What the hell was I doing?

I woke up the next morning alone, but Hunt’s scent was heavy on the sheets. Not just from last night—but also the evening before. He was between my legs when we both should have been at dinner. When it was time to go to sleep, he was still deep inside me, claiming me over and over.

After he told me he loved me, we didn’t say another word to each other. Our bodies clung together like two magnets. Our writhing bodies filled the silence in the absence of conversation. He didn’t tell me he loved me—he showed it.

And I was showing him the same thing.

How did I get into this mess?

It was bad enough when it happened the first night.

But a second?

Get a grip, Titan.

When I thought he went to that suite to fool around with gorgeous models, I was heartbroken. I couldn’t keep a straight face in front of my colleagues, and I retreated to my room for a double shot of whiskey to calm my nerves. My eyes were wet. My palms were sweaty. My heart was aching.

And Hunt saw all of it.

He’d ambushed me, catching me when I was at my most vulnerable. He saw my feelings written across my forehead like a tattoo. My emotions were the strongest proof of my affection, that the idea of him being with someone else could move me to tears.

Damn it.

There was no point in denying it, no point in fixing my makeup. I’d told him I didn’t want him anymore, but that was a bunch of bullshit. I didn’t trust him anymore, but I certainly loved him as much as I ever had.

What was wrong with me?

I shouldn’t let this faze me. I shouldn’t let these emotions cloud my judgment. I should walk away from him like he meant nothing to me.

But I was still there, my legs wrapped around his waist with my nails digging into his back.

Pathetic.

Instead of having a cup of coffee with breakfast, I downed a drink instead. I didn’t have a migraine and I’d slept like a rock, but I needed liquor to cool my nerves. I showered and got ready for the day, knowing I had a presentation with Hunt in just a few hours.

God, I had to look at his face.

His stupid, gorgeous face.

I had just slipped my heels on when there was a knock on the door.

I knew exactly who it was.

I fixed the collar of my shirt and opened the door. Hunt didn’t sleep over last night or the evening before, probably because it was a dangerous move in a hotel packed with people we knew. Or maybe he just knew I wouldn’t want him to stick around.

He was wrong about that.

I came face-to-face with him, seeing the eyes that looked like black coffee. His chin was shaved from his morning shower. He wore a jet-black suit that complemented his already broad shoulders and slim hips. A tight stomach led to muscled thighs and toned calves. He looked just as good dressed as he did naked.

Instead of wearing my heart on my sleeve like last night, I wore a hard mask.

His hands rested in his pockets, and he stared at me with his usual intensity, like he owned me whether I wanted him to or not. He didn’t flinch from my gaze, powerful and exuding strength.

I kept one hand on the door, my back perfectly straight and my shoulders back. I looked at him like last night never happened, like he was just a colleague that didn’t mean a damn thing to me.

“Let’s work on our presentation.”

My walls slowly came down when I realized this was purely a business meeting. I wasn’t about to let my clothes come off this early in the morning. I stepped away from the entryway and left the door open.

Hunt followed me inside and took a seat on one of the couches in the sitting area. I had a full living room with a great view of the water. Sunlight sprinkled the horizon, and the boats in the harbor were glowing. He crossed one leg and rested his ankle on the opposite knee. It was exactly how he always sat whenever he did business. If it was just the two of us in my penthouse, and he took up more space than necessary.

I grabbed my laptop and took a seat on the couch across from him, pretending last night never happened. Now we were two partners who only cared about business. I opened up the presentation on the screen then glanced up at him.

His eyes were on my nearly empty glass. He flicked them back to me and didn’t seem to care that I caught him staring. He rested one hand on his knee while the other arm draped over the back of the couch. “Little early to drink, isn’t it?”

“A little early to judge, isn’t it?”

His expression remained as hard as it had by the door. “No judgment. Just concern.”

“I don’t need your concern, Hunt.”

His eyes narrowed. “I thought we weren’t playing games anymore, Titan.”

“I’m not.”

“Then don’t say you don’t need me when we both know you do.”

I held his gaze without blinking, put off by the romantic comment. When he’d arrived at my door, he seemed professional. I thought we could skip the conversation about us and get right to work. “I’m only interested in work right now, Hunt.”

“As am I. That means my partner shouldn’t be drunk.”

I kept my voice steady even though I felt my anger rising. “I’m not drunk.”

“If you drink at nine, then yes, you’re a goddamn drunk.”

If my laptop weren’t precious to me, I would throw it as his face. “If I were a man, you wouldn’t think twice about my consumption. You wouldn’t question my ability to complete the task at hand.”

“You being a woman has nothing to do with it. It has nothing to do with work either. I have a very personal investment in you, Titan. And when you drink like that, I worry. Don’t make me worry.”

“Trust me, I don’t want to.” I turned back to my laptop, silently dismissing the conversation. “How do you want to do this? Should you go first, or should I?”

He adjusted his tie. “Ladies first.”

Now my eyes burned through his suit. “We’re business partners. We’re equals. Don’t pull that chivalry bullshit. It doesn’t apply here.” I wanted to be treated as one of the men. I didn’t need my partner to be a gentleman just because of what was between my legs.

He didn’t hide the smirk creeping onto his lips. “Fine. I should lead.”

I felt the irritation move into my skin, hating the fact that I had to share the stage with someone. I was used to doing everything on my own. I did what I wanted without answering to anyone.

His smile grew wider. “Do you want to go first?”

“Of course I do.”

He couldn’t suppress his chuckle. “Then go first.”

“Do you think that would be best for the presentation?”

“You’re great at public speaking, as am I. But you’re far more entertaining to look at.”

I couldn’t suppress my scoff. “All the women here would say otherwise.”

“Well, there’s only five of them. They’re outnumbered.”

“But not in intensity.”

He hadn’t dropped his smile so far in this conversation. “Well, we both know how jealous you get…”

I absorbed the jab while keeping my face a mask. There wasn’t a smartass comment I could make to get me out of that. I’d walked into my hotel room on the verge of tears. He saw the whole thing. It was burned into the backs of his eyelids, seared into his memory. “Like you’re any better.” When Marshall Tucker stared at me a little too long, Hunt didn’t hesitate before he chewed his head off.

Hunt smiled wider. “I’m a very jealous man when it comes to my woman.”

---

We were scheduled to speak for fifteen minutes, but it felt like less than five. Hunt was a natural when all eyes were on him. He was just as calm and suave as ever. And he had the audacity to give me that exact stare he gave me behind closed doors.

Because he was arrogant like that.

After a round of applause, the audience fired off questions. Unlike when I took the stage on my own, not a single sexist comment was fired our way. No one seemed to care about my age, my lack of children, or how tight my skirt was.

I suspected that had something to do with Hunt.

The moment we were off the stage and out of the spotlight, I felt a little better. Any time I was the center of attention, walls as thick as a stadium surrounded me. I anticipated the cold insults and veiled jabs. I expected to work three times as hard to be taken as seriously as a man. If I were an average woman, no one would question anything about me. But as a successful entrepreneur, my professionalism was constantly categorized as bossy or bitchy. I had to wear a smile when most men would wear a frown. I had to be perfectly manicured. Otherwise, I would be called a hag. But if a man showed up in jeans and a t-shirt covered in stains, people would laugh it off and call him ballsy.

And I would be labeled a pig.

Most of the time, those kinds of double standards didn’t penetrate my rock-hard exterior. But I couldn’t deny the reasons behind my layers. I was prepared for the harshness of my reality at all times. So once I was out of the spotlight, I felt like a human being again—not a human target.

Hunt appeared beside me, and his hand rested on the small of my back.

To anyone else, the touch could be considered professional affection between two colleagues.

I knew it was nothing but possessiveness on his part.

He guided me out of the conference room into the main lobby, where snacks and beverages were served. In just a few minutes, we would be swarmed with people who hadn’t had a chance to ask their questions at the end of the presentation.

“That went well.”

I kept my eyes forward, smiling at people who gave me a nod in greeting. “I think so too.”

“You did great.”

“Thanks. You did too.”

“Well, I always do great.”

When I looked up at him, I saw the smile on his face.

“I did even better than usual because you were the one standing up there with me.” He dropped his hand from my back and grabbed two glasses of water. He handed me one as he held the other.

I stared at it blankly, unsure why he thought I would have any interest in it.

He leaned toward me and brought his mouth dangerously close to my ear. “Drink it. Or I’ll kiss you.”

My eyes widened as I stared at him.

“Call my bluff.” He took a sip from his glass. “I dare you.”

I knew Hunt wasn’t toying with me. He would take any excuse he could get to kiss me in a room full of people. He didn’t like being a secret when we were together, and even now when we were apart, he still didn’t want to be a secret.

So I drank.

“Good girl.”

I lowered my glass and prepared to throw the water in his face. “Don’t call me that. Makes me sound like a dog.”

He returned his hand to the small of my back. “Alright.”

It was rare that Hunt listened to what I said without making a smartass comment, so I knew he took my words seriously. I took another drink of my water even though I was craving something else—something stronger.

“I’m having dinner with a few guys tonight. You wanna come along?”

“I’ll make my own dinner plans.”

He brought me closer into his side and lowered his face to mine. “That wasn’t a pity invite. I want you there.”

“I knew it wasn’t a pity invite. I’m definitely not a person you should pity.”

“Not when you’re hot as fire and hard as ice.” He set his glass down on the table before he placed his hand in his pocket. His hand stayed on my lower back, never leaving. “There’s a few people I want you to meet. One is a professional golfer.”

“I do love to golf.”

“And the other is the biggest cosmetics owner in all of China. I think you two will have a lot to talk about.”

I knew exactly who he was referring to. I knew everyone in my own space. “Kyle Livingston?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t know he was here.”

“It’s a good thing you got a pity invite, then, huh?” he teased.

“Who’s the golfer?”

“Rick Perry.”

He was one of the biggest stars of the sport. He started right out of high school, made it to the pros, and now he was leading the field. “How do you know him?”

He winked. “Baby, I know everyone.”

“Don’t call me that in public.”

“Fine.” He slowly pulled his hand away from my waist. “I’ll save that for tonight.”

---

Even my complicated situation with Hunt wouldn’t stop me from attending that dinner. China was a market I’d been trying to get into for years, but due to international complications, it hadn’t been as easy as I wanted it to be. There was a lot of competition from Kyle’s company, which had shelves in nearly every single store. He didn’t have the prominence that I did in the U. S, which was the bigger market. We could both use each other—if we played our cards right.

But I was also interested in Rick Perry. I’d been playing golf for a long time. It was a slow sport, but it was much more complicated than people assumed. Having meetings on the links wasn’t always so easy because my concentration was split into two different directions.

I sat beside Rick with Hunt on my left. His legs stretched out under the table, tapping against my knee—on purpose. He looked for any excuse to touch me, any way to get under my skin.

Rick was young, in his late twenties. He had sun-kissed skin, a great smile, and his slender build looked great in a t-shirt. He had slim hips and broad shoulders the way I liked. His physique didn’t compare to Hunt’s, which was packed with muscle and arrogance.

“I saw you at Pebble Beach last year for the Champions Tour.” I went to California often, and not just because I had a home in San Diego. I did a lot of work in the Monterey Peninsula. Lots of business owners had settled there to get away from the sweltering heat of Manhattan. “You’re a great golfer.”

Rick’s face lit up with a smile like my compliment actually meant something to him. “Thanks. You follow golf?”

“Yeah. And I play a lot.”

“Really?” Kyle Livingston cocked his head to the side and examined me like I was a freak.

The feminist inside me always wanted to rise to these outbursts of surprise. Men were perpetually surprised to hear I had a collection of racing cars and autographed baseballs. Apparently, sports and women didn’t mix—which was ridiculous. “Yes. It’s a pastime I enjoy.” I kept the annoyance out of my voice, knowing his opinion didn’t truly matter. Our relationship was only based on business. I didn’t get tied up in the personal stuff.

“Are you any good?” Kyle crossed his arms over his chest, still looking at me like I’d sprouted a second head.

Hunt was silent beside me, knowing I could handle these conversations like all the others.

“Care to find out?” I challenged.

Rick chuckled. “I’d like to find out. They have a great course here just five miles from shore. Are you free tomorrow?”

“Titan and I are heading back home in the morning.” Hunt had stopped eating his food, no longer interested in the green salad he ordered. He usually ordered a beer when he was out in public, but he stuck to water again tonight—like it was just for me.

I had a private plane, so I left whenever I felt like it. It was obvious Hunt was just trying to keep Rick away from me because he assumed the golfer was interested in me. But Hunt was paranoid and assumed every straight man wanted me—which they didn’t.

Rick didn’t challenge Hunt’s statement. “That’s too bad. When I’m in New York, I’ll set up something. I should be there in a few weeks anyway.”

Hunt clenched his jaw but didn’t make a comment about it.

“Great.” I pulled out my business card and set it on the table. “Give me a call.”

Hunt looked like he wanted to snatch it.

Rick dropped it into a slot in his wallet. “Awesome. Never thought I’d play golf with Tatum Titan.”

“And lose to Tatum Titan,” I teased.

“Ooh…” Rick chuckled. “Wow. I’ve got a real competitor on my hands.” He had a charming smile that seemed genuine. Unlike most professional athletes I met, who were too arrogant to really care about a conversation, Rick Perry seemed different. He seemed like a person more than an athlete.

Kyle finally dropped the discussion about my golfing abilities. “I liked your presentation back there, but I noticed there was no mention of your Illuminance line.”

“Hunt and I only work together for Stratosphere.” Hunt and I never exchanged conversations about our various businesses. Everything else seemed like a conflict of interest since some of our businesses were in competition with one another, at least peripherally. We both had our own approaches to investments. I wasn’t going to give away my secrets to him, and I would judge him if he gave me his.

“Must be hard to keep things separate,” Kyle asked. “Since you work together all the time.”

“Not at all,” Hunt said. “Lots of business owners do business with other people. It’s not groundbreaking by any means.”

“I have a confession to make,” Kyle said as he looked at me. “My wife prefers the foundation from Illuminance over mine. She says it’s not so oily and complements her skin tone a lot better.”

Since it was phrased as a compliment, I took it that way. “Thank you. All of our products are organic. More compatible with the pH of the skin as well as the oils.”

“Depends on the person,” Kyle said. “But I see your point. I’ve been wanting to branch into the American market. But honestly, it’s pretty tough with your line on every shelf.”

Even though my heart began to race, I kept a professional smile. It was obvious Kyle and I had the exact same desires. He needed me to get into the high-end retailers, and I needed him to get into the right marketplaces in China. It could be a mutually beneficial relationship if we allowed it to be done. “It’s pretty tough to enter China when you’re overwhelming all the stores.”

“Kyle, you’d be lucky to have a business partner like Titan,” Hunt said. “She’s the only person I’ve ever worked with—for a reason.”

I couldn’t look at him without making it obvious his words meant something to me. He purposely arranged this meeting so I could sit down with Kyle. There was no way it was a coincidence. He was trying to push me forward, to get me to go further.

“That’s saying something,” Rick said. “Hunt is a picky guy.”

“The pickiest guy,” Hunt said. “But Titan’s business expertise puts her above the rest. Not only can you trust her work, but her loyalty. She won’t let you down.” His arm moved to the back of my chair, a possessive gesture that most people wouldn’t pick up on.

Kyle wore a guarded expression just the way I did. He wasn’t as high on the Forbes list as Hunt and me, but he still possessed considerable wealth and connections. After a long stare-down, he spoke to me. “How about we set up a meeting when we return to New York? My assistant will make the arrangements with yours?”

I was just given a key piece to my puzzle. Now I could expand even further, bring my luxury product into more hands who wanted it. “I think that sounds like a great idea.”

---

Business turned into sports, and sports turned into women. They didn’t hold back just because I was there, and that was something I appreciated. Most of my colleagues were men, and all men were the same. They thought with their brain when it came to money, but when it came to women, they thought with a different piece of their anatomy.

“What about you, Hunt?” Kyle asked. “Last I heard, you were with some blonde outside of that club.”

I didn’t want to hear this conversation. I did a great job pretending not to care where Hunt slept every night, but listening to him talk about the women he’d been with wasn’t entertaining to me. Even if he had to lie about it, I still didn’t like the images he painted. I never thought of myself as a jealous person, but being with Hunt made me realize I wasn’t so easygoing. All of my other partners hadn’t made a dent in my possessiveness. But Hunt created a huge hole right through me.

“Don’t believe everything in the tabloids,” Hunt said coolly. “That woman was drunk off her ass, so I gave her a ride home.”

“Bullshit,” Rick said. “We know you’re the biggest playboy in Manhattan.”

I wanted to cover my ears. The last thing I wanted to hear was another blow job story.

Hunt didn’t say anything. Instead, he covered his silence with a drink.

“Come on,” Kyle said. “Who is she? What nasty shit have you gotten yourself into?”

“I don’t kiss and tell,” Hunt said. “I’m a gentleman.”

“You weren’t a gentleman New Year’s Eve last year,” Kyle jabbed.

I knew Hunt was being quiet for my sake, and I appreciated it. I didn’t want to hear a single tale about a threesome or a foursome. “It’s getting late, gentlemen.” I rose from my chair with the same charismatic smile I had plastered on my face fifteen minutes ago. “I’m sure you have a lot to talk about—”

“I’m seeing someone,” Hunt blurted without looking at me. “And I’m in love with her.”

Oh god.

He didn’t say that, did he?

“What?” Rick asked incredulously. “You? In love? With who?”

“Yeah,” Kyle asked. “Who are you talking about?”

I had to get out of there. “Good night. Have a safe trip back everyone.” I turned away from the table, but the men didn’t care I was leaving.

They were more interested in Hunt’s announcement.

“Who is it?” Kyle pressed. “Is she an actress?”

Hunt retained his composure. “She’s pretty well-known. She wants to keep our relationship a secret for a while so it won’t be a feast for the paparazzi.” He rose from his chair. “I’ll be right back. I’m just gonna walk Titan to her room.”

“I don’t need to be walked,” I blurted, flustered by the sudden change in atmosphere for the evening.

Hunt moved his arm to the small of my back and escorted me out of the restaurant until we were out of sight.

“What the hell are you doing?” I rounded on him and struggled to keep my voice down. Luckily, no one was in the hallway.

“I’m tired of lying, Titan.” His expression mixed with remorse as well as a lack of contrition. “I don’t want to do it anymore.”

“We aren’t together anymore, Hunt. So you don’t need to lie.”

“We are together,” he said quietly. “We were together last night, the night before, and you bet your ass, we’ll be together tonight.”

My palm seared with heat as I ached to slap him. “It was meaningless sex.”

He shook his head slightly. “How many times did you tell me you loved me last night? Five times?”

“Only because you made me.”

He chuckled sarcastically. “No one makes Tatum Titan do anything—and you know it.”

His gorgeous features and devastatingly beautiful eyes couldn’t chase away my wrath this time. I was losing control, and everything was starting to spin. I didn’t like it one bit. “Knock it off, Hunt. This is a secret—and it’ll stay a secret.”

“I don’t want to be a dirty secret anymore.”

“Then you shouldn’t have stabbed me in the back,” I hissed. “You shouldn’t have betrayed me. You shouldn’t have fucked that—”

“You know I didn’t do it. Your heart and your brain are at war with each other right now, but if you looked past that, you would know how you really feel. You wouldn’t have ridden me bareback last night if you thought I was getting my dick wet in other places. The only woman I’ve been plowing for six months is you.” He stuck his finger in my face. “Just you.”

I shoved his hand out of my face. “You promised me you would keep this between us. Are you going to break that promise too?”

His jaw tightened, and he squared his shoulders. “I’m only obligated to keep your identity a secret. But I’m not obligated to lie about loving you, about being committed to another person. I’m tired of pretending to be America’s playboy when I’ve found my future wife. I’m sick of it, Titan. I want to grab your face and kiss you in front of everyone in that goddamn room and just get it over with. I want every man to know I’m the one fucking you every night, not Thorn Cutler.”

My rage diminished as his words swept over me. There was so much hostility but so much sweetness in his comeback. I’d have to be made of stone not to be affected by it. I would have to be heartless not to feel weak in the knees. I’d thought about my future with Hunt many times, and every single version ended with me in a white dress with a diamond ring on my finger. I loved this man with all my heart—and he knew it. “Go back in there and continue your conversation.”

“I’d rather be with you.”

“Well, you aren’t going to be with me.” I walked past him, my shoulder brushing his.

He grabbed my wrist and turned me around. “Titan—”

“Don’t come to my room tonight. I mean it.”

He kept his grip on my wrist, but his eyes were what squeezed me.

“This has to stop. It’s not going anywhere. We’re just—”

“Two people in love,” he whispered. “Two people who should be together.”

“I don’t trust you.” I didn’t know what to think. He told me he didn’t announce his sexual conquests, but he obviously did. He’d told me he just took that woman home, but I saw him kiss her. He told me he didn’t sell me out, but all the evidence pointed to him. But I couldn’t shake this feeling in my heart. “Just leave me alone, Hunt.”

He yanked me closer to him before he fished out his wallet.

I watched him dig it out of his trousers and open the billfold, having no idea what he was doing.

He took out the white keycard to his room and held it up. “I won’t come to your room tonight. But I know you’ll come to mine.” He slipped it underneath the fabric of my dress and directly into one of the cups of my bra. “I’m calling your bluff, Titan.” He shoved his wallet back into his back pocket and walked away. “And I’ll always call your bluff.”

---

I wasn’t going to his room.

Forget it.

I washed off my makeup just to prove it to myself. I changed out of my clothes and pulled on a nightdress.

I was staying put.

I worked on my computer for a few hours, answering the emails that surged after my presentation. Jessica had a few documents for me to sign electronically, and I got quarterly numbers for a few of my smaller businesses.

The time ticked away.

A few hours later, I glanced at the clock and realized it was almost midnight.

I should get some sleep.

I shut my laptop then got into bed, the entire mattress for me to enjoy. The sheets were cool to the touch, and the room was dead silent. I couldn’t even hear the AC unit. It was the perfect conditions to slip away into slumber.

But my thoughts turned back to Hunt.

He was in his room waiting for me. He said I would come to him, but I couldn’t fulfill his prediction. I couldn’t prove him right.

My thighs ached to grip his waist, and I felt the shivers move up my spine from the cold. When he was in this bed with me, naked and muscular, he seared the sheets with his warm body. He worked up a sweat and rubbed the drops against my skin. Our heart rates escalated, and our temperatures soared. It was so hot it was unbearable, but it made sleeping that much easier.

I would love to have that beautiful man between my legs.

But I wasn’t going to do it.

No.

My phone sat on the nightstand along with the keycard he’d slipped into my bra. The room number was written on the top corner, and I realized it was right next door to mine.

I was sure he’d arranged that.

I closed my eyes and faced the ceiling, clearing my thoughts of Hunt and focusing on the stars in the sky. I tried to picture how the heavens looked this evening, but my mind kept slipping away to dirtier things.

Hunt plowing himself deep inside me.

Telling me I was beautiful.

Breathing into my mouth as he kissed me.

Palming my tits with his big hands.

Making me come over and over.

I changed positions on the bed, tossing and turning. But the train of my thoughts couldn’t be derailed, and my skin turned warmer. My hand wanted to move between my legs, but that would be a weak release. It would be so much better with a real man pleasing me, his muscular physique forcing me to sink into the sheets.

God, I wanted him.

And I hated him so much for that.

It was a stupid decision, but I was so anxious I didn’t think logically anymore. Now I only wanted one thing, and I wasn’t going to stop until I got it. Hunt called my bluff, but he was the kind of guy who wouldn’t gloat.

I changed and grabbed the keycard before I walked out.

His door was just fifteen feet down the hallway. No one was in the hallway, thankfully. If someone spotted me, I’d have to make up an excuse to explain why I was walking around the hotel at midnight without any makeup on.

I reached his door and hesitated before I inserted the card. I didn’t know if he would be sitting on the couch waiting for me, or if he would be buck naked the second I stepped inside. He slept in the nude, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what I was greeted with.

At least, I hoped it was.

I opened the door and stepped inside his dark room. All the lights were out. Only the gentle glow from the hallway illuminated the floor in front of me. Maybe he assumed I wasn’t coming, so he went to bed.

A tall silhouette appeared and walked toward me, heavy footfalls that echoed against the floor with every step he took. He came closer, his physique and expression more visible as he drew near. Over six feet of impressive muscle, he was a beast as well as a man.

His eyes came into view, and they were glued to mine, fiery and terrifying. He was the only man in the world who could make me second-guess myself, to intimidate me with just his appearance. If ever I felt threatened by someone, I gave them a reason to feel threatened by me. But that didn’t work with Hunt. He was far too confident, far too powerful to feel such an inferior emotion. The harder I became, the more I straightened, the more he wanted me. He was the kind of man who didn’t feel emasculated by a woman’s success. Instead, it was a turn-on.

I didn’t step back as he crowded me, and when he was closer, I realized he was buck naked—like I’d hoped he’d be. With a powerful chest, broad shoulders, and tight arms, he was a powerhouse of muscular strength. I looked up into his face, seeing the same aggression he wore at dinner.

His hands yanked my dress over my head with a lack of gentleness. He practically ripped the fabric, stretching out the expensive dress that Connor had given to me. I was commando when I came over, so there were no panties to discard. He glanced between my legs, the arousal starting to boil in his eyes. He snapped my bra off before he crushed his mouth against mine, taking me roughly without an introduction.

His powerful hands gripped me and kept me rigidly in place so he could have as much of me as he wanted. He squeezed me hard and gave me his tongue, bringing our heat to a peak instantly. He sucked on my bottom lip, breathed into my mouth, and then jerked me into his arms before he carried me to the bed.

He dropped me on the sheets then pinned both of my wrists above my head. He held himself on top of me, two hundred pounds of heavy muscle that immediately brought me warmth. His dark eyes resembled chocolate, and I wanted them to melt all over my skin. Without breaking eye contact, he wrapped a thick piece of rope around my wrists and secured my arms to the headboard.

“What are you—”

He pressed his mouth to mine and silenced my words with his tongue.

I yanked on the rope and felt the tightness. There was no wiggle room at all. Even with a knife, I’d have a hard time getting out of this.

He ended the embrace and pinned my knees directly against my waist. “You walked into my territory. Now we play by my rules.” He wrapped the rope around my body in intricate ways, positioning my legs in place so I was completely open to him. He’d never tied me this way, left me completely impaired and at his mercy.

“Hunt—”

He positioned his face between my legs, where I would be fully exposed and vulnerable to his mouth. He kissed my tender folds and dragged his tongue across my sex, tasting me and exploring me.

The words died on my tongue, and I released an unrestrained moan.

Hunt positioned his big hands under my thighs and gripped the area as he continued to feast on me, enjoy me as much as he wanted. His tongue explored my aching slit before it circled my throbbing clit.

I closed my eyes and breathed through the pleasure, feeling Hunt give me a fantasy I hadn’t realized I had. He pleased me exactly the way I wanted to be pleased. He made me feel so good, made me forget about everything else in the world besides his mouth.

Just before he brought me to a powerful climax, he pulled his mouth away and climbed on top of me.

“Diesel…” I wasn’t above begging at this point. I’d been wrestling with my desire for the past few hours. I wanted him to please me in the fantastic way he’d been doing for months. I opened my eyes and looked into his dark expression.

He pressed his length against my soaked folds and slowly ground against me, watching my face the entire time. His scorching expression didn’t change as he pressed his cock hard against me, giving me the kind of friction that would make my legs shake if they could move.

He lowered his head farther until our faces were nearly touching.

I tried to grind against him, but when I moved, he stopped. “Diesel.”

“You’ve been torturing me for weeks now. My turn to torture you.” He ground against me again, his pulsing cock pressing right against my clit.

My hands yanked toward him, and then I was reminded that thick ropes kept me in place. I couldn’t move a single part of my body besides my head. I was completely at his mercy, this powerful man conquering me like a country being overtaken.

He pressed his face to mine and kissed me, giving me a slow embrace that was contradictory to the way he greeted me by the door. It was soft and sensual, full of restrained urgency. Even when I kissed him harder, he wouldn’t pick up his pace. He took the control back every time I tried to hijack it.

“Diesel.” I spoke against his mouth as he continued to kiss me and grind his cock against me. “Fuck me.”

He took a deep breath, as if my words burned all the way down his spine. “I haven’t decided how I’m going to fuck you—in the cunt or the ass.”

I forgot to breathe when I heard his words, my entire body flushing with heat. “I want to feel your come in my pussy.”

He stopped grinding against me, his eyes flashing. “I don’t care what you want.”

I took a deep breath, pressing my nipples toward the ceiling. “Then pick, Diesel. Just fuck me already.” I yanked on the ropes even though I would never break free. I didn’t like being told what to do, being tied up and unable to move. Being powerless was a hard limit for me, but with Hunt, I didn’t feel insecure. I wasn’t scared. It felt right—like I was in the safest place in the world.

With his teeth pressed against my jaw, he growled. It was menacing and guttural, terrifying and territorial. He tilted his hips back then pressed the head of his fat cock inside me. My slick entrance made it easy for him slide all the way through until he reached my cervix. He was thick and long, and it was like my pussy had never taken him before.

I took another deep breath even though my lungs didn’t have the room.

“Fuck.” He positioned himself on top of me, looking straight down into my face. His aerial view allowed him to see all of me, studying the way I was vulnerable with my knees secured to my waist. My nipples were pebbling, and my chest flushed a bright pink color. He let his massive cock sit inside me like he was getting reacquainted with my body after spending only a day apart. “You’re all mine, Titan.” He started to thrust inside me, a perfect pace that wasn’t slow or fast. His strokes were even and deep, guaranteed to bring me to climax in less than a minute.

He delivered, and I felt the explosion between my legs, the powerful sensation I’d been craving all night. It was searing hot and so satisfying, strong enough to make me feel crippled when it was over. It was the kind of orgasm no other man could give me. My hand certainly couldn’t do it either. I turned into a puddle of goo, only feeling and not thinking. “Thank you…” I didn’t think twice before the words slipped from my mouth. When Hunt was buried between my legs, I could barely form coherent sentences.

“Don’t thank me for doing my job, baby.” He pressed his mouth to mine and gave me a tender kiss, the kind he usually gave when sex was over. It was all lips and no tongue, but it was just as sensual. He kissed the corner of my mouth then dragged his teeth across my jaw. “How many times do you want to come tonight?”

“I thought you were in charge.”

“I am.” He spoke against my ear. “Which is why I’m the one asking the questions.”

Despite being with him last night and the night before, I was so desperate for him it was like I hadn’t had sex in years. It felt like I hadn’t had a beautiful, sweaty man on top of me in ages. I rocked my body back into him with the limited mobility that I had, breathing and moaning as I sheathed his dick with my cream over and over.

“How many?” he whispered.

“As many as you can give me.”

He pressed his mouth over my ear as his hand fisted my hair. “Alright, then.”

---

We lay in the dark together, his chest pressed against my back. Hours had passed, and neither one of us could continue anymore. My body was sore from his enormous dick, and my skin had marks from where the ropes had cut into me. His face was pressed into the back of my neck, and his steady breaths floated across my skin. His muscular arm was wrapped around my waist, holding me tightly like I might slip away.

It would be so easy to stay here, to sleep the entire night with this sexy man pressed right against me. I loved the way his chest expanded into my back every time he took a breath. I loved the way he smelled, masculine mixed with a hint of mint. I missed this comfort. I used to hate sleeping beside him. It was too hard. But now that I’d stopped sleeping with him, my nights were restless. I was tired all the time because I’d turned into an insomniac.

So I wanted to stay—right there.

But I couldn’t do that. Sleeping with him three nights in a row was bad enough. It made our complicated situation even more tangled. My desires were unclear—even to me. I didn’t know what I wanted, and I didn’t know how to stop myself from this addiction. I wanted to move on and forget about him, but I was in so deep it was hard to get out. But if I slept beside him all night, cuddled up together as a single person, it would put me even deeper into the hole.

And I might never get out.

I slowly slid from his grasp toward the edge of the bed. If I was quiet enough, he might not feel me slip away. Once he knew I was retreating, he would grab me and yank me back into bed, his arms acting as bars of a cell.

I reached the end but didn’t get far.

His large hand grabbed me by the wrist and yanked me back against his chest. It was like crashing into a mountain. I was shaken, but he remained solid. “No.” Like a caveman who only knew a few words, he said it as a command.

“I’m tired.”

“Then lie still and go to sleep.”

“You know I don’t want to sleep with you.” I moved away from him.

He yanked me back. “How many times am I going to call your bluff in a single day?” He positioned me in front of him and locked his arm around my waist so I couldn’t crawl away again. “You came to my lair tonight. My rules.”

It would easy to give up and just enjoy it. But I couldn’t allow that to happen. “We don’t sleep together.” I pushed his arm off. “I’m not changing my mind.”

This time, he let me go, his heavy arm moving to the side like a gate.

I rose to my feet and pulled my clothes from the floor.

He propped himself up on his elbow, looking at me with obvious irritation. He could push me, but there were times when I refused to be pushed. Right now, he knew my decision was as solid as concrete. “We have to talk about this when we get back.”

“Nothing to talk about.” I couldn’t look at him, not when he was naked in bed with the sheets bunched around his waist, the shape of his semihard dick outlined by the soft fabric. His hair was ruffled from my fingertips, and his sleepy expression was undeniably sexy. He was the most desirable man in the world, and I could have him a little longer if I stayed in that bed. But I couldn’t have a man I didn’t trust. Trust was everything to me—and we didn’t have it.

“We’ll see.” He lay down again with his eyes on the ceiling. “When is your plane leaving?”

“I’ll probably leave after I shower—sleep on the plane.”

“Then I’ll see you around, Titan.” He got comfortable and closed his eyes. “Don’t forget to leave some money on the table. You know, because I’m your whore.” Without raising his voice or even changing his tone, he announced his rage. He rested his hand behind his head while the other rested on his chest.

I pulled on my clothes and remained by the bed, feeling the wound from the invisible knife. He made me feel guilty when I had nothing to feel guilty about. He was the untruthful one, the untrustworthy one. I was still playing this game while keeping my heart out of the ring—at least, most of it. But he tore at my armor, hit me in a weak spot I didn’t detect. He knew exactly how I felt about him, so the insult was just a jab to get a rise out of me. He’d say anything to get me back in that bed.

I hated to admit it was working.

I crawled back on the bed and held myself above his face.

He opened his eyes when he knew I was there. His eyes were deep brown like the earth, full of life and vitality. He was well-read, so every expression he made told a story. I could see his emotions at all times. He didn’t need to speak for me to know if he was angry, sad, or simply affectionate.

I leaned down and kissed him on the mouth, keeping it subtle and soft. If tongue got involved, I’d be back in that bed with my bra thrown across the room. I felt the stubble around his mouth with my soft lips and felt him breathe in when he felt me. “I love you.”

He smiled against my mouth and dug his hand into my hair. He deepened the kiss and breathed with me, his affection masculine and soothing. “And I love you, baby. So fucking much.”

---

I slept on the plane and got back to work the next morning. Even taking a few days off put me behind. Work never slept, and sometimes I wished I didn’t need to sleep either. I stayed at my main office near my penthouse and skipped Stratosphere since that’s all I’d been focusing on over the weekend.

I hadn’t spoken to Hunt since I’d left his room. Having some space away from would do me some good. Whenever we were in the same room together, clothes always came off and our bodies combined together. It was a terrible sickness I couldn’t overcome. When we were apart, it was a lot easier for me to be pragmatic.

Jessica’s voice came over the intercom. “Mr. Hunt is here to see you.”

Goddammit. “Why?”

“I…I don’t know. I just thought it was okay if he didn’t have an appointment. Do you want me to tell him to leave?”

I sighed before I returned my finger to the button. “No. Send him in.”

“Yes, Titan.”

A moment later, Jessica opened the glass doors and ushered Hunt inside. He looked sexy naked with messy hair, but when he was dressed up in a fresh suit with his hair styled, he looked even more scrumptious. He walked into my office like he owned the space and took a seat in the chair facing my desk. I wasn’t greeted with a hello, not even a smile. I just got his intense expression, his bedroom eyes. He never cared if anyone noticed the way he stared at me. He would do it even with a camera pointed in his face.

“What can I do for you?” I asked as I looked back at my computer screen. My glass doors allowed my assistants to look inside my office. I had nothing hide and didn’t need privacy. Jessica could see when I was on the phone so, she knew not to bother me with a message. Once the phone was on the receiver, she made her move. Made the day a lot more productive.

“It’s time for that conversation.” He rested his ankle on the opposite knee and took up most of the chair, his sculpted physique blocking most of the chair from view. His navy blue suit was a great complement to his tanned skin and dark hair. But then again, he could wear an orange suit and still look impeccable.

“What conversation?”

He cocked his head slightly to the side. “You know what conversation I’m talking about.”

It was a conversation I didn’t want to have at all, let alone in my office. “Not during business hours.”

“I’m just as busy as you, and I managed to squeeze it into my schedule.” He winked. “You’re a priority.”

“Well, you aren’t a priority of mine.”

He grinned. “Until the lights are out and the sun is gone…”

I turned back to my computer, refusing to let him see the effect he had on me.

“So, I’ve been thinking a lot about it. I’d like to reopen our previous arrangement.”

My eyes turned back to him because I couldn’t pretend to be interested in my emails anymore.

When he had my attention, his eyes narrowed. “We both know the sex is going to keep happening. Let’s not waste time denying it. Well, you shouldn’t waste time denying it. But I’d like to have ground rules so we know exactly where the other stands. In your gut, you know I didn’t do any of the things I’m accused of. Your brain can’t reconcile with your heart, and that’s fine with me. I’ll be patient because you’re worth waiting for. So this arrangement will do for now.”

What I wanted to embark on was a longstanding arrangement with Hunt. Lots of good sex without the romance. It was easier that way. If we returned to that, I could have all the fun without the risk. “How will this work?”

“We take turns. Neither one of us is permanently in charge.”

“And how will we decide that?”

He tapped his fingers against the wood of the armrest. “We’ll know at the time. There are times when you want to be fucked out of your mind. There are times when I enjoy being slapped around…we’ll play it by ear.”

The rules would be far less rigid now. It wasn’t how I preferred to operate. “I’m in control at all times. After all, you did betray me.”

He shook his head slightly. “It’s an even divide of power. Or no arrangement at all. Those are my terms.”

“What makes you think you get to have terms at all?” I challenged.

He narrowed his dark eyes on my face. “Because I’ve been nothing but loyal to you since the day we met. You’ll see it…eventually.”

I doubted I would ever get any concrete proof. Even now, I still wasn’t sure what to think. Hunt was a smart man. It would be easy for him to manipulate me now that he knew me so well. But my heart ached so deeply for him. If I weren’t so in love with him, I’d turn my back so hard. The only reason I was interested in this arrangement was because I knew I couldn’t walk away from him—not yet.

“Equal share of power,” he said. “Do you agree?”

I knew Hunt wasn’t wearing a poker face. He wouldn’t compromise on his end of the bargain. “Yes.”

“Good. We’re monogamous. We’re equals. And this arrangement has no deadline.”

“Fine.”

“Excellent.” He stood up and buttoned the front of his suit, never taking his eyes off me. “You know I didn’t do it, Titan.”

I held his gaze and didn’t blink.

He lowered his hands to his sides and stared at me with the same intensity. “Ignore the so-called facts. Go with your gut. When has your gut ever been wrong?”

“Once.” And it was the biggest mistake I’d ever made. It nearly cost me my life. It could have put Thorn in prison for murder. It cost me years of heartbreak and stress. “And I still regret it to this day.”

“I’m not going to be a regret, Titan.” He spoke with the same tone and forcefulness, but he seemed softer. His eyes lost their rigid coldness, and he gave me an affectionate look he only showed when we were alone together. “You know I love you. You know I would never hurt you. Everything is stacked up against me, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

“The evidence is pretty damning.”

“But my word means more. I’ll do everything I can to exonerate myself. But if I can’t, you need to believe me. You need to trust me.”

“I don’t think I can…”

“Yes, you can. Why am I in your bed every night?”

I refused to look away even though I didn’t want to hold the contact any longer.

“If you believed I did any of those things, you wouldn’t let me touch you. But you tell me you love me while I’m buried between your legs every night. You kiss me like I’m the only man you’ve ever loved.”

I blinked first, troubled by what he said.

He leaned forward and rested his hands on the desk, casting a shadow across the entire room. “You believe me. I know you do. You just don’t know it yet.”

---

The elevator beeped before the doors opened.

Now that Hunt and I had started our new arrangement, I wasn’t sure if he was the one stopping by or Thorn. It could be either man.

But it was Thorn. He was in a t-shirt and jeans, telling me that he’d hit the gym then showered before he stopped by. He didn’t make public appearances dressed in anything but his finest attire. Only behind closed doors and with trusted friends did he drop his suit and adopt his casualness. “Hey.”

I was sitting on the couch with my laptop resting on my thighs. “Hey.”

He went to the kitchen and helped himself to a glass of water. “Got any dinner?”

“Leftovers are in the fridge.”

He riffled around in the background, popped a plate in the microwave, and then took a seat at the kitchen table. He had his own butler to cook for him, but he raided my fridge several times a week.

I joined him at the table with my own glass of water.

Thorn scooped the food into his mouth with his fork, his eyes on his plate.

“Skip lunch today?”

“I had a lot of meetings, and they only had muffins. Can’t eat that shit.”

“You can indulge once in a while.”

“You’re one to talk.”

I hardly ate anything so I could continue to fit into my dresses and skirts. Once I hit thirty, my metabolism had slowed down. I had to eat even less just to keep my waistline the same. “How was work?”

“Good. I’m expanding the business and opening a new plant in the Midwest. In a small town with lots of land. It’ll give jobs to the population, so it’ll be easy to get all the permits. How was France?”

“Beautiful, like always.”

“We should go for our honeymoon.”

The mention of our marriage made me think of Hunt, who wasn’t going to let me go without a fight. “Maybe. Kind of a high-profile place.”

“That’s the point.” He scooped another bite into his mouth. “How was the conference? Did Hunt give you any trouble?”

Normally, I would tell Thorn exactly what happened with Hunt, that I weakened and took him to bed every night. But now, I didn’t want to mention it. I should have stayed strong and said no. “No…he didn’t give me any trouble. The presentation went well. Networked with Kyle Livingston. Saw a few other people there.”

Thorn lifted his head and turned his expression on me. He narrowed his eyes and focused on me, reading my look like words on a page. He knew me better than anyone, and he picked up on the subtle changes in my tone and mood. “You aren’t telling me something.”

I held his gaze and considered my next move. I couldn’t lie to him. We never did that to each other, and I didn’t want to start now. He would judge me for what I did, reprimand me for being stupid, but I had to suffer the consequences. I made bad decisions. As my partner in life, it was his job to tell me the things I didn’t want to hear. “One thing led to another…and I slept with Hunt.”

Thorn leaned back into his chair, his broad shoulders straight and muscular. His expression didn’t change, and his eyes didn’t turn hostile. He continued to look at me with cloudy eyes, his thoughts unclear.

I waited for the judgment.

“Why?”

“It just happened. He kissed me, and I didn’t stop it…you know how it goes.”

“It just happened one time?”

“Uh…no.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Every night we were there.”

Thorn set down his fork and sighed. “Titan, what are you doing?”

“I wasn’t thinking. I know he’s accused of doing—”

“He’s guilty of doing terrible things.”

“I know. But I just…can’t stop the way I feel about him. I know it’s stupid and I know it’s a mistake, but I can’t help it. I fell so hard for him, and I can’t keep my hands to myself. When he kisses me, I grow weak. When he tells me he loves me, I love hearing it. I know it’s pathetic…”

Thorn sighed and looked down at the table. “I understand, Titan. It’s not pathetic.”

I couldn’t stop the surprise from stretching across my face.

“But you need to be stronger than that. We have direct evidence that he’s a liar. First, it was leaking the story to the newspapers. Then it was photographs of him and that woman in the club.”

“But he released that story about him and his father so people would stop talking about it. And it worked.”

“Maybe the reporter was never supposed to give up his name. And when he did, Hunt had to fix it.”

“Maybe…”

Thorn eyed me, his sympathetic expression gone. “Titan, you need to be careful. You worked very hard to get here. It would be a shame to throw all that away for one man you can’t trust.”

His words sank into my heart and brought me back to reality. The pragmatic executive inside of me knew he was right. I was gambling more than I could afford to lose.

“I thought Hunt was the perfect match for you. But now, there’s red flags all over the place. We can’t ignore that. I always respect whatever decision you make. If you don’t want to marry me, it’s not a big deal. I’ll be disappointed, but I’ll get over it. So this isn’t about me. It’s about you. I know you don’t need a man to protect you, but I want to protect you. You’ve been through enough as it is. I don’t want to watch you repeat those terrible mistakes. I don’t want you to start over for a third time.”

I nodded in agreement. “You’re right…”

“Every decision can easily be simplified. If he were a business deal, would you take it?”

There were too many unknown variables. I wouldn’t put millions of dollars on the table for a deal this unpredictable. I’d turn my back and find something else to invest in. “No…”

“Then you have your answer.”

I rested my elbows on the table and slowly dragged my hands down my face. My fingertips moved to my temples, and I gently massaged them even though I didn’t have a migraine. My eyes took in the glow of the city, feeling Thorn stare at me with his protective gaze. I was grateful I had him in my life. This was exactly what I wanted, to have someone I could trust implicitly. How could I ever take a chance on Hunt when I had someone incredible sitting right beside me? We would never have passion or romance, but we would have something so much stronger. “I love you…” Thorn was my family, the only stability I ever truly had.

Thorn moved his hand across the table and rested his fingertips against my elbow. “I know.”

“I want to believe him so much…sometimes I think I do.” I never laid my feelings out on the table like this. Thorn was the only person I could open up to. Hunt was the second. He cracked me open like a clam and completely exposed me—and I allowed him to.

“I know.”

“But you’re right. I can’t.”

“Too risky.”

“He told me he wanted to pick up our previous arrangement. I agreed.”

Thorn pulled his hand away and stared at me until I met his gaze. “What if he tells everyone about the two of you?”

“He would have done it already.”

“You think?”

“Why not tell the world about that in addition to the story he already leaked?”

Thorn didn’t have an answer to that.

“Besides, he signed my NDA.”

Thorn nodded.

“And whether I keep sleeping with him or not, he already has enough evidence to put me on blast. So it really doesn’t make a difference.”

“That’s true. But sleeping with him could cloud your judgment.”

“Not if it’s just sex. And if I don’t do this…I know it’s going to happen anyway. At least this way, the relationship is controlled. There are rules. It keeps a physical relationship separate from an emotional one.”

“I suppose. Once we’re engaged, there’s no going back. So that could protect you as well.”

“Yeah…”

Thorn eyed me with his crystal blue eyes, which were soft and gentle. It was an expression he didn’t show to anyone else but me. To the rest of the world, he was a cold and powerful businessman. He didn’t have emotions. All he cared about was power, control, and money. But when it was just the two of us, he showed a different side. He was gentle, sweet, compassionate…and so much more. “Then you still want to marry me?”

I nodded.

“You need to give me a better answer than that.”

“I do.”

His cool eyes burned into my skin. He watched my reaction, spotting my hesitation. “You’re sure? Because you don’t have to.”

“No, I want to. It’s the best decision.”

“Is it?” he asked. “Because you could wait and fall in love with someone else.”

Like that would ever happen. “No. Hunt is the last mistake I’ll ever make. Romance doesn’t work. It’s painful and complicated. I want what we have. I want trust, friendship, stability…that’s real love.”

The intensity of his gaze lightened. “I agree. Just wanted to make sure you did too.”

I nodded.

“Then I’ll start preparing.”