Page 32 of Avenging Azalea (California Made Men #2)

Chapter

Twenty-Four

FAWN

Shockingly, Titus arrived at the house not long after me, and even more surprising was that the girls acted as if Winston wasn’t even new. Almost as if Sheba had told them about him, and they were just waiting to welcome him home.

“Well, that was anticlimactic,” Titus said as we watched the dogs lying on the floor of the den, sleeping.

“It really was. Not that I mind. What do you think of him?”

Titus pressed his lips together.

“You did this so that I’d wear less black, didn’t you,” he asked, making me laugh.

“I swear I didn’t. But you do wear a ton of black.”

“It’s so that I keep that dangerous mafia look,” he said, poking fun at me.

It had become an inside joke between us as much as the milkshakes were our olive branch.

“Yes, you’re a total badass.”

Teasing about his good nature didn’t mean he hadn’t done or wouldn’t do horrible things, and that was the only bonus to being kept on the outside of his life.

“Well, this badass wants to get changed before we eat,” he said, standing.

“I’ll get the food warmed up.”

I’d no sooner started to unpack our large meal onto the island when the doorbell rang. I wiped off my hands and walked to the door. The dogs followed, and it made me smile to see Winston in the middle of the group.

Reaching the house required guard approval. It was likely a member of Titus’s immediate family, but I still erred on the side of caution. Cracking the door, I wasn’t expecting to come face to face with Titus’s fiancé.

My heart stopped as I stared at my reflection in her fancy sunglasses.

She reminded me of a movie star, with her expensive outfit, perfectly styled hair, and makeup that looked airbrushed on her face.

She was more beautiful in person, and every insecurity that I’d ever had rose to the surface and poked at my brain.

You’ll never be enough. Why would Titus want you? You come from nothing and will always remain that way. You’re a freeloader.

That and so much worse about my stepfather and being sold and used circled the drain of worthlessness. I stomped out the noise, knowing it would be back when I least expected it, and pulled the door open wide.

Vera screamed when she saw the dogs and practically jumped down the steps. Not that it would’ve saved her if they really were vicious, which they weren’t. It would’ve been funny, except she could’ve broken an ankle with the awkward way she stumbled back.

The dogs hadn’t moved.

“ Ryadom ,” I said, pointing and then stepped outside.

“Oh my God, there is a whole pack of them,” she said, staring at the closed door.

“You’re Vera, right?”

She nodded with a huff and smoothed down her dress.

“Yes, and you must be Fawn.” I was shocked that she knew my name but nodded. “I’m here to see Titus. We need to talk about the wedding. I went to the office, but he’d already left work.”

I opened my mouth to invite her in, but then a petty and vindictive feeling rose inside of me.

“Sorry, he’s not here.”

She looked over at the green Lamborghini parked in the driveway.

“He didn’t take his car. He said he had business with the clubs and then errands. He always takes one of the armored SUVs for that.” I shrugged. “Sorry, you missed him by like twenty minutes.”

“Oh…well, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if I called him to confirm your story,” she said, obviously not believing me, but I was in far too deep to back out now.

I crossed my arms. “Be my guest.”

She pulled out her phone and called Titus.

All I could do was stare at her and hope that he went along with the lie.

She held the phone out and sneered when it went to voicemail.

I sighed with relief. She hung up and looked me up and down.

Vera removed her sunglasses, and I was forced to face reality. She was stunning.

Before she could speak, I cut her off.

“You’re really beautiful, and I love your clothing line. I could never afford to wear anything, but I admire your success in a difficult, male-dominated environment. Titus said that France was a real eye-opener and that you’re an incredible businesswoman.”

Her face shifted with each word of praise.

“Thank you, I’ve worked hard. Did Titus really say that?”

I nodded. “He did.” He’d said it to Ronan and not to me, but I left that off. “Do you want me to let him know you stopped by when he gets back?”

She shook her head. “No, that’s okay. Thanks, though.”

“No problem.”

Vera called my name as I turned to walk into the house.

“Fawn?”

She seemed unsure of herself when I looked back, which didn’t go with the rest of the picture she presented. It confused me. How could someone so successful, rich, and beautiful be unsure about anything?

“Do you have any suggestions of how to impress Titus?”

Facing her, I leaned against the door frame.

“Honestly, Titus is…unique. He doesn’t get impressed easily,” I said, and her face fell. “But he loves his dogs, so if you can get over your fear and show that you really want to be in his life as it is, that would go a long way.”

“I’m not sure how to do that.”

“I’m not sure either. I’ve always loved animals, but maybe start with puppies.”

“That’s actually a good idea. Thanks, Fawn.”

“You’re welcome. It was nice meeting you,” I said and stepped inside.

Closing and locking the door, I watched from the window as she got into her car and left. Every second that passed, the guilt pressed in on me.

“Dammit.”

Walking up the stairs, I headed to Titus’s room. His bedroom door was closed. Raising my hand, I knocked.

“Titus?” There was no answer. “Titus?”

This time, I poked my head in and heard the shower running. Before I even realized what I was doing, I’d slipped across his bedroom to the slightly ajar bathroom door.

Pressing myself against the wall, I cursed myself. This was a terrible idea. It was rude and a breach of personal space and was probably against the law. Yet…as a deep guttural groan reached my ears, I turned and looked through the gap.

In all my fantasies, I’d never even come close to the magnificence that was Titus naked. Hard muscle lined his shoulders, arms, and legs. His chest and abs could’ve been on any cover, and my mouth ran dry as the water streamed down his body.

But what stopped me from breathing altogether was when my brain caught up to what I was watching and focused on his hand as it stroked his cock.

“Holy shit,” I whispered, and then covered my mouth.

Hung, like a horse, seemed an appropriate description. Long and hard, Titus could’ve double-fisted himself. One arm was braced against the wall, the flexed muscle showing off each cut line perfectly. Thankfully, he was looking down.

My heart was in my throat, and a throbbing between my thighs had me rubbing them together. Unable to turn away, even though it was the right thing to do, my eyes soaked in the sight of him. Titus groaned again. His hand moved faster, and I bit my lip.

Under my shirt, my fingers grazed over my sensitive nipples. I sucked in a ragged breath, picturing Titus sucking them into his mouth.

“Fuck,” Titus swore, his voice rough and so deep that my body shuddered, wanting him to order me onto the bed and to spread my legs for him. “Fuck yes,” he growled.

On shaky legs, I leaned against the wall. My hand slid down my body and under the waistband of my pants. I softly whimpered as my fingers brushed over my aching clit. I watched his hand, feasting on each stroke as I rubbed in little circles.

“Oh, fuck yes, just like that,” he said. He was still looking down when I glanced at his face. I didn’t know who Titus was thinking about, but I wanted it to be me. “I’m so fucking close,” he said.

Breathing was becoming an issue, and my fingers moved faster as the climax rose. I was hot all over, and my heart was racing out of control.

“Yes, fuck. Yes,” Titus growled, and his entire body flexed hard as he came. As that first jet left his cock, my knees went weak, and the orgasm hit me with a wave of pleasure I’d never experienced before.

I sank to the floor but never looked away, my hand still moving in time with each release that shot from his cock. Titus shuddered and cursed but remained rock-hard. He grabbed the soap and lathered himself. The bubbles slid down his body in tantalizing streams that hypnotized me.

Instead of rinsing and getting out, Titus gripped that hard shaft and started all over again, and lord help me, I wanted to crawl in there with him. Maybe that was crossing the line, but there was nothing in this world that was stopping me from watching him for as long as this show lasted.