Page 79 of Monster's Obsession
“You don’t need to explain yourself to me. I know I’m a fucking asshole.” He soothed a loose strand of hair hanging over his eye back into place, his sharp emerald green eyes blazing at me. “I’ll always be honest whether someone likes it or not, so I don’t expect you to hold back. Just like now when I’m going to tell you that you’re wearing the wrong outfit for our trip.”
Just as my mouth opened with a response, the elevator doors pulled apart, and he stepped out.
“What’s your problem?” I stated, my stomach tightening as I followed him. “Nope, don’t worry about it. I think I’ve worked you out.”
“Yeah, enlighten me,” he said with a glance over his shoulder at me, that evil grin spreading his lips once more. The kind of expression I imagined on a serial killer, sending a ripple of fear through me. And yet I still found myself swooning at how incredibly gorgeous Tempest was, how my body responded to him and craved him.
That was the thing about him. He brought out fear in me, dread, all while I burst with arousal.
“You love being an asshole so you don’t have to get close to anyone or open up, because it’s so much easier that way. But are you any different from the rest of us? I guess the only difference is that you hide your pain behind hurtful and sarcastic comments. But in the end, you’re just as fucking ruined as everyone else”
His deadpan face made me smile because I’d gotten to him, so I offered him a grin and strolled right past him, pushing open the door to the outside world. Yep, I could give as good as he gave, and I was enjoying this new brazen side of myself.
But just as I emerged at the front yard in front of the castle, I yelped at the sight before me.
Two of those horny water buffalo horses stood there, strapped with saddles, reins attached to a ring in the middle of their noses held by two of the castle guards.
They all glanced at me, the biggest beast beating his front hoof into the ground, smoke floating up from his flaring nostrils.
“Told you that you’re wearing the wrong thing,” Tempest grunted with too much glee in his voice as he paused next to me.
“We’re not riding those.”
“Oh, we definitely are,” he stated, suddenly sweeping me off my feet.
I cried out from shock. “Put me down,” I growled, thrashing against him, furious and terrified all rolled into one. But just as quickly, I was suddenly straddling a huge freaking beast, and I panicked, snatching Tempest’s shirt, fisting it with my life, holding him close to me. “I’m not kidding. Get me off here, now!” I growled.
“Why? You’re a brave girl now, and if you intend to live in Wyld, then nothing should scare you.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“You’ll be safe, you’ll see.” His voice was so casual…meanwhile it felt like my heart was attempting to break out of my chest. He turned to the guards who handed him the reins before looping them up and over the beast’s head, then placed them in front of me.
“I told you, I’m not riding this thing. I’ve never even ridden a horse…or a pony in my life. I’m not ready to start rodeo riding a flame-throwing beast.”
“Derins are gentle animals.” He pried my fingers from his shirt and pushed the leather reins into my hands. “Do you trust me?”
“Fuck no!”
“You break my heart, Blake,” he said dryly.
“Fuck you.”
“I’ll take a rain check on that.” With a sly grin, he stepped back and slapped a palm to the animal’s rump.
The Derins beneath me grunted, unleashing a fiery snort, and suddenly took off.
I screamed, my hands scrambling to hold onto the reins before I tumbled off and got trampled on. Heart thundering, my adrenaline surged through my veins, and I was completely in survival mode, my body going numb.
Muscles tight, I held on with dear life, my legs clamped around the beast, my knuckles white.
I had zero idea how to stop a horse, so I went with instinct and started pulling back the reins. The problem was, every time I did that, the creature snorted flames, sending a plume of unbearable heat over me.
We rushed forward, hooves hitting the ground and crossing bridges. The motion and wind shoved my dress up to my waist, fluttering madly as I flashed everyone.
Some monsters dove out of our path, sneering at me. “I’m sorry, sorry, I can’t control it,” I shouted back.
We took left and right turns, like the animal knew exactly where it was going.