"I need something special and I need a favor."
"You have only to ask. I will move mountains." He gestures to the sky.
Elena clears her throat now. I can feel her impatience and her temperature rising. She is obviously used to being the center of attention. I smile up at her. "But first, I believe Elena would like to tell you something."
She grimaces a smile at me, then says a long tirade in Italian to him. Franco’s face stays professional and polite as he listens intently to her. When she is finished and looking down her nose at me, he tells her. "Maximus has asked that we speak only English in the presence of his Miss Wright. Would you be so kind as to repeat what you just told me for the ears of his Miss Wright?"
Hmm. This ole man is sharp!
She glares at me, and I smile so innocent and sweet at her.
"Franco, Siri did not allow me to see Maximus. I wish to speak to him immediately."
He smiles at her then says. "Elena?"
"Yes, Elena Maria." She nods, clearly expecting him to recognize her name.
"Elena Maria." He nods then asks us, but looks only at her. "Do you two know each other?"
She looks surprised by his question, but he smiles at her expectantly. She doesn’t answer, so I volunteer. "We met outside our room. I almost bumped into her as I was leaving."
He raises his eyebrows at me, then looks back to her. "Is this true?"
"Yes." She whines, bitching about me. "She would not allow me to knock on the door to see Maximus. He does not know I am here." Then she demands. "I wish him to know I am here."
Franco’s eyes sharpen with her words, then his expression changes. The kindness is gone and only a sly ole fox looks at her. "If Maximus does not know you are here, please tell me, how did you find out what room he is in? Who gave you his room number?"
She looks like she got caught with her hand in a slamming door, then she sees someone who brings a huge smile to her face. "Ah!" She says as she waves. Her expression is both relieved and excited. We turn to see who she expects to get her off the hook. Antonio is bounding up the stairs two at time. When she looks back at Franco, her expression is confident again. When she looks at me, she wears her smug face and my hand twitches. "Antonio. Ciao." She waves at him as he tops the stairs. He gives her a curt nod and walks over to us.
Antonio told her what room we are in? I look up at him as he steps into our circle and in the brief moment before my poker face slides on again, my eyes reflect what my heart feels ... betrayed. Antonio’s smile falls off his face and he frowns at me. "Siri, is everything ok?"
"Perfect. Why wouldn't it be?" I beam at him, totally in control of myself again.
"Because ... " He looks at me puzzled.
Elena touches his arm. He looks at her and smiles. She smiles back and shifts her stance, completely owning the situation now. "Ciao, Antonio. You are looking good. It has been too long."
"I’m sorry. Do I know you?" He looks confused at her.
What? I glare at her now and put my hands on my hips.
He asks me. "Siri?"
"Don’t look at me. We just met. She was trying to knock on our door."
His eyebrows raise and he looks at Franco for an explanation, but Elena blurts in.
"I was coming to see my old lover when she came out. She would not tell Maximus I was here."
"Who are you?" He asks her as his eyes narrow.
She looks as confused at him as he does looking at her. "Antonio! How could you forget me?" She pouts. "Ah. Pssst." She rolls her eyes at him, then tells him in a voice that says she is used to making demands. "It is I, Elena Maria. Maximus will want to see me."
The shock that registers on Antonio’s face is priceless. He completely loses it and gushes in Italian. She responds and then Franco joins in. They all start talking at once and their hands flail out. Afraid I may get a black eye, I back away. I stand out of reach for only a little before I find myself slowly making my way down the stairs, running my fingers along the ornate carving of the banister as I go. My stomach growls and I realize I should probably head back up before Aurei wakes, by then they will have sorted out Elena Maria. I pull my phone out of my pocket to check the time. I see several texts from 'My Fucking Golden God.' I smile at the name and slide the bar to open the messages.
*You better not be playing hide and seek from me.*
*Where are you?*
*Siri? Where the fuck are you? I’m not playing!*
*If you left the room without telling me....*
*Fuck! You did. You better get your ass back here ASAP!*
Oh shit! I’m in trouble! The last message was 5 minutes ago!
I whirl around and start trotting up the stairs. As my head tops the landing, the elevator arrives and I stop, watching as the doors slide open. As soon as they are wide enough, Aurei steps through. There is nothing intimidating about his appearance in his black Pilots Do It Collectively t-shirt, jeans, and Converse shoes, except his posture and his expression.
Oh snap! My Fucking Golden God has arrived in all his glory, but he looks like the Dark Deity again!
He doesn’t say a thing, yet everyone stops talking. The quiet is deafening after the loud tirade. His piercing green gaze scans them quickly looking for me. His eyes skip right over Elena. They rest briefly on Franco, then lock on Antonio. He asks him in a voice that sounds like a low growl. "Where is Siri?" Elena’s face devours Aurei. Panic appears on the two men’s faces when they realize I’m not in the circle. "Find her! Now!" Aurei demands.
They turn toward the stairs and their expressions are intense!
Holy fuck! Three mad Italian men! I see where the Roman legions got their reputation. Fierce faces! I have to defuse this tension before they kill someone or me!
I bravely don my faithful poker face again and continue up the stairs as if nothing in the world is wrong. As soon as they recognize me, they stop advancing. I smile sweetly and give them an innocent, twinkling finger wave. "Here I am." My eyes zero in on Aurei’s. No one else is important. I see relief on his face then he gives me his lifting head nod. I tell him, laughing as I finish coming up the stairs. "I just saw your text. I’m sorry, Sugar Bare. I didn’t mean to worry you. I’m good. I wanted to let you nap. I thought I would meet Franco and ask a favor of him."
"Why was your ringer off?" He asks as I walk over to him.
"I don’t know. I didn’t think it was." I check it. "It isn’t. I didn’t get your text in the elevator and they were talking so loud, I didn’t hear it until I stepped out of the line of Italian fire." I laugh up at him. He isn’t laughing, but he doesn’t look angry either.
Antonio and Franco turn to Aurei and start speaking in English, while Elena speaks in Italian again. All of them are talking over the other. The sound is loud noise. Aurei holds my eyes and I smile as I put my hands over my ears and stop walking to him. He lifts his hand to them and amazingly they all go quiet at the same time. The contrasting silence is just as loud. He holds the other one out to me and beckons me to him. "Come here, My Every Thang." He says with a soft, sexy tone.
My heart melts. Damn! He is so fucking fine and so sweet too! I glide over to him and put my hand in his. The warmth and tingle he gives me is there and he smiles his big, beautiful smile down on my face. I whisper. "I didn’t mean to worry you."
He leans down to my ear as he pulls me to him, forcing me to invade his space by putting my hand behind his back and laying it firmly on his butt. My tit brushes his ribs making him grin. "Promise to always tell me where you are from now on." Then he leans down and places a sweet kiss on my lips.
"I promise." I answer without any breath. He has stolen it again.
He looks back now at the group of three. He addresses the problem first. "You look familiar. Do I know you?"
I look up at him surprised he has forgotten her. Only to realize he hasn’t when he squeezes my hand. Steel trap.
"I can’t seem to recall your name." He tells her and I squeeze his butt.
&
nbsp; He is so clever. Brilliantly played.
"Surely you remember me, Maximus?" She looks truly hurt.
Ah, she is speaking English again.
"I am Elena Maria."
"Ah, Elena." He nods, then drops his sweet gaze down on me. "It’s been a long, long time. Have you met Mio Bella Signorina, Siri Wright?" He pauses just a split second longer than polite manners dictate, then he lifts his eyes to meet hers. I see his jaw imperceptibly set.
She blinks under his piercing stare, then looks at me and says with ice. "Yes. We met."
I squeeze his hand and he squeezes mine back.
"What brings you here?" He questions her.
She smiles, looking back at him, flirting. "An old friend."
"Really. Who?" His face is relaxed but his eyes narrow.
"You."
He turns hawk eyes on Antonio and Franco. "Did you two know about this?" They shake their heads.
She takes a small step toward him and says. "We have unfinished business to discuss."
He smiles at her. "I’ll ask Mia to take you to lunch sometime to discuss it." He turns to face Antonio, dismissing her. "Antonio, forgive me for taking you away from your lover. Siri is obviously fine. Ciao."
Antonio smiles looking relieved, then reaches for Elena’s arm. "Elena, allow me to escort you. Do you need a ride? I can drop you off somewhere. You can give me your contact information for Mia and we can catch up on all the years you have been away and all the changes in our lives." He tucks her hand in his arm and although she pouts, she leaves quietly. He chats her up, being an attentive escort and I watch Aurei’s first love disappear for all the world to see walking like an old giraffe.
As soon as they are out of ear shot, Franco turns to us. "Maximus. Siri. My apologies."
I look up at Aurei. His jaw is firm. He is upset. He doesn’t know exactly what happened, but he does know Elena wasn’t a surprise he should have had and he isn't happy about it.
I reach my hand out and touch Franco’s arm and explain to them both what happened. "I was coming down to meet you, Franco, and ask for a favor. Elena was at our door when I came out. That’s all that happened." Aurei stiffens and I slide my arm around his waist. He pulls me to him. "I’m sure she used a rouse and tricked someone to find out our room number."
Franco tells us. "Rest assured, I will speak to Carlo and he will get to the bottom of it."
Aurei is frowning when he says to Franco. "I want to know who informed her."
Franco nods, then asks me. "What may I help you with?"
I laugh. "I would like a jar of peanut butter and a place to work on a dance routine."
Aurei asks me, "Peanut butter?"
"Yes. It is my go to food!" I grin at him.
"See what you can do on the peanut butter." He tells Franco.
"Certainly," Franco answers. "And the other?"
"I got that." I look up into his face and his beautiful green gaze. He winks at me and says. "It’s a surprise."
"I love surprises!"
He laughs and Franco looks relieved. "Come on. We don’t want to lose our reservation. I’m hungry and Michael’s is famous for pizza." As we start down the stairs, Franco takes his phone out. As soon as we part paths, he makes a call.
I’m rest assured. He is def on it.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
We check in at the restaurant and stand waiting for our table. Aurei pulls me into his embrace and says as he sticks his nose in my hair. "I was worried when you were gone. Why didn’t you wake me?"
"I apologize. I was thinking of my return routine and realized I have to have a place to dance here if I’m going to be ready. I thought I would meet Franco and ask if there is somewhere in the hotel. I intended to be back before you woke up. So tell me what the surprise is!"
"I want to show you. You’ll have to wait. What happened with Elena?"
"Nothing. I ran into her in the hall. She wanted to see you. I told her no. We came down to see Franco together. He was standing at the elevator apparently looking for me or maybe you. Then Antonio appeared out of nowhere and you emerged from the elevator, looking like thunder incarnate."
He chuckles. "Only where you are concerned."
The hostess tells us our table is ready and we follow her in. Aurei holds my chair for me. He positions me facing the kitchen and himself facing the entrance. I notice her watching Aurei’s ass as he leans over to push the chair and I don’t think anything unusual about it. I would stare too at that perfect fucking muscle on display. Would? I grin at her. Hell.... Do. But then she continues to stare after he goes to take his seat and I realize she’s staring now at my tits. Maybe she’s bi. I smile at Aurei and decide to ignore her. Aurei orders us two dark beers and she hands him the menu, smiling at him, then she takes off.
"You do drink dark beer, don’t you?" He asks a little put off.
"Yes, but not too often. I don’t like the bloated tummy it gives me."
"There is so much to learn about each other." He shakes his head.
"It’s a little overwhelming, isn’t it?"
"Lucky for you, I have this steel trap." He taps his head.
"So I was told that first day." I giggle. I look over Aurei’s shoulder at the hostess who is standing in the back of the restaurant, pointing our table out to a huge, African American male. He starts towards us and the closer he gets the bigger he looks. He is huge!
"What’s wrong?" Aurei asks as he turns to see what I’m staring at. He stands quickly and positions himself between me and this monster of a man. When the giant gets a few tables away, he stops, waves his hand for Aurei to step aside, but Aurei doesn’t. He stands firm, so the big man leans over sideways, then he bursts into a big grin. It lights up the room and Aurei looks confused from him to me.
I shrug. "I don’t know either."
The big man burst into a deep rumbling laugh. "Well, I’ll be damned!" Then he lifts his right arm, bends it at the elbow, then straightens it at me, several times.
I’m floored, but I automatically return his Tomahawk Chop and say, "Go Noles!"
He walks up, holds his hand out to shake and introduces himself as Henry, the Chef. "I’m a graduate of Florida State University, Class of 1995. What a small world sometimes." He tells us. "When Rita came in and told me she recognized my school on a shirt, I had to come see for myself." He stays to chit chat for just a few moments, takes our order and laughs when we tell him pizza. He promises to give us an Italian pizza American style with everything on it. "If I had a little Gator tail, I’d add it too but I don’t." He winks at me and we laugh, then he returns to the kitchen.
During our meal, I tell Aurei more about myself and going to school at FSU. When we finish eating, we leave to discover Angelo waiting in the lobby for us. I watch as they hug, then Aurei whisks me away immediately to the car where it is warm. It’s a Maserati Quattroporte. Very nice ride! When Angelo climbs in, he introduces himself quickly and starts the tour as soon as he faces forward. He’s a 'big talker' and for the next few hours, he entertains us with the history and stories of the Eternal City. We ride all over Rome and my nose stays glued to the window. I can feel Aurei’s hand running up my back, around my ass, then back down. I slide under his arm and snuggle between sights then my nose is right back on the window.
When we return to the hotel, it is late and very cold. Angelo pulls up to the curb but doesn’t get out. I thank him for the fantastic tour as Aurei slides out and holds the door for me. "I can’t thank you enough. It was unbelievable! You are so knowledgeable!" I lean up over the seat to give him a kiss on his cheek. Aurei sticks his head in and laughs. "Hurry up, Sweet Thang. It’s cold out here."
"Yes sir." I giggle as I slide out. "Thanks Angelo. See ya!" Aurei sticks his head back in and has a conversation with Angelo. I look to see that the doorman is holding the door open for me, but I wait for Aurei. Immediately I begin to shiver and start jumping up and down to stay warm. When Aurei closes the car door and turns around to see me sti
ll there, he grabs my hand and drags me running behind him to the entrance. The doorman is still holding the door open when we approach. We hurry through the lobby and up the stairs all the way to the elevator without stopping. I’m giggling and shivering while we wait on it to arrive. Aurei rubs my arms up and down, creating warmth with friction, and I start bouncing up and down to help. His eyes watch my tits flowing up, dropping down, returning, then repeating and they get hooded, but his voice stays playful. "I can see your beautiful hard tits pushing against your bra right now."
"Really?" I ask as I stop bouncing and look. "No, you can’t." I swat at him.
He laughs and wraps me in his arms. "I can, because I know they are and I know what they look like. Beautiful. Round. Hard. Pushing out. Wanting me to taste them." When the elevator arrives, his words have warmed me and I stand looking out from his embrace watching as twenty people file past. I hear Angelo’s words about their ancient history and culture and see them in a whole different light. These people are Romans. Descendants perhaps from the leaders of the first democratic statesman, or from Roman soldiers, warriors who fought fearless on the field of battle for the Roman Empire, or from Gladiators, foreign warriors or slaves forced to fight.
Several other couples join us waiting and when the elevator is empty, Aurei pushes me forward not releasing me from his embrace. I can feel his erection pressing into my butt as he maneuvers us to the back corner where he traps me under his big wing span and the wall. I turn to face him and see a sexy smile on this face. I smile back knowing he won’t touch me in here with all these people around but knowing he wants to. We wait quietly and patiently as the elevator fills. A man by the panel box asks a question. Several people answer with one word answers and the man pushes buttons selecting the floors. As the elevator rises, Aurei’s seduction begins. He leans his head down to my hair and breathes deep then blows his breath out on my ear. He whispers in it. "Ah, you smell delicious enough to eat." My tits push against my bra, scratch against the fabric sending my clit a wake up call. It is tender from the spanking it received and I shift my weight so it won’t rub against the seam of my jeans. I inhale the essence of Aurei and blow my breath as if exhaling cigarette smoke onto his neck. He grins. "I think I might have a midnight snack later. Something warm and wet to hold me over until breakfast."
Saving Her Page 12
