Page 25 of Monster
I shrugged through the pain. “I'll live. Shouldn't we do something about...” Wildly, I gestured towards Monster who was pummelling the other man's face with both fists.
“It's best to let the men sort it out.” Gypsy said, sidling up to us. “Fang isn't going to be very happy but it was bound to happen.”
“You just got punched in the face for me,” Keeley whispered and I turned to her, giving her a bright smile.
“Honestly Keeley, don't worry about it. We are going to be family and family stick up for each other.”
20
MONSTER
“Let me look.”Monster appeared in the door of the kitchen.
I raised my face to meet his eyes, the ice pack still pressed against my rapidly swelling face. I tried to smile but it just hurt too damn much.
More gently than I had ever thought possible, he moved my hand down. With me sitting on the countertops, we were at eye level. His were dull, washed out. I had never seen them like that before. Tilting up my chin, he studied the marbled bruise that was already spreading across my face.
Not even expertly applied make up was going to be able to hide it.
“Shit.” He swore, stepping back. “That's gonna leave a nasty bruise. Nothing broken though, right?” His eyes flicked towards Gypsy who was washing her hands at the sink. I didn't know why he was looking at the little hippy chick but he seemed to be waiting for her to reassure him.
“Nothing broken, Monster. Angela is going to be sore for a while but there's no permanent damage.” Turning, Gypsy gave me a wide smile. It was the first genuine one I had seen from her. “I was a doctor in a past life, Angela. Now put that ice back on it like a good patient.” Her eyes locked on Monster. “Everything sorted now? Any injuries I need to check out?”
He shook his head. “The blood isn't mine.”
It was only then that I noticed the blood that coated his hands. He had obviously tried to wash it off but it stuck to the lines in the palm of his hands and around his nails. I frowned. I knew he was dangerous, that these were not particularly good men, but everyone was just going on like nothing had happened. I could still hear the party down the hallway, people drinking and laughing. Maybe this was an everyday occurrence to them. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I had spent my whole life craving danger and now I was thrust into the middle of it, it didn’t feel like I had expected.
“Well, I'll leave you two love birds alone. Go easy on her, Monster. She's not made of glass but she's going to be fragile for a while.”
Monster didn't even look at her as she walked out of the room, kicking the door shut behind her. The moment it banged closed his hands were on my thighs, pushing them apart so he could slip between them. It would have been sexy as hell if I wasn't in so much pain.
“I didn't realise Gypsy was a doctor.” I said when the silence and the weight of his eyes on my face became too much.
“Are you really ok?”
Ok, we weren’t changing the subject. He wanted to talk about what had happened. Monster was showing real concern, he was worried about me. It was kind of sweet. It made me look at him in a totally different way. And I wasn't sure how I felt about that.
“Yeah I'm fine. Hurts like a son of a bitch but...” The words died as his lips slid across my jaw. “That sure as hell will make it better.” I sighed happily. Reaching up, I buried my fingers in his hair.
“That was a stupid thing to do. Brave as hell, but stupid, Angel.” He carried on kissing over my skin with featherlight touches of his lips. “Bear is unpredictable. He's not usually here because he can't behave himself. You should have shouted for someone to come and deal with him.”
Tugging on his head, I pulled his face away from me. “He was dragging Keeley away. She looked petrified Monster. I wasn't about to do nothing.”
Something passed across his face. “Anyone would think you had a heart, Angel.”
“I could say the same about you,” I countered.
“Just don't do anything like that again, ok?” His voice dropped.
“Is it likely to happen again?”
“No, Bear won't be a problem anymore.” Something in his voice made me pause. I wanted to ask him what he was talking about but at that moment the door crashed open. Gypsy appeared, her cheeks flushed.
“What?” Monster barely had time to turn his head in her direction.
“Police are here, looks like we are being raided.”
* * *
