I was at work when Connor Suede gave me a call.

“Titan, how are you?” He spoke with a heavy, deep voice, his power radiating over the line. He wasn’t only a fashion designer, but an astute businessman. He didn’t just build a gorgeous line of clothes that men and women enjoyed. He also built an empire based entirely on his name.

“I’m well. How about you, Connor?”

“It’s a beautiful day in New York City. And only beautiful things will happen on a day like this.”

I was used to these strange philosophical lines he spat out. Sometimes they were extraordinary, and sometimes I wasn’t sure what they meant at all. “I’m sure you’re right.”

“I was hoping we could do that shoot this afternoon—if you can make room in your schedule.”

“I can make that happen. But should I do anything special with my hair? Get it cut?”

“Don’t worry about that, Titan. My team will take care of it. Let’s say we meet at three. We can get dinner afterward to discuss.”

“Sounds good.”

“My driver will pick you up. We’re going to my warehouse in Brooklyn.”

“Alright.”

We hung up, and I went back to work. I’d only gotten through two phone calls with my regional managers in France when Hunt called me. He didn’t call my work line anymore, going straight to my cell phone.

“Diesel.” It felt strange calling him by Hunt anymore. When I thought of that last name, I thought of Vincent Hunt—capitalist douchebag. I thought of his estranged brother Jax, who hadn’t been a brother to him at all. Hunt shared their last name, but he certainly gave it a new definition.

“Tatum.” He didn’t call me by my last name anymore either. Now it was always my first name when we were alone together. “You haven’t come by Stratosphere today. Thought we could have lunch together in my office.”

I knew exactly what lunch meant. “We need to remain professional at work.”

“Unfortunately for you, I’m the one who gets to decide that.”

That was true—but only for a few more weeks. “I have a lot to do here today. Could you handle the meeting this afternoon?”

“No problem.”

“I’m leaving at three for my photo shoot with Connor.”

Silence was impossible to hear, but Diesel’s silence was loud. It was rough and thick, just like his voice. “I thought we talked about that.”

“Yes, I remember.” He made his feelings about Connor perfectly clear. He was jealous, and the last thing he wanted was for me to spend more time with him. “But this is a good move for my businesses—as well as yours.”

“My businesses are doing just fine.”

“But Stratosphere could use the push. That commercial with Brett was a success.”

“But Brett isn’t a douchebag.”

“Connor isn’t a douchebag either. I slept with him because he was handsome, charming, and respectful. I still think those things.”

Diesel didn’t like that answer. His silence made that clear.

“I’m not asking for permission. I’m just telling you what my schedule is for the day.”

More silence.

“I don’t understand why you’re upset. Even if I weren’t seeing you, I wouldn’t sleep with him again.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to. You’re the only man I want to be with.” I said that final sentence with more emotion than I meant to. It came tumbling out, like an avalanche down a cliff.

Now his silence was different. It was calm, and not a calm before a storm.

“After dinner, I’ll be home.”

“You’re having dinner with him?”

“Yes.”

He growled into the phone this time.

“Remember everything I just said.”

“Baby, if I were having dinner with one of my supermodel exes, you would be even worse.”

“Would not.”

He laughed into the phone like my statement was completely unbelievable. “Bullshit.”

“I might be a little bothered by it, but not the way you are.”

He laughed again. “Whatever you say.”

“I’m not attracted to a man who’s so insecure. You shouldn’t be jealous of anyone.”

“I’m not insecure. I just don’t like my woman spending time with a man who clearly wants to fuck her—because he’s already fucked her.”

“I’m not your woman—”

“Yes, you are.”

I got so angry that I didn’t know what to do next. So my fingers made the decision for me, and I hung up on him.

Click.

I set the phone down and sighed through my teeth, frustrated by the conversation. Hunt was jealous of Thorn, and now he was jealous of Connor, two men I wasn’t sleeping with. I admit I was a little jealous when I saw him with someone else, but not nearly in the same way. I went on about my day and tried to forget about the conversation altogether.

---

The shoot went well. I wore beautiful clothes that I would normally wear to the office, and I was photographed in poses that were rarely ever displayed. I took pictures in front of desks, in boardrooms, in front of expensive cars—in every way that projected my success. I wasn’t dressed in a short dress with my tits hanging out. Every outfit was classy, elegant. The images weren’t about sex.

They were about power.

A few hours later, Connor and I went to an Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. He left his crew behind to develop the photographs and touch them up. Now it was just the two of us, talking about the clothes and the colors.

“I love that black pea coat. When I made it with my bare hands, I immediately thought of you.”

“It was beautiful.”

“And paired with that purple handkerchief…the perfect splash of color.” He shook his head as his eyes took on a distant look. His thoughts seemed to rush by a million miles an hour. If I couldn’t keep up with him, then I doubted most people could. He wasn’t a photographer, but he controlled the shoot and set up most of the angles. “It’s just…” He held up his hands then slowly lowered them again. “Absolutely perfect. Those photos will be so powerful. It’ll change our perception of executive women, of fashion, of female power…that female strength is desirable…it is sexy.”

“I hope the world views it in the same way.”

“With photos as beautiful as these, they have to.”

I suddenly thought of Hunt, wondering what he would think of my photos. He would probably love them, even in spite of Connor’s involvement. Hunt never called me back after I hung up on him. It was unrealistic to expect him to do anything after I’d pulled that stunt.

Connor went on and kept talking about it, immersed in the process even though we were already finished for the day. He never talked about us hooking up again or even gave the slightest impression he’d been thinking about it.

Hunt was jealous for no reason at all.

When we finished dinner, we said our goodbyes on the sidewalk with a handshake, and I got into the back seat of my car. My driver took me back to Manhattan and to my penthouse. On the drive, I scrolled through the business news and came across something that made my stomach turn.

Diesel Hunt spotted having dinner with ex, supermodel Paris Prescott. Are things heating up again? The couple had a short-lived romance three summers ago, and according to sources close to Hunt, he wasn’t ready to commit. But perhaps things have changed. Below the caption was a picture of the two of them having a quiet dinner in a fancy restaurant. They were both drinking wine, and Hunt was dressed in my favorite gray collared shirt—the one I wore to sleep sometimes.

I felt something I didn’t expect. Rage.

A lot of it.

Venom flooded my mouth.

I was so angry I didn’t know what to do with it.

I knew this was a stunt to prove a point, but that just made me even angrier.

I rolled down the divider between my driver and me. “Change of plans.”

---

The elevator doors opened right into his living room. “Diesel.” I walked inside and threw my clutch on the couch. He might not be home, still out on the town with Paris, and if that were the case, then I’d wait for him to walk through the door.

So I could slap him in the face.

Instead, he walked down the hallway in just his sweatpants, his perfect physique on full display for me to see.

Paris better not have seen it.

He wore an arrogant smile, clearly enjoying how angry the whole charade made me. “You look upset.” He walked around the couch and headed right toward me, his height towering above mine.

“I can’t believe you pulled that stunt just to try to make me jealous. That’s absolutely pathetic, Hunt.”

“Try to make you jealous?” he asked with the same grin. “You are jealous.”

“I’m not jealous—”

“Yes, you are. Your cheeks are redder than they are when you climax. Your eyes are like bullets, and I’m the target. You came all the way over here to give me a piece of your mind. Don’t act like your heart didn’t drop into your stomach the second you saw those pictures.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling my hands shake with anger. When I pictured him spending the entire evening with an ex-fling, it did make me sick. What else was there to talk about besides the sex they used to have? “I only spoke to Connor about business, not screwing on my yacht.”

“I never screwed her on my yacht.”

“Whatever. The place doesn’t matter.”

“Then why did you pick one?” he asked like a smartass.

I didn’t want to look at him anymore. If I stayed, I would say something I regretted. “Good night, Hunt.” I turned around and headed back to the elevators.

“Admit you’re jealous.”

“No.” I hit the button and waited for the doors to open.

He came up behind me, his face close to the back of my head. “Admit it, baby. I already know you are. I can’t remember the last time I saw you so angry.”

“No.”

His hands went to my arms, and he gripped me gently. “I asked her to dinner because I decided to do a commercial with her for Megaland. Beautiful women who love tech gadgets will drive up sales.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“And I’ve never slept with her.”

My body stilled at that part.

“The media thinks we had a thing a few years ago, but we didn’t. I was doing some private investing for her. I didn’t want anyone to know I was in that sector because that’s a conflict of interest. And since I don’t fuck my clients, nothing ever happened.”

The relief washed over me, and then a second later, the embarrassment.

He rested his forehead against the back of my head. “I don’t need to look at your face to know how much better you feel.”

I closed my eyes, finally feeling better for the first time since I’d looked at that picture of them together.

He kissed the back of my neck and wrapped his arms around my stomach. “You stormed into my apartment, expecting to see her here drinking wine on my couch while we swapped stories about our favorite sex positions…drove you crazy.”

I felt stupid, but I also felt deceitful not being honest when the truth was right in front of me. “I was jealous…”

He kissed the back of my neck. “Insanely jealous.”

“Don’t gloat.”

“No, I’m gonna.” His smile was in his voice. “But I like seeing you jealous. I like seeing you go crazy when you picture me with someone else. Exactly how I feel about you…”

I slowly turned around and faced him, still keeping an angry face instead of showing my obvious relief. “But you have nothing to feel jealous about.”

“You have even less to be jealous of. That didn’t stop you.” His large hands rubbed up and down my arms, his dark eyes sincere with emotions. “So let’s stop pretending that we aren’t fiercely possessive of each other.”

“You only went out to dinner to piss me off. I didn’t see Connor just to make you angry. That’s the difference here.”

“Alright, I’ll admit it was completely intentional.”

“Then, what was I supposed to do? Blow Connor off? He was doing me a huge favor.”

Hunt stared at me, his hands gently moving up and down. His eyes remained on mine, dark and sexy.

“What was I supposed to do, Hunt?” I repeated.

His hands stopped at my elbows. “Bring me along.”

“And what kind of explanation could I give for your presence?”

He moved farther into me, his forehead moving to mine. “The truth.”

I stared at his lips as his hands gripped my elbows. The smell of his cologne was still on his skin, the scent he wore when he went to work and meetings. It usually wore off by the time he came home from work and rolled around in the bed with me. His sheets absorbed all of his natural smells, and that was the scent I liked. “You know I can’t tell anyone the truth, Hunt. They’ll think I’m two-timing, Thorn. No one will understand.”

“Then break up with Thorn. Start seeing me instead.”

“That doesn’t make any sense either.”

“It doesn’t?” He pulled his face away and grabbed my chin. He lifted my face so I looked him right in the eye. “When this arrangement ends in a few weeks, you really think we’re going to be able to walk away from each other? Fuck other people without thinking about one another? That we’re gonna work together every day and not miss each other like crazy?” He looked at my lips again before he leaned in and kissed the corner of my mouth. It was a long kiss, a deep pause as our mouths came into contact with one another. I closed my eyes as the warmth spread through every inch of my body. “I’m not walking away. Neither are you.”

---

Hunt opened his closet and pulled out a white rope, the surface smooth and sleek. I could see the light bounce off the material, giving it a slight sheen. He wrapped it around his arm then walked toward me on the bed, looking like a cowboy with a lasso in just his black boxers.

I sat there and stared, feeling my heart start to thump drastically in my chest. Ever since Hunt had been in charge, all of his tastes had been tame. He liked to control me, but he didn’t enjoy hurting me.

I should have known that would change.

I reminded myself that this was different, that I trusted Hunt as someone very close to me. He cared about me, always put me before himself. He was compassionate, understanding, and the closest friend I had.

Once logic sank into my bones, I didn’t feel scared anymore.

He stood in front of me, his ripped physique powerful and striking. He tested the rope in his hands, showing its obvious strength. “On your stomach.”

I stared at the rope in his hands, drawing a blank. All I could do was sit and stare, thinking about that threaded rope tight around my wrists. I would be completely at his mercy, without any control whatsoever.

He looped the rope then tugged on both ends, making it snap loudly. “Now.”

I finally cooperated, turning over to lie on my stomach.

“You’re forgetting something.”

I knew exactly what. “Yes, Boss Man.”

He grabbed my ankles and straightened my legs until they dangled over the bed. He secured the rope around my ankles, tying them tightly together so I couldn’t move unless I bent my knees. He took the rest of the rope and climbed on top of me. “Wrists.”

I hesitated before I placed them at the small of my back.

He secured them together, positioning me tightly enough that I couldn’t even move my elbows. I lay there with my cheek resting against the bed, waiting for whatever fun he wanted to have with me.

Hunt pulled off his boxers and kicked them onto the floor. Then he held himself on top of me, pushing his fat cock between my ass cheeks. He ground against me slowly, moving through the soft flesh. He gathered the lubrication from my pussy and smeared it between my crack.

I didn’t know what he was going to do, fuck my ass or my pussy.

Knowing him, it was probably both.

He hooked his arm underneath my chest and forced me up, arching my back and turning my face toward him. He kissed my jawline and made his way to my mouth. He kissed me softly, a direct contradiction to how roughly he gripped me now. “Tell me what you were thinking when you saw me with Paris.”

My chest rose and fell against his arm. I felt his thick cock rest between my ass cheeks, twitching and throbbing as he yearned to fuck me good and hard. My bound wrists rested at the top of my ass, the rope rubbing against the small of my back.

“Tell me.”

“You were wearing my favorite shirt…that gray one I like to sleep in. I hated picturing her wearing it.”

“What else?”

“I wondered if she wanted to make a move…and if she would.”

“And?”

“I felt sick to my stomach… I felt so angry…so hurt.”

He kissed my jawline again. “But I’m all yours, baby. The only woman I want is underneath me.” He nibbled on my earlobe before he let a hot breath escape into my canal. “Paris Prescott has nothing on you.”

“You think so?”

He kissed the shell of my ear. “I know so. But now I have to punish you for going to dinner with that asshole. The only man you eat with is me.” He released my chest and held his body on both arms.

My chest lay against the bed, my cheek returning to the mattress.

“Up.” His deep voice sounded in my ear.

I raised myself up again, the small muscles in my back working to keep me upright.

He kissed the back of my neck and dragged kisses down my spine. His beard brushed against my sensitive skin, scratching me in the sexiest way. His mouth moved to my shoulder, and he gently sank his teeth into me, giving me a playful bite.

I closed my eyes and moaned.

He pointed his cock at my entrance then slid inside, moving through my slick pussy until every inch was sheathed in my lubrication. “You’re always wet for me, baby.” He breathed right into my ear as he started thrusting, his hips bucking against my ass. Every time he moved, he slapped my ass with his body, making a loud clap. My hands instinctively pulled on the rope binding my wrists together, but they couldn’t shift even an inch.

Hunt groaned in my ear as he fucked me, sliding in and out of my cunt. “So fucking good.” Every time he was inside me, he shoved himself as deep and hard as he could go, leaving his balls against my ass.

I pulled on the rope because I wanted to grip his muscular thigh. I wanted to feel that powerful body on top of mine with my own hands. But the grip was too tight, and every time I moved, the rope dug deeper into me.

He suddenly spanked my ass without warning, his large palm hitting with me surprising force.

I lurched forward and released a small yelp of surprise.

He rubbed my ass in apology afterward, massaging the tingling skin. “Your skin reddens so easily…” He thrust inside me again, his mouth moving to my neck. He kissed the skin hard and sucked it, becoming more aggressive with me. Then he spanked my ass again, his palm twitching in the movement.

I let out a moan.

He switched hands and slapped my other cheek, hitting it just as ruthlessly as the other.

I breathed through the pain, feeling the burn of both of my cheeks.

Hunt fucked me harder now, grunting in my ear as he rocked the headboard into the wall. He slapped me again and again, spanking me for the crime I committed. The hits were always unexpected, and he stuck me hard and fast, not giving me gentle taps.

My eyes started to tear up, the burning pain of my skin triggering my tear ducts.

Hunt looked into my face, watching the tears roll. “Just ask me to stop, and I will.”

“Never.”

He pressed his weight further on top of me and fucked me hard and deep. He shifted his weight back and forth, making my clit rub against the sheets underneath me. He stopped spanking me, giving me a break long enough to come.

And to come hard.

I tried to suppress my scream, but it was no use. It came out loud and sharp, echoing in his large bedroom.

Hunt’s husky voice came into my ear. “Say my name.”

“Diesel.”

He thrust into me harder.

“Say it again.”

“Diesel.”

“Now say I’m your man.” He thrust into me harder, making the orgasm stretch on for a long time.

I didn’t hesitate because I was high from the climax, enjoying all the sensations he gave me. “You’re my man…”

He groaned into my ear as he came, filling my pussy with all of his come. He pumped into me like a hose putting out a fire. He gave me so much that it seeped out of my entrance immediately. “And you’re my woman.”

---

He came out of the bathroom with a jar of ointment. “Turn over.”

I was on my back in bed, my ass still bright red from his smacking me so many times. “I don’t need—”

“Now.”

I had to be constantly reminded that we were playing by his rules now. If he wanted me to turn over, I had to cooperate. I pulled the sheets back and moved to my stomach. My wrists had light scratch marks from the ropes, but if I wore a long-sleeved blouse for the next few days, no one would notice the abrasions.

He grabbed my hips and adjusted my body until I was exactly where he wanted me. Then he squirted the ointment over my both of my cheeks and rubbed the gel into my irritated skin.

The abused skin immediately cooled off, a flood of relief sweeping over me.

“How’s that feel, baby?”

“Pretty good…”

His large fingers rubbed the skin until the ointment was entirely dissolved, leaving a slight amount of oily residue on the surface. Then he pressed his face between my legs and kissed me, his large tongue gently caressing my clit.

I closed my eyes as my breathing deepened, feeling his tongue do incredible things to me. He’d just fucked me so roughly, and now he was caressing me like the wind against a rose petal.

Oh god.

His large hands gripped my cheeks, and he massaged them as he kissed me, giving me relief in two very different ways. His large cock had fucked me hard, making me so sore because he hit me so deeply every time. Now he was making up for it with his gentle touches. “You like that, baby?”

“Yes…”

He did that to me for fifteen minutes, making me feel good with light strokes of his tongue. He didn’t push me into an orgasm, wanting to make me relaxed and feel good instead. When he was ready to push me over the edge, his mouth took me more aggressively. He sucked my skin and fucked my clit with his tongue.

I felt my body tighten in response, prepared for the oncoming rush of pleasure. He’d just made me come thirty minutes ago with his thick cock, and now he was doing the same with his lips. My mouth moved to the sheets, and I screamed into the covers, my moans only slightly muffled by the bedding. Now that my hands were free, I gripped the sheets around me and thrust my hips into the mattress, my body reacting in its own way. “Diesel…”

Hunt kept kissing me until I was completely finished, his tongue savoring my swollen parts as he tasted me. He pulled his mouth away then crawled on top of me, looking at me passed out on the comforter. He pressed his lips to my cheek and smiled. “Seemed like you enjoyed that.”

“What gave me away?”

He kissed my cheek then the corner of my mouth before he got off me. “You hungry? Want something to eat?”

I’d been too busy climaxing to care about food. “Sure.”

“I’m whip something up.” He opened his hamper and pulled out the gray collared shirt he wore to dinner. “You can wear this.”

I eyed it before I pulled it toward me.

“And you can keep it too.”

“Your shirt?” I whispered.

“Yeah. It looks better on you anyway.”

---

I lay on my side in bed because my ass was too sore. Hopefully, it’d feel better by morning so I could sit at my desk without placing a pillow under my ass. People would know I’d either been spanked or fucked hard in the ass.

Hunt lay beside me in bed, confirming his alarm on his phone and checking any extra emails that came through. The light projected from the phone lit up his face, highlighting the dark color of his eyes and his thick beard. He hadn’t shaved today or yesterday, and now the hair was coming in heavy. I liked him either way, but when his jaw was clean, his eyes looked more formidable. I guess I preferred that hostile look.

He set his phone on the nightstand then looked at me. “Hmm?”

“What?”

“You’re staring.”

“I thought I could stare all I wanted.”

“No,” he said. “I said I could stare all I wanted. I own you.”

“You’d rather I look at something else, then?” I teased. “Someone else?”

His eyes narrowed in a false sense of anger. “Better not. You know what you’ll get.”

“My ass is a little too sore for that right now.”

“You want another rub?” He smiled, clearly proud of everything he’d done to me that afternoon.

“All I need is time now.”

He turned off his bedside lamp then scooted closer to me on the bed. His arms enveloped me, acting as bars of a cage. He enclosed me in his warmth and smell, putting me in a safe place where no one could ever touch me. “Gonna take the day off work tomorrow?”

“I never take the day off.”

“Not even when you’re sick?”

“I don’t get sick.”

“When you take a vacation?”

“I don’t take vacations.”

He grinned as he looked at me. “That sounds boring.”

“You don’t strike me as someone who takes vacations either.”

“I hop on a plane now and then. More often than you.”

“Well, I like working.”

“So do I,” he said. “Maybe we should take a vacation together. Go to some remote island in the middle of nowhere and soak up the sun.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad.”

“Just you and me and paradise—and sex.”

“I figured.”

He rested his lips against my forehead as he got into position. That was how we always seemed to sleep together, facing each other with his jaw against my forehead. Now I was used to having him beside me, was used to the way he breathed while he was asleep. I thought it would terrify me, elicit horrible memories that I wanted to forget, but it was only peaceful. “Good night, baby.”

I softened against him, growing fond of that nickname. “Good night, Diesel.”

---

Thorn texted me while I sat at my desk. My ass didn’t hurt as much as it had yesterday, but it was still a little sore. I shifted my body a few times, relieving the stress on my cheeks when I could. Hey, I’ve got this charity gala thing tonight. Need you on my arm.

I was just on your arm last weekend. I didn’t want to be out in public, talking about things I didn’t really care about when I could be home with Hunt, one of the few people who knew who I truly was. Our conversations were natural and real, and even when we weren’t talking, it was nice.

So? You’re gonna be on my arm for the rest of our lives. I say you get used to it.

I never questioned Thorn when he asked me to go somewhere with him. I didn’t mind going out and spending time with him. He was my favorite person in the world. But now, I didn’t have as much interest. I’ve been working so much. I just want to have a quiet night in tonight.

Oh, come on. Don’t leave me hanging like that, Tay.

Well, you invited me at the last minute.

I was invited to this thing like four months ago, but I totally forgot. I’m gonna hit up a few business tycoons while I’m there. It’ll be a perfect networking opportunity.

I wasn’t a fan of networking. It was difficult for people to take me seriously, despite my overwhelming success. To most men, I would always be just a woman and a dangerous partnership.

Come on. I’m sure you’ve got a beautiful dress in that big closet of yours that needs to be worn.

I smiled because Thorn knew how to get to me. Not the point.

And beautiful shoes to boot. I’ll pick you up at seven.

I knew this was happening because I felt guilty for blowing him off. We were partners, and we intended to conquer the world together. So that meant we would have to attend stuffy dinner parties and collect tabs on all the people we wanted to overthrow. Fine.

That’s my girl.

I got back to work then got a text message from Connor Suede. I’ve got the photos. I’m going to swing by and give you a peek.

That sounds great.

See you in about thirty minutes.

Having Connor stop by immediately made me think of Hunt and how he would feel about that. Having that man alone with me in my office would drive him crazy. He was jealous and possessive, but I quickly realized I was the exact same way.

Jessica’s voice came through the intercom minutes later. “Titan, Mr. Hunt is here to see you.”

Uh, why? If he needed something, he would just call. He wasn’t stopping by for a quickie since my doors were made of glass. I didn’t know what he wanted, but it better be important. “Send him in.”

Hunt walked in the door a moment later, looking outstanding in his gray suit. The dark color of his hair and eyes contrasted against the fair material. His tanned skin peeked out from underneath his collared shirt at his neck. He made any color look great, but gray was particularly beautiful on him.

He helped himself to a seat and crossed his legs. No verbal greeting was issued.

I stared at him, keeping my legs crossed and my face emotionless. It used to be easy for me to be indifferent to him in public, but now it was a struggle. My first impulse was to rise to my feet and kiss him right on the mouth. My hand even twitched when he walked in the door, imagining my fingers stroking along his jawline. He shaved that morning, so I wanted to feel the smooth skin with my fingertips.

But I stayed in my seat.

He stared at me like I was the one who’d interrupted his day, not the other way around.

When it was clear he wasn’t going to say anything, I spoke. “How can I help you, Diesel?”

A slight smile formed on his mouth when I used his first name. “I stopped by because I had some issues at Stratosphere. The patent that was applied for is still pending. Apparently, one of the lead engineers is having a copyright infringement issue.”

“Idiot.”

“I think it’ll get cleared up. In the meantime, I met with our overseas shipment company. They’re having a shortage of the material too, so costs are going to rise. I think we should rebrand ourselves to be more high-end. Right now, we live in a world of dollar stores and cheaper retailers. Everything is becoming flimsy and cheap. People want quality products, even if they have to pay a little more. I think that’s the direction we should take. With your reputation as well as mine, people will go for it.”

“You think?”

“Especially after your shoot with Connor.”

Just then, Jessica spoke through the intercom. “Connor Suede is here to see you, Titan.”

Did I have the worst luck in the world?

Hunt’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the intercom. His expression turned even harsher when he looked at me.

Now I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t want to keep Connor waiting, but I didn’t want to kick out Hunt either.

Jessica spoke again. “Titan?”

I looked at Hunt, keeping a professional demeanor. “Can we continue this conversation later? I can swing by Stratosphere—”

“I’ll wait.” His hands came together in his lap, and his legs remained crossed. He didn’t look as furious as I’d seen him, but the threat was still in his gaze. He was exerting his ironclad control to remain stoic, and it was working—for the most part.

“Outside?” I asked.

“No.” He patted his armrest. “I’ll wait right here.”

Even if I asked him to leave, he wouldn’t budge. I hit the button on the intercom. “Send him in, Jessica.”

“Will do.”

Connor Suede stepped in a moment later, a portfolio under his arm. His eyes were on me, ignoring Hunt as if he didn’t see him. “Titan.” He extended his hand across the desk.

I shook it. “Thanks for dropping by. I’ve been thinking about these photos for a while.”

“Then you’re going to be very happy when you see them.” He was in a black blazer with a white V-neck underneath. The muscles of his chest popped out under the shirt, his tanned skin just as noticeable.

“Connor, you know my business partner, Diesel Hunt.”

Connor turned to him, noticing him for the first time. “Of course. You wore one of my jackets to the Naples fashion show in Milan. Beautiful piece of clothing.”

Connor Suede paid great attention to detail. He knew if I was wearing his clothes just by looking at me. As the head designer, he was the one who meticulously combined all colors, makes, and patterns. His line of clothing wasn’t extensive, but that was because he put considerable thought into each piece.

Connor extended his hand to shake Hunt’s.

He’d better take it.

Hunt stared at it like he might not.

Even though Hunt wasn’t looking at me, I glared at him furiously.

Hunt finally shook his hand. “I got a lot of compliments on it that night.”

“I bet.” Connor took a seat and opened the folder. “Check out these beauties.” He set the first batch of photos on the desk.

I looked at each one, loving the pictures and the way I looked. They were all candid, but they seemed to come out the best. I’d enjoyed the way the clothes felt on my body, the way they hugged my skin. “They’re lovely, Connor.”

“That scarf was the perfect splash of color.”

Hunt rose from his seat and came around the desk, looking at the pictures over my shoulder. “This one is my favorite.” He pointed to me standing in front of a window in the office, a desk holding a laptop and coffee mug. I was wearing a simple black dress with my hair pulled over one shoulder. My face was angled, so only my profile was visible.

“You photograph well,” Connor said. “If you lose everything tomorrow, there’s always space on my runway.”

Hunt’s head lifted up, his eyebrows rising.

I collected the photos and returned them. “When will the commercial hit the air?”

“Next week. The advertisements will be in the next issue of major magazines. But you’ll see a few on the billboards. People are going to go crazy for my fall line.” He returned the photos to the folder then tucked it under his arm. “Thanks so much for giving this to me, Titan.”

“I should be thanking you, Connor.”

He smiled then extended his hand. “I’ll be in touch.”

I shook his hand. “Alright.”

Connor shook Hunt’s hand again before he walked out.

Hunt stood by the window, watching him leave until he was officially gone. Then he turned back to the view of the city, his hands resting in his pockets.

He was undoubtedly mad. I was spending more time with Connor than he cared for. I didn’t hug the man, but even a handshake was too much.

I took a seat at my desk and tried to brush off the hostility.

When he spoke, his voice didn’t possess the rage I expected to hear. “Those photos really are beautiful.”

I didn’t turn around to look at him. “You think so?”

“Yeah. But I’m biased. I only love them because you’re in them.” He turned back to the desk and walked around my office like it belonged to him instead of me. “He leave you any copies?”

“Yeah. Right here.” I grabbed the folder sitting at the edge of my desk.

He flipped through them until he found the one he wanted. “This one is mine now.”

“And what are you going to do with it?”

He dropped the photo into the inside pocket of his suit. “None of your concern.” He walked past my desk and headed to the door. “I’ll see you tonight, Tatum.”

I suddenly remembered the plans I’d made with Thorn. “It’ll have to be late. Probably around ten.”

He turned around, a look of pure displeasure on his face. “Why is that?”

“I have plans.” I wasn’t going to say what they were unless I had to.

“Better not be with him.” By him, it was obvious he was referring to Connor.

“It’s not.”

“Then who?”

I didn’t like answering to anyone. I prided myself on living a life where I was the boss of everything—including myself. But I signed my soul over to the devil, and now the devil himself was there making demands. “Thorn and I are going to a charity event tonight.”

“The Manhattan Met Gala?”

“Yeah.”

He came back to my desk, his hands in his pockets.

“I’ll come by when we’re finished.”

“I was invited to that as well. But I wasn’t planning on attending.”

“Why?”

“Because I planned on spending the evening with you.”

He made me feel guilty without even raising his voice. “I’m sorry, Diesel. I would blow it off, but it’s important to Thorn that I go.”

“I have the power to change your plans for the evening.”

He did. All he’d have to do was issue the order, and I’d have to lie to Thorn and bail.

“But I won’t. Just expect to pay the price when you get back.”

---

Thorn picked me up at my penthouse. The elevator doors opened, and he stepped inside in a deep navy suit. “Yo, it’s me.”

I grabbed my clutch off the counter and snapped on my bracelet. “Hey.” I wore a short cocktail dress, black with a hint of lace.

“Ready to raise money for the homeless…or some disease? I honestly have no idea.”

Of course he didn’t. “It’s to raise money for the new community center.”

“Oh…I think I remember that now.” He adjusted his silver watch on his wrist and checked the time. “We should get going.” He gave me two thumbs up. “You look damn fine, by the way.”

“Thanks,” I said with a smile.

“Your bulldog isn’t here.”

“No. If he were, you would already know by now.”

We took the elevators down to the lobby then got into the back seat of the black Mercedes. The driver drove us back across town to where the gala was being held at a historic building with a great view of the park.

Thorn placed his hand on my wrist as he sat directly beside me. “I’ve been doing something thinking.”

“That’s never good,” I teased.

He flashed his handsome smile, brushing off my joke like all the others. “My mom has been pestering me…and things have been moving forward so quickly. You acquired Stratosphere, and I’ve been working with that new lentil company.”

I didn’t know what point he was trying to make. I was aware of all his endeavors, as he was aware of all of mine.

“We’ve been talking about getting married for years now. I think we should just do it.”

What?

“So, a month from tonight, I’m planning to take you to the fanciest restaurant in Manhattan. I’ll make sure all the media is there. I’ll get down on one knee and pop the question. I was thinking we’d have a summer wedding.”

I kept staring at him, seeing his eyes light up in their usual way when he was excited. He’d been grinning at me this entire time, his smile charming.

All I could think about was Hunt.

Thorn’s smile slowly faded away as he watched my stoic expression. It kept disappearing until it was completely gone, his face just as hard as I was. The car vibrated slightly as we headed to the event, the businesses along the sidewalk all lit up. Classical music played in the background, but the car felt silent. “Titan?”

“Sorry…I just wasn’t expecting you to say that.”

“You’re thirty, so I know you’ve got a timer on your eggs. It’s the perfect timing. We’ll be married for a year, and then we’ll pop out our first kid. We probably shouldn’t wait much longer anyway. You have any idea how cute our kids will be?”

“Yeah…”

“So that night is good for you?”

“Uh…” I couldn’t get Hunt’s face out of my head. Just the other day, he’d said he didn’t see us walking away from each other when his time was up. I didn’t say anything at the time because I didn’t know what to say. And now I would tell him I was getting engaged to Thorn… He wouldn’t take that well.

Thorn dug into his pocket until he found the small box. “I know you’re simple and don’t want anything too flashy. But since you’re going to be a Cutler, I had to go all out.” He opened the black box and revealed a white-gold band with a solitaire diamond. But the diamond was huge. I’d be worried about knocking it on things all the time. “Or Titan-Cutler. Whatever you want.”

I watched the diamond reflect the light, casting rainbows inside the car.

“What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful…” I couldn’t pull the words out of my brain because I didn’t know what to say. It truly was extraordinary.

“It took a lot of searching for me to find it. But it was worth the wait.”

I stared at it, speechless.

Thorn finally closed the box and stuffed it into his pocket. “Is it okay? Because there’s still time to get something else. I haven’t shown it to anyone.”

“No…it’s perfect.”

“Great.” His smile was back on his face.

I faced forward and looked out the window, feeling the car shift when it turned left at the light. I gripped the door handle as I looked outside, seeing the lights blur as we moved. A million thoughts were going through my mind, each of them heavier than the previous one. “What made you decide to do this now?”

He shrugged. “Why wait?”

Thorn and I had never picked a date. We just assumed it was somewhere in the future. When it was the perfect time for both of our professional lives, we would tie the knot. Nothing had changed much in our careers, but he obviously thought otherwise. “Especially with that shoot you did with Connor, your popularity will be through the roof. Stocks will rise, and we’ll both benefit. I think now is the best time.”

Maybe. Maybe not. I wasn’t sure.

“Titan?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I lied. “I just…that ring is huge.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, it is. But only the best for my future wife.”

Future wife. I was Thorn’s future wife.

And Hunt’s future memory.