Page 44 of Unforgettable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #3)

When we are in line at the grill, Aurei speaks to random people as they pass. Some he introduces me to, others he doesn't. In-between, he is silent, so I watch the dance floor. Cat's text about the new show floats into my mind, and I get excited about the idea of doing acrobatic dances.

When Aurei reaches for a plate, my thoughts clear, and I smile at him. "I'm hungry!"

"The pulled pork is delicious." He tells me as he has them pile the food on. "But I'm looking forward to the dessert. It's the best I've ever had."

"Better than the Chocolate Soufflé? Don't let Marco hear us, but what is it?" I lean towards him to hear in a conspiratorial manner.

He chuckles. "Hot and spicy chicken, and I'll be enjoying it alone." He winks that killer wink, then adds. "I'm taking you somewhere special to eat. We'll share this plate."

"I love your choice of delicacies. You can eat all you want." He grins at me as he turns, holding the plate weighed down with meat. "Sweet Zeus! You must be starving! That's enough to feed a small army. You aren't inviting anyone else along, are you?"

He only chuckles, then he says. "Grab us some water."

I walk over to the wheelbarrow provided for the kids and get us two.

When I return, he is frowning and looking toward our table.

My eyes follow his. I see right away that the men are not there, and Mia and Ann are arguing, then Bee stands up and walks off.

She goes a few feet, looks around, spots us, and makes a straight line our way.

Her face is angry. Ann and Mia continue to spew at each other.

"Oh shit! What just happened?" I ask Aurei.

"We are about to find out."

But when Bee walks up, she smiles and asks. "How's the Barbecue?"

"We haven't tried it yet," Aurei tells her.

"Bee, are you alright?" I ask.

"Sure." She smiles at me. "Same shit. Different day.

I'm going to get a plate." Then she walks off.

Aurei and I both look back at our table to see that Ann and Mia have finished their argument.

Mia is nowhere to be seen, and Ann has followed Bee.

When she reaches us, she gives Aurei a 'that bitch is impossible' roll of the eyes, shaking her head.

He says. "Explain."

"I know when you were dancing, the two of you were unaware of what was going on around you, but everyone had their phones on. She had to make a big deal about your dance being blasted all over social media."

"What about it?" He asks.

She looks at me, then back to him. She sighs, obviously not wanting to say it in front of me. "Mia was upset because the two of you will most definitely be making the news again tonight."

His eyes narrow, and his jaw sets. "What else?"

"Just that she warned you not to bring Siri here."

His beautiful heart-shaped lips compress. "Because?" He leads her to tell the rest.

"Because she thinks Siri isn't good enough for you given your position." She looks at him. "Bee told her to fuck off," Ann adds, then smirks. "Bee's a little emotional right now."

"And your words with Mia?" Aurei's words sound normal, but his jaw is set, and I see that slight tension in his eyes.

"Mia started screaming at Bee." Ann looks disgusted. "I told her not to speak to Bee ever again. She had done enough damage to our relationship, and I wouldn't have it anymore."

"Wow!" I blurt out.

Aurei only nods.

"Bro, I hate it for you, but she's impossible. We are done with her meddling shit. Things have changed. I have to look after me and mine now. I'm not playing her stupid games anymore." She puts her hand on his arm then looks at the food on his plate. "Damn! Are you going to feed an Army?"

He chuckles, and the tension vanishes. I'm amazed they both let it go so quickly. "Let me get to Bee." She says, then walks off.

Not wanting the tension to return, I lean over to inhale the fumes of the BBQ meat. My tummy growls right on cue. "Umm. It smells delicious! I'm ready to chow down!"

I follow him through a gap in the grills to the fence row.

He sets the plate on the top rail and says as he begins to unbutton his shirt.

"Let's go have a quiet picnic under the stars while we wait on Karaoke to start.

" He doesn't wait for me to answer. He simply pulls his shirt out of his jeans then takes it off.

"BBQ stains?" I ask, curious as to why he stripped but glad to feast my eyes on his flesh. I think again, looking at his perfect body in the moonlight. He should never wear clothes.

"Affirmative." He drapes it over my shoulder and reaches for the plate of food again, then turns toward the barn, and I follow him.

On the quiet path, I ask. "Who is going to eat all this?"

He doesn't answer, so I let it go. My mind drifts to Mia as loose gravel and sand crunches under our feet. Mia is a hopeless cause. No sense bothering with her. She has deeper issues than I can fix. Best if I do what Bee does and just stay out of the way as much as possible.

The barn is lit as if it were daylight, and I ask Aurei as we approach. "Why are all the lights on?"

He laughs. "That's a closely guarded secret."

"Ah! You and your secrets." I punch his arm. He smirks down on me as I shake it out. "Damn. That hurt my hand."

"Serves you right for picking on me." He laughs. "Especially when I'm defenseless."

"Defenseless? Good Lord! I'd like to see that." I giggle. "An image of you tied to the bed defenseless just flashed in my mind, but then I saw you break the post pulling on them so hard they snap and the whole canopy collapsing on us like Samson or something."

He chuckles with me. "Don't get any Switch ideas, Madam. That wouldn't be a real possibility."

"Mmhmm. I bet." I rub his arm and ask as we enter. "So spill the secret. Why are all the lights on?"

"We turn the lights on, so the dogs think it's daylight and are less prone to bark."

I giggle. "Oh! Zita told me they usually choose the winner of Karaoke."

"Yep. It gets pretty bad in the wee hours. Everyone is usually very drunk."

He turns, and we go into the storage warehouse area. He stops in front of a single house door and asks. "Shall we take the stairs or ride the elevator?"

"Oh! The elevator!"

"I thought you would say that." He continues to the end of the open bay area. There are six garage doors on both sides. He stops in front of the last one. "Hang my shirt on the hook up there." He nods to a nail in the wall. "You're going to need to hold the plate."

"Ok," I tell him as I walk over to it. I stretch my hands up as high as I can reach, then toss it over the nail.

My dress rises up, and the hem is hugging my ass.

"Hang on. Let me set these down so I can get the plate.

" I tease him as I bend over at the waist to set the two water bottles down on the ground.

I flex my ass for him, knowing I flashed my hot pink panties.

When I stand, I see his bulge in his britches.

Needy man. He holds the plate out to me, but I tell him.

"Just a second. I see something that needs my attention.

" I walk around behind him and slide my hands down inside his jeans to grope his cock.

He is at my mercy, holding the heavy plate.

"Look what's hiding in here. Mmm. I think I'll have your pure protein power for dessert, or maybe I'll squirt the fire out on my hot and spicy chicken. "

He chuckles. "That's the best part. Its handy delivery system. Just pump it up, aim and shoot. It's like a fucking cannon or something."

I snort and lean against him as we both laugh out loud. When I let him go, I simply take the plate from him. "Good lord! There is a mound of food here! Are we feeding some ranch hands too?"

"Sort of." His expression is playful when he confesses. "I feed the dogs. They sleep right through the first half of the singing." His sexy half-smile plays on his lips.

"Ah! You rascal! Wouldn't that be cheating?"

"No. Technically, it's strategy." He reaches for the chain that operates the pulley that lifts the door, and his torso stretches, giving me a fantastic view of his fucking fine physique again.

He has little if any body fat, and every muscle is clearly defined under his bulging biceps.

His skin is so smooth. So flawless. Golden God is the perfect description.

"Yes, I guess it is," I answer.

Suddenly he stops. His face jerks in the direction we came.

His hawk-eye alertness and soldier instincts kick in, and he holds the chain to keep it quiet while he listens.

His eyes narrow, then his jaw sets with comprehension.

His voice has an edge of anger when he commands me to, "Stay right here. "

I hold my breath a very concerned, very confused, but very quiet kitten.

When he looks at me, I see the thunder in his eyes, but when he sees my face, he relaxes and winks. Then puts his fingers to his lips and whispers so softly I read his lips more than I hear his voice, "Shush. No worries. I got this. Wait right here. I'll be right back."

He nonchalantly walks off, so I stand there holding the plate and admire his athletic ass.

I really should walk behind him more. That way, I can watch that perfect fucking muscle moving and grooving in his jeans. I grin, thinking about that cute little curly Q.

He stops at the corner of the breezeway, puts his back against the wall, and waits. I stiffen again, watching him. When the person steps around it, Aurei steps out too and strikes. His punch makes a sickening sound as it decks them!

Holy fuck! One-shot and boom! Down like a wet noodle! Out cold!

Then I watch my Golden God walk back to me. His face is hard, but he isn't angry. I'm speechless and decide that's exactly the correct response. I stand my ground, the submissive, respectful, quiet kitten.