Chapter 49
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
By the time we left the cottage for dinner, the sky had begun its slow transformation from gold to lavender.
I’d thoroughly enjoyed Titus being unable to keep his hands off me in the shower.
What began as him insisting on lathering my entire body evolved into my back against the stone wall, with Titus buried deep inside me.
Watching his head fall back under the running water as he came hard inside me was an image I wasn’t letting go of anytime soon. If ever.
We walked hand in hand through the lanterns lining the pathways. All the charming lanterns had flickered to life, casting a warm glow across the gardens as Titus reached for my waist and pulled me close to his side.
“I don’t think I ever want to leave this place,” I smiled up at him, receiving a smile and a quick kiss in response.
“You and me both, carino,” he said, his voice lighter and happier than ever.
We stepped along the stone pathway that wound through rose gardens bursting with color. Lavender swayed gently in the evening breeze while citrus trees carried the faint scent of orange blossoms through the air.
Our serene walk was enhanced by the soft trickle of water from a hidden fountain. The entire property felt enchanted, nothing short of delivering a complete rejuvenation of one’s soul. It made sense why the upper class and celebrities chose this place to hide away from the rest of the world.
Titus glanced down at me. “I love that all you’ve done is smile since we’ve arrived.”
I squeezed him around his waist. “I’ve done more than smile,” I teased.
“Indeed,” he softly laughed, “that is an understatement. You truly are a natural vixen in the bedroom.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You should, mi amor,” he said. “No one has ever dominated me and turned me on more than you have, especially after tonight.”
“That’s good to know,” I looked up, seeing his smile wider than ever.
Knowing how much I’d unraveled with him earlier, I probably should’ve been embarrassed, but I wasn’t. If anything, once I’d finally allowed myself to trust Titus—and trust what we were building together—I felt more confident than I had in years.
Although Titus had to do quite a lot to earn my trust and prove I wouldn’t be disappointed if I gave him my heart, his patient determination had completely broken through to me.
And I loved falling in love with him.
The pathway curved around a grove of ancient oak trees before opening onto a stone terrace overlooking the foothills beyond Montecito.
I stopped. “Oh wow.”
“I believed you would love this place for our first dinner here.”
The Stonehouse restaurant looked like something pulled from the European countryside and magically dropped into California. Ivy climbed the weathered stone wall, and massive fireplaces glowed through oversized windows.
I could see candlelight flickering from nearly every table, and the entire restaurant seemed bathed in a warm amber light.
The scent of wood smoke, mingling with herbs and flowers from the surrounding gardens, filled the air, welcoming us into another romantic world within this place.
I’d designed events in Monaco, planned launches overlooking the Mediterranean, and walked through private estates most people only saw in magazines. Yet none of them felt like this.
This place was more than I could describe. Everything felt intimate, romantic, and timeless.
A hostess greeted us, then led us through the restaurant and onto a private terrace tucked slightly away from the other guests.
Our table overlooked rolling gardens that stretched toward the foothills. Beyond them, tiny lights from Montecito sparkled as dusk settled over the valley, and farther off in the distance, the ocean shimmered beneath the fading sunlight.
The view was breathtaking, the kind of view people spend thousands of dollars traveling to see, and yet, here I was, sitting beside a man who looked considerably better.
A waiter appeared almost immediately, pouring water and offering menus. Fresh bread arrived, still warm from the oven, alongside olive oil and sea salt.
Titus instantly grabbed a piece of bread. “Butter, mi amor?”
“Si,” I said, answering him in Spanish with a smile. “That smells amazing,” I said after he offered me a buttered piece. “Mm…” I closed my eyes, savoring the delicious flavor of the bread.
“Lord,” Titus said with humor, “I’m not sure we’ll make it through our main course if you keep that up, preciosa.”
The starter arrived a short while later.
Creamy burrata surrounded by heirloom tomatoes in shades of red, yellow, and deep orange. Fresh peaches had been sliced and layered throughout, while basil leaves and olive oil completed a dish that looked more like artwork than food.
I took one bite. Then closed my eyes. “Sweet Jesus.”
A low laugh sounded across the table.
I opened one eye.
Titus grinned, “That good, eh?”
“It really is,” I responded. “I’ve enjoyed many exquisite dishes prepared by numerous talented chefs. I have to say, this dish stands out.”
Titus took a bite, nodded, and said, “I’m impressed as well. Perhaps I can hire their chef as our own.”
“You do that, and I’m moving in with you,” I teased.
“Then consider the chef hired,” Titus laughed as we continued eating, waiting for the main course to arrive.
Our intimate dinner continued at an unhurried pace. It wasn’t until halfway through that I realized something unusual. Titus’s phone wasn’t on the table, vibrating or lighting up. For perhaps the first time since I’d met him, the entire world seemed to have lost the ability to reach him.
It was also quite pleasant that no one had approached Titus, despite recognizing at least two well-known faces in the restaurant. He was surrounded by people familiar with him or aware of his identity, but everyone was here enjoying their privacy and peace.
It was as if everyone understood the unspoken rule… people came here to disappear.
And tonight, that included us.
The main courses arrived.
A perfectly prepared local halibut rested atop seasonal vegetables, while a lemon beurre blanc added just enough richness without overpowering the fish.
I watched, intrigued, as a server prepared Titus’s Steak Diane tableside for him. When the flames briefly leaped from the pan, my eyebrows lifted in amazement, while the server remained completely unfazed.
Titus casually took a sip of wine while waiting for his steak to be served. I smiled, watching him look so casual and relaxed. It’s as if he were an entirely different person—not some wealthy and powerful man who ran an empire.
As the evening progressed, the conversation wandered effortlessly from childhood memories and favorite places we’d traveled to stories about Amelia, Natalia, and Jessica, then casually shifted to Titus’s increasingly ridiculous plans to buy the ice cream shop we’d stopped at earlier.
Just silly, light, and fun conversation.
Dessert eventually arrived. A chocolate soufflé—with two spoons for sharing—arrived warm from the oven, with vanilla bean ice cream melting slowly beside it.
The first bite was sinfully good, and the second somehow even better. The third never made it to my mouth because Titus stole it.
“Sir,” I feigned drama.
“I know it is most likely taboo to steal a bite of chocolate from a lady,” he winked at me.
I pointed my fork at him. “You’re safe. It was somewhat sexy.”
“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.