Page 48 of Monster

He dipped the grilled-cheese sandwich in the tomato soup between every other spoonful.

I looked up and met his eyes as he got to the last spoonful.

We didn’t look away when I finally swallowed, and he placed the metal spoon down against the ceramic bowl.

The small clang it made sounded loud in the silent room.

I didn’t flinch. I didn’t move. I didn’t even think I was breathing.

He reached up and swiped his thumb across my bottom lip, taking away some of the crumbs I had there. My breath caught when he brought his thumb up to his mouth and sucked on it, the act strangely intimate.

I couldn’t even remember the last time someone had fed me.

I was a grown adult woman. Of course, it had been a while since the last time someone had fed me.

“Good?” he asked softly.

I wasn’t thinking when I nodded. I paused, thinking better of it, and pushed away from him, standing up when my feet touched the floor.

I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling vulnerable under his gaze.

I didn’t like it.

Not one bit.

“Go shower and get ready for bed,” Dominic said.

It was still early, I was sure of it.

I didn’t know what time it was, but it didn’t feel like much time had past since the sunset and since Dominic made his appearance.

I didn’t want to argue.

I didn’t want to think about this reality anymore, and what was more, I didn’t want to disrupt the peace I suddenly found us in.

I turned and walked to the bathroom without another word.

This morning, when I had taken my time exploring this room, I found a toothbrush still in its package on the bathroom counter.

I assumed it was left there for me, and that was what I picked up when I crossed the threshold.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

Dark circles ringed my eyes.

I blinked and looked down at the counter, avoiding my reflection.

My hands shook as I went through the motions of brushing my teeth.

I would like to say it was because I was scared of the monster sitting out there, but since the accident, my hands always shook randomly, often while I was doing the most mundane things.

I locked the bathroom door and stripped, getting into the shower.

I probably shouldn’t have risked it, but I was sweaty from the night before, and even if Dominic wouldn’t comment on the way I smelled, I didn’t think I could stand it anymore.

I chuckled softly to myself as the water rained down on my skin.

As if right now, the thing I should be worried about was whether Dominic found my scent repulsive.

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