Page 13 of Reclaiming Venom

Ridley nodded, still grinning. “Your cut smelled like artificial strawberries for days. But you know what? You didn’t lose your temper. You just looked at her and said, ‘Next time, pick a better hiding spot.’”

As I listened to Ridley’s stories, I felt a burning curiosity, a desperate need to know more about this life -- our life -- that I couldn’t remember.

The riverbank path narrowed, forcing us closer together. Ridley’s arm brushed against mine, sending an electric current through my body. I inhaled sharply, caught off guard by the intensity of my reaction. Her scent -- a mix of lavender and something uniquely her -- filled my senses, stirring something deep within me.

“You okay?” Ridley asked, her gaze searching my face.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. My hand flexed at my side, an inexplicable urge to reach out and touch her overwhelming me. As if reading my thoughts, Ridley’s fingers grazed mine, a featherlight touch that set my nerves on fire.

“I used to love walking here with you,” she murmured, her voice low and husky. “We’d come down here when the kids were driving us crazy, just to get a moment of peace. My dad would come over to watch them, and we’d take a ride. Always ended up walking this same path.”

The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting long shadows across the water. We paused at the river’s edge, the gentle lapping of waves against the shore filling the silence between us. Ridley turned to face me, her blonde hair glowing like a halo in the fading light.

“Venom,” she said softly, her eyes searching mine. “Do you… do you feel anything? Anything at all?”

I hesitated, caught in her gaze. The logical part of my brain screamed that this was all wrong, that I couldn’t possibly have forgotten an entire life. But my body, my heart -- they told a different story. Every fiber of my being ached to remember, to reclaim the life she described.

“I…” I started, my voice gruff with emotion. “I don’t know what I feel, Ridley. It’s all a jumble. But there’s something… something I can’t explain.”

Ridley’s eyes flickered with a mix of hope and determination. In one fluid motion, she closed the distance between us, her hand sliding up my chest to rest over my thundering heart. The scent of her perfume enveloped me, stirring a memory just out of reach.

“Then let me help you remember,” she whispered, her breath warm against my lips.

Before I could respond, her mouth captured mine in a searing kiss. The world around us faded, the sound of the river and rustling leaves giving way to the roar of blood in my ears. My body reacted instinctively, arms wrapping around her petite frame, pulling her flush against me.

The kiss deepened, Ridley’s tongue teasing the seam of my lips. I groaned, opening to her, lost in the taste and feel of her. It was familiar and new all at once, like coming home to a place I’d never been. My fingers tangled in her silky hair, angling her head to deepen the kiss further.

The slow burn of desire ignited into a raging inferno. Ridley’s hands roamed my back, up under my cut, nails scraping lightly through my shirt, sending shivers down my spine. I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe -- all I knew was the woman in my arms and the growing need to never let her go.

When we finally parted, both gasping for air, I rested my forehead against hers. My heart raced, and I struggled to form coherent thoughts.

“Darlin’,” I rasped, my voice rough with want. “That was…”

Ridley’s smile was radiant, a mixture of joy and mischief in her eyes. She pressed a softer kiss to the corner of my mouth. “We’ve got a lot of lost time to make up for, tough guy.”

Ridley’s hand found mine, her fingers intertwining with my own as if they’d always belonged there. The warmth of her touch sent a jolt through me, awakening something long dormant.

“So,” I rumbled, my voice still husky from our kiss, “where do we go from here?”

Ridley’s eyes met mine, a spark of determination igniting within their depths. “Wherever you want, Venom. This is your journey.”

I glanced down at our joined hands, marveling at how natural it felt. “I don’t know where I want to go,” I admitted, the words tasting foreign on my tongue. “But I know I want to keep going… with you.”

A gentle squeeze of her hand accompanied her soft smile. “Then let’s keep walking. One step at a time.”

We began to move along the riverbank. The scent of wildflowers mingled with the earthy aroma of the river, creating an intoxicating blend that seemed to clear my foggy mind.

“Tell me more.” I still had so much I couldn’t recall, and stories she hadn’t shared yet. Maybe something would finally make me remember the family I’d forgotten.

Ridley’s laugh was like music, light and airy. “Oh, where to begin? There’s so much, Venom. So many years, so many memories.”

As we walked, she regaled me with tales of our life together -- motorcycle rides across state lines, quiet nights spent stargazing from our back porch, the chaos and joy of raising our children. With each story, I felt a tug of recognition, like a faint echo of a life I once knew.

The uncertainty of my future still loomed, a shadow at the edges of my consciousness. But with Ridley’s hand in mine and the promise of rediscovery before us, I found myself looking forward to what lay ahead, one step at a time.

Chapter Four

Venom

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