Page 178 of Titus

“Somewhat,” he reached over, bringing a bite from his fork to my lips.

I took it, ran my tongue over my bottom lip, and arched an eyebrow in approval toward him. His eyes watched every movement I made with my lips, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his expression.

“The way you’re affecting me as I watch you enjoy this dinner is the way I imagine myself being turned on by seeing you pleasure yourself over FaceTime for my enjoyment,” he said with a seductive grin.

“I told you I don’t have the guts to do that.”

He shook his head and offered me another bite. “Bullshit,” he said. “After what I watched tonight with you in our bed? Jesus Christ, you could easily have phone sex with me.”

I chewed on my bottom lip. “There’s just something weird about it.”

“Nothing is weird about you pleasuring yourself over FaceTime while I do the same.”

“Have you done it before?” I questioned, knowing this man was not a stranger to many women before me.

“No,” he said.

“No? That’s kind of shocking to believe.”

“Not at all,” he shook his head. “Why would I offer something that intimate to a woman over the phone when I could take anyone to bed with me in her place?”

I smiled at him, “Right. You didn’t do relationships.”

“No,” he said, his eyes more serious. “Not until you,” he smiled. “And when we get back to our room tonight, I’m going to prove just how much I enjoy my first relationship.”

“Well, sir,” I said, my heart picking up pace, “perhaps I might try phone sex now that I know I’m the only woman you’ll share it with.”

He flashed a devilish smile. “I look forward to that, preciosa,” he said, finishing our dessert.

We walked out of the restaurant, listening to the evening critters chirping. The sound carried on the evening air as lanterns glowed around us and stars slowly emerged above the mountains.

For the first time in years, I wasn’t thinking about tomorrow. I was simply here with Titus, living in a wonderful moment I would have never expected from him.

For the first time in years, I wasn’t waiting for something to go wrong. I wasn’t looking over my shoulder or bracing for disappointment. I was simply, completely, and wonderfully happy.

And for the first time since meeting Titus Hawk, I found myself wondering whether the happiest chapter of my life was only just beginning.

CHAPTER FIFTY

It was the last day of our retreat, which had been indescribably amazing, and I’d already woken before Catalina. I wanted so badly to stay here, holding her as she slept in my arms, listening to her peaceful heartbeat… but my phone never alerted me this early in the morning unless it was something important.

And considering I’d been away from the company longer than at any point since taking over, I knew better than to ignore it.

With a reluctant sigh, I reached for my phone and checked the screen. It was Marcus Bosch, my chief of security. The timing alone told me this wasn’t a social call.

I carefully slid out from under the blankets and stepped onto the patio, quietly closing the door behind me.

The morning air was perfectly crisp, and the morning breezes hadn’t even picked up. Everything was perfectly still and serene. Somewhere in the distance, birds moved through the trees as the first light of dawn crept across the mountains.

For a brief moment, everything was normal, then I answered my phone.

“Talk to me.”

Marcus didn’t bother with greetings. “We have movement.”

I leaned against the stone railing. “Define movement.”

“A federal task force departed Los Angeles at approximately half-past four this morning.”