A Diamond at Midnight (3 page)

He watched
Diamonique
subtly move away, as if his voice affected her more than she cared to admit.

“Tell me why you’re here so you can leave me in peace.”

He bobbed his eyebrows mischievously. “I have no desire to leave you alone. I’m here to stay.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, which only emphasized the perfection of her tits, and growled, “You leave or I will.
Your choice.”

He stepped forward, watching in heated fascination as she stepped back once more. “Do you really wish me to leave, love?”

“Yes.”

He smiled at her quickly uttered word, spoken with just the slightest hint of a quiver. “I think you’re a little liar, Diamond.”

She visibly cringed, then said, “What has
Sareena’s
death to do with me?
Out with it, Cain.”

“In time you will see.
Soon, my love.”

Diamonique
went instantly rigid. “Don’t call me that. I am no longer
your
anything.”

He rolled his eyes and ground out, “You are way too sensitive, that was always your problem.”

“You don’t know crap about me, Cain. You were too busy stabbing me in the back to get to know the real me.”

“Don’t, Diamond. It’s in the past,” Cain snarled.

Anyone else would have trembled in fright, but not
Diamonique
. She had never truly been afraid of him. Perhaps that had been the allure. He didn’t know, and he didn’t have the luxury of time to find out. His enemies were near and soon they would find
Diamonique
. He couldn’t allow that.

“Why don’t you want to talk about your flaws, Cain? Does it damage your perfect ego?”

Cain stepped closer, staring into the most beautiful emerald pools he’d ever seen. It was the first thing about her he’d noticed. It had shocked him that he’d actually taken the time to notice something on a woman other than the more feminine elements of her packaging. That in
itself
had been a novelty.

She’d blindsided him with her sweet innocence that first night. He’d watched her walking down the street as if she hadn’t a care in the world, her strides so full of energy. Without even knowing it, she’d tempted him. When he’d held her in his arms, her body molding to his as if made specifically for him, he’d gotten sucked in. Maybe it was the longing he sensed deep inside
Diamond ,
the fire that no one else had ignited or even the goodness of her heart. Perhaps it had been all three but the last touched him more than anything. Right now, however, her enthralling eyes were all but shooting brilliant sparks at him, searing and exciting him all at once. Damn, the woman was lethal and unknowingly seductive in her rage.

And he always did enjoy standing a bit too close to the fire.

His lips kicked up at the corners, as he automatically drew his gaze downward, drinking in

the
exotic sight of her. Her dress molded to her perfect curves, driving him insane with need. In the past, she’d been partial to reds and blacks, but tonight she wore a green, crushed velvet thing that made her skin fairly shimmer in the moonlight.

Christ, her beauty brought him to his knees every time he saw her; a temptation he’d never been able to resist.
A walking wet dream.
Diamonique
was the kind of woman that made a man want to possess her, all the while knowing it was impossible. After all, how did one go about owning a bolt of lightning?

“You like to get me angry, don’t you, Diamond?” Cain searched her face for some sign her resolve to stay mad at him had weakened. He hated to admit it, but he wasn’t comfortable with knowing he’d hurt her. Once, long ago, they’d often argued and debated. Cain had taken pleasure in their little game of matching wits. Their relationship had never been dull or stagnant. But the hurt she tried unsuccessfully to hide tore pieces from him.

Diamonique
snorted. “Do us both a favor, Cain; don’t pretend that I hold some special place in your world. I know better.”

Feeling guilty, Cain winched. “It was a hundred damn years ago! Will you never forgive me for that tiny lapse in judgment? If you would only listen to my side you might see that it’s not all what you think.”

She quirked an eyebrow.
“Oh? And how many sides to a blowjob are there?” Her tone was dry as she turned from the railing and began walking away.

Cain promptly choked. Jesus, the woman had a wicked tongue. Instead of hurling insults, he could think of at least a dozen other things much more enjoyable for the use of such a wicked weapon.

If
she’d only give him the chance to explain.

The sight of her leaving cemented his determination to get back in her good graces. He had to make her see reason. Both their lives depended upon it. Cain followed quietly at a discreet distance, curious as to what she was up to now.

Lord in heaven, he loved the way her hips moved. Her sexy, round ass had just the right amount of sway. Could she be completely oblivious to her own attraction? He didn’t’ think so. She wasn’t blind, nor was she stupid.
Diamonique
knew how men watched her.
Wanted her.
 

But she had no real idea how she affected
him
.

Cain wanted her, and he despaired at the thought of never having her again. Never being able to feel her sweet body beneath his, writhing in ecstasy.
Diamonique
had a body designed for sex. An unwanted thought of her giving all that unrestrained passion to another man sprang to his mind—another seeking bliss at her total lack of inhibitions. Touching her silky skin and lapping up the rapture she emitted with every thrust of her hips. Cain felt a wild urge to howl at the moon. Shit. She’d been the only woman to slide so effortlessly inside his heart. A heart he’d thought had shriveled and died long ago. And she’d somehow made him want to be...civilized. The things he’d felt had been foreign to him.

Before he’d met
Diamonique
, Cain had liked making people as miserable as he. When he’d begun to slip, going soft, he’d pulled back. It had been a survival instinct to push her away. He’d never intended to alienate her completely, only to put some emotional distance between them. That was the single reason he’d gone to the club that night. That was the reason he’d let
Sareena
hit on him. He had wanted to prove to
Diamonique
, prove to himself, that he was fine without her, that he didn’t need her. That any warm and willing body would do. He’d wanted to put her in her place.

Then things had gone to hell faster than a fallen angel. Shit, what a mess.

Deep down, Cain knew—no matter how much he wanted to believe otherwise—she’d never
forgive
him. His Diamond was too stubborn for that.
Too damn stubborn.
Besides, he had his own agenda. And there was no room for her in his future. But, first, he had an obligation to see to her safety, and he couldn’t do that if she kept walking away from him.

Damn it!

Watching her stroll regally down the street drove his libido into overdrive. On the other hand, maybe while keeping her out of harm’s way, Cain could soften that hard shell of hers and have another taste of her sweet flesh. Even as the thought came into his mind, she turned a corner and he very nearly lost track of her. When he saw the shimmer of her dress in the moonlight, his breath met the air in relief. When he spied the man leaning against a building watching her, Cain knew what she was after. His pretty Diamond was still hungry. Apparently, she’d been trying to ditch him so that she could feed in private. She’d not had enough when she’d taken his vein.
 

An unfamiliar feeling invaded, took hold, and created a burning sense of urgency for him to stop her.

He swiftly searched his memories, but Cain was loath to think of a single instance where he’d seen her feed from another male. Of course, the two of them had exchanged blood, which was another of his own rules he’d gladly broken. Cain never exchanged with other vampires, it created too much of a bond, a mind link that was only broken by death itself. He’d never wanted a link to anyone, so he’d never given his blood to anyone, only taken.

Once again,
Diamonique
had mixed him up, so
friggin
’ thoroughly that he could only think of her.
Of touching her.
Watching her face light up with laughter.
Feel her body quiver with pleasure, as she tasted his blood. Revel in her orgasm, as he’d tasted hers. He’d done the unthinkable when he dropped his defenses and let her drink her fill from him that first time. They’d made love and it had been beautiful. If he were honest with himself, he’d admit that he’d never made love before
Diamonique
. Sure, he’d had sex with plenty of women. Over the centuries, he’d never denied himself the pleasure of a woman’s body. But with
Diamonique
, it had been wholly different. He’d wanted to bring her pleasure. Giving her satisfaction had thrilled him, made him feel alive.

After she’d left him, he’d made every attempt to get Diamond to link with him, but she’d refused. After awhile he’d given her the privacy she’d craved, but he’d continued to watch over her by slipping inside her mind unnoticed.

Now he stood frozen, as he watched her touch the human male, licking and suckling playfully at his neck. Even in the darkness of the alley, Cain could make out the lustful look on the stranger’s face; the hard bulge in his jeans. Cain’s body vibrated with fury as the man wrapped his arms around
Diamonique
, drawing her closer to him, fitting her curves to his. His instincts kicked in, and he eagerly allowed the beast in him to rise as the man thrust his pelvis into
Diamonique
.

With nocturnal speed, Cain flew through the alley and jerked them apart.
Diamonique’s
anger showed in her brilliant green eyes, but his attention was already on another part of her face. His nostrils flared to life at the sweet hint of blood that was staining her plump lips. It still dripped from the man’s neck. The stranger looked up at him, dazed.

Dazed and horny.

Cain would kill him with his bare hands.

Chapter Three

He pushed
Diamonique
further away from the human. She stumbled, lost her balance and fell to the ground. After glancing back to make sure she was unharmed, Cain centered his concentration on the man. He wrapped one hand around the mortal’s neck and squeezed, then jerked the man into the air so they were eye to eye. Slowly, he pressed his fingers inward, he could feel the fragile bones groan under the pressure of his grip, determined to bring the man out of his lustful trance in the most painful way possible.

Cain waited and watched as realization dawned. Then, with predatory satisfaction, he reveled in the horror lighting the man’s eyes, before he began thrashing about, his lips blue from lack of oxygen. Pitiless as the devil himself, Cain allowed his lengthened incisors to gleam in the dark alley, dipped his head and licked the trickle of blood that still oozed from where
Diamonique
had scored the man’s neck. He smelled her scent and it fueled his rage further.