Page 23 of Sweet Venom

He reaches me in two steps and snatches the bottle from the counter before me. "Good; maybe with your bee stings covered up, I'll be able to stomach my dinner." Then, bringing the bottle to his lips, he takes a four-shot pull easily.

I swipe it right back and say, "Well, in that case, I suppose I have no reason to change."

Before he can utter another snide remark, Mauricio enters from the butler's pantry. "The main course has just been served." Sebastian and I hold each other's eye, both refusing to be the first to back down, when Ellis's phone rings.

He retrieves his phone from his pocket, and the name on the screen must be important because he says, "Go eat. I have to take this." Then, as he starts toward the door that leads to the backyard, he throws over his shoulder, "And Sebastian, be nice."

I'm still overly salty about his lackadaisical attitude toward Sebastian's obvious contempt and belittlement. When he asked if I liked what Sebastian did to me, I didn't think he'd take it literally. I mean, I suppose I meant it that way, but I assumed he would take it as a queue to up the kinky in the sex department. Not to continue to allow his brother to berate and mock me at every turn.

Once Ellis has cleared the door and Sebastian and I are still standing toe to toe, I say, "Don't fucking kid yourself. We both know you more than like what you see. My wetness may have gotten on your pants last night, but I didn't miss an inch of how much you liked it." His hard length felt divine pressed up against me. I don't give him a chance to respond before I take off toward the dining room, determined to put space between us.

Pulling out my chair, I throw myself down in a huff of frustration and get a reminder of why I got up at all. Fuck! The plug. Sebastian pushes through the door as I'm about to stand to remedy the situation. "Sit the fuck down, vipera." He scolds as he swiftly makes his way to my chair. Sebastian rests his hands on either side of the backrest before leaning into my ear, letting the sweet notes of vanilla whiskey on his breath skate over my sensitive flesh, only serving as a reminder of where his hand squeezed my throat last night. Then with his lips a hairsbreadth away from my ear, he adds, "Don't test me. I may love my brother, but I hate you more."

My breathing is shallow as I try not to let his close proximity affect me. I hate that my body responds to him at all. The goosebumps across my chest are clearly visible, my nipples are fully erect, and given the shortness of my dress, it’s clear that I’m clenching my thighs. My arousal doesn't go unnoticed, because rather than deliver his venom and walk away, he decides to strike. With my focus on his mouth near my left ear, I don't even notice his right hand snake around to my neck until it's already wrapped around my throat. "Tread lightly," he starts giving my throat a more than tight squeeze before adding, "I don't lose."

Releasing me, he grabs my whiskey bottle and returns to his seat. I have no desire to eat; I've lost my appetite. I have not felt settled since we arrived, and not just because Sebastian is here. Sure, I'm attracted to him, and I think things I shouldn't, but what drives me crazy is I don't understand his hate, and that's one thing that pulls at my heartstrings more than anything. I know I don't need his validation, but I can't help but seek it. So I ask, "Why do you hate me so much? We both know it's deeper than the bullshit you gave me at the club."

Sebastian might truly believe I'm a slut, fucking whatever comes my way, but it's his mark around my neck, one he knows I had to answer for. Yet I'm still here. Ellis is still at my side. I have no doubt that they discussed what went down this past week. I guarantee Sebastian more than embellished everything that happened, and Ellis hasn't turned me away. So what is this?

His eyes hold mine as if he's digging deep internally, battling himself to give me an answer, but before I can give it another second of thought, he says, "I don't need to justify my hate when it's all that you deserve."

That's it. I'm done letting him disrespect and taunt me. It's clear he's trying to get a reaction out of me. He wants me to argue so he can have the last word and find more insults to throw my way. Well, fuck that. Standing, I place my napkin on the table, snatch the remaining bottle of wine, and exit the room. I'm done giving him the power to fuck with my head.

I storm out the back door to blow off steam, letting out a growl of frustration as I stomp my heel. The energy it took to trudge out here and release my anger has my head spinning. I know I put down every bit of one bottle of wine before taking any whiskey shots. The bottle in my hand would be better off forgotten, but fuck that. I'm so mad I could spit. I pull out the cork and take a long pull as I slip off my heels and kick them into the grass. I look every bit the part of the petulant child, but I couldn’t care less at this point. I've had it with both Lykos men.

No sooner do I lift my head to walk toward the pool deck, my eyes collide with Ellis's. Damn it. He just saw my temper tantrum. I forgot he came out here to use the phone. It appears he's done with his call because he's sitting on the edge of a lounger with a smirk that only further provokes me.

"You," I snarl as I point my finger and stomp over to where he is sitting. "You left me in there with him. Your call is clearly over. Are you intentionally forcing us together? First, the condo, and now this. I get that he's your brother, and you want us to get along, but you're not even attempting to interject."

I'm well aware I played a role in creating these problems, but Ellis is doing nothing, if not perpetuating them with his hands-off attitude, allowing Sebastian to make all the lude comments he wants. It's more than obvious he's provoking me. He smirks; he literally has the nerve to smirk. "Ahh," I growl out before turning to walk off. That's it. I'm out of here. I need some space to clear my head.

Before I make it three paces, Ellis's arms are wrapped around my waist, and he pulls me back onto the lounger. "Don't leave. I don't want you to."

I squirm to try and get out of his hold, but it's useless. I'm too drunk, and my desire to be wrapped up in his arms is greater, but I still want answers, so I say, "You have to give me something."

He lays down, pulling me with him so that I'm outstretched beside him. "I'll tell you anything you want to know, but you're going to have to ask, because all I've been able to think about all night is taking this dress off." His hand grips my bare cheek easily, seeing as my ass is now on display for anyone to see should they walk by.

"Ellis," I passively warn, suddenly less brazen than five minutes ago as I try to pull my dress down.

"Don't do that. You're beautiful." He nuzzles into my neck, pulling me close and kissing his way to my ear before adding, "It's just me and you out here."

"Someone could see." I scold, trying hard to maintain a level head but failing miserably as he nibbles my ear.

"Since when has an audience been a problem?"

Damn it. He shatters my resolve, and his mouth finds mine. When his warm tongue brushes over mine teasingly, I'm a goner. God, this man drives me crazy. I've never craved someone more than I do him, but that insatiable hunger is why we're in this mess now. I stroke his tongue long and slow one more time before pushing him back and throwing my leg over his so that I'm straddling him. His eyes widen in surprise, and the smirk that crosses his face proves he thinks this move is something it's not.

Bringing my hands to my hips, I say, "I told you about my past. I gave you parts of me I haven't shared with anyone." I pause, pinching the bridge of my nose to find focus. This is a conversation I should be having sober, but I need to get it out. I don't want to run anymore. I want to try with Ellis. It's why I came back. Running is easy, but staying has always been hard. With my eyes closed, I finish with, "And all I know about you are pieces I've learned from Charlie."

"Baby." He sits up and pulls me tight. "Open your eyes. Look at me."

I shake my head no. I don't want to. I feel too vulnerable. His hands find mine, and his thumbs gently rub over the tops before skimming their way to my jaw and neck. "Vivian, I am not trying to keep anything from you. I was only trying to hear you. I know none of what you told me was easy, and I didn't want to take away from your pain by sharing my own."

I let his words wash over me as I try to focus. All of this is new for us. Our physical attraction is what drew us to one another. We burned hot and fast. The part we are trying to add now is the emotions. Opening my eyes, I ask, "Will you tell me now?"

Leaning his forehead to mine, he pecks my lips gently before saying, "I'm not hiding those things from you, Vivian. But, like you, I don't display those parts of me for the world to see. My parents weren't just addicts. They were abusive both physically and mentally. I lived a childhood no one should endure, but it doesn't make my pain any different than yours. Hurt is hurt."

My mouth finds his once more, and I take his lips sweetly, savoring what feels like a breakthrough moment for us. In therapy, I'm reminded that opening myself up and being vulnerable isn't a sign of weakness. It takes courage and strength to put yourself out there when you have no control over the end result. I've closed that part of myself off for so long, not allowing myself to feel out of fear, and what I've found tonight is that my vulnerability makes me human. It makes me feel alive.

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