Diamond (Rare Gems #2)(23)

“Don’t even think about it. If you come now, I’ll take you to our bedroom and paddle your ass hard. When you come, it will be because I say you can.” Diamond was nodding even before he finished. When he pinched her breast hard, she looked up at him and realized what he wanted.

“I’ll not come until you say I can or you’ll take me up and paddle my ass. Master.” He nodded at her and went back to her breast. The more he nibbled on her nipple the harder she wanted to say f*ck it and come anyway. But the thought of disappointing him was right there, and she found she didn’t want to do that either.

When he lifted his head from her, she wanted to beg him for relief, but he only helped her stand and held her hand when she wobbled slightly. Sitting back in her chair, she tried to be upset with him but found she only felt proud of herself.

“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” She tried to think if this was part of his plan when he lifted her chin up and looked at her. “Sex is the only time I’ll ever try to control you. I will want you to be willing to have sex with me anywhere I want, but for now we’ll work on a home for us. Once we are in the bedroom, I’m your master, otherwise we’re just a couple trying to make things work.”

“Why?” He looked at her strangely. “Why do you want us to be a couple now when a week ago you were disgusted with me…with what I am? The sex with you is great, but not worth you changing your mind in a few months when I’ve fallen in love with you.”

“Because for the first time in my life I want someone to fall in love with me. And I want that to be you. I’m not saying I love you now, but I do care for you. A great deal, as a matter of fact.” He took her hand into his. “I’ve said this to you before, but I want you to hear it over and over until you believe me. I’m sorry for what I did to you. Sorrier than I’ve ever been for anything in my life. I want you to forgive me because you believe me, and I know that that’s a long way in coming. If ever.”





\Chapter 8



Ward Galloway looked around the plane, trying to figure out why he’d been sitting in coach instead of in first class. There were empty seats as far as he could see, but the stewardess told him his ticket wasn’t upgradable and for him to please stay in his seat. He supposed he shouldn’t have irritated her so much and he might have been able to convince her that he was first-class material.

“Would you like something to drink, sir?” Ward looked up at the women who had been standoffish to him earlier. “We have beverages as well as a few snacks.”

“I’d like a bourbon and coke please.” He waited for her to tell him no, but she only quoted him a price. “For a bourbon and coke? You’ve got to be kidding me. Who pays that much for a drink on a goddamned plane?”

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to lower your voice and to keep your language cleaner. There are children on this flight that wouldn’t like to hear that from someone they don’t know.” In other words, she was telling him that she didn’t believe that the kids hadn’t heard it before, just not from him. “Now, would you like the drink or not?”

Testy and a bit on the short side, her voice could have chilled the bowels of hell. Ward shook his head but decided for as much trouble as they were giving him on this damned flight he’d get what he had coming to him.

“What do you charge for a regular soft drink? And I don’t mean a little tiny glass, but the whole can.” Ward smiled at her and didn’t even bother trying to charm her any longer. He was right, and she f*cking well knew it.

“I can’t leave you the can, sir, because in the event of turbulence we don’t want the can to be bouncing around hitting someone.” She started to move on, but he grabbed her arm. He realized his mistake the moment she turned back to him.

It was over almost before it started. The stewardess by day and sumo wrestler by night had him flipped out of his seat and on the floor before he could say a word. Then when she banged his head against the hard cart she’d been pushing up and down the aisle, Ward knew all sorts of pain. She was going to kill him and throw him from the plane. He just knew it.

When one of the pilots came back and “helped” her pick him up, dropping him three times and banging him against whatever he could, Ward was put in a seat in the very back of the plane and the big man sat next to him. This was not going to be a good flight after all, he thought.

“You should know better than to touch anyone without permission.” The man popped him in the face with his elbow as he started to stand. “Oh, sorry about that.”

Ward didn’t for a second believe he was the least bit sorry, but said nothing. He had a feeling if he opened his mouth for any reason, there would be a fist in it and he’d be bleeding from more than just his lip. When he was left alone, he waited for the cart to make its way toward him because he wanted some ice. The stewardess just went right by him without a word, and he turned to yell at her when the man returned to stand next to him again.

“Problem?” Ward shook his head at him. “Good. See that there isn’t from now on or so help me I’ll make sure you end up on a plane going in a place that is best not visited by pansy-assed pricks like you.” Ward decided that he was going to have a word with Morton when he saw him next for booking him on a plane with a bunch of *s.