Page 5 of To Love a Monster
She left the cabin late this morning on foot.Unexpected.I watched her pause, check her kit.Saw the shift in her posture.The small shake of her head.She was agitated.Not panicked.Within two minutes, she was out the door.No phone call, no checklist.Just action.She took the back trail through the trees, the one that leads through Greyveil’s old corridor, the quieter route.She didn’t look over her shoulder once.
That part concerns me.She should be more careful.After all, you never know who could be watching.Stalking.Waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.She’s too comfortable here.A dangerous mindset for someone like her to have.I’ll have to fix that.
She moved through the shop like she belonged there.Familiar gait.Relaxed shoulders.Ben, the clerk, greeted her by name.His tone is friendly and familiar.No signs of tension between them.My initial background check revealed he’s a local.He’s lived here for many years.Not an obvious threat.But then again, not all threats are.
He asked about her family.She told him she was alone.She didn’t lie.She’s not used to needing to.She went straight for the aisle with the oil paints.Running her fingers over the different colors.
She didn’t see me at first.I was quietly positioned near the center aisle, just inside her peripheral vision but out of Ben’s view.No movement.No direct line of sight.I waited.
When she rounded the corner, she froze.That’s when it happened.She stiffened.Her body sensed a threat.Good.She needed to be afraid.More aware.
I watched from the corner of my eye as her breath caught, just slightly.Not enough for anyone else to notice.But I saw it.
Then her gaze found me.We stared at each other for four seconds.Longer than most strangers can tolerate.She didn’t speak.Neither did I.But something passed between us.It was brief, but electric.I could tell she felt it.And, fuck, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t too.
Her pupils dilated.Her mouth parted, just slightly.Like her body was preparing to speak, or scream.Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded either.
She’s even more beautiful up close.Not perfect.Not polished.Real.Her ocean eyes were wide with innocence I’d only seen in photos.But there was something else buried underneath, something darker just waiting to be explored.
Her lips were soft and full.I shouldn’t be thinking about what her mouth would feel like wrapped around me.But I am.
The way she looked at me...It was like she felt the warning in her bones.
The unease, the pull.The way every nerve in her body whispered danger.Yet, she didn’t flinch.Didn’t walk away.She stood there, looking like she was seconds from approaching me.
She fumbled for her paints with trembling hands, trying to pretend I had no impact on her.After witnessing her body’s reaction to mine, I can’t help but feel like a predator who’s finally located the perfect prey.
Her innocence isn’t a shield, it’s a challenge.And I love a good challenge.I resisted the urge to act, I know what my orders are.But at that moment I made up my mind.I wanted to make her bend.See what she looked like on her knees.Tease her until she begs to be mine.I know what I’ve been sent here to do.Matteo gave me a mission.Protect and observe, from a distance.But the second our eyes met, I felt it, that bone-deep urge to chase, catch, and keep.I don’t want her.Ineedher.And now that she’s caught my attention, Iwillhave her.
—N
Chapter Three
Lila
After spending therest of the day painting and scrapping piece after piece, I decided to stop wasting paint and go to the grocery store to pick up a few extras for supper.I pause at the steps, my bag of groceries digging into my arm, keys pressed between my fingers like a blade.The gravel crunches beneath my boots in a way that feels louder than it should.The trees rustle, and for a moment I swear it sounds like someone’s boots crunching over dry twigs.I spin around and scan the area but see nothing.Nothing isvisiblyout of place, and yet, I can’t shake this uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.I quickly unlock the door and the deadbolt clicks open with ease, the hinges groan softly as I push the door open.
