Diamond Has It Rough

Chapters

Step 1: Direct Approach
Step 2: Inhibited Inhibitions
Step 3: Root of All Evil
Step 4: Phone-A-Friend
Step 5: Direct-er Approach

Step 1: Direct Approach

The dull thud of a plate heavy with food hitting the table went well with the first rays of the sun as it peeked over the horizon and through the kitchen window. Diamond Tiara took a deep breath as its warmth washed over her face, and her surroundings became lit.

Her kitchen was small, which was par for the course for the tiny apartment she found herself in. There was a small wooden table in the middle, with two chairs on opposing sides. The counter was within arm’s reach, cluttered with the remnants of her morning activities. She quickly scooped up what she used and put them in the sink for later. Once she’d finished cleaning up after herself, she took note of the situation with more detail.

“Eggs, bacon, pancakes…” Her eyes flickered to each listed item once she said it. “I’m missing something, aren’t I? Ugh, damn, I hate when I—”

Her mumbling was cut off by the sound of a door handle turning. It spread through the house easily. The mornings were very quiet. Diamond could hear her heartbeat in her ears, though.

It was followed by a low creaking, then by more silence. Footsteps, growing louder, followed. Diamond’s eyes were glued at the entrance to the kitchen. Soon, the footsteps stopped, revealing the perpetrator Diamond had been looking for.

“M-Morning, Anon.” Diamond offered him a simple greeting. “Just finished making breakfast.” Once again, silence. Her breaths became sharper, and her eyes bore holes into his.

“Morning.” His voice was deep and gruff, matching his appearance perfectly. He was almost double Diamond’s diminutive size in both height and width. His arms and legs were tree trunks, rippled with muscles from regular exercise. He sported a full beard and locks that spilled down over his shoulders. Diamond’s eyes locked onto his, and her heart started to beat a bit faster.

The two stood in silence for a moment, looking into each other’s eyes without even a bit of communication. Sweat began to form on Diamond Tiara’s brow and started to fall down her face. Her heart begged for her to say something before it was crushed under the pressure.

“S-So!” she exclaimed. “The, um, the food. You should eat. Before it gets cold.” For a short while, nothing happened. But before long, he nodded his head in agreement and walked into the kitchen.

He took his normal spot away from the window, where she’d placed the loaded plate just a bit earlier. He picked up the fork, his hand surely big enough to fold it with ease, then began to dig into the food. Diamond watched with bated breath as he went from one thing to the next, then back again. Within a minute, his plate was half-eaten. He paused for a moment, looking around the table.

“S-Something wrong?” Diamond asked, her voice pitching up. “You can ask anything…” He looked up at her from his sitting position.

“I’d like… a coffee,” he said. “If it’s not a bother.” Diamond gasped.

“Oh shit.” What she forgot finally popped up in her mind. Her eyes flickered over to the counter, and she flung into action. The coffee was already brewed, she’d just forgotten to put it in a mug. Her hands were like lightning as she prepared it. Two milk, two sugar. Easy. She placed the mug down next to his plate. “Sorry, I was a little distracted.”

“Thank you,” he said, picking up the cup. With a small sip, he went back to his food. Diamond pursed her lips.

“A-Anything else you want to ask me?” she offered. He paused, then looked up at Diamond once again. He rubbed his eyes with his pajama shirt, then looked her in the eyes.

“Why are you naked?” The question made her heart skip a beat. Her toes curled in and she tightened her fists behind her back. “Sorry… I thought I must have been dreaming, but…”

“No, no, you’re seeing right,” she said, her voice only a bit more than a whisper. With each great beat of her heart, her exposed nipples twitched.

“Are you cold?”

“Not anymore…” she said. Her voice was low and sultry. “Do you… like it?” He paused for a moment, but his expression didn’t change. He looked down at the plate.

“The food is amazing,” he said, stuffing a forkful of egg into his mouth. “As always.”

Diamond went silent. Her mouth fell slightly agape as she watched him eat. She looked away with a frown, but she didn’t speak up about it.

Of course, this was all within her plans. His obliviousness was part of his charm.

She turned away from the table, sure to give him a full view of her ass if he decided to look up. She was quite proud of it, unlike her bust. Though they hadn’t grown like her mother’s, she found the front to be overrated anyway. She bent over, leaning over the edge of the counter in an exaggerated motion.

“I managed to get a newspaper this morning when I went out.” Diamond could tell her words piqued his interest without turning around. She grabbed the paper she told him about, preemptively pulling her ass from his view. That would surely rile him up. “I just had a bit of extra time after waking up. Would you like to read it?”

“Mhm,” he hummed. He stretched his arm over the table, requesting the paper Diamond was holding. While it seemed like a simple gesture, Diamond took it as a sign to act.

She quickly zipped over to his side, the one with the raised arm. Before he could react, she hopped into him, pushing her butt into his lap. In one swift move, she’d nuzzled herself in between his chest and the table. She sat in his lap, her back against his chest. Her heart was beating even faster than before.

“I-I’ll read it to you,” she stuttered. Even after doing it, she couldn’t believe her actions. “So you don’t have to distract yourself from eating…?” The reasoning didn’t have to make sense. She’d already gotten exactly where she wanted to be. She quickly unfurled the newspaper, focusing her attention on it before she lost herself. “Anything you wanted to read in particular?”

Despite the outrageous course of events, he didn’t seem to be too fazed. Diamond could feel his chest rise and fall with each breath, and it didn’t seem irregular at all. She swallowed hard, then ground her ass against him, slowly getting closer. Though it was faint, she felt the whispers of a bulge as it grew in his pants. His hand came down from reaching for the paper, resting down on the table. With that, she was locked in.

Though, instead of returning to his food, he pulled his hand back further. Diamond watched it feverishly as it closed in on her body. It got close enough that she could feel its warmth as it hovered over her chest. Sweat dripped down her neck and chest as well.

Beep, Beep, Beep!
Beep, Beep, Beep!

The quick beeping caught Diamond off guard. She jumped and nearly dropped the paper to the floor. His hand retreated and the cause of the beeping was revealed.

“Ah…” he mumbled. He retrieved his phone from his pocket and shut off the alarm. “It’s 7. I should start getting ready to leave.”

“Oh, yeah.” Diamond said, immediately hopping out of his lap. She stepped back a few steps for him to get to his feet. He wiped his face and replaced the fork on the table.

“It looks like I’ll have to read the cover story later.” He walked to the entrance of the kitchen and began to retreat to where he came from. “Thank you again, Diamond.”

“No problem,” she responded, with a smirk. “Anytime.”

With a nod, he disappeared from view. Diamond stood there for a few moments, listening to his footsteps lead away and eventually disappear. She looked down at the paper in her hand, then clenched it tight in her fist.

If she could buy the concept of space and time at that moment, she’d write the check in a heartbeat.

She wanted to scream out in frustration but kept it to a low growl. By all accounts, this approach should have worked. She made him something delicious and gave herself up in the most obvious way possible. She might as well have been wearing a big “FUCK ME” sign on her chest. The fact that she wasn’t getting raw dogged over the table right now was a travesty.

She calmed herself down from her silent outburst. Even though things hadn’t gone her way, plenty of things in her life didn’t. She also planned for this outcome, as unlikely as it was. Where plan A failed, there was always a plan B.

Diamond chuckled, then made her way to the table, cleaning up the remains of breakfast. If she was anything, it was ambitious.

And Diamond Tiara always got what she wanted.

Step 2: Inhibited Inhibitions

“And with this, it should be… perfect!”

Once again surrounded by the smells of a freshly cooked meal, Diamond Tiara stood in her kitchen. A thick, creamy mushroom risotto accompanied by an equally creamy grilled chicken in herb sauce. It was moments like these when she thanked her mother for drilling her cooking lessons into her instead of letting her go out to the mall every weekend.

She wiped her brow with her apron, then pulled it off to prepare the table. She fixed two plates and placed them in the appropriate positions. She put the forks and spoons in their place, then scanned the table.

“Okay, everything's right,” she mumbled. Her eyes looked off to the side. “Except…” This time she remembered. And this time, it would be the star player in her new idea.

She skipped over to the far end of the counter, grasping the special glasses that lay there, away from anything else. She smirked at her reflection in the glass, then returned to the table.

Just then, the familiar sound of a lock turning took her attention. It was a bit different from before, though. This time, it came from the door right in front of her: the door to the apartment. Her eyes turned to the clock that hung above the sink. He was a bit early, but nothing that she couldn’t plan around. She chuckled, then turned to the door. Once it slowly opened, she met eyes with Anon again.

“Welcome back,” she said with a grin. “How was your day?” He was silent for a moment but eventually answered.

“Okay.” A short response, as always. It didn’t put Diamond off.

“That’s good,” she said with a nod. “Well, I just finished dinner. When you’re ready, come in and have a seat.” Her eyes darted away for a moment. “Don’t take too long. I’ve got a surprise for you!” As he took his shoes off, he nodded without a word. Once he was in his socks, he quickly escaped from Diamond’s view again. Once he was gone, she took a deep breath. “Alright, going smoothly.”

It took a few minutes for him to return. He was still wearing a dress shirt and his slacks, his work attire from this morning. The bland attire had its charm, but it contrasted heavily against Diamond’s purple sleeveless sweater and a pair of designer jeans. Despite her choice to wear clothes, he didn’t seem to react to them at all.

“I’ve been waiting,” she said, picking up her fork. He made his way to his seat, then eagerly eyed his food. It made Diamond feel even more proud than before. “Feel free to dig in.”

“Thank you.” He had already begun before she spoke. He tore into the plate without a second thought with a sudden ferocity that took Diamond by surprise. She chuckled, then focused on her plate.

After a couple of minutes of silence between the two, save for the sounds of eating, Diamond took a deep breath. She’d been keeping a careful watch on him as they ate, and it seemed like the time for her plan had arrived. He looked up from his plate, wiped his mouth, then reached to the side. Once he grabbed the empty glass, he looked at Diamond.

“Um—”

“A drink, right?” Diamond exclaimed, hopping up to her feet. “Just a sec!”

She circled the table and walked to the fridge just behind him. She pulled it open, grabbing a tall glass bottle full of a blush-colored liquid. She grasped it tight, then returned to the table just as quickly as she’d left. Without a pause, she began to open it.

“My mother sent me a bottle of this new wine, called rosé.” She got it open, then bent over the table, poised to pour the contents. “Well, it’s not new. It’s been a huge thing in France for years. We’ve only just now heard of it, thanks to—”

“Um. Sorry.” The words in her throat died and she froze in place. She’d been living here with him for a few months now. He had never spoken over her. Not even once. “I’m not too good with alcohol.”

“Oh!” Diamond pulled back. Embarrassment rose from her stomach, scattering frenzying butterflies all around it. Her face turned red, and she put the bottle down on the table. “D-Don’t be sorry! I, um, should’ve checked with you first, haha.” She moved towards the fridge, pulling it open. “I’ll find something else for us to drink.” She turned her attention to the fridge’s contents.

She squatted down, put her elbows on her knees, then put her face in her palms. It was an honest mistake, and he probably wouldn’t be too mad or offended by it. Still, it made her feel silly. Still, she had to get up and face him again eventually. Staring into the fridge was bound to raise some concerns. She lifted her face, gave her cheeks a gentle slap, then grabbed a box of Orange Juice.

“It’ll be a bit odd, but we have some orange juice,” she said, forcing down her embarrassment. She got up, closed the fridge, and started returning to the table. “It’s probably not your ideal drink but it’s…”

The bottle, which took her two hands to wield properly, was being held by him in one. The glass placed next to his plate was nearly full of wine. He placed the bottle down, picked up his glass.

“Um…” Diamond watched in amazement as he downed the entire glass in two large gulps. He placed it down, his face scrunched up. A few moments later, it changed to one of astonishment.

“It’s not bitter.” He looked at his glass. “That was pretty nice. Thank you.”

“Did you like it?” asked Diamond, slowly recovering from the shock. She placed the orange juice on the table. “I didn’t expect you to drink so much all at once. Do you feel alright?” He looked down and nodded.

“Yes,” he said simply. “Also… I’m sorry.”

“No, no, it’s fine!” she exclaimed. “I shouldn’t have pushed it on you like that.” This time, he shook his head.

“You sounded so excited about the surprise,” he said. “And I outright rejected it without a second thought. If only just for that, I apologize.” Diamond offered him a gentle smile. Her hand reached out and rested on his.

“You don’t have to apologize, you know. I’m thankful regardless.” She smirked, then circled back to her plate. She sat down and poured herself a glass. “Let’s get back to dinner, okay?”

“Yes.” He nodded, then looked at the bottle she placed down. Diamond followed his gaze. “Erm…”

“Another glass?” she asked, lifting the bottle once more. This time, she poured his glass halfway, as she’d done for herself. “You can have as much as you want, you know. The surprise was for you.” He didn’t react, as she suspected. But after a few seconds, Diamond felt her heart skip a beat as she watched him.

For the first time since she’d moved in with him, she saw his smile.

It seemed like she was dreaming, but it was there, clear as day. Her body had frozen, but her heart beat faster and faster. He downed another glass, then went back to his food. Though his smile had faded, it was burned in Diamond’s eyes. Over time, she got back to her senses, and she downed her cup. Her face was the same rosy colors as its contents.

The rest of the night continued in relative silence. Diamond couldn’t help but steal frequent glances at him as he ate. While she was nearly finished with her third glass, he’d drunk about twice as much. By all accounts, her plan should’ve been working. Despite this, it didn’t even seem like he was fazed. He continued with his meal and eventually wiped the plate clean. His fork hit the table with a low thud and he took a deep breath. While Diamond could start to feel the buzz of the alcohol in her system, his face looked completely normal.

“Thank you, again,” he said, getting up. He wiped his face with a napkin, then pushed his chair into the table. “The food was delicious, and the surprise was wonderful.”

“Mhm,” she hummed. Patches of heat spread all over her body, and her breathing became shallow. Her chest felt the hottest of all, her sweater seemingly harboring heat as she breathed. She pulled at the neck, attempting to free some of the heat to keep herself cool. “Ugh…”

“Diamond?” The call of her name startled her, and she was even more taken aback by how close he’d gotten to her in a heartbeat. His eyes stared into hers. From this close, she could even feel his breath, hot on her skin. It sent a shiver up her spine. “You’re sweating a lot.”

“Mmm…” She leaned forward, her forehead pressing against his. With one hand, he pushed ber back. The other patted her face down with a towel from the table. Despite his efforts, it didn’t seem to help. After he realized it, he set it aside. They stared at each other for a bit more, then he left her vision in a flash.

In the next moment, she was hoisted off her feet and into the air. It was incredibly disorienting for a moment, but in the next, she was looking at his face as it loomed over her. All around her, she could feel his warmth. He was holding her in his arms.

Without another word, he started moving. He was looking ahead, but Diamond couldn’t look away from his face. The thought of reaching up and touching his face flashed in her mind. And Without anything to stop her, her body obliged. Her hand caressed his cheek, sliding down to his chin. The roughness of his beard felt nice against her fingertips. He didn’t even mumble in response.

Eventually, he came to a stop. He fumbled a bit but eventually overcame what he was fiddling with. A door swung open, taking Diamond’s attention away from him. She looked at her surroundings. The walls were decorated with white swirls on a pink background. Pictures of various famous people were hung everywhere. There was a bookcase next to a cluttered dresser. It was her room, and once he stopped moving, she realized they were at her bed.

Gently, she was let down. The feeling of his arms holding her up was replaced by the softness of her bedsheets. She looked up at him again, looking into his eyes as he did so. He pressed his palm against her forehead, and she pressed on it with her hand.

“I’m… hot.”

“What should I do?” She swallowed hard, then answered.

“Take off my shirt.”

“Okay.” Diamond was taken back by the speed of his actions. He reached for the bottom hem of the sweater, then pulled upward. He slowly slid it up her body and up to her neck. With his off-hand, he lifted her up enough to completely remove it. Her heartbeat began speeding up once again.

“I’m still hot…” she mumbled. She looked up at him, pleading with her eyes. He nodded.

“Okay.” This time, his actions were a bit slower. He pinched her undershirt, lifting and exposing her belly, then her chest. He peeled it off in the same way he did her last shirt. Once his hand touched her back, she felt a chill down her body. He laid the discarded undershirt to the side.

The two stood in silence again. He looked down at Diamond, his face unreadable as always. She could feel her face heat up again, despite the bareness of her chest. Under his gaze, her nipples twitched and danced.

“... me,” she mumbled.

“I can’t take any more off.” Diamond swallowed, then repeated herself clearly.

“Kiss me.”

The silence that followed was unbearable. She felt like climbing into bed and never getting out. However, over time, the feeling subsided. A feeling of confidence grew inside of her. She reached out for his hand, grabbing it tight once she got a hold on it. His eyes turned down to his hand, then back toward her. At that moment, Diamond saw him steel himself.

“Okay.”

The words sent fire up Diamond’s body. She almost gasped from the surge in heat. He leaned down, his free hand pressing into her bed on her other side. Butterflies exploded in her stomach as she watched him grow closer and closer. His hair ticked her face as he hovered just above her. Her eyes darted all over his face.

“Close your eyes.” His voice was low, but she heard him clearly. She took a deep breath, then slowly closed her eyes, as instructed. Her face became hypersensitive. She could feel his hair even more now, and as he closed in, his breath brushed against it as well. She could feel him as he got closer. He got closer and closer and closer until…

A kiss. On her forehead.

Diamond kept her eyes shut for a few moments, even once she felt him move away. The butterflies slowly settled. She placed one hand on the spot he kissed, and then the next. She opened her eyes, surprised to find him still standing there.

“Good night, Diamond.” He nodded once. “Hope you feel better in the morning.” Without waiting for a response, in two large steps, he was gone.

Once again that night, silence took over. Besides her breathing and the rampant beating of her heart, she couldn’t hear anything. Her hands slowly slipped down her face and over her eyes. She took a deep breath.

“Why…” she mumbled. “Why would that be what I meant…?”

Step 3: Root of All Evil

Some people find comfort in the serene sounds of nature. Others prefer the business of a city block. If Diamond Tiara ever got stressed out, there was a one-stop cure, Monday through Sunday, from 8 AM to 8 PM.

“Diamond Tiara?” Diamond perked up after hearing her name called. She turned the phone in her hand off and stuffed it into her purse by her side. She quickly made her way to the end of a counter where a pair of cups had been snuggly fit into a cupholder. She checked the cups, gave the cashier her thanks, then left just as fast.

She retreated until she was free of the small crowd around the coffee stand. Finally free of all the hustle and bustle, she was free to look around a bit. Her target shouldn’t have been hard to locate, considering he’d be towering over many other guys in a crowd. As she predicted, Anon’s larger frame stuck out like a sore thumb near a collection of benches a short walk away. She smirked, then skipped over. He looked up as she approached.

“Hey!” she called. As she approached, he turned to meet her. “Sorry for the wait. Didn’t think it would take that long, but I guess they are pretty crowded on a weekend.” She sighed, then shook her head. “Anyway, here. Your coffee.”

“Thanks.” He got to his feet and grabbed the cup Diamond handed him. He held it in his hands for a moment before savoring a sip. After a deep breath, Diamond could tell he was satisfied.

“Do you mind if we walk and drink?” asked Diamond. He replied with a quick shake of the head, then walked to Diamond’s side. “Alright, perfect! There were a couple of places I wanted to check out.”

Diamond couldn’t remember a time when a mall trip on a weekend wasn’t common for her. Even since she was a kid, she could remember dragging her mother and father along to every store with a dress in the window. Though she could look back on those days and laugh, she couldn’t deny that they shaped her adult life in more ways than one.

And today, it was the scene of her next scheme.

“Are you sure that you were okay with just a normal coffee?” asked Diamond, turning back to him as they walked. “They had a lot more options, you know?”

“Hmm,” he hummed. “What did you get?” Diamond took a sip before she answered.

“Iced white chocolate mocha,” she answered. She flashed him the cup as she spoke, showing him the contents from the top. “A bit sweet, but delicious.” He hummed again.

“I’ll try that next time.” He took a sip and Diamond chuckled. Though they still weren’t the full-fledged conversations she was used to having with her friends, these short talks were getting a bit longer with each interaction.

The pair walked through the winding halls of the building, making small talk every now and then courtesy of Diamond. While it seemed like they were wandering aimlessly, Diamond was actually incredibly focused. Her eyes were working overtime, monitoring his face and their surroundings at the same time. As soon as he expressed interest in something, Diamond had to swoop in and take advantage of it.

Her plan was simple. Advertise her best trait. Her best trait being the laughably large amount of money to her name.

To her understanding, Anon wouldn’t be swayed by money alone. If that was true, he would've already been hers. No, she had to wield her advantages intelligently in order to get his attention. Despite this, she knew that it wouldn’t be easy to catch him reacting strongly to something. So she had prepared several safety nets.

“Ooh, look,” called Diamond, pointing to her first safety net. It was a sports goods shop, the kind she would never think to enter alone. “How about we check this place out?” He looked up at the sign, his expression changing slightly. With that, she knew she had him. Still, she waited for him to nod before she led the two inside.

Much to her surprise, there wasn’t a pungent stench of sweat about the place. Instead, the air had an oddly fresh and pleasant aroma of a mix of rubber and pine. Instead of being primarily dudes, both buff and portly, she found a mix of men and women of all kinds of body shapes. After she recovered from the small shock from that realization, she turned to him.

“How about we check out some of the exercise equipment?” she asked. Again, he nodded his agreement, then made off for the section. She followed closely behind, weaving through the aisles of both general and sportswear clothing until they reached the sign.

He looked through the shelves, slowly scanning each item like he was performing an inspection. She watched in silence, waiting for him to show interest in even the slightest thing. Fortunately, he reached out and grabbed something.

“What’s that?” asked Diamond. He turned toward her, presenting his choice to her as he did.

“Lifting gloves,” he answered. “My old ones were getting worn out.” After showing her, she realized something. Though he was in great shape, she'd never seen him work out before. Then another, more erotic idea played out in her head. She brought herself back and formulated her thoughts.

“Y-Yeah, you work out often, right?” she asked. Her eyes drifted past him, to the next section where the large equipment was. “Do you use those when you go to the gym?” He followed her gaze.

“Yes, sometimes.” He nodded. “They are a little fancier there. These are for home use.”

“Maybe we should get one for the house, then?” asked Diamond, perking up. “I could definitely afford it!” He paused again, then shook his head.

“Those are too big for the house,” he responded. Diamond cursed the small living space again. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to bother you.”

"No way, that wouldn’t bother me!” exclaimed Diamond. She narrowed her eyes. “I think I’d like to see you work out, actually.” He hummed, then nodded.

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll bring you with me next time.”

“That’s a promise!” she said, her mind running wild with all sorts of ideas on how to go about turning that outing into a new plan. “That reminds me, though. Why do you work out so often? I never see you play any sports, and you work an office job…” She tapped her chin. “Is it just to stay healthy?”

“So that I won’t be bullied,” he answered. “That’s how it started, at least.”

“O-Oh, sorry.” She pursed her lips. “I didn’t think it would be something like that.” He shook his head.

“I don’t mind it anymore.” He looked at her with his normal gentle gaze, putting her back at ease. “Should we get going?” Diamond nodded her head, then quickly took the gloves from Anon’s hands.

“Let me take care of these,” she said with a smile. “Today is my treat after all.”

After a bit more browsing, Diamond paid for the gloves and left the store. Soon, they were back outside amongst the crowds. That meant it was time for Diamond to get back to work. She hadn’t noticed his interest in any store yet, but she still had several safety nets in mind where she could show herself off.

Unfortunately, it was becoming a lot more difficult. Every now and then, Diamond would bump into the increasing number of other mall-goers when she wasn’t paying attention. Though she expected the place to be crowded, it felt like they’d arrived during peak business hours. To avoid getting separated, she moved closer to him. He was basically a walking landmark anyway. The space between the two dwindled until Diamond was basically hugging him as they walked. She definitely didn’t mind being so close, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to walk.

“Let’s go there.” His voice caught Diamond off guard. She hadn’t been keeping track of his eyes, so she quickly checked to see what kind of store he pointed to. She looked up at the name Joy Road on the banner in fancy letters.

“A… clothing store?” she asked. This was far from the thing she thought he’d be interested in. Before he could answer her, the two were all but pushed inside.

This place was much more crowded than the previous store, but still a far cry from the wave of people outside. He grabbed Diamond’s hand, then began leading her through the aisles of clothing. He didn’t even pause to look at anything. It almost seemed like he knew exactly what he was looking for. Diamond tried to look past him to see where he was headed, but couldn’t see past his large frame.

In a matter of moments, he broke from the crowd of people clogging the aisles. Finally, after he paused for a bit, Diamond could see just where he had led them. As she looked up at the sign, her heart skipped a beat. As soon as she realized his plan, he’d pulled her along again, heading straight for the changing rooms. He picked a door, pulled it open, and entered.

“Finally…” Despite the buzz of conversation and rustling of clothes around them, his low voice came through clearly to Diamond’s ears. He sighed, then turned to face Diamond. “Sorry for pulling you. It was starting to get a little rowdy.”

“Right. No problem.” Diamond’s brain started turning. This was a golden opportunity she didn’t want to miss. She clasped her hands behind her back and puffed out her chest slightly. “By the way, why bring me here?” He looked down.

“It was the first place I saw where we could get away from the crowds,” he answered. She took a deep breath, then looked him in his eyes. The small space made her feel a lot hotter than before.

“Well… now that we are here. What do you think of my clothes?”

His eyes scanned her up and down. She always took care of her appearance, but she made sure to go all out today. A burgundy sweater dress and a nice pair of navy leggings. She’d skipped on her usual heels, since she planned to do a lot of walking, instead wearing thigh-high boots. Her ears sparkled with gold earrings, and around her neck was a chain adorned with a small ruby. She’d taken almost an hour to pick this out, but didn’t get a word of praise. It wasn’t unexpected from him, but she’d still like for her effort to be rewarded.

He was silent, but Diamond could tell his stare had intensified. He was probably thinking of what to say. She did feel a little bad for putting him on the spot, but wondering what he would come up with overpowered that feeling.

“I can’t explain it well. I don’t know anything about fashion,” he explained. “But… you’re stunningly beautiful.” She opened her mouth, but no words came out. In her silence, he continued. “Before I met you, I thought women like you were just fairy tales. But you’re patient enough to put up with me. And the food you make is so good, I can hardly believe it’s real.” He looked up at Diamond, whose face burned red. “You really are an amazing woman, Diamond.”

She bore into his eyes. Her heartbeat was so hard and fast, she was sure everyone could hear it. Even so, she refused to back down. This close, there was no way that she would let this opportunity slip from her fingers.

“I…” She stumbled on her words. She swallowed hard, then continued. “I think you’re an amazing guy, too.” Surprisingly, he broke his eye contact before Diamond did.

“That was probably embarrassing to hear,” he said with his head down. “I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have worded it like that.” Her body responded before her brain. She closed the distance and grabbed him in a tight hug. Her face rested on his chest.

“No, don’t apologize,” she said. “I really wanted to hear that.” It was a bit slow, but he returned the embrace, squeezing her close. She smiled and hummed her satisfaction. Her scheme be damned, this was just fine.

“Um, hello?” A voice brought her back down to Earth after the short burst of bliss. She turned around to face the speaker, finding a very visibly annoyed store attendant. “Yeah, I don’t want to know what’s going on here, but you’re gonna have to take it somewhere else. There are people actually waiting to try on clothes out here.”

“Sorry,” Anon spoke, breaking his hug on Diamond. Reluctantly, she let him go as well. She kept her forehead on his chest for a bit longer. “Are you ready to go, Diamond?” She pulled away, quickly spinning on her heel, and faced the attendant who stopped them. Her face was enough to send the man reeling back.

“I’m ready to go,” she responded, turning away from the worker and heading out of the changing room area. She looked back to make sure she was being followed, then continued. “Was there any place you wanted to go?” He hummed, then nodded his head.

“There was a bookstore a bit of a way back,” he said. Though his expression didn’t change, she could see the lights in his eyes. She smiled, then stopped in front of him. “Hm? What’s wrong?”

She reached for his hand, pressing their palms together before interlocking their fingers. She squeezed it tight, then looked up at him. His speech from before played in her head on repeat, making her heart flutter each time she looked at his face.

“Nothing,” she answered. “Let’s check it out!”

Step 4: Phone-A-Friend

“Don’t say it again.”

“I’m sorry, but… it makes a lotta sense if ya think about it.”

Diamond swiped up her drink from the table, biting down on the straw with intense force. She glared out of the window to her immediate left, no doubt confusing and frightening passersby that happened to look inside the cafe. She wasn’t in the mood to think about the feelings of the strangers on the street. She was in a real crisis.

“Di, I’m sayin’ this for your own good.” The voice that continued to test her patience despite her mood came from the woman across from her. A trusted friend with a signature bow that she’d rather start a war with than concede to at the moment. She looked at Diamond with a worried stare. “If it turns out that he is, ya gotta let him go. You’ll only hurt yourself if ya don’t.”

“I’m gonna hurt you if you don’t quit it, Bloom.” She turned to meet her friend’s eyes. Applebloom, the sickly sweetest, kindest, humblest girl anyone could know. Currently Diamond’s best friend and most trusted confidant. Also her biggest pain in the ass. “What would you know? You’ve never even met the guy.”

“Well, let me see,” she hummed. “He ain’t even say nothin’ after you threw yourself at him. Either he’s dumber than a bag of hay…” she shrugged. “Or that’s a homosexual man.” Diamond ground her teeth on her straw but said nothing. “And if he is, ya gotta give 'em up.”

“But… what about what he told me?” Diamond sipped her drink as she recalled their mall outing. It had been over a week since then, and she could still feel a sting in her chest when she thought about it. “He called me an amazing woman.”

“I think plenty of guys are amazing,” said Applebloom, shaking her head. “Don’t mean I want ‘em in my pants.” Diamond opened her mouth to rebuttal but found nothing. Instead, she growled and returned to glaring out of the window. “What do ya even see in him, anyway?”

“He’s hot.”

“That it?” asked Applebloom with a frown. Diamond’s face slowly became more gentle.

“He’s also… kinda cute,” she answered. “He’s a big guy, but he’s more soft-spoken than anyone I know.” She sighed. “But it doesn’t matter ‘cause he always seems to know what to say and when to say it. He’s eager to please, always thinking about ways to make me feel better before himself.” Her angry scowl slowly morphed into a blank slate, almost like she was daydreaming. “And whenever he smiles, it’s absolutely amazing. He… is…”

Diamond looked upward, her focus returning to her. She’d been looking aimlessly out of the window for a while now, but a figure had paused right in front of her vision. It was someone tall enough to make her pull her head back until she could see their face.

“He’s here?” Though she mumbled, Applebloom heard her clearly. She followed her gaze, meeting eyes with Anon as he glanced through the window. “Oh no.”

“Oh yes!” exclaimed Applebloom. She was grinning from ear to ear. “We can settle it right now.” Though she was a reliable friend that Diamond could lean on to listen to her stories, she had a stubbornness the size of a bull’s. Once she set her mind to something she wouldn’t rest until it happened.

She tapped on the glass, bringing his attention to her. She beckoned for him to come inside with a grin. Diamond’s eyes flickered between them both. Eventually, after a few moments of waiting, he nodded, then started walking to the door.

“Alright, I’m gonna pop the question,” she explained. Her eyes were full of fire, which did nothing but annoy Diamond. “And you’ve gotta accept the outcome, no matter what.” Diamond scowled at her, her face flushed

“The hell you are!” grumbled Diamond, getting up from her chair. “I’m leaving.”

“Should I have stayed outside?” Diamond whipped around, meeting eyes with him from a few feet away. He’d gotten inside much quicker than she thought. “Maybe I misinterpreted?”

“Naw, Di was just playin, right?” Applebloom pointed to one of the empty chairs adjacent to their table. “You can take a seat there if ya like.” Diamond could see him hesitate, then look at her. Without even a word, she could tell he was wondering what he should do. She sighed, then slowly returned to her seat.

“I’m not leaving,” she said, defeated. “At least, not right now. You can sit.”

“See? Told ya she was messin’ around.” Before long, he took a seat next to Diamond. He was carrying a small bag she hadn’t noticed until he placed it on the floor once he got comfortable. “Nice to meet ya. Name’s Applebloom. Been a friend of Diamond’s since we were kids.”

“You’re a pain in my ass right now, though,” she grumbled. Applebloom ignored her.

“Anon,” he responded blandly. He stared back at Applebloom, a hint of caution in his eyes. “Nice to meet you.”

“It’s a funny little coincidence that we ran into ya here,” she continued. “Diamond was just talkin’ to me about her roommate and the next thing ya know, here ya are.” He nodded.

“I was coming home from the gym.” He glanced at the gym bag he carried in with him. “I pass by this place often. It’s close to the house.”

“Looks like that’s my bad, then,” said Applebloom apologetically. “Didn’t mean to cut into your off time. Just had a quick question for you, is all.” Diamond gripped her cup, then turned away. Looking away would hopefully soften a potential blow.

“Of course,” he said with a nod. “Ask.”

“I’m terrible at beatin’ around the bush, so I’ll just ask ya.” She met his eyes, her smile from before slowly fading away into a serious look. “Which team are ya battin’ for?”

Anon didn’t respond. Diamond clenched her cup even tighter. She wanted to separate herself from the situation as much as possible, but also wanted to turn around and engage in it just as much. She took a deep breath, then another. Finally, she worked up the courage to turn back. What she found was a face of complete confusion.

“I’m straight.” His brow was raised. “I would think so, at least. Diamond and I have been dating for a while now.”

The air in the room turned glacial. Diamond felt all the color drain from her face, and with just a glance, she could tell that Applebloom felt the same. They shared a glance, then both looked at him. His face was still just as puzzled as before. Applebloom took the initiative and cleared her throat.

“I, erm… huh?” Diamond guessed that her brain was still stunned. “D-Datin’? Since when?” His eyes widened, then he looked over to Diamond.

“I’m sorry. Did you not want her to know?” he asked. “I just thought… since you were friends for so long, it would be okay.”

“No, it’s more like…I didn’t know…” His confused look returned.

“What do you mean? It’s been a couple of months, at this point, though.” Diamond’s jaw dropped even more than it did with the first revelation. She shook her head.

“B-But you never asked me,” she said, trying to wrap her head around it. After looking between the two for a few moments, the realization set in on his face. In place of surprise of bewilderment, Diamond saw a face she never thought she’d ever see on someone like him.

His face had turned a slight shade of red.

“I… thought it was like a silent agreement between us.” He shook his head. “You’re the first girl I’ve ever been with. I didn’t know anything about the procedure.”

“Wait, wait, I still don’t understand.” Applebloom cut in, her hand on her forehead. “That night when Di got drunk and asked for a kiss. Why didn’t ya give her one?” The confusion returned. “If ya thought she was your girlfriend, why not give her what she wanted?”

“I did,” he answered. “I thought she might have been feeling unwell, and a kiss on the forehead always made me feel better as a kid.” Diamond looked at Applebloom, and could almost see the gears as they turned in her head.

“Then what about when I made you breakfast while… exposed?” asked Diamond. “I… even sat in your lap. I thought you might try something then, but you didn’t.”

“I wanted to,” he admitted, turning his face away from the two. His blush intensified. “But if I went too far, I might have been late for work.” He looked at Diamond, whose face turned a similar color. “When you sat there, I almost lost my control. But my watch rang out and distracted me.”

The world seemed to spin around her. All of her schemes and tricks, all of her plans, everything. It was all unnecessary. It could have all been avoided if he had made his move just a second earlier. The thought made her upset, enough to make her frown and grit her teeth. Heat rose from her stomach and flocked to her face.

Still, she couldn’t help but feel something else underneath it all. A large, cool wave of relief.

“But, Diamond…” he looked up to her. “If we weren’t going out… Why didn’t you ask me out sooner?” Diamond put on an exaggerated frown and crossed her arms.

“I wouldn’t be caught dead asking someone out,” she said, shaking her head. “Mom told me that the boy is always supposed to chase me, not the other way around.” Anon’s shock was clear on his face.

“So ya liked each other for this long without sayin’ it.” Applebloom sighed, then took a swig of her now-cold drink. “Sounds crazy, but I guess if it’s you, Diamond, anythin’s possible.”

“It’s my fault,” Anon cut in with a shake of his head. “I can’t count the number of times I wanted to tell Diamond that she’s beautiful, but the words get stuck in my head.” Diamond’s heart skipped a beat and she pursed her lips. “I could only tell her when she asked.”

“W-Well…” Diamond cleared her throat, then continued. “Each time you have said it, it makes me incredibly happy, so it’s okay.” Her gaze met his, and her face started to burn up. “But… I do want to hear you say it once.”

“Of course,” he responded. Diamond’s heart started beating faster. If just looking at him made her burn up, his smile was enough to turn her to ash. “I love you, Diamond.” He reached out to her, grabbing her hands in his. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. The effort you put into everything, whether it be cooking or your makeup, is inspiring to me. You—”

“Wait, wait, stop,” Diamond said, looking away. Her face was surely red as an apple’s skin. “I can’t deal with all that at once.”

“Ya seemed to like gushin’ about him to me earlier, though,” said Applebloom with a chuckle. Though Diamond glared at her with enough force to kill an elephant all she got back was a wide smile.

“Anyway,” Diamond said, clearing her throat. She forced herself to look at him, then took a slow, shaky breath. “I… love you too.”

“So this is what I should have done all that time ago,” he said with a small laugh. “Seems kinda silly, now that I—”

Diamond didn’t wait for even a moment. She almost leaped from her seat until she was right in front of him. With a brief pause, she looked into his eyes. The next moment, her eyes were closed and she brought their lips together.

His lips were big but soft. She leaned into him, letting her hair fall to the sides of his face. Her fingers ran through his rough features and hair, gently caressing his face. She pulled away for air, just to return with another kiss. With one hand, he grabbed hers, grabbing it tight as they indulged in each other. Once she’d had her fill, she pulled away completely. Despite herself, with that kiss, she felt the weight of a world leave her body. Relief washed over her, allowing her to take her first deep breath in what felt like forever.

“Sorry,” she said with a low voice. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.” She looked into his dazed eyes, contemplating going in for another kiss. Her attention was taken after she heard a clear of the throat from across the table.

“I get that ya wanna get at each other an’ all,” mumbled Applebloom. “But ya might wanna mind your surroundings.” After a pause, Diamond pulled away, taking her seat again.

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” She sighed, then picked up her drink. Even as she drank, she didn’t take her eyes off of Anon, almost like she was afraid he’d disappear. He put a hand over his mouth and averted his gaze. “You should enjoy yourself now, Anon.”

“Huh?” He turned his face back to her. It was red with blush. “What do you mean?” Diamond smirked as she sipped from her drink.

“You won’t have a break once we get home,” she said. Her smirk turned devious, and her eyes narrowed. “There’s plenty of other things I’ve been waiting for a long time to do.” His eyes widened, and his blush intensified.

“O-Oh…” he mumbled. "I see..."

Step 5: Direct-er Approach

Diamond Tiara was a woman of extreme elegance. She’d been raised to be the spitting image of the perfect lady, and much to her parents' delight, she’d turned out exactly as they hoped.

“Diamond, wait…” Ladies were expected to act properly in every situation and were calm and patient in the face of their own desires. “D-Diamond, the door… it’s still open.” No matter how hot the desire burned inside of them, they did not give into it.

But everybody had a breaking point.

“I don’t care.” Her words brushed against his lips. She followed them up with another intense kiss in a series of them since they’d gotten “inside”. Her tongue licked at his lips, before pushing past them. It dominated the space in his mouth with rough swipes and lashes. Only when he managed to push her away did she continue. “Nobody’s going to walk by.”

“Our neighbors normally get back around this time,” he said, trying to sit up. Diamond put her weight on him, but he could still lift her with ease. Eventually, he was properly up and met Diamond face to face. “We should at least wait until we get to the bedroom.” Diamond said nothing, instead reaching for the bottom of his shirt. Her fingers brushed against his abdomen as she pulled it up.

“I won’t wait,” she said. “I’ve already waited all this time.”

“It would just be a little bit longer and—”

“No.” Her voice was stern, but her face was soft. Once she’d gotten his shirt up to her liking, she started working on his pants. After a simple unfastening of a button, they fell loose. Her hand dove inside, the ring and middle fingers finding and sliding along the top of his shaft with ease. She stroked until her fingers reached the head and pressed down hard on the tip. With a sharp intake of air, she knew he felt it. “See, you’re already hard. I bet you can’t wait either.”

“Hmmm…” Despite the awkward positioning, Diamond’s fingers wrapped around his dick, gently pulling it from his pants and out into the air. She looked down with an excited smirk and hungry eyes. Her grip tightened and she started to slowly stroke the length from base to tip. His breathing became ragged as her pumping speed increased.

“Don’t worry about anything,” she said. Her off-hand began working on her jeans. She unfastened the button then wiggled until they fell to her knees. “Just relax. I’ll take care of this for you.”

She climbed up his body further, this time, pressing her chest up against his. With a finger, she pulled aside her panties giving her main hand enough room to maneuver the tip to her liking. With a bit of deliberation, she slowly raised her hips up enough for her lips to press down on it. With a seductive spin of the hips and a sultry laugh, she finally committed to going all in.

“Okay.” Anon’s voice caught her off guard and made her flinch. She looked up only for her body to be pulled up into the air. Confusion struck her for a couple of moments, but eventually, she realized what happened. Anon was standing, with her in one arm, pulled close to his chest. With his free hand, he closed the door.

The next second, she'd moved again, even quicker this time. Her back was pressed against the wood of the door. With a swift motion, he all but ripped her panties down her thighs. They hung on for a moment, but Diamond’s slender legs ensured they would drop to the floor just like her pants. In the same moment, he pushed into her, his supporting hand sliding down to her thigh to keep her propped up. The tip of his dick slid up her stomach, leaving a line of precum in its wake.

“You were right.” He pulled back, this time pushing past Diamond’s folds on his own volition. Diamond gasped, then bit down on her lip. “I don’t want to wait either.”

He pushed in further, despite the increasing tightness he faced on the way. Diamond felt as if her entire body was clenching up against the girth as he explored her. For the last few inches, he let out a low moan that brushed against Diamond’s face. Her head cocked back, and she let out a moan of her own.

Finally, fully inside of her, he took a small break. He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against the door. Diamond followed suit, pushing her head against his chest. Her hands grabbed at his shirt, using it to get her mind off of his shaft as it twitched and throbbed.

“I g-guess you don’t care about the neighbors anymore, huh?” said Diamond with a shaky, breathless chuckle. Her legs wrapped around his. “You can go any time you want. I won’t mind.”

“Mhm.” His mumble was accompanied by a small jut of his hips. Even that sent a shock up Diamond Tiara’s spine. He followed it up with a few more, pulling a low, long hum out of Diamond with each thrust. She pulled on his shirt.

“Be rougher,” she mumbled. “Give it to me.” With a few deep breaths, his grip on her thigh tightened, and he readjusted his stance. He pulled back, his cock nearly slipping out entirely. Her body shook as it left, but it quaked once he jammed it back in with full force. His thighs slapped against her ass loud enough to echo through the empty house, and shake the door at the same time. She grumbled with satisfaction.

After that, a switch flipped inside of him. The gentle nature she’d come to know from him whittled away into the animalistic lust that fit someone of his look and stature. The sloppy sounds of sex resounded in her ears, with each squish shaking her to the core. The locks of the door rattle every time her back is shoved into them. Her toes curled inward until they felt sore.

“Fuck, mmm,” she moaned. Her arms slid around his body, hugging him close. With this gesture, his waist started to piston faster than before. Heat rose up from her stomach with each pump, bubbling up as the seconds passed. It filled, spilled over, and eventually exploded outward. Diamond cursed and sighed as her body clenched up in orgasm. Even then, he didn’t stop thrusting. Her fingers dug into his back, desperately looking for something to hook onto.

Eventually, he slowed down to a steady pace, pressing in every second or two. Once he’d had his fill, he pulled out completely, his shaft coated in Diamond’s cum and juices. He pulled away slightly, releasing his grip on her to allow her to stand. Once her feet touched the ground, she almost immediately fell into him.

“Nngh…” her face was a mess. The makeup she’d taken so long to apply must’ve been smeared to hell. She took a deep breath to stabilize herself, then pushed against him, standing up on her own again. “That was… am—”

“Sorry.” He reached for Diamond’s waist, then turned her around with impressive speed. Now that she was facing the door, she could feel him move closer once again. Unlike before, his entire length slipped in without resistance. Still, Diamond couldn’t help but let out a whimper as the tip squished against the back of her pussy. He leaned down until his chest almost pressed against her back. His hand snuck beneath her shirt and slid across her bare skin, stopping as it rubbed against her nipple. Between his thumb and index, he pinched down on it. “I didn’t mean to stop. I wasn’t finished.”

“Mmmh, don’t apologize.” Her hands pressed against the door. She grit her teeth, then grumbled as he thrust in once more. She’d gotten wet enough that she was dripping down her legs. She could feel each pump splashing more of her onto his pants. She grabbed at the grooves in the door, trying to hold on as much as she could. “Damn, it’s so good…”

“You feel great too, Diamond.” His voice breezed past her ear, sending heat up to her face. “I can’t hold it in that much longer.” Diamond’s eyes went wide as he thrust in with more force than before. Once he was all the way in, he switched to many small pumps. Even these were enough to send Diamond reeling. His breaths picked up, alerting Diamond to what was next. She swallowed hard, then sighed.

“Let it out,” she mumbled. He twitched inside of her. Once more push. She raised her leg slightly. “Now…”

With a mighty throb, Diamond could feel the first burst of cum as it bubbled from the tip. Hot against her pussy, it quickly pooled deep inside of her. Every pump came with another feeling of heat spreading all over her body. His hips trembled against her ass with each pump. The feeling of slowly being filled up wasn’t as intense as the sex before it, so she took a couple of deep breaths. She looked back as he pulled away, meeting at his dark face covered in sweat. After pulling away from her with a wet schlick, he stepped back a bit.

“Mmmh.” Diamond hummed. The cum began to slide out of her as he pulled away, down her legs like the rest. She turned around to press her back against the cool door, then chuckled. She pressed her hand down on her stomach. “That was perfect.”

“That’s good to hear.” Anon’s normally stoic expression returned. He wiped his brow with his forearm. “I wasn’t sure if I did a good job or not.” Diamond smirked.

“Well, if you want more chances to try…” she narrowed her eyes. “You’ll have a lot more coming soon.” He blushed, then nodded.

“Actually, I was wondering if I could try again now.” Diamond’s eyes widened again, and she looked down. Still at full attention, Anon’s cock was pointing straight at her. Her body shuddered at the prospect. “I still would like to try using a bed, now that I can think clearly.” Diamond paused for a moment, then leaned forward. She reached up and pecked him on the lips. All of her planning and scheming had paid off in a bigger way than she thought.

“Of course,” she said with a big smile. Behind it, though, was a hint of her usual sultriness. Looks like she wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight. Or any night, for a while. “I’m ready to fuck until I drop.” A small smile grew on his face. Though it didn't fit his face too well, Diamond loved to see it all the same.

“Okay.”

Author's Note

After-Sex Smoke