Page 164 of Tempting Venom
His eyes hood, and his lips part, glistening with saliva and the steam surrounding us.
“No?” I ask, licking my lips, and his gaze zeroes in on it, his nostrils flaring.
“No. I don’t want you to taste good orfeelgood.” He lets out a shaky breath against my lips. “It messes with my head.”
“Good. You’re doing the same to me.”
“No, I’m not. You already like men, are attracted to men,but this…” His chin trembles, and his eyes fill with horror so deep, it slashes at my chest. “This isnotme. Irefuseto be drawn to a man.”
“But you are, Preston. Your cock is already performing a standing ovation for me beneath this towel after a mere kiss. You dowantme, so much so, you’re struggling to fight it. If you didn’t want me, or you had the slightest distaste toward me, someone like you who’s so prideful and spiteful would never allow me to touch you likethis.” I dig my fingers into his jaw. “Your internalized homophobia is starting to piss me off and annoy me to no end. I already accepted keeping this a secret for your sake, but I’m not going to deal with your bouts of denial every time we kiss and you enjoy it, got it?”
I think I imagine a flash of pain in his irises, but it quickly disappears. His lips purse, the dimples creasing his cheeks as he shoves me away, forcing me to let go of him.
“Don’t speak to me in that tone.”
I cock my head to the side. “What tone?”
“As if you’re patronizing me.”
“I’m not. I’m merely setting my boundaries like you did earlier.” I cross my arms, standing taller. “If you demand that I shove myself back in the closet for you, live on the fringes and in the shadows as if I’m doing something wrong, then I have every fucking right to demand you deal with your denial. I’m not asking you to label yourself or come out when you’re uncomfortable with that, but I won’t put up with your attitude just because I want to fuck you, Preston.”
He remains still for a while, chewing at the corner of his lip, then he releases it and lets out a puff of air. “We can’t be public, because Vencor would kill me.”
“Dad told me about all that nonsense.”
“Then you know gay members are punished by death. It’s not good for either of us if you plan to ever join.”
“Who says I do?”
“Jude said your dad gave you until the end of the year to go to his side, isn’t that right?”
I narrow my eyes. Why does Jude know that? But then again, it doesn’t really matter.
“My father can say whatever he wants. Doesn’t mean I’ll follow his orders.”
He frowns, his brows dipping, making another droplet of water slide down his cheek. “You’ll only get hurt.”
I suppress a smile. “Sounds like you’re worried about me.”
He scoffs and throws a hand in the air. “Bitch,please. I just don’t want to be assaulted with the view of your blood.”
“If you say so.”
“Ido. Anyway, I definitely don’t want to be killed by my dad.” He shrugs. “That’s why we can’t be in public.”
“Fine, but that doesn’t explain the denial when it’s only the two of us.”
He grows visibly uncomfortable, palming his nape, biting the corner of his lip. “I’m new to this and not used to it.”
“Are you saying it’ll get better with time?”
“I guess.” He drops his hand, then makes a beeline to the door before I can stop him.
I run a hand over my face as I let out a sigh.
Preston Armstrong is the toughest fucking thing I’ve ever dealt with.
I just keep allowing him leeway despite myself.
