Page 228 of Darling Venom
I sipped the water, studying him above the rim. He ran a finger along the built-in shelf, which was large for someone who didn’t read for pleasure. Full of thick textbook volumes with titles like Rediscovering the Vagina, Past the Labia, and The Art of Making Babies.
This could be the film set for a porno.
“Do you always react this way when people feed you?” I asked before I did something stupid, like volunteer as tribute.
“People don’t feed me.”
“Now they do.”
“Considering this is your first time… Yes, I’ve reacted this way every time.”
I flushed.
I couldn’t be in this office and hear the words “first” and “time” used together without remembering what also happened for the first time a few rooms over. Especially not with his proximity.
“It’s not my first time.” I cleared my throat, husky all of a sudden.
His eyes snapped to mine.
“I filled your fridge,” I explained.
“So, it was you.”
“Terry is broke.”
I realized belatedly that, if he read between the lines, I’d just rubbed in his face the fact that he had no one else in his life but his father and me. He wanted nothing to do with Terry, and anything to do with me came with the sobering aftertaste of guilt.
Quite a rotten pickle.
His fingers paused. “Seems that way.”
Those were the same words he’d used when I came on his fingers.
My breath hitched. The temperature skyrocketed. I stripped off my sweater, leaving me in a black cropped BIGBANG tee, high-waisted jean shorts, and fishnets peeking over the waistband. His eyes met the strip of skin at my stomach.
An earthquake rattled my insides.
Followed by a tsunami.
And an avalanche.
I stretched, flashing more skin for him to see.
His throat bobbed. He perched on the edge of his desk, leg brushing against my thigh. He didn’t move it, and again, I found myself relishing his touch, no matter how brief and casual.
“Thank you.”
It took me a second too long to realize he wasn’t thanking me for the peep show. A ruddy flush spread across my cheeks.
“You’re welcome.”
“Don’t do it again in the future. Save your money.”
“I got a raise after my promotion.”
“The request still stands.”
He straightened, outstretched fingertips grazing the bare skin of my waist with the movement.
