“Money means something to everyone,” Titan said. “You’re lying if you say otherwise.”
“It does mean something to her,” I said. “But not as much as it means to us. She won’t sell. She’ll only partner. If I thought there were the possibility of making it work, I would tell you. But there’s not. She’s more stubborn than all three of us combined. So you’re going to have to consider her request if you really want to work with her.”
Titan considered what I said in silence before she turned to Diesel. “What do you think?”
“You’ve never asked me that before.” He drank his scotch before he set it on the table.
“We’re going to spend our lives together. My success is your success. So I’m going to be asking you that a lot more often.” Titan stared at Diesel with that commanding gaze, stealing his entire focus with just her expression.
He stared at her like I wasn’t even there. Slowly, a smile stretched across his face. “I like that.”
“Then what do you think?” she asked.
Diesel turned his gaze back on me. “If Thorn is right about this woman, then you don’t have a choice. You can either work with her and monopolize the market with someone who’s obviously a genius, or you can compete against her. You may have cash and the experience to market your company, but you can’t compete with her technology. She’ll always find a way to improve current products, to make them better and more affordable. So you’ll always be trailing behind her, constantly playing catch-up. I know you don’t like it when other people have more power over you, but that’s the situation. Alexander has the edge this time.”
Diesel put it nicely, and I couldn’t have agreed more. “So, what do you want to do, Titan?”
“I need to think about it for a little bit,” Titan said. “Sleep on it.”
At least she didn’t reject the idea altogether. Titan was already invested in solar energy, and she would lose a lot more money walking away from it than acquiring a partner. I grabbed my drink and sipped it as I sat back. “Everything else at your offices is going well. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
“That’s good to hear,” Titan said. “Thanks so much for helping me, Thorn.”
“You’re welcome, Titan.”
8
Titan
I laid out his suit and tie and made him a cup of coffee to-go.
Diesel walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. Water drops still clung to his powerful shoulders. When his body was chiseled and wet, it was nearly irresistible. I wanted to drag my tongue along the grooves and lick all the drops away. He stopped when he saw his clothes laid out on the bed. “Baby, what are you up to?” He pulled the towel from around his waist and tossed it in the laundry basket.
I’d seen him naked hundreds of times, but I was never prepared for how delicious he looked. All hard muscle, masculine curves, and strong lines. He was absolutely beautiful, drop-dead gorgeous.
“Baby?” He grinned, knowing exactly why I hadn’t said anything yet.
I snapped myself out of it. “You’re going to work today.”
His smile immediately dropped as he walked toward me. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Diesel, I’m fine. I never took you as a man to ignore all of his responsibilities because of something like this. Life goes on.”
“You’re right, and normally, I wouldn’t. But the second you put on that ring, you became the most important thing in my life.” His hand moved to my cheek, his long fingers reaching my hair. “Work is important, but it’ll never be more important than you.”
Just like every other time he touched me, I melted right on the spot. I forgot my point because he erased all my thoughts with his handsome gaze. “I know. But I’m fine, Diesel. I don’t need you to stay here with me all day.”
“I’m not leaving you.” He pulled his hand away and grabbed the suit off the bed. He returned it to the hanger and placed the navy blue suit back in the closet. “The second you’re back to normal, I’ll put a suit on—but not to go to work.” He came back to me, still naked and scorching.
“Then why would you put one on?”
His arms circled my waist, and he rubbed his nose against mine. “So I can marry you.”
The buzzer from the elevator sounded.
Diesel left the couch, shirtless in his sweatpants, and answered it. “Who’s there?” Even though Bruce Carol was gone, Diesel had become a million times more protective. He didn’t beat around the bush. He was suspicious—and he didn’t hide it.
“Your father,” Vincent said over the speaker. “Thought I could stop by.”
“Come up.” Diesel hit the button so the elevator would open. “Is it alright if my dad stops by?”
“Of course. I’d love to see him.”
Diesel walked into the bedroom and pulled on a shirt before he came back out.
The elevator doors opened at the same time, and Vincent walked inside. He carried a clear vase of flowers, an arrangement of purple, blue, and white flowers.
“Are those for me?” I met him by the door and immediately took the vase from his hands.
He smiled. “Diesel told me you liked flowers.”
Diesel snatched the vase from me before I could even carry the weight. “Did he also tell you that Titan isn’t allowed to carry anything?”
“Diesel,” I said. “I can carry—”
“No.” Like the conversation was over, he walked to one of the couch tables and set the vase down.
Vincent slid his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “I’m glad you like them, Titan. He told me lilies are your favorite, but I thought I’d let him be the one to get those for you.”
“Thank you, Vincent.” I hugged him, feeling his beefy size in my arms. It was like hugging Diesel, another brick wall. “Can I get you anything?”
“I’ll get it.” Diesel still
