Page 71 of To Love a Monster
He kisses my cheek and holds me tighter.The silence stretches between us until the screen on the coffee table buzzes.It’s Matteo.Nikolai leans forward and accepts the call.Matteo’s face fills the screen, sharp and no-nonsense.
“Time to go over the plan,” he says, wasting no time cutting to the chase, as usual.“You’ll leave tomorrow at 0700.We’ll fly you back to the city to your new address.The house is somewhat remote, nestled in the hills just outside town, surrounded by acres of privately owned land.Surveillance covers every inch of the perimeter, and a team of four elite guards will be stationed in rotation, two at a time around the clock.You won’t see them, but they’ll be there.Armed, trained, and loyal.The windows are shatterproof and the panic room is in the basement.The alarm system is military-grade and runs off a grid-independent power source.We’ve also upgraded the cameras with biometric AI.So, if someone so much as lingers too long near the property line, we’ll know.”
Matteo pauses, then says, “It’s the safest place we could find that didn’t look like a prison.You’ll have privacy and freedom.But more importantly, control.”
I shift slightly.“Will I be able to see my parents?”
Matteo's gaze sharpens."Eventually.Not immediately.And when you do, it will be under strict protocols.We still don’t know who we can trust right now."
I blink.“But they’re my parents.They're going to want to see me.”
“You’ll see them, Lila.But only under a controlled framework,” he says, his tone firm but not unkind.“You’ll be given a phone that's encrypted, it’ll have a tracker built in.Your guards will monitor it at all times.When you leave the house, someone will always have eyes on you.From a distance.Quiet and unobtrusive.You’ll still be able to live your life.Go shopping and visit friends, whatever you want.But you need to keep that phone on you at all times.That's non-negotiable.”
I shift slightly, letting the weight of it settle.It’s not freedom, not completely, but it’s something.
“I know that this is a lot to take in,” he says, softer now.“But understand this—Annalise is still a threat.Until we know where every thread leads, no contact can be assumed safe.We’re limiting exposure, not cutting you off.They’ll be told what they need to know.Enough to keep them safe, too.It's not forever, I promise."
I nod slowly.It stings, but makes sense.Matteo turns his attention to Nikolai.“Everything set on your side?”
Nikolai’s voice is calm.“Security team is prepped, surveillance is installed, and transport is secure.”
Matteo gives a tight nod.“Good.Then we move on schedule.”The screen goes dark and I curl closer into Nikolai’s side.
“Tomorrow,” I whisper.He pulls me into his lap like it’s the easiest thing in the world and cradles me close to his chest.I nestle into his neck, placing soft kisses along the line of his throat.His fingers tighten around my waist.I shift, moving to straddle him and I feel his breath catch beneath me.I nip at his neck, just the lightest bite, and he groans low and deep.I press down onto his lap and feel him instantly harden beneath me.
He moves to kiss me again, this time deeper, hungrier.But still, I feel the reins he’s holding.I feel him stop just short of what we both need.
It hits me then, this careful version of him isn’t the man I met in the cabin.Isn’t the predator who touched me like he was starving, who kissed me like he wanted to ruin me.This version of Nikolai is all restraint and reverence.And it’s driving me fucking insane.
I want to be devoured.“You don’t have to treat me like I’ll break,” I whisper against his ear, my voice low and dirty.“I want you rough.I want you desperate.I want the man who dragged me into his shadows and made me beg.”
He groans again and I feel the way his body tenses, the strain in his muscles like he's fighting every instinct.I grind against him and lean in, licking the shell of his ear before murmuring, “I’m so wet for you, Nikolai.And all you’ve done is breathe.Stop playing nice.Stop pretending I’m made of glass.You know I can take it.”
His hands slide up my thighs, rough and possessive, pushing my skirt up past my waist.His jaw is clenched so tight I can hear it crack.
“Lila...”he breathes like a warning.But I don’t stop.I press my lips to his throat again, bite down harder this time.And when I whisper, “Prove I’m still yours,” he snaps.
In one swift motion, he flips me beneath him, his body caging mine against the cushions, breath ragged and eyes burning with something primal.His mouth crashes onto mine without hesitation.There’s nothing soft left in him now.Only heat and claim and desperation.His hand slides between us, fingers slipping beneath the waistband of my thong, and when he feels just how wet I am, he growls like a man unhinged.
“Fuck, Lila.You feel so good and you’re all mine.”he snarls against my throat, biting down just hard enough to make me gasp.“Say it.”He demands.
“I’m yours,” I whisper, barely able to speak.
“No.”His fingers dip lower, dragging against my clit in slow, deliberate circles.“Louder.”
“I’m yours, Nikolai, only yours.”I moan, my back arching and my body straining.
He moves down, his tongue replacing fingers as he devours me like he’s starved.Like worship and vengeance and addiction are wrapped up in every flick of his tongue.I shatter in seconds, hips jerking, voice gone hoarse from the scream I can’t hold back.But he doesn’t stop.He licks through every tremble, every spasm, until I’m shaking and begging.
I’m still gasping, wrung out from his mouth, but Nikolai isn’t done.His fingers drag roughly over the insides of my thighs as he pulls away, lips wet, eyes dark with need.
“You’re done with me playing nice, little lamb?”he growls, his voice gravel.“You want me to show you how to be a good girl?Just remember, you fucking asked for it.”
His words hit me like a drug, like a fire searing his initials into my spine.Before I can reply, he yanks me up, flips me over, and shoves the blanket off the couch.My cheek presses against the cushions, my ass up and thong still twisted around one thigh.A sharp smack lands on my ass so hard I cry out, but it’s the kind of sting that opens me, that makes my pulse stutter and my body throb like I’ve never been more alive.
“You want to be claimed, little lamb?”he bites out, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking my head back just enough so his breath brushes my neck.
His hand trails down my spine, leaving heat in its wake.Then he grips my hip, shoves my thighs further apart and pushes inside, raw, thick, and brutal.My scream catches in my throat.He doesn’t pause, doesn’t soothe.He fucks me like punishment, like worship, like he’s branding every inch of me.
