Page 200 of Diamond Kisses

We’d been so busy.

We thought we’d have time to pause and breathe then decide what jobs to get and how we wanted domestication to go. But that was before Ben and Stewart badgered Henri to let them visit. Before the four men—Q and Henri, Ben and Stew—sat in Q’s office for hours and somehow came out as business associates.

Ben and Stew’s guilty conscience after going to Victor’s island for so many years and sleeping with Abby and Pen while they were collared—two women who were now their devoted, happy wives—needed a way to clean their karma.

That was how Q committed his team of mercenaries. Henri agreed to play the role of Master long enough to get in the front door. And Ben and Stew used their hacking abilities to break into the bank accounts of rapists and steal their funds.

Not only did the bastards lose their lives, but they also lost every penny to those they’d ever hurt.

Henri had found a job playing his true self: slaughtering the monsters and saving their slaves. When he was at home with me, he was just Hen. If we weren’t playing of course. But when he was out hunting, he was the blackhearted monster who fed on pain with no remorse.

The first few times he’d flown off with his brother to do a ‘job’, I’d huddled in front of the fireplace in panic. Tess had come to visit. She’d plied me with enough wine to ensure I was giggling instead of crying and kept me sane enough to accept that we’d fallen in love with men who would never have a desk job.

PETE AKA ‘THE GOOD GUY’:You still alright if I crash with you guys? I never like to assume.

ILY AKA ‘THE NIGHTMARE’:You know if you tried to stay anywhere else, we’d come over there and kidnap you.

PETE AKA ‘THE GOOD GUY’:Careful. You might give me flashbacks.

ILY AKA ‘THE NIGHTMARE’:Doubt it, you’re far too stubborn for that. How’s the bar work at the local pub going by the way?

My mind slipped down memory lane. When Peter called us from dropping in on his parents unannounced, everything about the prickly proud man who’d taken me under his wing on Victor’s island had changed.

He’d looked instantly younger. He couldn’t stop smiling. He made inappropriate jokes and valued every second of his freedom. Within a few weeks, he’d found a room to rent with another single guy and got back into living a life as if he’d never been collared.

His strength astounded me. The shiny skin on his hands and feet and his many scars under his clothes were the only signs he’d ever been used so badly. And the best thing about his impromptu announcement to his parents? They hadn’t died of a heart attack.

Thank God.

He’d even called me so we could have a video chat where I apologised profusely for giving them misinformation, only to be invited around any time, day or night.

PETE AKA ‘THE GOOD GUY’:Funny you should ask about that. It’s good. Better than good. I…you know what? That news can wait until I see you.

ILY AKA ‘THE NIGHTMARE’:Now that’s just rude.

PETE AKA ‘THE GOOD GUY’:Speaking of news. Can I be there when you tell him?

ILY AKA ‘THE NIGHTMARE’:No, definitely not. How you even figured it out before he did has to go against some sort of friendship code.

PETE AKA ‘THE GOOD GUY’:Can’t blame me if I’m observant.

I laughed and cupped my still flat belly.

I didn’t even know I wanted children until those two little lines appeared.

I was nervous as hell telling Henri but…excited too.

ILY AKA ‘THE NIGHTMARE’:What gave it away?

PETE AKA ‘THE GOOD GUY’:The fact that you went bolting off camera when we were video chatting last month. Henri might’ve bought your story that it was food poisoning, but I have the advantage of not seeing you every day.

ILY AKA ‘THE NIGHTMARE’:What advantage?

PETE AKA ‘THE GOOD GUY’:You’ve always been gorgeous, jaanu. But each time we spoke after that night you seemed to glow.

ILY AKA ‘THE NIGHTMARE’:What if he doesn’t want one?

PETE AKA ‘THE GOOD GUY’:Then I’ll punch some goddamn sense into him.

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