Page 17 of Faith Among Monsters

This was supposed to be for show. But as her body presses into mine, as I feel the heat of her through her clothes, something dangerous takes root. I should push her away. End this before I forget that it’s just a game.

But I don’t.

Not yet.

Not until I have no other fucking choice.

The guard chuckles behind us, his boots scuffing the pavement as he moves on.

I force myself to loosen my grip, to pull back just enough to break the moment. My hand falls from her hair, but the tension in my chest doesn’t ease.

“Dax…” she whispers, her voice soft but uncertain.

I exhale, slow and steady, and brush my thumb over her hip before letting go completely.

“Not here,” I say, my voice low.

She doesn’t move right away, her body still pressed against mine. And when she finally does pull back, it feels like a part of me goes with her.

Chapter Eight

Faith

Dax dumps the tray at the edge of the yard and takes my hand, his grip firm and unrelenting as he pulls me across the field.

My mind races faster than my feet.What the hell just happened? And why did it disappoint me when it stopped?

The warmth of his hand burns through my skin, his fingers curling around mine like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go.

I open my mouth to say something, but the words catch in my throat. Never, not in all my years working with inmates, have I felt drawn to any of them. Not like this. Not enough to eventhinkabout acting on it.

And yet, here I am.

“Dax,” I start, my voice soft, unsteady. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…”

“Yes, you should have,” he says simply, cutting me off.

His tone is calm, matter-of-fact, but there’s a weight to it that makes my pulse stutter.

He’s trying to protect me. I know that. He’s only acting like this because he thinks I need saving, and I’menjoying it. That’s taking advantage of him, isn’t it?

“I took it too far,” I say, my voice almost a whisper.

“Not yet, you haven’t.” His words are low and rough, and they spark something I have no business feeling.

Is this more than wanting to keep me from getting hurt?

When he glances back at me, his dark eyes locking on mine, I feel like I have my answer. Or maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see.

Want.

The word echoes in my mind like a confession I’m not ready to say out loud.Want? Dax.

We near the staff wing, and I force myself to look away, trying to steady my breathing. But then Quince steps into view.

His gaze sweeps over us, his lips curling into a smirk that makes my stomach churn.

Dax moves instantly, stepping between us in one fluid motion, his hand releasing mine.