Page 157 of Titus

“I would love to take you to the Madrid suite right now and prove everything I love about you.”

“Well, we’re both on the clock, and you don’t keep condoms in that room,” she laughed, bringing her lips to kiss my chin.

I captured her bottom lip between mine. “I don’t think they’ll miss us.”

“If the lighting melts the ice sculpture of the Seychelles display, my team may go into hysterics.”

I pulled back and stared into her eyes. “Ice sculpture?”

“It’s phenomenal,” she said, her eyes glittering with excitement. “They created illumination from the inside that makes it look like the waterfall is flowing next to one of the villas.”

“Jesus Christ,” I said. “I never would’ve imagined presenting all of it this way. I would probably just have⁠—”

“Let me guess,” she interrupted with a smile. “You’d have holographic slides of everything appearing in the theatre room?”

I laughed. “Yes, precisely. Then a presentation in my business rooms.”

“Well, I took a different approach. I have to say, I’m in love with everything you’re doing for this project. It’s too bad that…”

She paused, and the look on her face had me concerned.

“Too bad that what?”

“Well, only the ultra-wealthy get to enjoy it,” she said with a shrug.

“That’s the point, though, preciosa,” I said, brushing a loose strand of hair back and tucking it behind her ear.

“I know,” she said, seemingly bummed out about this suddenly.

“You’ll be enjoying it with me,” I smiled.

“And if I’m not with you when this is all created?”

“Is there a reason you keep dreaming up our expiration date?”

“No, I just don’t want to get caught up in something I can’t be sure about.”

“You’re going to have to do your best and stop trying to control the outcome for you and me, or I fear you’ll find reasons to let me go soon enough, preciosa.”

She looked away from me, and I brought my hand to her face, gently guiding her gaze back to mine.

“I don’t plan on hurting you, for one. Secondly, I don’t plan for you to ever be sad or lonely while you’re in my life. I certainly don’t plan on having girlfriends on other continents, and I sure as fuck don’t plan on you having even one unhappy day, so long as you’ll allow me to be the man I know will make you happy.”

“Are you proposing again?” she teased.

“If that’s what it takes to reassure you that I do not want to be without you.”

“You really see us being together long term?” she said.

“I do. As I said before, I don’t say things I don’t mean.”

“So, what if I get lonely when you’re overseas for weeks at a time?”

I grinned. “I have two brothers who run most of the business in my place overseas. And if you need me stateside with you, then I’ll send one of them to Europe.”

“What if I’m overseas working, and you’re here?”

“Then I’ll be working overseas, too,” I laughed. “My adorable Catalina, you must know I don’t plan to lose you. It’s nearly torture not to be in your presence, and if I knew you’d say yes to moving in with me, I’d demand you do it tonight.”