Scarlett’s ex wasn’t around when we went to collect her things, which worked out well for all of us. The fucking shithead had her bags and boxes lined up against the wall when we walked through the door. He should consider himself lucky that he wasn’t home for me to bash his skull in for being such a jerk.

Even if he were there, I had promised Scarlett I would behave myself. And I did. I lifted all the boxes and loaded them into my car, leaving Scarlett to wait in the passenger seat. She didn’t have much to move. The entire trip lasted ten minutes before we got back into my Mercedes and drove back to my penthouse.

I reach across the center console to hold her hand against her thigh, locking our fingers together. Being with Scarlett feels so right. For the first time, in a very long time, I want to be with a woman in ways that I never thought were possible.

“Thanks for doing this, Aiden. I still can’t believe we are moving in together.”

“Same here,” I confess, still shocked that I had suggested the idea to her. “I’ve never had a roommate before.”

“We talked about this,” she shoots back. “I am not your roommate.”

“You are my submissive.”

“How about your girlfriend?”

I shake my head. “I don’t do girlfriends.”

“Is it the label that scares you? We’re going to be living together and sleeping in the same bed.”

“I said I would give sleeping together a try, not that it would become a permanent thing. And no, it’s not the label that bugs me. It’s the idea of someone wanting more of me than I am willing to give. Our relationship is different.”

Scarlett wants more, that much I can tell when I look into her eyes. She’s falling for a monster, a man who is incapable of giving her what she needs other than good sex and bruises on her once flawless skin.

“You could have any man you want. Why did you choose me?”

“Because you made it too hard for me to resist you. And I wanted to help you.”

“Are you still doing this to study me?”

“I won’t lie to you, Aiden. In the beginning, I was curious. I thought that by being your submissive that you would open up to me and allow me to find a way to solve your problem until I realized that your addiction is much deeper.”

“I don’t have an addiction.” I peel my fingers from hers and clutch the steering wheel tight. “We have gone over this, Scar.”

“You have an addiction to the power you get from watching me submit to you. While it’s not so much the action you crave, you do have an addiction to the adrenaline and the high you get from seeing me in pain. All sadists have the same addiction.”

“So you say,” I spit back, annoyed.

“You want to hurt me, do you not?”

I pull into my usual parking space and turn to face her. “Yes, I do. I told you I wanted to break you, and I meant it.”

She crosses her arms over her chest and sinks into the leather seat. “You could never break me.”

“I will try, and I won’t even mean to do it. It will happen on its own. And then, you’ll hate me because I can’t give you what you need.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t do this. Moving in together is so sudden and too soon.”

“You have a car full of stuff and nowhere to go.”

“I was planning to live with my parents until I found a place. Drive me to Highland Park. My parents will be thrilled to see me, bruises and all.” Her tone has a hint of sarcasm to it that makes me blind with rage.

I want to drag her onto my lap and spank the shit out of her. She makes me crazy and horny and so many fucking things that I can’t keep track of how I feel.

I sigh, covering my face with my hands in frustration. Then, I sit back and look at Scarlett, my hands falling to my sides. “Are you going to hold this against me forever?”

“No, and I don’t even expect you to feel sorry for hurting me because I allowed you to do it.”

“Do you want to live with your parents? I have this place all to myself. It feels more like a home when you are in it.”

She smiles. “People can change, Aiden, and so can you. I know you can.”

“You will be disappointed once you discover that will never happen. I will never change. I will never be what you want.”

“You will always be controlling and dominant, but I have hope that you can make the changes I need.”

“Like what?”

“A relationship that goes beyond a Dominant and his submissive. Love, perhaps. Maybe one day you will want a wife and children.”

“And you want those things with me?” I am so damn confused by her change in behavior.

“No, that’s not what I am saying. If things between us progress to a new level, I would hope that you would be ready to take the next step with me.”

“I’m going to hurt you, Scarlett, and you know it.” I rub my hand on her shoulder and expose her darkened skin to the cool air. “I can promise you this will happen again if you stay with me. The sex will get rougher, and your skin will never be flawless again.”

“I want you.” She takes my hand and plants soft kisses on my skin, looking up at me. “I want all of you. I don’t care if you never share my feelings as long as I have you in my life.”

The corners of my mouth turn up into a wicked grin. “Then, get your ass upstairs so I can show you what you’re getting in return.”

She licks her lips. “Make me, sir.”

Those words are all I need to hear for me to go red-hot, my pulse pounding from excitement. “You will pay for that, love.”

She winks. “I was counting on it.”