Page 93 of A Love Like Venom

The innocent touch alone has my blood racing. My heart beating wildly in my chest.

Her effect on me is something I have never experienced before with anyone else.

An unmatched desire that can’t be tamed. Because what we have is much deeper than any physical connection.

What Alice and I share is something far more important. So much more valuable.

We have a deep understanding of each other. An unbreakable bond that tethers us whether we want to admit itor not. No matter how hard I tried to sever that tie it cannot be broken. Just like no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t stay away from me.

That’s what happens when someone knows you better than you know yourself. And she always has. Alice has always had my heart, mind and soul.

It was my decision to never give her my body when I should have been with her all along.

Because this undeniable connection we have with each other will only grow stronger.

Just like she said, she’ll be the sun and I’ll be the moon.

Her finding beauty in the dark and me finally basking in the light.

“I want to kiss you.” I find myself confessing my desire, my voice husky.

Her breath hitches as lust glazes over in her eyes.

Entranced by the sight I swallow thickly, forcing myself not to get lost in her eyes. Because if I get lost in that heady gaze of hers, I know I’ll give into temptation.

“Why won’t you?” She asks, her voice breathy.

My thumb swipes again at her bottom lip before I move it back to the underside of her jaw. She whimpers from the loss of my touch. It awakens something inside me, and I need to tamper it down before we both lose control.

I smile down at her, my first genuine smile in years. A smile that I have only given to her. And it should feel foreign on my lips, but it doesn’t. Not when the person I am giving it to is her.

It feels like parts of myself are finally coming back home.

“Because a kiss from you has to be earned and I haven’t earned that,” I tell her softly.

She blinks up at me with those innocent eyes. I can’t believe I ever thought that they were corrupt. “And when will that be?”

“When you decide,” I simply reply. Her brows furrow with confusion. Elaborating I say, “The world has taken so much from you, including the people who inhabit it. This time you’re going to take what you want.”

Her fingers come to trail along my jaw, her gentle touch having me suppress a growl from the back of my throat. She gives me a small smile, ones that she used to give me when we were younger. Staring at her now so different it brings me back to those times. Some things really don’t change.

“You really believe you are nothing but darkness when you say things like that?” She questions with wonder.

“I don’t know, Alice,” I begin roughly but continue, “when I’m with you I’d like to think I’m more.”

Her hands then travel down my throat and land behind the back of my neck. Forcing my head downwards she raises herself up on her tip toes. Then she presses her forehead against mine. The sweet intoxicating scent of vanilla fills my nostrils. It calms me yet drives me deeper into my own lust. Even if I want to strip the clothes from her and feel her naked skin pressed up against my own, I won’t.

That’s not my choice to make.

It’s hers.

And I’m not going to take that away from her.

With our foreheads pressed together I can feel her breath fanning against my face. The tip of her nose brushes against mine. “You have always been more to me, Reed Carter.”

This time I can’t stop the animalistic growl coming from my throat.

She’s saying my name.

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