Diamond: The Carbon Series Book 1

by H. Q. Frost

  It's easy to do when the music starts to announce her entrance. But the second she's in sight, my heart sinks, my stomach flips, and my dick goes hard. What in God's name is she wearing? She was supposed to wear a circus outfit. Not…this. Not a dress that is the sexiest, most elegant thing I've ever witnessed on such a perfect body. Fuck, I won't make it through this wedding. I expected frill and ridiculous lace. I expected strange colors and awkward cuts. This is not what I needed to see right now. Bare arms, the front slits to her waistline and elegantly exposes a teasing view of her breasts. This is perfection on her and my dick is begging me. When she approaches, her gaze avoids mine. She's focused on the priest. I take a moment to observe that the back of her dress is similar to the front. A slit that exposes flesh all the way to the curve of her ass. I exhale heavily.

  "Are you okay, son?" the priest asks me.

  "Yes." I nod and step a little closer to her because it looks like she's left room for another man to stand between us. I'd kill before that happened.

  While the priest talks, she stares at him as if she's taking instructions. I, on the other hand, can't stop looking at her. She's holding flowers in front of her but watching them tremble in her hands is starting to annoy me. I take the flowers and she makes a quiet noise but the priest keeps talking. Turning, I hold out her bouquet until someone takes it, then I face her again, taking both of her hands. I understand it's obvious she's off the market. She's marrying me, but I will put on a show to ward off anyone who thinks she would consider looking twice at them.

  Her eyes flit from our hands to my face and I smile at her. I'm sure she's wearing a full face of makeup, but it's so natural looking it makes her look pure. She is pure.

  The priest begins the vows and I speed through mine, part of me expecting her to say she doesn't. But in a loud tone that fully projects the type of woman she is, she says 'I do' and my dick twitches. I expected a demure answer. I expected people to question if she meant it. But even I believe she means it, and I know better. While she recites her vows to me, I kiss her hand and watch her eyes go wide when I keep it to my lips and linger. I want to lick her, suck her, fuck her against a pillar. I need to distance myself from her but she's bewitching today.

  "And vow to never intentionally hurt me?" When she says this, I freeze and slowly lower our hands. That wasn't in the vows. That was something she added and I feel like there is a lot more waiting to spew that will be humiliating so I start to nod my head.

  "I do," I breathe and go rigid when I realize it sounded like I meant those words. I don't mean any of them.

  "May I present to you the Duke and Duchess of Covington."

  Magdelena's eyes go wide and she jerks her head to look at the priest. I'm not sure what she's confused on, but when she looks at me again, I think I understand.

  "What did you think would happen when you married me? You'd stay Ms. Reif?" I smirk but she's still in shock. "Please kiss me before our guests know how loathsome you find me."

  "Callum," she sighs in annoyance but before she can move I wrap my arm around her perfect waist and pull her against me.

  "As God as my witness I'd love to keep you chained to a bed at my disposal for all of eternity."

  "Callum!" she blurts and I cut off my laughter by slamming our lips together.

  She fights away from my inappropriate kiss and then we turn to our applauding crowd that keep howling we're the 'Carbon Couple'. She is the diamond to my graphite.

  I bow my head and wave while she tries to rub away the flush in her pink cheeks. I have a full day of acting appropriate. Acting like I wanted this. Acting like a gentleman when she looks like a goddess at my side who wants to milk me dry. And she does. Of everything.

  I keep a close eye on my wife, never letting her too far out of reach and I notice her study the rings on her finger a few times. They're small compared to what I would have purchased, but I ran out of time to shop. These were my mother's and they hold enough value from that statement alone.

  "Callum."

  I turn to the voice, not used to unknown people addressing me by my name. It's Magdelena's mother and I almost correct her. Insist she call me Your Grace, but I'm sure Mag would have my ass. She dips her head slightly before meeting my eyes again.

  "Thank you for accepting Magdelena into your home." When she says that name it rolls off her tongue beautifully and suddenly the name I already liked becomes more appealing.

  "Nothing makes me happier," I lie through a smile.

  "She's…" While the woman looks over at her daughter, I study her. There are similar traits but they aren't strong. This woman almost reminds me of my mother. Tired, stressed, worn down. "Happy here. I can tell."

  I cock an eyebrow and look over at my smiling bride. That smile on her face does actually look genuine but the way she looks today could fool anyone into believing any emotion she wanted them to.

  "She really loves you."

  I jerk my head to look at the woman who's still staring at Magdelena and wonder what universe she's come from.

  "She talks highly of you and I can tell she's in love."

  "Is that so?" I smile and she looks at me while nodding.

  "Oh yes. I know my daughter. There's passion in her eyes when she talks about you." Furiousness maybe. "She's head over heels and I think this was meant to be. Thank you for allowing our family back into the Carbons' lives."

  "I wouldn't have it any other way." I look over at Magdelena and try to imagine what it would be like if those statements were true.

  She looks over and the second she makes eye contact, her smile is gone and her sight darts to her mother. This expression is as if she thinks I'm telling her mother our secrets. I almost laugh.

  "You make beautiful children, Camilla." I smile at her then look back to Magdelena who seems to be wrapping up her conversation to keep her mother from me. With a parting smile, I walk away and find the one person that hasn't been far all night. "Rupier, relax. Have a drink." I glance back to see Mag has confronted her mother and the conversation isn't as pleasant looking as her last.

  "I am relaxed, sir. Your father would be proud."

  "Oh please," I scoff. "My father would be drunk and hitting on my wife before trying to bed her younger sister. God rest his soul but the man didn't have an ounce of pride within him."

  "Hmmm," he hums and I look at him as he brings a glass I hadn't noticed to his lips. "All work and no play, Callum."

  I go stiff at his words and my eyes narrow. Before I can reach out and strangle him for using words my mother used to chant in explanation for her constant stress, someone grabs my arm.

  "Callum, can I have a word with you?" Magdelena grits out and in realizing it's her, a smile slips onto my face. She's tried to keep a distance from me all night, but my little fly is in my web now.

  "Yes, my pleasure." I offer my arm and when she latches on, we slowly make our way through the throngs of people who keep trying to get our attention. I thwart all attempts, wondering what my dear wife could want that she wants to get me alone.

  When we get to a private room, she closes the door all but a crack.

  "What's all this about, Magdelena?"

  She releases a heavy sigh. "Please don't talk to my mother. Or anyone in my family in general. I'm trying not to be stressed but you talking to my family is giving me anxiety." When she fans her face and starts to pace, my brows furrow.

  Why is she stressed? What is she afraid I'm going to tell them? Lord, she looks like my mother right now. 'All work and no play'. Perhaps Lol's words were meant for her and not me.

  "Mag." I grab her arms to stop her from pacing before shaking my head, hoping the look of wariness on her face dissolves. "What could I possibly say to them?"

  "They don't know," she spouts. Even in the dim lighting I notice her eyes go glossy; I step back.

  "Know what?" Why the hell is she crying?

  "That…that we hate each other. That you don't want me here and you're going to get rid o
f me in a year. That you're impregnating me with a turkey baster because you don't want to touch me," she seethes. "Yesterday I made them believe I was happy. We are happy. Because my sister." She stops to exhale a stressed breath. "She would have stopped this wedding today. And my mother would have been devastated. So I lied to them. Your coldness will clue my mom in." She snickers. "She'll pick up on your hatred for me a mile away."

  "Now, why on earth would I ever allow her to believe we aren't happy?" I reach out to thumb away a tear slipping from her eye and she pushes my hand down.

  "Don't touch me." She's panting, pacing again and flashbacks of my mother begin to invade my head.

  I did not marry my mother, goddammit.

  "Magdelena." I grab her shoulders and pin her to the wall before she can stop me. "Breathe. Deep breaths. Stop the anxiety. There is no need for it. I didn't let on to your mother. She can believe whatever you want her to believe."

  Tired eyes drift away from me and I get lost staring at her. This is my wife. I married her today. Looking at her, beautiful and fragile in this moment, I can barely remember why we butt heads.

  "Whatever you want," I say calmly and release one of her shoulders to touch her cheek and trail my fingers to the necklace I bought her. "Beautiful," slips from my lips and I keep my eyes on the necklace.

  "Thank you for it. It is beautiful," she responds and her hand lifts to finger the diamonds. Her fingernails don't match her hair today, they match the soft nudes and pinks of her makeup.

  I should tell her I didn't mean the necklace, but where will that put us? It'll do exactly what I said I wouldn't. Give her hope for something that's not.

  "Callum," she whispers and my eyes go to her lips. Her hand reaches inside my tux coat and she grabs my belt. "Let me touch you." My eyes shoot to hers and she quickly says, "You don't have to touch me. I just want to touch you."

  Why does the insane woman think I don't want to touch her? Where would she ever get that thought? I know where and why and in this moment I hate myself for being in shambles when she arrived. My life was turned upside down and I was in a bad place, making me project it onto her. Is it too late to take it all back? Can it be taken back? Would she allow us to try and press forward in matrimony the way it should be?

  Why the hell are these thoughts filling my head! It's her pale blue eyes that seem like a calm sea that captivates me. They put a spell on me but I know better. I know who I am and I know I wouldn't allow the spell to last outside of lust. I have to stop this before I do the one thing she asked me not to. Intentionally hurt her. What kind of man would I be if I allowed her to fall in love then got rid of her? I'd be my father…

  "Kiss me, Magdelena," I breathe words I'm not sure I don't mean anymore.

  I tilt my head down as she reaches to her toes and her tongue rolls upward over my bottom lip before slipping into my mouth. Her right hand grips the hardening length in my pants and her other grabs my hair while I pull her against me and let out the passionate rage I feel toward the woman.

  "Oh!" A voice screeches and I stumble away from Magdelena while she falls back against the wall. "So sorry! Sorry!" the unknown guest repeats and shuffles out of the room, closing the door behind her.

  "Fuck," I grunt in frustration at not only the interruption but at myself for allowing that to happen.

  I shouldn't be flustered from kissing my wife in a closet. But I've screwed up our circumstances, possibly beyond repair.

  "I have to get out there," she pants, wiping at her mouth.

  "Let me see." I push her hands down and use the faint light to make sure her lipstick is still set. "You’re fine," I tell her and she lifts her fingers to my lips, smoothing her thumb across mine. I know there isn't lipstick on my mouth, but I'm not going to stop her.

  "Let me…" She reaches to my hair and fixes the back where her fingers were holding on as we kissed with a passion I've never felt from another person, let alone myself. Exhaling a nervous breath, she smooths her hands over the stomach of her dress.

  "Please don't stress," I whisper before she pulls open the door. I mean those words. I don't want to see my mother in this woman.

  I take her hand and exit with her. The second someone spots us, a thunderous applause begins to rumble through the room. Magdelena stops and shuffles backward until she's against me and can't get any farther. I stand at her back, holding her hips, seeing the culprit of the attention. News traveled fast and my oldest friend has obviously found it amusing to embarrass us when we emerged.

  "Please stop. Please." I chuckle and wave my hand, imploring the decibel of their enthusiasm quiets. Magdelena looks back at me and the shock on her face makes me chuckle. "They think we were in the closet enjoying each other. They think we love each other." I give her a small shrug.

  "We don't," she spits at me and anger is all over her beautiful face.

  Why she hates me for this is beyond me. She asked to touch me in that room. She kissed me when I asked her to. She wanted it. Why is her hate projected onto me? My only response is to wink and wrap an arm around her waist.

  "We were practicing for an heir," I call out. Mag gasps but the crowd erupts into laughter.

  I don't allow her out of arm's reach the rest of the night and I make sure to be connected in some way at almost all times.

  "You're crowding me," she whispers and her breath touches my neck, making my dick stir. It's been four hours since the closet, but I can't stop thinking about it.

  "I want to fill you," I whisper back and feel her go stiff. With a quiet chuckle, I kiss the side of her head then turn to our guests who have held us in a mundane conversation for the past forty minutes.

  It's well after midnight and I feel as if we've spent enough time with these people. Telling Magdelena we're done for the evening doesn't go over well but ultimately I get my way. She's at my side as we retreat to my bedroom and luckily our reception is in the home so she doesn't have an option to go to her own room. If she wants to touch me, I want her to touch me. I've wanted it all day and I'm ready for it.

  "I want to return to my room," she says when I close the door.

  "That'll look suspicious, Magdelena. We don't want anyone realizing the truth."

  "I'm not comfortable here with you."

  "Would you prefer a coat closet?" I gesture toward my closet.

  "Callum," she sighs.

  "You're my wife." I advance toward her and she scrambles away.

  "I need my pajamas."

  "You don't need clothes for what I have in mind."

  She pauses in thought and her eyes flit to my pants so I slide my hand over my growing erection.

  "I don't want to touch you." She lifts her chin in defiance.

  "You don't? What's changed from earlier?"

  "Everything," she groans and puts more distance between us.

  "Nothing has. I still want you to touch me. I still want to fill you. I still want you out of this dress. As beautiful as you look in it."

  When she jerks like I slapped her I furrow my brows.

  "You're my wife," I state with more authority.

  "Fake wife," she hisses back. "It's all fake and twelve months from now I'll be your ex-wife." She's shaking now and her fists are balled at her sides.

  I understand her anger. Her fairytale isn't real and I almost keep forgetting myself.

  "You're right." I clear my throat and look back at my door. "I'll escort you to your room." Looking at her again, she seems confused but seconds later, she moves for the door.

  I trail behind her, watching her ass in the tight dress as she sways her hips to her bedroom. She's taunting me and I should pounce, but not in the hallway.

  She opens her bedroom door then looks back at me. "Thank you, good night."

  I gesture her inside and hear her sigh because I won't walk away. When I step in after her, I push the door closed with my foot and grab her hips before she can move away. I pull her back against me and carefully slide my hands over the lace and embellishe
d accents.

  "Where's the zipper, Magdelena?" I whisper over her shoulder and watch as bumps spread over her bare skin.

  "Please leave." The tenderness in her voice doesn't make me believe she means that.

  "I will. After this." I find the latch at her ass and carefully unhook it before unzipping.

  My hands slide into the dress at her sides and I travel down her stomach surprised to find she's completely bare under the dress. Only a small thong covers her and I smooth my palms over her hips and down to her thighs.

  "My pleasure," I whisper when my hands meet in the middle and I slide my fingers over the silk fabric keeping me from her. "Mine. You understand?" Using two fingers, I gently press and move in a deliberate circle, making her cry out and press her ass against my straining dick. "Tell me you understand, Magdelena."

  "Yes, Callum, yes." Her head nods furiously and her arms reach back to wrap around my neck.

  I cup her in my palm while my other hand slides up to her tit. When I pinch her nipple, I slide my fingertip inside her to feel her pulse. I should take her, fill her like I said I wanted to, but I want to touch her. I want to erase the stupid connotation from her head that I don't want to touch her.

  "My wife," I whisper and slide my finger up her middle until I get to her clit.

  My teeth clamp to her neck when the bumps rise on her flesh again. Rubbing and pinching her nipple, I do the same with my other hand on her clit while I suck on her skin.

  Noises as if she's crying whimper from her but I know better. I'm practically holding her up by her ribs while my hand teases her other nipple.

  "Callum," she pants and I suck harder on her flesh while rubbing faster on her clit.

  My fingers are drenched, covered, and I want to take her, taste her. I want to feel her from the inside, but I don't stop.

  "Callum!" she cries out without warning and her body erupts into trembles that almost take her feet out from under her but I hold tight and continue to rub through the orgasm.