Page 28 of Dirty Monsters

"Then why aren't you running and screaming?" I tested her.

She shrugged and turned away. "I've done enough running and screaming in my life. I outgrew my fear of monsters years ago. Why, Ro, should I be?"

My heart rate sped up, and I uncrossed my arms, tempted to push her against the wall but not willing to risk touching her. "You shouldn't be scared of me. But maybe you should be scared of something. Fear keeps us grounded."

"Oh, I am definitely scared of something but not you and not monsters." I remember her calling my brother a monster. She used to yell that we werebothmonsters. If she only fucking knew she was face-to-face with one of her so-called monsters, then maybe she wouldn't be so smug.

"What are you scared of?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of my judgment.

She shrugged again and turned toward the window, then back to me before saying, "Not you."

Something about the way she said it, the way she lowered her eyes and smirked. I didn't believe a word she said. She was scared of me, all right. Or maybe it was the hint of danger lurking between us. I could see it on her face, and the musing of her fearing me made me feel something I wasn’t supposed to feel.

Now more than ever.

I wanted to cover myself, to not let her see her "big brother" was growing hard at the idea of her being scared of me. Call me vile, call me wicked, but she was turning me on, and it wasn't only because she was gorgeous.

Choosing not to move, I stood paralyzed, hoping she didn't glance down. We stared at each other, eye to eye, for entirely too long before she finally snapped out of her haze.

"Are we leaving?"

It was my turn to nod, silently glancing around the room for something to grab. A bag, a pillow, anything.

Wren started rolling a single bag toward the door, passing me as I was still frozen in place. She stopped when she got next to me, shoulder to shoulder and facing opposite directions. She leaned her head over and got close to my ear.

"I don't know what happened today, Ro. I only know there was an incident. But if it was something that is supposed to make me run and scream, I wanted you to know that I’ll welcome it. You don't scare me, but I can tell I sure as fuck scare you."

With her last word, she placed her right hand over my dick and squeezed me hard through my scrubs, causing me to unwittingly moan.

I didn't push her hand away like I should have. Instead, I instinctively pushed into it with my hips. She saw me, she knew what she was doing to me, and she was right; it scared the fuck out of me.

Nurse Ro rolled my suitcase across the parking lot, and my mouth dropped when I saw thehousewe were heading toward. It was a Mediterranean-style house tucked beneath shapely palm trees. It shouted Florida vibe. I could see the pool glistening blue from one side and couldn’t help but picture myself lounging out there in the afternoons.

Ro talked as we strolled, telling me all about the amenities this house had versus what Red House offered, but I wasn’t paying attention to save my life. I had so much on my mind—living under the same roof as Ro, swimming in the pool, hanging out on the beach, and my recreation therapy activities.

A part of me was actually happy, and for once, it wasn’t because I was high or drunk. I was simply enjoying this place and the people I’d met along the way. I hadn’t realized I’d stopped walking to stare speechless at the house until Ro caught my attention. “Yo, you coming?” he said gruffly.

“Calm down, Nurse Ro,” I said haughtily.

The rest of the afternoon consisted of a long tour around the house. I had another private room with a large queen-sized bed and walk-out access to the pool. The walls were dipped in beautiful artwork, and the floors were tiled. Walking through the outdoor patio area, I took note of the loungers and watched as a guy swam laps.

I couldn’t help the way my eyes watched him as he glided through the water like a dolphin. He moved effortlessly. When he reached the other side, he grabbed the edge of the pool, pulled himself up, and turned to glance my way as if he’d realized I was standing there staring at him.

With a nod my way and a smile, he said a silent hello.

“Wow, it’s quite a view,” I said, letting my eyes track over this new man. He was gorgeous—full eight pack on display, trim hips, sharp jawline. Water droplets crept down his face from his soaked, dark brown hair, and he wiped them away, a cocky smile across his lips. Hell, maybe if Ro wasn’t interested in getting down, he’d be.

“Glad you like it,” Ro said in a blasé manner behind me.

I startled before turning to face him. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re kinda annoying?” I meant it too. Looks be damned, he grated my nerves in a way not many often did.

I momentarily blamed it on being sober.

“Nope.” His jawline was hard and closed off as though he was gritting his teeth over me being here. I couldn’t understand why sometimes he’d smile, and other times, he’d be shut down and rude. It was like he hated me, but he had no reason to.

We just met.

“Are you this hot and cold to all your patients? Or am I special?”