King of Diamonds (11 page)

Karn’s feral smile caused Annie to shiver with excitement. As long as no one else saw her in this dress, it actually turned her on to have her breasts on display for him.

He held out his hand, and two white diamond pendants appeared. They looked like earrings, only they had loops at the top of each pendant. Before she could ask him what they were for, he reached up and pinched her nipple, causing her to gasp and the taut nub to grow even harder. He released her then slipped the looped end of the diamond dangle over her nipple, then slid a golden band up the loop so that the ring was taut. Her nipple turned darker red, almost purple, and the sensation was one of both pain and pleasure.

Annie watched in amazement as he repeated the process on her other breast then examined his handiwork. It felt exotic to have the charms dangling from her nipples, the loops tight and keeping the nubs erect.

“You will wear these and think of me touching you, tasting you,” he murmured as he flicked one of the crystals. “Put on the boots now.”

When she bent over to put on the soft leather boots, the diamonds swung and she almost gasped from the sensation of the nipple charms tugging at her as they rocked back and forth. After her boots were on, he held the cloak over one arm then took her hand and led her out the doors that opened with his magic as they approached.

Panic rose inside Annie as he guided her through the doors and into the hallway. “You’re not going to make me walk through the mansion like this, are you?”

He frowned down at her, and Annie was quick to add, “Sire.”

“Do not question me,” he said as he led her toward the stairs. “Or another punishment will be added.”

Annie clamped her teeth together, caught between the urge to rage and the desire to submit.

When they reached the landing, Annie stopped walking, literally digging her heels in. Karn could have used his massive strength, dragging her on, or simply have thrown her over his shoulder, but thankfully he didn’t.

Karn looked down at his mate, but this time he did not frown. She looked so upset. A key twisted in his heart, unlocking emotions he had not allowed himself to feel in decades. “What is it, kitten?”

She bit her lower lip then took a deep breath. “I can’t do this. Punish me if you want, but I can’t walk around other people like-like this. I didn’t mind while we were alone in the bedroom, but I just can’t with anyone else.”

Annie’s voice had trembled as she spoke, and that key in his heart turned a little more. She was such a gentle creature, yet willing to stand up to him if he crossed her boundaries. He did not want to hurt her. Even though he would not allow himself to love her, he could not help but care for his future Queen.

Without saying a word, he took the cloak and wrapped it around her, helping her to put her arms through the holes, then fastening it so that it covered her breasts. When he finished he hooked his finger under her chin. “If ever there is something I ask of you that you do not enjoy, then simply tell me. I feel no pleasure in your distress.”

He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers, then forced himself to back away and take her hand again.

Annie sighed with relief as they walked down the stairs together. No doubt in Karn’s kingdom he was used to his subjects obeying his commands. They probably enjoyed it, even. But the fact that he had listened to her, and cared enough to cover her when she was truly embarrassed and pushed beyond where she would ever want to go, raised her estimation of him even higher.

While they walked together, Karn was silent. The cloak chafed her nipples and the dangles bounced against her breasts, keeping her stimulated. The leather outfit felt exciting the way it held her breasts in the holes, and the way the bottom of the dress brushed her mound as she moved. Even the collar she wore for Karn was a turn on.

Yet the walk through the mansion was a little nerve-wracking. What did he have planned for her next punishment? Annie’s cheeks burned every time they passed a castle servant. What if they knew what she had on beneath the cloak?

When he took her down a flight of stone steps, deep below the mansion, her heart started to pound like crazy. Odd looking torches lit the way. Rather than fire, they were glowing orbs on the ends of long sticks held in place by brackets. The place smelled musty and damp, and Annie was sure he was going to lock her up. If he tried, she’d let him know that was another thing she just couldn’t handle.

It seemed as if they had walked forever down spiraling steps when they reached a dank hallway. Karn stopped in front of a huge wooden door with an iron handle. With a wave of his hand, the door creaked open, and Annie found herself holding her breath.

It was completely dark as he guided her into the room, and she imagined she heard the scurrying of mice.
Too bad Abra isn’t with me
.
At least I’d have a companion and Abra would enjoy a good chase and a good meal.

But then again, Karn had told her to let him know if something frightened her. Being locked in a dungeon would definitely qualify as scary.

“Are you frightened, kitten?” he whispered near her ear as the door closed behind them.

Annie bit her lip. She wasn’t really scared with Karn by her side, just nervous about what he had planned for her. “Not as long as you’re here.”

Karn gave a low purr, telling her that he approved of her choice of words. “You trust me then?”

Strangely enough she did. So far everything he’d done to her and with her had been pleasurable. Even though he’d locked away his heart, she knew inside that he was a good man, and she did trust him.

In the next instant a torch lit the room. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the light and to see that it was empty, the size of a small bathroom, with a door on the far side.

Relief rushed through her, and then she realized she had no idea what was on the other side of the door. He led her to it and opened it with a wave of his hand.

A gust of moist wind rushed in along with the roar of waves crashing against rocks and sand. Through the doorway she saw a path leading to the shore. They were almost level with the ocean, and it wasn’t raining any longer, just a fine mist filled the air.

She shot Karn a look and his lips quirked. “What were you expecting, kitten?”

Annie could tell by the look in his eyes that he’d been teasing her about the dungeon. “So you do have a sense of humor.” She smiled back at him. “I was afraid you didn’t.”

Karn took her hand and led her down a path through the light mist that wet her cheeks and hair. Through the soft boots she could feel the shale, but it didn’t hurt her feet. The air smelled of rain mixed with salt and fish. Seaweed littered the sand near the crashing waves, but it was different than what she was used to. Rather than dark green and brown, it was yellow and orange and made for a colorful shoreline.

The ocean extended for miles and miles, an endless blue-green expanse. They were in a small inlet with massive black cliffs surrounding them and jagged rocks along the beach. She shivered at the thought of falling from those cliffs. No one could survive such a drop.

Thoughts of such an injury made her think of the scars Karn bore. “Where did you get the scars on your chest?” she asked before she could stop herself.

But Karn didn’t seem to mind. “From an injury when I was a cub,” he said as he raked his hand through his hair, almost feeling again the claws of the jaguar that had nearly killed him. “My brothers and I were foolishly out in the middle of the night when we should have been in bed.”

“We all make mistakes, Karn.” Annie gave him one of her gentle smiles. “We just have to let go of them and live for today.”

Karn gave a grunt, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

“Do you have any brothers and sisters, other than Alice’s and Alexi’s husbands?” she asked.

“My youngest brother is Ty.” He laced his fingers through Annie’s, giving him a more intimate contact with her. “And my sister Mikaela…she no longer speaks to the family.”

They continued to walk down the shore, and he answered her questions the best he knew how. Whenever the topic became too close to his steel-encased heart, he steered it away.

Annie’s hand was small in his grip, and he felt more relaxed than he had felt in an age. “Tell me of your home and of yourself,” he said as they kept just out of the reach of the waves pounding the shore.

“Home seems so far away right now.” Her brown sugar eyes seemed distant now, as if she had traveled elsewhere in her thoughts. “I’m a college professor by day, a closet artist by night.”

“My mother was an artist.” Karn squeezed Annie’s hand tighter as he thought about the woman who had raised him, who had loved him, and who had left him when she passed away. “Her name was Elinara.”

“I would have loved to have met her,” Annie said.

Karn didn’t understand why he felt compelled to tell her about those he had loved and lost. Perhaps it was to make sure she understood why he would not love again. “My mother died many years ago of the magical fever that took my father and my betrothed, Ima, as well. It was their fault that they caught the fever. They fooled with magics they had no business disturbing.”

“I’m sorry.” Annie squeezed his fingers in return and her eyes told him how deeply she meant it.

He shrugged, stuffing away the feelings that no longer mattered. What was done was done, and he had learned to steel his heart long ago. “What of your father and mother?” he asked.

She sighed and gave a sad smile. “I never knew my father, and my mother often said she wished I’d never been born. My only real family are my cousins Alice and Alexi and my Aunt Awai.”

Karn came to a stop and pulled Annie into his arms. He brushed his lips over her forehead. “I also feel sorrow for your losses, kitten.”

“I’m okay.” She looked up at him and pressed her body against his. “Do you understand why it’s so important for me to see my cousins? To make sure they are alive and well?”

“Yes.” He brushed a strand of hair from her eyes. “You will see them, soon.”

Karn truly could not help himself as he moved his lips to hers and gently kissed her. At the back of his mind he knew that if he was not careful she would expect more of him than he was willing to give…more than he
could
give.

They continued walking together, hand in hand, both silent.

Annie’s heart ached for Karn and the loves he had lost, and she wished there was some way she could help heal his heart.

Wind tossed her hair and moist, salty air brushed her face. The ocean roared as waves broke against the shore and a shrill call like seagulls filled the air. But when she looked up, the birds were green and blue with brightly colored faces like parrots.

When they reached a small cove, Karn pulled Annie near the smooth rocks and drew her into his embrace. She gasped as he slid his hands beneath her cloak and palmed her bare breasts. It was exciting having him touch her like he was, out on the beach.

Karn felt the nipple rings and his mate’s engorged nubs and his cock hardened. “I must have you,” he said as he brushed his lips over hers. “Now.”

Annie’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes glazed with desire. “Yes, Sire.”

Her willingness to call him Sire when she was aroused almost made him roar with pleasure. He led her to one of the smoother boulders in the cove and removed her cloak. After he tossed it onto one of the smaller rocks, he commanded, “Stand in this spot, put your hands against the boulder, and widen your thighs.”

Trembling with excitement, Annie turned around and braced her palms against the flat rock. He had ordered her to stand just far enough from the boulder that she was bent at the waist. Cool, moist air chilled her breasts and her ass, too.

Karn pushed her dress up over her hips, fully exposing her butt cheeks. “No one will see us, right?” she asked. Somehow the thought both excited her and scared her.

“No one, kitten,” he said, and she felt the soft caress of a leather strap over her bared flesh. “It is time for your punishment. Do you remember why you are being punished?”

Annie swallowed. She wasn’t sure she liked the idea of him using a strap this time. What if it hurt? She would tell him to stop, and he would, she was certain. “Yes, Sire,” she said. “For not being at the breakfast table when you came into the room.”

“Very good. You should never deny me pleasure that is mine by right, and spending time with you when I wish it is a pleasure indeed. ”

She heard the rustle of leather then felt the head of his cock against her entrance. Annie was still aching from needing to come earlier. What if she came without permission? How would he punish her then?

Karn drove his cock into her core and she didn’t have time to think any longer. All she could do was feel. God, he stretched her, filled her, making her whole body shiver.

She felt the first lash as he started moving his cock in and out. The lash was light and didn’t even sting. He continued thrusting into her pussy, and drawing back out again in slow, even strokes as he lashed her ass again and yet again.

“Your skin is a lovely cream color,” he murmured. “It pleases me how your ass turns pink from the strap while I fuck you.”

The sensations were wild. Pain mixed with a sort of bliss that made her arch herself up higher to take more of the sexual punishment. Mist continued to fall on her backside, her hair, her cheeks. The roar of the ocean blended with the sound of the strap striking her again and again. From being engorged with the tightened nipple rings for so long, her nipples ached and throbbed, which mingled with the pleasure and pain Karn was inflicting on her.

Closer and closer she came to orgasm until she was there, standing on the precipice as though on the edge of one of the surrounding cliffs. “May I come, Sire?” she asked, barely able to speak while he was driving his cock in and out of her pussy and whipping her.

“Hold,” he commanded, slapping her a little harder with the strap.

Annie yelped and almost came, but his confident instruction kept her from exploding.

“Now, kitten,” he shouted. “Climax for me
now
.”