Diamond (Rare Gems Series) (14 page)

She stilled and
looked at him. “You didn’t care for him? And whatever was your mother’s, I’ll take. I may not have any rights to it as your wife, but if we have children, they should at least see it.”

“
You have every right to it and more. And no, my father and I never got along. He is the one that spoiled Ward to the point where he thinks everything is owed to him. Then when he died, Ward seemed to think that the world owed him everything. I tried to work with him, to get him on the straight path, but….” He moved out of her reach. “He killed a man back home. Murdered him, stole his money as well as what was in the register, and even had the nerve to steal his suits. He’s here in Ohio now, Ward is. I’m not sure….”

“
We’ll take care of this.” Diamond moved to stand in front of him as she unbuttoned his shirt. “There are a great many things we can do as a pack that humans can’t. Like, for instance, we can move in and out of areas that a human…most humans…won’t. And do things that no sane person would be able to do.”

“
Like?” She stepped behind him to take off his shirt and forgot about the cufflinks. She had to work at them while she tried to think how to answer his question.

“
Like wooded forest where there is no light. We can see much better than they would be able to. We can also sniff out our prey when all a human has to rely on is their own, lesser ability.” Diamond didn’t want to tell him all of it, but when he put his hands on her bare arms and held her, she couldn’t keep it from him.

“
We can kill without thought. Our kind can murder in ways that would sicken most people; our prey would be no more. I don’t mean they would be dead, I’m saying that no trace of them would ever be found by any means.” She looked Thad in the eye as she finished. “I can kill him and you’d never know it but for my confession.”

Neither of them said anything for several seconds.
She wanted to step back and leave him, knowing that he was going to ask her questions. Diamond didn’t want to answer them, but if he asked, she’d have no choice.

“
How did he hurt you?” She was more startled by the question than she could believe. When she started to pull away from him, he pulled her back and held her still. “How?”

“
It was the night that Jeffery Benetton tried to hurt Sapphire. A man, one of his enforcers, was dragging us out of the house when he suddenly stopped. Harris, Jeffery’s brother, had gone ahead with my sisters, but Derek decided to….” Diamond moved away, and he let her this time, so she pulled his shirt over her nakedness. “He was going to kill me, after he raped me. He told me that…he said that I was going to bleed out while he fucked me.”

She moved to the window that was nearest the fireplace
, and despite the warmth outside, she was suddenly cold all the way to her bones. Closing her eyes, she thought of him dragging her to the shed just out from the house.

“
Derek said I was his prize. He said that Jeffery had told him he could have his pick and I was his for the night. He’d hit me before, so I was stunned a little, but as soon as we got to the shed and he locked us in, I started to feel a little less out of it.” She remembered his breath on her throat and his body, soft and smelling of sweat as he slammed her against the wall. “I didn’t have a choice, and my wolf knew it. It was him or me. She took me and…and she killed him in cold blood.”

“
He would have killed you if you hadn’t.” She shook her head, not looking at Thad as he spoke. “Do you think that you did something wrong?”

“
I took his life.” Thad wrapped his arms around her waist and held her back to his chest. “His family never knew what happened to him, never found a trace of him to this day. I’ve lived with this since that night.”

“
Thank you.” She looked at him over her shoulder. “You killing him saved me. Had you not, then I would have come along, me this puny little human, and died protecting your honor. You killed him to be with me.”

Diamond laughed
, which she supposed he meant for her to do. “I murdered someone and got away with it.” She nodded when he shook his head. “I did. You can’t think that what I did was right.”

“
Of course I do. I told you, had you not killed him, he would most assuredly have killed you. And there is no way of knowing how many others he would have killed after you.” He kissed her gently on the mouth. “You are an amazing woman, have I told you that?”

“
No. And I doubt very much I believe you now.” She turned in his arms. “I guess I sort of ruined the mood.”

“
No. You just changed it a little.” He kissed her again. “Come on, I want to show you our play room. But next time, you’re going to undress me completely or I’ll punish you.”

The door
had been closed all afternoon to her. She’d been tempted to sneak a peek and see what he had put in there, but the thought of him showing her was what she really wanted. When he kicked off his shoes but left his pants in place she felt a shiver of anticipation run over her body. Even her wolf was excited.

He opened the door with a flourish
, and she stepped in when he waved her through. Diamond had been looking up what kind of equipment he might buy, but nothing prepared her for what he’d done to the little room. She turned to look at him when he moved close to her.

“
Welcome to our playroom.” She nodded. “Now take off your clothes and go over to that hump. It’s time for me to beat your ass.”

Chapter 14

Thad wanted to watch her explore the room
, but she’d been through an emotional set back and he wanted to make her think of something else. As she dropped his shirt to the floor and made her way over to the hump, he moved to the cabinet to get some of the toys he’d purchased. When he moved to her, he looked at her nipples and his cock hardened.

“
Do they hurt?” She nodded, and he reached up to take the first clamp off. “When I release them, they’re going to be so sensitive that you’re going to want to come. This first time, I’m going to let you because you’re not used to them.”

As soon as he freed her
, she grabbed his arm and gripped him. Leaning down, he gently took the peak into his mouth and laved it with his tongue. She screamed out her climax as soon as he nipped at her. The other nipple was unclamped, and he did the same thing, giving her a quick but hard climax that he knew would make her shaky.

Guiding
her to the hump, he leaned her over it and explained to her each thing he was doing. “I’m going to strap your wrists here, but not too tightly. What is your safe word, slave?”

“
Clouds.” He smacked her on the ass. “Master, my safe word is clouds.”

“
Very good. And when I ask you where you are in the levels of pain, what are you going to tell me?” She repeated the colors of the stop light to him and the levels. “Right. And you’ll not lie to me when I ask you. You’ll tell me where you are, and when you get to the red, the signal to stop, I will.”

“
Yes, master, you’ll stop.” He finished strapping her down and stood behind her. If there was a more beautiful sight, he had no idea what it was.

Taking the small feather in hand
, he moved it over her ass, then down her spine. She danced on her feet as much as the straps would allow her, but she didn’t speak. When she moaned, he moved the feather between her thighs and over her pussy.

“
I can smell you and see your arousal. Do you have any idea what it does to me to see you like this, at my mercy?” Thad opened his pants and freed his cock. “I’m going to fuck you like this, but you’re not to come. If you do, I’ll punish you severely.”

“
Yes, master, I won’t come or you’re going to punish me.” Thad could hear the need in her voice and moved up behind her. Her small whimper made him bring his hand down on her, but it only heightened his own need to see his handprint form on her tight ass.

Taking his cock in his fist
, he moved up between her legs and rubbed his engorged head over her heat. She didn’t make a sound, but he could feel her tremble. Sliding just the tip of his cock into her, he fucked her with quick, hard punches that had him wanting to come, but he pulled back before he could.

Moving to her head
, he lifted her just enough to look at her. Then he pulled her head to his cock. “Suck your taste off me.”

She did as she
’d been told, and Thad knew he was in trouble. When she swallowed him again, he nearly came. Stepping back, he stood there for several seconds, trying his best to regain control over his body. As soon as he could move again, he leaned down and released her. Helping her stand, he reached down, ran his fingers through her wet curls, and took them to her mouth. She watched him as she licked them clean. Yes, Thad thought, he was in big trouble.

“
Go over there to the cross. It’s time to show you what I do to bad girls.” She didn’t move for several seconds and he knew just what she was going through. The way she looked right now made him want to beg her, to let him fuck her until neither of them could move. When she finally moved, he went to the cabinet again and pulled out a small, soft whip.

Tying
her to the cross was hard. His cock brushed against her every time he reached up to strap her in, and when he leaned down to tie her ankles, he bit her ass. Her reaction was a thick groan and a soft growl. Christ, he’d forgotten about her wolf.

“
Will she hurt me if I play too rough?” Diamond shook her head. “I’d really hate to be killed while having the best time of my life.”

“
She won’t. She’s…she’s enjoying herself too.” Nodding, he moved to stand in front of Diamond to ask her about her words. “I’m to say clouds when I want you to stop completely or red when you ask. Yellow when it’s almost too much, and green means I want more.” She licked her lips. “Green, master, I want green.”

The small whip was made of the
softest leather he could find. It was made for only pleasure and not pain, but it would be painful for her and him if he denied her pleasure for very long. As soon as he stepped back to bring it down on her lovely ass, he had to pause to look at her.

Her legs were strapped to the lower half of the cross at the t
highs and at her ankles. There were steps for her to stand on, and they tilted so she wouldn’t cramp up. Her waist also had a wide strap around it, and it, too, was tied to the cross. The way her legs were spread out, he could move up behind her and enter her without touching her.

Her arms were over her head
, and like her feet, her wrists were able to tilt for the blood circulation as well. Her wrists where strapped down, as were her upper arms. There was a wide leather strap around her neck as well, but it was purely for looks, as it wasn’t attached to anything. A blindfold covered her eyes, and he knew from experience that she was going to be more excited about that than anything he actually did to her. The not knowing what he was going to do to her next was a major part of this.

Moving up behind her again
, he rubbed the soft leather over her body. “I’m going to spank you with this. I’m going to beat you in places that will have you begging me to let you come. But you won’t say a word.” He brought it down over her ass and watched the muscle ripple from her tensing up. “Then when I’ve made your pretty ass ready for me, I’m going to beat you here.”

This time he brought the little whip over her pussy.
She cried out, but he didn’t say anything. Christ, she was going to make him come all over her before he got to play. The next three times he brought it over her flesh, she didn’t make a sound. When two more slapped over her pussy again, Thad started to admire her. When he brought it down over her calves, then her shoulder, he had to grip his cock or chance injuring himself. For ten minutes he moved over her body with the whip until he couldn’t take it any longer.

He
knew he should let her go, but the thought of taking her this way was overwhelming. Lowering her to the floor by the hydraulics, he leaned her over slightly and moved up behind her. Without a word, he slammed his cock into her wet pussy and stilled.

“
You come and I’ll beat you.” She nodded, but didn’t speak. “You’re so tight and wet. I could stay here all day and never move. The thought of filling you with my cum and leaving you like this has my balls so tight against my body that I don’t think I’ll last much more than a few strokes.”

He moved slowly, painfully as he held her hips.
When he was buried deep again, he opened her ass up and looked at the pretty rosette. Next time, he promised himself, he was going to come deep in the hot tight hole and cry out her name.

“
You want to come, slave?” He pumped into her twice, then a third time as sweat dripped from his forehead to her back. “Would you like to release the buildup and scream out my name?”

“
Yes, master, I want that. Please.” He leaned over her as she begged more. “I would like to come, master. I would love for you to allow me to come, please.”

Thad
’s balls tightened up, and the tingle down his spine was all the warning he got before his climax roared through him. Throwing back his head, he felt a primal scream, a roar really, erupt from his lips and tear throughout the room. When he leaned over her, he sank his teeth into her shoulder and reached to her mind.

Come for me. Come now.
She stiffened for about two seconds before she screamed as well. Even as he filled her body with his, she milked him, rippled around his cock until he was sure she was going to hurt him. When she came a second time, Thad licked the wound closed and stroked her through another climax that had her go lax over the cross.

Thad decided that if he died right now
, he’d go knowing that he had found the love of his life. Thad Galloway hadn’t just fallen in love with his mate, but he’d love her for all eternity and then some.

“
I love you, Diamond.” He heard her say something but wasn’t sure what it was. “I have loved you all my life.”

~~~

Ward stood outside the big building for five minutes before he opened the door. Flair Marketing wasn’t his usual place to go, but he wanted answers and the guard at his brother’s house wasn’t giving him any. So, he decided to go a different route.

“
Hello, may I help you?” The woman at the front desk smiled at him, and Ward decided that if nothing else, this Henson person had a good head on his shoulders for hiring. This woman looked good enough to eat.

“
I’m going to need for you to let me go up and speak to Blair Henson.” He glanced at the man who got off the elevator before continuing. “You have to escort me? Or do I get a badge?”

“
Neither.” He stared at her for several seconds until the phone on her desk rang. He waited for her to hang up. Ward was going to give her the benefit of the doubt because she more than likely didn’t understand who he was.

“
I think you misunderstood me,” he started as soon as she hung up. “I’m Ward Galloway, and I’m going to need to get up there to Blair’s office. I’m trying to be nice about it. You’ll either make me a badge to get there or I’ll simply tell Blair how you treated me and you’ll be out on the fucking streets.”

When she stood up
, the man who had come off the elevator took a step toward them. When she rose her hand up, he stopped moving toward them, but he didn’t move back. Ward was ready to tell her to forget it and he’d simply go up when she grabbed him by the tie and pulled him nearly over the counter.

“
Listen here, you slimy rectum captain, I’m working this desk because I was asked to fill in. I don’t give two shits if you’re the president of the United States or fucking Ward Gobbly-gook. You’ll either leave this building on your own, or so help me I’ll remove you all by myself.”

“
Who the fuck shit in your cereal?” He should have taken a breath, he realized a second later. And when he started to step back from her, he knew that she was going to try and hurt him. Ward never saw the other man until he was holding the woman’s hand up in the air.

“
Jade, will you please not kill the man in my building? We’ve had this talk before about you and your temper. Perhaps you should take a break.” She glared at the man, then looked at him.

“
He made me pissed off. Ask Allen. He saw it.” Everyone turned to the older man from the elevator as he nodded. “Ward here seems to think that because he’s running the place, I should simply do what he says.”

That confused Ward.
She didn’t think she should do as he told her? He was Ward Galloway—everyone should obey him. He looked at the newcomer as he let go of the woman he’d called Jade.

“
This person was rude to me. I believe it would be in your best interest to fire her. She doesn’t know her place.” The growl that came from the woman had him taking a step back. “See what I mean? My brother will not tolerate this sort of behavior to underlings.”

“
Underlings? Why you waffle-headed mother fucking asshole.” He wasn’t sure how she managed to get away from the big man, but it took him and the other guy to pull her off him. Ward thought the woman dangerous and said so.

“
You’re lucky it’s her and not me.” The older man, Allen, stepped in front of him and poked him in the chest as he continued. “If I were in charge, I’d take you out back and beat the shit out of you.”

Wa
rd looked at the younger man. He looked like a man who knew was things were about. He was wealthy, fit, and seemed to be the one in charge of these idiots. Putting out his hand and completely ignoring the other two, he stepped toward him.

“
I’m Ward Galloway. My brother Thad and I are going to do business with this firm, I’m to understand.” Ward dropped his hand when the man didn’t take it. “There is no reason for all of this. I’ve only come here to see about getting familiar with this end of the business and to speak with my brother.”

“
No, what you’ve done is come here under falsehoods to try and wiggle your way into my company by throwing around your name as if it means shit to me. You’ve pissed off my sister-in-law and insulted my father.” The man took a step toward him as he glared hard. “What is it you really want?”

“
My brother sent me here and—” Ward found himself lifted off the floor and his feet dangling a good two feet up. He started to struggle, but the man had him so tightly held that he only managed to hurt himself.

“
Blair, please put the moron down.” Ward looked at the man coming up behind who he assumed was Blair as he was set back on the floor. “What the fuck are you doing here, Ward? I thought I told you to stay at the hotel and wait for the police.”