Diamond (Rare Gems Series) (10 page)

As Ward made his way to the car he
’d taken from Morton’s garage, he started to replay the things that had happened in his mind. First and foremost was Jane. Did she really have fangs or did she have those fake ones he’d had as a kid at Halloween? Likely. She was just a plain Jane. He laughed at his own joke as he stopped at a light. And her biting him. Not fucking true. How the hell did he even think that? She’s pinched him, just as he’d thought she’d done, that’s all.

And the security guard?
Nobody could lift him that far off the ground. It was his mind, which had been full of coke, playing tricks on him. Smiling as he continued to go along the road back to his home, he realized that his brother was more than likely in the fucking place too. His brother was in his office right now laughing it up with Jane on how she’d made him so afraid…no, not afraid, but nervous. She’d made him so nervous that he’d left without looking for Thad. Ward looked down at his pants and snorted. Somebody was going to pay for pouring some shit on him.

Ward had it all straight in his head now. Thad was in big trouble if he thought that he was going to get away with treating him this way.
He was Ward Galloway, and no one, not even his own blood, was going to do this and get away with it.

There was a note stuck to the door when he got back.
Morton either had to pay up on the electric bill or he was in danger of being cut off. He did remember Janey girl saying something about paying the bills. He wadded it up and tossed it on the floor. Going into the house, he headed straight for the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

“
Nothing.” Ward moved what appeared to be several hundred Chinese containers out of the way to unearth a bottle of cheap wine and a single can of ale. “You’re killing me here, Mortorie old man. When you have a guest coming, put in the good stuff.”

Taking out all the containers and setting them on the counter
, he started sniffing them until he nearly made himself ill from it. These things were all bad, and he didn’t have anything to eat. Not even bothering with a glass, Ward started to go through the cabinets to find at least something to eat as he finished off the liquor. There were a few things he could cook and eat, but he’d never been one for doing for himself. He’d have to either hire a chick to cook for him, which right now was not a financial option, or he could simply find a job. Earning money to order in sounded good to a point, but then he’d have to go and do work, not anything he wanted to do.

Going to the living room
, he sat in front of the television and started surfing the channels. When he found a game on, he stopped to watch it. But before he could figure it out, like what the announcer was saying, his phone went off.

His greeting was cut short by an automated woman.
She informed him in her nasal monotone voice that if payment were not made to pay the bill in full, there was a good possibility of him having his service disconnected. Ward shouted in the phone before she finished.

“
Don’t you know who I am,” he asked his phone. “I’m Ward Galloway, brother to Thad Galloway. I’m the richest man in the world.”

When
he put the phone back to his ear, she was still droning on about bills and obligations. He ended the call and tossed the phone on the dirty table in front of him. Ward couldn’t even remember the last time he’d paid his bill, or any bills for that matter. As a matter of fact, he didn’t even know whose account his phone was on.

Picking it up again
, he listened to the messages he had and found one that told him to call a three digit number. Dialing it, he was asked to wait. An hour later, nearly asleep in the chair, someone finally came on. And no matter how pissed he got with her, the woman would not give up the name on the account.

“
But who do I have to call to get them to pay this?” She huffed at him. He’d asked her the same question five times already. “Someone had to be paying it before now.”

“
They dropped you from their plan. Eleven months ago, as a matter of fact, and unfortunately for us, we’ve only just caught it.” Before he could ask her how the hell that was his fault, she started talking again. “We’re going to need for you to pay the past due balance of three thousand four hundred eighty-three dollars and one cent. Once that is paid in full, we’ll turn your service back on. Would you like to pay that with a credit card or a virtual check from your bank?”

“
How about I pay that with a go fuck yourself!” Ward said and hung up. What the fuck? Where the hell was he supposed to get that much money? Thad’s list of shit that Ward was going to demand he fix was mounting up. And that one cent bothered him more than the entire balance for some reason.

“
One cent. Like that fucking makes a big difference.” He went to the kitchen to start a list. There was no time like the present to get started on things for his big brother to take care of. “Fucking one cent.”

Chapter 10

Thad wasn
’t sure what was going on, but the bank manager was taking a great deal longer than he thought necessary to call his bank back home and get back to him. He glanced over at Blair, who seemed to be talking to someone but without a phone. He realized that he was more than likely talking to Sapphire, and thought about Diamond.

The connection
between them was stronger than it had been before. He’d been able to talk to her, of course, but now he could almost see her standing in front of him. When he reached for her in his mind, he felt her arousal. His entire body hardened at the thought of her. She must have felt it as well.

What do you think you
’re doing? I’m in the middle of the grocery store. Behave yourself.
He smiled at her tone.
What are you doing? I thought you were going to look at that site for the new building?

I am
or I was. Actually, right now I’m sitting in the bank waiting for the manager to get back here and tell me that I own it. There was a house attached to it as well. What do you think about owning a house about five minutes from your family?

She didn
’t answer him right away, but he wasn’t worried. She was in the store, perhaps she was speaking to someone. Thad watched the manager come toward him and could see the look of relief on his face. No doubt having this property off their books was going to help a great many people.

I have a job now.
I’m going to be starting it in three weeks. They have to make up a contract for me. I’m head nurse for the entire staffing at the hospital. I’ll be working through the weekday and have my weekends off.
Thad waited knowing that she was working up to something.
I’ll be able to help you make payments on something but only if it’s not too big. I have some student loans I’m still paying off, and I will need a more reliable car.
Thad asked her to wait a moment as the banker was speaking to him.

“
Mr. Galloway, I’m sorry I took so long, but I only realized at the moment your lender started talking who you were. I’m terribly sorry to have made you wait.” Thad shook his head at him. “The land you asked to purchase is yours if you wish. The house, as a part of the settlement, is also available. Though it has been sitting mostly empty all this time, we have maintained it to the minimum standards.”

Thad had a feeling that minimum standards would have an entirely different meaning
between the two of them. “I’d very much like to see it before I make an offer on the house. My…future wife will also want to make sure it’s what we want.”

Thad tried hard not to look at Blair as he laughed.
He had a feeling that as soon as Diamond found out how he’d referred to her she wouldn’t think it was so funny.

“
Of course, of course. I can have someone go over with you as soon as you’d like. There are just a few things I’d like to point out about the property and house. Minor things that you should be made aware of. They aren’t things that will—”

“
Just tell me.” The bank manager nodded, making the fat under his several chins wobble. When he flushed brightly, Thad was ready to tell him that the entire deal was off. Nothing that took this long could be good.

“
What do you know of the house, sir?” Thad told him nothing. “Well, sir, it’s very large. I don’t mean just the land around it but the house itself is…the house is just less than sixty thousand square feet.”

Thad looked at Blair
, who sat up with him. This wasn’t a house he was buying, it was a fucking mansion. He took the file that the manager handed him. There were pictures of the grounds and some of the drive up to the house. When he got to the one of the home itself, he looked at the manager again.

“
I’m sorry, what was your name again? I think this…this is a great deal more than I had first thought.” The manager nodded as if he understood and told him his name. “Well, Mr. Robert Beck, I’d very much like to see the house now if possible.”

“
You still wish to entertain the thoughts of buying it?” The incredulity of the man’s voice was nearly comical. “I had thought…well we could never seem to know why the previous owners would want to….”

“
I wish to see the house. When can it be arranged?” Thad stood up and reached for Diamond
. Diamond, love, I was wondering if you were busy at the moment. I would like to go and see a house and would very much like your input.

Why?
Thad had to laugh. This woman was never going to be just a simple yes woman, at least not outside the bedroom.
You’re perfectly capable of looking at your own house all by yourself.

Because I would like for you to see it with me. Work with me
, Diamond, we’re a couple and I’d very much like it if the house we buy is something that we both agree on.
He reached for the keys that Blair handed him.
I’m going to send a car for you. Would that be all right?

I have a car. I can meet you there. Just tell me…you never said anything about me having a job. I
won’t quit just because you think you have all the money in the world.
Blair told him he had to go by the house, and he’d let him and Diamond look at it first but wanted to see it even if they didn’t buy the sucker.

I don
’t have all the money in the world, but I am very wealthy. Both of us are.
He heard her sputter and cut her off gently.
I don’t care if you work. In fact, I love that you want to continue doing what you love. I’m also happy that you’ll have weekends off with me. We’re going to need more time to get to know each other. But it isn’t necessary that you work, just so you know that.

It
’s necessary for me.
He could understand that as well and told her so
. I know this is really crass of me but just how much are you talking about? Money, I mean. I know Blair has a lot. He is reported to be worth several million dollars.

We have a great deal more.
She didn’t speak, nor did he feel a connection to her. And since Blair had left him, he had no way of asking what was going on. When Diamond finally spoke, he was in his car ready to go to her.

A great deal more
, meaning you have a great deal more money or you have a great deal more of everything? I’m not sure what the differences are but…Christ, a great deal more, really?

Yes.
We’re worth just over eighty billion dollars in just personal assets. The company is separate from the personal money because I incorporated several years ago. The business, Galloway Industries, has several hundred smaller companies under it which all answer to me…well, now us. The business part of our money is just—

Don
’t tell me. Just knowing that you’re worth eighty billion…how many zeros is that anyway?
He started to tell her that there were nine if you didn’t count the one in eighty, but she started talking again.
I’m going to meet you there, but I need an address, and if this house is really big, I may have to have you give me mouth to mouth.

Thad felt his cock leap in his pants.
Giving you anything you want that involves my mouth and your body would be my upmost pleasure.

Glad now that he
’d gotten someone to drive him around the unfamiliar city, he leaned back in the seat after telling her the address.
Do you have any idea what I’d like to be doing to you right now? And if this house becomes ours in the next few days, I’m going to have us a little play room put in.

I don
’t know how to play like you do. I’ve barely had sex, much less had someone do the things that players do to each other.
He felt her embarrassment as well as her arousal again.
I did some research today before I went to the interview with the hospital.

And what did you find? Do you think it would be something you
’d enjoy?
She didn’t say anything back and he was slightly nervous.
There are many levels of sexual pleasure we can bring to each other. We can start very slow and make our way up until you get comfortable.

Are you going to really use a paddle on me?
Thad stroked his cock when she asked. Christ, he could almost come right now.
I’ve seen where the master can leave painful bruises on his sub. I don’t think I’d ever want to go as far as some of those people do.

I like to make you obey, have you not come for sometimes days
, but I’d never leave you marked like that. I will hurt you if you’ll let me. Tie you to the cross I plan to buy for us, but not enough where it would mar your lovely skin. I love the way your body looks now.
He moved his hand up and down over his cock wanting to free himself and think of her and their newest room.
I would love to use a feather on your pussy. You’d be surprised at how much pleasure I can bring you with something as simple as that.

Will you let me tie you down? I
’d like to explore you knowing that you can’t touch me.
Thad was going to have to do something soon or he wasn’t going to be able to walk when he finally had to stand.
Thad, I’m at the house. I don’t…are we actually going to look at this monster? We could live here for months and never see each other. Christ, it’s bigger than the hospital.

His car came to a smooth stop and he got out before the
driver could help him. Thad saw her standing next to a very late model two door that looked like it might have been red at one time but was now a sort of puke brown. Walking up behind her, he noticed that she had on a short skirt and a blouse that showed more curves than he wanted others to see. He wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her to him, and she looked up at him.

“
I’m not cleaning this place. It will take me a week just to get from one end of the house to the other with a map.” Kissing her seemed the best way to end her panic, and he took her into his arms.

Thad was thinking how difficult it would be to take her against her little car when he heard someone pull up behind them.
When Diamond growled low, he nearly told her to forget the house and find a dark area where he could take her when they turned to look at Mr. Beck.

“
Big isn’t it?” Neither of them said anything to the man, and he nodded. “Well, let’s go inside shall we?”

~~~

The house was much bigger on the inside than it looked on the out. And she was absolutely in love with it. There were rooms as big as her dorm room in college and some as big as her dorm house. Diamond wandered into the main hall and looked up at the spiral staircase. She was trying to figure out if she wanted to venture that far when Thad came up behind her.

“
Going up?” She didn’t answer him. “We can simply tell him we want it sight unseen if you want.”

“
Did you see the size of that dining room? We could entertain a small country in there.” He nodded at her shoulder, and when his arms wrapped around her waist, she stood still. “I like the house, but I don’t know if we need this much.”

“
I’m just glad to hear you say
we
don’t need it. And as much as I hate to bring this up, with money comes the added responsibility of entertaining clients. I’ve not had to do much of it in the past simply because I didn’t want to, but with you I’d really like to show you off. And you love the house.” She turned in his arms and looked up at him. “What?”

“
You want to show me off? Not as a wolf, right?” He smiled at her and she shook her head. “I’m going to be a real embarrassment to you if someone expects me to be something spectacular. I’m just Diamond Erickson, registered nurse.”

“
Head nurse. And so you know, to me you’re pretty close to spectacular.” He kissed her on the nose and took her hand. “Come on, Robert is getting antsy. Let’s have a look at the other floors before he begs us to have a look at the sub levels again.”

She
’d nearly fallen over when she’d gone down to what she’d thought of as a basement. It was anything but a basement. It was a huge ballroom complete with its own kitchen and semi-truck entrance for bringing in food. She had walked into the large room complete with tables and chairs that had been left behind and were part of the house, as was all the furniture, and stared open mouthed. Robert had told them that they could seat three hundred guests inside and an additional one hundred when the side doors to the patio were opened.

In addition to the ballroom there was a conference room that could seat as many as fifty and as
few as ten that had a large smart board, stereo system, as well as large picture windows that ran along one entire wall that had a view of the woods and lake behind the house. There was even an entrance to the sub levels that could make it so that no one had to enter through the main house to get inside.

The main level of the house was no less impressive.
The main entryway was domed with oak beams and arched doorways. The chandelier was as big as her car and probably weighed more. When it had been turned on by Robert, it sparkled around the large room so brilliantly that she was reminded of a Christmas tree. Three doorways led out into the three different parts of the main house.