Page 73 of To Love a Monster
The helicopter bladescut through the air as we fly over miles of thick forest.Just beyond the trees, nestled like a secret waiting to be discovered, is our new home.
The mansion comes into view slowly.A long, winding driveway just beyond iron gates, stone walls and large windows.I lean into the glass, my jaw hanging open as I take it all in.“Oh.My.God.Isthisit?”
Nikolai doesn’t say anything at first.He just nods, calm and unreadable.His eyes stay on me, not the view, like he’s more interested in my reaction than our new massive house.There’s a faint smirk on his face, like he’s enjoying every moment of my reaction.
I can’t stop grinning.“Matteo really outdid himself.This place looks like something out of a movie.”
“This wasn’t Matteo.”he states simply, sounding a tad bit offended.
I blink, thrown.“What do you mean?”
His gaze drifts to the window as he speaks, “I bought it.For you.”
I whip around to face him, blinking fast.“Seriously?”I’m shocked.I knew Matteo had loads of cash but never stopped to think that perhaps Nikolai was pretty well off himself.“Your job must pay really well, huh?”
A lopsided smirk slowly starts to spread across his face.“We do okay.”He shrugs like it’s nothing, but the gleam of pride in his eyes says otherwise.A few moments later the helicopter touches down with a soft jolt.
We climb out and make our way to the front doors, they’re heavy and carved from dark wood with intricate inlays I don’t recognize but instantly love.Nikolai pushes them open and cool air brushes against my skin, clean, crisp, and faintly scented like pine and lemon-scented polish.
I step inside, and for a second I forget how to breathe.Marble floors stretch in every direction, pale and smooth beneath the soft patter of my boots.Sunlight spills in through massive windows, catching on glittering chandeliers, sleek wood, and a staircase that curves toward the second floor like something out of an interior design magazine.
My eyes drift over crown moldings, matte black finishes, the sharp symmetry of minimalist luxury.Everything is just ...perfect.Not too loud and cluttered, not too cold.Just clean.Bold and absolutely beautiful.
“This is insane,” I whisper, turning in a slow circle.“Like, magazine-cover insane.Did you hire a designer?’
He tilts his head slightly.“Some things were custom.”I smile and reach for his hand, lacing our fingers together as we walk.Room by room, he shows me what he’s built for us.There’s a spacious kitchen with matte countertops and warm wood cabinets, a sunken lounge with a fireplace built into the wall, a sleek office, a small library that smells like old pages and fresh leather.
But it’s when we reach the end of the hallway upstairs that he slows.“What’s in here?”I ask, fingers still wrapped around his.He gives me a grin and pushes the door open.And I swear, my heart stops.It’s an art studio.A real fucking art studio just for me.
It’s filled with hardwood floors, tall ceilings and a skylight.The entire far wall is glass, giving me the best view of the seemingly endless forest.There’s a wooden easel set up already, a wide table with brushes, tubes of paint, charcoal, pastels, all arranged neatly like they’re waiting for me.Shelves along the wall hold blank canvases in every size.There’s even a deep basin sink in the corner with a raw linen apron hanging beside it.I take one slow step inside.Then another.My throat tightens.“You did this?”
He nods once and steps closer, his voice steady.“Back at the safehouse, you kept looking out the window like you were searching for something.Your hands would twitch, like they didn’t know what to do without a brush.You didn’t have to say anything.I just knew you were missing it.”
I turn back to him, heart full to the brim.“How did you even know what to get?”
He opens his mouth to answer, but I don’t give him the chance.I run to him without hesitation, without thought, and throw myself into his arms.My mouth crashes against his, hard and fast, all tongue and heat and gratitude. I’m not just grateful for the studio, I’m grateful that he paid attention.
That he was able to listen without me having to speak.No one’s ever done that for me before.No one’s ever cared enough.When I finally pull back, my chest is heaving and I press my forehead to his.
A throat clears behind us and I almost jump straight out of my skin as I pull back from Nikolai and whip around.Tess is standing in the doorway with her arms crossed, one brow arched the way it usually does when she’s pleased with herself.“Well, damn.Good thing I came in when I did otherwise, I might’ve been scarred for life!”
I laugh, flushed and breathless.“Tess!What the hell, how are you here?”She grins, sauntering in like she owns the place.“He called me last week.Told me he wanted to surprise you and that he needed help figuring out what kind of brushes wouldn’t insult your entire soul.”
I blink at Nikolai, stunned.“You really asked her?”
He shrugs.“Apparently, it was the right thing to do.She made it quite clear that you’d murder me if I bought you cheap supplies.”
Tess throws an arm around my shoulder and squeezes.“Sure did.He did good, though.Didn’t even flinch when I said the good stuff costs as much as a small car.”I laugh again, feeling light in a way I haven’t in years.Like maybe, finally, I get to have this.A full life.
I glance back at Nikolai, overwhelmed.“This is...I don’t even have words.”He steps forward and pulls something from his pocket, a sleek black card, polished and heavy.He presses it into my palm.“This is yours,” he says, his voice even.“To make the rest of the house yours, too.Whatever furniture you want, whatever paint, whatever makes this spaceyours.”
I stare down at the card like it might vanish if I blink too hard.“You’re giving me full creative control?Are you sure you want to do that?”I say teasingly.
He nods, smiling down at me.“Yup.Go wild, baby.”
“Even if I want to cover the entire living room in dark red and velvet?”His mouth twitches, barely holding back a grimace.“If you must.”
“Oh, I must,” I say, grinning playfully.“And I might throw in a floral wallpaper moment, maybe even some gold leaf accents.”He exhales like I just threatened national security.“Okay, now you’re testing me.”
