“Like she’s not in love with you.”
“She’s not.” Way too soon for anything like that. I didn’t have to stress about her falling that far. She made it clear she was a difficult woman to impress. She took serious wooing. And I told her I wasn’t looking for a happily ever after—which she accepted.
“I know what I saw, man. She’s not your submissive. Just like you said, she’s your girlfriend. Your choice of words, not mine.”
“She won’t be my girlfriend forever. Eventually, she’ll be my sub.”
He snorted with a sarcastic laugh. “I’ve seen this chick. Believe me, she’s not the submissive type. She’s too classy and conservative. Did you see that dress she wore? It stopped above her knee, and her ass wasn’t even hanging out.”
“How would you know?” My hands balled into fists, and my eyes darkened to shades of black. The only man who was allowed to look at her ass was me. That’s it. Period.
“Loosen up, man. I’m trying to save you some time.”
“You don’t know her.” She was a good girl on the outside, but I knew she had dark substance like I did. She’d lived a life of abuse, and I remembered that look in her eye when she slapped me. She liked it—both times.
“I don’t need to know her. It’s never gonna happen, Cal.”
“I’m done talking about this.” I pulled my hands away and stepped from the bar. If I lingered, I’d grab a bottle of Skyy Vodka and break it over his skull.
“Whoa, whoa. Hold on.” He stopped stocking the new bottles of liquor and faced me over the counter. “I get your fascination with her. She’s totally fuck—”
I threatened him with just my eyes.
“She’s very pretty.” He cleared his throat like it took all his energy to say that last sentence. “I understand why you want this to work with her. Really, I get it. I just don’t want you to get your hopes up. I know I give you shit most of the time, but I really am trying to help you.”
“I don’t need your help.” I’d never wanted a woman the way I wanted Rome, and something in my gut told me to pursue her until I broke her. If I went to someone else, I would never be content. I would think about the woman I couldn’t have—the one who really made me come.
“Fine.” He raised both hands in surrender. “Do what you want.”
“I will.”
“So, why weren’t you here last night?” His attempt to change the subject didn’t really do much.
“She stayed over.” I wasn’t giving him more than that. If I told him she was staying with me for a while, he’d give me more shit about it.
“She slept over?” One of his eyebrows arched to the ceiling. “I thought you didn’t do that?”
Isabella and I would usually hook up at Ruin. There were bedrooms all over the place, and there was a secret playroom just for me to use. She slept in there while I stayed in the other room, keeping space between us but close enough that I would be there if she needed anything.
“Her apartment got broken in to last night, so she needed somewhere to stay.”
“Say what?” He actually showed concern, an expression I thought he’d forgotten about. “Is she alright?”
“She’s fine. Has a black eye and a swollen lip, but those will heal.”
“He tried to hurt her? What a fucking asshole.”
“Rome kicked his ass and pinned him to the ground until the police arrived.” I was still pissed at her for doing something so stupid, but deep down inside, I was proud of her fearlessness. She wasn’t afraid of anyone or anything, and she had the resilience of flowers in winter. She had the kind of spunk and drive that I admired, the same kind I possessed myself.
“Damn…that’s hot.”
I glared at him again.
“Sorry, but I’m not sorry about that one. That’s one badass woman.”
“I know.”
“So you’re letting her go back to her apartment? Sounds like she lives in a shitty area.”
“No.” No way in hell was I letting her live in a neighborhood like that again. It didn’t matter if she could take care of herself. I wanted to take care of her. “She’s staying with me until she finds a new place.”
That sick and twisted grin came back into his face. “Is she now?”
“It’s temporary.”
“Uh-huh.”
“It is. She needs to pick a nicer place, and real estate goes quickly in the city.”
“But we both know you could buy her any damn thing she wants.” His arrogance was only growing.
“She won’t accept money from me. She’s stubborn.”
“Whatever you say.” All his teeth were showing.
“Say what you want. It doesn’t make a difference to me.” Her residence in my home wouldn’t last forever. When we found her a suitable place, she would leave. I wouldn’t ask her to stay. And she wouldn’t expect me to either.