Page 32 of Little Monster
Relaxing back against the heated seat, I giggle. “Yeah, probably not.”
“Where do you live? I’ll take you home.”
I’m not sure if I expected to go home with him—maybe a little?—but what I do know is that I’m disappointed he’ll be dropping me off. Alone.
Thanks, Sebastian.
I give him my address anyway, and thirty minutes later, thanks to terrible evening traffic, we finally pull up in front of my condo. Dex eases the Rover into the narrow one-car driveway, and I glance back at Sebastian before opening the door.
“Feel better,” I say.
“I love you, Nora,” he mumbles, slumped over in the back seat. “Don’t go.”
Shaking my head, I shift to look at Dex and am surprised when he pushes his door open and steps out. I follow suit, slipping out of the car and closing the door gently behind me. This is a quiet neighborhood just outside of the city, and all I hear as I walk to the front door is a dog barking distantly and mumbled laughter from a couple walking the other way down the street.
I pause at the door, and butterflies swarm in my stomach when Dex stops at the bottom of my front steps. I’m almost his height now, and it’s easy to look into his eyes and see the different shades of blue encircling his irises beneath my warm yellow porch light.
He holds out a hand, and I glance down at it in confusion.
“Your car key,” he says.
“Oh!” I reach into my purse and scramble to twist my car key off the key ring. Then I hold it out to him. “Thank y—”
Dex grabs my hand and tugs me in. His mouth comes down on mine, and then his free hand is in my hair, and I’m melting for him all over again. I clutch his baggy tee in my fists, wishing I could pull him closer, drag him into the house and—
“Dex!” comes Sebastian’s whiny voice from the car. His window is rolled down, and he’s hanging his head out like he took too many turns on that spinning teacup ride at the amusement park. “Dex, I need fries. Please. I won’t survive much longer.”
Dex’s hand tightens around the back of my neck, and he presses his forehead against mine. “I’m gonna kill him,” he whispers. He pulls away, leaving me breathless and hungry for him. “I’ll bring the car by tomorrow. Probably in the afternoon, if that works?”
I nod. “Yeah, that’s fine. I’ve got a concert tomorrow, so I’ll need it before the evening.”
“All right.” His tongue darts out to touch his lip ring, and he smiles. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
“Okay. Bye.” I raise a hand to wave, and he laughs as he backs away and then turns and heads for the car. Standing there watching him go, I feel like a high schooler watching my date leave after prom.
“Bye, Nora!” Sebastian yells as the Rover hums to life.
Smiling, I lift my hand to him in a lazy wave, and he waves back. I can’t see Dex through the tinted windows, but I look in his direction anyway. Is he looking back at me? Remembering my body pressed against him? The thought makes me hot all over again.
Turning, I slip my key into the lock and open the front door, then step through after the Rover starts down mystreet. Inside the condo, I drop my purse to the floor and lean back against the door.
Tonight I went out with Loaded God Complex.
I drank a martini and smoked pot and danced dirty.
IkissedDex Reid.
Closing my eyes, I recall the taste of his lips, the way he hardened against my thigh.
And I know I am well and truly screwed.
chapter 12
I’M A BIT OF A nervous wreck by the time someone knocks on my door the next day. Knowing Dex would be dropping by, I spent the whole morning cleaning, even though my condo barely needed it. Now every surface is sparkling, and Margot is sitting on the couch in a patch of sunlight, eyeing me warily as I head toward the door.
I picked my outfit carefully; I didn’t want to come across as tryingtoohard, but I obviously wanted totry, even if just a little. After trying on a few different outfits, I opted for black leggings, a white tee, and a lightweight denim jacket. Back home I’d be wearing a knitted sweater and fuzzy socks right about now, but unlike Colorado, Cali is unusually warm today.
Peeking through the peephole, I confirm it’s Dex. My heart starts to pound, and I take a steadying breath before unlocking and opening the door.
