Claimed Darker by Em Brown

 

Chapter 1

DARREN

Present

Hovering over her body, still tied face-down to the basement table, I don’t have to see into her face to know that the wheels are turning in Bridget’s head. I knew from day one she wasn’t stupid. Even when she threw her drink in my face. One wouldn’t expect that kind of action from the cerebral type—the type I don’t usually involve myself with—but Bridget is…unexpected. Nuanced. Sometimes thoughtful, sometimes impulsive. A good girl out in the world but naughty as hell in the bedroom.

I wonder if she’s still like that, two years later.

Fuck it. It doesn’t matter what she’s like. I’m done with her. I’m sticking with simpler women. Women who don’t overthink things, who don’t challenge my scruples, and who don’t dare to pull a disappearing act on me.

But before I leave her to her fate, I’m going to make the most of what’s mine. I’m going to use her body till she can’t move a limb. I’m going to blow past her limits, even the hard ones, because limits—and safe words—are built on respect and trust. And she broke both those when she skipped town with my son.