Diamonds

by K. A. Linde

  He glanced toward Chloe and then back to Bryna. “Please don’t do this.”

  “I’ll let you figure it out for yourself, Gates. We’re through.”

  Bryna rushed back down the stairs in a hurry. She had said everything she wanted to say to them. There was a difference between what she had done and what Gates had done. Why was it so difficult to be honest with her? Gates clearly had feelings for Chloe or he wouldn’t have hid the fact.

  Once she reached the exit to the club, she realized to her surprise that Gates hadn’t followed after her. She ground her teeth together in anger.

  She fished out her phone and dialed Jude’s number. “Where am I meeting you?”

  BRYNA HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS MOMENT for weeks.

  Jude opened the door to his apartment with a smile that took her breath away. Shit. He is gorgeous.

  “Bri.” His eyes traveled over her stunning evening gown, and he raised his eyebrows. “I feel a tad underdressed.”

  She surveyed him with approval trying to not showcase her eagerness. He was in nice slacks, a button-up, and a silk tie.

  “Just a tad.”

  “Come in.” He stepped back and let her walk past him into the apartment.

  She held her head high, holding on to her illusion of control. She needed to keep her wits about her and not fall for his game. This time it was going to be different. Their relationship and everything that consisted of would be on her terms, and she wasn’t going to be the one left waiting again.

  “Where did you come from, wearing a dress like that?”

  She raised an eyebrow at him. “Are we answering questions now? I thought you liked the mystery.”

  “Let me guess,” he said, walking toward her until only inches separated them. “A Black-tie formal event. Your boyfriend took you as arm candy.”

  “Close,” she purred.

  “On what part?”

  “Ex-boyfriend.” She pursed her lips and shook her head. “Is this really what you want to be talking about?”

  “Just attempting to figure out why you called me back.”

  Jude ran his hand down her arm and stared at her questioningly. All she wanted to do was keep her guard up, but with one look, he was shattering her resolve. How does he do that?

  “And I’m trying to figure out why you called at all,” she managed to get out. Despite her best efforts, her voice was breathy.

  “I called because I’ve been thinking about you. Simple as that.”

  She scoffed and stepped away from him. Spell broken. Does he think I’m an idiot? If he’s been thinking about me, then why didn’t he call five weeks ago?

  She stalked across the room to his wet bar and began to pour herself a glass of scotch.

  “By all means, treat yourself.”

  “Thank you. I will,” she said with a cheeky smile. She deliberately took a long gulp before turning back to face him. “Now, you were saying something?”

  “Bri, get your ass over here.” He pointed at the spot in front of him.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. Get your ass over here now.”

  “Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?” she asked, not moving an inch.

  “This is my booty call, right?” Jude raised his eyebrows at her.

  Bryna set the glass down and crossed her arms. “I think you have things all wrong.”

  “Do I?”

  “I’m no one’s booty call. When I called you back, you became mine,” she told him with a devilish smile.

  He chuckled softly at her response. “Well, in that case…”

  Suddenly, she was slammed backward into the scotch cabinet. His arm swept the crystal glasses to the side. One fell to the ground and smashed at her feet. All she could do was giggle. His lips landed on top of hers, hungry and desperate. She could feel the need of the past five weeks between them in that one kiss. She might have been able to fool him into believing that she hadn’t cared about their time apart but not after that kiss.

  His fingers dug into her bare thigh, exposed from the slit in her dress. Then, he was pushing the expensive material aside, sliding his hands under her thighs and hoisting her on top of the counter. Jude pulled back to yank her underwear down, and then he unbuttoned his pants and dropped them to the ground.

  Their lips crashed together again as he thrust his fingers up into her.

  He groaned into her mouth. “You’re so wet.”

  “I might have had some fun in the limo before I got here.”

  He wrenched back and looked into her playful blue eyes. “You masturbated before you got here?”

  “As if you haven’t at the thought of me,” she purred.

  It made her laugh to think that she had masturbated in Gates’s limo before coming over to see Jude.

  “Oh, I have,” he said, slipping his fingers in and out of her. “It’s just so hot to think about you doing it.”

  “Well, if you’re a good boy, maybe I’ll let you watch.” She winked and then tipped her head back as his fingers worked their magic.

  He slipped out of her, and a second later, his cock slammed filled her. She gasped at the abrupt change. Fuck, he has a huge dick.

  He shoved into her again, harder than the last time, and then he leaned in close. “I guess I’m not going to get to watch because I only intend to be very, very bad.” He punctuated his last words with rough thrusts.

  She moaned in pleasure. This was just what she needed after the night she’d had. No, this was what she needed all the time. She needed to forget about Gates and high school and her parents and Pace and everything else in her life and get lost in this fantasy. Get lost in Jude.

  He grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her head back to expose her neck. He nipped at the bare skin until it was red and raw. All the while, he was keeping up a steady rhythm, bringing her closer to climax. She could feel the weeks of pent-up frustration washing off of them. Sure, she had been with Gates, but that hardly compared to this. Nothing had ever compared to this.

  “Harder,” she moaned. She wanted it to be so deep, so rough, so hard that she wouldn’t have to feel anything anymore, except for this.

  Jude let go of her hair and smirked down at her. The look he gave her said that he accepted the challenge. A second later, he hoisted her off the counter and threw her down onto the plush carpet. He was back inside her immediately, lifting both of her legs onto his shoulders, tipping her hips off the ground, and then pounding into her as hard as he could.

  She cried out as she crossed the line between pleasure and pain. But she didn’t stop him. She liked this. She wanted this.

  Fuck, she was about to come.

  The orgasm rocked her body like an explosion bursting in the night sky. Her eyes fluttered, and her toes curled. She was seeing stars as her chest heaved, and she lay on the floor, panting.

  Jude came after her release, falling on top of her.

  “Oh my God,” she murmured.

  “What you said,” he said.

  “I’m glad I’m flexible.” She slowly removed her legs from his shoulders and dropped them on either side of his body. They felt like Jell-O and shook of their own accord. She was a little worried about having to walk anywhere.

  He swept her blonde hair out of her face, kissed her swollen lips, and then just smiled down at her with so much affection on his face.

  “What?” she murmured.

  “You’re so beautiful.”

  She sighed contentedly. “Not the reaction I thought I’d get from a comment about flexibility, but I approve.”

  He laughed and kissed her on the nose. “We have all night to investigate this flexibility.”

  “Uh, I don’t think so.”

  Bryna rolled out from under him, stood on her wobbly legs, and adjusted her dress. She was sure her hair looked completely unruly from the carpet, her makeup was all messed up, and her underwear were tattered and discarded. She couldn’t even see where Jude had thrown them. N
ot to mention, the state of her neck. She was doubtful that she was going to be able to conceal his handiwork. That’s probably what he wanted in the first place.

  Jude rose to his feet as well and tugged on his boxer briefs. “You want to leave?” he asked in disbelief.

  “You ran out on me last time,” she reminded him. Aha! There were her underwear. She grabbed them off the ground and slid them back on. “It’s only fitting that I get the five-week break this time.”

  He looked down at this feet and then back up at her. He seemed hesitant, almost uncertain, and apologetic. “I really was out of town this whole time.”

  “That’s not an explanation. That’s an excuse. So, I’m going to go now.”

  It was the last thing she wanted to do after having the most amazing sex with him, but she couldn’t let him think that she was nothing better than a one-night stand or a booty call. That wasn’t what she wanted. She enjoyed the sex, and while it might be some of the best sex she’d ever had, she could still get sex elsewhere. That was what she had told Gates too.

  She had enjoyed her time with Jude because she thought there was a connection. Without that connection, it was…just meaningless sex.

  Amazing meaningless sex.

  She turned on her heel, retrieved her discarded clutch, and walked to the door.

  Jude grabbed her arm before she could reach it. “Bri, this isn’t why I called you over.”

  “You didn’t want to have sex with me? I beg to differ.”

  “I did. Of course I did. How could I not? But I called because I wanted to see you. I’ve been thinking about you a lot. In fact, I can’t get you out of my head,” he told her. He ran a hand down her arm and drew her closer. “Ever since that night, I thought it would be easier to forget you. I’m separated from my wife, but I’m married to my work. I won’t bore you with the details. Despite all that, I still called you tonight and not for sex, but for this.”

  He walked over to his suit jacket hanging on a stand next to the door and retrieved a red box from the pocket. Bryna froze. She would recognize that box anywhere. Even before the gold lettering came into focus, she knew what it said on the top.

  Cartier.

  Words failed her as he opened the box to reveal the most gorgeous chandelier diamond earrings she had ever seen. She had a small collection of jewelry that she had acquired over the years, but most of the good stuff had belonged to her mother. Anything else she coveted her father usually rented for her for special occasions. She owned absolutely nothing like this.

  “I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I knew that I needed to make this right, and I wanted to start by getting you something almost as beautiful as you are.”

  She reached out and brushed the gorgeous earrings. “You got these for me?”

  “Yes.”

  She took them out of the box, placed the new earrings in her ears, and examined them in the mirror. “They look stunning,” she whispered.

  “As do you.”

  “Thank you.” She truly was at a loss for words. What else could she say as she stared at her reflection in the mirror?

  Her heart pounded in her chest. It wasn’t often that she was wrong about people. If Jude had planned this all along, then she hadn’t just been wrong. She had been out of the park, blinded.

  “I want to keep seeing you, Bri. My job keeps me busy, but when I’m in town, I want to spend my time with you.”

  BRYNA WAS ALMOST FINISHED with her game-day makeup when her phone buzzed next to her.

  Change of plans. I’m in town tonight not tomorrow. Meet at my place?

  “Shit!” she cried.

  Jude’s text could not have come at a worse time.

  For the past couple of weeks, they had been seeing each other whenever he was in town. Primarily, they would spend their time locked away in his bedroom, but he was supposed to take her out tomorrow night. She had no intention of missing that opportunity.

  The only problem was, she had a football game tonight. There were only two home games left in the season, and then she would be done. They would have the state championship and then some competitions in the spring, but tonight was one of her last chances to cheer at Harmony. Not to mention, she had never missed a game before. If she didn’t show up, everyone would freak out.

  But she couldn’t get enough time with Jude.

  A night here. Half a day there.

  She wanted more.

  I have a commitment. I’ll get back to you.

  She sent the message and then completed her makeup. She couldn’t believe she was even contemplating missing the game, yet all she wanted to do was head over to Jude’s place right now.

  I’ll make it worth your time.

  She smirked at the message. You’d better.

  Get out of it for me?

  You don’t even know what it is.

  Does it matter? You would tell me if you wanted me to know. I just want to see you.

  She sighed. What’s one game anyway?

  I’ll see what I can do.

  First, she needed to get herself out of her responsibilities as captain of the cheerleading squad. Everyone was going to flip, but they would just have to deal. She had never missed a game before, but there was a first time for everything. After she worked that out, she had to reason a way out of getting out of the house unnoticed by her family.

  Bryna pressed the speed dial for Avery’s phone and waited for her to answer.

  “Bri! Hey!”

  She dived right in. No pretenses. All business. “I have to miss the game tonight. So, you’re in charge in my stead. Don’t fuck this up, and really try to do some justice to my title.”

  “Wait, what?” Avery asked in disbelief.

  “Are you suddenly deaf?”

  “No. No. Sorry, Bri. I just…you’ve never missed a game.” She sounded frantic and panicky.

  “Which is why you are going to have to do a spectacular job tonight or else I’ll have to reconsider your spot as my number two.”

  “Of course. I’ll do what I can,” Avery answered immediately. “But what’s wrong? Are you all right? Did something happen?”

  Bryna shook her head. Honestly, she could do without the questions. “I’m sick.”

  “But you were feeling fine this afternoon in class.”

  “Avery, stop with the third degree. I’m sick and can’t make the game. That’s all. I’ll see you on Monday.”

  Bryna hung up the phone in frustration. She hadn’t thought it would be that difficult to miss the game. Shaking off Avery’s concern, she dialed the number for the cheerleading coach, Coach Baker. She gave a slightly more believable excuse for her absence, and by the end of the conversation, the coach was completely supportive of her staying at home and taking it easy. Perfect.

  She was changing out of her uniform when Pace barged into her room.

  “Jesus, Pace!” She quickly turned around and threw on a T-shirt.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, stopping in the doorway.

  “I was fucking changing.”

  His eyes glanced down at the discarded uniform. “Why?”

  “I don’t feel well. I’m staying home. I put Avery in charge.”

  “No, really. Why?” he asked disbelievingly.

  She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “Because I’m sick, you idiot. Now, get out of my room before I cough on you, and you catch it. Don’t want Harmony to miss their star quarterback, do you?” she asked sarcastically.

  “You would have to be laid out and dying to miss a game, and you’re standing here, arguing with me.” He looked at her questioningly. He clearly didn’t believe a thing she had said.

  “Well, I must be dying because I’m not fucking going.” She walked across the room and shoved him through the door. “So, leave me alone,” she said, slamming the door in his face.

  Bryna breathed a sigh of relief. She jotted out a text to Jude, letting him know that she would be there within the hour. After waiting for Pace to
leave the house, she slipped into a slinky gold dress and black booties, and then she disappeared from the house.

  Jude wanted their first public outing to be a surprise.

  Bryna assumed it would be somewhere fancy, preferably an upscale expensive restaurant in West Hollywood. When he pulled up outside of Aim, her heart started hammering wildly in her chest. She definitely had not expected him to choose a place where she could have been found with Gates when they were together. She couldn’t be seen by anyone who might recognize her, not when she was lying about being sick to miss the football game.

  Luckily, Gates was out of Los Angeles, on tour promoting Broken Road, and all her friends who might have also been at Aim were currently at the football game she was skipping. It made her antsy to be on her home turf, but the likelihood that someone would recognize her was slim. At least she hoped so.

  Jude valeted his Jaguar and helped her out of the passenger seat. Then, they walked into the restaurant. As Jude spoke with the hostess, Bryna carefully surveyed the room for anyone she knew.

  The restaurant was small and intimate in the front with a back room for large parties. It was all modern décor with high ceilings, plush white padded booths, and minimalistic decorations. As far as she could tell, she didn’t recognize anyone. It had been a while since she had been here anyway. Maybe her luck was with her.

  “Right this way,” the hostess said, directing them to a booth in the back.

  Bryna took a seat facing the room, so she could see if anyone she knew came in the door. She didn’t mind being seen with Jude as long as he didn’t find out how old she was, and it didn’t interfere with cheer. Either of those things could be potentially catastrophic.

  “Bri?”

  “Yes?” she asked, snapping out of her trance.

  “You seem out of it,” Jude said. His hand rested comfortably on her waist, bringing her back to reality. “Is everything okay?”

  She nodded confidently. She couldn’t let him know how out of her element she was at the moment. “Of course. I just wasn’t expecting Aim.”