King of Diamonds (8 page)

Annie sucked in her breath at the feel of Karn rolling both her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. A mesmerized expression crossed his face, as if he’d never seen a pair of breasts before.

When he lowered his head and licked one of her nipples through the fine material of her nightdress, Annie thought she was going to pass out from the exquisite sensation. Instinctively she slipped her hands in his dark hair, holding on to him for fear her knees would give out on her. Her pussy grew wetter and she was afraid her juices would be rolling down her thighs if he didn’t stop this erotic torture.

Maybe he would take her now, quenching the incredible desire she had for him.

“Like the sweetest berries,” Karn murmured as he turned his attention to her other nipple. He gently sucked on it then nipped it lightly between his teeth. Annie gasped and trembled as he eased one hand down, over her hip and to the juncture of her thighs, caressing her mound through her clothing.

She cried out when he slipped his fingers into her wet slit, delving into her creamy folds. It was amazing and so sensual to feel a man’s hand between her thighs—definitely better than doing it herself.

He paused for a moment as he murmured, “Tell me if you near climax.”

“Karn,” she whispered as he continued fingering her and sucking on her nipple. “I’m—I’m so close.”

He stopped.

As in came to a screeching halt.

Leaving her so on edge and so close she figured she’d come just from one more little suck on her nipple.

But he didn’t even touch her. Instead he raised his head and withdrew his fingers from her pussy. While she stared up at him, both dazed and confused, he brought his index finger to her mouth, and said, “Taste your desire for me, kitten.”

Annie’s jaw dropped out of sheer surprise and embarrassment, and he slipped his finger through her lips.

His midnight gaze held hers as he commanded, “Suck.”

Her cheeks heated as she obeyed. It was like tasting the forbidden fruit, and that rebellious part of her that had been trying to get out for years now found freedom in the act. Her taste was sweet, rich, and
different.
Different from the taste of his come, and different from anything she’d tasted before.

But what was so sensual was the way he was looking at her as she sucked his finger as if watching her going down on his cock.

“There are rules you need to know, Annie.” He withdrew his finger from her mouth and moved it to her nipple as he spoke, taking her away from the brink of orgasm. “We will begin your training this day, and you will learn how to serve my needs.”

Huh?
Was about all Annie could think with him fondling her nipples and her pussy on fire. She flicked her tongue along her lower lip. “I don’t understand. I’m here to find my cousins, not—”

“
Silence.
” The way he said the word brought Annie sharply to attention.

“Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?” She moved her hands to her hips and glared at him. “I’m not a—a servant, or someone you can just order around.”

His black eyes burned so hot, like cinders. “Another outburst and you will be punished. This is your only warning.”

Annie started to go off on a rant, but snapped her lips shut. The way he’d said she’d be
punished
… Would he really? The only thing she truly knew is that she wasn’t sure what he was capable of doing.

“My rules are simple,” Karn began as he caught a lock of her hair and twisted it around his fist. “You will obey me without question, and you will refer to me as Sire. You may not achieve climax without my permission, and your goal will always be to please me.”

With every one of his statements, his
rules
, Annie’s eyes got wider and wider. He was nuts. Crazy even! “You’re kidding, right?” She tried to take a step back but he had a tight grip on her hair and one of her nipples. “I don’t even know you, and you’re treating me like some kind of—of slave.”

Karn tugged on the handful of hair he’d wrapped around his fist. “You have earned your first punishment.”

He dragged her toward him and kissed her so hard her world spun. When he withdrew from the kiss she felt dizzy and so darn horny she could just about scream.

Wow. Okay. Where were we?

Oh, yeah. The slave thing.

But Karn was moving away from her as she was attempting to gather her thoughts. The trunk lid opened magically, and he withdrew a ruby red scrap of material and held it up. The thing was so darn sheer she saw completely through it.

“Wear this,” he said as he handed the piece of nothing to her. “Beya will be up soon to serve you breakfast. Afterwards she will escort you to the gardens.”

Annie was tempted to throw the silky cloth at him, but the look in his eyes and the hard set to his jaw made her think better of it. Instead she just glared at his backside as he turned away and let himself out of the room.

“You—you, ass!” she hissed under her breath and hurled the mini-dress at the door.

From beneath the bed came Abra’s answering
“Meow
,
”
and Annie took that as an emphatic agreement.

Annie was positive death by embarrassment was possible as Beya led her through the mansion on their way to the gardens after a nourishing breakfast. The little red dress was sheer enough that it exposed her pink nipples and the curls of her mound. It clung to her full curves as if intent on showing every bit of her body as she passed servants and too many other folks to count. She wished she hadn’t put her glasses on, because then she wouldn’t so clearly see their interested glances as she walked by with Beya.

Most of the people she passed were fully clothed, but some as scantily as she was, which made her feel a little better. All of the barely clad women had collars, though, one thing Annie could be thankful she didn’t have.

She’d left Abra in her chambers, afraid the cat might get lost in this mausoleum of a mansion. Thankfully, at Annie’s request, Beya had come up with a kitty litter box of sorts, along with three crystal dishes for Abra’s food, milk, and water.

“Here you be, Mistress,” Beya said as she brought Annie to a pair of double doors at the back of the mansion. The doors were rich mahogany with stained-glass panes in the same intricate design as the diamond on the back of Karn’s right shoulder.

Through the red and gold panes, Annie’s view was slightly distorted, but she saw what appeared to be extensive gardens. The beauty contrasted sharply with what she’d seen of the mansion in her painting, and in the storm last night when Karn brought her to this world.

“Sire Karn be in the gardens,” Beya said as she opened the doors. She gave a nod in the direction of a wall of bright red flowers. “Over yon, Mistress. Behind the starflower blooms.”

“Thank you, Beya.” Annie took a deep breath and walked away from the tiny woman and out onto a flagstone patio, and then the lush grass. It was wet beneath her feet and her nipples tightened from the slight chill in the air. The rain had stopped late last night. The sky was a broody gray, but she didn’t think it would rain now.

Sweet perfume from countless flowers met her nose, like the perfumes of roses and orchids, yet different. Smells of salt and brine, and the familiar crash of waves against shore filled her senses, reminding her of home.

Massive trees similar to weeping willows surrounded the area like dark sentinels blocking the view of anything outside the gardens. Within its boundaries brilliant flowers in purples, reds, blues, and pinks populated curved paths. Hedges and trees had been shorn into intricate patterns that appealed to her artistic nature. Her fingers itched to hold a paintbrush and to put to canvas the beauty of this place.

She strolled through the wet grass toward the red flower wall, in the direction Beya had indicated. Her heart pounded and she rubbed her sweaty palms on the thin material of the tiny dress. The material seemed to magnify her arousal, rubbing against her taut nipples and gently brushing the curls at her mons.

What Karn had in mind for her, she didn’t know. Just the thought of being in his presence made her so hot and horny she couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to have sex with him.

To fuck him.
Her cheeks heated at the forbidden word.
That’s what Alexi always called it. Fucking. And that’s what Karn called it, too.

When she reached the wall of red flowers, Annie paused for a moment, trying to gain some semblance of composure.
In, out. In, out,
she told herself as she tried to remember how to breathe. It wasn’t like she was going to meet some monster, like in her dream last night.

No. Not a monster. A weretiger King with the body of a god and a penchant for ordering women around.

She took a deep breath, rounded the wall, and came to an abrupt stop.

Karn stood beside several pieces of ebony marble furniture with thin veins of gold throughout the smooth polished surfaces. Chairs, a long rectangular table, a bench, and smaller tables were arranged in a private garden area.

The arrogant King was leaning against the flower wall, his arms folded and his expression stern. But what caught her complete attention was the fact that he was naked.

Mouthwatering, breath-stealing, drop-dead gorgeous hunk of man…naked.

And he sported a cock so firm and erect that she almost whimpered with lust at the sight of it.

“You made me wait far too long,” Karn said as he studied her.

“Sorry,” Annie said automatically, then bit her tongue, wishing she could take it back. She didn’t owe him any apologies.

Karn pushed away from the wall and strode toward her. The scars on his chest were more apparent in the sunlight, and like last night made him seem even darker and more dangerous.

It was then that she noticed the red scarf in one of his hands. She couldn’t take her eyes off it until he was standing in front of her…and then she was staring at his cock. Such a long, thick, and luscious cock it was, too.

“Look at me, kitten,” he demanded.

It was like her body was so attuned to his commands that she reacted at once, tearing her gaze from his erection and focusing on his face. She didn’t need her glasses to see up close, and right now she wished she didn’t have them on. They made her look frumpy and like a college professor.

Oh, yeah. I am a college professor.

Annie swallowed, tempted to look away from his dark eyes.

Karn folded his arms across his chest. “Remove your clothing.”

This time her whole face felt like she’d opened an oven and stuck her head inside. She took a step back, but Karn caught her arm and held her.

Before she had the chance to decide if she was going to do as he asked, or if she would disobey, Karn moved his hands to the neckline of her dress. With one quick tear, he ripped the fragile material. It tore like flower petals in his hands, and the next thing she knew the fabric was sliding off her body and she was completely naked.

Annie gasped and tried to cover her breasts with her hands, but Karn caught her wrists.

He let out a sound like a tiger’s growl and her heart dropped to her toes. “You will not hide yourself from me when I wish to see you.”

Her brain decided to take a vacation and she didn’t know what to say.
Yes, no, maybe-so?

“When you respond you must say, ‘Yes, Sire.’” Karn brought up the scarf and slid it over her shoulder and down to her breast. “Is that clear?”

Things were getting a little out of hand, and a little scary. The look in his eyes both excited her and frightened her all at once. It was the fear that made her whisper, “Yes, Sire.”

The corner of his mouth curved, a carnal smile that made her clit throb. “Very good, kitten. Now put your hands behind your back and turn away from me.”

Strangely enough, it felt almost natural following his instructions. Not to mention that being naked outside in the middle of a garden felt naughty. Exciting, even. After she put her hands behind her back, Karn guided her by gently pushing her around so that her back was to him.

Next thing she knew he was binding her wrists together with the silk scarf. Her throat went dry and her pulse raced. What was he going to do?

“Kneel,” he commanded even as he placed his hands on her shoulders and applied light pressure, forcing her to comply.

The grass was wet beneath her knees and her long hair slid across her breasts and along the top of her buttocks. Cool air brushed her nipples and mound, causing goose bumps to prickle her skin. With her hands tied behind her back, her breasts thrust forward. Annie didn’t know whether to be embarrassed, angry, or excited. She felt a little of everything, and the feelings confused her.

“What are you going to do to me?” she asked as he came around to stand before her.

This time a short red leather strap was in his hand and large diamond-shaped crystals glittered along its surface.

“You belong to me, Annie.” He trailed the strap over her shoulder, up her neck, and along her cheek. “You will wear this collar to make it clear to you and to anyone who sees you.”

Her jaw dropped. She stared at him, certain he was out of his ever-loving mind. “I’m not a possession!”

“You are
my
possession, kitten.” He smiled and it was so sinfully sexy that all the protests that had been building inside her just melted away. She could hardly think as he fastened the collar around her neck.

Annie couldn’t believe she was wearing nothing but a collar and had her hands bound behind her back.

A forbidden thrill shot through her.

Moral indignation and feminist rage aside, she actually
liked
how it felt.

A red leather strap appeared in his hand, and he gently caressed her shoulder with it. “It is time for your first punishment.”

Blood pounded in Annie’s ears. “You’re not going to beat me or whip me, are you?”

Continuing his erotic caress with the strap, Karn slid it over her breasts, teasing her nipples. He moved around to her backside where she could no longer see him and he trailed the strap over her shoulder blades and buttocks. “You will feel both pleasure and pain in your punishment.”