“I’m coming.” Rome appeared a moment later, wearing a backless dress with five-inch heels. Two thin straps crisscrossed over the top part of her back, but the rest was bare to the top of her ass. It was short, stopping a few inches above the knee. And it was skintight, highlighting every curve she possessed under the thin fabric.
So. Fucking. Hard.
Shit, I wanted to come in my slacks right then and there.
What the fuck was she doing to me?
Was this intentional?
She held her clutch under her arm, champagne pink and subtle. Her hair was pulled back in a gentle updo, some of her strands coming loose and falling around her face. I loved her long hair and running my fingers through it, but I also loved it when she showed off her face like that. She was far too beautiful to hide her attributes.
I wasn’t going to last the night without kissing her.
No fucking way.
I looked her up and down and felt my mouth go dry. I didn’t even care that Christopher was standing there and I was eye-fucking his sister. As far as I was concerned, she was mine. This woman would always be mine.
I tried to think of something to say that was appropriate for the occasion. Christopher’s presence had no impact on my words; only the state of our relationship did. “You look beautiful.” It was a very tame compliment. In fact, it wasn’t even honest. I certainly thought she was more than just beautiful.
She was absolutely perfect.
“Thank you. You look handsome…but you always look handsome.”
This was dangerous territory, complimenting one another like this. But I didn’t have the strength to downplay my feelings, and she obviously didn’t either. “Ready?”
She nodded. “I’ll see you later, Christopher.”
“Night.” Christopher walked into the living room, finally giving us some privacy.
Rome and I left and got into the back seat of the car. I quickly adjusted myself without caring if she noticed. My hard cock was painfully uncomfortable against the zipper in my pants. My cock wanted to break free and bury himself inside that warm pussy I missed so much.
We didn’t speak on the drive, but I could feel the tension between us. I’d fucked her in this back seat before, her legs straddled across my hips, and I would love to do that right now. I wanted to drive my cock so deep inside her that she screamed loud enough for Tom to hear. I wanted to touch the smooth skin of her back with my callused hands, feeling her bare skin and gripping her petite frame.
I kept my gaze out the window and tried to keep my arousal contained. But I was doing a piss-poor job.
“How was your day?” She broke the silence first, being political with a meaningless question.
I woke up at two in the afternoon because I didn’t go to bed until nine. I was out late with Amanda and Ribbon, watching their asses turn red from spanking each other so much. “Good. You?”
“It was okay. Christopher and I got breakfast this morning.”
I was probably still at Ruin at the time. “Let me guess, you guys split a waffle and one egg.” I raised the corner of my mouth so she would know I was kidding.
“Something like that,” she said with a light chuckle.
We spent another ten minutes in silence. We were almost to the hotel, but traffic was congested on the weekends.
Rome spoke again when the car pulled up to the curb. “You know he’s gonna be here?”
“I’m sure he will be. Was he here last year?”
“Actually, no.”
“Well, it’s better to be safe than sorry.” Tom opened my door, and I got out first. I extended my hand to Rome and nearly shivered when she grabbed it. The electricity I felt any time we touched was just as strong as ever.
But that only made this harder.
I gripped her hand and escorted her inside, fully aware of the fact that I had the most beautiful woman right by my side. I couldn’t get angry at the men who looked at her. If I were them, I’d be doing the exact same thing.
My hand moved around her waist, and I touched her bare skin, which was warm. I pictured my chest pressed against her back, warm and covered in sweat. I’d give anything to take her from behind right now, to feel that passion I never got from anyone else.
We entered the ballroom to a swarm of people. Men and women immediately greeted me, congratulating me on my award that I had yet to receive. I made a small talk and remained as polite as ever, but I didn’t really care about a single conversation that I had.
All I cared about was the woman right beside me.
I pulled her away and returned my hand around her waist, the place I preferred to touch her. I could bring her closer into my side, let her feel my warmth since she must be chilly wearing nearly nothing. “Champagne?”
“Sure.”
I grabbed two glasses from the bar and handed one over.
As if she was nervous, she brought it to her lips and drank nearly all of it right on the spot.
I wondered if she was anxious because of me or because of someone else. “Want another?”
“No, I’m good.” She set the empty glass on a passing tray that a waiter carried.
I scanned the crowd and didn’t see Hank anywhere nearby. “I haven’t seen him. And even if he is here, there’s no reason to be scared.”
“I’m not worried about him, Calloway.”
“Then what are you worried about?” I pulled her closer, the champagne still in my other hand.
She stared at my chest, her head nearly a foot shorter than mine, even in heels. “It’s just hard for me to be around you…because I miss you.”
My fingers slackened on the glass I was holding. The room turned quiet, the conversations fading away. Her eyes were averted, just like a submissive. I knew that wasn’t what the gesture meant, but that was all I could think of.
My fingers moved under her chin, and I tilted her head upward, looking into the beautiful face I saw every night in my dreams. I didn’t care about crossing the line. I didn’t care about breaking the rules. I kissed her because I needed to kiss her. I kissed her because she was the woman I loved.
She kissed me back, her lips trembling with need. Her hands moved up my chest the way they did when we were alone together, hungry for my physique. Her lips were soft against mine, warm and tasting just like champagne.
I inhaled deeply the second we touched, my heart beating so fast I felt it slam against my rib cage. My fingertips felt numb since all the blood was traveling elsewhere. Even though the room was filled with people, I didn’t care about anyone else except the two of us.
She was the one who broke away first, her lips still parted like she wanted more. “I’m sorry…”
My arm tightened around her waist. “Don’t be. I miss you more than you can comprehend.”
She held my gaze with affection, the longing and love deep in her eyes. She cleared her throat and suddenly turned away, like the connection between us was too much to handle. “I need to use the restroom…” She slid out of my fingertips and left me standing there. She walked across the room, moving with perfect grace. Her shoulders were back and her head was held high, but the sadness was in her eyes. I could spot it a mile away.
My eyes turned to a different corner of the room and landed on the man I despised. Hank stood in a circle of men, social elites and public figures. They were chatting away, but he wasn’t listening. His entire focus was on the woman I adored.
I wanted to snap his neck.
I set my glass down then maneuvered across the room. His attention was so focused on Rome that he didn’t spot me approaching him from the left. He stood right beside one of the senators from New York, but that didn’t stop me from making fists with both of my hands. I had no idea what I would do once I got there, but I definitely wanted Hank to know that I watched every move he made.
I closed in on him and stared at his profile, his cleanly shaven jaw and his broad shoulders. He was a good-looking man, so the only reason he preyed
on Rome like he did was because he was a psychopath. He could get laid whenever he wanted, especially as the DA of New York.
But he chose to torture women instead.
How could Rome ever compare me to him? How could she ever think I would treat her the way Hank did? It was ridiculous. “Eyes on me, asshole.” I spoke so only Hank could hear what I said. The rest of the guys were chatting away about the new election cycle, so they didn’t seem to mind the two of us.
Hank stiffened where he stood and dropped his gaze, losing his view of Rome. His breathing increased slightly as the adrenaline kicked in. He knew it was me standing beside him even if he didn’t look.
“What did I just say?” The only reason why I hadn’t murdered him was because I couldn’t get away with it. He was too well-known, and after interviewing a few witnesses, people would realize I had serious beef with him. If I mutilated him in a dark alley, Hank was a powerful lawyer who could throw me in the slammer for six months. Who would protect Rome then?
So I had to scare the shit out of him with just my words. He didn’t know what I was capable of. That gave me the advantage.
Hank cleared his throat then finally turned to me, his flute of champagne held in his right hand. As much as he tried to cover it up, the fear still thudded in his eyes.
It was difficult for me to stand so close to him and not rip his throat out. “Don’t look at my woman.” I stepped closer to him, my face nearly touching his. I didn’t care if people saw our hostile interaction. I needed to keep this asshole in his place as long as I could. Hopefully, he would settle down with a wife and kids and forget about her.
He clenched his jaw.
“Did you hear me?” I moved forward, causing him to step back like a pussy.
Hank faltered slightly, spilling some of his champagne on the front of his tuxedo.
I spoke louder. “Did you fucking hear me, asshole?”
Hank flinched again, like the little girl he was. “Okay.”
“Okay, what?” I said with a growl. “You harassed her, and now I’m gonna harass you for the rest of my life. You’ve made yourself a very powerful enemy, Hank. Make sure you look over your shoulder—because I’ll always be watching you.”
He couldn’t back up any more because he was pressing against Senator Swanson. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Immediately, he darted his eyes to the floor, unable to put his money where his mouth was.
Senator Swanson noticed the commotion. “Gentlemen, is everything alright?”
I glared at Hank and forced him to answer.
“We’re fine.” He cleared his throat. “Just talking about the Mets…gets a little heated.”
“I’m a Yankees fan,” I lied.
Senator Swanson shook my hand once he recognized me. “Mr. Owens, how nice to see you this evening. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, sir.” I gave him a firm shake. “It’s an honor.”
“It certainly is.” He dropped his hand and eyed Hank. “Are the two of you friends?”
“Yep,” I said. “We’ve known each other for years. But he used to bully me in grade school.”
“You guys went to school together?” Swanson asked with a laugh. “So you go way back.”
“We do,” I said in agreement.
“Looks like your bullying days are over.” Swanson patted Hank on the shoulder. “Mr. Owens isn’t the kind of man you can push around.” He drifted back to the men he was speaking to, leaving the two of us alone together.
I stared Hank down with an expression that would terrify anyone. “Look at Rome again, and I’ll kill you. Do you understand me?”
Hank gave a curt nod.
“I didn’t hear you, bitch.”
Irritation flooded his eyes at the insult, more offended by that than by being called an asshole. “Yeah…I understand you.”
“Good.” I patted his cheek, insulting him in the most fundamental way possible. “Enjoy your evening.” I turned away and headed to the entryway toward the restrooms. Rome was already standing there, her arms across her chest and her eyes on me. She must have witnessed the whole thing because her face was pale as milk.
When I reached her, my arms circled her waist, and I immediately kissed her, not caring if that crossed the line. I recognized it and what it meant. She needed me. She needed my mouth on hers and my strong hands on her body.
Her lips moved with mine, treasuring the comfort I gave her. Her mouth was plump and sexy, feeling so good against my mouth. I’d wanted to kiss her to make her feel safe, but now I kissed her because I couldn’t stop. All I wanted to do was take her home and make love to her, bury myself inside her so we would both feel happy—even if it didn’t last long.
She pulled away and leaned her forehead against my chin. Her arms rested in the crooks of mine, and some of her strands of hair had come loose. The dark makeup around her eyes brought out the beautiful green color of her irises. Her lashes were long and thick, making her look like a collectible doll. I thought she looked perfect first thing in the morning, when her face was relaxed after a good night of sleep. But right now, I thought she looked more beautiful than I’d ever seen her.
I could barely hear her speak since the chatter in the ballroom was so loud. “What happened?”
“I threatened him—just to keep him on his toes.” I didn’t tell her he’d been staring at her. It would probably make her uncomfortable, make her feel violated from his look.
“And what did he say?”
“He backed up like a pussy. He’s terrified of me. You don’t need to worry about him.”
“Then why did you confront him?”
I didn’t like to lie, but I thought it would hurt her more if she knew the truth. “I want him to know I’ll always be his enemy. If he even thinks about trying something, I’ll know about it. Instilling fear will make him too scared to do anything, even in the brief moments he feels safe. It’s psychological warfare.” And I was the master of psychological warfare.
She nodded, her eyes still downcast.
“Rome.” I placed my fingertips under her chin and forced her to meet my gaze.
“Hmm?”
“Where’s the strong woman I met when she slapped me in that bar? I miss her.” I loved her fire and her strength. She commanded respect the instant she walked into a room. But now, she was rigid and scared. I loved protecting her. I love having her rely on me. But I missed the woman she used to be. “Every time he tried something, you got away. You defended yourself because you’re strong. Don’t lower your head in fear. Raise it up high and show him you aren’t scared. That’s the woman I know.”
Her eyes brightened and softened at the same time. She nodded her head in agreement. “You’re right.”
“Damn right, I am.” I kissed the corner of her mouth and felt incredible joy at just the small affection. She made me burn white-hot at the most innocent touch. “Now let’s have dinner.”
We got into the back seat of the car, and Tom pulled away from the curb. I sat on one side, and Rome sat on the other. We were far apart just as we had been at the beginning of the evening. But the distance between us had no effect on the closeness of our minds.
Tom headed back to the apartment she shared with Christopher with the divider up between us. It gave us privacy, not that we needed it.
I looked out the window and tried to keep my desperation in check. I wanted to tell Tom to drive back to my place so I could roll around with her on my sheets. I didn’t even want to fuck her. I wanted to kiss her everywhere, take my time, and make love all night. There were no whips and chains on my mind.
Just Rome.
But I couldn’t do that. It would give me immediate satisfaction, but when she left the following morning, it would be painful all over again.
So fucking painful.
Rome’s hand snaked across the leather seat and grabbed mine. Her soft fingers interlocked between my digits, and she brushed her thumb over my hard knuckles.
&
nbsp; I eyed our adjoined hands, losing my train of thought.
“Calloway.”
I looked into her beautiful eyes and knew exactly what she was going to say next.
“Let’s go to your place.”
I’d just told myself it wasn’t a good idea, but I didn’t have the strength to say no to her now. My heart would be broken all over again, but I would worry about that later. For now, I just wanted to enjoy her one last time, to tell her I loved her while I made love to her.
I hit the button on the ceiling. “Tom, change of plans. Let’s go to my place.”
“Yes, sir.”
I undid my safety belt and scooted across the seat until we were pushed together against the other door. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to me, smelling her perfume and recognizing it from my sheets. Just a hint of the smell remained, but it wouldn’t last much longer. Now she could freshen it up and extend it.
My hand slid up her thigh and under her dress, feeling the smooth skin of her perfect legs. I couldn’t wait to feel them wrapped around my waist, her ankles locked together as I thrust into that warm pussy I adored.
She pressed a sexy kiss to my neck then my ear, her breathing deep and aroused.
Now I wasn’t sure if I could wait until we got to my house.
“Calloway?”
“Yes, sweetheart?” I pressed a kiss to her hairline, loving the feeling of her hair against my lips.
“Have you…still been seeing Isabella?”
Isabella was the last thing I wanted to talk about right now. She was nowhere on my mind. “No.”
She couldn’t hide the relief that swept across her face. “Have you been with anyone else? Have you…dominated anyone else?” Her voice shook slightly, like she didn’t want to hear my answer.
Just the night before, I’d had my fun with two women. It would be easy for me to lie since I was so close to getting laid. But I couldn’t lie to Rome about something that could change her feelings. “Yes.”
“Oh…” Her body suddenly went cold.
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