Page 172 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
“Why are we crying?”
I peek out from the haven of Azrael’s chest to find Levi staring down at us, wearing a look of genuine concern on his face. Cautious relief trickles in. I open my mouth to reply, but Azrael beats me to it.
“We were just discussing my lifelong foray with unrequited love, longing for death, entropy, and the Anti-Christ... that old handbag.”
Levi’s brow tenses as he nods as though heownsthat handbag, grunts, and sits down on the bed beside me before laying down.
“Fucking hate that handbag.”
Azrael huffs a short laugh. Levi continues.
“Entropy is pretty cool to think about, though. The universe exploding into existence—something being birthed out ofnothing—and life unfolding, exponentially expanding, until it all slowly begins to consume itself... All the stars dying out, and all of matter being sucked into black holes—and going God knows where—until all that’s left is a void. Kind of breathtaking to say the least.”
Azrael straightens, twisting to look at Levi as a grin spreads across his face.
“That’s what I’m saying!”
Joy radiates through me as I get to witness this unlikely friendship blossom before my very eyes.
Levi’s expression vaguely resembles a grin, eyes narrowing. “Doyou know what lies on the other side of a black hole?”
Azrael’s grin widens. “Can you keep a secret?”
The smile hinting at Levi’s lips twitches before finally bursting into a full-blown grin. It’s a miracle I don’t dissolve into a puddle of goo at the sight.
And then I have the most selfish thought of all.
Do I dare hope to keep them both?
LEVI
My time in the military made me a hypervigilant sleeper, so I’d considered it a small miracle I slept so well beside Violette a couple of nights ago. But somehow sleeping the whole night through while sharing one bed withtwoother people is inconceivable.
Yet here I am.
Being awakened solely by my raging hard-on, and not the two other people snoring softly beside me. Violette’s horns and wings are glamoured away, likely out of fear of causing one or both of us grave injury in her sleep, creating a little more room.
Her brow is tense, lips tilted on a tiny frown. My eyes slide to Azrael, whose neck finally looks halfway healed and is curled against her back, wearing an identical expression.
It’s almost adorable, but leaves me feeling... confused. While my possessiveness remains alive and well, somehow, the jealousy that once consumed me has dissipated. Perhaps it’s because this fucker severed our bond. Or maybe it’s because, despite my best efforts, I’ve grown to appreciate Azrael to some degree. I can’t fucking help but empathize with him, and admire the way he maintains a certain lightheartedness. How he finds the humor, no matter how heartbroken. Still manages to be kindeven when the other person doesn’t deserve it. He reminds me of Beau in that way, which only endears me to him more.
Although, also like Beau, I have no doubt that when pushed, Azrael has the potential for violence and cruelty. More than most, I imagine, if the darkness lingering behind the ever-present sadness in his eyes is anything to go by.
Or the ominous shadow of his watching us from the corner of the room.
Another trait I appreciate.
I roll onto my back, inwardly groaning.
Fuck, this is weird.
A glance down at my dick tells mehedoesn’t think this is too weird.
I slide my hand beneath the covers to readjust myself just as Violette scoots closer and drapes an arm over my abdomen. Her fingers rest directly against the head of my dick, where I’ve tucked it into the waistband of my boxer-briefs.
My arm is now trapped between the side of my thigh and both of hers.
As if needing to have every inch of his body touching hers, Azrael tightens his arm around her, and, guessing from the movement beneath the sheets, nudges his hips forward. I think I even feel his toe touch my ankle. I can’t really be sure.
