His amused grin was back. “I like the sound of that, actually.”
We’d flirted back and forth long enough, and I was ready to get down to business. “Tell me about the job and what I’m responsible for.”
After a long look, he walked around his desk and fell into the chair. When he sat behind the majestic piece of wood, he looked kingly. As if not just the building belonged to him, but the entire city. With his slightly messy hair, crystal blue eyes, and his charming smile, he was the ruler of the world. “A businesswoman. I like it.” He opened a drawer and pulled out a folder. “Here’s everything you need to know. You start Monday. Does that work for you?”
“Sure.” I opened the folder and read the briefing. There was also an offer letter explaining my salary and benefits. When I looked at the number, I squinted because I wasn’t sure if I was reading it correctly. “The salary…”
“Yes?” Calloway rubbed his fingers along his jawline, calm and suave.
“Is this right?” I held up the paper so he could see it.
“Yes. I know how to read, Ms. Moretti.” He smiled in a condescending way, growing irritated when I doubted his reasoning. Obviously, he didn’t like being told what to do.
“It just seems excessive. It’s very important to me that I don’t get any special treatment.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. Everyone gets paid the same here, whether you’re an executive or a secretary. Makes no difference. But as you’re promoted, you’re given bonuses for years of service.” He rested both of his hands on the desk, his fingers interlocked together.
“Really?” Now I was mesmerized by the offer he’d just made, moved beyond words. Calloway ran a company aimed at helping other people. But he also took care of the employees under his wing.
“Yes. With donations as well as investments made by the company, it allows Humanitarians United to offer a competitive salary. It makes a great working environment because people are passionate about their careers, and they also make enough to put food on the table.”
Speechless, I stared at the paper. Even if I didn’t still live with Christopher, I would make enough money to actually make payments toward my loans every month. Right now, I was only putting in a feeble amount and never taking anything off the principal. My bill wasn’t getting any smaller, but I had to keep paying it every single month. With this job, I could finally eliminate my loans, one paycheck at a time. “I don’t even know what to say…” I was used to living check to check—and sometimes not getting a check at all.
The longer Calloway watched me, the more his look softened. He tried not to pity me because I asked him not to, but the expression always slipped out. “You don’t need to say anything. Just show up on Monday.”
This was my dream job. It was something I wanted to do, and I’d never imagined making this kind of money. It was probably nothing to most people, but to me, it was like winning the lottery. “Thank you.” Those two words didn’t adequately express how much it meant to me. Now I could do what I loved without having to worry about Hank stopping by. If he came to my office inside Humanitarians United, Calloway would snap his neck.
“And if you’re ever interested in making extra cash, I have a few side things you can do.” He winked.
I smiled at his teasing nature, knowing he was only half joking. “This is more than enough, so I don’t need anything else. But I’ll gladly do those things for free.” I winked in response.
His eyes lit up with joy, like it was Christmas morning. “Good answer, sweetheart.”
I scrolled through the apartment listings on my laptop, trying to find a price that wasn’t outrageous. I could afford a nice place on my own, but this was Manhattan, and real estate was insane.
Christopher walked behind the couch and spotted the listings on my screen. “Rome, what the hell?”
“What?” I asked without turning around. I continued to scroll, making mental notes about the listings that seemed like a good fit. The two things I cared most about were location and cost.
“You aren’t moving out.” He hopped over the back of the couch and landed beside me. His hand slammed on the top of my laptop, and he shut the screen. “You’re stuck here, so don’t even bother looking.”
“I thought you were eager to get rid of me.” I opened the screen again.
“Normally, yeah.” He grabbed the screen again and shut it. “But not with Hank out there. He can track you down in an apartment. But if you’re here, he can’t mess with you. The only way you’re leaving is if you move in with Calloway.”
When I opened the screen again, I kept my hand on the edge so he couldn’t close it again. “First of all, you don’t tell me what to do. I’m not sure how you forgot about that. And second of all, I can’t live with you forever. You have your life, and I have mine.”
“Rome, I don’t mind having you here. Honestly.”
“I know. But we’re both adults. We’re too old to have roommates.”
He grabbed the top of the screen.
This time, I growled through my teeth.
He quickly pulled his hand away like I might bite him. “As long as Hank is a problem, you either live with me or Calloway. That guy is dangerous, and we both know it. I’m not bossing you around, but we both know there’s no other option right now. Unless you find a roommate that’s a former member of the KGB or something.”
“I think a member of the KGB would be more dangerous than Hank.”
“Exactly,” he said. “Hank would definitely back off.”
All I needed was Calloway. With one look, Calloway would scare him off in a heartbeat. But I wasn’t ready to take that road—not yet. If I told Calloway what had happened, he would be so upset that he wouldn’t be able to see reason. Hank would end up in a dumpster somewhere on Long Island. “Alright, I won’t move—for now.”
“Good.” He left the couch and headed into the kitchen to grab a beer. “So, are you nervous for tomorrow?”
“Yes.” I would be lying if I said I wasn’t.
“Did you wrap up things with For All?”
“Yeah, it was pretty easy.” Actually, it was pathetic how easy it was to close down my business. I didn’t have very many donors, and the ones I did have didn’t have a lot of capital. My volunteers found other jobs within the snap of a finger. And I happened to be at the end of my yearly lease anyway. Now I had one less thing to pay for.
6
Calloway
Rome was a tough cookie who could take care of herself. She’d experienced more adversity than most people I knew, and as a result, she stood tall on her own two feet. When someone tried to rob her, she pinned his ass to the floor and called the cops. She could handle living in rough neighborhoods because that’s what she was accustomed to. She was proud, strong, and spunky.
Her only hint of innocence was her virginity.
Which I took—gladly.
But I was relieved she wasn’t working in that tiny office underneath a Chinese restaurant in East Manhattan. Every time I walked inside, no one else was there. If a guy gave her a hard time, it wasn’t like she could scream for help. She was handling a dying business all on her own, but she’d refused to walk away out of misplaced pride.
But now she would be working for me.
Truth be told, I thought she would be a great addition to the staff. Hardworking and compassionate, her heart was in this for the right reasons. She was grateful for the new salary, but money didn’t mean anything to her.
Honestly, she should be the one running my company.
I looked forward to working with her every day. When we were in our respective offices, we wouldn’t bump into each other often. And if I made an excuse to walk into her office every single day, people would immediately suspect what was going on.
But could I really keep my dick in my pants?
That was a hard no.
I usually got to work an hour later than the rest of the staff because I was up late at Ruin. When I dropp
ed off Rome at her apartment, I swung by the club to check on things. As a result, I needed that extra hour of sleep before I hit the gym and went to work.
My secretary handed over my messages as well as my schedule for the day. I had a lunch meeting with one of our most charitable donors, so I wouldn’t be able to sneak off with Rome. But it wouldn’t hurt for me to pop into her office and say hello on her first day. So, when my secretary took her morning break, I planned to stop by.
I just had a feeling I would never leave.
Rome’s office door was left open, so I stood in the doorway and stared at her. She sat behind the large mahogany desk with her MacBook open on the wood. A vase of flowers rested on the corner along with a pink mug full of an assortment of pens. A single picture frame sat on the surface, a picture of her and Christopher at Coney Island.
I took a moment to look at her, enjoying the view before she noticed me. My hands were deep inside my pockets as I leaned against the door frame, loving the way her tits shook slightly when she typed. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her strands were curled and soft.
She must have felt the heat of my stare because her eyes moved directly to my face, her dark eyelashes long and thick. She wore more makeup than she usually did, dark eye shadow around her eyes and red lipstick on her mouth.
I pictured lipstick stains all over the base of my cock.
When she noticed my presence, her body stiffened immediately. It was the same reaction she would give if she were scared. Her breathing hastened, and her chest rose and fell with the increased pace. Her lips were slightly parted, her tongue pressed against the inside of her bottom teeth. When she moved her head slightly, her ponytail swung like a pendulum. “Mr. Owens, how can I help you?”
Everyone at the office called me that, but when Rome addressed me in that way, I wasn’t even sure if she was speaking to me. I walked farther into the office but didn’t shut the door behind me—as much as I wanted to.
I sank into the chair across from her desk and crossed my legs, resting my ankle on the opposite knee. My elbows rested on the leather padding of the chair, and my fingers pressed against my jawline, the smooth skin already hardening with new hair. “Wanted to see how your first day is going.”
She shut her MacBook and leaned back in her chair, the buttons of her blouse fastened all the way to her neck. So far, she’d made a good impression at the office. The rest of the team immediately noticed her good heart and how valuable it was. “Really good. I’ve been getting up to speed with everything on the calendar. I have to say, you guys get a lot of stuff done. At For All, I would have felt productive accomplishing a fraction of the work Humanitarians United does on a routine basis.”
I appreciated the compliment. “Thank you. But we have a great staff here and lots of resources. Imagine what you can do now with a bigger budget and more teammates.” If we had an employee of the month, she would get it—every time.
“I’m very motivated. I feel like I can really make a difference here.”
I heard what she said, but my eyes fixated on her lips, watching them move. I wished we were at my place, making out on the couch. Her small tongue moving against mine before she sucked my bottom lip. When I would palm her tits, she’d moan deep into my mouth.
Now I was so fucking hard.
Rome picked up on the static in the air, feeling my desire even though I hadn’t made a single advance. “If I have any questions, I’ll let you know.” She was dismissing me, trying to get me out of her office before her skirt was pulled above her waist and her panties were stuffed into my pocket.
I didn’t move an inch, my eyes glued to her face.
Her cheeks began to flush, her natural response when she was either aroused or nervous, and in this case, both.
She cleared her throat. “Is there anything else?” She forced her voice to remain strong, determined to ignore the heat between us. Professional office decorum was important to her, for whatever reason. But if I had X-ray vision and could see through that desk, I knew I’d spot her thighs pressed tightly together, wishing I were deep inside her at that very moment.
Without saying a single word, I rose out of the chair and buttoned the front of my jacket. I gave her one final look before I walked out, knowing she was staring at my ass as I left her office.
I had to keep my hands to myself while we were at work.
But when we were at my place, that mouth, pussy, and ass belonged to me—and only me.
Vanilla sex was good—for now.
But I felt my hands shake with anticipation, needing dominance and control. I couldn’t stop picturing ropes bound around her slender wrists, the material chafing against the gorgeous skin. I couldn’t stop imagining her ass in the air, her pussy slick and ready for me. Blindfolded and gagged, she’d be my plaything.
Eventually, I would come clean about what I wanted, and we could start our new relationship. If she gave it a chance, I knew she would adore it. She would want me to hit her harder then smack my palm against that gorgeous ass one more time before the fun was over.
But I needed to ease her into it.
If we went from vanilla to whips and chains, she’d push me away. Her lack of experience told me this would be more complicated, but at the same time, more fun. I had a few ideas to warm her up, to broaden her horizons and her way of thinking. To her, they would be huge steps. To me, they would be the gateway to all my fantasies.
I was sitting on the couch waiting for her when a knock sounded on the door.
I was still in my suit and tie, not wanting to change since I was going to take off all my clothes anyway. And I knew she liked the way I looked when I dressed like this, like the ruthless dictator that I was.
I opened the door and saw Rome in the same clothes she wore to the office. She hadn’t stopped by her apartment to change because she wanted to get here as soon as possible, her resistance finally disappearing.
Without a greeting, I grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her inside. My foot hit the door to close it, and then I stared down at her like the prey she was. My hands moved around her waist then snaked down to her ass. I gripped both of her cheeks as I guided her to the couch, my mouth close to hers. I didn’t kiss her, purposely teasing both of us until we were naked together, her pussy on my lap.
I unzipped the back of her skirt and heard it thud to the floor. Her top and bra came next, followed by her black panties. Just as I undressed her, she stripped my clothes away. She was a little aggressive with the tie, yanking on it harshly. But I liked her roughness. I wished she would do it more often.
I sat on the couch with my knees spread apart, my cock lying against my stomach. I tapped my thigh and silently commanded her to straddle me, to do as I wanted with no questions asked. I wanted to speak my mind, to control her like I did with all the others. But I kept my mouth shut and directed my desires with my eyes.
She straddled my hips with her heels still on, the shoes pressed against the outsides of my thighs. Once she was on top of me, I could feel the moisture from her pussy. I hadn’t even kissed her yet, and she was wet.
I had a feeling she was wet all day at the office.
I pulled her close to me until our chests were touching. My hand snaked around her neck possessively, my fingers digging into her skin with restrained force. Then I brushed my lips past hers, preparing to dive headfirst.
She shivered at my touch, electrified by how good it was.
This woman made me want to come with a single kiss.
I pressed my mouth to hers and kissed her slowly, my cock still underneath her but not inside her. I slowly rocked my hips to move my hard length against her, to rub her sensitive clit and give her extensive foreplay. The warm-up was unnecessary because she was clearly wet—but I enjoyed it anyway.
I forced my hand to remain relaxed as it gripped her neck. I wanted to choke her slightly, to make her pant into my mouth in desperation for air. I’d choked Isabella many times—and it always made her c
ome hard.
My free hand groped Rome’s perfect tit, my thumb brushing over her nipple and making it pebble. Her hair was still in the ponytail, so I grabbed the hair band and yanked it so hard it snapped. Her soft hair fell around her shoulders and brushed against my knuckles, feeling like cotton.
My cock twitched in irritation, wanting to be inside the tightest pussy I’d ever felt. I shifted her hips and shoved my cock head inside her, squeezing through the soaked channel. I pulled her down until I was completely sheathed inside her, feeling that slice of heaven. “Fuck, Vanilla.” I released her neck and gripped her ass cheeks with my palms, squeezing the powerful muscle as I guided her up and down my length.
Her hands held on to my shoulders for balance as she moved with me, her tits shaking every time she lowered herself entirely on my length. The sexiest moans escaped her lips, her eyes bright and vibrant in ecstasy.
I moved with her, grinding slowly because the simple sensation of feeling our bodies together was enough. My preference was to pound hard and fast, aggressive fucking that would make us both sore. But these slow and restrained movements were somehow better. And I suspected that had something to do with Rome.
I cupped her face with my hand, my fingers brushing against her brown strands. My thumb moved across her bottom lip as I kept my forehead pressed to hers, breathing through the pleasure together.
I slipped two fingers into her mouth, placing them on her tongue. “Suck.” My authoritative tone emerged, but I couldn’t keep it back. When I was in my element, my true colors always came out.
She did as I asked, closing her mouth around my fingers and sucking them. She gripped my fingers between her tongue and the roof of her mouth, giving pressure that was soaked with saliva.
I forgot to thrust into her because I was mesmerized by what she was doing with that sexy mouth of hers. She hit nerve endings that I’d never really paid attention to. The natural way she listened to my commands made me believe this could really happen—that she would eventually be tied up inside of Ruin.
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