Page 47 of Unforgettable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #3)

He winks, then looks past me and offers his hand to someone to shake.

I sit there while some of his family come over to congratulate him while they wait for their turn to congratulate the newlyweds and soon-to-be parents.

Mia rises from her chair and offers Ann a hug, and nods at Bee.

Then she comes to us. She leans over and kisses Aurei on each cheek.

"Congratulations, Maximus, you will make a wonderful uncle. "

"Thanks, Mia." He says as he studies her face. Someone leans between them to shake Aurei's hand, and she looks at me with eyes of steel. "We haven't been introduced yet. I'm Mia."

"Yes, I know. It's nice to meet you. I'm Siri." She shocks the shit out of me when she leans down and offers to kiss my cheeks too. Then I hear her whisper in my ear. "Your presence is damaging to his image. You should do us all a favor and leave."

My poker face locks down in a death grip, and I stare straight ahead, waiting to meet her bitch eyes with my own, cold, steely defiant stare.

But when she stands, her head is turned away, and she smiles sweetly at everyone and no one, ignoring me dismissively.

So, that's the way she is going to play.

Making sure my eyes do not connect with Aurei's because I don't want to ruin his joy, I turn away from her too.

When Angelo arrives laughing, Mia drifts away into the crowd. "Zio Maximus! Congratulations!" He shakes Aurei's hand, and they laugh together.

The first strands of the song, "Love Story," float to us. It's a good rendition of the original version by Andy Williams. Everyone becomes more subdued but not quiet.

"Is that Big Al singing?" I ask Aurei.

"Yes." He grins. "We recorded him so he could still continue their love story after death because he knew love was eternal."

"Oh, My Fucking Golden God! That is so romantic!" I put my hands over my heart.

He chuckles as he stands and pulls me up. "Let's dance."

"Let's do." I twinkle at him.

People begin rising from their seats and moving to the dance floor with us.

He takes us to the front. He holds his hands out to me, and I place mine in his.

He cinches one and lays the other on his shoulder.

He smiles down on me with the most beautiful face full of love as his hand slides around my waist, then down to rest on my ass.

We step simply side to side as the song plays.

Our eyes caressing each other. When it finishes, he spins me around to face the stage, then hugs my body tight to his.

His big arms crossed over my shoulders, hugging my tits tight.

His hard-on pressing into my ass. There is light applause as Zita and Bob retake the stage.

Aurei nips my ear. "You look simply stunning tonight, Siri."

I twist my face and kiss his cheek. "You look very fly, Aurei."

Zita takes the mike and quickly reminds us of the Karaoke rules. "Text your song choices now."

I give Aurei a dirty look.

"What?" He asks.

"I don't have my phone. How can I enter my song?"

"I'll text for you." His grin is full of evil innocence.

"Umm. Hmm. NOT!" I sass him.

Zita and Bob stand facing each other and wait for a new song to start.

"From This Moment On" by Shania Twain and Bryan White begins to play, and they sing to each other.

The love they have shines strong, and it feels like they are renewing their wedding vows right in front of us.

Aurei hums with them in my ear. I put my hands on his arms and sway with him.

Their harmony is perfect, and it's overwhelming.

As music does, it touches my heart, and I realize that even though Aurei and I will have a long-distance relationship, we can make Us work.

I blink back tears when they kiss, and Aurei cups my chin, pulling my lips to his.

His breath is sweet, and his lips taste even sweeter.

He whispers the Italian inscription to me and says.

"I'm going to tell you tonight what that means. "

"I love you, Sugar Bare."

"I love you too, Wild Thang. Are you crying?"

"Maybe a little. That was so fucking sweet."

"Oh, dear." He frowns as he smiles, then he kisses me sweetly again as Bob's voice fills the air to the song "If" by Donny Osmond.

When he lets me go, I repeat his words. "Oh, dear." And a tear slips down my cheek.

His finger wipes it away. "Please don't cry, Baby Thang. We're going to be ok."

I hang my head, then look up at him and say as I smile. "I know. If they can do it, we can too."

The song ends, and Zita steps back up to sing.

With her first words, Aurei cups my face and holds my eyes with his.

He says. "Yes. We will." His green gaze is so intense it sends shivers through me as Zita sings "You're Still The One" by Shania Twain.

His thumbs stroke my face as the tears slide down.

"I got ya, Baby. We will face our life together, side by side. You're my one and only for life."

The song ends, and he wraps his arms around me.

I bury my face in his embrace and hold on.

Then I hear Ann step up to the microphone.

I try to pull away, but Aurei holds me tight.

As soon as she starts to sing, I know why.

She sings "How Do I Live" by Trisha Yearwood.

"Oh, My Fucking Golden God!" I mumble against his soft but firm pecs.

My hands slip into his back pockets, and he kisses my hair as I sob while we sway.

The words of the song turn me to mush. They describe not being able to live without the love of her life, and although I'm not used to being reduced to crying, it feels so good to be able to do so without having to suck it up and be strong.

To just let go and be a woman who needs a man to be a man.

I know that Aurei loves me, and he will do whatever it takes to make us work.

He knows what true love is. His whole family has it.

Sweet Zeus! Heaven is here. Right here! Being Aurei's love is heaven. When he tells me he loves me, he doesn't just say the words. He knows the level of commitment it means, and he says it with that devotion. My shoulders shake, and he hums as he sings with her.

The song ends, and he whispers. "Shush now."

He lets me go, and I wipe my tears on his shirt.

"I melted a little right on your heart," I smirk. A little embarrassed, I became a blubbering mess and touch the wet spot with my fingers.

He chuckles as he spins me around. "Let's see what Bee will sing. She never sings the same song twice."

Bee steps up to the microphone and tells Ann. "Don't go anywhere." She walks over to the DJ and gets another microphone, then walks over and hands it to her. "I'm going to need you to pitch in on this one, babe."

Bee's song choice is "Mockingbird" by James Taylor and Carly Simon.

I ask Aurei as his arms drape my shoulders again, and he mashes my tits and nuzzles me so hard I have to brace myself to maintain our balance. "So what happened to the rules?"

"The real rule is that there are no rules."

"Ah! So basically anything goes?"

"Affirmative."

"Mmhmm."

Ann and Bee have a blast together, swagging each other and letting their playful love show. When they finish, they lighten the mood. Ann jumps down and waits for Bee as she announces. "Up next, I give you the master crooner himself. Augustus!"

Ann helps Bee down, and they hold hands back to the table as Augustus takes the stage to cheering.

I slip my arm around Aurei's waist and ask. "I guess Augustus is really good."

"He is. His voice is deep."

"Seductive, I bet."

"Affirmative." He grins at his mentor.

"Your family is unashamedly romantic, Aurei. That's amazingly refreshing."

"We're Italians, Siri. It's in our blood."

Augustus glances sheepishly at Oriana and clears his throat.

That's too sweet to see—this alpha male flirting with his baby bride.

When the music starts, he sings an absofuckinglutely, sexy version of "Behind Closed Doors" by Charlie Rich. His voice is deep, and he knows how to use it.

Aurei and I slow dance, swaying because the dance floor is too crowded to move. "I like getting you behind closed doors." I squeeze his ass.

"I like it when you let your hair down." He tugs a handful of my hair.

"I'm glad you're a real man!"

He chuckles. "I'm glad you're in great shape."

"Oh? Because you're always needy?"

"Affirmative." He grinds me.

"People are gonna talk about us."

"Fuck 'em. You're My Bella Signorina."

"Yes, I am!" I offer him my neck, and he gently mauls me.

"You make me glad I'm a man too."

"You're a REAL man!"

"Yes, I am."

"I'm glad you decided to tame my tail too."

He puts his mouth on that bone behind my ear and hums. The vibrations drive me crazy. His tone makes me melt.

Then his lips touch mine, and they suck, drawing my bottom lip into his mouth. His tongue tickles it, and my clit flitters with the feeling. Fuck! My knees get weak, and he catches me. I stare into his eyes. Boom. The world falls away.

He whispers to me. "Tonight, I'm going to tell you what Heaven means."

For a split second, the truth bounces between us, but then the song ends, and everyone around us claps, breaking the spell.

I push him away, turning my attention to the stage. Augustus is smiling at Oriana as she crosses the stage to join him.

"Angel Thang, look at me," Aurei commands my attention, knowing what he saw and needing confirmation.

"No, we're missing the show." I peek around him to see Augustus open his arms and Oriana step into his embrace. I join the "Bravo's" with an "Awe" when he kisses her.

Aurei steps in front of me. His voice is husky. "Look at me."

I close my eyes. "No, I'm not going to."

I giggle when Augustus asks her, "What's this?"

And she answers, "I'm going to sing too. The girls are going to win this year."

Cheers erupt from the ladies, and I open my eyes, laughing into Aurei's, put my hands in the air and join them. "Whoop! Whoop!"