Page 39 of Unforgettable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #3)
Stop dancing with it!
Ha! You know me too well!
Get dressed, Baby Thang. I need to see you in all your beauty shining on me from the stands. I want to hear a genuine Alabama Yee-haw, too!
Getting my ass in gear.
The keys to the Roadster are on the counter. Don't leave the compound!
LOL! Yes, sir!
I look around for the clothes but don't see anything, so I go into the closet. There on a hanger is a petite size yellow J-Crew shirt, and folded neatly under is a pair of skinny blue jeans. Laying on top is a matched set of Victoria's Secret aqua-colored bra and panties.
Ha! Drip pans. He's so cute!
On the floor is a pair of aqua-colored high heel sneakers. Ha! He'll be the only one who knows the shoes match my undies. That's so like him!
I dance to the shower and make it quick, then mousse my hair so it will be light and fluffy but naturally wavy and full, then get dressed.
When I walk by the mirror, I see myself as a cute, young, sweet thang, not the Vegas Diva, and def not a whore.
I give a big "Yee-Haw" to the Bear Cave as I leave.
Snatching up the keys, I dance out to the Roadster, back her out, and turn her to the house.
There is a short, fit woman with light brown hair cut short over her ears, walking on the side of the road, heading up, so I stop and put the window down and ask. "Do you want a ride?"
She puts her hands on the window, and I know immediately who she is. Tattooed on her fingers are the letters. B.E.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. When her face appears, I know it's true. The clearest blue eyes sparkle at me with the biggest, flirtiest smile. "You must be Siri!"
"And you must be Bee!"
She backs away as the door unhinges then she slides in. Her tits are enormous, and she has a slight bulge in her belly. "Thank God Aurei found a Southern Girl for me to hang with. These Italian bitches don't take to me." She offers her hand, and I shake it. We are best buddies immediately!
She talks the entire way up to the house, filling me in on the details of the family members and giving me the skinny on as many as she can in the short ride up. The only thing she says about Mia is what I already know.
"She's the bossiest bitch of them all. I try to steer clear of her at all cost." She rolls her eyes. "It's just not worth the confrontation."
"Why do you think she's like that?"
"She is jealous of my influence over Ann. Before we were a couple, Mia was Ann's best friend while they were in Italy. When I came along, she didn't want to share her, but I think it's really more a territorial and power thing than a genuine BFF thing."
"What about Gio?"
"She's harmless unless Mia puts her up to something. Most the drama is stirred up by Mia, by the way. If shit starts to go bad, look for her to have started the whisper."
"What kind of confrontation have you had with her?"
"I don't like to be bossed around. If she chooses black, I'll choose white. That sort of thing."
When I park, I tell her. "Thanks for the intel."
"Sure. No problem."
As we walk up to the house, I ask. "How long have you and Ann been together?"
"Forever!" She laughs as she opens the door for me.
As soon as we enter the room, Zita comes over and hugs Bee. "Did you have a good flight? How do feel? Did you rest?"
Bee rolls her eyes at me and tells her. "Yes, ma'am, to everything! I'm good to go."
Zita smiles warmly on us both, then turns and tells the waiting women. "The family is all here. Let's eat and go watch our men show off now."
The crowd of women make their way outside to the exercise area, where tables of finger food and drinks are set up.
We serve ourselves. Then we randomly board the ATV mules and golf carts that wait to transport us.
I recognize several of the ranch hands as drivers.
Bee makes sure we are in the same vehicle and that we aren't in the same one as Mia.
The mood of the women is festive and happy. We take a different route down, coming in the front. The road is landscaped with beautiful trees that form an arch over it. It is peaceful and serene, but the women are loud and rowdy.
When we pull up to the entrance, everyone makes their own way into the stadium, or they wait in the parking lot.
Bee tells me that the children have been all week in a camp and will be joining us before the show starts.
When we walk in, I again appreciate the architectural design that blends the modern with the ancient.
There is an air of excitement that fills the stadium.
Many people are already here. I ask Bee. "Is this open to the public?"
"Oh hell yeah! You didn't know that? This is big damn deal, girl!
These Italians take this shit seriously!
I heard there isn't going to be a hand-to-hand combat battle anymore.
I'm glad. I didn't care for the blood, but removing the battle element will probably make the future attendance drop.
Blood lust fills the stands. Not that a big attendance is important, but Big Al's memory is. "
I reach out and stop her, grabbing her arm with my pole dancer's grip. Her eyes are shocked when she looks at me. "Blood?"
"Yeah! Blood. It was a real gladiator-style battle. Although the edges of the swords weren't sharp enough to slice, they would cut."
Instantly, I see the small scars on Aurei's body, and I'm thankful this isn't going to happen anymore. I don't know what I would have done if I had seen him fighting and bleeding. "Damn!" I breathe. "Remind me to give Quintus a hug later!"
She giggles. "Yeah. I won't have to remind you to do that. Come on. We are supposed to sit in the 'Senate' section."
When the trumpets sound, I become completely enthralled in the show.
The production is a BIG DEAL! I can't believe Aurei didn't tell me all this!
We sit for hours cheering and screaming for our Liotine team as we are entertained by ripped men with bugling muscles in small suits of armor like Aurei's.
It isn't only the Liotine men. There are horse and riders from other areas too.
They have their own colors and family crests.
It's sort of like a rodeo, but not. It's sort of like a polo match, but not.
It's sort of like a horse show, but not.
It's more like the Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur in Vegas, but not with knights, with the whole Roman Soldier and Gladiator twist. There are even clowns selling fresh flowers and balloon puppeteers working the crowd and keeping the kids engaged.
It's so entertaining and absolute good fun! Awesome Sauce!
Every time Aurei rides within shouting distance.
I give him my best and loudest "Yee-Haw" along with a Siri-ous tornado fist pump.
The horsemen are performing as a cavalry legion in tight formations.
I keep my phone out the entire time and either snap photos or video to capture his horsemanship.
Bee and I pop several selfies, too, and she posts them on her FB page to share with her Alabama family and friends.
I decide I should be more cautious with my posts.
I will wait until I can clear them with Aurei and Quintus before I upload and tag him.
When Aurei exits the arena with the Liotine group, he is on the outside and passes right by our booth.
I rush over to the side and wiggle my way to the front, then totally fangirl over him.
SWEET ZEUS! His smooth, flawless, healthy, golden tone skin that covers his bodybuilder, muscular physique and supports his heavy, gold chest plate with the bright red cape and his yellow, green gaze behind the gold of the helmet with the red plume sticking out the top glistens in the sunlight with a thin sheen of sweat and totally fucking rocks my world with how utterly and completely spectacular this man is!
I form a heart with my hands and hold them over my head.
When I catch his eye, I pull it to my heart, then form the sign language symbol for I love you and salute him.
His grin splits his helmet. Boom! My knees are weak!
A man beside me snapping pictures with a big camera says, "Quello sguardo! Ah! Perfetto. Lo sguardo d'amore!" I know perfetto translates perfect and amore is love, and that the photographer caught his look, immortalizing it forever.
I lean out over the wall, and Aurei leans over far enough to give me a passing kiss.
When my lips find his, the excitement inside me sparks a wave of ecstasy as if it were a lightning bolt filled with electricity.
When I lean back into the booth, my feet and toes are tingling as if that lightning tried to exit into the earth through them.
"BANG! BABY! BANG!" I pump my fist with thunderous enthusiasm, cheering for him.
When he is out of sight, I return to Bee and see that Zita has joined us.
Her smile is pure enjoyment at my pure enjoyment.
While we sit together and politely watch the others perform their feats of horsemanship, Bee shares our selfies and some of the pics she took with Zita, who tells her to post them on the Celebration event page.
When the last group has performed, and they clear the arena floor, Zita rises and steps up to a microphone that has been placed in our box.
She explains the decision not to hold the combat battle this year, and there are some unhappy people who whistle their displeasure.
"Our champion and his would-be challenger have instead agreed to put on a little show of skill for you.
" She goes on to explain how Big Al thought it imperative for his family to know their heritage on a personal level.