The annual Business Leaders of America gala was tonight, and I received an invitation, as did Titan. It was an evening meant for the businesses stationed in New York City. The mayor was usually there, along with the senators. Last year, the president of the United States stopped by for a visit. Donations went to the city, helping homeless shelters, after-school programs, and public transportation systems.

My father was the keynote speaker tonight.

I knew the paparazzi would be following Titan and me closely. It was our first public appearance as a couple. It would be the perfect opportunity to photograph us together. Any other worldwide news would come second to our romance.

I stood in the living room and adjusted my solid black watch. I was in a black suit and tie, choosing a darker look since Titan was wearing a black dress. I didn’t try to match her, but I also wanted our appearances to complement each other.

My driver was waiting downstairs at the curb, and we were running late.

Titan finally stepped out of the bedroom in a black cocktail dress with a slight shimmer in the fabric. She was in sky-high heels, and the dress featured a strapless sweetheart top. Her brown hair trailed down her chest in curls.

I let out a soft whistle.

Despite how confident she was, she smiled and allowed a light hint of blush to fill her cheeks. “You’re sweet.” She grabbed her clutch off the table, a matching black wallet that had a subtle hint of glitter to it.

My arms immediately encircled her waist, and I pressed my face closer to hers. “I’m not trying to be sweet.”

“Seems that way.” Her hands slowly migrated up my chest, feeling the hardness underneath my collared shirt. She touched me with soft aggression, her fingertips pressing into me like she wanted to feel my bare skin.

My hands slid down her ass, skimming the soft fabric until I reached the tops of her thighs. I pulled the fabric, moving it upward until I revealed her sexy ass in just her black thong. My fingers gripped the gorgeous muscles of her perky ass. Time didn’t seem important to me anymore. I was hard in my slacks, and there was no way I could last all night without having her at least once now. I slowly backed her up toward the dining table.

She held her ground and stopped me. “No. We’re running late.”

“Don’t care.” My hand moved underneath the fall of her hair, and I kissed her, knowing my lips would silence her protests. My mouth had a natural way of getting what it wanted. I knew how to kiss her the way she liked, how to take her breath away with a simple touch. She did the same thing to me, bringing my passion to the surface until it couldn’t be controlled.

Her lipstick smeared across my mouth as she sucked my bottom lip. Her tongue delved into my mouth, exploring me as if she’d never kissed me before. With anxious hands and unsteady breath, she couldn’t hide her desire for me. She could be in a hurry to leave one moment, and then almost immediately forget what we were dressed up for in the first place.

My hands guided her to the table, and once her back hit the wood, I pulled her thong to her thighs. She hopped on the table just as I lifted her, and then I pulled her thong down her beautiful legs until it hit the floor. She gripped my shoulders as she kissed me, and I undid my belt and slacks so I could get my cock free. My boxers were pushed down over my ass, and my throbbing dick was released and ready for her delectable pussy.

She lay back and propped herself on her elbows so she wouldn’t ruin her hair, and I pulled her hips to the very edge before I shoved myself inside her. I moved completely within her, feeling her tight walls surround me and seal me inside. She was wet, warm, and tight. Like I’d never been inside her before, I paused to enjoy her.

With my eyes locked on hers, I pinned my arms behind her knees and started to move. Time wasn’t on our side, but that didn’t make me fuck her faster. I took it slow, rocking into her with deep and even strokes.

Her tits shook, her nipples hardened, and she parted her sexy lips as she moaned for me.

She hooked one arm around my neck and held herself up with her other hand. She widened her legs farther, bit her bottom lip as her entire body shook with my thrusts, and stared at me with sexy, fearless eyes.

Now I just wanted to stay home with her.

“Diesel…” No other woman had ever said my name in such a sexy way. She could do it so easily, so powerfully. Her lips opened more as her moans deepened and increased in volume.

I moved my mouth to hers and kissed her as I made love to her on the dining table, worshiping the only woman I’d ever loved. She was the only woman I’d been this intimate with, the only one I removed a condom for. She was the only woman who commanded my respect so easily. She was the only woman who brought me to my knees. Only a woman like Tatum Titan could make a man out of me.

Her nails dug into the back of my neck as she moved with me on the table. Her breathing quickened, her gasps filling my mouth. Her body slowly tightened around me, unexpected moans emerging. “I love you…” She came around me the second the words were out of her mouth, a beautiful confession that made my entire body shake.

I came seconds afterward, filling her pussy at the exact moment it squeezed my hard dick. My possessiveness for her increased every time I released inside her, wanting her to be mine and no one else’s. I was the only man on this planet good enough for her, strong enough to handle a woman so independent and successful. Even if she passed me on the Forbes list, all I would feel was pride. I found her brains sexy, her powerful demeanor thrilling. Only a man as successful and secure as I was could handle such an amazing woman.

I stayed inside her even when I was finished, loving the feeling between her legs. It felt so good, so perfect. I wanted to stay buried inside her forever, to feel my own come push past my shaft and back out her entrance. I rubbed my nose against hers as the breath left my lungs. “I love you too.”

Her fingers dug into the back of my hair, and she pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “I can tell.”

I had just given her an impressive mound of come, and it was already dripping from her body onto the table. It didn’t matter how many times I’d already had her, my body was always so eager that it gave her everything it had—every time.

---

Just as I anticipated, the photographers were lined up at the doorway to the hotel the second we alighted from of the car. I stepped out first and extended my hand to Titan.

She rose with perfect posture, a cheeky smile on her lips, and took my hand with a strong grip.

I was immobilized by the image, seeing this queen step out for the cameras and grab my hand. She was there with me, showing the world I was the man she’d chosen. We’d been a secret for so long, sneaking around in hotel rooms abroad and throughout the city. Now there was no more hiding. The world recognized us as a couple—two people in love.

I couldn’t remember a time when I was this happy.

I guided her through the entryway, holding her close to me and taking the lead. Flashes erupted in front of my face, the lights blinding. I never smiled for pictures. I usually didn’t smile at all. But this time, I did.

Because I had a very special reason to smile.

When we made it inside, the flashes finally stopped. My hand moved around her slender waist, and I guided her to the ballroom where the dinner was being held. My heart was beating with the adrenaline rush that had just washed over me. I was excited in a way I’d never been before. I was about to walk into a room with all my colleagues, and they would know I was the lucky man who got to keep Titan to himself.

Titan stayed close to me, but she looked as independent and confident as she usually was. She was my date, but she was always her own person. Her eyes scanned the room before she turned her eyes on me. “I think I need a drink.”

We entered the throng of people, and immediately, almost everyone was looking at us. They wanted to see our affection with their own eyes, see us together after Titan had confessed to the world that I was her soul mate.

During our conversations with friends and acquaintances, I kept my hand on her the entire time. If I could have, I would have made the affection even more extensive, giving her a kiss that wouldn’t be appropriate for the room. But Titan wouldn’t go for it, so I didn’t push it.

We talked with the mayor for a few minutes then moved on to other people. The two of us stuck to the champagne the waiters were passing around even though both of us were more interested in scotch and whiskey.

When we finally had a minute alone, I spoke to her quietly. “People seem fascinated by our relationship.”

“Not surprised,” she said before she took a drink. “I did just share my personal life with the entire world.”

My hand rested on the small of her back. “I like it. After all the months of hiding and pretending, we don’t have to lie anymore. Now I can stare at you all I want. I can touch you whenever I feel like it. And I can kiss you whenever I want.” I slowly leaned in, watching the expression in her eyes intensify as I drew near. She didn’t turn away or press a hand to my chest, so I moved in completely and gave her a soft kiss.

She kissed me back, her lids shutting momentarily.

Even though the embrace lasted only a few seconds, it was enough to shoot the excitement through me. I felt the tenderness at the edge of my fingertips, the heat in my chest. Only one woman could make me burn like this, and she was standing right in front of me.

When she leaned back, the same passion was in her eyes. She’d just made love to me before she left, and she could have another round if the situation permitted it. That was how our nights were spent—not sleeping, only fucking. Every morning I was exhausted, but I wouldn’t change anything about it.

“I’m the luckiest guy in this room.” I spoke with my lips near her ear, my hand squeezing the fabric at her lower back.

A soft smile formed on her lips.

“I’m in love with the strongest woman in this room, and she’s in love with me too. You can’t put a price on that.” The first time I kissed her, I knew there was something there. The first time we fucked, even then, I knew something was there. It took me a while to understand it, a few months to process it, but I recognized the love once I allowed myself to see it. Now it was right in front of me, staring bluntly back at me.

“I wouldn’t say I’m the luckiest woman in the room…because every woman here hates me for having you.”

I rubbed my nose against hers. “But you don’t care, do you?”

Her smile widened. “No. I don’t.”

I kissed her temple before I pulled her with me, directing her to the next group of people to see. These functions were always about small talk, and right now, we needed to stop by and speak to Kyle Livingston next.

But then Thorn emerged from the left and magically appeared in front of us. In a navy blue suit with a cream collared shirt, he looked exactly the same as before. The color of the fabric brought out the bright intensity of his eyes, that ice-blue color that looked nothing like mine. His eyes were only on Titan, as if she were the only person in the room.

Titan’s smile dropped as she stared into his expression, looking at her closest friend in the world. I could feel her sadness instantly infect the space around us. She was just happy a moment ago, but seeing Thorn immediately dragged her back into the depths of sorrow.

The people surrounding us turned our way, waiting to see what would happen between the two old alleged lovers.

I didn’t know what to expect from Thorn. He looked angry, like Titan had somehow slighted him again. Maybe he wasn’t happy about that interview, after all. Maybe it pissed him off even more. “Thorn, maybe we should talk about this later…” I stepped further into the situation, making sure some of my body blocked Titan. She didn’t need me to protect her, but it was a natural urge I would never be able to combat.

“No.” He still didn’t look at me, his gaze reserved for Titan. His eyes shifted slightly back and forth as he looked at her. His arms remained by his sides, but the tension started to unravel. It filled up the air between us, making all three of us tighten in preparation. The last time he’d seen Titan in a public place, he gave her the cold shoulder and walked off. Perhaps he was about to do that now, but to a more extreme degree. “I forgive you.”

After reading the hostility in the room, I hadn’t expected Thorn to say that. His emotions were compacted so tightly that they were difficult to read. I mistook his tension for anger.

Titan released the breath she was holding, the happiness immediately flooding into her eyes. I could see the wetness start to form, her eyes reflecting the lights from the chandeliers. “You do?”

Thorn nodded. “I miss you.”

The tears welled up even more. “I miss you too.” She left my embrace and moved into his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him tightly.

His large arms wrapped around her waist, and he squeezed her as he buried his face in her neck.

Instead of feeling jealous, all I felt was relief. I’d always thought Thorn would come to his senses and forgive Titan, but as his silence had lingered, that faith had slowly waned. But now that he was finally here with Titan, I knew the worst was over.

Now she was happy.

The embrace was longer than the others I’d seen. It seemed like Thorn needed it as much as Titan. These two friends had been there for each other through everything. Now everyone witnessed their reunion, and that would only make our story better.

Thorn was the first one to pull away, but he didn’t have emotion in his face the way she did. He kept his features stoic, indifferent. He pulled his hand from her waist and placed both hands in his pockets.

I stared at them, trying to fade into the background so I could give them their space.

“Can we talk later?” Thorn asked quietly so no one could overhear them.

“Yeah. Come over.”

“Alright.” He turned to me next, still wearing the same expression. He stuck out his hand.

I shook it. “It’s great to have you back.”

He nodded. “It’s great to be back.”

---

After dinner, my father took the stage and gave his speech. Despite his greed for money and power, he did have philanthropic causes. I didn’t know about most of them, but he’d been working on them for the last decade. He had been a lot quieter about his charitable donations—until now.

I think that had something to do with me.

Once dessert was finished, everyone returned to drinking and socializing. I was counting down the minutes until we could finally leave. Public appearances weren’t as interesting anymore when there was only one place I wanted to be.

My father’s immense figure parted the crowd as he came toward us. In a black tuxedo with slicked-back hair, he was the man of the hour. At his side was a woman Titan’s age, a beauty with olive-toned skin and wearing a dark blue gown. She was a brunette, and she barely reached my father’s shoulder even in her sky-high heels.

He reached for Titan first and shook her hand. “You look beautiful tonight, Titan.”

“Thank you, Vincent,” she said with a smile.

My father turned to me next. “Nice to see you, Diesel.” He didn’t extend his hand to me, forgoing the gesture and stepping back. He still hadn’t tried to shake my hand, probably because he knew it was too soon for me to take it. “This is Alessia.” He pronounced her name exotically, emphasizing the accent like he had a lot of practice saying her name. He didn’t introduce her as anything else, such as a friend or girlfriend. He didn’t touch her either, letting her stand beside him without an ounce of affection. “Alessia, this is my son, Diesel.”

Alessia smiled before she took my hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Your father talks about you a lot.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I nodded. “Nice to meet you too. You have a beautiful name.”

“Thank you.” She shook Titan’s hand next. “I’m a fan of everything you do, Ms. Titan. You’re an inspiration to all female entrepreneurs.”

“Thank you,” Titan said. “That’s nice of you to say.”

Alessia returned to my father’s side, standing close to his shoulder. She had pronounced cheekbones, plump lips, lustrous eye makeup. She was exceptionally thin, looking like someone who counted her calories down to the last apple slice.

“What do you do?” Titan asked.

“She’s a model,” Vincent answered. “We met at a Milan fashion show a few months ago.”

Alessia rubbed her hand up his arm. “We were introduced by a mutual friend. He’s a gentleman, a lot more interesting than men my age.” When she looked at my father, there was genuine affection in her eyes. She seemed to like him for him, not the billions in his bank account.

I’d seen my father with various women over the last decade. They were all half his age and beautiful. It didn’t bother me to see him with someone else besides my mother. It was obvious they were just distractions, women to keep him occupied during his lonely nights. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy who would get remarried, and based on the confessions he had made about my mother, he never wanted to.

But he kept his distance from Alessia, as if his being with a woman might offend me. “I saw you and Thorn talking.” His eyes shifted back to Titan.

Titan lit up at the mention of him. “Yeah. We made up.” She didn’t say anything more than that with Alessia present.

“That’s good to hear,” my father said. “No reason why the two of you still can’t be friends.”

My arm circled Titan’s waist, my hand gripping her opposite hip. She held herself perfectly straight, her shoulders back. I never slouched, but she made me even more aware of my own posture.

“Enjoy your night.” My father dismissed us before he turned away, Alessia moving with him like a small fish following an enormous shark.

“You too,” Titan said.

My father walked away, joining a group of brokers from Wall Street.

Titan turned to me, her fingers immediately moving to the bottom of my tie. “I’m ready to go home.”

“Me too.”

“Then let’s get out of here.”