Page 38 of Unforgettable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #3)

I wake when I hear his boots clicking on the tile floor. He is heading to the Bear door! I jump up and throw back the bed curtain. "Aurei Moore! Your ass better not be leaving me without a goodbye kiss!"

I hear him stop. Then the clicking gets closer.

He comes back to the bed, explaining. "I kissed you, but you were.

..." The Bastard Son of Thor, in all his thunderous, gorgeous Golden God glory, pushes the curtain away and smiles at me as he sits his helmet down and leans over to give me what I want.

"Snoring?" I finish for him.

His eyes crinkle. "No. Purring." He puckers his lips and exhales, mimicking me. Then he gives me a peck. I put my arms around his neck and give him an Eskimo kiss. "Go back to sleep. The sun isn't up yet."

"I'm glad I don't have to worry about you getting hurt today."

"I'm glad too."

I chuckle and let go, falling onto the pillow. He picks up his helmet, reaches for something at the foot of the bed, then tosses Titty Bare to me. "Here. You two girls snuggle together while I'm gone. I'll see you later on."

I wrap her up and spoon with her. He closes the curtain, and as his clicks go to the door, I tell him. "I love you, Maximus Aurelius Moore."

"I love you too, Siri Wild Thang Wright."

The Bear door clicks softly, and he is gone. I drift back to sleep and dream peaceful happiness.

When I wake, I'm not sure if it is morning or not.

I stare up at the Heavenly mosaic, and it appears to be bathed in soft natural light.

I lay on my back with Titty Bare in a tight hug and think about nothing while the cobwebs of heavy, restful sleep clear.

"Umm, you smell like Aurei." I stick my nose on her face and take a deep breath.

"His scent is so intoxicating. Heavenly. "

Suddenly flashes of images, thoughts, words, and hints fly across my mind. My eyes shoot wide open—my breath and heart crash.

I think I know what the inscription is.

Panic fills me. I sit straight up and grab Titty Bare. I hold her out in front of me and ask her. "Do you think that's what it is?"

She stares blankly at me, and I hug her tight to me. Oh, My Fucking Golden God! That thought scares the hell out of me.

But my heart soars with it. I hold her out again and ask her. "Could that be it? Surely not!" I look up at the mosaic and feel in my gut I'm right. "Sweet Zeus! Father of the Fucking Gods! Holy Mother, Hera! What if I am right?"

My breath and my blood start pumping as the dam breaks.

I jump out of the bed. Siri! Don't even go there!

Trying not to flee from sheer panic, I head for the pool.

The blinds have been pulled, and the room is dark, but when I snatch the door open, bright midday sun blinds me.

I stagger to the edge of the water and dive in.

It's a nice temperature, but not warm. It's refreshing.

The shock helps to settle my nerves. As I swim, pulling myself through the water, forcing my breath to be deep and cleansing, shutting out the turmoil of the world, hearing only the muffled sound of water and my own breath, while my eyes focus on the pattern on the pool bottom, flipping at the ends and pushing off, gliding, then kicking, then stroking, my head clears and my thoughts slow down.

I swim laps while my thoughts terrorize me.

Everything he does has a purpose! I said that last night about him. So if this inscription says what I think it says, I need to be prepared to give him an answer.

Do I?

I def do!

But would I?

I def would!

But should I?

That's the question. If I do, what will he expect from me?

And if this does say that, when? Now? It isn't now!

But once he translates it, when will he expect it to happen?

How will my life change? His life is about to change dramatically I imagine.

Perhaps this is cautionary for him. Perhaps he intends for it to be in the distant future, and he wants to make sure I knew how long ago he wanted this to happen.

That sounds like Aurei. Always prepared.

And if it doesn't work out, then I would never have known because he kept his intention a secret in Italian.

Hmmm. But I need to be ready if or when he does.

I want to be honest with him. That's only fair to both of us.

Fuck! How can we fucking make this work?

Because we love each other to the stars and back .

.. and there would be no real life without him in it.

Sweet Zeus! He had it inscribed so quickly. Saturday.

Surely I'm wrong! How could he possibly decide something, so life-altering after only one fuck?

Don't jump to any conclusions, for Zeus' Sake, Siri.

He is Maximus Aurelius Moore! He has given whatever this is considerate thought.

... It may not even be what you think it is.

... But ... he has been actively searching for someone far longer than I have .

.. and he has been loving me far longer than I've been loving him too.

... I know I'm right. Heaven equals a forever commitment, and he and I know I will say yes, despite the should I. The only question really is when?

I stop swimming and glide in the water. When I lose speed, I dive like a dolphin and come up out of the water, doing an Ariel hair flip, spraying water everywhere. I look up, smiling as the water lands in big droplets around me.

Heaven would equal that. How come our lives are so fucking complicated? We are from Alabama. Ha! But we are two adults with extraordinary lives.

I wipe the water from my face and tell myself.

"I need to get out of here. I can think about this and the implications later.

Right now, I need to get up to the big house to be with his family.

Family first." I wade through the water to the ladder, trailing my fingertips along the top.

"Ann and Bee should have arrived by now. Now that's a heavenly thought!"

Walking through the bedroom, dripping water on the floor, I spot Titty Bare in the bed.

I run over to her and give her a quick hug, kiss the top of her head, and sit her up on her throne of pillows.

Then I head to the bathroom to shower and get dressed.

When I walk through the dressing room, a white toga dress hanging on the rack in a plastic bag catches my eye, and I change direction to examine it closely.

It literally shimmers with beauty when I unzip it and remove it from its cover.

It is trimmed with gold braid and has gold and what looks like diamonds threaded throughout.

It is the most incredible gown I have ever held in my arms. My breath and my heart crash again when I realize what it is.

"OH SHIT, SIRI!" I shake my head. You're right!

You are DEF right! Holy Hades! This is beautiful!

The gold broach that holds the gathered fabric on the shoulder is a solid gold ring, and hanging off is a heart locket of sapphires and diamonds.

I gently hold it, treasuring it. What a thoughtful man!

What a sweet man! Damn, he has good taste too.

I chuckle as I reach for the bag to put it back.

There is a note attached. The first words are written in Italian, then under it is scratched the translation in English.

'Thank you for trusting us with this honor.

We are proud to deliver it ahead of schedule.

' Ahead of schedule. Last night's words echo.

'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.

' Oh yeah. You are definitely worth waiting on, Sugar Bare. There is no one like you on this earth.

I remove the bag, then hit the button to push the clothes along, looking for a colored one to put it in instead of this clear one.

I don't want Aurei to even suspect I saw this.

As the clothes move by, I realize about half are women's clothes.

I slow it down and begin to take notice of what is in here.

There is a wide variety of colors and styles of suits, and t-shirts dresses for casual and dining—everything a woman needs.

I'm again gobsmacked with the smallest details that Aurei has taken into account on my behalf.

He is the most fucking competent man ...

person ... I have ever met! Why would I worry?

He has everything under control. Just trust him, Siri! He's got this!

I didn't find a colored bag, so I put the Goddess gown back in the clear one and hang it on the rack.

I whisper to it as I hit the button to store it well out of sight.

"Laters, Babe! When my Golden God is ready.

" Then I sit down on the bench and just breathe, feeling Aurei's essence whispering in my ear.

"Breathe, baby. Breathe with me, Sweet, Wild Thang.

Slow down. Nice and slow." I close my eyes and breathe, stabilizing myself.

In. Out. In. Out. I smirk. He's never letting me go!

Never! Good Girl Goddess takes on a whole other meaning! Mmhmm.

My phone dings, breaking my thoughts. It's Aurei. I make a mad dash for it back into the bedroom and almost bust my ass on the wet floor. Grabbing it, I read as I make my way back to the dressing room.

My Fucking Golden God:

Good afternoon, My Every Thang. My Find Friends app tells me you are still in bed. Wish I was there with you.

I have laid out your clothes I want you to wear. Yes. The panties are a must, and you know why. ;) Maybe we should nickname them drip pans.

I see you smiling! Here's a song for you, too.

It's "Hold That Thought" by Chuck Wicks. I click play.

It's so fucking sweet! I love this, Sugar Bare! Gawd! How I do love you! I pull it close to my breast and sway with it.

Umm. I'll hold that thought forever whenever we are apart!