Page 179 of Diamond Kisses

A month of getting to know my brother, his son, and my sister-in-law.

A month of watching Ily on the phone with her parents. Her brother’s pictures of his rabbit. The messages from Rachel as she grew so close to her due date. Even Ben and Stewart stayed in touch, hinting that they wanted to chat about a business opportunity when we were ready to step back into society.

And not once had I tried to seduce her.

To be honest, I was afraid.

Afraid that I’d want to hurt her. That I’d need her tears or her fear.

I’d made a vow to never lay another finger on her. I intended to keep it.

Pressing her lips together, Ily canted her head and smiled.I want you too.

A soft chuckle fell from me. “What gave it away? The fact that I’m hard even with you dressed up like a marshmallow or that I’m finally strong enough not to limp like an old man.”

She glanced at the cane I’d thrown to the ground.

I didn’t really need it anymore.

I’d only used it because Q’s doctors were quite scary in their care, and they insisted I have some support while the torn muscle in my leg repaired.

“I feel it in the way you look at me,” she whispered. “I feel the answering tug in my belly. It’s been so long…too long. Let’s go back inside and—”

“What? Right now?” I sucked in a breath.

Once again, sheer love threatened to crack my ribs apart.

We had nowhere to be, no rules to follow, no Masters to please.

Just us.

The novelty of endless days and nights just the two of us made my heart skip a million beats. “I want you, Ily. So fucking much. It’s just…”

“You’re afraid you’ll hurt me?”

I winced. “I’m afraid I’llwantto hurt you.”

She held my stare, so much stronger than me. “Don’t you remember how I react to you when you do? I told you, I’m not someone who likes pain, but with you…” She blushed. “You give me pleasure I’ve never known.”

I looked away, my mind crowding with whipping her in Sapphire Scars and the way she dripped with pleasure. It wasn’t a lie that she’d enjoyed it, just…I didn’t know if I could do that again. I didn’t have the right. I’dneverhad the right to mark her, torment her. Hanging my head, I whispered, “I’ve already hurt you far too much.”

“Don’t you think that’s up to me to decide?”

I scowled. “I love you, little nightmare. I fucking adore you, and I won’t—”

“Why do you call me that?” she interrupted. “Little nightmare? I’ve always wondered.”

I blinked at the subject change. Shrugging, I said, “Because from the very first moment we met, you terrified me more than anything.”

She stilled. “You were afraid of me?”

“Of course, I was.” I rubbed my cold nose to hers. “You are and always will be the only one who has the power to make me break. You’ve broken me a thousand times, yet somehow you’ve put me back together again in ways I wouldn’t have been able to without you.”

Her eyes filled with sparkling tears.

The creature inside me salivated to taste them.

Pushing her away, I bent and grabbed my cane and walked across the lawn.

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