Page 258 of Darling Venom
The sound of rain hitting surfaces filled the silence. It pounded on the pavement. The cars. Us. So much rain, I could barely see her.
Probably for the best.
As it was, I could make out the traces of anticipation on her face. I had no intention of telling her I love her.
Not today.
Not ever.
And still, I showed up.
It was a special kind of cruel to string her along like this. I knew it, but I couldn’t help myself.
You’re no better than Terry.
Charlie sighed and approached me until we stood toe to toe.
Her fingertips brushed my cheek, pulling back upon contact. “You’re freezing.”
“I can’t feel my hands.”
She reached into my pockets, pulled out my palms, and brought them to her lips, blowing hot air onto the frozen flesh. We were both soaking wet now, racing toward a cold.
The doctor in me knew this was a horrible idea, and the (dwindling) conscience in me agreed, but I couldn’t relay that to my feet.
They stood still.
Was I betraying them, or were they betraying me?
“Let’s go inside.” She dropped one of my hands, using the other to yank me toward the door to her complex.
Finally—fucking finally—my feet moved.
In the wrong direction.
One step.
And another.
I followed her up the stairs, the only sound the squishy thuds of our wet shoes. She brought a finger to her lips. I stopped in the hall between her door and her neighbor’s. The one she’d mentioned wanted her sister.
“They’re probably already in Jonah’s bedroom.” Charlie waggled her brows, unable to stop the smile on her face as she thrust her key into the lock and twisted.
I held the door open for her. We both piled inside, kicking our heavy shoes off. She held my hand, tugging me along like a leashed dog. And I followed her. My proverbial tail wagged so hard, I felt particularly pathetic in this moment.
She brought me into the bathroom. We tumbled into the shower with our clothes still on. My fingers fumbled with the spigot until ice-cold spikes pelted us. I spun her, covering her body from the arctic water until the torrent turned hot.
I don’t know who moved first.
Our lips collided, teeth clashing.
I gripped her hair, tilting her head up to meet mine.
She pawed at my body. My chest. My clothes.
I let her tear everything off me, picked her up, and pressed her against the tiled wall, slowing our kisses. Savoring the taste of her.
This time, when I sank inside Charlie, it was tender.
