Bound by Desire: King of Diamonds (Wonderland Book 3)

by Jaymie Holland

  Karn gave a low growl. “Come. I will show you more of your new home.”

  He strode toward the open doorway.

  Annie followed him, but she wasn’t sorry she had asked about the portrait of his sister. He hadn’t told her enough—there was much more than a rift between the brothers and Mikaela, certainly more than Karn was willing to share.

  Her thoughts turned to the moments before he had come across Mikaela’s favorite tale. Annie marveled at the softness she had seen in him when he’d showed her the storybook. What had happened?

  She cast one look back, wishing she could read some of the books. She loved to read, her second favorite thing after creating works of art.

  Her thoughts narrowed in on what Karn had said. “I will show you more of your new home.”

  He had no intention of letting her leave.

  A lump grew in her throat, and her chest felt tight. She had to shove down the feelings before they took control of her. She would have to deal with all of that later.

  He took her to a music room with a piano, similar to a late 1800s Steinway concert piano.

  She looked at him. “Do you play?”

  “My sister did.” So much regret was in his eyes that it nearly broke Annie’s heart for him.

  He turned, his motions as abrupt as when he had slammed the book of tales shut. He said nothing more and she left the room with him. Karn and Annie walked together as he showed her a parlor, a ballroom, and other places. The biggest surprise had been the ballroom. She couldn’t imagine Karn having balls in this place.

  They went to the kitchen last and she raised her brows when she saw many small people who looked like Beya and the petite beings in one picture in the book of tales.

  “Munchfolk?” she said quietly as she looked up at him.

  He nodded. “They come from Lord Kir’s realm as we have a shortage of workers in the Kingdom of Diamonds.”

  Lastly, they went through the rich mahogany-like doors with red and gold stained glass panes, leading into the massive glass-enclosed garden. Together they stepped onto the flagstone patio and then a path in the vivid green grass.

  Again, Annie breathed in the rich perfume of the myriad of flowers and her artist’s eyes drifted over the beauty of the flowers and hedges. Yes, she wanted to paint this place so badly her mind and body ached with it.

  She loved the weeping willow-like trees with the tiny purple flowers and studied the tree with feathery blue leaves that stood alone in the center of the garden.

  “Does the sun ever shine in this place?” She stared up at the muddy sky through the glass and sighed. “It’s kind of depressing.”

  “It is winter.” A shrug was in his voice. “It rains more from autumn until spring. Clouds often cover our moors and valley in the spring and summer, but the sun does shine.”

  Her heart beat faster as she realized they were walking toward the wall of red flowers. It was where he had ripped her dress off and spanked her after tying her to the bench for being late to the garden.

  She’d forgotten the being late part. Was he going to spank her for being late since he’d promised her another punishment?

  A shiver skittered over her skin. What would he do to her this time?

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  MEMORIES FLOODED ANNIE’S MIND as she and Karn rounded the red flower wall. They walked into the secluded area with the ebony marble furniture with the thin veins of gold and polished surfaces.

  Vivid images of all that he’d done to her in this very spot flashed through her thoughts, including sucking him and tasting his semen when he came in her mouth. She had swallowed, enjoying the experience despite the circumstances.

  She glanced at the bench and saw that a large folded black blanket was on one end.

  Her attention swung back to him as he led her to the large rectangular table. When they reached it, he removed her glasses and set them aside on a bench. “Take off your dress, Annie.”

  Tingles radiated through her body and her throat felt tight. She didn’t want him to rip the dress, so she tugged it over her head. He took it from her and tossed it onto the bench, next to the blanket.

  She flushed. Even though she’d been naked in front of him before, it still made her feel self-conscious.

  He skimmed her shoulders with his callused fingers, causing her to shiver. “You are beautiful.” As her eyes widened, he cocked his head slightly. “You do not believe that.”

  Her cheeks grew hotter. All she could get out was, “No, Sire.”

  His expression hardened. “You believe the lies of your world, as Alice once did.”

  Confusion made Annie look at Karn in a different light. Alice had always been as self-conscious of her size as Annie was of her own. But he’d just said Alice “once” believed the lies. Could people in Karn’s world appreciate generous curves like Annie and Alice had?

  “Alice knows now that she is a beautiful female.” Karn’s voice had a knife-edge to it. “You will as well.”

  “You like my body?” The words came out before Annie thought better of it.

  “It should not be a question you would consider.” He narrowed his gaze. “Alice had to be taught to appreciate her beauty. It seems the same must be said of you.”

  “What do you mean by ‘taught’?” Annie hoped it wasn’t what she thought it was.

  “Punishment.” Karn said it simply. “If that is what is required to allow you to learn that you are lovely, so be it.”

  His words made no sense to her. She had spent her life hiding her body, remembering the words her mother often flung at her and the teasing she had endured when she was young.

  Yet Karn thought she was lovely? Beautiful even?

  Clearly frustrated with her, he shook his head and blew out his breath. He gestured to the rectangular table that was about four feet wide and five feet long.

  He folded his arms across his chest. “With your feet wide, bend over and lay your breasts and belly on the table so your ass and pussy are bared to me.”

  She hesitated before he narrowed his gaze again. “How must you respond?”

  Her mind went blank before providing the right answer. “Yes, Sire.”

  She hurried and stood at the head of the table like he’d instructed her to, and then widened her legs before lowering her torso to the table. The marble was cool against her breasts and belly, and then her cheek when she rested it on the table, too.

  He moved closer and her belly fluttered as he pressed his leather-clad erection against her ass. He pushed her hair aside, so that it was over her shoulder, and the length of it on the table. He used something to caress her, starting at her nape, slowly drifting down her back to her ass. It felt like multiple soft, gentle fingers sliding over her skin.

  The caress eased up her spine to her shoulder, and then in front of her face. She saw that it was a flogger with a short leather-covered handle and many small leather strips in black and red.

  She shivered. “Will that hurt, Sire?”

  “Yes.” He moved away as she cringed. “Don’t make a sound, Annie.”

  When he was behind her again, he started swatting her with the flogger on her ass and the backs of her thighs. The swats felt soft and didn’t hurt at all.

  He continued to do it with smooth, consistent strokes. Soon her skin began to sting and burn. Her eyes widened and she almost cried out for him to stop. She bit her lower lip to hold it in.

  The stinging wasn’t like being whipped—or what she imagined being whipped would be like. It was more of a steady burn, growing hotter and hotter.

  When he finally stopped, she let out her breath in a rush. She’d been holding it in without even realizing it.

  “You may stand.”

  She winced from the burn on her buttocks as she straightened. The pain wasn’t horrible. It was more tender than anything.

  He gestured for her to move away from the table. He picked up the thick, black blanket she’d noticed when she’d walked in.

&nb
sp; “I am going to handle your education in another way.” He covered the table with the blanket. “Sit at the table’s edge.”

  She felt wary as she eased up onto the table and flinched from the soreness of her ass and thighs. The blanket felt much thicker and softer than it looked.

  He produced black leather ties, like the ones he’d used to tie her to the bench. “Lie on your back.”

  She obeyed and shivered as he took one hand and stretched her arm over her head before tying her restraint to a table leg. When he finished, he moved to the other side and did the same with her other wrist. Her arms were stretched and secured well over her head. Unlike when she’d been tied to the bench, this time her legs were free.

  Wind stirred the trees inside the glass-enclosed garden and a gust rushed over her body and her exposed folds. She frowned. How could that be? Unless a window was open somewhere close. She now heard the sound of the sea, waves slamming against the shore, driving in again and again. Karn’s warm musk surrounded her— the smell of testosterone mixed with something even wilder and more primitive.

  He knelt between her thighs and her breathing grew more rapid as he scented her mound. In the next moment, he buried his face against her folds and licked her clit.

  Annie’s gasp of surprise turned into a moan. He licked and sucked, his tongue rough like a tiger’s. He teased her, taunted her, drawing her close to peak and then backing away, leaving her so frustrated she wanted to scream at him.

  He stood and rose above her, and she wanted to kick him for not letting her climax. He pressed against her folds and grasped her breasts in his hands. “Your breasts are the most glorious I have ever seen.” He said it almost reverently as he stroked her nipples with his thumbs. “Your nipples are perfection.”

  She squirmed from his touch, his words sending pleasure through her and making her body feel even more sensitive.

  He leaned forward and sucked one of her nipples, teasing it with his tongue and lightly sucking. She moaned, and small cries escaped her as he moved from one nipple to the other. Being unable to move her arms and being completely at his mercy only made the experience stronger than ever.

  She was nearly soaring when he stopped. She almost yelled at him to keep going but then he placed the head of his cock at the entrance to her core. She caught her breath.

  This was it. She was naked and her butt was sore, and now she was going to lose her virginity while strapped down to a table in the middle of a garden. Not to mention the red collar around her neck marking her as his possession.

  Dang but she wanted him.

  Karn’s eyes were dark and sensual as he moved the head of his erection slightly into her opening. She bit her lip as she watched him and as she concentrated on the strange but exciting sensation.

  He paused with maybe an inch of him inside her. Concern was written on his features. “Does that hurt?”

  She shook her head. “Not yet.”

  Karn held out his palm and in it appeared a red three-dimensional diamond-shaped object that was about the size of an egg. He placed it to her core and the thing began to throb against her clit. No, throb wasn’t exactly what it was doing—it felt like the diamond thing was licking her clit, too.

  Annie moaned, thrashed her head, and shifted her hips as the soft thing vibrated against her clit. She soared closer and closer to orgasm, so high she could barely speak, much less tell Karn that she was about to climax.

  She tried to fight off the orgasm as she felt him slide into her a little farther, and yet farther still until he reached the barrier inside.

  Her body arched away from the table and she tried to speak. She managed to get out a few words. “Karn—Sire—I’m going to—”

  He cut her off with a sharp demand. “Come for me.”

  Annie’s entire body responded to his command. She cried out as the exquisite feelings rocked her body and felt like she was soaring.

  At the same time she climaxed, Karn thrust inside her, tearing past her hymen and burying himself deep inside her.

  Annie gasped, as she felt sharp, burning pain, drawing her back from the orgasm high. In the next moment, she felt only pleasure as he stretched her. Such a full and splendid feeling, unlike anything she could have imagined.

  “Did I hurt you?” Karn stopped, fully lodged inside her. He looked even more concerned, and Annie couldn’t help a shy smile.

  “It feels good.” She ran her tongue along her lower lip. “You feel good inside me.”

  Karn clenched his jaw and reined in the desire to take Annie hard and fast. By the skies, he’d never felt such a need to possess and claim as he did with his future queen.

  Using his magic, he sent the diamond toy back to his chambers He hooked his hands under each of her knees, and held Annie’s legs splayed wide so he could penetrate her more deeply. Slowly, he thrust in and out of her core, and felt her tight channel gripping him and rippling with aftershocks of her climax.

  She started to close her eyes but he gave her a sharp command. “Watch your king fuck you, Annie. Watch the man who owns you, as he possesses you completely.”

  Her cheeks flushed but she looked to where they were joined. She bit her lower lip as she focused on him moving in and out of her. Karn couldn’t take his eyes from her face, and when he saw that she neared climax again, he urged her on. “Come, Annie. Climax for me again.”

  Her body rocked and he thrust into her harder and faster. His balls slapped against her ass and the sound of flesh against flesh and her small whimpering cries filled the garden.

  When he came it was with a roar and a triumphant shout. He had made Annie completely his. She belonged to him and only him.

  Annie’s mind spun as she came down from all of the incredible sensations. She ached inside from Karn’s penetration and felt the heated burn on the outside from the flogger. She felt wonderfully sore and well fucked.

  At the same time, she was giddy, excited even, over finally losing her virginity. And to a god of a man, no less.

  After Karn untied Annie’s bonds, she heard the voices of Beya and someone else. Annie grabbed the blanket, wrapped it around herself, and slid off the end of the table to her feet. The next moment, Beya and a servant rounded the red flower wall with trays of food in their hands.

  Annie thought she would die of embarrassment, for sure this time, while the feast was laid out on the table where Karn had taken her so thoroughly. Thankfully, Beya and the servant soon vanished around the flower wall once the meal had been served.

  She was grateful that Karn allowed her to keep the blanket around her shoulders while they ate. The blanket kept her cozy and warm, and helped with the sudden feelings of embarrassment around Karn, feelings that were totally absurd after what they’d just done.

  Lunch was delicious, and her stomach growled in appreciation from just the mouthwatering smells. The food was very different from what she was used to, but she liked it all. There were pastries filled with meat and cheeses, similar to dinner pockets that her mom used to make, yet these had unfamiliar spices and flavors. It was hard to describe.

  While they ate, this time Karn didn’t seem to mind answering questions about his realm, as long as her questions weren’t too personal. Annie sensed he held his emotions tight inside and she wondered what she’d have to do to get to know him better.

  Because amazingly enough, that was what she wanted—to really get to know him.

  Annie was even able to finally get more information from him on her cousins. To her amazement, Alice was now the mother of two sets of twins, and Alexi had triplets. That last one was a real shocker. Alexi had never been what Annie would consider the mom-type, but to hear Karn talk, she enjoyed her role as a mother, and as arbitrator of the Kingdom of Spades.

  Alexi’s spouse however, Darronn the King of Spades, was apparently rather overwhelmed with their three cubs, but as proud as a father could be. Annie could sense Karn’s own pride in his nieces and nephews, but he was holding back, not fully letting h
is emotions show.

  Annie couldn’t wait to see her cousins and their children, but Karn wouldn’t give her specifics. Every time she tried to press him for more information, he would give her the “look” that meant she was headed toward another flogging.

  Although she hadn’t minded the flogging he’d given her. It still surprised her how erotic the whole experience had been.

  The afternoon wore on, and Karn insisted on teaching her more of how to satisfy him. A part of her didn’t mind letting him control her. She thought again of what Awai had said, that the submissive had the true power. But rather than revel in that power, Annie felt it was more of a responsibility—to pleasure the one who relied on you to please him.

  Late in the afternoon Karn took her again, this time gently in the grass after she’d come for at least the tenth time that day. Sated, nearly drained of all energy, she started shivering even though they were protected from the cold by the glass dome. The sky darkened, clouds swirled above them, and she even thought she caught the smell of rain. He covered her with the blanket, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her toward the mansion. She was limp with exhaustion, and didn’t mind being carried at all.

  The fact that he was carrying her, when she’d thought she was too heavy to carry, was amazing. She felt small in his arms.

  When Karn took her through the mansion, Annie squeezed her eyes tight and buried her face against his powerful, scarred chest as he strode into the building. He was entirely naked, and beneath the blanket she was, too. She was mortified that everyone in the castle must know what they had been doing. Karn seemed entirely unconcerned with everyone seeing him in his birthday suit, but Annie’s whole body flamed with heat and she was sure her face was as bright red as the collar around her neck.

  Once they reached her chambers, he took her into the bathing room. Hot water had already been drawn, and steam rose from the surface. He tossed aside the blanket, helped her into the pool, and bathed her so carefully that it seemed at odds with his gruff exterior. Inside, Karn was caring and gentle, but instinctively she knew that was something he didn’t want anyone to know.