Page 123 of Titus

“You threatened to replace him.”

“I salvaged your event.”

“You terrorized everyone onboard.”

I looked up at him innocently. “And yet your guests called it the most beautiful event they’d attended in years.”

The corner of his mouth lifted slowly.

God help me.

As we entered the main living space, the interior doors slid open, and even after having been here before, the yacht still stole my breath.

Warm ambient lighting glowed against dark wood and cream stone, while floor-to-ceiling glass revealed endless views of Newport Harbor. Massive contemporary chandeliers hung above sunken living areas filled with linen furniture that somehow looked untouched, despite costing more than most cars.

Everything about the space felt expensive in the quietest possible way. It wasn’t flashy. More like the design was curated, like everything Titus owned.

A few staff members moved discreetly throughout the yacht, preparing for dinner service, each greeting him as we passed.

“Good evening, Mr. Hawk.”

Titus acknowledged them with brief nods as he continued to guide me deeper into the yacht. I noticed no one looked nervous tonight. The first time I’d been onboard, the entire staff had been stressed, trying to survive a collapsing event timeline.

Tonight, the atmosphere felt entirely different. It was calmer, more private, and more intimate than I could ever imagine a superyacht being.

Somehow, that realization made my pulse feel unsteady.

“You’re quiet again, preciosa,” Titus said.

I glanced at him. “I’m just seeing the beauty of your yacht through different eyes.”

His gaze slid toward me lazily. “It may be one of my most beautiful possessions,” he smiled gently, “but it doesn’t compare to your beauty.”

I softly exhaled. “You are too much,” I managed, not really knowing how to respond.

My insides were going to combust, unable to understand how to maintain these constant rushes of emotions they’d not felt in too long.

“Come,” he said, relaxed and composed as he smoothly led me further into the yacht.

The entertaining spaces gave way to something quieter. They grew more private as the lighting softened and the hallways widened.

Suddenly, I realized where he was taking me.

“Titus…”

His hand slid slightly lower against my back as he glanced down at me.

“What?”

“Where are we going?”

“My personal living space aboard the yacht. No one has been in this room but me,” he said, his eyes darker and more mysterious. “Except for tonight.”

“Oh…”

A set of massive glass doors opened as we stepped in front of them. I was silenced by the beauty of the area. When I worked that event, I was nowhere near this floor or location. I could now easily see that everything was private and available only to those with exclusive access.

His private quarters opened before us like something hidden from the rest of the world. A sprawling open-air deck stretched endlessly over the water, larger than my entire house. Soft recessed lighting glowed beneath cream loungers and elegant teak seating, while fire features flickered in the ocean breeze.