Текст книги "Diamonds"

Автор книги: K. A. Linde

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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 12 страниц)

“WHAT’S GOING ON in that pretty little head of yours?” He took a drink of his scotch. His eyes stared straight through her.

“Just admiring your taste in scotch.”

Bryna distracted herself from that stare by taking a sip of her drink. Single malt, undeniably smooth, and utterly delicious. She did not need this to feel more confident. She was not nervous. In fact, she wanted this.

She was Bryna Turner. Nothing could break her stride.

His lips quirked up. “You know one of the first things I noticed about you?”

“My tits?” she joked, deflecting.

His eyes flicked down to her exposed cleavage and then back up. “After I saw how beautiful you were.”

“What?” She was intrigued.

“How truly empty you looked.”

In shock, Bryna faltered backward a step. She didn’t care that his words exactly mirrored what she thought about him every time she looked into his eyes. It didn’t matter that she truly did feel empty or that her parents’ divorce had rendered her this way. How could he say that to my face?

“I am not empty,” she spat.

“I’m sure that’s what you tell everyone.” He set his glass down on the coffee table and came back around to stand behind her. “You hide behind a wall of self-confidence. No one can see past the hardened exterior.”

She felt the faint brush of his hand along her shoulder and up her neck.

“But I do. I see what you keep hidden, what you want no one else to see.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. This is who I am.”

Jude’s mouth replaced his hand, and suddenly, it took everything in her not to lean back into that kiss. Chills ran up her arms. The anticipation of what was to come increased her sensitivity to his touch. Every brush, every touch of his lips sent a shock wave through her system.

“This body,” he murmured, running his hands down her sides and over her hips, “hides how hollow you are on the inside.”

He dug his fingers into her hips, and she struggled to remember how to respond.

“I…no.”

“Something stripped you down and left your soul bare.” His hand slid to her thigh and under the hem of her dress. “As bare as you’re about to be.”

“Jude,” she whispered. She didn’t know what else to say. She wanted to argue. But really, what’s the point? How can he see what no one else has been able to?

“You know I’m right.” He roughly turned her around and looked deeply into her eyes.

His fingers twined in her hair, and she closed her eyes as he tilted her head up toward him.

“Tell me I’m right.”

Trying to keep her walls up around him was futile. Everywhere else, she had to pretend that she was whole and fine, that nothing could bring her down, nothing could hurt. If the opportunity to be herself and to be with someone who understood her pain was presenting itself to her, then she was going to take it.

“You’re right.”

He didn’t ask her to talk about it or explain the feelings behind her emptiness. And she didn’t ask him to try to make it better. A mutual understanding bloomed between them, something no one else could touch. In that moment, she knew she was lost.

His lips crashed down on top of hers, forceful and demanding. He was in charge. He took control. It was clear he knew exactly what he was doing.

Her scotch glass disappeared from her hand, and then he guided her back to his bedroom. The glass balcony doors, covered in sheer curtains, let in a dim glow of light. A king-sized bed took up the center of the room with a black leather bed frame, a charcoal bedspread, and black throw pillows. It was dark and exotic.

Jude’s lips melted with hers for a minute, tasting and testing. When he pulled back, she was left wanting more. She didn’t feel as hollow with his lips on hers.

“Stand right here,” he instructed, positioning her to face the bed.

She curiously looked at him as he sat down in front of her. She wanted to make some comment about how she could have just stood at the bar, but she held her tongue. She was confident in her skin. She didn’t mind him examining her from head to toe.

And he did just that.

“Now, take off your dress. Slowly.”

She arched an eyebrow, and he just smirked back in return with a challenge glinting in his eyes. She could play this game if that was what he wanted even if it would be her first real striptease.

Turning to face away from him, she spread her legs more than shoulder width apart, stretching the elastic material until the dress rode up her legs. Then, she reached for the zipper on the back and very carefully dragged it down. First, she revealed the royal-blue La Perla bra, then the matching lace panties, and finally the curve of her ass. She dropped the dress off of each shoulder and then gingerly pushed it over her hips where it pooled at her feet.

She heard his intake of breath, and it encouraged her to continue.

She slowly walked in a small half circle to face him in nothing but her lingerie and Louboutins. Red lacquered heels were her specialty.

“Proof that your dress looks better on my floor.”

Bryna walked forward, one foot in front of the other, swaying seductively. She pushed him backward on the bed, climbed on top of him, and threaded his tie through her fingers. “So will your suit.”

“I’m going to fuck you in those heels.” He rolled her over on the bed and started stripping out of his suit. “Just those heels.”

“You’ll have to do something about this lingerie.”

“I don’t care if I have to rip it off,” he said as his pants fell to the floor, leaving him in nothing but his black boxer briefs.

His body covered hers a second later, reaching under her body until he unclasped her bra. He pulled it over her head and watched as her glorious breasts fell into place.

“Fuck,” he muttered. His hands caressed them, stiffening her nipples, and then he sucked on the hardened points.

She arched her back and wound her fingers through his hair. He hadn’t moved an inch lower, and her blood was pounding. She was already wet and close to soaking through the thin material keeping him from her. She tilted her hips up hoping to encourage him to move farther south, but he only laughed at her.

“Not yet,” he murmured softly.

Then, out of nowhere, his tie reappeared. He had her hands clasped above her head, and he was tying the material around her wrists. The tie wasn’t attached to anything, but his point was clear.

Don’t move.

Her heart rate skyrocketed. He had tied her hands together. Shit!

He went back to work on her tits. He alternated between giving her pain and pleasure as he nipped at the sensitive peaks and rolled them between his fingers. She felt ready to combust under the attention and all before he even yanked her underwear to the ground to find out exactly how wet she already was.

One finger went in, and he groaned. She had to resist bucking off the bed as a second followed, and then he was working her in and out. Slowly at first, and then he picked up the pace as he brought her closer to climax. Her eyes were closed, and she was digging her fingers into the comforter when she felt his tongue flick against her clit. Her body jerked. Then, he was giving it the same treatment as her nipples. He swirled his tongue around the nub and licked and sucked until she was convulsing underneath him.

She was in ecstasy from her orgasm when she felt his dick pressed against her opening. Her body tightened around the head, and she pushed her hips toward him.

“Fucking hell,” he groaned.

He withdrew from within her, and her eyes snapped open, full of questions. She saw him tear open a condom, and she nearly groaned herself. She would have rather felt him against her, inside her.

But she didn’t protest, and then he plunged deep into her. She cried out as he filled her. For once, she didn’t feel empty or hollow. She felt completely and totally full. Of his cock.

He leaned forward, so one of his hands rested on her bound wrists, and then he started working her back into a frenzy. He pulled out slow and then slammed into her as fast as he could. Over and over and every agonizing moment over again, he would thrust into her until she was shaking with the need for release, but then he would be deliberately gentle and hold her off for another minute.

His lips fell hungrily on hers, and she felt him somehow expanding further inside her. He was as close as she was. They were both ready to collapse from exhaustion and the pent-up energy.

“Do you want to come, beautiful?”

She nodded her head. How am I even holding on to composure? All she wanted was for him to make her explode.

His hands fell to the sides of her face, and they passionately locked lips once more as he thrust into her until they both let go. Bryna’s body shook from head to toe. She threw her head back as waves of heat passed through her. She saw stars in her vision.

When it finally cleared, she looked up at the man who had taken her to all new heights. She knew there was no going back from here.

THE NEXT MORNING, Bryna awoke to an empty bed. She sat up, clutching the bedsheet to her chest, and looked around the dark room.

No Jude.

She scooted off the bed and winced as she stood. Her body reminded her exactly how much physical exertion it had endured last night. She shimmied back into her dress, grabbed her shoes, and walked out into the living room.

“Jude,” she called out.

No response.

She ducked her head into the guest bedroom and the kitchen, looked into both bathrooms, and even decided to peer into the closets.

Empty.

What the fuck?

They’d had an incredible connection and an even more incredible night. Then, he had ditched her? What kind of scumbag would do that to me? Has he been playing games the whole time? Have I been a conquest?

She was not just some conquest!

She quickly made arrangements for a cab to come pick her up and then stormed to the door. On her way out, she noticed a piece of paper on a table next to the exit. She snatched it into her hand.

I GOT CALLED INTO WORK AND DIDN’T WANT TO WAKE YOU.

STAY AS LONG AS YOU LIKE, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHEN I’LL GET BACK TO THE APARTMENT.

SORRY TO RUN OUT ON YOU.

–JUDE

Contemplating, Bryna rolled the paper over in her hand. This could be the truth. She didn’t know what line of work he was in, but her father worked most Saturdays. It was a reasonable assumption that he worked a lot to have amassed such a fortune.

She ground her teeth. She didn’t want to think it was okay for him not to even say good-bye. But he had left a note. Well, if it were all true, then he would get in touch with her again. She scribbled down her number on the bottom of the paper and signed it Bri.

She was sure she would hear from him soon enough.

After leaving Jude’s apartment, the cab took forever to get back to her dad’s place. She had to be at school soon for the away football game tonight. It was weird even thinking about going back to high school after being with Jude.

Her life felt upside down and inside out. There was the most fulfilling night of her life, where she had been completely free, and then there was the rest of the world. If Jude hadn’t more or less left her high and dry, she wouldn’t have ever wanted to come back.

Bryna walked in through the kitchen door in an attempt to avoid all human contact and nearly ran smack dab into her stepbrother, Pace. Another person she definitely did not want to come back for.

“Where the hell were you last night?” Pace asked.

She ground her teeth and turned away from him. The only person she wanted to see less than Pace was his stupid fucking mother. At least the twins would leave her alone.

When she didn’t answer, he asked, “Huh, Bri?”

She closed her eyes to try to get her emotions under control. She needed her hard exterior right now to deal with this bullshit.

“Only my friends call me Bri.” She swung around and fixed him with a frosty glare that told him he was very far from a friend. “For you, Bryna will do.”

“Yeah, whatever. You can’t dodge my question, Bri.”

“I don’t have to answer anything. You might have left the Valley, Pace, but you’re still trash to me,” she spat in his face. “So, stay out of my business and out of my life.”

She turned on her heel and stalked away. Thankfully, he didn’t follow her. He had been a thorn in her side since he moved in. Not to mention, he was a disgusting pervert who had spent so much time gawking at her when she walked around the house that she started covering up in sweats every time, fearing she would run into him.

Halfway to the stairs, she heard the voice she had been dreading.

“There you are, Bryna, dear.”

Bryna cringed and kept walking. God, I hate my stepmother.

“Mom, don’t you think it would be nice if I drove Bryna to the game today?” Pace called, stepping out of the kitchen doorway.

Bryna stopped dead in her tracks. Oh no, he did not just say that!

“That would be great!” Celia said. “So sweet of you to suggest, Pace.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Bryna said. Her eyes were icy as she scowled at the pair.

“Now, Bryna, Pace is being generous,” she said as her son walked over to her.

He stared at Bryna as if he were the picture of innocence instead of the disgusting pig that he was.

“Pace wouldn’t know what generous was if it bit him in the ass.”

“Don’t use that tone of voice with me,” she said crossly.

Bryna slowly counted to three in her head. She hoped it would calm her down, but it didn’t work. The anger that flooded her every time she thought about this woman in her mother’s place erupted out of her.

“You are not my mother!”

Celia covered her mouth at the outburst, but Bryna took the opportunity to climb the remaining stairs and slam the door to her room. She had just had the most incredible night of her life, and now, she had to come back to this bullshit. As soon as she graduated, she was getting the hell out of here.

She grabbed her cheerleading uniform out of her closet and slid into the tiny gold skirt and red-and-gold cheer top. She pulled her blonde hair into a high ponytail, threw her pom-poms into her cheer bag, and then slung it over her shoulder. She was leaving now. She couldn’t stand to be in this house with that woman for one more minute.

As she was tying her white shoes, Pace barged into her room.

“Ever heard of knocking, asshole?”

“Nope.” He tossed himself face down onto her bed and lay there, watching her.

“You’re a fucking creep. Stop staring at me like that.” She stood quickly and tugged on her skirt.

“Like what?” he asked. He rolled over onto his back and stared up at her with the same greedy expression on his face.

He made her skin crawl.

She shook her head in disgust. “Why don’t you get the fuck out of my room? I could have been changing.”

“We’re all family here.”

“Just because your whore mother married my father doesn’t make us family. It does make your ogling more disgusting though.”

Pace just kept his eyes locked on hers. He didn’t even have the decency to deny it.

“I’m getting out of here.”

“You just got back.”

“And?” she snapped.

“Come on, Bri. We’re going to the same place, and we have to be there at the same time. Just let me drive you,” Pace said.

He stood up, his six-foot-four frame towering over her. Football had padded his arms and shoulders, and standing near him made her feel tiny. She shot him a look that she hoped would make him feel just as small. Then, she left the room.

He followed her downstairs and cornered her again in the massive garage that housed all her father’s prized luxury cars.

“God, what do you want?” she screamed.

“To take you to the game, Bri. Haven’t you been paying attention?” He sounded so calm and controlled.

All she wanted to do was punch him in the face, but she needed to get it together. She couldn’t let Pace see her flustered.

“Pace, I don’t know how to make this any clearer.” She balled her hands into fists. “I never want to be in the same place as you if I can ever help it.”

He started laughing loudly and smiled at her revolted reaction. “It’s so fun to press your buttons, sis.” He winked before walking back inside.

She was seething.

If looks could kill, he’d already be dead.

THROWING HER CHEER BAG into the backseat of her Aston Martin, she slammed the door with a ferocity that would have made her dad furious. She pulled out of the garage and sped over to Harmony.

Avery and Tara were already supposed to be getting ready at school. Bryna usually strolled in right on time, looking as glamorous as ever, but she had been rushed out of the house and hadn’t had the time to finish off her glamorous look, so she would have to do it in the car. She hadn’t realized that stepping away from her hard shell would make it so hard to draw it back up again. She couldn’t afford to be off her game today.

Before entering the building, she quickly applied a fresh coat of makeup, readjusted her ponytail, and added the signature red bow. When she went inside, she wanted them to see her as they always had.

Perfect. Queen.

Only Jude had noticed what was really stirring inside of her, and she preferred to keep it that way.

Bryna ignored the surprised stares from the rest of the team as she walked into the building early and straight to the back of the room. She tossed her bag down next to her chair and took a seat.

Avery and Tara skittered over, their brunette ponytails swishing as they moved.

“Bri!” Avery cried. “You’re early.”

“So observant, A,” Bryna responded sarcastically.

“But, Bri, you’re never early,” Tara peeped.

“Why are you hovering?”

Avery and Tara immediately took a step back and started apologizing. Bryna swallowed down her frustration. She placed an amused smile on her face as they tripped over themselves to make it right.

“It’s fine.” Bryna held up her hand.

“So, where were you last night?” Avery asked. Her big brown doe eyes expectantly stared at her. “We waited for you at Luxe for, like, ever.”

“Avery made out with Brian Blackwell,” Tara rushed out.

Bryna questioningly raised her eyebrows. “You what?”

Avery flushed. “Tara is exaggerating. It was just one kiss. No big deal. It would never be serious with Brian. He’s an underclassman.”

“You had your tongue down his throat,” Tara said.

Bryna turned her attention to Tara. “She knows her place. You can chill with the third degree.”

Tara backed up another step and looked embarrassed from being called out.

Bryna’s head was starting to pound. Why do I have to deal with this petty bullshit right now? She should have stayed in Jude’s apartment and skipped the game. That sounded like heaven right about now.

“So, where were you then?” Avery repeated.

Bryna smiled up at them. She felt a victory in her hands even before she spoke the words. This was going to tighten the reins that had been slipping through her fingers ever since her father remarried.

“If you must know, I broke up with Gates last night.”

Avery and Tara wore equally horrified faces.

“You did what?” Tara asked.

She stood and sighed. “I can do better.”

“Better than Gates Hartman?” Avery asked.

Do I detect disbelief in my friend’s voice?

“Don’t you think so?” Bryna fixed them with a glare that made any response other than yes seem unacceptable.

“Um…yeah. Yes,” Avery said.

“Of course,” Tara peeped.

Bryna nodded in agreement. “I’m over the whole movie-star thing. I’d rather shop around for better merchandise.”

Avery and Tara slowly bobbed their heads.

“Wow,” Tara said. “You’re so right. You can do better than that.”

“I know.”

They smiled and exchanged glances before heading back to their seats. She knew that, in a matter of minutes, the news would spread to everyone at Harmony. She tried to ignore her already beeping phone and pretended to freshen up until it was time to leave. Just as she’d expected, the whispers behind her back escalated the closer it came to departure.

Avery and Tara followed behind her as she strolled over to the state-of-the-art travel buses that would take them upstate. Before she reached the cheer bus, Pace stepped in front of them.

She could hear Avery and Tara oohing and aahing. She was going to have to knock some sense into them if they kept this up.

First, Brian, and now, Pace? Horrible, horrible taste.

“Bri, can I speak with you for a minute?” Pace asked.

She reeled in her original reaction to slap him across the face and call him out in front of everyone in the school. It wouldn’t help her present situation.

“Sure, Pace. Give us a minute, girls.”

They scurried onto the bus, leaving her alone with her stepbrother.

“What do you want?” she asked, dropping the act.

“You broke up with Gates?”

“What does it matter to you?”

“Sounds like some stupid rumor. Is it true?”

Breathe in. Breathe out. “Good news travels fast. Yes, I broke up with Gates last night. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

She went to pass him, but he grabbed her arm.

“Is that why you were out last night?”

“Pace, if I wanted you to keep tabs on my whereabouts, I’d let you know. Until then, you can go fuck yourself.” She wrenched her arm away from him. “Get out of my way.”

As she was trying to leave, some of the guys from the football team barreled past them.

She pointed at his teammates. “You have a bus to catch, Pace.”

“That’s right. Did you hear about the talent scouts coming to the game tonight?” He paused only briefly and then continued as if he knew she wasn’t going to respond, “Las Vegas State Assistant Coach Matt Cason is supposed to come watch me play.”

Bryna froze.

He couldn’t go to LV State.

Her mother and father had met there. He had played on the national championship football team. Her mother had been a cheerleader. Bryna had to send in her application by January for the freshman class next year. She wouldn’t hear for several months, but she figured she was a shoo-in.

Pace couldn’t even be considering talking to the coach about the school. She wanted to escape home…not bring it to Vegas with her.

“LV State is mine,” she growled. “Don’t even fucking think about it, Pace.”

He smiled a toothy grin, and she stormed away, but not before she saw the challenge in his eyes.

The football game came and went with a victory led by her slimy stepbrother.

The weekend passed quickly after that, and Bryna started to grow restless. The last time she had heard from Jude was before he had walked out of his apartment. She knew the typical rule was to wait a couple of days before calling, but after the night they had shared together, how could he wait?

Three weeks of radio silence later left her stunned and pissed. She cursed herself for allowing the whole thing to mean something to her.

So what if he understood me? So what if we had an incredible night?

She had to resign herself to the fact that it had been a one-night stand.

He wasn’t going to call.