Boss Rules

by Victoria Quinn

  Thorn was still drinking, downing the entire contents in a single gulp.

  “You need some water?”

  He finished the bottle then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I’m good.”

  “I understand where he’s coming from, but it’s such a difficult sacrifice for me.”

  Thorn cleared his throat before he looked at me again. “You’ve had that last name your entire life, so it’s difficult to part with. It makes sense. I mean, I’ve been calling you Titan for ten years now. Once you get married, what will I call you? Tatum? It’ll be strange at first, but it’ll happen. So the change will be difficult in the beginning. But maybe you see it as a way to reinvent yourself. You started off as Titan, but now you’re taking a step into a more powerful position by becoming a Hunt.”

  “Why is it more powerful?”

  “You’re combining all of your assets with Diesel’s. That means the two of you will become the richest couple in the world…let that settle in for just a second.”

  I didn’t care about the money because I had plenty of it, but to reach that kind of status was mind-blowing. I knew I wouldn’t reach that position on my own, and neither would Diesel. But, together, we made it happen.

  “As Titan, you were the richest woman in the world. Now you’ll be one of the richest people in the world. Big fucking deal.”

  It was a big deal.

  “Titan won’t be lost because everyone will remember where you came from. The name isn’t as important as you think it is. It’s all about the person. And by taking Diesel’s last name, you’ll truly be unified with the man you love. I’m not a romantic guy, but if I were, my wife would definitely take my last name. There would be no discussion about it.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s hot. If some woman stole my heart and I couldn’t live without her, I’d be making her mine in every way possible. You bet your ass she would be a Cutler. Not only would her big-ass ring tell the world she was taken, but wearing my last name would tell the world who she was taken by. And unless I’m mistaken, you enjoy Diesel’s possessiveness, right?”

  I could lie and say I didn’t, but Thorn would see right through it. “Yes.” I liked being Diesel’s, and I liked that he was proud I was his. I used to enjoy being in control all the time, but now I loved having a man who wanted to dominate me all the time. He wanted to take care of me, love me, and make me his in whatever way he could.

  “Then let him have you.”

  After talking to Thorn, it didn’t feel so difficult.

  “To honor the man you love, give him something that you’ve never given anyone before. Give him you—all of you.”

  I smiled at the sweet words Thorn said. “I didn’t realize you were so romantic, Thorn.”

  “I’m not,” he argued. “But I know how it feels to want to have a woman all to yourself.”

  “You do?” I questioned. Last time I checked, he never cared about any woman he’d ever been with. They were all flings, all women who didn’t mind the control he needed. They just wanted good sex and expensive gifts. Thorn never seemed possessive of anyone, and he’d never told me otherwise.

  Thorn ignored the question. “Despite what we thought, Diesel has been loyal to you from the very beginning. He never lied, and he always stood by you. Even when we cast him out, he didn’t give up. He’s earned it, Titan. He earned you a long time ago.”

  When Thorn laid everything out like that, it actually made me want to take Diesel’s last name. It didn’t feel like such a sacrifice anymore. “Did Diesel put you up to this?”

  “He asked me to talk to you about it. But all those opinions are my own.”

  I knew Thorn wouldn’t lie to me. “Then what will you call me?”

  He considered it, grinding his teeth together slightly and moving his jaw. “Hunt.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I think it fits.”

  “Yeah…it does fit.”

  The elevator beeped just before the doors opened. Diesel stepped inside with his tie already undone. He stripped off his jacket and hung it up on the coatrack. “Hey.”

  “What’s up?” Thorn asked from his seat. “Your woman and I were just talking about work.”

  “She’s not supposed to talk about work,” Diesel said ominously. “But I’ve given up telling her not to.”

  “Which is smart,” I said. “Because you’ve been wasting your time for a while.”

  Diesel turned that smoldering gaze on me, making me the sole recipient of that heated look. He approached me at the table then leaned down to kiss me on the lips. The only reason the embrace was quick was because Thorn was sitting right there. “How are you feeling?”

  “Great.” The stitches were gone, and now only a scar remained behind. I was almost finished with my medications, and the spasms of pain and fatigue had decreased considerably. I was counting down the days until I was well enough to go to work—and get married. “How was your day?”

  “The same as all the others.” He drifted into the kitchen and fetched a bottle of beer. He twisted off the cap with his big hands and tossed the cap on the table. “How are things coming along for the two of you?”

  “Good,” Thorn answered. “Working with Ms. Alexander was a smart move.”

  “She’s exceptionally bright,” I said. “I’ve never met anyone with her kind of intellect.”

  Diesel took a drink as he stared at me. “I have.” He turned to the living room and took a seat on the couch.

  Thorn must have picked up on the sexual tension in the room because he made his exit. “I should get going. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Titan.”

  I walked him to the elevator and watched him disappear behind the doors. Then I approached Diesel on the couch, who immediately stood up when I came near. He pulled his tie out of his collar then unbuttoned his shirt, his eyes locked on mine.

  “There’s something I want to tell you.”

  “Can it wait?” He stripped off his shirt, revealing his rock-hard chest and perfectly chiseled stomach. His tanned skin was tight, and every separation of muscle was obvious. His biceps were toned and defined, and there was a significant separation before his triceps began. He would be the perfect inspiration for a sculpture of a Greek god. His belt was undone, and then his pants came next. He stood in his boxers then moved into me, one hand sliding into my hair while the other wrapped around my waist. “Right now, all I want to do is fuck.” He wrapped my hair around his knuckles and gave the back of my head a gentle tug, forcing my gaze to meet his.

  My hands moved up his hard body, my fingers exploring the crevasses between his muscles. “It can wait…but I don’t think you want to wait.”

  His chocolate eyes penetrated mine, and his heated gaze quickly turned into an unbridled forest fire. “Then tell me.” His hand slid down my jeans until he gripped my ass. He gave me a tight squeeze, showing how powerful he was with just a single hand.

  “I want to take your last name.”

  For less than an instant, his eyes softened. His grip on my hair relaxed for just a second before it tightened again. His gaze turned more intense than it was just a second ago. Now he seemed more aggressive, fueled by my revelation. “You want to be Mrs. Hunt?”

  “Yes…more than anything.”

  My words made him snap, and he yanked me harder as he covered my mouth with his. He kissed me harshly, nearly bruising my lips and making them throb. The beast inside the man had been released, and now he handled me like a prize rather than a woman. His ancestral caveman ways rose to the surface, and he maneuvered me backward as he directed me toward the hallway.

  He scooped me into his arms and carried me by the ass into the bedroom we shared. He dropped me on the mattress instead of gently laying me down, and he yanked off my clothes without any care. He dragged my hips to the edge of the bed then separated my thighs by gripping the backs of my knees.

  He pointed his dick into my entrance then gave a harsh thrust, shoving his big dick
inside me without giving me a chance to prepare. He dug his fingers into my flesh and let out a moan filled with testosterone.

  It felt good, but the quick intrusion was also painful. No matter how many times he fucked me, my petiteness would never be able to handle his dick moving so aggressively. I would always need time to adjust, to stretch for his size.

  But right now, he didn’t care.

  He fucked me just the way he did the first time we hooked up. It was rough, hard, and fast. He pulled me harder into him and locked his gaze on mine, enjoying the sight of me as my tits shook with the thrust.

  My hands locked around his wrists, and I enjoyed the fullness of his cock. He stretched me well, so now his size was only pleasurable. He moved through my slickness and was coated in it, our mutual arousal rubbing together as our body parts feasted on each other.

  He moved his hands on either side of my waist and leaned over me, deepening the angle so his cock hit me deep with every thrust. One hand migrated into my hair then grabbed the back of my neck. He tugged on me as he slammed into me, his cock moving even harder. “Mine.”

  Both of my hands gripped his forearms as I moaned in his face. I allowed him to take me, to claim all of me. I yielded my control and fear completely, giving him the trust and love I hadn’t been able to give anyone for a decade. I became the most vulnerable I’d ever been, surrendering to a man who had earned my unflinching loyalty. It was the most freeing sensation I’d ever known, to ache for his possessiveness rather than fear it. I wanted this man to dominate me, trusted him to do it right. In the end, Diesel Hunt won. I folded and crowned him the victor. “Yours.”

  We skipped dinner and chose to stay in bed.

  We’d take breaks in between, curling up together under the sheets. Then a simple touch would turn into a caress, an innocent kiss would be full of tongue, and then he was on top of me again, sinking me into the mattress with his size and burying his cock between my legs. He fucked me in the same position over and over, my small body pinned underneath his. He kept stuffing me with his come, making it drip back out onto the sheets beneath me.

  The room smelled like sex.

  After the fourth round, he pulled me against his body and hooked my leg over his hip. He glided his hand up my leg, gently touching my skin with his fingertips until he reached my hip. Then he slid down the curve of my waist toward my chest. His thumb flicked over my nipples before he went back the other way. He touched me like he’d never had the opportunity before. His deep voice interrupted the silence between us. “What made you change your mind?”

  “A few things…”

  “Such as?” he pressed.

  “Your father said something to me the other day, saying I should consider your request romantic. But it was mostly Thorn who made me see things differently.”

  He grinned. “I knew he’d come through for me.”

  “He said his opinions are his own.”

  “Of course. He wouldn’t lie to you. His loyalty is to you, not me.”

  “He reminded me that you’ve always been loyal to me, that you’ve loved me from the beginning. You earned my trust, and you’re the man I love. I should give you something I’ve never given anyone else before, so that’s why I decided to do it. You’re going to be my husband…you should have all of me.”

  He released a moan so quiet I wasn’t sure if I heard it or just imagined it. He gripped my hip tightly, his fingers digging into me. “I couldn’t agree with him more.”

  “I want to wear your name. I want the world to know I’m yours. I also want the world to know you’re mine.”

  “That we belong to each other,” he whispered.

  “It’s hard to let go of my identity and embrace a new one…but it’s a good thing. I want to be a Hunt. I want to share an empire with you. I want to be partners with you, the truest and deepest kind.”

  “That makes me very happy. You have no idea.”

  “It makes me happy too. I’m sorry I was so difficult about it.”

  “Don’t apologize,” he said. “I understand. You made the right decision, and that’s all that matters.” His hand moved up my neck before it cupped my cheek. His fingers dug gently into the fall of my hair, and he stared at me with his deep brown eyes. “I hope that means you’ve surrendered yourself to me.”

  “I have…I trust you.”

  He pressed his forehead to mine then placed a kiss there. “The second you wear my last name, I’m not going to be the same guy. I’ll be more intense, more aggressive. I’ll be territorial, a little crazy. I hope you accept that.”

  “I expect nothing less.”

  He kissed me on the mouth. “Then marry me now.”

  Chapter Eight

  Thorn

  We sat across from each other in the conference room, the damn glass doors surrounding us on all sides. I wasn’t a big fan of professionalism, so perhaps being fish in a bowl was a good way to keep me in line.

  Autumn did a great job of pretending we were just colleagues. She stuck to work, discussing when the first product line would be in full effect and how it should be distributed. While she was a scientist, she was knowledgeable about her business margins. She knew the company inside and out, which was impressive because she probably dedicated most of her time to the lab.

  She closed her folders when our discussion came to an end. “You aren’t very talkative today.”

  “You’re distracting.”

  “I’m distracting you from work when I’m talking about work?” she asked incredulously.

  “I’m not really listening to you. I’m just looking at you.”

  She rolled her eyes, but her slight smile suggested she liked the attention. “What happened to being professional?”

  “Do you see me grabbing your ass?”

  “No. But I suspect if this big table weren’t in between us, things would be different…”

  “Actually, it’s the glass doors.” I nodded to the wall behind me. “I don’t know why Titan is so obsessed with being transparent. Annoying.”

  “She wants the world to know she has nothing to hide.”

  Secrets were underrated.

  “I guess I should get back to my lab.” She gathered her documents and placed them in her satchel. She pulled it over her shoulder, the dark blue leather bag complimenting the black dress she wore. She was in sky-high heels, and I assumed she must change out of them when she was working in the lab.

  I rose to my feet and came around the desk, blocking her exit. “Let’s have dinner tonight.”

  “Dinner, huh?” she asked. “Will you be cooking?”

  “If you want. I was gonna pick up something.”

  “That’s not bad either.”

  “I don’t want to spend any more time in the kitchen than necessary when I have better things to do…” I was already undressing her with my eyes, imagining the feeling of her lace panties scrunched up in my fist.

  “Do I qualify as something better to do?”

  “If you don’t know, I’ll show you later.” I stepped out of the way so she could get to the door, but if our walls weren’t see-through, I’d be kissing her on the mouth right now. My hands would be palming her ass and squeezing it tight.

  She smiled then walked to the door. “I look forward to it, Thorn.” She pushed the door open and walked down the hallway.

  I watched her hips shake as she moved, saw the way her calves tightened with every step she took. I still had hours to get through before I finally had her underneath me. That time couldn’t come soon enough.

  Her black hair was in loose curls, smoky makeup was on her face, and she wore a sweater dress that was so tight it didn’t leave much to the imagination.

  She dressed up—just for me.

  I was a king.

  My hands immediately lifted up her dress and kneaded her bare ass with my fingertips. She had on brown booties, but the rest of her legs were bare, tanned skin that was about to be the victim of my aggressive lips. My face ling
ered in front of hers, but I didn’t move in for the kiss, as much as I wanted to.

  I teased her.

  I brushed my nose against hers and looked into her vibrant eyes. She had the energy of an entire forest, pure and beautiful. There was something about this woman that stood out compared to all the others. Some names I couldn’t even remember, but Autumn was a name I’d never forget. Her specialness wasn’t just a derivative of her looks. Combined with the smile, that sassy intellect, and the way she carried herself, she was the most desirable woman on the planet.

  I squeezed her ass tighter as I held her in my doorway. I had dinner on the table, but now I wasn’t thinking about food.

  “Are you going to kiss me or what?” She spoke with a sultry voice, seducing me with the way her words grazed over my skin.

  “No. Not until you beg me.” I moved my mouth against the shell of her ear, smelling the scent of her lovely hair, and I kissed the skin just below her ear, making sure she heard the way my lips brushed against her.

  The fiery look in her eyes told me it had the right effect.

  I grabbed her by the hand and pulled her to the table. “Rib eye steak, potatoes, and broccoli.”

  Like she was in a drug-infused haze, it took her a minute to come back to reality. “How do you look so good if you eat like this all the time?”

  “I don’t eat like this all the time. Just when I’m trying to impress a lady.”

  She sat down and immediately sipped her wine. “I thought you said you didn’t cook for anyone?”

  “I don’t. You’re the first lady I’ve actually tried to impress.”

  She smiled but maintained a guarded expression at the same time. “Is that a line?”

  “I already have you, Autumn. Why would I need a line?” I laid the napkin across my lap and picked up my fork.

  She took a longer drink from her glass before she set it down. “Then why do you want to impress me, Thorn?”

  “I like you.”

  “That’s it?” she asked. “Because you’ve already impressed me in the way that matters most.”