I’m no good for her. I’ve already come to terms with it. I don’t know how to help her. I know some of my own desires and needs could harm her. Emotionally, psychologically. I want to be strong enough for her. I want to have the experience to know how to heal her.

But I don’t have all the answers. My heart clenches, knowing I should let her go. Cut ties from the contract and make sure she gets the help she needs from someone else. I keep hurting her. I don’t mean to, but I know that I am.

I clench my jaw and pull out my cell phone, waiting on my sister to get here. I’m in the same spot that I was before. The same cafe we always come to. Today it’s darker. The grey clouds block the sun and rain threatens to start falling at any second, but I don’t care. I’m staying outside. At least for now.

A glance at my phone shows a text from Isaac.

It’s done.

My body stiffens slightly, and adrenaline spikes through my blood.

Her uncle is dead.

That bastard took my treasure’s innocence. Even worse, she wasn’t the first and she wasn’t the last.

The law gave him five years in prison, that’s all. And he never even went to trial for what he did to my treasure. That’s not justice. And the last girl, the second one he was prosecuted over after hurting Dahlia, was his neighbor; there wasn’t enough evidence for the judge to proceed, but I know the truth. I saw what they had on him. I read the testimonies. He needed to die.

I should feel guilty, and maybe I should even be disgusted with myself. But I don’t feel a damn thing other than satisfied. He hurt my treasure in a way I know I can never fully understand.

“Your coffee, sir.” The waitress flashes me a sweet smile, her cheeks a bright red from either the chill or more blush than necessary. “Can I get you anything else?” she asks, leaning in slightly. Too close for my comfort.

“No, thank you.” I’m short with my words, and the look on her face falls. Again, I should care. But I don’t.

“Lucian!” My sister appears from behind the waitress, sparing me whatever looks the young woman was giving me.

She wraps her arms around my shoulders, not even giving me a moment to stand.

I always look forward to seeing Anna. But as I look down to click my phone off and ignore the text message, I feel… broken. Everything is off-center and an emptiness fills my chest.

She squeezes me one more time and looks for the waitress, but she’s gone.

I huff a humorless laugh as Anna pouts and almost shrugs off her coat, but decides against it, falling into her seat and looking past me, into the cafe.

When her eyes reach me once again, that bright smile lights up her face. “You have a girlfriend,” she says, and her voice etched with awe.

I pick up my coffee and blow on it, not knowing how to handle this. I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks really. Zander and Isaac know the truth. My sister’s the only other person in my life who matters. But I’m sure as fuck not going to tell her the truth.

She leans across the small table and playfully smacks my arm as I set the cup down.

“Come on,” she urges me, “spill it!”

Her excitement brings a small smile to my face, although it doesn’t reflect what I’m feeling at the moment. “She’s a sweet girl, but I’m not sure how serious it is.” Lies. I tell my sister lies. I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. But I know I’m not good for her. I don’t know if I can keep her.

“She’s so pretty!” Anna’s eyes go wide and she lets out a soft sigh. “I can see it in your face,” she says, and her voice is teasing.

I grunt out a laugh. “Leave it be, Anna.”

“You’ll bring her to the Christmas party?” she asks me. The hopeful look on her face is too much. Christmas is less than three weeks away. I already turned her down for Thanksgiving. I’d only just gotten my hands on my treasure, and with neither of us committed to spending the holiday with family, I made sure she spent it on her knees. It was the most successful holiday I’ve had in years.

“I have no idea if we’ll still be seeing each other by then.” As I say the words, I realize how much pain they cause me. The very thought that my treasure may be gone in less than a month physically hurts. Doubt and uncertainty are two emotions I don’t handle well.

“Tell me, how are your classes going?” I ask quickly to change the subject.

“Are you high?” she asks incredulously. “It’s Christmas break.” I take a sip of the bitter black coffee, wishing this meeting were over. I have three conferences left today and only then can I go home and take care of her.

“So, Mom called me.” Anna’s words bring me back to the present.

I can feel my facial expression harden as I wait for more.

“She said she’s sorry.”

It takes a lot for me not to roll my eyes at my sister’s naiveté. She’s a sweet girl and I love her, but she’s a fool.

“What else did she say?” I ask, although I can’t keep my voice even.

She looks hurt by my harsh tone and I instantly regret it.

She softens her voice and says, “She’s really sorry.” Her eyes plead with me, but I can’t. I won’t.

“‘I’m sorry, Anna,” I shake my head and look away, “I can’t-”

She quickly reaches across the table, taking my hand in both of hers as she continues, “I’m not asking you to do anything. I promise you.” My heart clenches looking at the tears in my sister’s eyes.

“I know what they did, and it was wrong. I just wanted you to know…” her voice cracks, and she sucks in a breath. “But I know you don’t trust them,” she says as her face falls.

I stand up and hug my sister close, rubbing her arm as she holds me back.

I hate that she’s so emotional and pulled in different directions. “It’s alright, Anna.” She’s put herself in the middle of this feud. She’s suffered from both sides. I went a long time without seeing her. I regret it, but at the time I didn’t want to be reminded of what I’d lost. I wish I could take it back. I wish I could protect her from what happened.

“I love you, Lucian.” She looks up at me, brushing away the one stray tear rolling down my cheek. “I hope you know that.”

I nod my head once, holding her gaze.

“I have to go, Anna.”

She gives me a quick squeeze and regains her composure.

I hate that I have to leave her like this. But I have no solutions for her.

She sniffles and looks past me for the waitress as I put two twenties on the table and lean in to kiss her forehead.

“Take care, Anna,” I tell her as I turn away from her.

“You too,” she whispers.

* * *

This fucking meeting is never going to end. And it’s only the first of the three I need to take care of before the day is over. I’d run my hand over my face, but it’s a video conference. So instead I stare straight ahead, listening to the pros and cons of moving the manufacturing of casings for the new prototype to South Korea while leaving the remainder in the US.

I need the numbers and I need the statistics, but what I don’t need is the two heads of the two opposing divisions to get into a fucking argument and take up my time.

I finally speak up, putting an end to this nonsense. “Mr. Crenshaw, I fail to see the point of this debate.”

“It’s about timing, Mr. Stone. This is going to destroy my timeline.”

“The bottom line is what matters,” Mr. Jenkins answers in a stern voice.

There’s a knock at the door, interrupting the conference. I ignore it.

Knock knock, it comes harder this time.

Crenshaw and Jenkins continue to debate on whether or not their shipping methods are reliable and I look up to the door as I say, “Come in.” Linda knows my schedule and she should know better than to interrupt me, especially when the head of my development department is telling me my timeline may be fucked because of this change.

I glance at the door when it opens, and I have to do a double take.

“Dahlia?” I look up past the monitor and ignore the conference. Their voices pour from the speakers, but it’s white noise. Dahlia’s in my doorway, with Linda right behind her.

“Mr. Stone,” Linda says with an uneasiness as she looks between the two of us. “I wasn’t-” she starts to explain herself, but I wave her away.

“Leave us.”

Dahlia looks unsteady. She seems lost with what to do with herself. I wait for her to tell me what’s going on. Or to come over to me, but she just stands in the middle of my office, twisting her hands around the strap of her purse. With doubt in her eyes and uncertainty clear on her face.

My forehead pinches with confusion. What the hell is she doing here? It looks like she’s been crying. The realization snaps something inside of me.

I stand abruptly from my desk, and it’s only then that I hear the voices coming through. It was all white noise before.

“Mr. Stone,” several men call out. Fuck. I look back at the monitor gritting my teeth, but the moment I do, Dahlia turns to leave.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have-”

“Stay.” I give her the command, and she freezes. Her breathing is coming in harsher than before.

I walk past her to the office door, ignoring the questions coming through the speakers, and lock it before moving to the blinds and closing them all. I can feel Dahlia’s eyes on me, but I don’t turn to face her gaze until we have privacy.

“When Mr. Stone...” a voice rings through the speakers and I quickly walk over to the other side of the desk and lean forward, hitting mute and exiting out of the conference without a word. I don’t owe them an explanation, and they still need to have this sorted by tomorrow at the latest. I pay them well, and I expect no less from them.

“Lucian, I-” Dahlia finally says as I walk toward her. I take her small hands in mine and bring her closer to me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask her.

“I shouldn’t have-” she looks down at the grey carpet and shakes her head, the doubt and regret spreading through her.

I hook my finger under her chin and tilt her up so her soft hazel eyes are forced to look back at me. “What’s wrong?”

“I…” She’s so hesitant. Last night was hard on us, and I failed her. Again. This is my fault. “I feel like,” she chokes on her words, looking past me and out of the window. “I need more.”

“I’m sorry about last night,” I apologize to her. Her eyes widen slightly as I lead her to the sofa on the side of the office. “Please forgive me for not being as strong as I should be. I’ve never...” my voice trails off slightly as I debate on how to word this.

“I need to find a balance between giving you what you need, and fulfilling your desires.” I pull her into my lap and rub soothing circles along her back. “I also need to curb some of my desires, treasure. And last night that’s where I failed you.” I cup her chin in my hand and place a soft kiss on her lips.

“I can be a better Dom for you. I will.” The look in her eyes is filled with uncertainty. My heart beats frantically at the realization. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” I command her.

“I want that,” she says softly. But there’s still hesitation clearly present in her expression.

“What else do you want?” I ask her.

She’s quiet and obviously worried, and I don’t know why. Maybe she’s lost faith in me. I won’t let her think that. I won’t let her slip through my fingers.

“Get on your knees,” I tell her. I’ll make her see how good this is. I won’t let her question it. I know I failed her, but I can make this right.

Her lips part with a small gasp and she crawls off of me, keeping her eyes on mine until her knees are on the carpet and her hands rest on her thighs.

“Good girl,” I say and her expression lifts with my praise. I slowly unbuckle my belt and pull out my cock. I stroke it once and her eyes dart to it and then back to mine.

I keep stroking my dick, making her wait for it. The heated look in her eyes and the quickening of her breathing only makes me harder. It feels like velvet over a thick steel rod in my hand. I groan as a bit of precum leaks from the tip.

“Lick,” I utter, and the second the command comes out, her hot tongue laps at my head and she cleans it off with a deep moan. Her beautiful eyes look up at me while she continues to obey me, and it’s all I can take.

She wants it hard and rough, and so do I. I can give her that and keep her from taking this to a dark place that she doesn’t want to go.

I will.

I pull her up by her hips and throw her down on the sofa, pulling her skirt up over her waist and ripping her panties down her thighs. I can’t get them off fast enough, and the thin lace tears. Her neck arches at the sound, and her glistening pussy clenches.

I spread her thighs wider, and slam into her tight pussy without warning. Her back bows at the intensity, and she screams out.

“You’ll be quiet, treasure.” Her wide eyes look back at me as she bites down on her lip, and I quickly lean forward, fucking my treasure on the leather sofa with short fast strokes. My fingers dig into her hips with a bruising force as my lips crash against hers.

Soft moans mingle with our hot breath and she struggles now to writhe under me as I pound harder into her. My pants fall down around my ass as I pick up my pace, thrusting into her with a savage force, all the while kissing her with devotion and holding her close.

I can give her both. I can, and I will.

“Lucian,” she moans my name as her head falls back. Fuck, the sound of her voice full of pleasure, and the feel of her tight walls, hot and wet with her arousal makes me groan into the crook of her neck. I want to rut between her thighs with the primal desire I feel for her. I want to let loose and take from her. But I don’t. I can’t. I force myself to stay in control and grip the back of her neck as I whisper against her lips.

“Cum for me, treasure.” Her eyes stare into mine as I slide in and out of her slick pussy easily, with a force that makes her gasp slightly. Her body jolts with each hard thrust. Every time she closes her eyes, I kiss her gently, passionately, with everything I have.

I’m on edge and ready to cum. It’s hard not to with how good she feels. My toes curl, and I hold it back. Her first. I need this from her. She needs this.

“Cum for me,” I command her again, slipping my hand between our bodies and rubbing her swollen clit.

Dahlia’s eyes go half-lidded and her lips part as her head falls back. I can see she’s close, so close. I lean forward, spearing my fingers through her hair, maintaining my steady pace and bringing her forehead close to mine.

I fist her hair and pump my hips faster, gazing into her eyes. There’s a spark there, staring back at me, keeping me focused on her. Soft moans pour from her lips and I’m quick to muffle them with my kisses. Our tongues tangle in a heated need to be as close to one another as we can. Her arms wrap around my shoulders, her hands in my hair as I thrust deeper, jolting her body slightly.

I tighten my grip on her hips as she pulls away, moaning my name. Her neck arches, and her mouth opens as her pussy spasms around my dick. I groan into the crook of her neck, loving the feeling and needing more. I kiss along her neck and up her jaw to her lips.

She greedily kisses me back with a passion I’ve never felt, her hot breath filling my lungs. Her fingers dig into my back, pulling me closer to her. And I lose my composure. “Treasure,” I murmur reverently, kissing every available surface of her soft skin as I thrust into her again and again, until I reach my own climax.

The tingling pleasure rolls through my body, building with a tension in the pit of my stomach and then explodes outward. My eyes close and I pull away from her as a rough moan is torn from my throat, but Dahlia takes my head in her hands and forces me to kiss her. She presses her soft lips to mine, and I give her everything I have.

She takes every bit of me in that moment. It’s all for her.