Thorn

I texted Titan. You want to get dinner tonight?

Just you and me?

Preferably. I wanted to talk to her about Diesel. We were leaving for Thailand in two days.

Sure. In an hour?

Yeah.

When I left the office, I met her at a sports bar that had awesome beer and great appetizers. Titan didn’t eat much, so it never made sense to go to a restaurant. She just took a few pieces of the fries and focused on her salad. Now that she was getting married in a few days, she ate even less than usual.

“How are things?” I asked.

“Good.” Her eyes moved to the TV in the corner, but she didn’t follow sports very closely so she obviously didn’t care what was on. “I’m regretting this no-sex pact I made with Diesel…and it’s only been a few days.”

“Well, it was a stupid idea. What the hell were you thinking?”

“That it would be uncomfortable but not unbearable…” She picked at another fry. “When he gets out of the shower, he purposely parades around the place with a towel around his waist. I feel like he’s torturing me on purpose.”

“I guarantee you that he is.” If Autumn took sex off the table, I’d just seduce her too.

“How are things with your girlfriend?” She accompanied her tease with a smile.

“Great,” I countered. “We’re having lots of amazing sex.”

Her eyes immediately narrowed at my jab.

“Unlike you.”

“Don’t remind me…”

“She’s my date for the wedding.”

“I told you monogamy isn’t so difficult when you find the right person.”

“It’s been a week,” I reminded her. “Let’s not jump ahead.”

“It’s been more than a month,” she countered.

“I just asked her to be serious with me last week. So, no, you’re wrong.”

“But you didn’t sleep with anyone in that time period. Therefore, you were monogamous. Don’t try to get out of this, Thorn. You’re sprung over this woman, and let’s not sugarcoat it.”

I took a long drink of my beer because I didn’t know how to deflect her statement.

Titan wore a smug grin.

I set my glass down and wiped my mouth with the back of my forearm. “Whatever…at least I’m getting laid tonight.”

She grabbed a fry and threw it right at my face.

When it bounced on the table, I grabbed it and popped it into my mouth.

“You’re a billionaire, Thorn. You don’t need to eat food off the table.”

“You think the kitchen is any cleaner back there?” I asked incredulously. “Unlikely.”

“Diesel told me he had a good time at his bachelor party.”

“He did? He was a bitch the whole time. Anytime a woman hit on him, he stormed off and made a scene about it.”

She chuckled. “He’s used to the media turning the story around on him, so that’s probably why he’s acting like that. He has to make a performance, that way no one can spin it against him.”

“I guess that’s true.” A photographer once got a picture of Diesel kissing some woman in a club. He denied the allegation from the very beginning. I didn’t believe him at the time, but now I did.

“What did you do when women hit on you?”

“No one did.”

She cocked an eyebrow in disbelief.

“I got out of the way before they had a chance,” I explained. “If I saw them making eyes at me, I ignored them. And if they came over to talk to me, I went to the bathroom. The guys think I have bladder issues now.”

She smiled. “That’s sweet.”

“I think it’s cowardly, but alright.”

“I can’t believe you were ever worried about being faithful. You’re doing a great job.”

“Again, it’s been a week.”

“A month,” she corrected. “A month is a long time to sleep with the same person. I was in love with Diesel within two weeks.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here and toss the L word around.”

“Whatever you say…” She drank her Old Fashioned and glanced at the TV again.

“Need any help for the big day?”

“Nope. Everything is taken care of.”

“Kinda strange to think you aren’t going to be Titan anymore. Our relationship will be different now. It used to be just you and me…now it’s you and Diesel.” I didn’t consider myself to be an emotional guy, but losing Titan was difficult for me. She was my family. I cared about her like she was my own flesh and blood.

“That’s not true,” she said. “It’ll be you, me, and Diesel—all three of us.”

“You know what I mean, Titan.” I looked down at my beer.

“Things will change, yes. But they already have. In the end, I know you and I will always be close. When you and Autumn get married—”

“Whoa, what the fuck?” I snapped. “I’m not getting married. I never even put that on the table.”

“Whatever,” she said. “When you get married someday…you’ll have someone, and I’ll have Diesel. So we won’t be as close anymore, but I know we’ll still be family. I know we’ll still have our own relationship…just like we do now.”

“Yeah…you’re probably right. How are you handling getting married?”

“I don’t understand your question.” She pulled the toothpick out of the glass and bit off the cherry.

“You’re getting married. Your life is completely changing. It’s not where you thought you would be a year ago. It’s a drastic shift. Between you and me, how do you feel? It’s normal to get cold feet. People don’t feel doubtful about the person they want to marry. But they feel doubtful about how different their lives will be.”

She stirred her glass as she considered the question. “I haven’t thought about it in that way. Honestly, all I can think about is the man I get to keep for the rest of my life. There will be bumps in the road because we both like having things a particular way. But I know we’ll work through them.”

“Did you do the prenup?”

“No.” She took another drink.

“No?” I was surprised Titan would even consider eliminating it.

“Diesel and I made our own legal document. We’re committed to making the marriage work at any cost. I thought it was so romantic that I couldn’t say no.”

“What kind of legal document?”

“It’s not really legal. It can’t hold up in court. It’s just our promises that we made to each other. If we ever feel the urge to be unfaithful, we’ll talk about it and see what we can do to prevent it. If I can’t be prevented, we’ll seek counseling. If that doesn’t work, we can discuss an open relationship. Whatever needs to happen, we’ll make it happen. But divorce is a word we won’t include in our vocabulary.”

“That is pretty romantic.”

“I know Diesel would never hurt me, and he loves me so much. I can’t see that ever changing. And I would never hurt him. I don’t think it will be an issue for us.”

“Me neither.”

“And he wants us to combine our strengths as well as our businesses. We have the capability to take over the world. Now he wants to execute it.”

“Pretty awesome.” They would be the biggest power couple in the world. “And you’re going to start trying for a family right away?”

She nodded. “I’m getting old, Thorn…”

“You are not.”

“I’m thirty. I’m running out of time.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I want to have at least two kids, and I don’t want to be pregnant the whole time. I want to have a break in between. So I have to do this now. Diesel wants a family too, so it’s fine.”

“He seems pretty eager to get started, actually.”

She chuckled. “I know he is. He reminds me every day.”

“Well, I’m here to talk if you need someone to listen. And I’ll always be here to listen.”

Her eyes softened, and she reached across the table to rest her hand on mine. She gave me a gentle squeeze before she pulled away. “My life is changing so much…but some things will always remain the same.”

“Yeah. You’re right.”

The subject changed to work, and we talked about the things I’d be taking care of while she was gone for two weeks. It was a long honeymoon, but since Titan had worked aggressively for the last ten years, she deserved a long break. No better place to do that other than paradise.

Her phone started to ring, and Diesel’s name appeared on the screen. “I’ve got to take this. He’s probably pissed I didn’t tell him I was meeting you…” She slipped out of the booth and stepped outside to take his call.

I enjoyed the rest of my beer then scrolled through my phone. I’d taken a few pictures of Autumn last night. She was asleep, but she looked so beautiful when she was cuddled into my side. We didn’t even need a king-size bed because she pretty much slept on top of me. She was all over me—all the time.

I grinned as I scrolled through the pictures.

“Hey, I know you from somewhere.”

I looked up from my phone, noticing the blonde bombshell looking down at me with a smile plastered on her face. Her hair was wavy like she was had just come from the beach. Her sweater fell over one shoulder, and she wore skinny jeans with brown booties. If this were any other time, I’d make a move. “You probably see me in the news a lot.”

“Yeah, you’re Thorn Cutler, right?”

“Yep.” I didn’t ask who she was. That sounded like an invitation for the conversation to continue.

“Was that Tatum Titan you were with a second ago?”

“Yeah. She had a phone call, so she stepped outside.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I think it’s really cool that you guys are still friends. Not too many people could do that.”

It would take years before people started to forget I was ever engaged to Titan. “Our friendship is pretty solid.”

“Since you’re sitting here alone, you want to get a beer? My treat.”

A beautiful woman was offering to buy me a beer. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t turn down an awesome offer like that. I’d wondered how I would behave in a situation like this. Would I be a sleazebag and immediately jump back to my old ways once the opportunity presented itself? I could get ass whenever I wanted, so I didn’t need Autumn for that. But I wanted something else from Autumn—something that meant a lot more. “Thanks for the offer but…I have a girlfriend.” I couldn’t stop the smile from forming on my lips. I said the words out loud, and surprisingly, it felt good.

“Oh…I didn’t realize.” She smiled then turned away. “Nice meeting you.”

“Nice meeting you too.” When I looked up, Titan was standing at the next table, her arms crossed and a big grin on her face.

I rolled my eyes. “Shut up while you’re ahead.”

She moved back into the seat across from me, still showing the victory in her eyes. “Fine, I’ll shut up. But that’s only because you know exactly what I’m going to say.”

---

I sat in the back seat as my driver took me to my penthouse. I called Autumn and placed the phone against my ear.

She answered almost immediately. “Hey, babe.”

I grinned like a fool when I heard her say that. “Hey, baby. What are you doing?”

“Just got home, and now I have dinner on the stove.”

“Dinner, huh?”

“Are you fishing for an invitation?”

“No. If I wanted to come over, I would just do it.”

Her smile was audible over the phone. “You’re coming over, huh?”

“How can I listen to that sexy voice and not?”

“It’s easy. Just go to your penthouse.”

That wasn’t easy at all. I pictured her dark hair trailing down the center of her back as she stood in the kitchen. She was wearing one of my shirts, the length reaching her knees. “That’s impossible when I picture how sexy you must look right now.”

“Actually, I don’t look very sexy. I just left the gym, and I’m in my workout clothes.”

“With those tight leggings and sporty top?” I blurted.

“Yes.”

“Fuck…”

She laughed into the phone. “Get real, Thorn.”

“I am. I’ll be there in five minutes. You can take off your pants now or wait until I get there.”

“I know you like to do the honors.”

My girlfriend was awesome. “I’ll be there soon.”

“Thorn?” Her voice suddenly turned serious, a direct contrast to our playfulness.

“Yes?”

“Titan told me about last night.”

I was drawing a blank. “What happened last night?” I saw Titan for forty-five minutes over drinks. Nothing interesting happened.

“You told that sexy blonde you had a girlfriend…and you had a stupid grin on your face.”

Oh, that. “Titan is a lying psychopath. Don’t listen to her.”

“That’s too bad. I was going to give you the best sex of your life.”

My cock immediately thickened in my slacks. I pictured Autumn bent over the kitchen counter, her leggings bunched at her knees. I pulled on her hair as I pounded into her from behind, crushing that pussy—the pussy I owned. “Okay…maybe she wasn’t lying.”

“That’s what I thought.”

---

Her hair stuck to her neck in the shower, and now that all her makeup had been washed away, her small freckles were more noticeable. She faced me under the water and ran her hands down my chest, feeling my hard body with the same enthusiasm she showed earlier when I fucked her in the kitchen.

The dinner she made never got eaten.

“So, what did you think?” She tilted her head back and rinsed her hair.

My eyes immediately went to her perky-as-fuck tits. “You rode me pretty damn good.”

“Best you ever had?”

“No.”

Her eyes moved back up to mine.

“You’re always the best I’ve ever had.” It sounded like a line, but I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.

She smiled up at me, her plump lips looking irresistible. “Whether you mean that or not, I don’t care. I just loved hearing you say it.”

We got out of the shower and dried off before we returned to the kitchen. The vegan bowl she made was cold and the veggies were soft, but we served the plates and ate it anyway. I sat across from her at the table, sitting in my boxers because I didn’t want to put my suit back on.

She was in a long t-shirt, her damp hair pulled over one shoulder.

“This is good.”

“It tastes like shit, and we both know it,” she said with a chuckle. “But it’s edible.”

I chuckled at her bluntness. “I’m sure it’s great when it’s fresh.”

She took a few more bites before she drank from her water.

I stared at her as she stared down at her food. I loved watching her. It was like looking at the photos I had of her in my phone. “You want to have dinner then stay at my place tomorrow? We’re carpooling in Titan’s jet. Or, I mean, we’re plane-pooling.”

“I can’t. I’m having dinner with my parents. But I’ll meet you guys at her apartment.”

“Why are you having dinner with your parents?”

She cocked an eyebrow. “What kind of question is that? Because they’re my parents.”

“That’s not what I meant. I was wondering if it was a special occasion or something…like your mom’s birthday.”

She pushed her food around with her fork. “Well, it’s actually my birthday.”

Oh, shit. Did she tell me that, and I just forgot? I felt like the biggest asshole on the planet. I was certain she didn’t mention it because I would have remembered. We’d only been seeing each other for a month, so it’s like I was a complete asshole.

“My mom usually cooks dinner, and we have a small get-together. It’s quiet, but I like it.”

“That’s nice,” I said in a low voice. “I feel really stupid right now. I didn’t know…”

“It’s okay, Thorn. I never mentioned it, so how were you supposed to know?”

I still felt like a jerk.

“So I’ll meet you guys in the morning.”

“You can’t come over after dinner with your parents?” I asked hopefully.

“I should go home and pack. But we’ll be staying in the same room in Thailand, so we’ll be together then.”

She didn’t invite me to her parents’ place for dinner, and it made me wonder if they knew about me at all. Did she want me to come but thought it was too soon? Or did she not want me to come? How did I figure that out without asking? Maybe I shouldn’t ask at all. “Baby?”

“Yeah?” She looked down at her food and took another bite.

“I’d like to come over for dinner with your parents…if you want me there.”

She looked up again slowly, subtle surprise on her face. “You want to meet my parents?”

“Well, yeah. I want to celebrate your birthday with you.” Whether she was with friends or family, I wanted to be there. I’d never met a woman’s parents before, but Autumn had already met mine. I’d ask Titan for some advice before I went over there.

“I’d love that,” she said. “I just didn’t think you’d be ready for something like that.”

“To celebrate your birthday?” I asked incredulously.

“You know what I mean, Thorn.”

“I prefer it when you call me babe.”

A smile melted across her lips. “You know what I mean, babe.”

“I want to be there.”

“You’re sure?” she asked.

“Yes.” I held her gaze with my own steady one. “You’re going to have to coach me through it, though, because I’ve never met a girlfriend’s parents.”

“Because you’ve never had a girlfriend.”

“Well…yeah.”

“My parents are really nice. They’ll love you.”

“Did you tell them about me?”

She nodded. “I did.”

I tried not to smile. “So…you said I was your boyfriend?”

“Well, I certainly didn’t tell them you’re some guy I’m fucking.”

I chuckled. “Good call.”

“At first, they were weird about the Titan thing. They didn’t want me to be a rebound. But I explained to them what that situation really was. They didn’t understand in the beginning, but I told them it wasn’t really that strange. Royalty has marriages for convenience rather than love. Anyone who’s someone seriously considers a business relationship for a marriage. When I put it into perspective, they understood.”

“And they know that’s not what we are, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” I wasn’t with Autumn for any other reason than the fact that I adored her. “Should I bring anything?”

“No. My mom lives for this sort of thing.”

“Reminds me of mine.”

“I have a feeling they would get along well.” She turned back to her food and kept eating.

The notion of our parents meeting would suggest we were getting married, but the idea didn’t freak me out. It didn’t make me feel anything. “So, is your dad the threatening type? Is he going to grill me?”

“I’m a twenty-seven-year-old woman,” she said with a chuckle. “My dad doesn’t need to grill the men I see.”

“Did they meet your ex?”

“Max?” she asked. “Yeah, they liked him. They don’t like him anymore, but they did at the time.”

Maybe they wouldn’t like me because they thought I would do the same to her, which I wouldn’t. Autumn could put on whatever spin she wanted, but I still thought the guy was an idiot. His wife couldn’t hold a candle to Autumn—no way. “They’re probably going to grill me pretty hard, then. But I’m prepared. I’ll sweep them off their feet.” I was good-looking, a billionaire, and I came from a great family. The thing they would care most about was the way I treated their daughter.

And I would treat her like a queen.

---

“Help me.” I walked into Titan’s office without knocking. She was holding up a pair of white heels so she didn’t see me coming through the glass doors.

“What do you think of these?”

I shrugged. “They’re nice. Why?”

“They’re my wedding shoes. I just got them in.” They were an off-white color, and real diamonds were constructed into the shoe. They were perfect for a woman as classy as Titan.

“To be honest, Diesel isn’t going to give a damn about your shoes. Even when your legs are thrown over his shoulders and your shoes are right next to his face, he’s still not going to give a damn. Just my thought…”

She smiled then set the shoes into the box. “You’re right.”

“He’s gonna want some lingerie. Tell me you got some of that.”

“Actually, I did.” She nodded to the boxes stacked on the table against the wall.

“Then he’ll be a very happy man. Good call.”

She set the shoes on the table along with everything else. “What did you need help with? I need some help too.”

“With what?” I asked. “Do you need something for the wedding?”

“No. I’m just having a hard time keeping my hands off Diesel. I’m not sure if I can make it another day.”

I sat in the armchair facing her desk. “God gave you fingers for a reason, Titan.”

“You know I can’t do that. It’s not the same anyway.”

“Then I don’t know what to tell you. This idiotic suggestion was your idea.”

“True. I guess I’m the only one to blame.” She sat down then closed her laptop. “So, what were you saying?”

“Today is Autumn’s birthday.”

“Oh, it is?” she asked. “I’ll wish her a happy birthday.”

“I’m going over to her parents’ place for dinner tonight to celebrate.”

She did a double take. “Thorn Cutler is meeting his girlfriend’s parents? I can’t believe it.”

“Me neither.” I knew how to dazzle anyone in a meeting, so I could do the same for these people. Gaining people’s confidence was my specialty, and I’d use a lifetime of learning to do the same with Autumn’s mom and dad.

“You want advice on how to make a good impression?”

“No. I know I can make a good impression. I’m a good-looking billionaire. I’m practically Prince Charming.”

“Uh, Thorn.” She shook her head slightly. “Autumn is worth over a hundred million.”

“So?”

“You being a billionaire isn’t going to mean anything to them. That’s not what a parent cares about when it comes to their daughter.”

“Then, what do they care about?”

“That you make her happy. That you treat her well. Prove that to them, and you’re in.”

I thought I made her happy. I did my best to treat her well. Would that be good enough? “I’m not sure how to do that, Titan.”

“Well, you’re going over there to celebrate her birthday with her parents. That’s a pretty good sign. You could just skip it, but you aren’t. That will mean something to them, especially if she tells them you asked to come.”

“Looks like I’m off to a good start.”

“I think you just need to be yourself.” She propped her chin on her knuckles, her left hand resting on the desk. The diamond ring sat on her finger, the humble size perfectly matching her personality. “I know you really care about Autumn, more than you even realize. If I can see it, I’m sure they can too.”

“I do care about her… I want them to like me.”

“Then you’re golden, Thorn. Just don’t brag about yourself. I’m sure they know exactly who you are, so you don’t need to mention your money or accomplishments.”

“Alright. Noted.”

“Is that all you needed help with?”

“Actually, no.” I’d given this a lot of thought and hadn’t come up with a solution. “I don’t know what to get her as a gift. There’s a diamond bracelet at Tiffany’s that’s really nice, but I never see her wear jewelry. She either doesn’t wear it because she doesn’t like it, or maybe she can’t afford something she really wants…”

Titan shook her head. “Don’t get her diamonds. It’s impersonal and empty.”

“Uh, I don’t think most women would say that.”

“The only time you should buy diamonds for a woman is if it’s an engagement ring. For this first birthday together, you should do something a lot more meaningful. I know you’ve only been seeing her for a month, but it needs to have some thought in it.”

“Okay…” I tried to think of something, but I was drawing a blank.

“I can’t help you with this, Thorn. This needs to come from you.”

I rubbed my temple and sighed.

“You’ll come up with something. You’re one of the smartest men I know.”

“Just last week you called me an idiot.”

“And you are an idiot,” she countered. “Sometimes.”

---

Autumn didn’t have a car, so I drove my Bugatti to the house in Connecticut. I wasn’t trying to show off. The only cars I had were luxury vehicles that cost millions of dollars. If I had my driver take us, I thought that might look worse.

We pulled up to the house, a two-story white house with blue shutters. It had a nice yard with a large oak tree right out front. Trees were everywhere on the property, sprinkled with snow from the blizzard that came through last week.

I tucked her gift under my arm and then walked to the front door.

“Is that for me?” She was in black jeans and a beige sweater. An olive green scarf was wrapped around her throat, and she wore a thick black jacket on top. She’d had gloves on when she got into the car, but she’d stuffed them into her pockets.

“Yeah.”

“You didn’t have to get me anything.”

“It’s your birthday, baby. I wanted to get you something.”

“Well, that was very sweet.”

I took her hand and walked up to the front door. “They have a very nice place.”

“Yeah, they love it. It’s always quiet. Whether it’s summer or winter, it’s beautiful here. When my mom saw it, she said it was her dream house.”

“It was really nice of you to buy it for them.” She’d never said that, but I picked up on the subtle hints.

“They’re my parents…they did a lot for me.” She rang the doorbell.

I was close with my family, so I found it attractive that she was close with hers. Not everyone was generous when they had money. Oftentimes, people just became greedier. Autumn wasn’t that way at all.

The door opened and revealed a woman in Autumn’s likeness. With jet-black hair, green eyes, and a short stature, she looked like Autumn’s sister. Her eyes fell on her daughter, and she beamed with obvious pride. “My baby is home.” She pulled Autumn in for a tight hug. “Twenty-eight…I can’t believe it.” Her mother was thicker than her daughter, having a bigger waist and thighs, but she’d still aged very well.

“I know,” Autumn said as she hugged her mother back. “Time goes by so fast.”

Her mother turned to me next, and she gave me the same look of joy that she just showed to her own daughter. “You must be Thorn. We’re so excited to have you over. Please come in.”

“Thanks. Pleasure to meet you.”

She shook my hand. “I’ve seen you on TV a lot. You look just as handsome in person.”

“Oh…thank you.” This was getting off to a good start.

Her father came into the entryway, a man with black hair that was quickly fading to gray. He wore a collared shirt and dark jeans. He was slender, like he spent most of his time on his feet. “Glad to have you join us.” He shook my hand.

“I’m happy to be here, sir.” I’d never called anyone sir before. People were always calling me that instead.

“I’m Walter,” he said. “This is my wife, Emily.”

I nodded. “Pleasure to meet you both.”

“Let’s sit down and eat,” Emily said. “I made Autumn’s favorite.”

“Lasagna?” Autumn asked.

“Yes, sweet pea,” her mother said.

Seeing their closeness touched my heart in a way I could never explain.

We sat at the dining table, and I left the present toward the opposite end. Her mother served the food. We started eating, and then Autumn exchanged a few words with her parents, asking about their lives while she hadn’t seen them in weeks. She told them about the conference in Chicago and her working relationship with Titan.

I scarfed down the food because it was delicious. “This is amazing, Emily.”

“I’m glad you like it, Thorn,” Emily said. “Cooking has always been my favorite pastime. There’s a cooking school just in town, so I’m there a lot with a few friends. Do you cook often, Thorn?”

“Not really,” I said honestly. “I made Autumn dinner once, but I served the only dish I know how to make.”

Autumn smiled at me.

Emily smiled wider. “That’s sweet.”

“You guys have a lovely home,” I said. “Reminds me of Home Alone.”

“Thank you,” Walter said with a smile. “When Emily saw it, she knew she had to have it. And Autumn was generous enough to make that happen.”

Autumn shifted her gaze to her food, her cheeks reddening.

“You guys have a wonderful daughter,” I said. “The first time I met her was in her office. I was trying to make a deal with her, but she didn’t bow down. She met my confidence with her elegance. I’ve never been so impressed in my life.”

The pride shone in Emily’s eyes. “I’m not sure how we got so lucky to have a daughter like her. When she was young, we knew she was special. Ahead of her peers and ambitious, she passed all of her courses with flying colors. And to top it off, she’s extremely compassionate and generous.”

“She must get it from you two.” I wasn’t trying to kiss their asses. It was just the most logical explanation. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. I inherited a lot of traits from both of my parents. I learned my professional tactics from my father and my affectionate manner from my mother.

“I’d like to think she does,” Walter said.

The conversation shifted, and they asked me about my company and my involvement in Autumn’s business relationship with Titan.

“Titan and I have been good friends for over ten years now. Once she was shot, I took over her holdings to help her out. Her fiancé has an empire even bigger than hers, and he had to manage that while taking care of her. My family company isn’t as extensive as the other stuff Titan does. It’s been in my family for over a hundred years now, so it’s pretty self-sufficient.”

Her parents asked me a few more questions about work before the conversation died away. They didn’t interrogate me like I thought they would. They seemed accepting of me right from the beginning.

“Should we do gifts before cake?” Emily asked.

“Mom, you guys don’t have to get me anything,” Autumn said. “I’m almost thirty.”

“No matter how old you are, you’ll always be our little girl.” Walter grabbed the gift and set it in front of her. It was a small gift, rectangular in shape.

Autumn ripped off the paper and then revealed a bracelet inside. It was silver with three different charms. Each one had a different letter. D, A, and M. It took me a second to figure out what it meant. The A in the middle was the initial for Autumn’s name. And the two charms on the outside represented Mom and Dad.

Thank god, I didn’t buy her diamonds. I would have looked like a total ass.

“Aww…” Autumn stared at it with a smile, the affection in her eyes. “That’s so sweet.” She clasped it around her wrist and examined it. “I love it.”

“Now we’ll always be with you wherever you go,” Emily said as she patted her daughter on the arm.

The touching scene caused me to fall for Autumn even harder. Something about her relationship with her parents made me feel warm inside. Autumn was a strong woman who didn’t back down in a fight. She could hold her own in any hostile situation. But when she was with her family, she was sweet and vulnerable like everyone else. She wore her heart on her sleeve and filled the room with affectionate warmth.

“Thanks, Mom and Dad.” Autumn examined the bracelet again before she pulled her arm away.

“It’s nice,” I whispered. “Very thoughtful.”

“Yeah…” Autumn cleared her throat and controlled her expression.

I grabbed my gift and handed it to her. “It can’t be returned, so I hope you like it.”

“I know I’ll love it, Thorn.” She ripped open the box then pulled out the scarf sitting inside. It was maroon in color with a small pattern woven into the fabric. Made of a luxurious cashmere, it was soft to the touch. She examined the pattern and finally deduced what it was.

I had it designed with formulas I noticed in her lab, equipment she used on a daily basis, and her name written in the stars. Science was her life and her passion, so I wanted to make something that was meaningful to her. She didn’t care about money, only the legacy she would leave behind. She’d already contributed so much to the industry, and I wanted her to know she wouldn’t be forgotten. Her name would always be written in the stars—and in my heart.

When I left Titan’s office, I’d spent the next hour trying to think of something I could give Autumn. She wore scarves often, so I knew she loved them. But a simple scarf wouldn’t have been enough. She may never wear this, but at least she would know I paid attention to every little thing she did.

“Thorn…” She ran her fingers over the material then looked at me. “This is so sweet…”

“Your legacy is in the making, baby.”

She was touched by the gift her parents had given her, but she was even more touched by this. Her eyes softened, and if I looked closely enough, I could see the slight film of moisture coat the surface of her eyes. “I love it.”

“Good,” I said. “I’m glad.”

Her parents examined the scarf next, both of them interested in the markings I’d had personally detailed into the fabric.

“I got such great gifts this year,” Autumn whispered. “Thank you.”

Titan gave me the best advice, and now I was so grateful I’d asked for it. Autumn didn’t care about expensive things. She had money, but she obviously didn’t care about buying an expensive car or jewelry. She was down-to-earth and humble.

Diamonds would have been idiotic.

I was so glad I thought of this. I could tell she really loved it.

And the smile she wore meant more to me than everything I owned.

---

Her father and I stayed in the dining room while the ladies went into the kitchen to clean up. We talked about sports, the coldness this winter season, and his reaction when Autumn told him she wanted to drop out of MIT.

I’d imagined meeting a woman’s parents would be a lot more difficult than this, but it was the easiest thing in the world. Her father was nice, funny, and easy to talk to. Not once did I feel like he was watching my every move in the hopes I would mess up.

“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.” I left the dining room and went down one hallway, but it took me back toward the kitchen. I made a left to head toward the front of the house.

“So…” Emily’s voice caught my attention. “Thorn seems pretty amazing.”

“He is,” Autumn said. “He’s…perfect.”

I halted in my tracks when I heard the smile in her voice.

“Sweet pea, your cheeks are red,” Emily teased.

“I know,” Autumn said quickly. “I hate that.”

“And he’s so smitten with you.”

“You think?” Autumn asked hopefully.

“Yes, it’s written all over his face,” Emily said. “That man is in love.”

“I don’t know about that,” Autumn said. “But he is a sweetheart.”

Emily stacked some dishes in the dishwasher then closed it. “So, is this serious?”

I leaned against the wall in the hallway, feeling slightly guilty for listening in on their conversation. But I couldn’t help myself. I knew Autumn wouldn’t lie to her mother. Whatever she said would be the truth.

“I…I don’t know,” Autumn said quietly.

“I can tell how you feel about him,” Emily said. “It’s written all over your face right now.”

“Mom,” Autumn warned.

“Come on, sweet pea,” Emily said. “I know you. I haven’t seen your eyes light up like that…ever. Not even with Max.”

The mention of her ex immediately made me jealous, but when I heard the context, I realized there was nothing to be jealous about.

Autumn was quiet for a long time. “Momma…I’m in love with him.”

My heart immediately expanded in my chest, a warm sensation circulating in my blood. My knees felt weak, and my chest ached because I stopped breathing. Her confession made me feel a million things at once. But one thing I noticed was I didn’t feel repulsion. If another woman said that, I’d already be walking out the front door. But Autumn’s confession didn’t scare me at all. What scared me the most was that I wasn’t scared.

I wasn’t scared at all.

---

I took her home then walked her to the front door. Her gifts were tucked under her arm, and she’d been quiet since we left the house. I didn’t give her any indication that I’d overheard her conversation with her mother, but she was extremely timid.

“Thank you for coming tonight,” she whispered. “And for the gift. I love it.”

“I had a good time. I liked your parents.”

“They’re great.” She fished her keys out of her purse.

I didn’t want to go home and sleep alone, even if our plane was leaving early. If I slept over, I’d have to get up even earlier just to pack my things. But right now, I didn’t care about that. I could sleep on the plane. “I want to stay over tonight.”

“You do?” she asked. “Even though you’ll have to get up early?”

“Couldn’t care less.”

She got the door open and stepped inside. She set her things on the entryway table then shut the door behind me.

I wanted her in a way I never had before. My hands ached to touch her body, my mouth yearned for the kiss of her plump lips. We hadn’t even turned on the lights to the townhouse, and my hand snaked into her hair. I kissed her in the entryway, my fingers grasping the soft strands like they were reins.

Her hand moved to my forearm, and she kissed me with the same heat. Her mouth was just as eager for mine. Her tongue entered my mouth, her warm breath filling my frozen lungs.

My arm hooked around her waist, and I brought her closer into me, kissing her harder than I ever had before. I’d fucked her in the sexiest ways, had filled her with so much of my seed it dribbled onto the sheets, but now it was different. I didn’t want to fuck her at all. My hands wanted to make love to her body. My kiss wanted to make her feel like a queen. My heart wanted to make hers feel safe.

We made our way down the hallway and into her bedroom. Clothes were falling off and scattering across the floor like breadcrumbs leading to the bed. When she wore nothing but her skin, I carried her to the bed then laid her down. I hooked her leg over my shoulder then widened her other thigh toward her waist.

I sucked her bottom lip then gave it a gentle tug before the crown of my cock pushed inside her.

She moaned into my mouth like she’d never taken my dick before.

I pushed through her wetness and slid completely inside, feeling her channel tight around me like fingers wrapped around a cock. My eyes were locked on her expression, watching her reaction to me. Now that I knew how she felt about me, I could see the clues everywhere. Her love was a bright beacon in her eyes.

How had I gotten this incredible woman to fall in love with me?

I was difficult, immature, stubborn, and idiotic.

And she was every man’s fantasy.

I thrust into her gently, in the mood for slow sex instead of an aggressive fuck. I wanted to savor the way she stared at into my eyes, the way she ran her hands up my powerful chest. I wanted to feel the connection between our souls, feel the way her pussy tightened around me as she slowly approached an orgasm.

“Babe, I’m gonna come.”

I loved it when she called me babe. It made me feel like her possession, like I belonged only to her. I’d never wanted to belong to someone before. My eyes were hypnotized by her beauty, by the way her eyes lit up in pleasure. Her beautiful hair was spread around her on the sheets, and her firm tits shook with my thrusts. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Her hands gripped my hips and pulled me harder into her as she tightened around me. She came with a satisfying moan, her mouth gaping open and her eyes locked on mine. “Yes…” Her hand wrapped around the back of my neck, and she dug her fingers into my hair.

Damn, she looked perfect right now.

Coming all over my dick.

Looking at me like I was the only man in the world.

So in love with me.

I liked that she was in love with me.

I deepened the angle and ground into her body, hitting her clit a little hard. My dick was balls deep, and I was surprised she could handle all of me. I was practically hitting her cervix. I wanted to come inside her not just because it felt incredible. I wanted to give her all of me, make her mine in the sexiest way possible.

I came with a moan, feeling the heat flush through my body as it mixed with the adrenaline. I pumped my load deep inside her, feeling like a king filling my queen. There was no better feeling than coming deep inside this woman.

She grabbed my hip and pulled me deeper into her, wanting every single drop. “Thorn…”

I’d just finished an explosive orgasm, but now I wanted to fuck her all over again. Just a simple touch, a single word from her mouth could get me going again. I bent her knee to her chest and dug my hand into her hair before I kissed her again. My dick slowly softened inside her, but I knew it wouldn’t be long until I was hard and ready again.

This woman always had me ready.