking but couldn't make out what he was saying.

When he walks back inside, he tosses his phone on the table, then comes to bed. He crawls over to me, plops down next to me, and reaches around, pulling me against him to snuggle. "I love it when a plan comes together!"

"Good news then?"

"Yes. That was the final piece of the puzzle, and it slid in place perfectly. Everything is set for the announcement tomorrow." He smiles at the ceiling, then he turns his gorgeous green gaze on me, and I smile at him. He looks so happy right now.

"It's a done deal?"

"It's a wrap, as they say in your entertainment world." He rolls me away to spoon against him, and we lay there for a few minutes. Each lost in thought about what will happen the next day.

"I'm happy for you."

"I'm happy for us." He kisses the top of my head.

As we snuggle, I lay there thinking about the dinner and his family. "Aurei, will you tell me a bedtime story?"

He chuckles. "Sure, Baby Thang. I'll tell you a love story." He strokes my hair and starts to speak. "There once was a Growling Bear who loved everyone and no one."

"Is this a fairytale?"

"Yes."

"Does it have a happily ever after ending?"

"Yes." He squeezes me.

"I like it already. Go ahead."

"Shh. Listen. Please."

"Meow." I giggle. "I am a quiet kitten."

"Mmhmm. Proof's in the puddin'."

"Ha!" I pinch him and snuggle closer, then I yawn.

"Where was I? Oh, yeah. There once was a Growling Bear, who loved everyone and no one.

" He starts to stroke my hair again. "He was a miserable soul.

One night he wandered into a place where there was no time.

The sun never rose, and the sun never set.

It was a perpetual heaven, or was it a perpetual hell?

It doesn't matter." He chuckles and kisses the top of my head.

"People were happy and laughing, music was playing, and pretty girls were dancing.

The Growling Bear liked the party house and was looking for a girl to love. "

"He was just looking for a girl to fuck but found a girl to love." I correct him.

"Shush. You're supposed to be listening."

"Oops." I giggle.

"When he saw the most beautiful girl of all, her locks of hair were gold like his. Her body was strong like his. Her smile was sweet and warm."

"Like his," I add.

"This Goldilocks dancer seemed perfect, and the Growling Bear was so excited to find her.

He waited for her show to end, and he hunted her, but she wasn't to be found.

She magically disappeared. He was perplexed.

The next night he returned, and like an experienced hunter, he stalked his prey, but she remained very elusive, this Golden Dancer.

Then one day, he made a deal with the devil to have the Goldilocks girl.

The devil was a shrewd businessman and made the Growling Bear pay handsomely for some serious alone time with her.

The Growling Bear was happy to pay, knowing the hunt would finally be over, and he would finally fuck her! "

I giggle and squirm in his arms so I can kiss his lips. "I told you so!"

He grins caught, then gives me the peck I want.

"The Growling Bear thought the date was set.

An appointment had been made. When he left the city, he knew he would have her when he returned.

But the Growling Bear had to make a deal with another devil.

An invisible devil that made him dance for her.

The Growling Bear jumped through all sorts of hoops to be granted and guaranteed the alone time he so desperately had to have with her.

While he waited, he could think of nothing but the Golden Dancer.

Night and day, day and night. He knew what he wanted and knew he would make it happen. "

"What did he want?"

"He wanted her to be his."

"Umm. That's the right answer."

"While he waited for the date to arrive, he flew to New York City and found the finest goldsmith.

He had the jeweler craft a special necklace for the Golden Dancer.

Finally, the news came that the Growling Bear had been granted his wish.

In three days, he would have her! He flew out that night.

When he arrived, he went to find her, but she wasn't there.

He left and went back the next day. As soon as he walked in, he saw her!

She was more beautiful, more perfect than he remembered.

He called the Jeweler and had the necklace flown on winged horses to him.

It arrived that same day. The Growling Bear had a plan.

He would wine and dine the Golden Dancer.

He would make her laugh and make her tingle from his touch.

He would seduce her and try to fuck her, but he would not force her.

He would not break her; he would tame her.

When she wanted him, he would collar and claim her with the golden necklace! "

"Mmhmm."

"The hour came. The clock struck midnight, and just like Cinderella, the Golden Dancer vanished. The Growling Bear was devastated! He was so horny and needy for her! Damn! It was bad!"

I giggle. "Poor Bear!"

"Yes. He was a very poor bear and wanted to rip the head off of the devil but knew he would never see her if he did.

So he got the hell out of there and flew home to wait for her return.

He called every week asking if she was back and making sure the devil knew he would have his date.

Then your friend, Karma, delivered her right to the Growling Bear's door. "

"I think Karma delivered the Growling Bear to Golden Dancer's door, but we'll let that little detail slide. Go on. I'm interested now to see how the story ends."

"It doesn't. It goes on forever." He kisses my hair.

"Oh my gosh! You are so sweet!"

"But I'll continue my tale. When the Growling Bear sees her, he is stunned!

Not only because she is simply stunning and flashes her perfectness at him, but because he realizes she could be perfect for him.

Wisely, the Growling Bear changes his game.

Now he wants all of her, not just her body, her heart too.

The Growling Bear works very hard to go slow with the taming of the Wild Thang, making sure he doesn't scare the Golden Dancer away.

A funny thing begins to happen to the Growling Bear. Do you know what happened?"

"No. What?"

"The more he was with the Golden Dancer, the less he growled inside. She transformed him."

"Yes, she did. Now he is a Sugar Bare!"

He laughs at that. "Now he is her happy, content, and complete, Sugar Bare."

I roll over again and stare into his green eyes. I see peacefulness. "And they lived happily ever after?"

"Yes, but wait. There's more to this story."

I grin as I put my lips on his. "Ah. I like Moore!" I roll back over to spoon again. "Continue."

"Remember the necklace the Growling Bear bought?"

"Yes. It's beautiful, and the Golden Dancer loves it!"

"Well, when the Golden Dancer gave her hearts to the not so Growling anymore Bear, he had the necklace engraved with a secret message for her."

"Does the Golden Dancer ever learn what it says?"

"She does." I wait for him to tell me, but he doesn't say anything. He just holds me tight.

"Does the Sugar Bare ever tell her?"

"Yes. He tells her while he holds her in his arms."

"Good because she really wants to know."

"It says. Cielo è uguale sposar mi."

"That sounds so super sexy. What does it mean?"

"It means he promises to never let her go."

I kiss his arm. "Heaven equals holding on?"

"Sort of." He sounds amused.

"Heaven equals forever yours?"

"Sort of." He brushes my face with his fingers. "The complicated lives of Sugar Bare and Golden Dancer must play out a little more before the secret is revealed, but Sugar Bare promises Golden Dancer that it will be worth waiting on."

I yawn, then tell him with a light-hearted answer as I flip over. "Fuck you, Aurei. You and your secrets!"

"I know." He yawns too, pulls my body up close, and squeezes my tit, then slides his golden rod into my holding zone. I squeeze my ass cheeks against it, and he tweaks my tit. We lay there holding each other, thinking. Then I hear his breathing become steady.

"Goodnight, Sugar Bare."

"Goodnight, Wild Thang." He buries his nose in my hair. "I love the way you smell."

I wait for his soft snoring to begin. It is like a fan you get used to falling asleep with. I close my eyes and sigh. This is Heaven.