Page 4 of Bound to a Monster

“I’m fine, just embarrassed. Is that guy?—?”

He shakes his head, and for a moment, his charming smile slips away, replaced by something else.

A strange expression. It’s serious, almost emotionless.

Black as night.

A thrill runs into my core.

“I took care of him. He won’t be coming after you.”

I stand up straight, not sure what to make of that. “He was following me?”

“At first, but I had a conversation with him.” The man comes nearer and leans against the fence beside me. “He understands how things are.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that he understands bothering you will be the biggest mistake of his life.” His charming smile returns, banishing the darkness, but the threat of it lingers.

It’s disconcerting. My heart’s still pounding, and I don’t think it’s from the adrenaline anymore.

“Who are you?”

“My name’s Stepan, but you can call me Step.”

“Well, uh, thanks, Step.” I clear my throat and catch myself tugging at my hair. I force myself to stop. “I appreciate your help even though I don’t really know what you did.”

“Just a casual threat of violence is all.” He tilts his head, studying me. “That was one hell of a move in there, by the way.”

I flush with a mixture of pride and embarrassment. “I don’t even know why I reacted like that.”

“The prick deserved it. I was about to get involved when you—” He gestures in the air like he’s waving a sword around. “Where’d you learn that?”

“I did fencing in school.”

“Really? I guess that makes sense. You look like you were pretty good.”

“I was okay.” I glance down at my phone, thinking I really should order that car. But something makes me stop. “Actually, I was really good.” I don’t know why I say that. My cheeks flush with embarrassment. I’m not the kind of girl that brags about herself to strangers, but god, for one night, maybe I can be someone else.

He laughs, and it’s extremely endearing. Some people have the kind of laugh that makes you want to hear more, and that’s definitely Step. It’s low and absolutely addicting.

“I like the confidence.”

“You saw me in there. I just stabbed a dude in the throat with a lipstick tube.”

“Good point. How good were you, exactly?”

“Won the state tournament two years in a row. I could’ve fenced at any college I wanted, except?—”

Except my father wouldn’t let me go to college.

“I’m extremely impressed,” he says, clearly deciding not to push me to finish that sentence, which makes me like him even more. “Show me that move again.”

“What, right here? You want me to stab you in the neck?”

“I doubt you could. That idiot practically ran himself through for you.”

I snort and push him with my shoulder. He’s easily twice my size and weight, and he feels like a solid wall. I catch a hint of his smell—pine and musk. It’s surprisingly pleasant.

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