Rome was a tough cookie who could take care of herself. She’d experienced more adversity than most people I knew, and as a result, she stood tall on her own two feet. When someone tried to rob her, she pinned his ass to the floor and called the cops. She could handle living in rough neighborhoods because that’s what she was accustomed to. She was proud, strong, and spunky.

Her only hint of innocence was her virginity.

Which I took—gladly.

But I was relieved she wasn’t working in that tiny office underneath a Chinese restaurant in East Manhattan. Every time I walked inside, no one else was there. If a guy gave her a hard time, it wasn’t like she could scream for help. She was handling a dying business all on her own, but she’d refused to walk away out of misplaced pride.

But now she would be working for me.

Truth be told, I thought she would be a great addition to the staff. Hardworking and compassionate, her heart was in this for the right reasons. She was grateful for the new salary, but money didn’t mean anything to her.

Honestly, she should be the one running my company.

I looked forward to working with her every day. When we were in our respective offices, we wouldn’t bump into each other often. And if I made an excuse to walk into her office every single day, people would immediately suspect what was going on.

But could I really keep my dick in my pants?

That was a hard no.

I usually got to work an hour later than the rest of the staff because I was up late at Ruin. When I dropped off Rome at her apartment, I swung by the club to check on things. As a result, I needed that extra hour of sleep before I hit the gym and went to work.

My secretary handed over my messages as well as my schedule for the day. I had a lunch meeting with one of our most charitable donors, so I wouldn’t be able to sneak off with Rome. But it wouldn’t hurt for me to pop into her office and say hello on her first day. So, when my secretary took her morning break, I planned to stop by.

I just had a feeling I would never leave.

* * *

Rome’s office door was left open, so I stood in the doorway and stared at her. She sat behind the large mahogany desk with her MacBook open on the wood. A vase of flowers rested on the corner along with a pink mug full of an assortment of pens. A single picture frame sat on the surface, a picture of her and Christopher at Coney Island.

I took a moment to look at her, enjoying the view before she noticed me. My hands were deep inside my pockets as I leaned against the door frame, loving the way her tits shook slightly when she typed. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her strands were curled and soft.

She must have felt the heat of my stare because her eyes moved directly to my face, her dark eyelashes long and thick. She wore more makeup than she usually did, dark eye shadow around her eyes and red lipstick on her mouth.

I pictured lipstick stains all over the base of my cock.

When she noticed my presence, her body stiffened immediately. It was the same reaction she would give if she were scared. Her breathing hastened, and her chest rose and fell with the increased pace. Her lips were slightly parted, her tongue pressed against the inside of her bottom teeth. When she moved her head slightly, her ponytail swung like a pendulum. “Mr. Owens, how can I help you?”

Everyone at the office called me that, but when Rome addressed me in that way, I wasn’t even sure if she was speaking to me. I walked farther into the office but didn’t shut the door behind me—as much as I wanted to.

I sank into the chair across from her desk and crossed my legs, resting my ankle on the opposite knee. My elbows rested on the leather padding of the chair, and my fingers pressed against my jawline, the smooth skin already hardening with new hair. “Wanted to see how your first day is going.”

She shut her MacBook and leaned back in her chair, the buttons of her blouse fastened all the way to her neck. So far, she’d made a good impression at the office. The rest of the team immediately noticed her good heart and how valuable it was. “Really good. I’ve been getting up to speed with everything on the calendar. I have to say, you guys get a lot of stuff done. At For All, I would have felt productive accomplishing a fraction of the work Humanitarians United does on a routine basis.”

I appreciated the compliment. “Thank you. But we have a great staff here and lots of resources. Imagine what you can do now with a bigger budget and more teammates.” If we had an employee of the month, she would get it—every time.

“I’m very motivated. I feel like I can really make a difference here.”

I heard what she said, but my eyes fixated on her lips, watching them move. I wished we were at my place, making out on the couch. Her small tongue moving against mine before she sucked my bottom lip. When I would palm her tits, she’d moan deep into my mouth.

Now I was so fucking hard.

Rome picked up on the static in the air, feeling my desire even though I hadn’t made a single advance. “If I have any questions, I’ll let you know.” She was dismissing me, trying to get me out of her office before her skirt was pulled above her waist and her panties were stuffed into my pocket.

I didn’t move an inch, my eyes glued to her face.

Her cheeks began to flush, her natural response when she was either aroused or nervous, and in this case, both.

She cleared her throat. “Is there anything else?” She forced her voice to remain strong, determined to ignore the heat between us. Professional office decorum was important to her, for whatever reason. But if I had X-ray vision and could see through that desk, I knew I’d spot her thighs pressed tightly together, wishing I were deep inside her at that very moment.

Without saying a single word, I rose out of the chair and buttoned the front of my jacket. I gave her one final look before I walked out, knowing she was staring at my ass as I left her office.

I had to keep my hands to myself while we were at work.

But when we were at my place, that mouth, pussy, and ass belonged to me—and only me.

* * *

Vanilla sex was good—for now.

But I felt my hands shake with anticipation, needing dominance and control. I couldn’t stop picturing ropes bound around her slender wrists, the material chafing against the gorgeous skin. I couldn’t stop imagining her ass in the air, her pussy slick and ready for me. Blindfolded and gagged, she’d be my plaything.

Eventually, I would come clean about what I wanted, and we could start our new relationship. If she gave it a chance, I knew she would adore it. She would want me to hit her harder then smack my palm against that gorgeous ass one more time before the fun was over.

But I needed to ease her into it.

If we went from vanilla to whips and chains, she’d push me away. Her lack of experience told me this would be more complicated, but at the same time, more fun. I had a few ideas to warm her up, to broaden her horizons and her way of thinking. To her, they would be huge steps. To me, they would be the gateway to all my fantasies.

I was sitting on the couch waiting for her when a knock sounded on the door.

I was still in my suit and tie, not wanting to change since I was going to take off all my clothes anyway. And I knew she liked the way I looked when I dressed like this, like the ruthless dictator that I was.

I opened the door and saw Rome in the same clothes she wore to the office. She hadn’t stopped by her apartment to change because she wanted to get here as soon as possible, her resistance finally disappearing.

Without a greeting, I grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her inside. My foot hit the door to close it, and then I stared down at her like the prey she was. My hands moved around her waist then snaked down to her ass. I gripped both of her cheeks as I guided her to the couch, my mouth close to hers. I didn’t kiss her, purposely teasing both of us until we were naked together, her pussy on my lap.

I unzipped the back of her skirt and heard it thud to the floor. Her top and bra came next, followed by her black panties. Just as I undressed her, she stripped my clothes away. She was a little aggressive with the tie, yanking on it harshly. But I liked her roughness. I wished she would do it more often.

I sat on the couch with my knees spread apart, my cock lying against my stomach. I tapped my thigh and silently commanded her to straddle me, to do as I wanted with no questions asked. I wanted to speak my mind, to control her like I did with all the others. But I kept my mouth shut and directed my desires with my eyes.

She straddled my hips with her heels still on, the shoes pressed against the outsides of my thighs. Once she was on top of me, I could feel the moisture from her pussy. I hadn’t even kissed her yet, and she was wet.

I had a feeling she was wet all day at the office.

I pulled her close to me until our chests were touching. My hand snaked around her neck possessively, my fingers digging into her skin with restrained force. Then I brushed my lips past hers, preparing to dive headfirst.

She shivered at my touch, electrified by how good it was.

This woman made me want to come with a single kiss.

I pressed my mouth to hers and kissed her slowly, my cock still underneath her but not inside her. I slowly rocked my hips to move my hard length against her, to rub her sensitive clit and give her extensive foreplay. The warm-up was unnecessary because she was clearly wet—but I enjoyed it anyway.

I forced my hand to remain relaxed as it gripped her neck. I wanted to choke her slightly, to make her pant into my mouth in desperation for air. I’d choked Isabella many times—and it always made her come hard.

My free hand groped Rome’s perfect tit, my thumb brushing over her nipple and making it pebble. Her hair was still in the ponytail, so I grabbed the hair band and yanked it so hard it snapped. Her soft hair fell around her shoulders and brushed against my knuckles, feeling like cotton.

My cock twitched in irritation, wanting to be inside the tightest pussy I’d ever felt. I shifted her hips and shoved my cock head inside her, squeezing through the soaked channel. I pulled her down until I was completely sheathed inside her, feeling that slice of heaven. “Fuck, Vanilla.” I released her neck and gripped her ass cheeks with my palms, squeezing the powerful muscle as I guided her up and down my length.

Her hands held on to my shoulders for balance as she moved with me, her tits shaking every time she lowered herself entirely on my length. The sexiest moans escaped her lips, her eyes bright and vibrant in ecstasy.

I moved with her, grinding slowly because the simple sensation of feeling our bodies together was enough. My preference was to pound hard and fast, aggressive fucking that would make us both sore. But these slow and restrained movements were somehow better. And I suspected that had something to do with Rome.

I cupped her face with my hand, my fingers brushing against her brown strands. My thumb moved across her bottom lip as I kept my forehead pressed to hers, breathing through the pleasure together.

I slipped two fingers into her mouth, placing them on her tongue. “Suck.” My authoritative tone emerged, but I couldn’t keep it back. When I was in my element, my true colors always came out.

She did as I asked, closing her mouth around my fingers and sucking them. She gripped my fingers between her tongue and the roof of her mouth, giving pressure that was soaked with saliva.

I forgot to thrust into her because I was mesmerized by what she was doing with that sexy mouth of hers. She hit nerve endings that I’d never really paid attention to. The natural way she listened to my commands made me believe this could really happen—that she would eventually be tied up inside of Ruin.

I pulled my fingers out of her mouth then kissed her hard, my inner monster coming out to play. My hands returned to her voluptuous ass, and my fingers moved to her back entrance, wanting to steer her away from vanilla and to something much darker.

She kissed me with the same passion but immediately tensed when she felt the pressure of my fingers. “What are you doing?” She spoke against my mouth, her lips moving with mine.

I didn’t pull my fingers away. “Feeling you.”

Her pussy was still wet and tight around my length, but she grabbed my arm like her strength could outweigh mine. “I’m not into that.”

I wanted to take this further, to show her a world she would fall in love with. But her hesitance to this new experience concerned me. If she couldn’t do something so simple, she would never let me whip her. “Have you ever tried?”

She slightly rocked her hips, still keeping me inside her. “No…”

“Then how do you know you aren’t into it?” I slipped my finger inside her ass again, saliva lubricating my penetration.

She scooted forward and away from my finger. “It’s an exit only.”

I wrapped my arm tightly around her waist and hooked her close to my chest. After a gentle kiss on the mouth, I spoke. “Whatever reservations you have, forget about them. I’ve never done anything that didn’t make you feel good. Trust me to give you new experiences. Trust me to make you come for me.” I kissed the corner of her mouth and didn’t pull my fingers away, knowing she would allow me entry.

She continued to take my hard dick slowly, her moisture pooling around the base of my cock and my balls.

“Sweetheart.” Despite my frustration, I remained patient. If I couldn’t get her to do this, then there was no way I could convince her to be my sub. “I need you to trust me.”

“I do trust you,” she blurted.

“Then prove it.” I thrust into her from below, my cock sliding in and out of her tight slit. I locked my eyes on hers, silently commanding her to obey me.

Something I said must have changed her mind because she finally agreed. “Okay.”

The excitement in my chest didn’t come from getting what I wanted. It came from the sense of hope that hit me hard in the gut. My instinct about her was right. I could train her to be the perfect submissive—all in good time.

I kissed her as I slid my forefinger through her opening, feeling her body reject me in the beginning. She was tense and nervous, her body unwilling to let me in even though she’d already verbally consented. I breathed into her mouth as I continued to work her ass. “Relax, sweetheart. You can always tell me to stop.”

Gaining the control in the situation finally made her come back into the moment. Her fingertips dug into my shoulders as she kissed me again, allowing me to insert my finger deeper into her ass. Her channel was dangerously tight, much tighter than her pussy. When the time came for me to fuck her in the ass, we might have some problems.

We moved together, my cock stretching her over and over. When she became accustomed to my finger in her ass, she finally became passionate again, kissing me harder and digging her nails into my skin. I moved another finger inside her, stretching her wider apart.

She moaned into my mouth at the intrusion, struggling with the polar emotions. It was an unusual sensation, to be fingered in a place she had never touched, but at the same time, she clearly enjoyed it.

And when she enjoyed it, I enjoyed it.

“Sweetheart…” I wanted to come in her ass and her pussy at the same time. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. I’d have to settle for her pussy for now and then her ass later.

“God…” Her lips pulled away from mine as she whimpered. “I’m gonna come.”

I slid a third finger inside her, making it a tight fit. I forced her ass to stretch for my large fingers, pulsing inside her and feeling her tighten. “Come all over my dick, Vanilla.”

She rolled her hips as she took my length several more times until her pussy clenched around me, squeezing me with a death grip. I fingered her harder as she came around me, her moisture pooling even more. “Calloway…”

I stared at her fiery green eyes as I approached my climax, seeing the most beautiful woman in the world sitting on my lap. My fingers were in her ass, and my cock was impaled deep inside her. I had her wrapped around my finger—and she had me wrapped around hers.

I came with a violent release, overwhelmed with satisfaction. Memories of the first time I met her came back to me, when she’d strutted into that bar and slapped me with as much force as she could muster. I remembered the first time I kissed her, right outside her apartment door after the gala. I remembered the first time I fucked her and the drops of blood I found on my sheets afterward. Now we were getting down and dirty, going down a path of pleasure and pain.

I pressed my face into her neck as I finished, filling her pussy with every drop of seed I could produce. I wanted to make her feel full for the rest of the day, to feel a part of me inside her everywhere she went.

I slid my fingers out of her and leaned back, the remaining sensations of pleasure drifting away. Like I was on a cloud, I felt an intense high that made me float in the air. When Rome did the things I liked, it was impossible for me to truly grasp it.

Her hands slid to my chest, rubbing the sweat that had formed on the skin. She took time to catch her breath, her movements slow and even.

“So?” I asked a question I already knew the answer to.

Her lips remained tightly shut, her eyes telling me she had no intention of saying a word to me.

“I told you you could trust me.” I’d done everything she’d asked of me up until that point, going on dates and bringing her flowers. I even let her sleep in my bed. Most surprisingly, I told her about my former demons when I’d never shared that information with anyone else. I bent over backward for this woman, and I’d earned her confidence.

“I’m not sure if I liked it, or if I just liked how much you liked it.”

“Both, I’m sure.” I pulled her next to my chest and gave her a soft kiss on the mouth. “I want to explore everything with you, Rome. I hope you let me.”

She pressed her forehead to mine and looked down at my lips. Her nails dug silently into my chest, like she wanted more of me even though we were both satisfied. A strand of hair came loose from behind her ear and fell in front of her face. “I’m sure I will, Calloway.”

* * *

Eventually, Rome and I would have the relationship I craved. Right now, I needed to continue earning her trust while exploring new realms of pleasure. One day, she would agree to be my sub, to trust me enough to start a new kind of relationship—one that was completely foreign to her.

So I forced myself to be patient with her.

And that kept my darkness at bay. I didn’t bring out the chains or the cable ties. I didn’t spank her hard when she was on her hands and knees. Slowly but surely, I would get us to the next level.

After dinner, we went to bed. When she was next to me, I slept better than usual, so I preferred to have her around. I wore my boxers, and she wore one of my t-shirts before we got under the sheets. Her arms immediately hooked around me like I was a stuffed teddy bear. Her leg hooked over my waist, and she cuddled into my side, stealing all the warmth from my body.

I loved it.

With her skin so soft and her smell so fragrant, it was like having a rose petal beside me. Her legs, smooth and silky, brushed against mine as she got comfortable. Sometimes her hair would brush against my shoulder, so soft and delicate. I wanted to fist it all night long, but then neither one of us would get any sleep.

I stared at her as she closed her eyes, looking like a queen. Her makeup was gone, and her natural features were on display for me. She had plump lips, the kind I loved to suck into my mouth. Her teeth were perfect and straight, sexy and adorable. As she started to drift away, I was even more awake. I would much rather watch her all night than get any sleep.

She must have felt my stare because she opened her eyes. “Yes?” She ran her hand down my back, her nails lightly scratching me.

I brushed my fingers along her cheek, expecting her not to be real because she was too perfect.

She watched me with lidded eyes, sexier than any other woman I’d slept with.

“You’re so beautiful, it hurts.” I stared at her lips, seeing my thumb rest on the corner of her mouth. “It hurts so much…” My chest ached as I examined her perfect features. She had a slender and elegant neck, reminding me of the grace of a queen. I’d sprinkled enough kisses in the hollow of her throat, but I never wanted to stop. Just when I thought I’d had enough of her, I wanted more.

An unfamiliar look came into her eyes, a quiet expression. Her hand moved up my chest until she reached my cheek. Her fingers glided over the skin until her fingertips rested on my bottom lip. She felt the softness before I kissed her fingertips, loving the way she explored me. She didn’t say anything, but the look in her eyes showed more of her soul than she’d ever let me witness before. Wild and strong, she was a warrior underneath that petite frame. She’d suffered more than most, but she still considered herself to be lucky. She was remarkable, special. “When I’m not with you, everything hurts.” Her hand moved back to my chest where it rested over my heart.

* * *

The nightmares were less frequent, but they still came every now and then. Rome was my dream catcher and chased them away with her natural light. But tonight, her presence wasn’t strong enough to defeat my demons.

I dreamt of my father.

And my mother.

My father did a lot of terrible things in his life. Keeping women as submissives was one of the worst for a very big reason—because they were slaves. They couldn’t escape, not without retribution. My mother was heartbroken, her husband choosing to be serviced by whores rather than by the woman he once vowed to love monogamously forever. When she threatened to leave, he threatened to hurt her.

He was a dictator, silencing everyone with terrifying punishments. If we ever spoke out against him, tried to help the women he kept captive, we would experience a beating with a steel pipe.

In the middle of the night.

I remembered the sound the metal made when it crashed against my skull. Like the sound of metal on metal, it reverberated in my memory. Twelve all over again, there was nowhere for me to run or hide.

He chased me all through the house, taunting me for freeing one of his women.

I knew what would happen when he caught me.

I launched up in bed, the covers falling off of me as I gasped for breath. Drenched in sweat that traveled all the way down the back of my neck, I was scorched with heat. But once I was awake, the coldness got me. I felt sick, faint. I gripped the sheets to remind myself where I was—that my father was six feet under.

“Calloway.” Rome pressed her chest to my back, her slender arms circling my waist. The smell of roses and fresh-cut grass washed over me, hinting of sunlight and doves. My breathing was still haywire, but her comfort made my heart rate drop by twenty beats. My hand gripped her wrist automatically, needing to know she was really there. “It was just a dream,” she whispered. “You’re here with me at 3:15 a.m. on Tuesday. You have work in just a few hours—so do I. You’re a powerful man, and no one can touch you.” She pressed a kiss to my back, right along my spine. Her lips were soft and loving, chasing away the remaining visions behind my eyes.

I’d never been so grateful to have someone there.

I’d never been so comforted.

Normally, I would head into the kitchen and deplete my storage of whiskey and scotch. But that solution couldn’t compare to this one. My fingers remained wrapped around her tiny wrists, feeling her fluttering pulse. Curtains covered the windows, so it was dark in the bedroom. My eyes adjusted to the dimness, and I could see the faint light coming from the crack of the bathroom doorway. Rome’s dress and heels were on the floor at the foot of the bed.

“I’m here.” She scooted closer to me and pressed a kiss to my shoulder. She used her tongue this time, wetting my warm skin.

I closed my eyes at the touch, aroused and moved by the affection. I had spent nearly seven years sleeping alone, but she walked into my life and changed all of that. I was grateful she’d made me reconsider my ways. I wanted her more than I ever had, wanted to take her roughly against my mattress with her legs wrapped around my waist.

And that’s what I did.

I grabbed her and positioned her back on the bed. My boxers were kicked off, and her panties were ripped in half. I crawled on top of her and widened her legs, dominating her and taking what I wanted.

Rome didn’t object, her arms hooking around my neck.

I shoved myself inside her and rocked into her hard, thrusting and moaning. The cold sweat on my body was replaced with new drops from my exertion. I fucked the anger and pain out of my body, using Rome to forget about that nightmare.

I replaced my sorrow and sadness with pleasure. I replaced my loneliness with affection. I used Rome to feel good, to feel alive rather than dead.

Her green eyes were bright despite the darkness. When she gripped my forearms, she dug her nails into me. After a minute of screwing her, she was wet like usual, enjoying being roughly taken in the middle of the night. Maybe she was just doing it for me in the beginning, but now, she was doing it entirely for herself.