“I’m sorry, Dominic.I’mso sorry. That doesn’t even begin to describe how badly I feel about all of this. I love you and it kills me that I hurt you. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to have one more chance, to be able to fix this, to show you how much I love you. I would do anything–whatever it takes. Just tell me what I need to do!”
His mirthless laugh doesn’t give me hope for us. “I wish I knew what to tell you, Sophia. I just can’t see that ever happening between us again. I told you my hard limits and you broke them.”
No deception of any kind. No withholding my body from him.
“I understand,” I reply solemnly. “We’ll just be work colleagues then. Is there anything else you need from me?”
Slowly turning to face me, he walks across the room and stops just in front of me. His eyes rake over my face again and I know, deep inside, I can’t bear to go through this whole back and forth conversation again.
“Are there any contracts you need to me to take back to my office to work on?” I rephrase my question to convey my intent.
Understanding dawns on his face, and for a second, he looks disappointed. “I’ll have maintenance move your office back up to this floor. Since we’re working together again, it’ll be easier on both of us. Once you’re moved, we’ll spend some time going over the ones you’ll take over.”
“Sounds good. If you don’t need me right now, I’ll go finish my other assignments in the meantime.”
Walking as slowly as possible toward the door, I turn the knob and walk out of his office. He doesn’t try to stop me this time. It’s symbolic to me–I’m walking out of his life. I’ve explained what happened. I’ve taken responsibility for my actions. But the damage is irreparable and it’s time for us both to move on to whatever our futures may hold.
My problem is–he’s the only future I can imagine.
The morning sickness, which has turned into anytime of the day sickness, hits me again like a freight train and I run to the bathroom. The moment I walk out of the stall, Dana is standing at the sink with wet paper towels and hands them to me. Thanking her, I take them from her and walk to the sink to rinse out my mouth. Dabbing the wet towels across my forehead, the cool water brings me some relief.
Dana says nothing but she doesn’t have to. The look on her face says it all. She knows.Shit.
Dominic
I’m pacing back and forth in my office again. It’s so fucking hard to concentrate with all this shit bearing down on me. She answered all of my questions but I know she’s holding something back from me. That doesn’t help me trust her at all. I tried calling her bluff and forcing her hand, but she walked right out the door after agreeing to just be work colleagues.
Running my hand through my hair in frustration, I consider my options once again. Trust her and work with her? Trust her and take her back? Don’t trust her and work with her? Don’t trust her and take her back?
Just live without her completely?
Fuck it.I only live once and I want it to be with her. Deep down, I know I want it to be with her. She didn’t save me just to later ruin me. She didn’t put herself in danger for nothing. We may have started out under false pretenses, but that’s not how we ended.
She was sent to destroy me but she became the other half of my soul. She makes me feel like no one else ever has. My draw to her is stronger than a magnet to steel. I’m tortured without her and I’m fulfilled with her. She is my love and I am her Dom.
It’s well past time I started acting like it. I’ve been too lenient in my attempt to be patient. It’s also time for Harrison to feel the sting of my lash when I teach him the true nature of a Dom. One who is thoroughly pissed off and will have revenge for how his sub was mistreated. There’ll be no mistaking the lesson he’ll learn when I’m finished with him.
Harrison tried his best, but his best wasn’t nearly good enough.
Bursting out of my office, I’m on a mission to talk to Sophia. As I hurry to the elevators, she walks out of the bathroom with Dana close behind her. Sophia’s eyes are watery and her color has paled even more. I can’t hide my concern as I take in her appearance.
“Sophia, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Dominic,” she lies to avoid the attention I’m drawing to her. Dana, still standing behind Sophia, catches my eye and slightly shakes her head from side to side.
“Dana, would you please get Sophia something to help her feel better?”
“What would you like, dear?” Dana asks.
“Just a Sprite will be fine,” Sophia replies, clearly uncomfortable.
“Bring it to my office, Dana,” I instruct as I take Sophia by the arm and lead her back to the seat she recently vacated.
“Dominic, I really need to get back to my office,” she resists.
“Your boss must be a slave driver to make you work so hard when you clearly don’t feel well,” I quip.
“It’s not that,” she protests and tries to stand.
