Page 66 of Monster

I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my chin on his shoulder.

I felt him pause on the stairs for a fraction of a second before he continued.

He set me on the bathroom sink, my back to the mirror, and watched me with those unreadable blue eyes of his.

“Get ready for bed,” he said gruffly.

“What, you’re not going to help me brush my teeth?” I said, only half joking.

One eyebrow rose at that, amusement glinting in his eyes, and he made a move to grab my toothbrush, calling my bluff.

My eyes widened, and I snatched it up before he could.

He smirked at me and I hopped off the counter, pushing him away and eliciting a small chuckle from him.

The sound affected me more than it should have, and I shivered. I didn’t do anything until he walked out of the bathroom.

I turned to the mirror and examined my reflection, only to find a stranger there.

I didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.

11

EMMY

By the timeI woke up the next morning, Dominic had already left for the day.

Since he’d brought me to his house, there wasn’t a single night I had spent by myself, and I was starting to think it would never happen now.

I didn’t know what to think about that.

Why would he want to spend most of his nights with me?

I wished Dominic wasn’t so hard to read. Perhaps I wouldn’t be spending most of my time in a state of confusion.

One look at Dominic, and it was easy to see he was experienced.

Far more experienced than me, and there wasn’t a doubt in mind that he didn’t lack willing bed partners, so why take me—an unwilling one?

Are you really unwilling?a small voice whispered in my mind.

I quickly shook it away and climbed off the bed. I made my way to the bathroom, squinting at the bright morning light around me as I brushed my teeth.

My mind was lost somewhere far from reality, and perhaps that was why the morning was going by so slowly.

Finally, when I made my way downstairs, I found Lucy in the kitchen, sipping on a cup of coffee and looking like she was waiting for me.

Her eyes brightened when I walked in.

I paused in my step and eyed her warily.

I might have gotten a little closer to her in the past two days, but I hadn’t forgotten who had her loyalty, and it wasn’t me.

“You’re up,” she said, getting off the kitchen barstool. The same barstool Dominic had sat on last night with me in his lap while he fed me.

I didn’t think I would be able to see that stool without thinking about the memory from now on.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were waiting for me.”

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