Chapter 2

BRIDGET

Past

The morning of my flight back to California, as I examine myself in the bathroom mirror, I ask myself: was Phuket worth getting stitches in my lip?

Yes, oh yes. Without a doubt.

Not only did I get to experience one of the most beautiful places on earth—my first time out of the U.S. and I got to go to Thailand—I got to spend time with Darren. And he seems to have been extra sweet ever since I got my busted lip, thanks to my attempt to intervene in a fight between him and Joseph Mok, an old rival. As if he thinks I’m maimed, Darren hasn’t been as hard or rough the times we’ve had sex. He hasn’t thrown in any BDSM elements, which I’m surprised I kind of miss. I guess I like the way Darren keeps me on my toes.

Last night he surprised me with a romantic dinner on the beach. The resort staff had set up oversized pillows and a table just for two beneath a canopy of tulle and organza.

“How can I thank you enough for this trip?” I had asked him part way through dinner. “Everything has been amazing, from the flight to the accommodations to the clothes.”

“You’ll be thanking me,” he had replied with a glimmer in his eyes. “A night at my club, remember?”

I hadn’t forgotten. It’s pretty hard to rid my mind of the image of clothespins being ripped off a woman’s naked body, one of the first scenes I had seen after accidentally wandering into the BDSM side of the club Darren owns. What would he want to do to me? I weathered the spanking he gave me with my hairbrush. The anal plug was awkward but surprisingly erotic. But I know he’s going to up the game at his club, and now I feel beholden to endure as much as possible. Not because Darren said I had to but because it’s human nature to want to return a favor.

“I probably owe you more than just one night,” I had joked to see what his response would be. It wasn’t my choice to fly in a suite, stay in a beach cabin at a luxury resort, or have his manager buy designer clothes for me. But I had enjoyed it, nonetheless, so it was time to pay the piper.

“The agreement going into this was one night,” he had said, “but if you’re offering more, I won’t refuse.”

“Let’s see how the first night goes,” I had replied.

I had expected him to reassure me then that he’d go gentle on me or that we’d take it slow, but he didn’t do any of that.

“This is the part where you tell me I have nothing to worry about,” I had prodded.

“I can’t predict what you will or won’t worry about,” he had replied placidly.

That didn’t help put me at ease.

“I’ll have a safe word, right?” I had asked.