Page 70 of Monster

“Baby, it’s barely ten o’clock at night.”

Not everyone functions on so little sleep the way he seemed to. It wasn’t late when I went to bed, but I wouldn’t exactly call this early, either.

He climbed on the bike and held his hand out to me.

I hesitated. The streetlamp provided enough illumination that I could make out the expectant look on his face. One way or another, I would be getting on the back of this bike, letting him drive me wherever he wanted.

I just…

I grabbed his hand and let him help me climb on.

I just wanted the illusion of choice.

But it was a fucking joke.

I had no choice in this, not when it came to Dominic Madden, but I didn’t want to fight him either. I would surely lose.

He wrapped my arms around his middle, bringing me close to him. So close, I was pressed up against him in every way possible, and could feel his powerful muscles tense with every movement he made.

He turned on the bike, and I jumped a little at the noise.

I hadn’t forgotten how loud the engine was, yet it still surprised me.

“Hold on tight,” he said loudly. “When I turn, you lean with me, got it? We’ll be in sync.”

He turned slightly, and I could see his lips curved in a devilish smile. “It’s like sex. And something tells me you’ll have no problem keeping up.”

And with that, he drove off, my gasp of surprise blending with the wind and his laugh.

Bastard.

He drove fast but not recklessly.

I should have been scared, but I felt oddly safe with him.

I shouldn’t trust him, yet a stupid part of me believed him when he told me he wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me.

But what happened whenhewas the bad thing happening to me?

Dominic expertly weaved through the almost-empty streets, and after a while, I could see the appeal of riding. I could see why so many people loved it, and I began to understand the freedom that came with being on the back of a bike that offered very little protection.

It was nothing like the last time. Perhaps it was because I knew what to expect, but I wasn’t as scared.

I was… having fun.

It was titillating. I grinned when he made a right turn, leaning with his body as he’d instructed, my eyes meeting his in the side mirror.

I smiled, and he chuckled, his body vibrating against me.

He revved the engine and went a little faster.

The wind blew by my ears, my hair flying away from my face, and though it was summer, I was still glad Dominic had put a sweater on me beforehand.

This was amazing, and I enjoyed myself much more than I thought.

This probably explained why I didn’t realize he was taking me on a familiar road until we came to a stop in the parking lot of my apartment building.

I looked up at the place, and my heart thudded heavily in my chest.

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