I was home alone because Calloway went to Ruin. He said he had important business to take care of that he couldn’t ignore. He left a guard outside the house to keep an eye on the place so I wouldn’t be unprotected.

Even though the guy was a trained professional and had a gun, I still preferred Calloway’s protection.

I’d slept with him because I couldn’t keep my legs closed any longer. Without any action for six weeks, I had been going crazy. And knowing that big, sexy man was just across the hall from me tested my patience.

So I caved.

Nothing was different between us, and to top it off, Calloway went to Ruin immediately afterward. So the odds of us ever coming to an agreement were slim.

I slept in my own bedroom because I had no idea how long he would be gone. The insecure side of me wondered if he was hooking up with a sub at that very moment, some woman who liked to have a chain around her neck. He’d just made love to me, but he might have already jumped into rough sex with someone else.

I had to remind myself Calloway would never do that.

When I woke up the next morning, I was alone in my bed. If Calloway came home, he must have stayed in his own bedroom so he wouldn’t disrupt me. I got ready for work like I did every morning then ran into him downstairs.

He looked exhausted, like he was out late last night. In fact, it looked like he hadn’t slept at all. “Good morning.”

I shouldered my purse. “Morning.”

We left together, his driver taking us to the office. As always, we walked inside together, the rest of the employees knowing beyond a doubt we were officially an item. My colleagues didn’t talk to me the way they used to, as if they feared anything they said would make its way back to Calloway.

I hated it.

Instead of going to his office like usual, he walked me all the way to mine.

“You don’t need to—”

“I want to talk to you after work. It’s important.” He stood in front of me, brooding with his vibrant blue eyes. In his suit, he looked like a powerhouse. He didn’t just own this building, but the entire city.

“Okay…” It must be about the sex we’d had the night before. But I didn’t know why he would bring it up now just to leave me hanging all day.

Without another word, he turned around and walked down the hallway, his ass looking tight in his slacks.

The second he was gone, I wanted him to come back. I didn’t want to sit in my office all day knowing he was on the other side of the building. I wanted to know what he wanted to talk about—and if it was good news or bad news.

* * *

At the end of the day, he arrived at my office. Silent but loud with authority, he leaned against the doorframe as he announced his presence with mere power.

I felt him behind me, so I turned around in my chair to look at him.

He stood with his hands in the pockets of his suit, his shoulders phenomenally broad and powerful. I remembered the way they felt when I dragged my nails down his back. The muscles tensed and coiled underneath my touch.

I grabbed my things and prepared to leave, responding to the silent command he gave me. He was like a caveman, expecting me to read his body language to understand what he wanted. I met him at the door, and we walked out together, my private bodyguard silent with imminent threat.

His driver took us back to his house near the edge of the city. I was tempted to ask him what he wanted to talk about, but since he hadn’t mentioned it, I assumed he wanted to wait until we were alone together.

We walked inside, and I slipped off my heels as I usually did, just like when I stayed with him for a few months.

He locked the door behind us and immediately turned on me, his expression dark. It wasn’t clear if he was mad or just intense. Lately, I couldn’t tell with him. He was so out of his mind with rage that he was unpredictable. “I don’t know if I can give you everything you want, like the house with the picket fence and the kids…but I can give you this.” He pulled a box out of his pocket and popped it open, revealing a black diamond ring made out of white gold.

I knew he wasn’t proposing to me. But I didn’t know what he was trying to say either.

“I signed Ruin over to Jackson. It’s his now. I have nothing to do with the place.”

Now that I knew where this conversation was going, I could hardly breathe. He said he wouldn’t give anything up for me. It was impossible for him to do. But here he was, making a compromise I hadn’t thought he was capable of making.

“But I want you to wear this, and I’ll wear mine. In my world, it’s a sign of commitment, fidelity, and loyalty between a Dom and a sub. It means we’re monogamous, that we’re a pair. You don’t have to be my sub. We can be whatever you want us to be. But I want you to wear it regardless. That’s my only condition.”

I eyed the beautiful ring. The black diamond caught the light and somehow reflected it back. It echoed Calloway’s intensity, his constant brooding and adoration. I saw his face the instant I looked at the ring, seeing the band that complemented his so perfectly. “You’re giving me what I want?”

“Yes.” He pulled the ring out of the box and returned the box to his pocket. “I’ll be your boyfriend—nothing else.”

I eyed the ring with my hands held to my chest, realizing this was just as big as a marriage proposal. He was turning his back on his way of life just to keep me, something that was extremely difficult for him. “What changed your mind?”

“Last night.” He grabbed my right hand and held the ring to my ring finger. “Is that a yes?”

It was exactly what I wanted. I didn’t care that he’d lied to me and had owned Ruin in the first place. I’d missed him so much over these past six weeks that it didn’t make a difference to me anymore. I loved this man—forever. “Of course.”

He finally slid it onto my finger, moving it past the small knuckle along my finger until it fit snugly against the palm of my hand. He eyed the black diamond sitting on my finger before he brought it to his lips and kissed the back of my hand, his eyes on me the entire time.

I felt a chill run down my spine, a heat sear along every inch of my skin.

He cornered me into the wall then dug one hand into my hair, claiming me with a kiss that stole my breath. His powerful body pressed against me, his chiseled physique feeling like a wall. His fingers latched on to my hair possessively, claiming me as his once more. This time, he wouldn’t let me go—not ever.

His other hand unzipped the back of my dress until it came loose. He pushed it off and let the material fall into a pile on the floor. Instead of taking off my panties, he ripped them off with his bare hand. They snapped at the seam, coming apart until they fell on top of my dress.

I pushed his jacket off then loosened his tie. My mouth moved with his, aching to get more of his lips and his tongue. Every time I thought I’d caught my breath, he took it away again. I got his belt undone and finally unfastened his slacks, wanting him to be free.

Once his cock was out, he scooped me up and pinned me against the door. He held me up with his body while one hand remained in my hair. Then he shoved himself inside me, taking my pussy like it was his.

I’d never get used to that enormous cock inside me. It was so big, and I was so small. But I loved every second of the pain, every second of the stretching my body did just to accommodate him.

He fucked me against the wall, his ass tightening with every thrust. I could see our reflection in the mirror on the opposite wall, and I watched his strong body overpower mine. He held me up with ease as if I didn’t weigh anything, and he continued to fuck me like we hadn’t just made love the night before. “You’re mine now. Do you understand me?”

His bossiness came out, but I didn’t mind one bit. He’d been mine the entire time we were apart. If he had been with another woman, I would have considered it to be an act of betrayal. “Yes.”

“Say it.”

I was about to come. I could already feel it. “I’m yours…”

* * *

We showered together upstairs in his bathroom, the hot water falling down on us and soothing our bodies after the rough sex we had against the wall. I still wore my ring and noticed he never took his off. “Did you start wearing that because of me?”

He rinsed the shampoo from his hair then looked at the black ring on his right hand. “Yes.”

“So people would know you were committed to me?”

His eyes found mine, dark and intense. The only answer he gave me was a scorching kiss, the kind with a little bit of lip and a little bit of tongue. He pulled away again and grabbed a bar of soap.

I took the bar from his hand and lathered his chest with it. I loved any excuse to touch him, so I caressed his skin with my fingertips. I moved over his shoulders and down his chest, feeling his underlying strength. His cock was hardening again even though we just had the kind of sex neither one of us would complain about. “So…where do we go from here?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart. Wherever we want.”

He said he wasn’t sure if he could do marriage and kids, but I was sure if I gave him enough time, he would change his mind. We had to take it day-by-day, one step at a time. “You’ll be able to handle vanilla all the time?”

He watched me rub the soap against his body, the suds dissolving into his skin. “I’ll do my best. It’s better than living without you. After six weeks of that, I couldn’t handle it anymore. I would much rather try to make this work than find someone else that means nothing to me.”

My hands faltered as I rubbed the soap into his skin, touched by what he said. “You didn’t have to give up Ruin for me. I’ve never really had a problem with it, just with your demand to make me your sub.” My hand moved again, trailing the soap down his hard chest and even harder stomach.

“It’s not a good environment for me. It’ll only tempt me.” He grabbed the soap from my hand then rubbed me down instead, lathering it into my skin and massaging my tits like they were filthy. “I’m sure Jackson will do fine. And if he doesn’t, he can always call me.”

It was still hard to believe that he’d done this for me. “Are you sure about this?”

Calloway’s hand moved to my chin, and he lifted my gaze until I was forced to look at him. “All I know is I can’t lose you. So if this is what I have to do, I’ll do it.”

* * *

I was now the black sheep at Humanitarians United. I was no longer invited to lunch with the rest of the staff, and anytime I walked into a room, the conversation died down like they’d just been talking about me.

It sucked.

I suspected things would be difficult once they knew I was sleeping with Calloway, but I didn’t expect everything to change so dramatically. They’d all liked me before they knew about my personal relationship with the boss. I was still a great worker who was passionate about my job. I gave a hundred percent at all times. But that didn’t seem to matter to them.

Now I was just the boss’s squeeze.

At lunchtime, Calloway visited my office. He leaned against the doorframe and announced himself quietly.

I picked up on his presence because there was abundant electricity in the air. It seared my skin and made me hot everywhere. I turned around and faced him, seeing him look like a model in his black suit. “What can I do for you, Mr. Owens?”

His gaze turned a shade darker, a shade more threatening.

I knew I’d said the wrong thing.

“We’re going to lunch.” He nodded in the direction of the hallway. “Now.”

I really hated being told what to do, but since everyone was around, I didn’t argue with him. They already hated me, and I didn’t want to give them any reason to hate me more. I grabbed my purse and walked into the hallway with him. Once we were in the elevator, I spoke my mind. “I don’t like being told what to do.”

He kept his hands in his pockets and stood on the other side of the elevator, purposely keeping his distance from me. “That’s too bad.”

“Too bad?” I asked coldly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

The elevator continued to descend to the bottom floor. “I’ve given up my lifestyle for you, in case you’ve forgotten. You can let me be dominant in other ways. When I say we’re going somewhere, we’re going somewhere.”

“I didn’t agree to that,” I snapped. “You said you would be my boyfriend.”

“I am your boyfriend.” He turned to me, his gaze cold. “I’ll do everything you ask. But don’t expect me to change who I am. Besides, I know you like it.”

“Then why am I so pissed right now?”

He shrugged. “As if I have a clue.”

I rolled my eyes. “Just don’t do it at work.” I had to admit, I did like it. I liked it when he told me to bend over so he could fuck me. I liked it when he told me to cuddle into his side while we slept. Sometimes, it got my engine going. But other times, like now, I didn’t care for it. “Okay?”

He looked forward again, waiting for the doors to open now that we were on the bottom floor.

“Okay?” I pressed.

He wore an arrogant smile, a slight one that was hardly noticeable. He walked out first then held the door open for me. His silence suggested the conversation was finished—to him.

I kept my outrage to myself and walked out.

We left the building then reached the sidewalk. Calloway kept walking like he knew exactly where he was going. We crossed the street then entered the lobby of a beautiful hotel.

“Do they have a restaurant here?”

Calloway approached the front desk without answering my question. “Reservation for Owens.”

Reservation?

The clerk did a few things on the computer before he handed over a room key. “Enjoy your stay, sir.”

“Thank you.” Calloway took my hand and pulled me into the elevator.

“What are we doing?”

The elevator rose several floors before the door opened again. “We’re gonna fuck, and then we’re gonna have lunch.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the hallway. He located the room and got the door open. Inside was a fancy suite, something too nice to only be used during a lunch hour.

“You’re being serious.” Calloway wasn’t the joking type, but this was extreme for him.

“Absolutely, sweetheart.” He picked up the phone and ordered two random entrees from the menu. “Have it here in twenty minutes.” He hung up then turned back to me, already undoing his tie around his corded neck. His muscular hands worked quickly, dropping pieces of clothing on the floor.

“We’ve never done this before.”

“No, we haven’t. But things are different now.” He walked up to me and guided me backward until my knees hit the foot of the bed.

“Different how?”

“You know what kind of man I am. You know what kind of needs I have. I haven’t had you in six weeks, and now I need to catch up.” He yanked up my skirt then pushed me back onto the bed. “Or would you rather I fuck you on my desk at the office? Honestly, that’s what I prefer. But I figured you’d rather have it this way.” He pulled my panties off but left my heels on. The bed was elevated, so it was the perfect level for his hips. He dragged me to the edge and dropped his slacks and boxers to the ground.

Now that his gorgeous cock was right against my entrance, I didn’t care about how unprofessional we were both being. I wanted his length inside me, to feel the stretch that always made me a little sore afterward. “I just want you inside me. I don’t care where.”

His eyes darkened, and the corner of his mouth rose in an arrogant smile. “That’s my sweetheart.” He pressed his head inside me and greeted my wetness with his own. Slowly, he slid inside me, stretching me wide apart as his cock marked its territory. His hands gripped the backs of my knees as he spread my legs. A loud moan issued from his throat as he sank every inch into me. “Your pussy is always so tight.”

My hands gripped his hips, and I pulled him into me as he thrust, working together to feel each other as much as possible. It started off slow and gentle, both of us appreciating the sensations between us. But then it erupted into ruthless fucking, both of us eager to get more of each other.

I loved the way he pinned me at the edge of the bed, keeping me stationary while he worked his body to fuck me. He was so desperate to have me that he took me across the street during our lunch hour just to fuck. That made me feel desirable and unbelievably sexy. Calloway didn’t just say pretty lines to make me feel beautiful. He always touched me and showed me how attracted to me he truly was.

His eyes locked to mine, looking like a king as he stood tall over me. His impressive length continued to fit inside me, forcing my body to accommodate him. “I love looking at you.” He tightened my knees against my waist, keeping me wide open for his cock to enjoy.

My hands wrapped around his wrists so I had something to grab on to. His pulse thudded against my fingertips, powerful and strong. I could feel his arousal through the strong beat, the vibration against my fingertips. Everything about that moment turned me on, aroused me to exceptional new heights. “Calloway…”

He released his left hand and grabbed my right one, interlocking our fingers together so he could feel the ring he’d given me. Once he touched the metal, his gaze darkened and took on a new intensity.

My orgasm was unexpected. It came in a rush, striking my body all over and making me writhe. I arched my back as the sensation rocked through me, and the scream that accompanied it must have reached our neighbors next door. I gushed around his cock, my come sheathing his length.

He leaned over me, his strong arms holding his massive body on top of mine. He ground his hips harder into me, his body rubbing against my throbbing clitoris. He gave me a final kiss, slow and seductive, just before he released inside me. He inserted his entire length into me, nearly hitting my cervix, and he dumped all of his arousal inside me. His eyes were glued to mine, wanting to watch me fill up with his come. A quiet moan burst from the back of his throat as he finished. “Fuck…”

I gripped his hips as I kept him within me, wanting to feel our connection for a moment longer. Soon, room service would arrive, and we’d have to return to work. But for now, I could enjoy his cock just a little longer.

He didn’t touch my hair like he usually did, probably not wanting to mess it up before I returned to the office. He kissed me again, his cock softening inside me. “I want you to feel my come for the rest of the day.”

“I do too…”

His eyes narrowed on my face, clearly pleased by that response. He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead, his kiss warm and his smell intoxicating, then he pulled his cock out as he stood.

The second he was gone, I felt like I was missing a piece of myself.

A knock sounded on the door. “Room service.”

Calloway took his time putting on his clothes, not rushing for anyone.

I walked into the bathroom and shut the door, too much of a mess to be seen by anyone. I heard Calloway open the door and take the tray before the delivery man left. “He’s gone, sweetheart.”

I came out, my hair fixed and my dress smoothed out. I could feel the weight of his come still sitting inside me, heavy and warm.

Calloway had the table set up in front of the large window that overlooked the city. There were two glasses of water along with our entrees. He’d ordered salads and sandwiches for both of us. He came to my side of the table and pulled out my chair just like he would at a restaurant. He’d just screwed me at a hotel in the middle of his lunch hour, but he treated me like a queen a moment later.

He sat across from me and sipped his water, his jaw chiseled and defined. His gaze was less brooding, less intense now that he got what he wanted out of me. He started with his salad first and ate quietly, his gaze moving to mine once in a while.

I ate in silence, having nothing to say now that we’d already had a full conversation with our bodies.

“How is everyone treating you?”

I cracked a sarcastic laugh. “They all hate me, Calloway. And you know that.”

He took a bite of his sandwich and took his time chewing. He didn’t inhale his food like most men I knew. There was no way in hell he would be built like a Roman soldier if he ate too much. “That’s a shame. I’m sorry to hear that.”

I shook my head because I didn’t know what to say. “I knew it would happen once we paraded it around the office like that.”

“We didn’t parade anything. It’s not like I fucked you in the middle of the conference room during a meeting.”

“We made it just as obvious. We always come in together. We leave together. And if anyone watched us go to lunch, they would have seen us check in here.”

“So what?” he asked coldly. “We keep it professional at the office. They shouldn’t treat you differently just because you’re sleeping with me. It doesn’t affect your working ability.”

“But it affects my work ethic.”

He took another bite, taking his time. “If anyone takes it too far, let me know. I’ll fire them.”

Even if they treated me like shit, I would never tell Calloway. I wouldn’t take advantage of my relationship with him just to make my life easier. That wasn’t why I was with him, and I never wanted him to question my feelings.

“It’ll die down after a while. They’ll get used to it.”

“Hopefully.” I suspected they’d always be hesitant around me. I was loyal to Calloway, so they were afraid to tell me anything, worried I would leak the information to him. Now I was the office snitch—the office slut.

“Don’t let it bother you.” He moved his hand to mine on the table, and his large hand gave mine a gentle squeeze. They were covered in masculine veins, their power obvious by the sight of the muscle underneath.

I felt warm once he touched me that way, embraced me like I was the only woman he cared about. My mouth rose in a smile, and I flicked my thumb over his hand. “Thanks…”

He brought my hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss over my knuckles, his warm breath falling on my skin. His eyes remained locked to mine, full of affection as well as attraction. “Besides, you can always be my private secretary if things don’t work out.” He waggled his eyebrows before he dropped my hand.

“I’m pretty sure I already am your private secretary—at home.”