Page 3 of Enveloped By the Darkness

“Ending 7432?” I confirmed, scanning the personal details we had on file.

“Yes, that’s the one,” he replied.

“Okay, thanks for your time, Mr. Everly.”

“Thank you, Detective Sergeant.”

Placing down the receiver, I stared at the screen as the line went dead.

“Problem, Guv?” Granger’s brow furrowed as my gaze rose to meet his.

“Not exactly,” I mumbled, trying to fathom what I’d learned. “More like an unexpected development.”

I had no evidence that anything was wrong, and no new crimes had been committed. By all accounts, Tiffany had gone with Walker of her own free will, but nothing about it sounded right to me. Everything about the case had been wrong from the start, and the latest twist filled me with nagging anxiety. Sipping my coffee, I reread her most recent victim statement, looking for any detail I might have missed. I’d let this case pass me by once before, but it wouldn’t happen again.

Chapter One

Kade Walker

A blanket of gold and crimson leaves carpeted the lawns as we strolled hand in hand. Breathing in the fresh autumnal air, my eyes closed as I halted beneath an old elm tree and pulled her toward me.

“Come here,” I whispered, inhaling the intoxicating scent of her hair. “Let me hold you.”

“But Master!” Cheeks flaming, Tiffany glanced around guiltily. “You only just had me.”

“Mmmm,” I purred, smiling at the delicious recollection. “I remember.”

“You’re insatiable,” she murmured, though I sensed it wasn’t a complaint.

The estate looked better than ever, thanks to Noel and the team of other gardeners I’d employed to help him. The trees and rolling grassland were as beautiful as the interior of the house. Glancing back at Barrington House, I realized I was happy. My brows knitted at the perturbing thought. For the first time in my life, I was living at Barrington, and everything was good. The sky had never been so blue.

“Have you heard back from your new boss?”

It was odd referring to another person as Tiffany’s boss when we both accepted, she had only one master, but being content at my ancestral home meant I was more at ease with the premise of her working. It had been incredible having her to myself since she’d left Rex’s Chambers, but I accepted she needed more. She always had.

“Yes.” Her lips twitched as she gazed up into my eyes. “She wants me to start on Friday next week—meet the team before the weekend—then dive in properly the week after.”

“She?” I didn’t know why I was surprised to hear there was a woman in charge.

“Yes,” she replied. “Her name is Julia Simmons.”

“Okay.” Stroking the side of her cooling face, I lowered to kiss her temple. “From Friday, I’ll share you with Julia, but until then, you’re all mine.”

Catching her lip between her teeth, she giggled, and my balls clenched at the tantalizing sound.

“I’ll always be all yours, Master.” Rising to her tiptoes, her lips grazed the stubble at my jaw. “No matter who I work for.”

There’s my girl.

“That’s true,” I praised, collecting her hair as the breeze threatened to toss it around. “I just want you to know that I’m fully on board with your new role.”

“Thank you.” She pressed her lips to my chin. “What about my schedule?”

“What about it?” Gripping her hair tighter, I held her in place as I nuzzled her warm neck.

“Will the same rules apply as before, Master?” Her voice was breathy, demonstrating how much she relished my ministrations.

“Do you mean, will I drive you to work and collect you each day?” Arousal flooded my brain, blinding me to everything but her alluring skin. She was right. I was insatiable, unable to focus on anything else when she was with me.

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