Page 101 of Unstoppable Billionaire

He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it.I turn back to stare out the window.

After the jet reaches cruising altitude, Mike joins us for dinner.Mary brings us a glass of champagne and serves us.We eat and chit-chat.Mike asks how we met, what I do, the typical things.I answer honestly.They talk about the things long-term buddies talk about.How's Mike's wife.She's expecting their first baby.It's a boy.They've moved to Atlanta.Aurei resigned from the Army.His parents are in Italy to celebrate what would have been his Grandpa Aurelius' 85th birthday.That's news!Ann is good.She is still putting up with Bee.Then they start reminiscing about their Army days together.They tell story after story about and on each other.The bars they crashed, shut down or got thrown out of.The practical jokes they pulled.We laugh together, and the time flies.When he leaves to go back to his pilot duties, it is dark and late.Aurei and I recline our seats.Mary appears with blankets and pillows.We kick off our shoes, and Aurei takes his tie then his shirt off.Mary eyes his body appreciatively as she takes them to hang with his coat.

I ask as soon as we settle in.

"So what's this about a party for your Grandfather's 85th birthday?"

"Not just a party.It's a celebration."

"Oh.What's the difference?"

"Big and extravagant.We go all out for it each year, making it a family reunion of sorts keeping the tradition he established.He would say that it's the Texan in him coming out."Aurei laughs.

"Texan?I thought he was Italian."

"He claimed both.It's a great story.Especially the part about courting my grandmother.'It's quite the love story.'"Aurei says with a slow southern drawl that has just a hint of an Italian accent.

I giggle."Tell me the short version, please.It will make a good bedtime story."

"My grandmother was a gifted dancer like you.She was a ballerina.They met and fell in love, but she wouldn't give up her career for him.At first, his heart was broken, he took a job with this big company, and they transferred him to Texas.He saved his money, bought some land, then struck oil.When he returned to Italy years later as a wealthy oil baron, he reconnected with my grandmother and asked her again to marry him.Again, she refused because of her career, but this time, she told him when she was too old to perform, she would marry him.Each year he returned and asked her.Finally, she agreed.They wed, and she moved to Texas with him.They had my mother a year later and lived happily ever after until she died on the dance floor.He returned to Italy to bury her and stayed.He wouldn't leave her again."Aurei speaks with the same funny accent."Till death do us part.Well, I'm not dead yet."He laughs."He was quite the character."

"Wow.That is a romantic story.Tell me about your parents."

"My mother is Zita.My dad is Robert.Everyone calls him Bob.They met in high school, fell in love, and got married.Bob joined the Army.They had me then Ann.We were Army brats until middle school.Then he resigned from the Army to help his parents run the farm."He yawns."Any more questions before I fall asleep on you?"

"Yes.I want to know about the Bastard Son of Thor."

"It's complicated.Too complicated for tonight."

"May I have the short version of it too then?I'm dying to know!Please?"

"Shortest version.Photography.My Granny Moore gave me a camera when I was 12.'I took a likin' to it.'She would say when she bragged to her friends about the nice pics I took.When I went to spend my first full summer in Italy, I talked some older girls into letting me photograph them nude."He smirks, and I laugh."I was a horny teenager.What can I say."

"Did they give you the title?"

"No, but it's extremely complicated, Curious Thang."He tweaks my nose."That's the shortest version."He yawns."Let's see if we can sleep.I'm drained."His grin is lazy, and his eyelids are heavy.I slide in next to him, aware that Mary is watching us, and she dims the cabin's lights.Before I can get the covers pulled up and settled in, I hear his soft snoring beside me.I put his arm over me and hug it close as I snuggle against him.His soft, gentle snoring, lolls me to sleep.

I like sleeping with him.

The next thing I know, Mary is waking us with a fresh cup of coffee, and the sun is shining in the cabin windows.Aurei stretches and stands.He takes the coffee she offers."How long till we land?"

"About 45 minutes.I thought you would like time to freshen up before we touch down."She tells us as she hands me coffee."There are toiletries in the bathroom.Let me know if you need anything else.There are breakfast muffins if you like."

"No thanks.I'm good with coffee for now."I tell her.

Aurei takes his coffee and asks for his phone.She retrieves it for him, and I watch him check his emails.When he places a call and speaks Italian, I visit the bathroom.Inside, I brush my teeth and take a quick whore's bath.Then I put my blue dress back on.I fluff my hair, pinch my cheeks and bite my lips to add color.When I finish, I return to my seat, plop down, and wiggle up to him.His arm goes up and over me.I drape it around my shoulders like a shawl and flex his fingers as I examine them.I listen to him, and his voice is crisp and businesslike.When he hangs up the phone, he tells me."I'm happy you are with me."

My heart melts."I will follow you anywhere, Aurelius."

He places a butterfly kiss on my forehead."I've reserved a table at Gia's for breakfast.We'll check-in at the hotel, get a quick shower.Keyword being quick again."He smirks at me, and I giggle."Grab a bite, then sightsee."

I squeal softly, clapping my hands together fast."I can't wait!"

He chuckles as he stands and stretches."Fun Thang, I'll be right back."

I laugh up at him."I'll wait right here.I'm not going anywhere."I watch him walk to the bathroom.Mary meets him at the door with his shirt and tie.He thanks her, then disappears.She comes to me and takes our coffee cups away.I stare out the window, letting my mind play picture games with the images of the clouds in the sky.I see a horse, a deer, and a bear.When Aurei comes out, he is dressed and ready for Rome.It's going to be hard to take a quick shower.I smile at him as he sits down next to me.

The 'buckle your seat belt' light illuminates.Mary watches to make sure we have.Then she disappears behind the curtain.Morris keys the intercom and begins a narration of the sights we are flying over as we approach Rome.My face is glued to the window.I hear Aurei chuckling."You're like a little kid on Christmas morning."