I tried to forget that terrible night and move on with my life.

Move on with Rome.

I made my peace with the fact nothing would change. She wasn’t going to budge in her decision, as ridiculous as it was, and I had to accept it. As disappointed as I was, I knew I had to make this work because I’d be so much more miserable if I lost her.

Been there, done that.

I finished up in my office then walked down the hallway until I walked into her space. Rome sat at her computer desk with perfect posture, looking just as refreshed as she did when she walked in that morning. She was so passionate about her projects that she never seemed drained.

She didn’t notice me because she was typing an email on her computer. She was so engrossed in what she was doing she didn’t realize I was lurking in the doorway.

I let her finish before I made my presence known. “Ready to go, sweetheart?”

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she realized I was there. “Geez, how long have you been standing there?”

“For a few minutes. But don’t feel bad. I enjoyed the view.”

Her mouth automatically fell into a warm smile as she shut down her computer and grabbed her purse. “Of me sitting on my ass.”

“Any view of that ass is a good one.”

She met me by the door, and to my surprise, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed me on the lips. She never gave me affection at the office, but she must have made an exception since most of the staff were already gone for the day. Or I just looked so handsome that she didn’t care.

I hoped it was the second one.

We left the office together then rode the elevator down to the ground floor. My hand found hers, and I intertwined our fingers, not caring if the security guys spotted us together. We were both off the clock, so the affection shouldn’t matter. Plus, I was the boss. So, it really shouldn’t matter.

“Wanna see my mom today?” We saw her almost every day. Sometimes it was for an early dinner or later in the evening before she went to bed.

“Yeah. Is Jackson coming?”

I was pretty sure that ship was never going to sail. “I don’t think Jackson is gonna come along.”

“Then you need to make him.”

“It’s impossible to make the Owens brothers do anything.”

“We’ll see about that.” She extended her open palm and silently asked for my phone.

I fished it out of my pocket and dropped it into her hand.

She looked through my contacts then called him once we were sitting in the back of the car.

“Yo,” Jackson said into the phone. “Sick of the same flavor yet?”

I knew exactly what he meant by that, and I was sure Rome did too.

If she did, she didn’t make it apparent. “It’s Rome, not Cal.”

“Oh…what’s up?” He immediately became uncomfortable, probably knowing why she was calling before she even said anything.

“We’re going to see your mother, and you’re joining us.”

“I’m busy,” he barked. I could hear him from my seat against the window.

“Then stop being busy,” she argued. “We’re pulling up to Ruin, and you better come out.”

“Or what?” he asked with a laugh.

“I’ll march in there and pull your ass out, that’s what.” Rome’s eyes turned that sexy green color they did when she was sassy.

Now I really wanted to fuck her.

Jackson didn’t make the mistake of calling her out on her bluff. “Jesus Christ, fine. I’ll be outside in ten minutes.”

“Make it nine.” She hung up and handed the phone back to me.

My cock was hard in my slacks and was eager for release from his cage. Oddly enough, I liked to be the one in charge, to tell people off and be an asshole. But when she ran the show and made the demands, it really turned me on. I still hadn’t figured out why.

The driver changed direction to Ruin, and I rolled up the center divider between us. The back windows were tinted so we had all the privacy we needed. I was eager to get my dick inside her, the dominant version of me coming out when I didn’t expect it to. I undid my slacks and pulled my cock out. “Suck me off. Now.”

Her eyes widened imperceptibly when I issued the command.

Instead of backing off, I held my ground. I massaged my length with my hand, rubbing my thumb over the head where the small drop formed.

Witnessing me touch myself must have turned her on because she pulled her hair over one shoulder then leaned over me in the back seat. She grabbed my base then wrapped her lips around my length, taking me in just the way I liked.

I leaned back and watched her as my hand dug into her hair and fisted it so it wouldn’t fall into her face. “We have about six minutes. Make it quick.” I guided her face up and down, having her move across my length the way I preferred.

Rome did as I asked, moving down my length quickly without wasting any time. She jerked her hand at the same time, giving me a quickie that would have a satisfying climax at the end.

I yanked up her dress then gripped her backside with my free hand, loving the perky curve of that ass. I spanked her gently, my instincts kicking in.

She didn’t stop what she was doing. In fact, she moved harder. Saliva dripped down my length to my balls, and she made quiet gagging noises when she took too much of my cock into that tiny little mouth. She forced her jaw apart so her teeth wouldn’t nick me. For someone so inexperienced, she gave great head.

When she moved to the top of my head, she sucked it hard, pulling all the pre-come from my head onto her tongue, and then sheathed me once more. Without sticking my hands between her legs, I knew she was wet.

I knew we were just a short distance away from Ruin, but I wouldn’t last much longer anyway. I ran my hand over her ass and the steep curve in her back, feeling the searing heat deep in my groin.

“Faster.”

Rome craned her neck and moved up and down faster, some strands of hair falling toward her face. She breathed through her nose and flattened her tongue, giving me a good and hard blow job.

I was about to come. I felt it all the way in my bones. “It’s coming, sweetheart.”

She deep-throated me harder even though it caused tears to sting her eyes.

That was my woman. She wanted to give it to me good no matter how uncomfortable it made her.

She massaged my balls as she took more of my cock, wanting my come as desperately as I wanted to give it.

I knew the finale was here. It burned me from the inside out because it was so powerful. I grabbed the back of her neck and guided her along my length exactly the way I wanted. When my cock thickened and I released, I pushed her mouth down completely on my length so she would get every drop right down her throat. “Fuck…yeah.” I laid my head back and closed my eyes, enjoying her wet mouth still tight around my cock. My balls tightened in joy as they released.

Rome took everything without gagging, devouring my come like a pro. She never complained about my size or the amount of seed I dumped inside her. She did the best she could because I always did the same for her.

She pulled my cock out of her mouth then licked her lips. Webs of saliva extended from her lip to her chin, so she grabbed a tissue and cleaned herself up. The back of the car immediately smelled like a mixture of come and saliva, but that didn’t matter because I owned the damn thing.

I cleaned up and pulled my boxers and slacks back on.

Rome sat beside me and crossed her legs like nothing had just happened. She returned to looking like a graceful lady, poised and refined.

She was definitely the queen of great head.

The car came to a stop, and when I glanced out the window, I realized we were in front of Ruin. “Right on time.”

She fixed her hair then gave me a seductive smile. “I get the job done.”

I chuckled and pulled her into my side for a kiss. The need for affection overcame me, and I yanked her right beside me so I could treasure her. Moments like this made me realize not getting what I wanted wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Even though she wasn’t a sub, she went the extra mile to please me. She was beautiful, absolutely wonderful. I couldn’t whip her or suspend her from the ceiling, but I got just as many good benefits from our relationship. She was definitely the sexiest woman I’d ever been with. Even when we were screwing, I enjoyed being around her. I’d never felt that way for any other woman.

We walked inside and entered the office where Jackson was likely hiding. Instead of knocking, we just walked inside and spotted him sitting at his desk.

He sighed when he spotted us. “Am I being kidnapped?”

“Yep.” Rome stepped forward, her hands on her hips. “Are we gonna do this the easy way or the hard way?”

“Depends,” Jackson replied. “Does the hard way involve you touching me?” He smiled like an arrogant asshole.

I gave him a warning with just my eyes.

“Actually, yes.” Rome approached the desk. “It involves my foot right against your dick.”

“Like…you’ll jerk me off with your feet?” he asked hopefully.

“Jackson.” I gave him his second warning. He knew what would happen if I had to warn him again.

“You guys are so lame.” He rolled his eyes then hopped out of the leather chair. “Fine, whatever. Let’s get this over with.”

* * *

Jackson trailed behind and practically dragged his feet on the ground. He hung in the rear as we moved through the assisted-living facility and to my mother’s room. We greeted the nurse then walked inside. The French doors that led to the patio were wide open, and my mother sat in the lounge chair with her knitting on the table beside her.

Jackson stopped in the middle of the room, his feet suddenly immobile. He stared at the back of our mother’s head, a reluctant expression on his face. He looked frozen, even scared.

I’d never seen him make a face like that.

Jackson continued to stare at her, watching her hands work the fabric of the scarf she was making. He suddenly looked like a little boy again, a small child who longed to be in the protective arms of his mother.

Rome went ahead first and greeted my mother. Their quiet voices barely trailed to our ears inside the apartment.

I walked back to Jackson and stood beside him. “You can do it, man.”

“I haven’t seen her in…years.”

“I know.” Jackson was one of the few people in the world where I could let my guard down. He said a lot of stupid things to piss me off and did even stupider things to make me angry. But all of that didn’t matter because he was still my brother. “It’ll be okay. You don’t have to say anything.”

“I’m not sure if I could even if I wanted to…”

I wanted to tell him it got easier as time went on, but it never did. Seeing my mother so weak and helpless was always heartbreaking. She used to be strong, the kind of woman that didn’t put up with anything. She spent her time gardening, getting her hands dirty in the soil, and the house was always spotless. If I came home from school and trailed mud into the house, she would make me mop and vacuum the entire house just to teach me a lesson. I thought she was a hard-ass at the time, but now I understood she made me into a strong man rather than an arrogant asshole. “It’ll be alright. She’s a delight to talk to.”

“Yeah?”

I nodded then patted him on the back. “Come on.”

I walked onto the balcony next, watching Rome and my mother chat about the new flowers that had just been planted in the garden over the balcony. I held the book under my arm and greeted her with a smile. “You must be Theresa. I’m Calloway.” I extended my hand.

She eyed it before she shook it.

It was strange to shake hands with my mother. It never got easier.

“You’re a very handsome young man.” She usually blurted that out at some point during the conversation.

“Thank you. You’re a very pretty lady.”

She immediately smiled at the compliment. “That’s very nice of you to say.”

I moved aside so Jackson could greet her.

He stepped closer then eyed her blankly, at a loss of words now that he was face-to-face with our mom. It’d been at least five years since he last saw her face.

Mom stared at him blankly, obviously uneasy about the odd way he was looking at her.

Suddenly, Jackson kneeled down and hugged her. He wrapped his large arms around her and held her. “I’m Jackson…”

My expression softened when I saw Jackson wear his heart on his sleeve. He acted like a tough guy all the time, but he was just a man underneath that rough exterior.

Mom returned the embrace, and a small smile crept on to her lips. “You’re a very sweet young man. It’s nice to meet you.”

Rome blinked her eyes quickly to rid her tears.

Jackson finally pulled away, looking just ghostly as he did before. “Thanks…” He rose to his feet again then stood beside me like he didn’t know what else to do.

We took our seats in the lounge chairs, looking at my mother with the partially completed scarf on her lap. Her short hair was curled and framed around her face. She wore a blue collared shirt with a white gold necklace around her throat. Her eyes were alive with brightness now that she had company to share the afternoon with. I could see so many of my own features, my eyes as well as my facial structure. I’d inherited my father’s rugged masculinity, as had Jackson. But the few soft expressions I possessed came from her. “We thought we could read to you today. How does that sound?”

“That’s very sweet, but no thanks. I would much rather enjoy a conversation with you.” My mother’s reaction to us was always different, and that was interesting to both Rome and me. Sometimes she wasn’t in the mood to talk. All she wanted was to listen to a good story. And other times, she wanted to chitchat. Her moods couldn’t be attributed to any specific event. That was just how she felt when she woke up first thing in the morning.

She eyed Jackson and me, her gaze switching back and forth between us. “Are you two brothers? You have the same eyes…”

Jackson was still incapacitated. Words didn’t form on his tongue, and he didn’t open his mouth to speak.

So I took over. “Yes, we are. I’m the older one.”

“That’s sweet,” she said. “You guys are close?”

That was a complicated question. “We see each other pretty often.” We didn’t exactly go out and get a beer together, but we seemed to be in each other’s business a lot.

She nodded. “That’s lovely.” She turned to Rome. “Are you seeing either one of them?”

Rome placed her hand on mine. “Calloway and I have been seeing each other for almost a year.”

Wow. I couldn’t believe how much time had passed. “Yeah.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Mom asked Jackson.

“Uh…” Jackson struggled to answer the question even though her interest seemed harmless. “No…no girlfriend.”

“Take your time,” Mom said. “You want to find a nice girl to settle down with. It’s better to wait for a truly fantastic woman than to settle for someone mediocre. You two are too handsome for ordinary.”

My mom still gave me advice without even realizing it.

“Keep waiting, Jackson,” Mom continued. “I’m sure there’s another Rome out there for you.”

Rome smiled at the compliment.

Jackson still looked sick.

I nudged him in the side, encouraging him to talk to her like she was a normal person.

Jackson cleared his throat. “So…what are you making?”

“A scarf.” She held up the piece she’d constructed. It was only halfway completed, but it was a nice mixture of colors, perfect for springtime. “I’m not sure if I’ll ever wear this, but I thought it would look nice.”

“Yeah…” Jackson cleared his throat. “It is nice.”

I knew I couldn’t push Jackson too hard. He wasn’t good at dealing with his emotions. I wasn’t much better, but I could handle difficult situations a little better. “Maybe you could wear it with a dress or something.”

“Exactly what I was thinking.” She eyed Rome before she turned back to her knitting. “But I think Rome would look much better in it. Just let me finish this up, and you can take it with you when you go.”

“Oh…” Rome flinched at the offering. “Thank you…that’s sweet.”

“A beautiful scarf for a beautiful girl,” Mom said. “It’s perfect.”

Rome smiled, her eyes full of tears.

Even when my mother didn’t know who we were, she still treated us exactly the same way as she would if she knew Jackson and I were her sons. That was the kind of person my mom was, always making everyone feel like family. My dad was such an ass to her. I was grateful she didn’t remember him.

Jackson must have had the same thought because he suddenly excused himself to use the restroom. “I’ll be right back…” He left the patio and retreated back inside.

Rome watched him go, sympathy written on her face.

I decided to follow him, knowing he needed some comfort in this dark time. Rome engaged my mom in conversation, so I slipped away without notice. I walked inside and reached the lobby where Jackson had taken a seat on one of the comfortable couches.

I sat right beside him, our knees almost touching.

Jackson stared at the floor. “Sorry…I just…I don’t know.”

“I get it, man.”

“She’s exactly the same, you know? She just doesn’t remember things.”

“Yeah, her personality hasn’t changed.”

“I feel like I’m talking to my mom…but she doesn’t know I’m her son…but I feel like her son.”

I nodded. “I get what you’re saying.”

“Makes me happy, but it also makes me sad.”

Those were the exact emotions I felt every single time I came to visit. “I want to tell you it gets easier, but it doesn’t. I guess I’ve gotten a little numb now that I’ve been visiting her more often, but even then, it’s not easy seeing her like this. But you know if the situation were reversed, she’d visit us every single day.”

Jackson showed his agreement with a nod. “Yeah…now I feel guilty.”

He should have been visiting her with me this entire time, but I certainly didn’t think less of him for it. “Don’t feel guilty. I know your absence isn’t caused by indifference, but pain.”

He finally pulled his gaze from the floor and stared straight ahead. “Rome is good with her.”

“Rome has a special effect on people.” She’d worked her magic the first time I laid eyes on her. After all this time, I was still just as obsessed as I was then. “Mom never remembers her, but she always falls in love with her every time she comes to visit.”

“Yeah, I can see why you’ve fallen in love with her.”

I didn’t agree with the statement, but I didn’t contradict it either. Love was a complicated emotion that was too pure for me to feel. My father claimed he loved my mother, and then he turned into a complete nightmare.

“I guess I can go back in there now. Just needed a moment to calm down. This is a lot harder than I expected it to be.”

“Just remember, Mom is in a great place. This facility takes good care of her, cooks for her, takes care of her medications. She’s in great health too. She does her hair just the way she used to, wears nice clothes…she’s the same.”

“Yeah, I know.”

I patted him on the shoulder. “Let’s get back in there. Visiting hours are over in about an hour.”

“Okay.” He took a moment to compose himself before he stood up, rising to his full height. He nearly as tall as I was, only about an inch of difference between us. “Let’s do this.”

* * *

We finally made it home and had dinner. We were both starving after spending the evening with my mother and having nothing in between. We ate at the dinner table like usual but didn’t make conversation because we were both too hungry to say anything. We scarfed down our plates then loaded them into the dishwasher.

I dropped my jacket over the back of the couch and loosened my tie before I sat on the couch. I usually showered after I got home from work, but tonight I was too drained to care about completing my regular activities.

Rome sat beside me and kicked off her heels. She always massaged her feet because her shoes killed her feet, but yet, she continued to wear them. The stupidity drove me crazy sometimes. The only reason why I didn’t say anything was because she looked damn fine in those five-inch stilettos.

“Jackson is kind of a sweetheart,” she said quietly.

“Yeah. He tries to act macho, but he’s really a pussy.”

She sent me a glare because she didn’t care for my cold comment. “Calloway.”

When she gave me that no-bullshit attitude, I couldn’t help but respect her. No one else ever stood up to me, not even Jackson. “He has a big heart. He tries to hide it all the time, but it’s definitely there.”

“You’re both very sweet.”

That was debatable. Jackson and I both got off on whipping women, so we weren’t exactly Prince Charming.

“I think a real man wears his heart on his sleeve. I think a real man should love his mother. And I think a real man shows his feelings without caring what anyone thinks. Both of you are that way.”

“For the most part.” But we both possessed darker sides. If I could kill Hank and get away with it, I would. If I could have killed my dad before he’d had the chance to hurt my mother and me, I would have. Just because I hadn’t committed any sins didn’t mean I wouldn’t have, given the opportunity. I treated Rome with respect only because she demanded it. If she were a different woman, I would expect a perfect submissive or walk away. “With a few exceptions.”

“Well, I think you’re the greatest man I’ve ever known.” She held my gaze as she said it, showing her sincerity. The affection was in her eyes, the look she gave me countless times during the day. It was the same expression she gave me when we made love. I knew exactly what it meant—that she loved me.

I loved seeing that look.

“I think you’re the greatest woman I’ve ever known.” I leaned toward her and pressed my lips against her neck. The second my mouth was on her skin, my body flushed with heat. It burned my lips and made my mouth ache for more.

Rome’s body reacted to mine, and her hands touched me everywhere, moving up my arms until she reached the buttons of my shirt. She undid each one, popping them open until the shirt came loose. “Make love to me…” Her lips moved against my ear, her voice deep and seductive.

She never needed to ask me to do such a thing, but I loved hearing the demand anyway. I wanted my woman to want me as much as I wanted her. I wanted to give exactly what she wanted to take.

I moved her to the cushions of the couch and got her ready underneath me, not even bothering to take off all my clothes before I got inside her. My slacks and boxers were pulled over my ass, and my shoes were still on. Her panties were pulled to the side because there wasn’t time to remove them.

I shoved myself inside her, and that’s when the connection began. That exquisite alignment of heartbeats, the deep breathing we both shared, and the excitement that neither one of us could contain ran wild through both of us.

Now she was all I could think about.

And I was all she could think about.