Page 36 of The Bitterness of Venom

“Would you like that, Freckles? Being bent over as everyone watches you take my cock.” I run my finger down her spine. “You’d look so pretty with my cum all over you, and everyone would be so envious of you,” I whisper.

I’m so transfixed by her scent, the softness of her skin, I don’t notice her leg moving up until it connects with my balls. I groan, falling away from her and to the ground.

“Don’t touch me until you lose the girlfriend.” She peers down her nose at me, flipping her hair and walking away.

Everything is off today.Not just because of my inner, pitiful monologue or the fact that my balls are bruised with army boot prints, but because Jasper has scored twice against me and that never fucking happens.

Coach blows the whistle and I pull my mask off, pissed at myself. “Rickman, my office after you get cleaned up.”

“Fuck,” I mumble under my breath as I skate off the rink. I toss my gear to the floor, stripping from my practice clothes and stalking to the shower. A part of me doesn’t give a fuck about what my coach says, the other part, the part of me that still somewhat loves the sport, knows I need to go and meet him.

After I finish my shower, I throw sweats and a hoodie on, stalking my way to Coach Boomer’s office. He looks up, face a mask of wrath as he points to the chair in front of his desk. “Sit.” I do.

“What the hell has gotten into you? Letting Jasper score not once, but twice? Late to practice? What the hell, Rickman?”

“Just have some things going on, Coach.” Not a total lie—as inthings, I mean one little shit who occupies all my time.

“Whatever it is, get rid of it.” His voice booms in the small space, making me wince.

“It’s not that simple.” I grunt, readjusting in the uncomfortable chair.

“Is it a girl?” He sighs and shakes his head. “It’s always a girl. Just make her happy. That’s the secret. Keep them happy.”

“She’s…” I tilt my head to the side. “Feral.”

“Jesus Christ.” Coach Boomer rubs the bridge of his nose. “Hockey players and the… uh, feral ones, as you put it.” He shakes his head again. “You know what? I don’t give a fuck. Get your shit together or I’ll bench you, got me?”

I narrow my eyes at him, lips flat. “Yeah, I got you. May I go?”

He waves me off, looking back at his computer. I stalk out of the office, running into Jasper. He smiles and I want to punch it off his smug face. “Everything okay?” he asks.

“Fuck straight off.” I growl, pushing him aside.

I need to rid this energy from my body.

And I have just the person for it.

TWENTY-SIX

I really likedDestiny up until this point. She’s brought me to a grade-B horror house in the outside of town. Scratch that, half-burned-down castle. Remnants of wooden windows barely hold on as they hang from broken hinges, the wood now black and brittle from the fire. The place is supposedly haunted, but I don’t feel a tightness in my chest, so I don’t believe any supernatural entities dwell here.

I take a sip of the spiked punch in a red plastic cup, grimacing. I allowed Destiny to bring mehere, but then she got swept away by her book-husband-worthy boyfriend. He was dressed as a hunter, and she came as a doe.

Cute.

Gag.

I came as Medusa because… well, I too wish I could turn men to stone with one look. I have a head piece consisting of gold snakes to match my tight gold spandex romper. This thing will be a bitch to pee in, but that’s a future me problem.

I abandon the main party, walking out to the back where a big bonfire lights up the night. My eyes narrow on the morons burning their hands as a bet. Who can hold it over the fire the longest. Because third-degree burns sound like such a fun time.

My eyes catch on a figure sitting on the opposite side of the fire as me. They wear what resembles a hockey mask with cracks up the middle, almost like it’s broken, but I can tell it’s not. The person attached to the mask tilts their head at me and a shiver runs down my spine. Unintentionally, I step back. My drink sloshing over my hand. Cursing, I look down to check the damage. Just a little on my shoes, no biggie. Looking back up, I spin, searching for the creepy mask, but it’s nowhere to be found.

“Hey.”

I jump as Destiny places a hand on my shoulder.

“Sorry.” I place my palm to my chest, feeling my erratic heartbeat. “You scared me.”

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