Page 79 of Ruthless Keeper
“Excuse me?” I ask faintly, blinking slowly.
“No, you’re not getting on birth control,” Monster repeats. “Whatever happens will happen.”
Cold settles in my stomach as I replay the recent, passionate bouts of sex we’ve had. Monster came in me so many times I lost count, then repeatedly gathered the cum that dripped out of me, shoved it back into my pussy, and wrenched another orgasm out of me.
Could that have been his attempt to get mepregnant?It seems ludicrous. Preposterous. But I also have to admit it’s possible. This is, after all, Monster. He has very few limits on what he will and won’t do.
“Are you… trying to get me pregnant?” I ask quietly.
Monster doesn’t blink. The assholedoes not blink. He stares at me unflinchingly for several minutes, then finally lifts his shoulders in a casual shrug.
“I have no plans to do anything to prevent it.”
“Monster.” My voice is faint. “Even if Iwantedto be a mother, this is no place to raise a child. Surrounded by killers with hair-trigger tempers. How could you—how can youwantthat? How could you leave the possibility open?”
“I’m doing more than leaving the possibility open,” Monster murmurs. “I’m actively turning it into aprobability.”
My temper flares. “Fuck you, Monster.Fuck—you. This is low, even for you. Even if Ididget pregnant—which is ahugeif—this would not be the place for it. I wouldn’t sit by and idly accept it. You can’t…” I shake my head, shocked even though I shouldn’t be.
Monster is still Monster, despite being slightly calmer now than he was before. I might have a little bit more freedom than I previously did—or at least, the illusion of it—and I might no longer be eyeing the door every moment, because thereissomething between me and Greyson. But that hasn’t changed his controlling nature—not really.
“Alright, let’s address your concerns,” Monster says, shutting the screen on his laptop and leaning forward. He folds his hands on thetable, and it suddenly feels like we’re at a negotiating table rather than the dining table.
“First of all, there are no operatives here who have a hair-trigger temper,” he enunciates slowly. “Every man is thoroughly vetted andextremelymethodical with what he does. They all have their specialties, but generally, we don’t accept impulsive people into the ranks.Next,” he goes on, “you need to consider that I will not be the only man who wishes for a family. Max will, no doubt, and others who get Chosen ones. Not all, but enough to make a significant impact—so infrastructure will be built that’s conducive to raising families.”
“Families that grow up in this place,” I say heatedly. “Babies that aren’t allowed toleave—”
“You’re under the mistaken impression that you’re not allowed into the outside world. That’s false. This will always be our home base, because we’re actuallysafehere, but trips into cities, towns, whatever are not out of the question. The reason I haven’t takenyouout is it’s been less than a week since you’ve started to accept me—you’re not ready.I’mnot going to risk you running away, Flower, because I flat outrefuseto live my life without you.”
Although I hate him in this moment, he does have a point. If I were to ever have a family, I’d be safer here than anywhere else. Out in the world, I’ll constantly be looking over my shoulder, either for enemies of my brother or my father. Even if my fatheriskilled next week, he’ll have enemies. If any of them dig deep enough, they might find out about me, and then come for me, much like Monster did.
Here, however, I’d be surrounded by an army.
That still does not mean I want to have children rightnow.There have been several times when I thought about motherhood and yearned for it, but my yearning has always been tempered by theknowledge that I’ve led too much of a broken life to be a truly successful mother.
“I can’t believe you,” I manage to say. “Every step forward leads to a dozen steps back. You take off my collar, only to try to replace it with a baby in my belly.”
Monster still doesn’t blink. “Don’t act so surprised, Scarlett. You know who I am. You know how much I love you and how deep my obsession runs. You know I’ll do everything in my power to connect us, to keep you.”
“A child isn’t a conduit for us to be closer!” I snap. “It’s a fucking lifelongcommitment, Monster. Before you decide to really knock me up, consider this. Where would they go to school? How would they get socialized? How will we make sure they grow up well-adjusted in modern society?”
Finally, Monster blinks. He frowns a bit, contemplating. Looks like Ifinallygot through to him.
“I’d appreciate it if you at least have the courtesy to think things through before changing my life without having the decency to ask,” I snap, standing up. I make my way to the living room, where Luci’s lazing on the couch. He looks up at me, blinks, and meows. I pick him up in my arms and head to the bedroom, shutting the door behind me. Hopefully, Monster will find the decency to leave me the fuck alone today, because I am innomood to deal with any more of his shit.
Thankfully, Monsterdoesleave me alone for the day. I don’t even head to the greenhouse, because I don’t want to cross paths with him. Somewhere around 1p.m, he opens the bedroom door to summon mefor lunch; when I shout for him to fuck off, he disappears, only for a quiet knock to sound a few minutes later.
When I crack the door, I see a tray of food on the floor. Something shifts and morphs in my chest. He’s giving me space andstilltaking care of me.
What the hell am I supposed to make of this man?
At dinner time, he once again opens the door. This time, when I snap at him to leave, he doesn’t listen.
“We’re eating in the dining hall tonight,” Monster says simply. “Get dressed.”
I’m still wearing my pajamas from this morning; I haven’t had the energy to do anything but stew all day.
“I don’t want to eat in the dining hall,” I say petulantly. I don’t know if I’m more pissed at Monster for trying to impregnate me without giving me a heads up, or for the fact that he didn’t actually think through the logistics of having a child.
