Page 28 of Monster
We stared at each other, me on the bed and him leaning relaxed and gorgeous against the doorframe. He looked totally at ease. Not at all like someone who had spent the last few days locked up.
“Hey,” I managed. The hairbrush in my hand fell into my lap as I took him in. “They let you go then?” I didn't know what else to say. We were in a relationship but we didn't really make small talk. Our relationship was pure carnal lust and for some reason that didn't seem appropriate right then.
Monster had been arrested for me. He hadn't done anything wrong that I knew of. The only reason he had ended up behind bars was because of who my father was.
“My future father-in-law didn't want to.” He shot me a sheepish grin.
Searching his face, I frowned. I tried finding any hint that he was angry with me, but he didn't look like he was. If anything, he looked happy to see me.
“But they couldn't hold me any longer.” Monster cocked his head to the side. “I missed you.” He took one step towards me and the hands I had folded in my lap started to tremble. I didn’t know why or what had come over me but I was suddenly nervous.
Happy that he was back, but nervous. “I missed you as well,” I finally said, my voice trembling as much as my hands.
Monster didn't miss a beat, a line appeared between his eyebrows. “You're shaking.” Three more steps and he was at the bed, his shins against the wooden frame. “Are you cold?”
I shook my head.
“Someone has...” He searched his brain for the right word.
“Everyone has been fine, Monster, no one has been mean to me.” It was sweet that he thought I would be upset over someone being or saying mean things to me. Laughable, but sweet. I was a grown ass woman. I’d been defending myself against sarcastic comments and meanness my whole life. It made me who I was. I'd become a mean girl because I had to be.
And maybe a little because I enjoyed it, if I was honest with myself.
“Then why?” he seemed genuinely confused.
“You,” I admitted with a sigh.
Monster’s eyes narrowed and his eyebrows slammed down. “What have I done?”
“Doing this for me, taking on my father.” I sighed heavily. “He is not going to make this easy for you.”
“I know he’s not,” he whispered back. I frowned up at the look on his face. It was clear that something had either happened or been said in the days he had been away. “But that doesn't change the deal we have, Angel. We shook on it, remember.”
I couldn't remember a handshake but I could remember sealing the deal in other ways. “No one would blame you if you did,” I managed lamely.
“Look, Angel.” The mattress dipped as he sat down. “Do you want to marry me? Do you need me to look out for you?”
“Yes.” I held my breath as his fingers reached over to cover both of my hands. There was no talk of money, he had simply asked if I wanted to marry him. And I did. Not just because I needed to get married but because I truly believed we could be good together.
I had never met a man so similar to myself before. A man who I could be myself with, who accepted all of me without judgement.
“Yes, I still want us to be married.” The smallest of smiles lifted the corners of my mouth.
“Then we are going to get married, and as quickly as we can manage it.” Warm fingers wrapped around mine, bringing the back of my hands to his lips. “That way you will be protected, until you decide you don't need that protection anymore.” He gave a rueful shrug.
“My father won't make it that easy. He is going to do everything in his power to…”
Monster cut me off. Slipping his lips over mine, he silenced me. “Let me worry about your father, Angel.”
Something had definitely happened. I could see it clearly on his face. Monster was hiding something from me. “What happened?” Somehow I kept my voice quiet. “What did my father say to you?”
In answer, Monster kissed me again. His tongue slid against my lip, back and forth until I opened my mouth to him. When he finally pulled away, he leant his forehead against mine for a second. His eyes closed and his breathing was ragged. “I’ll tell you, Angel, I promise, but not right now. I need a shower and a few hours in bed with a beautiful woman.” He blinked his eyes open and they stared at me from an inch away. This close I could see tiny little flecks of gold in them, something I had never noticed before.
“The beautiful woman best be me.” I brushed my lips against his again.
Laughing, he nodded his head. “Yeah it’s you, Angel. Get into bed.” Wearily, he stood, and I had never seen him look so tired. Of course I didn't really know him, but Monster always seemed so full of life. Overflowing with it. To see him like this, so bone tired that his shoulders were slumped, made something ache in my chest. “I'm going to take a quick shower and then I'll join you.”
For a whole minute, he stood there just looking down at me, making no attempt to move.
