Being In Love (Siri's Saga Book 5)

by Cindee Bartholomew

I follow him to the front door where he greets a man who is tall, skinny and carrying a large suitcase. Aurei introduces us, and after the pleasantries are said, we go into the dressing room.

  Biagio goes right to work. He guides me into the chair in front of the makeup mirror, leans down and whispers in my ear. "I know exactly how to make you a princess." Then he opens his suitcase and waves Aurei off. "Come back in 30 minutes." When we are alone, Biagio pushes my robe off my shoulders, then he takes his tools of his trade out and begins to work. I’ve had my hair done thousands of times by others, so I sit erect, and quiet, letting him concentrate on his craft. When he is finished, he says. "You look like royalty, Signorina." He beams at me and his handy work.

  As I turn to see myself in the mirror, Aurei opens the door and comes in. He is sporting a fresh hair cut. The sides are buzzed short and the top has been clipped and shaped. He looks very handsome, but the expression on his face is priceless. It tells me Biagio’s assessment is correct. He lets out a long low whistle and I remember his whistle as I strutted my stuff in my Black and Blue Baby for him. I smile at him, knowing I look like a million dollar Diva as I turn to see for myself.

  "Wow!" My hair has been pulled up into multiple clips that form a line from my crown down to the nape of my neck and off those clips, alternating sides, my hair has been given big and small curls. Throughout, Biagio has woven small strands of ruby’s and gold threads. There are wisps of long hair, curled loosely that have escaped by design onto my shoulders and down my back. "Biagio! It’s absolutely gorgeous!" I tell him.

  "I’m glad you like it." He turns to Aurei. "Does it meet with your approval?"

  "It sure as hell does." Aurei beams.

  Biagio asks me, "May I do your makeup too?"

  I tilt my head to Aurei and we both look at him for his approval and input.

  "Light. Nothing heavy."

  "She should never wear heavy makeup." Biagio tells us as he applies a feathering of foundation. "Close your eyes. I’m going to add some green tones to accentuate your eyes, and extra eyelashes instead of eyeliner. You will look natural and completely captivate your audience." When he begins to pack his bag, he thanks us "for allowing him the honor of creating such a splendid masterpiece."

  "The honor has been mine, Biagio." I tell him. "If you are ever in Vegas, please look me up. I will let you have the honor any time."

  He grins, bows and holds his hand out to shake Aurei’s. "I will see myself out."

  As soon as the Bear door clicks closed, Aurei whistles again. "Siri, you are simply stunning!"

  I smile at him. "The rubies and gold are a nice touch. They are beautiful, but ...."

  He smirks. "There’s that word."

  I giggle. "But it’s too much." I give him an 'eek' look.

  He busts out laughing and asks, "Why?"

  "Because," I pause not wanting to say it now.

  "Straight line." Aurei tilts his head.

  "The red dress in the closet is nice, but not nice enough for all this."

  "Hmm, you think so? Because I think it is perfect." He walks to the rack and instead of picking up the red dress hanging next to his tux, he hits the button. It begins to move and he stops it on a beautiful ruby red satin evening gown with a plunging square neck line, thick lace shoulder straps, and a thick black sash cinched at the waist. The hem has a cut out open front, short as a mini, but plunges to the floor in ripples that angle to the rear.

  "Oh, Aurei! That dress is exquisite!" I breathe as I walk up to it and reach out to touch it.

  He comes up beside me. I grin up into his handsomeness. He leans down and kisses my shoulder, then my neck.

  "You cut your hair." I touch his buzzed sides and clipper cropped top.

  "It was past time."

  I study him with my tongue in my cheek, then I tell him. "I actually like it better short. It’s manly in a military way. Very badass. Very sexy."

  "Hmm," He shakes his head and leans down for a kiss, but I lean away.

  "No kisses until after midnight."

  He laughs, "If you are going to play Cinderella tonight, then we are going to have a serious problem."

  I laugh at the thought. "Me? Cinderella? Hardly! I don’t need rescuing from my life. But what would be the problem?"

  "I’m no Prince Charming." His hand grips my butt cheek and holds me firmly against him while his other hand encircles my neck and strokes my skin then his lips are smashing mine. My breath vanishes. When he lets the kiss go, he tells me. "No lipstick."

  I bite my bottom lip. "I should wear a little. Red tends to drain the color away from your face. I don’t want to look washed out."

  His eyes crinkle with his smile. "If your lips need color, I’ll kiss it into them."

  A slow smile spreads over my face. "That might require a lot of kissing." I tease him, batting my eyes at him.

  "It might." His lips smash mine again, then he leans back and stares at them. "That works. See?"

  He spins me around and walks me to the mirror. My lips are dark red now. I laugh. "That works."

  "One more thing then we have to get dressed and go. Where’s your blue mascara?"

  I grin at him. "Let me go get it."

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Riding up to the house in the Lamborghini, I start to get nervous. Aurei cuts his eyes at me. "You have a deer in the headlights look."

  Immediately he says, "I told you, I got this. Stop worrying." He puts his hand on my leg and slides his fingers up under my beautiful ruby red dress that covers everything, but nothing. The tips tease the edges of my Lovers Heart. The feeling of his fingers there does reassure me.

  I take a deep breath. "I’m sorry." I shift in my seat and smile at him. "I don’t know why, but my gut is uneasy and I trust my gut."

  "There’s nothing to fear. You’ve met my parents, and they love you. I knew they would."

  "Yeah, but …." I think of Mia screaming into the phone and her eyes when she saw me in his bed.

  "But nothing. You’re my girl. If they don’t like it," he laughs, "the hell with them."

  That makes me laugh too. "You don’t really mean that."

  "Yes, I do."

  He smiles at me as we arrive and I drop it stunned at the number of cars already here. "Are we late?"

  "No. We are early. The dinner isn’t for another hour."

  My heart starts to race and I couldn’t talk even if I wanted to.

  When Aurei opens the front door, he looks at me and says, "You look simply stunning, Siri."

  "You are the sweetest man." I tilt my head and tell him. "I mean that."

  We enter the foyer and I can hear people talking in the living area. He offers his arm. "Shall we?"

  A flash of TD saying the same thing pops into my brain and I remember the shocked looks the Swingers gave me when I surprised them at their Cock and Tail party. If that can turn out all right, this surely can too. "Yes."

  Right before we enter the room, he reminds me. "Remember this afternoon, when I said, 'Tonight when our eyes touch, I want you to see us banging to our own music?'"

  "Yes."

  He takes my hand and kisses my branded spot, then runs his fingers along my choker. "What we have is too special to let anyone in this room, or in the world for that matter, interfere."

  I smile at that truth, then chant under my breath so only Aurei can hear me as we enter the room, and every head turns to look at us, and all conversations end. "Aurei Moore, Aurei Moore, Ooh YEAH, Aurei Moore."

  He chuckles and stops just inside, then says, "Hi y’all. This is my girl, Siri Wright. Siri, this is my family."

  Several people answer back, "Hi y’all." Some say, "Hi, Siri." But there aren’t any dramatic intakes of breath or tomatoes thrown at me. Most go back to their polite conversations and only eye me from a distant. A few stare, but that is all.

  I can’t help but giggle. "I wasn’t expecting a southern welcome from Italians!"

  His eyes dance into mine. "Big Al alway
s said that when he came in a room. He loved America."

  A waiter comes up with a tray of champagne and Aurei takes two. He hands one to me. He offers a toast to the room. "To Big Al."

  "To Big Al." Everyone replies and we clink our glasses.

  As we sip the toast, several people come up to us and Aurei introduces them to me. They are distant cousins and I don’t recognize their names, but I make a point to remember them. While we make small talk, my eyes scan the room. I count about 25 people so far and more are filtering in. All the men are dressed in either suits or tuxedos. All the women are dressed in either cocktail dresses or formal gowns. Mostly muted hues, but some are bright, but no one has on red.

  Zita and Bob come in and she makes her way to us. She gives me her cheek to kiss. "You look stunning, my dear. Red is your color!" She tells me.

  "Thank you. You do too." She is dressed in a dark green velvet evening gown that fits her slender figure. Her hair is teased and sits high on her head. Around her neck is a beautiful necklace of emeralds and diamonds. Bob wears a black tux and tails with a matching dark green bowtie and cummerbund. His physique is as exceptional as Aurei’s and I know Aurei will age deliciously well.

  Aurei’s fingers slip between mine and he cinches us together. He pushes our hands onto my ass, turning my body to him. My eyes touch his and, boom, I feel his love. Just like that, my heart fills to overflowing and my eyes dart back and forth, reading his. The world vanishes for a moment as he leans in for a cheek kiss too. His breath caresses me with his words as he tells her. "Actually Zita, blue is her color." My eyes close with the ecstasy his seduction gives me and the softness of his clean shaven skin that smells of his cologne as it touches mine. The gentleness of his lips as they nip my warm cheek, then the rush of cold air as he withdraws his presence, makes my tummy lurch hard for him and when our eyes meet again, both of my hearts melt completely with his beautiful smile.

  I hear Zita say to us as my consciousness drifts back and my eyes follow Aurei’s as he looks at her. "I’m sure she is beautiful in every color." She smiles at him and I feel the deep underlying communication her eyes and her smile tell him. She knows her son is in love. My eyes drift to Bob’s and I smile at him too. They get our connection because they also have it. She turns her sweet gaze on me and asks, "Would you like me to introduce you to the family?"

  I look at Aurei and he says, poking fun. "I’ll be right here."

  I roll my eyes and they laugh. I answer Zita, "Yes, please."

  We stroll around the room together, making small talk with each other. She also makes family small talk with everyone as we pass, calling their children’s names, remembering birthdays and special little things about each one. I realize she is quite the woman in charge and is a fantastic politician. She introduces me as either the daughter of one of her dearest friends in Alabama, or she goes into more detail telling them that they play tennis together and what a pleasant surprise that Aurei and I are in love, and what a small world it is that we found each other without hers and my mother’s matchmaking help. Her acceptance of me in this way, sends the message to everyone that there will not be an issue with me as far as this family is concerned.

  Several times I look up to see Aurei’s eyes resting on me while he stands with Bob and greets his cousins. When our eyes touch, fireworks fly between us. I can see how happy he is that I’m here. His "to hell with them" was only a flippant remark. He didn’t mean it at all. He loves his Italian family. I feel honored to be among them as his girl and I display my most charming side to them. Laughing at their jokes and making sure I say how happy I am to have met them, calling them by name before we move to another group. I too am a master politician.

  Finally the dinner bell rings and our men come over to us. Aurei’s fingers cinch our hands together again and his lips hold a playful smirk as he tells me, "You need a color kiss, Wild Thang."

  My eyes close in anticipation as he leans down. My lips puckering, reaching out to his. When they touch, my soul sings when he crushes them. Damn! What this man does to me. As he pulls away, my eyes open to watch his retreat and I see the matching hunger in his. Our eyes lock in love.

  I whisper, "Thanks. I needed that."

  "You’re welcome." He winks and his sexy as hell half smile plays across his face.

  Again, I hear Zita’s voice drift to me. "Aurei, you and Siri will be sitting at our table tonight."

  Aurei’s eyes hold mine as he answers her, "Yes, ma’am."

  Bob says, "This way you two."

  Aurei lays my fingers on his arm and he escorts me to the dining room.

  Through the windows, I can see the tables under the tent for tomorrow night’s dinner. "How many out of the 200 guests expected tomorrow night will be here tonight?"

  "Sixty."

  "Are they all family?"

  "Yes."

  "Are they all employed by you?"

  "No. My mother."

  "How many do you employ?" I realize I never asked that and I look at him curious.

  "Total or Italian family?" He asks for clarification.

  "Italian family."

  "Only Antonio and Mia are full time. I guess I have to add Quintus too now." He grins. "Occasionally Angelo, if I need a driver."

  "I assumed there would be more."

  "My businesses are American."

  "Oh, gotcha," I nod.

  We stop at the door of the dining room, and wait to enter. I look back through the windows and notice along the far edges barbecue grills are set up, but not being used. Buffet style tables line the fence row. There is a dance area roped off and a wooded dance floor laid down. I smile up at Aurei. "Let me guess. Tonight is formal because tomorrow night is a Texas style barbecue?"

  He grins. "Ye'p'."

  I giggle. "I would have loved Big Al!"

  The doors open and Aurei guides us to our place where we stand next to our chairs while we wait for everyone to file in and find their seats. The tables are round and packed in. The seating arrangements have been predetermined. Zita and Bob are opposite us.

  As we wait for the others to join us, Aurei plays absentmindedly with my hair. "I really like your hair like this, Siri. You look like a goddess." His tongue touches the corner of his mouth.

  "Looks are deceiving." I grin.

  "I don’t think so." His tongue slides across his lips and I get wet.

  "They are." I take a deep breath, pushing my tits against the tight fabric and sending them bulging out the top for him to enjoy, covertly teasing him.

  He chuckles, "On second thought, you’re being, I mean looking, decadent."

  "Busted." I chuckle.

  "I like your busts."

  I cock my head and smirk at him. "You love my busts! But you are wrong."

  He chuckles again. "Yes, I do. But I’m rarely wrong."

  "True that too." I lick my lips. "But I’m not really goddess material."

  "Yes, you are." He sounds very sure of this fact.

  "How can I be? I’m Moore’s whore."

  He chuckles and his hand pulls a lock of my hair. "You definitely own that title, but I intend to mold my whore into my Goddess."

  "A Good Girl Goddess?"

  "No, MY Good Girl Goddess."

  I smirk. "You’ve got your work cut out for you."

  "Haven’t you learned by now, I’m up for the challenge."

  I almost snort. "Oh, I’ve learned that hard fact for sure."

  He chuckles.

  "But this girl is not going to give up being your whore without a fight."

  "Who said anything about giving that up?" He leans in, and smells me as his lips find the nape of my neck, kissing it tenderly, making goosebumps pop out and my nipples hard. His eyes devour the view.

  I crinkle my nose. "We agree then. Excellent, because I like being bad. I’m just not a good girl."

  His tongue tickles my skin and like liquid fire, the wet warmth floods my entire body with desire. He blows in my ear. "I want all of you,
Angel Thang."

  I whisper, melting. "You win."

  He chuckles and stands up straight, towering over me. His perfect posture dominating me.

  He is one handsome hunk! I whisper up to him. "Damn you, Aurei Moore. What you do to me!"

  He nods and smiles at some people passing by, totally ignores the wet mess standing next to him. When he looks at me again, I pretend to see up into Heaven. "I like Angel Thang."

  He laughs out loud.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Just then a very handsome man in his fifties comes up to us. On his arm is a voluptuous, young, pretty woman in her thirties. He opens his arms wide and he and Aurei embrace, then they both stare at me with crinkled eyes. One a little deeper than the other, but both the same. "Siri, I want you to meet Augustus."

  "Ah! The infamous Augustus. Thank you." I smile as I offer my hand. Aurei’s laughter fills the air again and Augustus chuckles as he takes it, flips it over and lays a soft, seductive kiss in the center of it. "You do not disappoint." I twinkle at them both.

  "Siri, it is my pleasure to meet you." He tells me as he lifts his face and looks into my eyes. The warmth feels like melted chocolate sliding down my insides and I smile. Everyone loves chocolate.

  "Likewise."

  He steps back and reaches for his girl. He holds her tenderly and she gazes up at him with love and admiration. He introduces her as his wife, Oriana, and Aurei slaps him on the back. "Oriana, you are a lucky woman! Congratulations."

  She beams at us and we all shake hands, then Augustus guides her to their chairs. He is seated next to me and she is next to Bob. Augustus introduces her to them and when I look back at Aurei, I expect to see him beaming at them, but instead he is beaming at me.

  "What?" I ask.

  "Nothing." He leans over and I peck his pursed lips.

  "Do I look pale?" I ask.

  "No. Heavenly."

  "Ah! You are such a wicked man!"

  He chuckles. "I thought I was a sweet man."

  "Hmm." I roll my eyes.

  A rather round man taps Aurei on the shoulder and he turns around then embraces this man too, along with his middle aged wife. He introduces them as Milo and Vanessa. They are polite to me, then they step to their chairs. She is seated next to Aurei and him, Zita.