Page 37 of Diamond Kisses

Instead of sitting on the floor by her Master’s feet, she rested in the chair beside him. A rich ruby robe draped her usually naked frame, hiding the baby bump slowly appearing beneath. She cupped her unborn child, her posture as calm as possible, all while her energy stabbed me with shards of fear.

I gave her a quick smile, grateful Victor hadn’t hurt her. That he’d stayed true to his word and treated her far better now that she carried his heir.

Victor looked me up and down. “I have to say, you smell a lot better than you did on my last visit.”

“It’s not for your benefit, believe me.”

“And yet, I’ll benefit anyway.” He chuckled. “Now that you’re presentable. Let’s test your obedience, shall we?”

“Where’s Ily? What have you done with her and Peter?”

“They’re safe. You’ll see them later.”

“Let them go.”

“Nope.” He laughed again. “Now kneel,mon ami. You have three seconds.”

I might be willing to put up with his torture so Ily wouldn’t be hurt.

I might be prepared to endure whatever nightmares he delivered.

But…that first request. That simple command to do something as demoralising as submitting to him…fuck, I couldn’t do it.

Standing to my full height, I looked directly into his awful eyes. “Go fuck yourself, Vic.”

He laughed and popped a lemon tart into his mouth. Chewing elegantly, he nodded with a gleeful grin. “I thought you’d say something like that. I’m so glad you didn’t disappoint me.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a very familiar, horribly recognisable device.

Waving it at me, he smacked his lips and leaned forward. “One last time.” His eyes flashed with pure evil. “Kneel.”

“I’d rather ram that china plate down your throat.”

“So be it.” His hand came up, his thumb pressed down.

And…

I dropped like a sack of stone onto the ballroom floor as the hottest, coldest, fastest, wickedest current arced through me.

My teeth clamped down on my tongue as I twitched and thrashed.

I couldn’t stop it.

Couldn’t help it.

Every wallop of electricity felt as if I was back in that cave. Back on the ground while seven men kicked the living shit out of me. It didn’t flow like fire. It punched and kicked and strangled. Fisting my heart, my lungs, my stomach, my spleen.

I couldn’t see. Speak. Or breathe.

My fingers curled involuntarily. My toes clenched. My towel came free as I jerked like his fucking puppet by his feet.

Stop.

Fuck…please—

Christ, I’d done this to Ily.

I’d pressed that fucking button and delivered this agony to Peter and all the jewels.

I deserved this.

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