by Stone, Piper
The shimmer in his eyes allowed me to fall into his world, holding my gaze as he dug his fingers into the skin on my hips. He pulled me almost all the way off the tip of his cock then yanked me down, the sound of skin slapping against skin floating between us.
“Your hunger is growing,” he murmured, his chest rising and falling as he repeated his actions several times.
I wanted to deny him, to refuse to acknowledge my body’s reactions, but I’d only be more of a fool in doing so. When I used my thigh muscles, pushing against his massive legs, he growled. The heat between us was unstable, just like every aspect of our relationship.
“Ride me, Genevieve. Take what you want.” His command was laced with another round of dangerous intent, as if a promise to be made.
Bucking against him, I bit my lower lip, doing everything I could to keep some level of control over my body.
And my mind.
But I was failing on all counts, struggling to contain the woman inside. Letting go had never been easy for me. Doing so with a monster was immoral, pure sin, but my body refused to provide any other choices.
His breathing became even more ragged, his entire face shimmering from beads of perspiration forming across his forehead.
I pitched myself forward, pushing my hands against his shoulders and leaning back. When he fisted my hair with one hand, holding me in place while dragging me into a deeper arc, I couldn’t stop panting, releasing several growls of my own. There was nothing like rocking against him, feeling his hard muscles caressing my legs, the heat of his body colliding with mine.
Within seconds, I couldn’t hold back another orgasm, the shock of how quickly my body responded to him muddling every thought in my head.
“Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh!”
“That’s it. You’re beautiful when you come,” he whispered. He pulled me up and down and the feel of my breasts bouncing matching the brutal ache of my nipples.
When the climax finally eased, tingles remaining, he lowered my head, resting my forehead on his shoulder. I found it difficult to slow my breathing, taking several deep breaths, my mind completely foggy.
There were no niceties, no soft murmurs of how much he loved me. He simply held me in place as I caught my breath.
“We’re not finished yet.”
His words filtered into the darkness in my mind, jumpstarting another wave of sickening anticipation. The moment he pushed me off his lap and onto all fours, anxiety got the better of me. I scampered forward, trying to get away from him. I knew what to expect next, exactly what he’d promised to do.
He was going to fuck me in the ass.
It was as if a vise had wrapped around my ankle, jerking me away from the edge of the bed. I refused to give in, fighting with everything I had to crawl away.
“Bad girl,” he huffed just seconds before he brought his palm down against my naked bottom. “I’m disappointed in you.”
The harsh reality rattled me, the instant sting fueling the fight or flight effort. I heard the strangled whimpers coming from my mouth as I continued to scramble forward, but the sound only echoed. When I was dragged back by my hair, another hard round of smacks coating every inch of my bottom, I made an animalistic sound, huffing several times.
My response only fueled his frustration, the strikes on my ass cheeks coming down harder and faster. I wiggled and kicked out, still trying almost desperately to crawl away from him.
“I suggest you stop what you’re doing.” He caressed my bottom and I couldn’t stop shivering.
Then I almost managed to get out of his hold.
He fisted my hair, dragging me backward a second time, wasting no time smacking his massive palm from one side to the other.
“Stop.” Dear God, I loathed the whining sound in my voice.
“Not until you’ve learned your lesson.”
He started again, striking so many times that I couldn’t think straight.
After a few seconds, I was far too exhausted to fight him any longer. I lowered my head, accepting my punishment, so humiliated that my wedding night had come to this.
Lucian gave me a solid dozen or two more until I’d lost count, the pain becoming unbearable.
Then he simply stopped, taking a few seconds to caress my bruised skin before grinding his hips against me. “Why do you fight me?”
I had no answer that would make any sense to a man like Lucian. And so, I kept my mouth shut.
Sighing, he slipped my legs further apart before rubbing his hand between them. “Hopefully, you’ll start to learn that misbehaving isn’t in your best interest.”
“Oh!” The flash of anguish as he pressed more than a single finger into my asshole was blinding. I struggled to keep my elbows locked, but lost the battle, lowering down until my head rested on the bed. Could there ever be anything more shameful than being taken in the ass? I knew he’d added another damn finger, shoving them deep inside, stretching my dark channel wide open.
Even more sickening was the realization that I was meeting every savage thrust with one of my own, beastlike sounds coming from deep inside.
“That’s it. Relax that tight little asshole for me. I can’t wait to erupt inside, filling you with my seed.”
Why did the filthy words turn me on, keeping my nipples rock hard and my pussy slick with wetness?
Obviously satisfied I was stretched wide open enough, he replaced his fingers with his cock. I struggled to shift my head, whimpering when I realized what he was doing. There was no way to object, no words that would matter to him. I was being taken in every way he’d determined.
I almost screamed when he’d slipped his cockhead inside. His fingers remained tangled in my hair, keeping me in place. Lights in vibrant colors swam in front of my eyes as he pushed in an inch at a time. The blurred lines of agony and ecstasy were almost immediate, pulling me into a vacuum, so aroused I was sickened from the realization.
“There you go. Take all of it.”
Even his tone turned me on. So rugged. So husky. Nothing about this was right.
But everything felt so damn good.
There was no way of knowing how long he pounded into me, holding off on fulfilling his needs. I ached all over, an emotional wreck while my body had never felt so satisfied. When he was close to coming, I heard his breathing change, the sounds little more than guttural whispers.
But when his body tensed, his actions becoming brutal all over again, I managed to hear the few words that I had no doubt he meant.
“If any man dares to touch you, they will die by my hands.”
Chapter 6
Lucian
“Give way to your opponent; thus will you gain the crown of victory.”
Ovid
50 West 47th Street.
The International Gem Tower.
The Diamond Dealer’s Club.
Our arrival at one of the most prestigious addresses in the entirety of New York City had been a long time coming. Up until this point, King’s Diamonds had been considered an outsider, shunned not because of the quality of our diamonds and the length of time in the industry, but because of what had been termed our seedy reputation.
That was about to change.
At over seventeen thousand square feet and two thousand members, the site was impressive to behold, fortunes made and often lost on a daily basis. It all depended on who you knew and what palms you greased. The beautiful glass building contained state of the art security as well as biometric access control. With a jewelry shopping mall, club and fitness facility, the location was perfect on several levels. Soon, King’s Diamonds would be presenting our latest line of precious diamonds, including handcrafted jewelry.
After I’d taken the helm, I’d made several trips to Asia, securing some of the finest raw materials in existence. The quality of our diamonds was bar none, but we’d barely made a dent in the market.
Angelo Rossi taking over the presidency a little over a year before had signaled a change, continuing to entice other
foreign markets and members. His snub had been direct, harsh, and instigated by a few members in the club as well as bribes from the Vitalis.
“What do you hope to gain by this meeting?” Vincenzo asked as we strolled into the building.
I took a deep breath, indulging in the sight that had seemed elusive up until now. “A formal approval of our membership. That includes a brand new suite of offices already in design to suit our needs. A gift from Mr. Rossi himself.” The building itself was sleek in design, every detail well thought out.
He chuckled. “You didn’t waste any time.”
“We’ve wasted enough time as it is.” My fingerprints were already on file, supposedly allowing me access without hesitation. However, Mr. Rossi was meeting us in the lobby.
“And who’s going to run the new site?” Vincenzo asked.
“Don’t worry, brother. I’ll be making frequent trips, but Mr. Rossi has been kind enough to provide a list of qualified candidates. Before you ask, he knows better than to cross me.”
“Frequent trips. What is your lovely bride going to say about that?”
I shot him a look as we entered, the marble foyer grand on almost everyone’s scheme. “You know she has no choice, but I don’t plan on keeping her alone for long. I must admit I enjoy her company.”
“Interesting. After only one night of wedding bliss, you are softening.”
I couldn’t keep a grin off my face. “She is… amazing.” The word was tame in comparison to my thoughts regarding my lovely bride. She was like the finest pink diamond, rare and beautiful, devoid of any flaws. Well, except for her continued push against my authority. Time would change that.
“I’m actually glad to hear that, brother. You could use some settling down.”
Laughing softly, I rolled my eyes then noticed Angelo standing nervously near the receptionist’s desk. He’d certainly been out of sorts the night before.
Vincenzo stopped me before we advanced. “You did see the morning paper, didn’t you?”
“Which one?”
“Let’s just start with the New York Times. As you predicted, there were photographs. You need to start being concerned about what the Vitalis are going to do.”
I turned to face him, shaking my head. “You should know me well enough by now to realize that I can handle almost any situation that arises. If they become too much of an issue, they will be eliminated.”
Vincenzo’s grip was firm, refusing to let me go any further. “Listen to me, brother. You don’t want to start a bitter battle in New York City, or anywhere else for that matter. No matter your perceived bravado, this isn’t our turf. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“What you’re really telling me is that both Father and Cristiano don’t approve.”
Snorting, he gave me a hard look. “We’re not playing games here. The Vitalis have the majority of control from New York down through Baltimore. They have hundreds of soldiers ready and willing to annihilate any enemy who dares to piss them off.”
“Then I have something in common with them. I feel the same.”
“Except the majority of soldiers are in New Orleans and Florida. Do I really need to remind you of that or are you just that eager to die before you’ve been able to enjoy that purchased bride of yours?”
There was utter contempt in his tone, which usually infuriated me. However, today I was in no mood for a fight. “I’m not attempting to start a war. I’m simply taking what should have been provided to us.”
Vincenzo took a deep breath. “And what about Mr. Rossi’s safety? Have you thought about that?”
I jerked my arm away, trying to keep my smile. “I’ve arranged for his security and the Vitalis wouldn’t dare attempt anything inside this building.”
“Don’t underestimate them.”
“Noted.” I pushed forward, locking eyes with Angelo. “It’s good to see you, Angelo. I hope you enjoyed last night.”
Angelo took a few seconds before answering me, darting a look at both my brother as well as the entrance. “Don’t be a bastard, King. My daughter is mortified at the arrangements.”
“That’s not what she said last night, and I suggest you keep your voice down.”
Hissing, his mouth twisted. “Let me take you to your new office. Follow me.” As he led us to security, he gave both Vincenzo and me an odd look. “You can’t carry weapons upstairs.”
I opened my jacket on purpose. Of course I already knew the rules. As we walked through the scanning device, I could tell just how nervous Angelo was. His entire body was shaking.
“Press your index finger on the panel,” he instructed. “Vincenzo, you will need to be granted access if not with your brother.” There was something far too familiar with his terms. We weren’t and never would be family, at least not in the terms of normalcy.
The biometrics were an additional perk to security.
There was absolute quiet as the steel-plated box took up to one of the upper floors. I had to admit, I was excited to see the new offices. When the elevator opened, Angelo hesitantly walked into what appeared to be another lobby.
“I think you’re going to like the selection I made,” he said as he headed down a corridor. Glass walls were everywhere, the building designed with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing for natural light. He pressed his finger against another panel, leading us inside.
The expansive space was even more than I’d envisioned. I turned in a full circle, imaging the designs that had been sent prior to the wedding. “You’ve outdone yourself, Angelo.”
“Truly exceptional,” Vincenzo added.
He nodded before walking to one of the windows. “This is everything I’ve ever worked for, all I’ve dreamt about my entire life. Did you know my father was on the board of directors a little over three years after getting off the boat and taking up residence in New York? The family was so proud of him.”
“While I appreciate a good family story, is there a point to this?” I heard the terseness in my voice.
“My point is that family means more than anything. I have a wife and my mother is still alive. You’ve promised to keep us safe. In addition, you will honor my daughter, or I don’t care who and what you are. Do I make myself clear?”
I wasn’t surprised by his sudden change of heart. He’d obviously already had questions that he found difficult to answer. “I have no intention of allowing anything to happen to Genevieve or any member of your family as long as you keep your end of the bargain.”
When he turned his head, allowing me to see his eyes, I sighed. There was nothing that I hated worse than a man begging for mercy, but I could tell it was on the tip of his tongue.
“Relax, Angelo. You will have constant guards at your disposal. If you are threatened, all you need to do is let me know.”
He closed his eyes, nodding once again. “Very well. The office will be fully functional by the end of the week. You have trading space on the floor every other month as requested.”
“Exactly as I required. I’m very pleased.” I truly was. The facility was fantastic. Soon, we would add millions to the King empire, every dollar made legally. At least for now.
And as soon as Morales was contained, things would be even more lucrative, although not as transparent as within New York.
“I’ll be handling the oversight of the office construction as well as some of the operations for the next few days. I will need full access.” Vincenzo barely gave the man a look as he walked the perimeter, moving into the other offices.
“Where is my copy of the membership papers?”
Angelo took his time pulling an envelope from his jacket, hesitating before handing it to me. “You do understand that Ciro Vitali will destroy my life. Whether today or tomorrow, he will find a way.”
I took the papers from his hand, thinking about what I wanted to say. My father had often called me the most brutal of the children, incapable of understanding the kind of pain that burrows deep inside a man, providing empath
y when necessary. At that moment, I realized that I didn’t want to see him destroyed. There was no reason why except for the fact I’d married his daughter.
“Angelo. I give you my word that no harm will come to you or any member of your family. You’ve become a part of the Kings’ world and as such, you’ve become my responsibility.” I raised my arm in a gesture of good will. When his hand clasped mine, I could still feel how much he was trembling.
“I do appreciate that.”
The man had planned on selling his daughter to a savage, yet I was feeling sorry for him.
“I leave you in capable hands with my brother. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a honeymoon to get to.”
Swallowing hard, he pulled away, his face pinched. “Be careful, Lucian. Ciro Vitali is an unforgiving man.”
I’d been warned enough times that it seemed like a broken record. “Then maybe it’s time to bring him to his knees.”
The plan was already in motion whether my family approved or not. I was building my own kingdom.
* * *
Cartagena, Columbia
I hadn’t been to the city in ten years and then only for a short duration, my father handling the aspects of business at that point. He’d demanded I come along, attempting to provide me with a more brutal understanding of the cocaine industry. While Carlos Morales had been a minor factor at that time, his rise to power came two years after, his expansion due to several brutal uprisings he’d facilitated.
I’d learned several things about the King empire, including the necessity to keep my guard up at all times. The trip years before had entailed one of only three active assassination attempts on my father’s life. Until then, I’d been sheltered from the atrocities and violence by my years of education.
My father had even used the term soft, determined I’d gotten that from my mother’s side of the family. After chasing down one of the two assassins, forced to make a decision as what to do with the man’s life, I was wet behind the ears no more. From then on, I’d learned that the only way to keep our enemies in check was annihilation.
