The Duke's Diamond

by Andromeda -

  Jonathan’s frown deepened. "Violet?"

  "You know, your fiancée," his father prompted.

  Jonathan mentally slapped his face. Oh, now he remembered that woman. The daughter of one of his father's friends. They had grown up together. Everyone thought they would marry, but she wasn’t his type. Well, she was his type at one point, seeing as they were both each other's firsts in all things: first date, first kiss, first time having sex. He remembered proposing to her but broke it off after he found out she had cheated on him with his cousin.

  "I told you she's not my fiancée anymore," Jonathan said back to his father.

  "She is in everything but name," his father said back. "How many times do I have to tell you to suck it up and just accept her apology? She made one mistake."

  "She pretended to be pregnant and tried to pass it off as mine," Jonathan snapped, growing irritated at the mention of the sly minx who wasn’t as innocent as she seemed at all. "Then I caught her in bed with Timothy at my birthday party!"

  "Like I said," his father said dismissively, "she made one mistake and it's in the past."

  "I don't want her, father," Jonathan said through gritted teeth. "I don't want to marry her!"

  "You will do as you are instructed," his father growled on the other line. "She is of good English stock and will be coming to you by spring break. So, get ready!"

  The call disconnected abruptly.

  With a roar of rage, Jonathan threw the phone against a tree, not caring if he broke it or not. He didn’t want that tramp, Violet, he wanted Diamond, who was the love of his life. He had fought too long to get into her life, and he would be damned if he’d ever try to let her go.

  Chapter Sixteen: Gifts from the Heart

  "Dalila, Dalila, hold Mommy's hand, sweetie, please," Diamond instructed.

  The doors to the Crown Royal Sky Resort opened before them, and Dalila breathed in with delight. The lobby of the log-cabin inspired resort was huge and warm and the scent of hot chocolate and roasting chestnuts filled the air. Wealthy looking people and their children milled about, some carrying snowboards and skis, others with pets.

  "This is so amazing!" Dalila piped with joy, almost jumping up and down, clapping her hands with delight.

  Next to her, Jonathan chuckled deeply. "I thought you'd like it, little one. Merry Christmas."

  "It's not Christmas yet," Dalila pointed out. "We still have four more days."

  "True," he chuckled. "Come on, let's check in."

  Taking Diamond’s hand, he led her to the check-in counter, where he gave the receptionist the required documents. Diamond couldn’t believe they were here.

  A couple weeks ago, Jonathan had asked her if she wished to do something special for Christmas. She wasn’t sure what he meant but nodded that she did wish to do something. This year, she wanted to give Dalila the Christmas she always dreamed of: a tree, snow, and hot chocolate. In Vegas, she knew none of this could happen, but now…

  Then, when Jonathan told them all to buy winter clothes and bought them plane tickets before Diamond knew it, they were on a plane to Canada! They rented a car, and after a three-hour drive, they pulled up to this place.

  She knew this place cost a lot of money, and in the car, she protested Jonathan spending all this on them. In answer, he gripped her hand and raised it to his lips to kiss.

  “You both are worth every pound,” he said with a smile.

  The receptionist gave them their keys and smiled at them. “Welcome to the Crown Royal Sky Resort, enjoy your stay.”

  Jonathan gave Diamond the other key before they left the main building and headed to their car. "For our cabin," he said with a smile. "We are in number 17."

  It wasn’t a long ride to the cabin, and when he opened the door, Dalila screamed with delight as she ran inside. Everything was rustic, but it was a rich kind of rustic, with almost everything made from wood or moose horn accent. Tan apparently was also the main color scheme and was everywhere. Overall, it wasn’t exactly her taste, but Diamond liked it. Dalila let go of her mother’s hand and ran up the stairs, shrieking with delight as she explored the house.

  Jonathan pulled Diamond into his arms and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "Do you like it?" he asked.

  "Was it very expensive?" she asked him.

  "Not really," he said, as he shook his head. "My father is a…partner in its board of directors. I get a good discount."

  "Jonathan, I don't like you spending all this money on us," she said again.

  "You are worth it, Princess," he said with another wink. "I wish you would let me spoil you."

  "I'm not the spoiling kind of girl, though you've done so with Dalila," she pointed out with a smile.

  "She likes me that much?" he asked with a grin.

  "She adores you," she answered.

  Looking into his grey eyes, she could feel her heart flutter. Cupping his cheek, she pulled him close to kiss him, however, the voice of Dalila broke the moment.

  "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" Dalila cried out, breaking the moment. "You've got to see this!"

  Groaning softly, Diamond pulled away and smiled ruefully. "Being a mother never stops."

  He laughed and kissed her hand. "Go tend to her. I'll make sure our things are all unpacked."

  ✵✵✵✵✵✵✵

  How much more could this man spoil us? Diamond wondered to herself. Not just me, but Dalila too.

  The days leading up to Christmas, Jonathan made sure they were never in want and had the best times of their lives. They roasted marshmallows and made smores, sang Christmas songs as they decorated the Christmas tree, and went skiing and hiking. Jonathan even offered to take Diamond out on a legal moose hunt, but she refused kindly. After so many years with Alfonzo, and seeing all the guns he had, the items frightened her. Yet, at the same time, she knew she couldn’t be afraid of them forever and told Jonathan this. He offered to teach her the proper way, and she accepted, but not anywhere near Dalila, of course.

  When Christmas Eve came, Diamond stood behind her daughter as she tried to hurry to finish braiding her hair. That night, all the children ages five to eighteen were invited to a Christmas party that would last from four until eleven that evening. They would play games, be served dinner, and given a present before they were to be returned to their parents. It would give the parents at least six hours to themselves.

  Dalila was dressed in a dark green dress with red trim, black lace socks and black shoes. Matching bows were in her hair, as Diamond had braided it back in several rows, then bundled it up into an elegant side bun. When they were finished, Diamond took her hand and they began to walk to the ballroom where the party was to take place.

  Her daughter was practically jumping up and down with excitement, almost unable to contain herself. They checked in, Dalila was given a sticker with her name on it, and Diamond turned to her. She was kissed on the cheek, then skipped off to go play with the other children. Diamond laughed softly as she watched her a couple moments before she left the ballroom and returned to their cabin.

  Jonathan sat on the couch in front of the fireplace. A TV hung over it, and when he saw her enter, he turned it off and moved over for her to sit down next to him. Diamond quickly shook the snow from her clothes before joining him.

  "How was she?" he asked. “Did she abandon the ship quickly?”

  "She was good. She ran off after a single kiss goodbye," she chuckled.

  Laughing, he wrapped an arm around her to hold her close. "I am glad she is enjoying herself. I wish you would a bit."

  She nervously laughed. "I'm sorry, I'm still so new to this. I've seen so much in my life, Jonathan; it still seems so fresh."

  "I know," he said truthfully, a hand cupping her cheek. “I know, Princess.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder and smiled at him. "But I'm glad you are here to help me get past that."

  “I would do anything for you, Dia,” he breathed softly. “You know that."

  For a momen
t, they gazed into each other’s eyes. They listened to their soft breathing and the crackle of the fireplace before they slowly began to lean closer and closer until their lips touched. The bubbling warmth between them began to slowly grow as their lips moved in perfect sync.

  His hand cupped her chin, holding her close as the kisses began to deepen and her arms moved to wrap around his shoulders. Slowly, she began to lean back until he was on top of her, and her hands began to roam over his back. She groaned softly as he rubbed against her, running his fingers through her hair as his hands slid down to hold her waist and press her closer.

  The heat in their blood began to grow hotter and hotter until their skin began to itch from the feeling of their clothes. Their bodies wanted to be free, to be uncovered, to be in their natural state. Their lips moved faster, the kisses becoming more heated, more intense, more…hungry.

  When they were forced to pull away to breathe, the look they gave each other told them all they wanted to know. They were both fighting their inner desires, fighting to keep this moment from going too far. She saw that he wanted to respect her wishes to not go too fast, to honor and respect her, but now…

  Slowly, she reached down and took his hand, sliding it under his shirt until he got to her bra, and then sliding it closer until he cupped her breast. A deep groan rumbled in his throat as he felt the weight in his palm, and for the first time, he had her answer for what she wanted: she wanted him.

  ✵✵✵✵✵✵✵

  The fireplace was the most romantic setting. Jonathan gently laid her down next to it. He had made a pallet for them before he pressed her against it, the warm crackling of the flames warming their bodies as they kissed. Hands stroked flesh and soft gasps and moans were evoked as they rubbed against each other.

  They were both in their underwear, and slowly that, too, was removed until they were as naked as the day of their births. Carefully, they explored each other's bodies, his hands gently caressing her curves as if she was made of the finest china. Her hands roamed over his body, feeling the muscles that rippled under his skin and she saw for the first time he had Celtic tribal tattoos on his body. With a smile, his lips pressed down in the valley between her breasts, while his throbbing Pringle can rubbed against her.

  "Last chance to back out now," he chuckled.

  "I'm not going anywhere," she said, smiling softly.

  Pressing his lips to her one last time, he pulled himself away, his grey eyes looking down at her. With a shy smile, she opened her legs and one of his large hands caressed the soft, toffee flesh before he playfully slid a finger inside her. She inhaled deeply, but he quickly removed it and raised it to his lips before he replaced it with something longer, larger, hotter.

  "Damnit…,” he groaned softly. “You feel…better than I thought.”

  Wrapping one leg around his waist, he began to move his hips, gaining a rhythm. Diamond was a squirming, moaning mess under him. Never in her life had sex felt this good. But…wait, no, it wasn’t sex. This was lovemaking, she could feel it. Every stroke, every roll of her hips to meet his thrusts, had meaning behind it; it had love. Even when it became rougher, his strokes deeper, she could feel the love behind it. There was never any love when she had sex with Alfonzo.

  She gasped softly in surprise as he rolled them over so she was on top of him. He smiled at her and held her hips, nudging her to ride him, which she did. He pounded into her from below, as one hand slid up and cupped her breast, kneading it in his large palm. The air filled with the sounds of wet skin slapping as they were covered in sweat, his deep grunts, and her loud moans of complete and utter bliss.

  Before she knew it, she felt this strange tightening in her gut, a feeling she hadn’t felt in a really, really long time. Jonathan felt it as well and lifted himself and rolled them over so he was on top, then his strokes became savage. His fingers rubbed her pink pearl furiously as he pushed himself deep. He had found her special spot, and angled his hips to keep stroking it, his fingers not stopping.

  That shattered her.

  With a gasp, her head was tossed back as she cried out his name, her first climax in years tearing through her body. His body tensed up as he gripped her tightly, his fingers digging into her flesh as he roared in his own release. She felt the warm rush inside her, and then with a deep groan, he rolled over to her side. Secretly, she was glad he didn’t fall on top of her like some men did as he was a giant and she was afraid he would crush her.

  It took a moment, but he began to stir and then rolled over. He nuzzled her breasts, resting his head between them as he sighed deeply in contentment.

  "That was amazing, Princess,” he said, his voice muffled from his location.

  “You can say that again,” she said, smiling, tracing his tattoos on his back. “I didn’t even know it could feel that good before.”

  "Yeah, it was," she said, smiling, tracing patterns on his back with a smile.

  "How long until Dalila comes back?" he asked.

  "Not for a couple more hours," she answered. “Why?”

  He grinned. "That means I have a couple more hours of you all to myself. Come here, Princess…”

  ✵✵✵✵✵✵✵

  "Wake up, Mommy! Wake up, it’s Christmas!"

  The sound of Dalila’s voice echoed across the house. With a groan, Diamond rubbed her eyes against the blinding light as a small body jumped onto the bed and shook her mother awake.

  "Mommy, I said wake up!" she repeated. "It's Christmas!"

  Absentmindedly, Diamond reached to the side of her bed, feeling for Jonathan, but, of course, he wasn’t there. After they had picked up Dalila, she was out like a light, and Jonathan snuck into her room, not to sleep with her, but to hold her. Sometime during the night, he must have gotten up before Dalila could wake.

  Pulling her from the bed, though Diamond grabbed her robe to wrap around her body, Dalila dragged her down the stairs where she could smell breakfast cooking. Jonathan stood in the kitchen making food, flashing her a wink before Dalila continued her pulling. Going to the living room, the little one grinned and pointed to all the presents under the tree. They weren’t under the tree before, and Diamond figured Jonathan had put them there the night before.

  "Santa's been here! Santa's been here!" Dalila chanted as she clapped her hands repeatedly in joy.

  "Yes, he has," Diamond said, smiling. "Why don't you go and see what he's gotten you."

  Shrieking with joy, she ran and dived into her gifts. It wasn’t long before the floor was covered with ripped gift-wrapping paper. Jonathan soon joined them, and together, he and Diamond sat down on a couch to do the same. It was a joyful occasion, with everyone getting several gifts from the other, but what Diamond loved the most was the gift Jonathan gave her. He held the box out to her and blushed like a school girl when she took it. Laughing softly, she unwrapped the box and her eyes widened. Inside was a necklace. A golden chain with a teardrop diamond pendant on it.

  "You’ve changed my life in so many ways,” he said passionately, his grey eyes never leavings hers. “You are tough, resistant, and sharp, but are the most beautiful thing in the world, as well as being the most valuable. I…I love you, Diamond.”

  She was at a loss for words and was mute as she lifted her hair and allowed him to clasp it around her neck. He kissed her nape, and then her lips gently, then Diamond remembered Dalila was there and she pulled away. Her little girl stood between them with her hands on her hips, her lips puffed out into a pout.

  “Ummm…,” Diamond said slowly.

  “Ummm…Mommy…,” Dalila said slowly. “You like this man?”

  Diamond flushed red. “Ummm…yes, I do, baby girl.”

  Dalila looked to Jonathan and pointed her small finger at him. “You will treat her right, right?”

  Jonathan struggled to keep from smiling. “Yes, little one, I promise. And to show it, I have something else for you.”

  He held out a small box, which Dalila took and gasped softly in deligh
t. It was a bracelet with glittering green and red jewels, her favorite colors. Jonathan later whispered to Diamond that the jewels were not real. He wouldn’t get her one like that until she got much older.

  Later that evening, after Dalila had gone to bed, Jonathan and Diamond sat on the balcony as they watched the snow slowly fall around them. He pulled her into his arms, cupping her cheeks in his hands as he looked into her eyes.

  “Thank you,” she said softly to him. “For the gift.”

  “I would give you the moon if you asked, my love,” he promised. “I want you to let me love you.”

  “You didn’t even have to ask,” she said. “You have proved it to me repeatedly. I will never leave your side. Promise me you won’t betray my trust.”

  “I promise,” he swore, as he pulled her into his arms for a kiss.

  Chapter Seventeen: The Royal Truth

  "I looked over and saw that he was looking at me…the flashing lights of the club…"

  Diamond’s voice trailed off as she typed on her computer, trying to finish up this chapter for her newest book. Discovering this online writing community called Wattpad had been a life saver. Writing had always been her passion, and doing it online had helped her learn a lot of the dos and don'ts.

  After making an account, she began with several short stories until she finally settled down to write her first, full book. The only problem was that she couldn't think of a title. She knew she wanted it to be about her life, but the title hadn't come to her…yet. So far, she’d been calling it The Life, but that didn’t have a ring to it.

  Groaning softly, she sat back in her chair, pinching the bridge of her nose as she tried to finish up the seventieth chapter. Since it was about her life, she had written down everything, and she did mean everything. The abuse as a child, running away, meeting Alfonzo, the birth of Dalila, meeting Jonathan.

  A grin split her face as she thought of her boyfriend. She flushed as she thought of the term. They were officially together as boyfriend and girlfriend, but she got a strange feeling that she was more open than he was. He didn’t really take her around his friends, and when they did come around, they were distant.