Page 686 of Coal Hearts

“It’s time, mon ami.” Victor guided Henri’s hand and the knife to my belly. “Allow me to tell you how this will go. With that knife, once you’ve faceted and transformed her, you will cut right here.” He drew a line with his finger over the softest part of my belly.

I gasped.

Twitched.

Bit my bottom lip until I tasted blood.

“You will slice through her stomach and reach up through her ribcage. While she is still alive, you will grab her beating heart and tear it from her. As she dies in your hand, you will kiss those beautiful lips and let her go. And then...” Pulling a huge diamond from his pocket, Victor held it up. “You will insert this into her empty cavity. A heart for a heart. Meat traded for a gemstone. She’ll become priceless, and you? You will finally be free.”

With a wicked smile, he backed up and bowed. “She’s ready for you, my dear friend. Make the first cut. Let’s begin.”

END OF SAPPHIE SCARS

Deleted Scene: Topaz Torment

SKIP TO DIAMOND KISSES IF YOU’D RATHER NOT READ

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VICTOR SMIRKED AT HIS GUESTS and tormented jewels.

“To refresh your memory of this particular game, my friends, the rules are simple. No pain. No abuse. The first part of this activity is for them.”

“Never liked that rule,” a Master muttered.

Victor chuckled. “Yes, well. You will play by my rules, or you won’t play at all.”

“I’ve never played,” a Master quipped in the dark. “What are the rules?”

Victor clasped his hands and smiled. “Topaz Torment is basically a game of economics.”

“Economics?”

“The study of how people—jewels in this case—behave and how quickly they can make decisions when faced with certain...influences.”

“Influences being...?” another faceless Master asked.

He winked. “The aim of the game is to torment the jewels as much as you can. But not in the usual method we so love to indulge in.”

“How do you mean?”

“I mean...it’s rare that sex focuses on their pleasure. But tonight, that is what this game is about. You must edge them to an orgasm, make them weak-kneed and wet. Every Master will have a turn. He can only use his fingers or tongue. The Master who earns the jewel’s favour and makes them come wins the game. He’s then entitled to have his own pleasure by whatever method he prefers.”

A splattering of murmurs.

A few chuckles.

“I know what I’m gonna indulge in.” A Master snickered.

“Jewels...if you’d be so kind.” Victor squinted through the dark club, the strobe lights still spearing with colour. “Assemble on the dance floor please.”

Slowly, collared jewels left their Master’s side and stepped warily onto the dance floor. Masters fell back, forming a circle around the mix of bare skin and lingerie all trembling in the centre.

My heart seized.

I wanted to run.

But this was just another night.