King of Diamonds (12 page)

A different kind of orgasm took hold of her. One that seemed to radiate from her pussy like ripples in a pool of water. Small at first, then larger and larger until it filled her from head to toe. Her body shook and trembled against Karn’s body.

Vaguely she was aware of his shout and then his warm come filling her core. He leaned against her back and wrapped his arm around her belly. Annie sighed, enjoying the feel of his muscular body as he held her, loving the feel of his cock still inside her.

Annie knew it was too late for her. Karn might not want to love her, but she was falling in love with him.

Chapter Eight

Annie perched on the cushioned window seat in her chambers, her arms wrapped around her bent legs, her chin on her knees, and Abra curled up on her toes. It had been raining all day and she and her cat had been confined to their room. Karn hadn’t come to see her yet today and Annie missed him.

Likely Abra did too. Annie sniffed. “Traitorous cat,” she murmured as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. The little beast seemed rather smitten with the dark and brooding man.

Not unlike her mistress.

It was shadowed and gloomy outside, matching Annie’s current mood. Inside, the fire crackling in the hearth kept the room warm, but she could feel the chill from outside radiating through the windowpanes.

Annie had actually lost count of the passing days. Had it been two weeks, or maybe three? Every day Karn spent a few hours with her, teaching her countless ways of pleasuring him. In turn he fulfilled almost all her sexual fantasies and introduced her to things she’d never dreamed of.

She wore his collar all the time, but he only had her wear the nipple rings on occasion. They added to the erotic play, and she really didn’t mind calling him Sire when they were enjoying sex together. She was glad he didn’t insist on her referring to him as Sire when they were in public. Ever since the day she had let him know how much it bothered her to be seen in a state of undress in front of others, he’d been much more aware of her feelings and needs, as if he had an extra sense.

“And I can’t get enough of him,” she murmured and her warm breath fogged the beveled glass pane closest to her.

Today, though, she was stir crazy, wanting to be outside enjoying the non-existent sunshine and good hard sex with Karn. At the thought of him, she brought her fingers to the red collar that marked her as his possession. Why did it feel so comfortable, and why did she actually like it?

God, I’m addicted to him. His touch, his smell, his body, his cock…

But what really attracted her to Karn was his intelligence, his dark and sensual nature, and the times he rewarded her with a slight smile.

Yeah. The smile curls my toes.

The more time she spent with Karn, the more she grew to admire him as a man and as a King. He ruled gently but firmly, and even though he didn’t show it, she knew he cared deeply for his subjects. She wondered if the villagers realized that.

Annie’s fingers lightly caressed the diamond-shaped crystals on her collar as she thought about their most recent excursion just days ago. Karn had taken her through the village and she’d seen the amazing sights that she still couldn’t get used to, such as machines that operated by magic and carts moving without horses or motors. If a man was building something and ran out of nails, all he’d have to do was hold out his palm and a handful of nails would appear, seemingly out of nowhere. On a previous trip to the village, Karn had explained to Annie how he and his people were able to manipulate matter along with a good dose of psychic energy.

Even for a college professor with multiple degrees, the concept was mind-boggling.

The admiration the villagers had for Karn was obvious in the way they spoke to him, and her appreciation for him grew even stronger. His subjects treated their King with a kind of reverence. Not like an old friend, but as a mentor and someone they respected greatly, yet feared, too.

The villagers had responded to Annie’s warmth, to her questions, and her interest in their lives and their work. She had the feeling that she could give them what Karn couldn’t or wouldn’t…heart and soul and love.

Annie moved her hand from her collar to pick at the hem of her ruby red mini-dress. It was another one of those snug and sexy outfits that she had grown used to wearing, but it was a little more elaborate and risqué than her other dresses. Its neckline plunged so low that a good portion of her breasts showed. It molded itself to her full curves, and it was backless all the way down to the crack of her ass. Beya had brought it to her earlier, explaining that Sire Karn wanted her to wear it today.

What’s he up to this time? Maybe he’ll tear it off me like he did the first time we made love.

Well, the first time we had sex, that is.

She sighed and wiggled her bare toes beneath Abra’s weight. The cat simply yawned and stretched then went back to resting. Annie smiled, but then it faded as she thought of her cousins. It frustrated her that Karn wouldn’t take her to see Alice and Alexi, but when she pressed the matter, he punished her. She actually enjoyed the punishments, but she didn’t seek them out. Although she’d been tempted…

She pressed her nose and forehead against the fogged pane and the cold seeped under her skin and caused her nipples to harden.

Would Karn be coming soon for her?

Annie had met several of the people who worked in Karn’s mansion, mostly in passing, but for the most part Karn kept her to himself. He never let her spend time alone with anyone but Beya. Even then, Beya only came in long enough to serve her meals before she disappeared.

And Beya really did just that. She could vanish into thin air, leaving sparkles in her wake that would twinkle and then disappear. Annie smiled. Beya was kind of like a fairy godmother or something.

A knock at the door jarred Annie from her thoughts, and she swung her legs down. At the same time she almost knocked Abra off the window seat. The cat glared at Annie, then gracefully jumped down and vanished under the bed to sulk.

Annie couldn’t help a smile as she walked across the room and opened the door. When it swung open she stepped back in surprise at the sight of two drop-dead gorgeous women.

Both wore nothing but red collars, nipple charms, and twin smiles.

“Such a fair one,” murmured the stunningly beautiful woman with dark eyes and skin the color of a raven’s wing. A single white lock highlighted her features, traveling from her forehead, down to her shoulders. “I am Aleana.”

“And I am the sorceress Kalina.” The woman with brilliant amber eyes and black hair took Annie’s hand in hers. “You will make a lovely Queen.”

Annie was too unsettled to say anything other than, “Er, thanks.” She had a hard time not staring at their perfect bodies, beautiful breasts, and shaved mounds. For some reason the sight of their naked bodies caused a tingle in her pussy that radiated up into her belly.

Her cheeks heated as she blurted out, “Why aren’t you wearing anything?”

Aleana shrugged and Kalina said, “We enjoy the freedom.”

The sorceress tugged at Annie’s hand. “Come, or we shall be late to the tea party. Sire will not be pleased if we keep him waiting.”

At the thought of Karn erotically punishing Aleana or Kalina, a rush of jealousy seared Annie’s veins. It came as no surprise to her, though. She’d already come to accept the fact that he meant more to her than a casual sex partner.

She was in love with him.

Unfortunately for her, it was clear Karn didn’t feel the same way.

Karn paced the tea room, his jaw set and his mood even more sullen than normal. Lord Kir, his friend and guest, was watching Karn with an amused expression on his strong features.

A low growl rumbled in Karn’s chest. Just the thought of Annie made his cock spring to life, and he ached to thrust into her quim. Ever since he had drawn Annie into his world, he could not get enough of her. He felt the fierce need to protect her and had no desire to bed any other women, or to share Annie in any way.

Today that would change. He had planned the
da’mea,
a “sharing tea,” to return to the ways of his people, and to watch his future Queen being pleasured.

Kir, lord of Emerald City and of the mountain wolf clan, leaned one shoulder against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. “You have fallen for the maid,” he stated as if it were fact. “You are in love with her.”

“No.” Karn’s response came out as a growl and he paused his pacing and shot Kir a dark look. “She is naught more to me than a willing wench who will serve as my Queen.”

“Sire,” Kalina, said from the doorway behind him.

Karn turned and his attention immediately shot to her, only to see Annie beside the sorceress, hurt glistening in her eyes.

And yet, Annie stood between Kalina and Aleana, her chin high. His kitten was so beautiful his heart ached, but the pain in her brown sugar eyes caused a knot to form in his gut. Obviously she had overheard his callous words.

For a moment, he battled regret. Then, with a sigh, he decided fate had done him a favor.

Better she know now.

“You kept me waiting.” He kept his expression stone hard as he gestured to the low tea table, surrounded by large black velvet cushions. “Be seated.”

Tears threatened to well up in her eyes, but she wasn’t about to let Karn see how much he’d hurt her. She kept her head up and avoided his midnight gaze as she moved toward the low table set for eight. Her face felt frozen and her heart just as cold after overhearing the tail end of what Karn thought about her. She had hoped he would grow to love her, but obviously that had been an empty hope.

The low rectangular table was the centerpiece of the room, but there were also decorative tables around the room, black vases with gold inlay and filled with red flowers. On the walls were three majestic oil paintings in rich wooden frames of burnished gold. The pictures were all stormy seascapes that went well with the room. Despite her hurt at Karn’s words, her artistic sensibilities were attracted to the incredible detail in the paintings. If only she had her art supplies, she could at least lose herself in her work until she saw her cousins again.

Kalina and Aleana seated Annie between them on one side of the table, as if protecting her. The cushions were large and Annie’s molded to her body as she sank into it. Like the other women, she sat cross-legged. The mini-dress hiked up to Annie’s hips, almost exposing her mound, and cool air brushed her bare folds.

It was then that she noticed the gorgeous man with one shoulder hitched against the wall. The man’s chest was as bare as Karn’s, and just as broad and muscular. He had sapphire blue eyes, golden-blond hair to his shoulders, tanned skin, and his breeches were tight, molded around the thickness of his cock. Obviously he was turned on.

No doubt by Kalina and Aleana.

Certainly not by me,
Annie thought as she clenched her hands on the cloth-covered table and continued to ignore Karn.
I can’t even interest the man who’s been screwing me. What does that say?

The golden-haired man pushed away from the wall and sauntered toward them. In a slow and athletic movement he seated himself on the opposite side of the narrow table, directly across from Annie. Openly he appraised her and gave an untamed smile, as if approving of her curvaceous figure.

He reached over the table, took her hand from where it was resting, and raised it to his lips. “I am Kir,” he murmured, his deep voice sexy and vibrant. “Lord of Emerald City and the mountain wolf clan.”

“I’m Annie.” She did her best to give him a little smile. “Lady of naught.”

Lord Kir brushed his lips over her knuckles and heat rushed to Annie’s cheeks. “If you were my Lady, you would be the most cherished woman in my realm.”

A low growl rumbled from where Karn was still standing, and Annie was sure her face was stoplight red.
Let him stew,
she thought despite the twinge of embarrassment. Without looking at Karn, Annie held Kir’s hand just a moment longer, and then slowly let her fingertips slide from his.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Karn’s thunderous expression and she barely kept from smiling. Apparently he wasn’t into sharing his
possession
with other men.

She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, settled her hands in her lap, and studied the intricate designs on the black china plates and teacups. Like the stained-glass doors leading to the garden, the red and gold diamond pattern matched the one on Karn’s shoulder.

While Annie remained quiet, Kalina and Aleana chatted easily with Lord Kir. From the sensual tone of their conversation, it was obvious they were
very
familiar with him. While they talked, Annie absently raised a hand to her collar and rubbed her finger over one of the diamond-shaped crystals. The collar felt confining now instead of comfortable. If she wasn’t concerned that Karn would erotically punish her in front of everyone, she would yank it off and throw it at the jerk.

Laughter and conversation came from the doorway, and Annie glanced up to see three people appear in the room—two men and a woman—and the air sparkled around them. They were all only as tall as Beya, perhaps three feet in height. One of the men wore a very large and peculiar orange head covering that reminded Annie of a goofy version of an old-fashioned stovepipe hat.

The other man had a pinched face and a haughty expression. He rather looked like a snobbish mouse—all he needed was whiskers instead of his neatly trimmed mustache.

Appearing behind the men was a cute and perky looking woman in a light blue dress. She had a fresh and beautiful smile, and her hair tumbled over her shoulders in golden blonde ringlets. She gracefully sat on one of the cushions beside Kir and gave him a reverent nod. Mouse-man sat on the other side of Kir, and goofy-hat-man sat at the end of the table.