Sometime later, Steve's ringtone wakes us. We are in the same tangled spoon position. I feel Aurei lift his head, then push me away before he rolls off the bed and trots into the other room to answer his call.
I stretch and grin. Damn straight! That’s how fucking is supposed to be! Mind blowing!
I rise too and go to the bathroom to tidy up.
When I come into the living room, Aurei is sitting on the couch. He is frowning and listening to Steve. He holds his hand out to stop my progression to him. I wait, standing in the doorway, watching his face, wondering what Steve could be saying that would cause him to frown so hard.
I hope everything is alright.
Then I see his expression change and he looks directly into my eyes with a look that drops my heart to my feet. My body freezes. I'm afraid to move. He stares at me as he listens. His face.... I shudder.
Something terrible, horrible has happened. My Golden God looks like a Dark Deity.
He says to Steve with a calm voice. "Ok. Thanks, Bro. Give Gaby a kiss for me and tell her, I'm sorry."
I wait silent and still as he hangs up. He sets his phone down on the table and stands. He stares straight ahead, not looking at me. I watch as he clenches and unclenches his hands. His knuckles grow white with each squeeze and I visualize how they could easily choke the life out of someone. My hand instinctively goes to my neck, observing him in this raw emotional state. He’s terrifying but he is also fascinating. His transformation was quick and there is no reservation in his demeanor.
You are a very dangerous man, Aurelius Moore. I pity anyone who crosses you.
When he turns his face to mine, his expression and his eyes scare the shit out of me. It's so fucking 'mean'! Then I realize what I see and shudder at the thought.
Sweet Zeus, Father of the Fucking Gods, that’s not only his warrior face, that’s the face of a killer, and that is a dark secret he locks down deep in his soul.
But the instant his eyes focus on my frightened face, his expression softens. "Siri," his voice is barely above a whisper. "Come here, Baby Thang. Let me hold you."
"Yes, Aurei," I whisper. The spit is dry in my mouth. I glide to him on trembling legs. I'm not afraid of him, I'm just afraid. Until he wraps his arms around me and kisses my hair, then I’m not. I slide my arms under his around his waist and hug him tight. His strength fills me.
I am safe as long there is breath and a heartbeat in him. We will handle whatever the fuck comes our way together! Side by side!
He takes my hand and walks me to the yellow shirt laying on the floor.
"What the fuck has happened, Aurei?"
He bends over, picks it and the belt up, then he continues to the bedroom, pulling me along behind him. "Nothing we can't handle together, Little Thang." In the bedroom, he tosses them on the bed, then he takes us into the closet. He puts me between him and his clothes. His arms encircle me as he goes through and selects a comfy baggy pair, then he leans around me to toss them on the bed.
"Aurei? What the fuck has happened?" He ignores me as he takes a shirt off a hangar. "Aurei, is it Ann? Your parents? Are they alright?"
"Everyone is fine." He walks us back out to the bed.
"Oh my.... No.... Not my parents!"
He stops, puts his hands on my face and calms me down. "No. Everyone is fine."
"Then what is it?" I ask.
He lets me go, then lays his shirt down on the bed and picks up his yellow J crew shirt. He tries to dress me in it, but frustrated, I stomp my foot and raise my voice at him. "Aurei Moore! Tell me what the FUCK is going on!"
He looks at my ferocious face and smiles. "You're so beautiful when you are riled up, Wild Thang! You look like you are going to kick my ass."
Annoyed, I snatch the shirt out of his hands then throw it down. It lands with a firm poof. I tell him through clenched teeth. "Don't push me. I might try."
"I'm not Paul." He warns. His voice is low and deadly serious. It gives me chills.
"Tell me then before I do something we will both regret!" I flash angry eyes at him and his pierce me. We both stand our ground and for a moment I think we might tie up, but then he sighs and opens his hands to me, asking for mine.
"You have to trust me." He whispers.
"You have to tell me." I whisper back, placing my hands in his. His touch is tender and my anger melts away with his gentleness. He sits on the edge of the bed and stares down at our hands. His hair reflects the light and his halo sways softly as he breathes deep and even, gaining control of his emotions. I sync mine with his, then he looks up at me. His face is so serious. He lets my hands go and both his strong hands slide up my thighs to my ass as he brings me forward. I straddle him, and he buries his face in my cleavage. My hands cradle his head and his move up my back and hold me still. I wait until he lifts his face to look up into mine, then I sit on his knees and cup his face between my hands. The scruff of his beard tickles my palms. I stare into his green pools of peace searching, then asking, but not speaking.
What the fuck is wrong?
I see his tongue slide from one corner of his mouth to the other, wetting his lips, then it flattens wide and rolls down, disappearing as he thinks about what he is going to say. His look is soft but focused and concerned when he starts to speak. His hands leave my ass and find their way to my hair. He watches them as they put my hair behind my ears. "You were right after all, Siri, about Ruth."
The hair on the back of my neck stands up. "Ruth? This is about Ruth?"
He doesn’t answer. His hands find their way to my shoulders and they squeeze me.
"Is this about Ruth or not?"
"Yes, and no."
She's really pissing me off! My jaw juts out and I set it, feeling real hostility."No double talk, Aurei. Straight line!"
"Yes. Ruth is the reason, but no, it's about us."
I hang my head and shake it back and forth. My hair caresses his hands and they find their way into it. "Oh, hell no!" I tell him. "If she thinks her crazy, bitch ass can stir up trouble for us, she has another thing coming." I look up into his face and pierce him with my conviction. "I told her I'd put her punk ass in the hospital if she didn't leave us both the fuck alone and I fucking meant it!"
"Shush." He smirks as he places his lips on mine. I see a slight crinkle in the corner of his eyes when he leans back, surveying my determination. "You are not going to put her in the hospital."
"I might." I nod, defiant.
"No. You are not." He voice is low but commanding as he stares me down. "Calm down and be quiet. Let me finish telling you."
"Fine!" I say, still riled up, but knowing I will do as he says. For now, anyway.