I lifted my wine. “Cheers to that, Mr. Titan.”

He clinked his highball with my glass, and his eyes dropped to my shoes and made a lazy perusal up my body. “You look stunning tonight, Vanessa.”

I waited for the flash of heat I’d felt when Con’s gaze took the same path. And I got… a warm breeze. It was pretty much the same reaction my body gave when Simon complimented me. Here was a gorgeous man, richer than Croesus, and my body decided it wasn’t interested.

It was probably for the best. Despite his money and business prowess, my father was firmly in the Lucas Titan is the spawn of the devil camp. It had something to do with Lucas’s sustainable energy agenda and the lobbyists who were pushing it in the state legislature. As a steel man, my father didn’t want anyone telling him how he needed to power his mills.

“Thank you,” I replied.

He looked down at my drink. “And you need a refill. Would you like me to get you another?”

My polite smile smoothed across my face. I didn’t like to explain my one glass limit, so it was easier if I just got my drinks myself. I’d be switching to club soda with lime after this one.

“How about we head that way together?”

His hand somehow found its way to the small of my back, and I wasn’t sure how to graciously remove it. After a long wait and small talk in line, I had my club soda, and our impending dinner service was announced.

“I’m assuming you’re also at the head table?” I asked Lucas.

“Indeed.”

“Would you mind taking my drink? I need to excuse myself for a moment.”

Lucas accepted my glass. “Of course. I’ll be waiting.”

I pushed open the door to the powder room and stepped into the lobby. A large hand wrapped around my upper arm.

I turned and opened my mouth to protest, but was silenced when I saw the tattoos peeking out from beneath the shirt cuff.

“What are you doing?” I hissed, shocked that Con would manhandle me in public, although maybe I shouldn’t have been.

He tugged me toward an unused coatroom, and shut and blocked the door.

“Are you crazy?” I’d wanted to get him alone, but not like this. This was dangerous.

Con stalked toward me. I backed away, feeling very much like a rabbit facing off against a wolf.

“I decided I’m not done with you yet.”

The words were so low and quiet; I felt them more than I heard them. I tried to keep my breathing steady as I asked, “So you accost me outside the ladies’ room and drag me into a coat closet?”

“Would you rather I’d approached you while Lucas Titan was eye-fucking the shit out of you?”

So that was what this was about. “First, that kind of language is unnecessary. And second, Lucas is an acquaintance. He’s on my board of directors. And… I don’t even know why I’m explaining myself to you. It’s none of your business.”

“Always good to know where I stand.”

Con trapped me in the corner between the empty coat rack and the wall.

I needed to get out of here before I did something stupid.

“What do you want? I have to get back.” I hoped my tone sounded unaffected.

“Same thing I’ve wanted for two damn years: another taste of you.”

I sucked in a breath and fought the shivers of anticipation coursing through me. No. Absolutely not. Can’t happen.

“Why would you want another taste of the stuck up bitch you threw out of your gym?” I crossed my arms, ready to block any verbal blows that might be coming. Turns out, I didn’t need to.

Con looked up to the ceiling and cleared his throat before speaking. “Life doesn’t give us many second chances. If this is mine, then I’m not going to waste it.”

My mind reeled as my heart kicked into a gallop. “I don’t even know what that means.”

He dropped his eyes back down to meet mine. The intensity of his stare pressed me into the wall. “It means this is how it’s going to go down: You want that property. I want a shot with you. I get what I want, then you get what you want.”

My entire body stilled. Well, everything except for my mouth dropping open. Was he seriously expecting me to whore myself out for the deed? My temper flared, but I held back the imminent explosion. I wanted confirmation before I shoved him away and slapped him across the face.

“What exactly are you proposing?”

His chin lifted, and his dark blue eyes sparked with heat. “What do you think I’m proposing, princess?”

My hands shot out, palms connecting with the solid muscles of his chest. I shoved, but Con didn’t budge. Instead, he brought his hands up to cover mine, trapping them against the fabric of his tux. I yanked my hands back, but Con’s grip didn’t break.

He leaned down and spoke quietly just above my ear. “That wasn’t very ladylike, Vanessa. You didn’t even let me finish.”

I struggled against his hold as he added, “I didn’t say I expected you to fuck me for it. Your dirty mind went there all by itself.”

The sound that crawled out of my throat was also not ladylike. “Let. Me. Go.”

His fingers slid along the backs of my hands and curled around my wrists. I fought as he raised my arms and pinned them to the wood paneled wall above my head.

“Not until I’m good and ready. And I can’t be sure I’ll ever be ready.”

My nipples hardened in response to his cocky declaration. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, hoping naively that the move would block out the effects of his words and touch. It didn’t.

“So what do you say, Vanessa? You willing to give me a shot?”

I swallowed, and my heart hammered a staccato rhythm in my chest. Pressed so tightly against me, there was no way Con could miss it.

Fixing my eyes on his, I decided that being on the defensive wasn’t going to gain me any ground. So I asked the question burning on my tongue.

“Why?” I asked. “Why would you want a chance with me? You don’t even like me.”

His lips quirked up into a sardonic smile. “I don’t really remember if I like you or not.”

I glared at him. “You’re a pig, you know that?”

The smile faded, and a hard look settled over his features. My attention cut to the door. Con didn’t miss it.

“Oh, no, princess. I told you—you ain’t going anywhere until I’m ready to let you go.” He leaned in until I could feel his breath against my temple as he added, “And I wasn’t joking when I said I might never be ready.”