Beneath These Scars Read online

  “Hope can be a dangerous thing, Kev.” My smile was almost certainly sad, but he didn’t let it discourage him.

  “I think you need someone to show you that hope is the most beautiful thing there is, except for maybe you.”

  “Nice line,” a deep voice drawled from behind me.

  I didn’t have to look over my shoulder to identify the source. Titan’s voice was imprinted on my memory, and probably would be for the rest of my natural life. It also seemed that my reaction to him would continue to be predictable. My entire body hummed to life as soon as it registered that he was in the vicinity.

  Kevin looked over my shoulder, and lifted his chin. “Ain’t no line. And you’re interrupting.”

  “I’m interrupting the delivery guy? In what? Trying to hit on the hot shopkeeper? Tell me this isn’t something that happens every day, and I’ll be shocked.”

  My cheeks burned with embarrassment. If Titan was going to be a dick to a nice guy . . .

  Kevin straightened and puffed his chest out. Built like a brick shit house, he was easily an inch or two taller than Titan, and outweighed him by at least thirty pounds.

  Oh great. I was about to witness a pissing match. Just what I needed.

  But Titan didn’t play fair. Before I could sidestep so I could have both of them in my sight, Titan’s hands came around my shoulders and a necklace dropped onto my chest.

  “I think you left this at my house last night.”

  My palm went to my chest and I felt a pendant beneath it. An unfamiliar one.

  What the hell?

  I turned to look at him, my mouth opening to ask what in the world he thought he was doing, but Kevin interrupted me.

  “So that’s it. Figured there had to be another guy. Guess that makes me feel a little better. Hope you know what you’re doing, Yve.”

  “Kevin—”

  “I better get on. I’ve got a schedule to keep.”

  And he was gone, the back door banging shut behind him.

  I whirled on Titan as I reached back to unclasp whatever necklace he’d just put around my neck. “What the hell was that?”

  He shrugged. “It was out in your stock. It looked like it should belong to you.”

  “And you decided to lie?”

  His eyes narrowed. “I decided to do what was expedient. The man looked at you like he was already half in love with you. You clearly wanted nothing to do with him, and I’m guessing you’ve been trying to extricate yourself from that awkward situation on a daily basis. You can thank me for taking care of it for you.”

  “I didn’t ask you to—”

  “Do you ever ask anyone for help, Yve?”

  I paused. It wasn’t the first time he’d asked me that, but how the hell did he read me so easily? The man was self-absorbed, completely selfish. He shouldn’t be able to make an accurate study of my character at all.

  “Does it matter?”

  He took the box out of my hands and set it on the floor before backing me into the corner. With anyone else, and especially after the night I’d had, this maneuver would’ve had me climbing the walls—but not with Titan.

  Why not?

  I remembered my vow to shock him, to render him speechless. No time like the present.

  “You really want a piece of me, Titan? Want a repeat performance of what happened in your kitchen?”

  His green eyes flashed in the dim light of the back hallway. “You know I do.”

  “Then I’ve got an arrangement for you.”

  One dark, arrogant eyebrow rose. “Is that so?”

  “Yes. Just sex. No strings. Whenever I want it, wherever I want it.”

  “And what about what I want?”

  I grinned, and I hoped it looked as devious as it felt. “I don’t give a damn what you want. All I want is that cock of yours and the orgasms you can give me.”

  His lips twitched. “I don’t let anyone call the shots. Ever.”

  “Then you’re never getting another piece of this ass.” I slapped the side of my hip for emphasis.

  “You tempt me, woman. You have no idea how much you tempt me.”

  “So give in to temptation, Titan.”

  He pressed both palms to the wall on either side of my head. “I don’t agree to anything that puts me at a disadvantage.”

  “You don’t want to be my booty call?” I taunted.

  A growl rose from low in his throat. “When? Where?”

  And I’d won.

  I lifted my chin. “Whenever I say. Wherever I say.”

  The growl deepened. “Two conditions.”

  “I didn’t ask you want you wanted, Titan.”

  “Two conditions, Yve.”

  “What?” I demanded.

  He lowered his head to my ear. “You say when and where, and I say how—what position, how hard, how many times you come. You’ll beg me to come every single time, do you understand me?”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I beg for no man.”

  “You’ll beg for me.”

  “Then you better make it good.”

  “It’ll be the best you’ve ever had; don’t doubt it. You’ve gotten a taste, but that’s all.”

  I sucked in a quick breath at his declaration. “Fine.”

  “And the second condition,” he murmured as his lips drifted along my cheekbone and down to my mouth. “I get to kiss you anywhere I damn well please, including this sexy-as-sin mouth.” He hovered over my lips, our breaths mingling further with every moment.

  He waited, heartbeat after heartbeat, for an answer as my mind reeled. I’d already kissed him. What did it matter now?

  I feared I was rationalizing the choice just to get me one step closer to what I wanted—which was to have the advantage over this arrogant and powerful man.

  “Whatever,” I said breathlessly.

  He crushed his lips to mine before the word was all the way spoken, and took control instantly, tongue diving inside, hand cupping my head to tilt me where he wanted.

  Hell no. I buried both hands in his hair, wrapped one leg around his hip, and pulled him where I wanted him. His lips curved into a smile beneath mine, and I didn’t care. He needed to know who was in charge.

  I yanked away from the kiss. “Don’t think this means I like you,” I said, panting a breath.

  Titan brushed a stray lock of hair out of my face. “I wouldn’t dream of assuming such a thing.” He laughed. “You just want my dick and the orgasms it can give you. Consider me put in my place, Yve.”

  “Exactly.”

  He leaned close again, and my heart rate kicked up in anticipation. But he didn’t kiss me this time. No, he just said, “But don’t think you won’t beg. We’ll find even ground, and it’ll be when you’re beneath me, taking my cock so deep you don’t remember what it’s like not to be filled by me.”

  Oh, sweet baby Jesus. My insides liquefied. I wanted that. Now.

  “I guess we’ll see,” I said, lifting my chin. “You can leave your number on your way out.”

  Titan smirked and pushed off the back wall. “You’re a stubborn woman. Never knew that was so goddamn sexy before. I’ll be waiting for your call, Yve. Don’t take too long, or I’ll come looking for you.”

  As he turned and walked away, my gaze was glued to his ass. All I could wonder was why I hadn’t gotten two good handfuls of that while I’d been kissing him.

  This was probably the worst idea I’d ever had. But damned if it wasn’t going to be the most fun.

  Unlike with Kevin, I had no qualms about feelings getting involved when it came to Titan. He had no heart, and didn’t want anything from me. That made it safer. Right?

  I reached down and picked the box up off the ground.

  Time to see what Santa Claus Kevin had brought me today.

  I didn’t venture back into the main part of the shop until I heard the door chime three different times. Just in case. When I reached the counter, JP had just finished ringing up a sale and was handing
one of our signature bags across the counter to a customer.

  “I hope you enjoy that skirt. It’s going to look amazing with the blouse you told me about. If you need anything else, just come back and see us.”

  Her smile was wide and genuine, and she looked like she fit behind the counter more than anyone had since Charlie. I mentally apologized to Elle, but there was something about a tattooed and pierced spitfire working at Dirty Dog that just seemed right.

  She turned to me without wasting a moment. “So, who was that tall, dark, and I’d fuck him in broad daylight and risk the indecent exposure charges handsome guy?”

  Yep. She fit right in.

  “He was nobody.”

  She crossed her arms. “Well, Nobody left something for you.”

  Good boy, Titan. Way to follow orders, I cooed mentally as if he were a puppy. He’d want to strangle me for that, or bend me over and spank my ass. Which I’d probably like.

  “Oh yeah?”

  JP reached out and snatched a card off the counter. Handing it over, she pouted. “You’re really not going to tell me who this guy is? I mean, now that I’ve seen his card, I can Google him, but friends tell each other this stuff, Yve.”

  Her words, particularly the word friends, struck me. “You’ve worked here for a day, and you’ve already decided we’re friends?”

  JP re-crossed her arms. “I don’t see any other awesome help around here. Besides, I’m in the market for another friend. Last one turned out to be a bitch who stole my clothes and didn’t give them back. At least if we were friends and if I keep working here, I’ll know where my clothes are if you steal them, and I’ll steal yours back too because they’re bound to be kick-ass.”

  I could barely keep up with the girl. “One day at a time, girly.”

  I looked down at the card. Beneath his office number was another phone number written in that bold handwriting I already recognized. I assumed it was his cell phone.

  Then I flipped the card over. What was written on the back surprised me.

  You have a 9 a.m. appointment tomorrow at the NOLA Entrepreneur Fund.

  Don’t be late. Bring your business plan.

  What the hell?

  I remembered our encounter in the bank and the loan officer who couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Titan knew I wanted Dirty Dog, knew I needed capital, so he’d just gone ahead and set up an appointment for me at the place I was considering trying to make an appointment to get a grant?

  I wanted to be pissed at his high-handedness. I wanted to tear up the business card and throw it in the trash because of his ridiculous presumption. But I didn’t, because I wanted Dirty Dog more. I grabbed my purse and tucked the card in my wallet. I wouldn’t cut off my nose to spite my face, but that didn’t mean I was going to thank him with a celebratory blow job or anything.

  And with the thought of Lucas Titan’s cock in my mouth, I went back to work.

  I TOSSED MY PHONE IN my desk drawer and slammed it shut. I wasn’t going to stare at the damn thing and wait for it to ring. Yve would call or she wouldn’t, and I wasn’t the kind of punk-ass, whiny bitch of a man to wait and wonder when that would happen. It had been over twenty-four hours, and still nothing.

  I’ll decide when and where. That damn woman. I’d make her beg. Because this was ridiculous. I’m Lucas Fucking Titan, and no one calls the shots but me.

  I had a state senator who wanted an open-ended favor, but I wouldn’t give it to him because I refused to be put at a disadvantage—and that was in the face of the twin rewards of proving my father wrong and adding potentially billions to the bottom line of Titan Industries. And yet I’d put myself at a disadvantage to get back inside the sweetest, sassiest pussy I’d ever had.

  What was it about that woman?

  My office door banged open and Colson walked in.

  “Come on in, why don’t you?” I snapped.

  His head jerked up. “What’s got your panties in a wad? Need to get some? I’ve got this chick, she’d probably take us both on. If you’re into that kind of thing.” He looked at the floor. “Not saying I want to see your dick or anything, but—”

  “No. And never bring that up again.”

  He shrugged. “Just trying to be helpful.”

  “Then how about you be helpful by finding me a group of senators who have backbones?”

  “I’m working on it. But what you said about Hendricks and Shuman is holding true with everyone else I’ve contacted. Doesn’t matter where their district is in the damn state, it seems that Haines put the word out to steer clear of you and the bill.”

  “That prick.”

  “He have some kind of grudge you don’t realize?”

  “You’re the one who did the investigation on him,” I snapped. “You tell me.”

  Colson shook his head. “No connection to you or Titan Industries on any level. Doesn’t make any sense other than he wants your favor in his back pocket. He wouldn’t be the first or the last. Occam’s Razor, right? Simplest answer is usually the right one.”

  My phone buzzed in my drawer.

  “Sure. Whatever. Get out.”

  “What?”

  I pulled the drawer open and grabbed my phone. There was a text alert from an unknown number.

  “I said get out.” I jerked my head toward the door.

  “Fine. I’ll go round up more senators.”

  I waved him off and tapped in my code to unlock the screen. The text popped up when I clicked on the app.

  Tonight. Midnight. Dirty Dog. Don’t wear a suit.

  I didn’t take orders, hadn’t for years. But this one I would make an exception for.

  “What’s that smirk for? Normally I recognize them all, but that one’s new and different.”

  I glanced up, the smirk Colson had called out immediately falling away. “I told you to get out.”

  “And I wanted to know what the hell has you grinning like a little kid.”

  Scowling at him, I said, “Get the fuck out. If I want you to know something, I’ll tell you.”

  He grabbed the door handle. “I’m watching out for you, whether you want me to or not. So deal with it.” He didn’t slam the door behind him like I would have, but then again, I was the boss. It shut with a decisive click.

  When I looked back down at my phone, my smirk came back again. Don’t wear a suit.

  Did she think I always wore a suit?

  Oh, Yve.

  This was going to be fun.

  I pulled up at the back door of Dirty Dog, the one the delivery guy had used, and parked. Midnight in the Quarter wasn’t the safest for my car, but I was willing to take the risk. Yve Santos was a hell of an incentive. I rang the buzzer and waited.

  Only moments later, the door swung open and Yve stood inside. I’d expected her in one of her retro-looking dresses since those were all I’d ever seen her wear. I was wrong.

  Yve Santos might have looked gorgeous in a dress, but in cut-off shorts and a tight tank top, her hair up on her head in a sexy, messy knot, she looked . . . less polished. More real. Like a woman who was up for a night of hard fucking.

  My thoughts made no sense. I liked my women perfectly coiffed and well manicured. I got the feeling that this was Yve’s way of telling me she didn’t give a shit what I thought about how she looked, and if we were going to do this, then I could take her however I could get her.

  If she’d thought to turn me off or frustrate me, she’d made a tactical error.

  “Strip,” I told her as soon as I pushed inside the store.

  “Fuck you.”

  My brows lifted and I smiled. This was going to be too much fun. “That was the plan, wasn’t it, Yve?”

  She turned her back on me and headed down the hallway. I caught up with her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her against my body. Hell, she was a sexy armful, even when she wiggled loose and spun on me.

  “I’m calling the shots here,” she said.

  “No, you call the time and pla
ce, and I decide everything else. And I want you naked.”

  Yve’s husky laugh filled the small store. “And I want you to help me move this armoire to the other side of the room so I can put together a new display tomorrow.” She waved her hand from one side of the room to the other.

  “What?”

  “You think I’d really pick my store for a one-night stand? Come on, Titan. I’m a businesswoman, not an idiot.”

  I jammed a hand into my hair, wondering how I’d gotten this so wrong. “It’s midnight.”

  She smiled. “Just wanted to see if you’d really come.” She tilted her head with a mischievous smile.

  “So this was . . .” I didn’t even have words. I’d been played. Lucas Titan doesn’t get played.

  “A whim,” she said with a wink. “Now come on and help me move this.”

  “You’ve got to be joking.” I stared at the huge piece of furniture. It looked antique—and heavy.

  Yve propped her hands on her hips. “What? Don’t think you’re strong and manly enough to do it? At least you can follow orders. By the way, you don’t look too bad out of a suit. I think you look better in one, though.”

  I looked down at my cargo shorts and Stanford T-shirt. “You’re hell on a man’s ego, aren’t you?”

  Yve tossed her head back and laughed. “I think you’ve got plenty of ego to spare. Now, grab that side of it and lift. Remember—use your knees, not your back. I don’t want to hear how badly a billionaire whines when he gets hurt.”

  With every word out of her sassy little mouth, I vowed that I’d make her beg longer to come. Keep her on the edge until she was screaming for it, willing to agree to anything. It was only fair.

  I grabbed the one side and began to lift to test the weight. It was heavy. I stopped immediately. “There’s no way you’re helping me move this. I’ll get someone in here in the morning to do it.”

  “Thanks for the concern, but you don’t need to go all He-man on it. I’ve got a dolly. I just need help with that part.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Fine. Let’s do this.”

  WATCHING LUCAS TITAN HELP ME move furniture at midnight was up there with seeing the Northern Lights in Louisiana or finding a winning million-dollar lottery ticket on the sidewalk—impossible to believe. But it was happening.