Page 74 of Monster

He shrugged. “Drink up and go to sleep. You look tired.”

I shot him a glare at the topic change.

“Where’s Braxton?” I asked.

He hesitated before he answered, and I wondered if it was because he didn’t trust me with that information. I assumed Braxton lived in this house, but I hadn’t seen him around. No doubt Dominic had him hidden somewhere because of the danger.

“He’s in New Zealand with my little sister.”

I didn’t know why, but of all the things he told me, I was most surprised by the fact that he had a little sister.

I nodded, taking a sip of my tea before I pushed the mug away.

He stepped closer to me. “All done?”

I could only nod.

Without a word, he reached down and picked me up in his arms.

I wrapped myself around him, my arms going around his neck and clinging to him in surprise.

Our eyes met, and we didn’t say anything as he ascended the stairs.

He brought me back to his bedroom and set me down in the middle of his king-sized bed. He stood in front of me, taking me in for a beat before he reached over and pulled off the sweater he had put me in just hours before.

He carelessly threw it on the floor before reaching for the sweatpants and sliding them off.

Goosebumps rose on my skin, and I was sure he could see them, though he didn’t comment on it.

I was now back in the same clothes I had been in before he’d decided to take me on this little adventure.

His shirt and boxer briefs.

The light in his eyes told me he liked the sight of me in his clothes a little too much, and while I had been comfortable when I went to sleep the first time, now I felt… naked.

I swallowed, and he pushed me back down on the bed, tucking me in and surprising the hell out of me.

Dominic did not seem to be the type to tuck anyone in.

“Try to sleep, yeah?”

“What about you?” I asked before I thought better of it. I didn’t know why I asked. I just… I didn’t want to be alone. Not after that. Not when I was still reeling and feeling like those men who had chased down Braxton with a gun were waiting for me, and the only way I could be safe was with him close by.

What a dangerous line of thought to be on.

I should be trying to get away from Dominic.

Not get closer to him.

Dominic watched me with those inquisitive eyes of his.

“Give me a few minutes,” he answered, his voice rough.

I nodded.

He made his way to the bathroom, and it wasn’t long before I heard the water running, and I took comfort in the sound of him doing something as mundane as getting ready for bed.

Soon he walked out in nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs that molded perfectly around his powerful thighs.

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