Page 177 of Unstoppable Billionaire

"I thought he said Gio earlier."I frown.

He did."Gio is his wife, but Yanni is his mistress."

"Oh.Well.There you go."

"Yep.Gio doesn't like to party anymore.She has little ones at home, so they agreed he could find a mistress.Yanni is part owner in a couple of bars here, and they hit it off.You'll like her.She is fun and flirty too."

"Cool."We are quiet for only a few moments before I say, "I better not be a mistress."

He laughs."No, I'm an honest asshole."

"You're not an asshole."I put my hand on his leg."Therewon'tbe any mistresses either, ever."

"No worries.I don't share, and neither will you."

"I'm very jealous, Aurei.It's a new feeling for me.I didn't like Ruth, but when I thought you two might have had a relationship, I was absofuckinglutely green with jealousy.It was a bitter taste in my mouth."He cuts his eyes at me."Then when she kept hitting on you, I saw red, and it was evil jealousy.Elena too, not as bad, but it was there."

He hits the brakes and pulls off the road.His face is pale when he looks at me."Siri.You know I've fucked a lot of women.I've been honest about that."

"I know, and I know I shouldn't be jealous."

"I fucked a lot of Italian women.Women we will more than likely run into tonight."

"I realize that."

"There is no need to feel jealous, I promise you."

"I realize that, but knowing it and seeing it are two very different things.I honestly don't know how I will feel if one of them comes on to you."I stare at the window.

"Siri.I've fucked a LOT of these women.I can't guarantee that one of them won't remind me tonight, or some other night, about some past time we had."The darkness behind the window creates a mirror.I see myself and Aurei.He is looking at me with real concern on his face."You have to come to terms with this."He stares down at the steering wheel.A scared look on his face now.

I frown at him."I will.I'll be fine.I'm just not sure how I will feel that's all."

He looks back at me."It's going to happen.It's going to be thrown up in your face.Gawd!I've been a selfish fool!"He hangs his head and grips the steering wheel.My heart stops beating.His face looks so ...hurt.He doesn't look over at me.He looks up, checks the traffic then pulls back onto the highway.He drives like demons are chasing him.I stare at the window and watch him.His jaw is hard.His eyes are tough.His face is full of pain.When we turn into the parking garage of his building, I know we are going to the top floor to his photography studio, and he is scared shitless now to show me.

"Aurei."I take his hand.

He pulls it away and gets out of the car without looking at me.When he opens my door, he doesn't offer his hand.He just walks to the foyer door and waits for me to follow.He opens it, and I walk in.He commands."Top floor."

I start the climb—only the sound of our feet on the stairs and the distant honking of car horns echoes.The sound is eerie.At the top, I stop and stare at the Golden Bear with new appreciation.Bears are brutal.He stands behind me, then takes a deep breath and walks to the door.He enters the key code and puts his hand on the knob.

"Wait!"I hurry up to him.He closes his eyes."What is the key code?"

"Why does it matter?"

"It does.What is the key code?"

"Truly."

Ah!Relief floods my body.He is mine in his heart."Tell me why you are scared now?Last Saturday, we were looking forward to this.We were going to have a lot of fun in here.The Bastard Son of Thor wasn't bad."

"The Bastard Son of Thor isn't bad.It is a title I earned in a different way."

"I don't understand."

"You will."

He takes another deep breath and pushes open the door."Let's go inside, and I'll explain everything."He walks through and holds the door open for me.