Page 2 of Sweet Venom

The Viper

"Shhh…" rings through my ears, as if someone said it standing right next to me, making me sit straight up in bed. My room is pitch black, and I sit stiff as a board, pinned in place, straining my ears to determine if the sound was a figment of my imagination or real. Soft murmurs belonging to a deep male voice echo down the hallway.

Reaching for my nightstand, I grab my cell phone to check the time and see if I have any missed calls or texts. While I haven't spoken to Ellis in two months, I'm well aware he knows I'm back. I got in yesterday, and if the fact that I didn't have my own code for the front door didn't tip him off, I'm sure his security system did.

When I left, I did so without explanation. Things felt like they were getting too serious, too fast. We met, and I had practically moved in within a month, staying the night more often than not. After our friend Charlie figured out that we had been seeing each other, we took our situationship public, so to speak, but it never moved beyond that. I think we both expected that it would. That was the natural next step, but I just couldn't. We've shared one text in the two months since I've been gone.

Vivi: I need to go home for a little while.

Ellis: Okay.

That text was sent the day I left, right before I took a plane back to St. Louis.

"It's 2am," I mumble as I rip my covers off, somewhat perturbed by the thoughts currently occupying my mind. I'm not sure what I expected, coming back here unannounced, but I didn't think it would be to find Ellis sneaking another woman into the house while I was asleep in my room. I toss my phone onto the bed and grab my robe before making my way across the room to catch him in the act. But when I open the door, the smell is all wrong.

Ellis smells like the ocean with fresh notes of bergamot and mandarin. The scent assaulting my nose is all spice and belongs to a man who's just as fiery. With my irritation spiked, I stomp down the hall and reach the living room just as Sebastian closes the front door.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I ask without a care for the venom lacing my tone. He continues into the kitchen without so much as glancing in my direction. As I approach the island, I observe his appearance from head to toe. He's changed since I last saw him. His wavy locks that dusted his shoulders have been replaced with a low fade, the remaining hair on top barely long enough to run your fingers through. His usual GQ style has even been replaced with black jeans and a tight-fitting, plain v-neck. It's the most casual I've ever seen him.

Reaching the island, I say, "Are you going to continue acting like I don't exist, or do you plan on answering me?"

He answers with his back to me, "I'm well aware you asked me a question. I was hoping you'd disappear."

"Still the same prick, I see."

With his water bottle in hand, he slams the door to the refrigerator and heads down the hall, still without so much as a glare or eye-roll in my direction. Sebastian and I have never really gotten along, but he’s never missed an opportunity to throw a smug look or barbed comment my way, so his reluctance to do so now is bemusing. "Wait, where are you going?" I question as I follow after him.

"To my room?"

"Your room? What do you mean by ‘your room?’ You do not live here."

He continues down the hall until he reaches Ellis's door, resting his hand on the knob before adding, "Neither do you."

My head is suddenly filled with questions. What the hell is going on? Did Ellis move out and not tell me? Why wouldn't he tell me that Sebastian is living here? Before I can drill him further, Sebastian opens the door and slams it shut. Leaving me alone in the hallway with nothing but my thoughts and the dread that I might have irrevocably fucked up something I didn't know I wanted.

* * *

Vivi: I'm back.

I don't know where to start or what to say. I know I didn't handle things well, but I'm not good with sentimental, and I try to avoid feelings. Sure, I can be a great friend. Hell, the friends I do have are more my family than my own. But when it comes to my own heart, I'm a complete mess, especially where Ellis Lykos is concerned.

Ellis: I can see that.

I place my phone down on the island and stare at it, willing more bubbles to appear as I drink my morning coffee. Once my cup is almost empty, I realize that's all I'm going to get. I suppose I don't deserve much more. But at least it wasn't a "please leave" or "get out of my house." He may need more time to deal with my choice.

I'm well aware that waltzing back into someone's life after abruptly leaving and going radio silent for two months is not normal behavior. I rolled in without warning and showed up back at his place as if we hadn't spent any time apart. But I never moved any of my things out, and that was intentional. I was never staying with Ellis out of need. The wealth I had once rivaled his own. That's the woman he believed he was dating—a wealthy heiress—but she is gone, and so is the girl she used to be. As far as he knows, nothing has changed.

I'm just placing my coffee cup in the sink when my phone pings with a text. Out of habit, I take a deep breath and brace myself for the words I deserve. Ellis must have finally figured out what to say, but when I reach my phone, my fears are put back on pause, and I'm able to breathe a sigh of relief. It's just Charlie.

Charlie: Are we still on for lunch today? I can't wait to see the space you bought.

Vivi: Yes. Do I need to text you the address again, or has Mason already sent a security detail to the place to scope it out?

I can't help the sarcasm that flows out of me without thought. A few months ago, I would have paid it no mind. It's just me. But going home the way I did gave me time to reflect, and I see now that my sarcasm is a coping mechanism. It's my shield. While Mason might be over the top when it comes to Charlie's safety, it's because she's his whole world. He loves her unconditionally, and ultimately, that's something I want—or at least I think I do. It's why I'm back, anyway. I believe Ellis could be my Mason—that is, if he still wants to be.

Charlie: Haha, very funny. You know I'm a boss bitch these days. I'll see you at noon.

Her text makes me smile. She's not wrong. It's something I admire about Charlie. She has the balls to go after what she wants, no matter the obstacle. She and Mason are the epitome of what should never have been, but they're now living their best lives. Somehow, they merged their sordid pasts and put their demons to rest. Relationships like theirs give me faith in the entire concept of love and what it means. The role models I was gifted with were wretched and scorned.

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