She’s not Isabella, something in his head warned him. She can’t be.

But Titus did not want to hear it, his breath escaping in short, frenzied gasps as he pressed himself against Arabella’s lithe, ready frame. He nuzzled his face into the small of her neck, sighing deeply as his pulsating member slid against the drenched cleft between her thighs.

Beneath him, Arabella jerked upward, shifting her hips to urge him inside. She was quivering, her fingernails digging into his flesh with anticipation, but Titus had not finished the slow tease he had begun, his shaft slipping over her deliberately, despite the fact that it was driving him nearly to the edge of insanity. Never had he wanted someone as badly since losing Isabella, but he wanted her to want it just as much as he did before he filled her with his throbbing unit.

Arabella’s legs locked around him, her calves surprisingly strong as she willed him downward.

“Please,” she begged again. “Please take me.”

Titus grunted, knowing he was losing control of his own resolve, and with one massive thrust, he entered her.

Arabella screamed out, apparently not accounting for the size of him, and the cry almost caused him to erupt inside her. He willed himself to wait, his pushes slowing before he lost complete control, even though she was making it nearly impossible to hold back.

Reducing his lust was not an option, and his jaw locked as he felt his body tense with the impending orgasm. The need to fill her with his seed was unbearable, centuries of wanting to be with this woman overtaking any need to be a considerate lover.

Grunting with primal urgency, Titus allowed himself to spill himself into Arabella just as her legs seized against him, her head falling back. As he released into her, he felt her core tighten around his erection. They were a combination of sweat and nectar, choking for air as they tried to compose themselves.

“Oh, my god,” Arabella choked, her breaths escaping in rapid-fire gasps. Instantly, Titus sat up, worried he was crushing her.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice etched in concern.

She stared at him with dazed eyes and nodded slowly. “I—yes,” she mumbled, more red staining her already flushed cheeks. “I’m fine.”

Titus nodded and lowered his head, a sweeping sense of shame coursing through him as he withdrew from her core. What did you do? You were supposed to bring her here to protect her, not prey on her like some creep. But no matter how much he tried to chide himself, he could not bring himself to regret what they had just done.

Logically, he knew that she could not be his Isabella. He knew that woman had died, likely at his hand, hundreds of years ago. That, however, did not explain the uncanny resemblance between her and the woman lying naked at his side. Even Anders had seen it.

“Are you all right?” Arabella asked him.

Titus nodded and offered her a quick smile. “I don’t know what came over me,” he confessed, even though he was lying through his teeth.

“I do,” she replied, and he was taken aback by the response.

“Yeah?”

“I remind you of someone you knew once.”

Titus’ spine stiffened at the almost nonchalant explanation. “Something like that,” he mumbled, reaching for his pants.

“Her name was Bella,” Arabella continued. “That’s why you call me Bella, too.”

Titus swallowed, unsure if he wanted to discuss the situation with her. What am I going to say to her? he thought. ‘Well, dear, I’m seven hundred and fifty years old, and I once sent the only woman I have ever loved to her death by warning her about a curse we were about to endure at the hands of a wretched witch who kept us immortal out of spite’?

Titus had a feeling the story would not sit well with the girl before him. Even though she had nodded when he had asked her if she could remember who she was, she had clearly only told him what he had wanted to hear.

Still, Titus couldn’t shake the feeling that this was Isabella, despite all the evidence against it. It was not just the resemblance between them—Arabella possessed Isabella’s timid bravery as well. Where had she come from?

“Who was she?” Arabella asked. “Was she your wife?”

The question stung Titus deeper than he wanted to admit.

“No,” he answered with more flatness than he intended. “She wasn’t my wife.” Father ensured that we would never marry, he recalled. She wasn’t a princess. Her family did not have the clout to strengthen ours. She was only a duchess. Our affair was the worst kept secret in Misty Woods, but at least we were together.

It seemed so trivial now, that King Rui would not have permitted the union between him and Isabella, but things had not been the same then. Not that his father had changed much with the ages. Titus grimaced as he always did when he thought about the fallen king.

His guest seemed to sense his mood immediately.

“I’m bringing up bad memories,” Arabella said. “I’m sorry.” She began to collect her garments, embarrassment clouding her face, but Titus grabbed her arm.

“You’re doing nothing wrong,” he assured her, and she glanced at him nervously. She gulped visibly, and Titus could see she was building up the nerve to ask him another question.

I don’t have answers for her, he thought, his jaw locking. I can’t explain anything to her because I don’t understand anything myself. Titus decided to stop her before she could ask her question.

“Did Marta get you something to eat?” Arabella clamped her mouth closed and nodded, her iridescent eyes clouding slightly.

“She did, thank you,” she replied. “I should… I should get out of your way…” She stared imploringly at him, and Titus shifted his eyes away reluctantly.

I can’t avoid talking to her forever, he thought, but he also knew he was ill-equipped to deal with her at that moment.

Moreover, he still had work to do. Whatever had happened at headquarters had not been resolved, and it weighed on him with everything else on his mind. Did he still have a hacker to deal with? Was it a one-time threat, or were they under attack? As always, there were more questions than answers.

“I’ll meet you for dinner,” Titus promised. “I can take you on a proper tour of this monstrosity if you want.”

To his relief, Arabella’s pale face brightened.

“I’d like that,” she said, exhaling as if she had been holding her breath. “Thank you.”

“Arabella…”

She gazed at him. “Yes?”

“You don’t have to be so grateful. Having you here is…” Titus trailed off before he could say the word “selfish,” even though he knew that was exactly why he had conspired with Anders to bring her to the compound. “It’s good to have you here,” he finished lamely. “You don’t need to thank me for that.”

Arabella nodded, but he could see that she didn’t understand. She turned to leave, pausing to glance over her shoulder from the doorway.

“You can call me Bella if you want,” she told him, her voice so low, he barely heard her words. “It’s been a long time since anyone called me that.”

Titus’ heart began to pound.

“All right, Bella,” he replied gruffly. “I’ll see you at dinner.”

She disappeared into the bright sunlight, closing the door in her wake.

This is wrong, he thought. I shouldn’t have brought her here.

But Titus knew he would have done the same thing under any circumstance.

Two days had passed, and Titus had spent his days in his garage, while Bella kept herself busy with all the amenities his estate offered. He had dinner with her every night, and while she tried to get more information out of him, he kept the conversation light. He was not sure what to make of Bella, and although in his heart he wanted to be near her every second, he also knew it was better to keep his distance for the time being.

His phone rang, and Titus answered, not fully taking his attention off the task he had been working on for hours.

“It’s happening again.”

Titus froze, his eyes trained on the cell on the table as Trina’s voice rang through the speakerphone. “Please tell me it’s not what I think you’re saying.”

“Are you surprised?” she snapped. “You’ve been AWOL all week! It’s not like you’ve done anything to prevent it.”

Titus bit back a scathing reply. “Is Kamil with you?”

“He just left for the first time in days. He’s been here non-stop, which is more than I can say about you,” Trina said. “I’m not calling him back in here unless it’s a hundred percent necessary.”

“Suddenly you’re calling all the shots?”

“Well, somebody needs to step up. May as well be me, because at least I’m here!”

“Trina, watch yourself!” Titus roared. “Don’t forget who you’re talking to!”

There was a slight pause, and Titus could tell Trina was miffed by his tone, but she wisely saved herself from making any other remarks. He sighed heavily.

“Has any information been taken? Any viruses been planted?”

“So far, it’s exactly the same as last time,” Trina answered. “He’s already out; no trace of a virus. Same signature: the three dollar signs in the encryption. Means nothing to anyone.”

“It must mean something to someone!”

“Well, I haven’t found any meaning behind it.”

“Seriously?” Titus yelled. “What the hell do I pay you people for if not to improve security? We’re the biggest tech company in the world, and we’re being toyed with by some sixteen-year-old most likely!” He knew he had no right to be yelling at Trina, but he had no better option.

“Maybe you should come in,” his assistant volunteered dully. “And see if you can do anything about this.”

Titus thought about Bella waiting for him in the main house.

She’s going to have to wait, he thought miserably, knowing that whatever was happening in his company was going to have to take precedence over a centuries-old passion. My Isabella would understand. She always did.

The thought did not fill him with warmth. He had done so much wrong with Isabella, made so many mistakes. Now that he had a second chance, was he willing to risk losing her again?

You’re not losing her, he reminded himself. She’s not going anywhere. She can’t.

“Tito, are you still there?”

“I’m here. I’ll be there in a couple hours.”

Trina released a deep sigh, and Titus knew she was expecting him to give a shorter time of arrival, but he couldn’t leave without seeing Bella for a short while.

“Titus, what is going on with you?” Trina demanded. “Don’t you care that your company is in danger? If the board finds out about this—”

“Are you going to tell them?”

“Of course not!” she snapped hotly. “But that doesn’t mean word won’t get out! You’re under hot scrutiny after the crazy shit you pulled taking in that criminal. The last thing you need is—”

“Trina, your job is not public relations,” Titus interjected, sick of their conversation. “I’ll be there soon.”

He hung up the phone and gritted his teeth. Trina wasn’t wrong—he was going to have to do some damage control. He purposely had not gone into the office, knowing that the questions would be plentiful and that reporters would be lined up outside headquarters. The last thing he needed was more heat.

I guess it doesn’t matter where I go, the questions will be inevitable, he realized, rising from the folding chair. If it’s not Trina, it’s Bella. Or the police. Or the reporters. How the hell did my life become so complicated overnight?

Titus sauntered out of the garage, noting that the sun had almost set. He realized he had been cooped up inside almost all day.

Blinking against the light, he stood in the wraparound driveway, considering his next move. A part of him didn’t want to tell Bella he was leaving her alone for the evening in the compound, but he knew it would be unfair to just disappear when she was already so nervous about her new surroundings. He still gave her no explanation why he was helping her. And since they had sex, would she feel used that he hadn’t been spending much time with her?

Titus grunted to himself and sauntered toward the house, knowing that he had to tell her he was going. I can’t stay for dinner, he told himself. I need to go now. Whatever is happening with the company has to come first, no matter how much I want to spend the night with Bella.

Entering through the kitchen, Marta glanced up at him from the island where she was chopping vegetables for a salad.

“You’re lucky,” she declared. “I was about to come and pull you out of there by your ear. That poor girl has been wandering around here aimlessly all day.”

Titus shoved down the flash of guilt and sighed.

“I have to go to the office,” he explained, suddenly deciding what to do. He couldn’t look Bella in the face and tell her he was going, even for a few hours.

Marta’s eyebrows raised in shock. “You must be joking!” she snapped. “You’ve ignored her all day and now you’re taking off without telling her?”

“It’s only for a few hours,” Titus replied quickly, heat tinging his cheeks. “It’s important.”

“Tito, did you think about what was going to happen before you played knight in shining armor and brought this stranger into your house?” Marta asked sharply. “She’s not a dog.”

Titus bristled. “I know that!” he retorted. “I don’t have a choice here.”

Marta shrugged and turned back to the vegetables. “Then you tell her. I can’t bear to look into those sad eyes again.”

Are all the women in my life determined to be a pain in my ass or is it just a full moon tonight? “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Titus said, spinning to leave the kitchen. But as he did, Bella appeared in the doorway leading to the back hallway.

“You’re leaving?” she asked, her voice pained.

His heart stopped.

“I’m sorry,” he told her weakly. “I have to go into the office for a few hours.”

To his surprise, she merely nodded, her expression emotionless.

“I understand,” she replied.

Titus found himself glancing at Marta, who snorted and muttered something under her breath.

“I won’t be long,” he promised, but he had no way of knowing how long it would take.

“It’s fine,” Bella replied, turning her attention toward Marta. “You have a company to run. I don’t expect you to babysit me, Titus. You’ve done more than enough for me already.”

He could sense no animus in her tone, and it only made him feel worse somehow.

The more I speak to her, Titus thought, the more she reminds me of Bella. That is exactly what Bella would have said, and she would’ve meant it.

“We’ll do something tomorrow,” he assured her. “Maybe we’ll go to the reserve or out to the beach.”

“That sounds good,” Bella agreed. “But don’t stress on my account. Seriously. I wish I could do something to help you. Marta doesn’t let me do anything.”

“That’s because I have everything down to a science,” the housekeeper chirped. “And I’m glad to have someone appreciative of my efforts around here for once.”

But Titus was barely listening to the exchange as he stared at Bella for a long moment, his pulse beginning to race as her words sunk into his mind.

She was arrested and charged with computer crimes, he recalled, his palms sweating as he realized what he was about to do.

“Would you like to come with me?” he asked suddenly, knowing that if he did not blurt out the question, he would change his mind about asking.

Bella glanced up at him, blinking in surprise.

“You want me to come with you to the office?” she echoed. “Is that allowed? I thought I had to stay here.”

Titus shook his head, even though she was right. He had no right to take her off the compound. “I have been instructed to ensure you appear at your court dates. You can come with me if you want.”

She eyed him, casting Marta a nervous look, but the housekeeper wisely kept her eyes averted.

“Won’t I just be in the way?” she asked. Titus shook his head.

“Not if I put you to work,” he replied slowly.

A look of confusion flashed across her face, and Marta’s head jerked up in surprise.

“Put me to work?” Bella repeated. “Doing what?”

“Come on!” Titus said excitedly. “I’ll explain on the way.”

But as they left the gated estate in Titus’ cherry red Jaguar, he wondered if he wasn’t making a mistake.

Again.