Knox's Stand(55)

Diamond was deathly afraid she was going to pass out.

“You been to one of their Friday night parties?” Sex Piston asked.

“What?”

“It’s their weekly fuck-fest where they swap sex partners and decide if any new women are going to become members.” She nodded her head. “I heard that he has a regular smorgasbord every week.”

For the last three weeks they had spent Friday nights at her apartment while they had spent the weeknights at his room at the clubhouse. Diamond felt sick.

“If you didn’t make it to one of their Fridays, then he has no interest in you joining. You’re less than those women; you’re just a temporary fuck.”

“Get out.” Diamond had heard enough from her sister. Sex Piston’s mouth closed with a snap. Throwing both of them dirty looks, she stormed from the office, slamming both doors as she left.

“Is it true?” Diamond asked.

“Yes.” He made no attempt to deny any of Sex Piston’s accusations.

“All of it?”

“Yes.” As he stared her straight in the eyes, the true depths of her humiliation hit home.

“Even the part about me being a temporary fuck?” Diamond braced herself for his answer.

This time his answer was slower, but Knox was always bluntly honest. “Yes.”

“I see.” Diamond walked to the door, opening it. “Please leave.”

“Diamond.” She held up her hand, halting any words he may have spoken.

“Leave.” Knox hesitated a minute longer before leaving without looking back at the devastation he had caused. Diamond went to the front door, locking it then went back into her private office. She picked up her cell phone and called Holly.

“Hello?” Holly answered.

“Take the rest of the day off,” Diamond said, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“All right. Thanks.” Diamond disconnected the call then threw her phone against the wall before going to sit behind her desk on shaking legs.

Tears blinded her eyes as she stared at the empty doorway, hoping he would come back and make it all right between them. She began praying that it wasn’t really the way Sex Piston had described. That he had cared for her, at least in a small amount. That his big body would come back and explain everything away, or say that none of it mattered, that he had come to care for her. Anything… she would take any explanation from him…

Her tears flowed faster as the doorway remained empty.





Chapter Sixteen



Knox walked to his motorcycle and got on, putting the key in the ignition. Instead of starting it, his hands went to his head. His mind told him to start the motor and get as far away from Diamond as he could. Another part of himself that he had thought long dead was telling him to get the fuck off his bike and go back inside. He had never meant the good time they were having to get out of control. He should have known the first time he had kissed her to walk away, but again, he had proven how stupid he could be.

Starting the motor, he drove out of the parking lot and out of her life. He had always intended to walk away from the beginning, each time together the last, but each night he had found himself on his bike heading to her apartment.

He had started it angry that every time she saw him she looked at him as though he was beneath her contempt. The first time he had seen her she had curled her lip at him in disgust which had brought back his high school and college days, and the looks the girls had given him; how they had treated him.

When they had begun fucking, he had discovered she was nothing like those women, and despite his best efforts, had felt himself falling for her. Just like... Knox’s mind closed down, refusing to go there. He drove away from Diamond and the resurgence of emotions; that was the only thing that he would back down from, knowing he wasn’t strong enough to win that particular battle.

For the first time, he pulled into the clubhouse parking lot without wanting to go inside. Getting off the bike, he went inside, going to his room. He lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He hadn’t been there long when he heard a soft knock at his door.

Bliss had seen him come in; he had no doubt it was her knocking on his door. Rolling to his side, he ignored the sound until eventually she gave up, leaving him alone.

* * *

Thanksgiving and Christmas passed in a blur for Diamond. She kept herself busy with court cases. For the first few weeks, she had been an emotional mess, eating anything she could get her hands on, unable to sleep because of the memories of Knox’s skills. Her body had shown the effects.

Diamond went to her closet to get the dress she was wearing to her parents’ wedding. Her mother had picked out the dresses for her and Sex Piston, and they’d shown that her mother had no concept of her daughter’s tastes.