Page 132 of Daddy Sees Snakes

I shiver at the memory, desire pooling low in my belly.

It wasn't just sex, as mind-blowing as that had been.

There’s a connection between us, raw and electric.

Two damaged souls finding solace in each other, if only for another night.

But was it just one night?

The question hovers in the air, unspoken but impossible to ignore.

What happens when Viper wakes up?

When we have to face the harsh light of day and all the complications that come with it?

I don't have answers.

All I know is that I'm not ready for this to be over.

Not when I've only just begun to scratch the surface of who Vincent Beckett really is.

Carefully, I extricate myself from his embrace, holding my breath as he stirs slightly.

He mumbles something unintelligible and rolls over, still deep in slumber.

I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

I slip out of bed, wincing as my feet hit the cool hardwood floor.

Goosebumps rise on my skin as I pad quietly around the room, gathering my scattered clothes from the night before.

My lacy black bra dangles precariously from a lamp shade, and I can't help but smile at the memory of how it got there.

As I pull on my jeans, I steal another glance at Viper.

He looks so peaceful, so different from the intense, passionate man I've come to know.

A part of me wants to crawl back into bed, to wake him with soft kisses and lose myself in him again.

But I can't.

Not yet.

Not until I figure out how to navigate this complicated situation with Allegra.

I finish dressing quickly, smoothing down my hair as best I can.

My reflection in Viper's mirror shows a woman I barely recognize—flushed cheeks, swollen lips, eyes bright.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what comes next.

With one last lingering look at Viper, I tiptoe to the bedroom door.

My hand hesitates on the doorknob as I strain my ears, listening for any sign that he might be waking up.

Nothing but the soft sound of his breathing reaches me.

I open the door as slowly as possible, cringing at every tiny creak.

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