Page 99 of Monster

The look he shot my way told me he knew exactly what I was thinking.

I didn’t do anything, my hand resting on his chest.

I squirmed away from him and dashed up the stairs, running to his bedroom and slamming the door behind me. I clicked the lock, though it was probably useless. He had the key, but this way, I would hear him come in.

Wouldn’t I?

Something told me that wouldn’t be the case.

* * *

I wokeup in the same position as before, with Dominic lying close to my back.

I felt warm and comfortable and I didn’t know what to make of it. A part of me wanted to hug him close while the other part wanted to get as far away from him as possible.

Not that it would have done me any good.

Getting as far away from him as possible would still be in this house.

I turned, and his arms shifted around me a bit. I looked up at him, wondering why my heart hurt so badly.

I never thought I could be fascinated with a man’s face while he slept, but I was with Dominic’s.

There was no pretense and lying here in his arms felt… nice.

Even when I was mad at him, like yesterday morning, all that anger just went away.

I took a deep breath.

“I wish I could hate you,” I whispered.

He didn’t even stir.

Perhaps there was something wrong with me. I shouldn’t crave a man like him, and at this point, I might have wanted him more than I needed him, and given my situation, I needed him.

As much as I hated admitting to such, I needed him.

Slowly, I peeled his arms away from me and walked to the bathroom. I closed the door silently behind me, not wanting to ruin the atmosphere around such a peaceful morning, and if Dominic woke up, it would be anything but.

Perhaps that wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Perhaps that was what I needed. Excitement.

I shook away the thought and quickly got ready for my day, dressing and sneaking down to the kitchen.

Lucy was by the stove, cooking breakfast.

I wondered if she ever got tired of the same routine. Like I had before I met Dominic Madden.

“I can feel your eyes on me, girl,” she said, her voice light. “What are you thinking so hard about?”

I smiled and walked further into the kitchen. “Thinking about your life.”

She turned around and looked at me, a spatula in hand. “My life? My life’s boring.”

I shrugged. I didn’t really know anything about her, other than that she was married to a rough biker and worked for Dominic, whom she had known for over a decade.

I sat down at the kitchen island, and she placed a mug of coffee in front of me. Black, just the way I liked it.

I smiled my thanks, taking a sip and savoring the taste. I could feel her watching me the entire time.

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