Page 57 of Unforgettable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #3)

I rehearse my lines for the last time. I've opened my soul to you, and today I deliver it to you, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse.

Knowing how the words will make him feel, I grin wickedly at the floor.

Concise communication delivered straight line without any curves will speak louder that all the fluffy, fancy words could ever hope to.

He taught me that. He will absofuckinglutely love what I will say.

I lift my eyes to be possessed by him.

Looking down the aisle, I absorb what I see before our boom stuns me, and what I see makes the butterflies vanish.

Standing tall and proud, watching me, like the hunter with his eye on the prey, is my man.

My beautiful man. He is completely relaxed, but his face thunders to me to come to him with that intense look he has for only me.

Without a doubt, that is the most handsome face on the most beautiful man I have ever laid eyes on.

Ah! He has the most beautiful smile on his face.

His white teeth radiate, and he is very dashing in his tailored tuxedo, custom cut to accentuate his muscular build, small waist, and straight legs.

The man of my dreams, my Soulmate, my hero, is about to officially be all mine!

Calm settles over me like a warm security blanket. "I do know exactly what I'm doing. I'm becoming Mrs. Maximus Aurelius Moore."

Our eyes lock. His gorgeous emerald green gaze pierces me, and as I take the first steps to him, I begin to sing.

The door opens, and my heart stops. A big woman steps in.

It skips a few beats, then resumes its nervous pounding in my chest. Watching her as she pushes the door open wide and locks it, it stops beating again.

It's time. I can hear my breath in my ears as I breathe in, then out in a rhythmic, hypnotic pace.

Watching the big woman move across my line of sight to secure the second door, my eyes adjust themselves to the low light in the hallway, and I spot her.

My bride. Waiting just outside the threshold in the shadow.

My Miss Wright is about to become My Mrs. Moore.

Standing still as a statue, my bride shimmers perfection in her wedding gown.

I knew the moment I saw this unique fabric in Rome that Siri had to be wrapped in it.

She was so patient, letting every angle of her body be measured.

Any other woman would have been uncomfortable or difficult.

But not Siri. She stood with bold confidence in her beauty and respectful for the professional eye of the tailor.

Clueless why, but not needing to know more than the simple fact that I wanted her to.

She's such a unique find. My goddess in her goddess gown. She is stunning, simply stunning!

I watch her take a bottle from the woman standing with her.

I smirk. She doesn't realize I can see her.

She sucks the water from it, then moves the liquid around in her mouth, pushing her cheeks out and in, then swallowing all of it in one giant gulp.

My cock thumps, knowing how that feels. I look away to regain control, and when I look back, she has stepped into the light.

She stands in the middle of the doorway, looking down at her feet.

She looks pure, demure in the white gown.

My Good Girl Goddess. The most beautiful woman in the world, and by far, the sweetest one.

She lifts her eyes, and I feel the raw emotion that only she stirs within me, that she calls my thunder.

I feel it spread through me until it consumes all of me, and I know that I will not live another day without her.

She is truly My Every Thang. When she sees me, I can't help but smile.

Clay was right. I am the luckiest bloke in the world.

She smiles back, and I see calmness fall over her demeanor.

I read her lips and her words vanquish any and all demons of doubt hovering in the back of my mind.

Our eyes lock, and I command her crystal green, breathtaking eyes to come to my side where she belongs.

She begins to sing as she steps with the timed step of the wedding march.

The gold threads in her gown and in her hair shimmer and catch the lights.

She is perfection in both beauty and motion.

Her voice truly angelic. Her eyes are honed in on mine and force me to focus on the song she has chosen to mark our union.

It's "The Rose" by Bette Midler. A knot forms in my throat as the meaning of what she is singing to me sinks in.

In her line of work, she's seen people without hope, and they believe love is harsh, like a drowning river, a cutting razor, or an aching hunger.

She's seen those hopeless souls who are afraid to dance, to take a chance, to give, and to live.

She's heard their excuses, 'I'm not lucky.

I'm not strong.' And through it all, she's tried to give them hope that love will find them and love will rescue them, believing in the unstoppable power of love.

When she finally steps up to me, she sings that the warm light of the sun has brought forth from the cold darkness a beautiful "Rose. "

Studying her standing in front of me, I see the small white rosebuds threaded in her hair along with the single strains of gold threads, and I remember the very first time I laid eyes on her.

She was wrapped in tiny gold chains, and my soul was lost in a cold dark place.

The moment I saw her fire burning on the stage, she rescued me.

She stirred within me a lust for love and gave me hope that I could, and would, find it.

I didn't know at the time it would be with her, but I knew at the time I had to have her.

My eyes smile into hers. God, I love this woman.

She's so remarkable. She is wise beyond her years, cares beyond her calling, and loves more people, more deeply than anyone I've ever known.

My thunder is roaring with every ounce of my being, and my soul is shaken to my core with my love for this petite fireball, who has taken my breath away in so many ways, on so many levels.

I hear the minister say a few words about the sanctity of marriage, then he tells us.

"I understand you have prepared your own affirmations.

" She closes her eyes, then turns her face to him.

I watch as she listens carefully to his instructions and realize she is quivering.

"Siri Wright, please give yourself to Maximus Aurelius Moore. "

She nods, smiles at him, then looks back to me and opens her eyes.

I feel the "Boom" that is our love the instant we connect.

There is only us. Her lips part, and she tries to say something, but no sound comes out.

Then she drags her teeth across her bottom lip, and my smile falls off my face.

I feel my thunder soar inside, and I hope I can resist the urge to throw her down right here and fuck her hard right now.

I know she knows what I'm thinking when she smiles embarrassed then clears her throat.

Her eyes start to dance. I know that look.

I better get my shit together, or I might.

Ha! It would make for one helluva story.

I smirk and take a deep breath, hold it, then let it fall out slow and measured.

I give her a wink. My thunder rages for you, but I've got it under control.

Her tongue sneaks out and touches her bottom lip. My eyes drop to watch it drag spit across, moistening them. Damn! My cock thumps, knowing how that feels too. My eyes lock her down. Hurry, Sexy Thang. We need to fuck!

* * *

Siri

* * *

I nod my head. Fuck! I love his choice of words, "...give yourself...." but they made my mouth dry again. I slowly turn back to Aurei and open my eyes to look into his.

"Boom!" He takes a step closer and towers over me.

Commanding and demanding, but so fucking delicious!

His musk fills my mind, and his heat saturates my senses.

There is only Aurei. I try to swallow, but my throat sticks together.

I try to find the words I had rehearsed, but they vanished with the thunderous Golden God bearing down on me.

Fuck! He has that same intensity he had the day of the cookie eating contest, and all I can think of now is whether he can wait or if he will throw me down right here on the chapel floor and take his wife like the beast he is, turning our ceremony into a fucking exhibition. That would be so fucking hot!

I feel the dampness between my legs, preparing for his pounding. I shift my stance and clear my throat. His eyes dance with mine, then I watch him take a deep breath, hold it, then let it out slow and controlled. He winks that killer wink at me.

Fucking hell! He knows that I know that he IS thinking that, and I know that he knows that I might be down for it.

My mouth waters with that, and I swallow, then lick my dry lips. I look back up into my hunks eyes, and I see my hero fighting his beastly urge to touch me with all his willpower. His eyes bore into mine with torturous need.

I see you working hard. I wink back and grin at him. His eyes narrow then he grins a truly wicked grin. I can hear his thoughts as clearly as if he were whispering them in my ear. 'Wild Thang, get ready for a mind-blowing fuck, and if you don't hurry, it's gonna happen right here, right now!'

I smirk as my eyes drop down to his cock in all its glory on full display, hard and throbbing against his tight pants.

I'm such a naughty tease.

Two days ago:

"What? Why?" Aurei asked me.

"Superstition."

"I didn't know you were superstitious."

"I'm not usually, but this is important to get right the first time."

He rolled his eyes. "What if I don't want to."

"You will because I want to."

He tilted his head, knowing he couldn't argue with that. I smirk, knowing he wouldn't either.

"Trickster." He accused me.