Though I don’t want it to, Dryas’s question lingers in my mind. What do I see for future?

I have a future if I want it. And according to Dryas, I have some say in how that future plays out. It’s almost enough to make my head spin.

All through the rest of that day and the next, I keep turning that fact and that question over and over again in my mind.

Could Dryas be right? Do I unknowingly have some kind of sway over Monster? Has he really developed a soft spot for me?

Or is Dryas lying, using his words to make me think one thing when in fact it is another entirely? I’m obviously more inclined to think he’s being untruthful.

But like he said, why would he lie? Of course, there is an ocean of things I can’t see about what motivates Dryas. I lie on the couch, a copy of The Odyssey open before me, trying to figure that one out.

It’s impossible, of course. I’ve only just started to just get to the heart of Monster; his brothers are both mysteries to me.

My mind comes back to that question of the future though. Like a broken record, that’s the only song my brain will play.

So, I go along with it. With Dryas’s insistence that Monster is infatuated with me. Mostly as an exercise, more than anything.

I try to imagine the future. Monster as the doting husband, hurrying to return home to me, the darling housewife. What would we do? Would we stay here, in the Audubon Park house?

Would our relationship stay just as it is, or would it grow into something more?

God, would we eventually be one of those lovey-dovey couples with three perfect kids and a white picket fence? As much as I don’t believe it, I had something not too far from that in mind before I was kidnapped.

I imagine, just for a moment, that we would be those people. Yet we would still somehow sneak off for romantic weekends in Paris and sun-filled retreats in Crete.

There would always be room for romance with us, just as there was no question that he was the more dominant one of us.

I sigh. I know it’s just a daydream, but it is an awfully nice one. I try to go back to reading about Odysseus and the Sirens, but I’m not really paying attention.

By the time Monster comes back from his trip, I’m completely wound up and twisted in knots that I can’t untangle. He looks dapper as always in his neatly pressed dark button-up and black slacks. Then he leans over and whispers, “Fuck, I missed you…”

I shiver and invite him to come closer. His lips find a pulse point at my neck, his big body coming down on top of mine, a heavyweight. My breath stops when he grinds his cock against my pubic bone.

Ohh. Yes, I had almost forgotten how delicious every single touch could be. Addictive, almost.

Monster’s lips touch my collarbone, trailing down to my breast. I gasp and arch into his kisses, making him chuckle.

“You missed me,” he says, pulling back. His expression is amused, but his grey eyes are hungry.

“Maybe,” I tease.

He kisses me, making me lose my breath as his tongue slides against mine. Then he pulls away again, standing up fully.

“Behave,” he orders. “I just walked in. Let me go wash up first.” He pauses, then a slow smile spreads across his face. “I want you, naked and in my bed before I’m out of the shower. I hope you don’t have anything planned because I’m going to fuck you so hard that you won’t be able to walk straight tomorrow.”

My cheeks turn scarlet as my eyes widen. With that, he turns and bounds up the stairs. I can hear him as he goes, taking the stairs two at a time.

It feels more naughty than usual, being left to prepare myself for him. For the specific purpose of readying myself for his needs. I climb the stairs slowly, heading into his bedroom and stripping down to nothing.

I lie on his bed, arranging and rearranging myself, trying to figure out which way to present myself to him. But I can’t keep my thoughts from earlier from popping into my head…

What will the future look like?

When Monster steps out of his bathroom, rubbing himself with a towel, he should be the only thing I can concentrate on. He ambles over to me, his eyes still ravenous, and he drops the towel on the floor.

I look at him, six and a half feet of perfect olive skin and well-toned muscle. He’s all arms and abs, pecs and muscular thighs. And his face, with those angular cheekbones, icy grey eyes, and his dark eyebrows.

Not to mention, he has the nicest cock. I don’t have much to compare it to, but when he fills me up with his cock, I almost implode every single time.

All in all, the perfect package. He comes over to the bed, grabbing me by the ankle and pulling me to the edge of the bed. But that doesn’t shut me up. As he nuzzles my neck, the question bubbles up to my lips.

“What do you see for us, for the future?” I ask.

He freezes. “What did you just ask me?”

I pull my lip between my teeth, my brow dropping. “I just… I want to know where we’re going. Like, us.”

I gesture to our two bodies for emphasis. He scowls.

“Just like that, you think you have a future?” he husks out.

Monster’s big hand slides around the front of my throat, squeezing. My hands come up to pull his hand away, but he growls so loudly I can feel it where our bodies touch. The sound vibrates over my naked skin, sending out goosebumps.

“Who put such stupid ideas in your head, hmm?” He leans close, inhaling the sudden scent of my fear. Knotting his fingers in my hair, he seems almost amused. “You’re going the regret asking me that, princess.”

Uh oh.

His fingers tighten in my hair, making me wince. He smashes his mouth to mine, not so much kisses me as showing his dominance. He pulls on my hair again, making me gasp, and then uses that moment to invade my mouth. He licks and rolls his tongue around the entirety of my mouth, biting my lower lip until I can taste the faint tang of my own blood.

When he pulls his mouth away, I gasp for breath. He doesn’t let up on his grip on my hair. Instead, he sits down on the bed, forcing my head down to his lap. I can barely open my mouth before he’s shoving his cock in it, pushing my head down onto his long, thick dick.

Monster moans a little. He immediately goes deep, so deep that I gag.

“Take it,” he snarls when I try to resist. “You little slut, you love it. Fuck, I love giving you exactly what you need.”

The whole time, he just bobs my head up and down on his massive cock. He forces me to take him all the way to the hilt a few times. My eyes start to water, and I gag again.

He groans and leans back a little, watching my mouth traveling up and down his cock intently. There is so much saliva that it starts to drip down to the base of his dick.

For some reason, that is the thing that flips a switch for me, turning me on. But before I can really do anything about it, he stops me.

“Enough,” he grates, pulling me off of his cock. My mouth makes a satisfying pop sound as he pushes me off.

I can’t go far though, because he moves to flip me over onto my knees. He leans down and spreads my legs, pushing my head down. As he strokes my bare inner thighs, I can feel myself grow wet.

Fuck, when Monster teases me just like this, I can’t help it. I can feel his clever fingers skating over my pussy. I shiver.

He surprises me by pushing his face against my pussy forcefully. He presses his hand on my lower back and puts his mouth to my pussy, his tongue finding my clit without fail.

He circles my swollen clit a few times, then traces his tongue to my aching entrance. He delves inside. I let out a moan, pushing back against his face.

Then he moves again, pushing me down on the bed. I feel him settle against the backs of my legs, his big cock nudges my entrance. I moan.

“Yes,” I whisper, closing my eyes.

He thrusts into my pussy without a second’s hesitation, filling me to the hilt, stretching my pussy out in the best way possible. We both make a sound as he drives his cock all the way home.

Monster grips my hips, slamming himself into me, heedless of me. His touch is brutal, the swing of his hips frenzied. I can just barely hang on, riding the waves of pleasure building inside me.

When I come, it’s sudden and unexpected and bright, a burst of magnificent color and melodious sound. Monster is right behind me, groaning his release.

I lie still, sweat cooling on my body, struggling to pull air into my lungs. Monster flops beside me on his back, his face turned away. He’s not asleep though, his eyes still open and fixed on the wall. I wonder if he is still angry about my question, or if it’s something else that is bothering him.

Hesitantly, I put my arm across his chest. My head finds a natural resting spot on his shoulder. He accommodates me, moving his arm so that it is loosely around my body.

But still, he looks away.

“Hey,” I say softly. He clears his throat and turns his head to me, his steely gaze probing.

“Hmm?” is all he says.

“I’m sorry. About before, I mean. When Dryas took me riding, he asked me what I had planned for the future. And I just thought… I thought that I don’t know.” I bite my lip.

His brows rise slightly. “Dryas put that into your head?”

I pause, then nod. “Yes. But he’s not wrong. I mean, if I’m not going to die, then the future is sort of inevitable for me. For both of us.”

Monster sighs a little. “Just go to sleep, Fiore.”

Dejected, I start to sit up, intending to go to my room. But Monster holds me tighter.

“Stay where you are,” he says faintly. He turns his head again, so I can’t see his expression. Then, “Good night.”

I’m floored, although I can’t let out the surprised whoop of joy that is pressing at my throat. Sinking back down, I listen to the sound of Monster’s breathing, smooth and deep and even. Listening to that, it’s hard to think about the murky future or Monster’s scheming brother.

Before I know it, I am lulled into sleep.