TITLE: Captive Beauty
AUTHOR: Natasha Knight
GENRE: Dark Romance
PUBLICATION: January 24, 2018
Cilla
The Beast had Belle.
Killian Black has me.
How I got here doesn’t matter, even though he says it does. Says it was
my choice. He doesn’t get it, though. It wasn’t ever a choice for me.
And now, he’s changing the rules.
The agreement was one month. For thirty days, I’d be his. He’s no longer
satisfied with my body alone, though. He wants my soul, too. Wants every part
of me. And even though I can pretend I’m safe when I lie beneath him, this man
does something to me. Something wicked.
A thing that will break me.
Killian
Cilla made the choice. She offered the deal. I just took her up on it. So
what if I changed the rules half-way in? I’m not apologizing for it.
See, Cilla and me, we’re the same. She’s dark. As dark as me. Something
happened to her. Something bad. It damaged her.
But it’s not a hero she seeks. It’s an avenging angel. A dark knight.
That, I can do. I’ll slay her dragons, but it’ll cost her, because in return, I
want everything. And I’ll take it.
She’s mine.
Author’s note: Captive Beauty is a standalone
romance. Think Beauty and the Beast, but twisted and dark in the best, dirtiest
ways.
Prologue 1
Cilla
He’s watching me.
I know he is. He has cameras everywhere. Why wouldn’t he have one here? In
this, the “special” room? He told me he likes to keep an eye on his things. And
that’s what I am. A thing. A possession.
His.
Fucking his.
And today I
fucked up.
Today he’ll take
it out of my skin.
I shudder with
the thought. With the knowledge of what I know is coming.
I’ll fight him. I
wonder if he expects me to. Wants me to, even. All I know is I can’t submit to
him. I can’t let him break me.
But I am
breaking. Little by little.
I wonder if
that’s why he took me.
This is a game to
him. My life is a game.
I hug my knees to
myself. This room is so cold, unlike the others.
I pull the
blanket up around me, as much for the cold as for protection. It’s not like I
can hide my fear. He knows. He knows the real truth. Knows everything now.
My dress is torn
and I’m barefoot. He took my shoes away when he put me here. I guess the heels
could be used as a weapon. As if I could somehow manage to overpower him.
I try to swallow
but the lump in my throat makes it impossible. I’m scared and I hate it. I
don’t want to admit it. Not even to myself.
Tears wet my eyes
but before they have a chance to fall, I cover them with my hands and rub them
away. I don’t want him to see my weakness. He gets off on it.
I did this. I
pushed him. And I can survive this. I fucking have to.
It’s when I’m
giving myself that ridiculous pep talk that I hear his footfalls in the
hallway. Hear his voice, muffled so I can’t make out what he says. Probably
dismissing Hugo, his fucking henchman. Like he needs one.
Every hair on my
body stands on end when he slides the key into the lock. When he turns it. And
when he pushes the door open, it takes all I have not to crumple. Not to cave.
It takes all I
have to stand and ready myself for battle against this beast of a man.
USA Today
bestselling author of contemporary romance, Natasha Knight specializes in dark,
tortured heroes. Happily-Ever-Afters are guaranteed, but she likes to put her
characters through hell to get them there. She’s evil like that.
