Rome wasn’t going to change her mind.

I needed to accept it and move on.

For the most part, I thought I could do that. The sex satisfied me. There was no other woman I wanted to be with besides her. I didn’t have fantasies about other women, and I certainly didn’t think about my former lover, Isabella.

But there were moments…of weakness.

Sometimes my thoughts would drift away during the workday, thinking about how Rome would look in my exclusive playroom at Ruin. I would graze the edge of the whip across her delicate skin, making patterns in my movements. And then I would strike without warning, tapping her along her back or her ass.

And also the mound between her legs.

I found myself so aroused that I forced myself to think about work, something I found innately boring. It usually did the trick and caused my cock to deflate like a popped balloon. After a few minutes of tenderness in my balls, that faded away too.

And I returned to calm.

Rome and I didn’t talk about our fight again after we fucked on the kitchen counter. We both took out our rage on one another, fucking to rid the irritation we both felt. I wanted her to change for me, to make a compromise. And she wanted me to be purely vanilla, a man satisfied with straight sex.

We would never meet in the middle.

But since there was no other option, I stayed. I could be with another woman, but that would mean she could be with another man.

And that would certainly make me commit murder.

I worked out vigorously that morning before Rome woke up, going for a long run on the treadmill and then hitting the weights hard. I hadn’t been sticking to my routine lately because I was too depressed when Rome left me. Then when she came back to me, I didn’t want to leave her unprotected just to hit the gym. Getting a private work-out area in my garage seemed to be the best solution to my problem.

I finished a set then sat on the work-out bench, sweat drenched into my clothes and skin. It felt good to work out again. My body finally got to move and feel those endorphins it missed. In some ways, the intensity reminded me of my sessions with a sub—powerful and challenging.

The garage door opened, and Rome stood there in one of my black t-shirts. My clothes were at least three times too big for her, but the shapeless fabric somehow looked sexy on her—probably because it was just another way for me to possess her. “It’s Saturday morning.”

“Your point?”

“Who works out on a Saturday morning?” she asked incredulously.

“A man with a beautiful woman to satisfy.” I racked the weights then wiped the sweat off my forehead with my shirt.

“Well, you could come upstairs and satisfy me,” she said playfully. “And ditch the weights.”

“They go hand in hand.” If I wanted her to remain just as addicted to me as I was to her, I had to keep myself in shape. My body needed to be chiseled from marble, and my muscles needed to be as strong as concrete. Rome loved my size and strength. She never specifically said it, but I could tell.

“I’m gonna make breakfast. You want anything?”

“Egg whites and wheat toast.”

She rolled her eyes. “That’s the most boring meal I’ve ever heard of.”

“It’s not so bad.” I massaged my hands because I’d felt the muscles in my joints tighten when I gripped the metal bars of the weights. “I’m gonna shower. I’ll join you in fifteen minutes.”

“Okay.” She rose on her tiptoes and kissed me on the lips, not caring about all the sweat. She placed her hand against my chest, right over my damp shirt. She didn’t seem to care about that either because when she pulled away, a smile was on her lips. “I’d love to watch you work out sometime.”

“I’ll do it shirtless, then.” I went upstairs and showered before I joined her at the kitchen table. My boring meal was covered with foil so it would stay warm. I pulled it off then sipped my coffee.

It was obvious neither one of us was going to mention last night. The conversation wasn’t going to go anywhere positive. We’d have to accept each other’s position and make the best of it. Neither one of us wanted to walk away, to be with anyone else. Ignoring the elephant in the room was the only option we had.

Rome took a bite of her single slice of French toast and read the newspaper. Black circles were marked around certain listings, like she was looking up something for sale.

I sipped my coffee then narrowed my eyes to what she was doing. “What are you doing?”

“I was just checking the listings to see what’s available.”

“Listings for what?”

“Apartments.”

I was about to take a bite of my toast when I hesitated. She was thinking about moving out? “Why would you be looking at an apartment?” Was this because of the fight we had last night?

“I know I moved in here because of the situation with Hank. Now that he’s not a problem, I thought I should leave.” She finally looked up from the paper and met my look. She immediately flinched when she saw the fury in my eyes.

“For one, we don’t know if he’s still a problem. He turned into a pussy when he came face-to-face with me, but maybe his balls will grow some courage. Two, you’ve lived with me once, and you left when I didn’t want you to. Now you’re trying to leave again. Being together under one roof is what I want. So you aren’t going anywhere.”

“I just—”

I snatched the paper and crumpled it with one hand before I set it on the table.

Rome remained calm despite my hostility. “You asked me to live with you because Hank was a problem. I didn’t know if that invitation was still active because—”

“It’s always active.” I wanted her to sleep with me every night. I wanted to look at her face every morning. I wanted us to be together all the time. If she lived somewhere else, it would just be a waste of rent because she would be here all the time anyway. And I would be worried about her living alone.

“So…you’re asking me to move in with you?”

“Obviously.”

“Calloway.” She gave me a firm look, telling me she was being dead serious. “Are you really asking me that?”

We hadn’t even been seeing each other for a year yet, and our relationship wasn’t even close to being normal. We waited a month to have sex, but our relationship still progressed at an alarmingly rapid rate. But there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that she should be there with me. I didn’t want her to live on her own just out of principle. I wanted us to be together—always. “No.”

Her eyebrows scrunched together.

“I’m telling you to live with me.”

Her eyes softened at the remark, the blush moving into her cheeks. When she showed her vulnerable side, she was somehow more beautiful than when she was angry. She took a deep breath like she was trying to control an emotion circling deep inside her chest. “Good. Because I didn’t want to leave anyway.” She grabbed the balled-up newspaper then tossed it at my face, being playful.

I let it bounce off my cheek before I smiled. “I’m glad we finally agree on something.”

* * *

The second I woke up the next morning, my cock was throbbing and anxious for release. I barely even opened my eyes before I rolled over and moved on top of Rome, separating her thighs with my knees.

She was still half asleep, but her body reciprocated, her legs easily falling open. She took a deep breath as her eyes opened, taking in my features as she ran her fingers over my body. Her body danced slightly, coming alive now that she knew what was coming.

The tip of my dick found her entrance like he had a mind of his own. I slipped inside and felt the moisture between her legs. I pushed through, feeling the slickness as I sank deep inside her. I held myself up on my elbows, choosing to be lazy on a Sunday morning. Once I was completely inside her, I pressed my face into her neck and thrust slowly inside her.

She wasn’t fully conscious yet, but that made the sex better. We could really feel each other without thinking. All we did was enjoy the touch of one another, the ecstasy for our affection. My cock felt right at home in her tight pussy, the place I’d claimed as mine exclusively.

She pressed her face into my neck as her hands gripped my shoulders. She gently rocked with me but allowed me to do most of the work. It was a lazy fuck, one where we were both getting off but doing the least amount of work at the same time.

I never thought I would enjoy it so much.

There was no foreplay. No dirty talk. Just good sex.

She came in record time, breathing hard into my neck as the sensation ripped through her. She sank her teeth into my skin, biting the muscle as she suppressed her scream. Her throat was still raspy from sleeping all night, so her moans didn’t come out like they usually did.

Now I wanted to come.

Her pussy was so wet and tight, and she continued to bite me as she dragged her nails down my shoulders.

I moved my lips to her temple as I gave my final pumps. “I love coming inside you, sweetheart.”

“Mmm…” She pulled me deep inside her as she prepared for my release.

That sexy little sound she made caused me to explode. I shoved myself as deep inside her as I could go, dumping my seed and feeling high as I did it. There was nothing that made me feel more like a man—coming inside Rome.

I remained in the same position when I was finished, my face still pressed into her neck. I could smell her natural scent so easily, and I adored it. My cock softened inside her but was in no rush to leave. “Good morning.”

“Morning.” She sighed and kept her limbs locked around me, having no interest in leaving either.

“I could stay just like this all day.”

“Me too…except I have to pee.”

I chuckled then kissed her hairline. “Good point.” I moved off of her and slowly pulled out, my cock still releasing drops of my seed. When I looked down at her entrance, I could see my come dripping out.

Now I was turned on all over again.

Rome moved her fingers between her legs and touched the area, getting the come stuck to her fingers. She popped them into her mouth and sucked.

Holy fuck.

She gave me a seductive grin before she got out of bed.

I wasn’t letting her get away after that. I snatched her by the wrist and yanked her back to the bed. Positioning her diagonally across the bed, I moved on top of her again and shoved my semi-hard cock inside her. I moved through her slickness and the remains of my come, and within minutes, I was hard all over again. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

* * *

“Since we don’t have any plans today, how about we go see your mom?” Rome set the plates on the table, grilled chicken with rice and vegetables. She sat down like the conversation was casual.

But when it came to my mom, it was never casual.

I hadn’t read to my mom in a while. I was too distressed when Rome left me, and when she came back, I was too preoccupied. Every time I went and saw my mother, I hoped things would get easier—but they never did.

When I didn’t say anything, Rome looked up from her plate and looked at me.

“I haven’t seen her in a while. Been meaning to stop by.” I took a bite.

“Then we should go today.”

I didn’t want to make things complicated, but there was something I needed to say. “I appreciate the offer, but you don’t have to come with me. I don’t mind going alone.”

She eyed me hesitantly, like she was unsure if she’d said the wrong thing. “Would you prefer to go alone?”

“No. I just don’t want you to feel obligated.” She was my mom, not hers. It wasn’t a burden for Rome to carry.

“I don’t feel obligated, Calloway,” she said quietly. “You don’t have to do everything alone. We’re in this together, you know. You helped me with Hank when you didn’t have to. I want to help you in whatever way I can. My presence seems to help her memory…”

The longer this relationship progressed, the more I realized just how dependent I was. Before Rome came into my life, I wasn’t attached to anyone or anything. I alone and free, but I was okay with that. But the instant I looked at Rome, I felt something. She turned out to be a woman I could never walk away from. The affection, the closeness, everything was nice. Now I was addicted to it. “Okay. We’ll go after we’re done eating.”

* * *

With the same book tucked under my arm, we entered the assisted-living facility and greeted my mother’s nurse. She always remembered me since I’d been coming there for years. She knew a lot about my life, about my job, and even my younger brother, Jackson. But it didn’t make up for the fact that my mother didn’t even remember my face.

We walked to my mother’s room, a small one-bedroom apartment with a living room, a kitchen, and a single bedroom down the hallway. It was a nice place with plenty of room for a single person, and the balcony was the best part. It cost me an arm and a leg to keep her here, especially since Jackson refused to contribute. But it was worth it to know she was in a good place.

My mom was on the patio in her rocking chair, like always. When she was well, she used to do the exact same thing. Any excuse to be outside was a good excuse. She liked to spend her time gardening or just sipping a glass of lemonade as she watched the neighborhood kids go by on their bikes.

I examined her features the moment I stepped outside, seeing my eyes in her face. Even without her memory, she possessed the same grace. Her outfits always had to be beautiful and wrinkle-free, and the jewelry she wore was very specific. She had no one to impress, but her need to look nice was one of principle.

Like every other time I saw her, I introduced myself. “I’m Calloway. I’m from Humanitarians United, and I’ve come to read to you.” I extended my hand.

She eyed it for a moment, as if she wasn’t sure if she should touch me. Then she placed her hand in mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. “It’s nice to meet you, Calloway. Please sit down.”

I stepped aside and allowed Rome to greet her next.

My mom stared at her hard, a flash of recognition coming over her face. “Do I know you from somewhere, dear?”

I shouldn’t be jealous that my mom remembered Rome better than she remembered me. I should only feel hopeful that there was a possibility that my mom could come back from this, that she could remember some events of her life—including me.

“I came to read to you a while ago.” Rome placed her hand over my mother’s, her affection warm. “That must be why you recognize me.” She leaned down and hugged my mom, wrapping her arms around her.

My mom softened at the touch and returned the embrace, like she was greeting a daughter. “Aren’t you sweet?”

Rome sat in the chair beside me, still wearing that gorgeous smile. Not only was she beautiful, but she had this amazing quality that drew everyone’s attention. Something about her made everyone obsessed, wanting to know more about her and be with her constantly. She obviously had some kind of special ability because she changed me—a Dom.

“How’s your day going?” Rome crossed her legs and tucked her hair behind her ear.

“It’s going,” Mom said with a sigh. “I had a difficult morning…couldn’t remember where I was or how I got here. It’s just one of those days.”

I couldn’t imagine how that would feel. Every morning, my mother woke up with a blank memory. She didn’t remember her family or her friends. She woke up in a place she’d never seen before. Her nurse told me some days were difficult—and others were extremely difficult. “You look nice today, Theresa.” It was strange to call her by her first name instead of Mom. Even though I was a grown man, I still preferred to address her as my mother. She was the woman who raised me, after all.

“Thank you…” She searched my face as she tried to recall my name.

“Calloway.” I hid my hurt with a smile.

“Calloway…that’s a nice name.”

That was the twentieth time I’d hear her say that. “Thanks. My mother had good taste.”

Rome moved her hand to my knee and gave it a squeeze.

“Are the two of you married?” Mom asked.

“No,” I answered. “We’re dating.”

“You two would make beautiful children,” she said, wearing her graceful smile.

“Thanks,” Rome said. “Maybe someday.”

I couldn’t picture myself being a father. I was too fucked up in the head. But if Rome wrapped me any tighter around her finger, who knows what I would do. She practically had magical powers. “Would you like me to read to you?”

“Maybe later,” she said. “I want to know more about you. You work where?”

“Humanitarians United,” I explained. “It’s a nonprofit geared toward helping those in need in the state of New York.”

“Sounds like a great program,” she whispered. “You volunteer?”

“I work there,” I explained. “Employees get a competitive salary. Any extra cash goes back into the program to help those in need.”

“That’s amazing,” she said. “If I had money, I’d give you a donation…but I don’t think I have any money.” Her eyes trailed away, and she tried to quantify her wealth. She never worked a day in her life because my parents got married very young. But she couldn’t remember any of that.

I felt terrible for her. “Don’t worry about it. The company is doing really well right now.”

“Is that how you both met?” she asked.

I couldn’t tell my mother the story of how I met Rome. No one would ever understand. “Yeah.”

“That’s wonderful,” Mom said. “Some people say you shouldn’t date someone you work with, but I think that’s a great idea. Where else are you going to meet someone?”

In a bar where a woman walks up to you and slaps you.

Mom asked Rome a few other questions about Humanitarians United. The two of them got along well, and I could tell that my mom would love her if she could actually remember her. She would be the ideal daughter-in-law. It was a shame my mother wouldn’t remember either one us of the following morning.

Sometimes, I wondered why I put myself through this. Every time I looked at the glaze of confusion in her eyes, my heart broke. Every time I looked at the blank expression on her face, I felt disappointed. And every time I left, I felt like I didn’t accomplish a damn thing.

So why keep doing it?

The doctors said it would only get worse from here on out. There was no possibility of improvement, even with new research. But I hated the idea of my mother being completely alone with no one to visit her. She didn’t remember it anyway, but I still wanted to be there for her. I knew she would be there for me if the situations were reversed.

Rome seemed to know I was struggling in my silence because she placed her hand on mine and gave me a look of remorse. She gave my fingertips a gentle squeeze, telling me she was there for me always.

I gave her a slight nod, my poor attempt at showing my appreciation.

* * *

Dr. Niles sat behind his desk with my mother’s chart in his hand. “How are you today, Mr. Owens?”

I felt like shit. What was new? “Good. You?” Rome sat beside me in the other armchair. She had been planning on waiting outside, but I told her she belonged inside that room with me. I didn’t have any secrets from her—not anymore.

“Great.” He flipped through my mom’s chart before he interlocked his fingers together on the desk. “I’ve been reviewing your mother’s status, and she’s in good shape. Strong reflexes, great speech patterns, and her lab results look excellent. Your mother is very healthy.”

Other than the fact that she’d completely lost her mind. “Good to know. What about her memory? Can I expect it to get worse?” There wasn’t much room for her memory to become more impaired, but the brain was intricate. There could be other complications.

He sighed before he answered. “That remains to be seen. But for now, everything seems about the same.”

Rome leaned toward me and whispered. “Should you tell him about the last time you visited…?”

Dr. Niles watched our interaction, his eyes narrowed.

The event hadn’t slipped my mind. I just didn’t want to get my hopes up only to have the doctor tell me it was a fluke.

Dr. Niles grabbed his pen and clicked the tab with his thumb. He pressed the tip to his notebook. “Would you care to discuss this incident?”

Rome gave me a look of encouragement.

I rubbed the back of my neck before I answered. “I came here a few weeks ago, and she thought she recognized me.”

“And did she?” Dr. Niles had his gaze glued to my face, intrigued by the story.

“She recognized me from somewhere but couldn’t recall specifically. Then she mentioned Rome…so she remembered her from the previous visit. But when we spoke with her today, she didn’t recognize either one of us. I don’t know if that means anything. Could just have been a fluke.”

Dr. Niles bit his bottom lip as he jotted everything down, scribbling his notes with suppressed enthusiasm. His glasses sat on the bridge of his nose, slowly sliding forward because he kept his head bent for so long. “That’s very interesting…”

“Do you think it means anything?”

He finished writing and set the pen down. “Has she ever done this before?”

“No.”

“I’d say it’s a good sign. Perhaps she can form new memories but can’t recall old ones. I think you should visit her every day, if you can, and perhaps that will make a difference. Sometimes a strong stimulus can change the chemical reactions of the brain. How often do you see her now?”

“Once every few weeks.” I didn’t go as much as I should, and not because I was lazy. It was just too painful sometimes.

“Try to go every day, and see if that changes anything. The brain is like any other muscle in the body. The more you use it, the stronger it is,” Dr. Niles said.

“But she doesn’t remember her nurse,” Rome said. “And she sees her every day.”

“But there’s no emotional connection there,” Dr. Niles explained. “With the two of you, it could be different. Calloway is her son. She does have memories of him, even if she doesn’t realize it. They’re just buried deep inside.”

I could make time to see my mother every day. I had a lot of things to do, but if there was even a small hope that Rome and I could help her, we had to try. “We’ll give it a shot.”

* * *

I sat at my desk and pinched the bridge of my nose, ignoring the documents I needed to sign and the flood of emails that were hitting my inbox. I’d been working nonstop since I arrived that morning, and now I needed a mental break. My mother’s illness was weighing on my shoulders that afternoon, plus my current conflict with Rome. I wanted more than vanilla, but she wouldn’t give it to me. Also, I feared Jackson was letting Ruin go to shit without me there to hold his hand. Hank was still a problem, as far I could tell.

Everything was going to hell.

The only positive event going on at the office was the fact that my employees finally got their shit together and were treating Rome like a human rather than a prostitute. I was glad they took my threat so seriously because I would have fired every single one of them if they continued to behave like assholes.

My secretary’s voice came over the intercom. “Mr. Owens, Isabella is here to see you.”

I dropped my hand from my nose and stared at the intercom on my desk. I only knew one woman by that name—and she better not be inside this building. I hit my finger against the button. “Isabella what?”

“Not sure, sir. She said she’s from Ruin.”

Fuck, it was the same Isabella. I knew it wasn’t smart to ignore her. Whatever she came down here to say was obviously important. If I didn’t give her the attention she wanted, she would get it some other way—by showing up at my home. “Send her in.”

“Of course, Mr. Owens.”

I didn’t get up from my chair because that was too much work on my end. This had something to do with seeing me at Ruin last week. Maybe she still thought there was hope for us to resume that relationship.

I had to squash that fantasy.

The door opened, and Isabella walked inside, head held high with confidence. She sauntered into the room as she shook her hips, looking like a model on the catwalk rather than a normal person stopping by someone’s office. She was in a tight black dress like she’d just left the hottest club in town.

Any man would think she was beautiful. Stunning, even. She really did have amazing features. High cheekbones, full lips, and almond-shaped eyes that made her features even softer. The first time I looked at her, I thought she was one of a kind. It was strange to look at her now and not feel anything, so contradictory. “Is there something I can help you with, Isabella? I hope you aren’t looking for a position. My staff is full.” I kept the conversation light because she would take it to a dark place the second she took the reins.

She sat in the leather armchair facing my desk. She crossed her long legs and flipped her hair, clearly trying to capture my sexual attention with her beauty. She’d tried this tactic several times, and I wasn’t sure why she kept bothering. “I was just in the neighborhood.”

My temper was getting more difficult to restrain. “I’m at work, Isabella. I don’t have time to keep you company.”

She ignored the last thing I said. “Jackson tells me you’re still with that plain girl.”

“Trust me, she’s not plain.”

“She’s vanilla,” she hissed.

“Vanilla, yes. But not plain.” There was a big difference. If Rome could keep my attention with vanilla sex, then it was insulting to Isabella who couldn’t get me to stick around with whips and chains. “And yes, Rome and I are very happy.”

She propped her elbow on the armrest and set her chin above her slender fingertips. “How long is this really going to last, Calloway? You’re just going to hurt the poor girl.” Her condescension filled the air, like she was superior to Rome.

“A very long time.” It was difficult to imagine it ever ending. The month that we were apart, I was insanely depressed. Couldn’t remember the last time I was that low. I went through my entire liquor cabinet and had to have Tom restock it because I was too drunk to do it myself. “I hope that’s not why you’re here. I assumed you moved on from me.” I saw her with that man in the hallway. I couldn’t be sure, but he seemed like a Dom. Very few men went there who weren’t Doms.

“What we had was too great just to forget about.”

“I never said we should forget it. Just move on.”

She continued to watch me with her almond eyes, her slender neck soft. I remembered the way it used to feel when I grabbed it. “I know you better than anyone, Calloway. I know exactly what you’re into. I know exactly what you need.”

“You aren’t the only one.”

“She doesn’t accept you for who you are. She doesn’t appreciate you for the man you’ve become. But I do, Calloway. I understand exactly what you need and can give it to you. Eventually, you’re going to hit a wall in this relationship. You’re going to realize you can’t keep up with all the sissy shit she’s into. You’re going to break her heart and waste your time in the process. But with me, you could get exactly what you need.”

After all this time, she still wouldn’t give up. “Out of respect for what we had, I’ve been patient with you. But my patience is nearly gone. You and I will never be together again, even if Rome was long gone. Do you understand me, Isabella?”

“Yes.” She dropped her arm and continued to stare me down. “I understand you so well that I see the future even better than you do. Calloway, you need to tame your dominance if you want this relationship to work. If not, you’ll blow up at the most unsuspecting time. I can fix that for you.”

Now I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about.

“Let me be your sub, Calloway. Give me commands to obey. Make me submit. Be the Dom that you were meant to be.”

I couldn’t deny that I missed it. When she asked me to dominate her, I felt a rush of energy soar through my body. Rome wasn’t willing to compromise with me, and the one time she allowed me to take control, I nearly lost myself. “I’m committed to Rome.”

“I realize that,” she said coldly. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t be a Dom with me. That doesn’t mean I can’t be on my knees, the perfect sub. If you tell me to kneel, I will. If you tell me to be silent, I will. We can have what we both want—and you can have what you have with Rome.”

She wanted me to be a boyfriend to Rome—and a Dom to her. I hated myself for being tempted by the offer, to exercise my need for control in some way. If I had this with Rome, I wouldn’t feel any temptation at all. But that was never going to happen for us.

“There doesn’t need to be any sex,” she said. “Any touching. Just pure domination.”

My right hand formed a fist, tight and painful. I kept a stoic expression, but I was coming undone inside. With all the shit I was going through, I needed to let my inner Dom come out. I needed to vent my frustrations and feelings in the best way I knew how. “No.” As much as I wanted to say yes, it would be wrong. Rome would see it as an act of betrayal even though she refused to give me what I needed. And I couldn’t hurt the woman I was so obsessed with. I couldn’t hurt the woman who slept in my bed every night. She meant far too much to me. “That’s my final answer. Don’t ask me again.”

Isabella’s eyes moved to my hand on the desk, the one was clenched tightly in a fist. Her gaze lingered for a long time before she met my look again. A small smile crept on to her lips, like she knew something I didn’t. “You know where to find me when you change your mind, Cal.”

“I won’t change my mind, Isabella.”

She rose from the chair and walked to the door, sauntering like a model once more. “You say that now. But you’re going to crack, Calloway. Eventually.”