Secret (Betrothed 9)

I thought about what that man had said at the bar, that Heath wasn’t there to know what I did. I could get away with anything. But I could honestly say there wasn’t a single man I wanted more than the man inside me right now.

No one.

He lay beside me in bed, naked because the sheets were kicked away. He was over six feet of perfection, his dick still defined even when it was soft. Tattoos marked his fair skin, depicting shadows and demons that accompanied him wherever he went. There was also a skull on his abdomen.

It matched the one on his right hand.

I stared at the huge diamond he wore, watched the way it glittered like it was the most flawless diamond that had ever been mined. “You always wear that?”

His eyes were closed, but they opened when he heard me speak. “Yes.”

“Isn’t it heavy?”

“I don’t notice it.”

I reached for his hand and grabbed the ring. “Can I?”

He pulled his hand away and used the fingers of his other hand to twist and pull, getting the tight ring off his finger. It was such a heavy piece of jewelry that he probably needed to always wear it tight. Otherwise, it would fall off. He dropped it in my hand.

It was heavy—really heavy.

I turned it at different angles, examining the unique ring. The diamond was spectacular, the cuts in the surface to represent the eyes. “That’s one hell of a ring.” I handed it back.

He slipped it back onto his finger, twisted it to get it over his knuckle. “It’s definitely a conversation piece.”

“Why do you wear it?”

“So people know exactly who I am, even if we’ve never met.”

It surprised me that it never got in the way when we were together, that it didn’t get stuck in my hair or scratched my skin when he touched me. He was so used to it that he knew exactly how to carry it.

He reached into the nightstand beside him, grabbing a small black box. “I got something for you.”

I stared at the box in his hand, surprised by the gesture. “You don’t seem like the kind of man to give a woman jewelry.”

He smiled slightly. “I’m not. Open it.”

I took it from his hand, assuming it was a ring because the box was too small for a bracelet or necklace. I cracked it open and spotted the stunning diamond inside, displaying the same carvings as his ring.

It was a navel piercing.

I took it out of the box and examined it. “It’s beautiful…”

His hand went to my stomach. “I thought it would look sexy…” His thumb brushed over the cheap body jewelry that was there now.

“This is a real diamond…a really nice diamond.” I could tell just by looking at it that it was much more expensive than most engagement rings. It was a solid diamond set in white-gold metal, glittering with the same brilliance as his ring.

“Put it on.”

I almost couldn’t accept it, but it wasn’t like he could return it. It was too specific of a gift to return to the jeweler. I removed my old one, which was light and cheap, and then put the new one in.

He stared at it when I was done, his eyes focused on the diamond that perfectly fit inside my small belly button. “Damn.” He leaned down and kissed my navel, swiping his tongue over the diamond.

My fingers slid into his hair, and I watched him kiss me, the old jewelry lost somewhere in the bed, forgotten.

His tongue dipped under the piercing, lifting it slightly before he released it. He kissed my stomach as he moved up, gliding through the valley between my tits before his face met mine. He kissed me hard on the mouth as he looked into my gaze. “You like it.”

“Yes.”

His hand moved to my hip, and he tilted me slightly so he could bring us close together. “Don’t ever take it off.”

It was probably the most expensive piece of jewelry I’d ever own—and the hottest.

“Alright?” He stared hard into my gaze, as if he’d given me a command that had to be obeyed.

My fingers brushed over his jawline, feeling the stubble that started to grow after he shaved yesterday. “Why would I ever want to take it off?”

A week passed, and we developed a routine of sorts.

He would come by whenever he felt like it, letting himself into the apartment without knocking, whether I was there or not. I did the same to him, coming to his place without giving him notice. He was usually watching TV in the living room or working out in his private gym, and not once did he look annoyed by my presence. His blue eyes brightened noticeably whenever I walked through the door.

I was sitting up in bed, reading a book because there was nothing on TV.