Page 19 of Reclaiming Venom

“Ready to head out?” Ridley’s voice, soft and warm, interrupted my reverie. Her hand rested on the small of my back, a gentle reminder of her presence.

I straightened, a newfound resolve settling in my gut. “Yeah, darlin’. Let’s go home.”

As we walked toward the exit, I felt the weight of gazes on me. Some were curious, some respectful, all acknowledging my return. It was a reminder that my place here wasn’t gone, just… transformed.

“You know,” I said as we stepped into the cool night air, the scent of pine and asphalt filling my lungs, “I think I might have some ideas for the club. Things we could do differently, maybe even better. Of course, it’s possible those things are already in place and I just don’t remember it.”

Ridley’s laugh, rich and melodious, echoed in my ears. “There’s the Venom I know. Always plotting, always three steps ahead.”

I grinned, feeling a sense of myself returning, a piece that had been missing since I woke up and realized I’d missed out on the last thirty years of my life. “Gotta keep you on your toes, sweetheart.”

We walked to my bike, hand in hand. The moon cast a silver glow over everything. As I swung my leg over the seat, Ridley pressed against my back, her arms wrapping around my waist.

“Ready for the next chapter?” she whispered, her breath hot against my ear.

I revved the engine, feeling the familiar rumble beneath me. “With you? Always.”

As we roared out of the parking lot, the cool night air on our skin, a surge of hope filled me. The road ahead might be uncertain, but with Ridley by my side and the club at my back, I was ready to face whatever came our way. The future stretched before me, a blank canvas waiting for us to paint our own story. And I knew, with absolute certainty, that it would be a story worth telling.

Chapter Six

Venom

The first pale light of dawn kissed the edges of the curtains, outlining Ridley’s sleeping form. My gaze lingered on her face, tracing the curve of her cheek, the rise and fall of her soft breaths. A pang of longing, laced with a curious ache, blossomed in my chest. Fragments of memories swirled through my mind, taunting me with their fleeting glimpses, like a half-forgotten dream.

Her blonde hair flowed over the pillow like a silken river, and a deep sense of belonging washed over me, intertwined with a gnawing unease at the vast emptiness where my memory should be.

Carefully, not wanting to disturb her peaceful slumber, I slipped out of bed. My muscles protested with a dull ache, a reminder of the passage of time I couldn’t quite grasp. Silently, I padded toward the kitchen, driven by an inexplicable need to understand the broken puzzle of my past.

The familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted me like an old friend. Coffee maker. Timer. Programmable. That much I remembered, surprisingly. I inhaled deeply, closing my eyes as the smells triggered a cascade of images -- flashes of gleaming chrome, the roar of engines, the wind whipping through my hair as I rode. The laughter of men around a crackling bonfire, leather cuts over their shoulders.

My eyes snapped open, heart pounding in my chest. “Why can’t I remember anything since Ridley came into my life? Why are only those years missing?”

With trembling hands, I poured myself a mug of coffee, hoping the warmth would coax more memories to the surface. Recent ones. The familiar feel of the ceramic against my skin grounded me, a small comfort in the overwhelming chaos of my mind.

“Good morning, handsome.” Ridley’s voice, bright and melodious, broke the silence.

I turned, my gaze drawn to her as she emerged from the bedroom, wrapped in a silken robe that clung to her curves. Her eyes twinkled with a mischievous glint, stirring something deep within me.

“Mornin’,” I responded with a gruff rumble, trying to mask the turmoil within. “Sleep well?”

She padded over, her smile lighting up the room as she rose on her tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on my cheek. “Always do when I’m next to you.”

Her casual, yet undeniably intimate gesture sent a jolt of electricity through me, a mixture of excitement and confusion. My brow furrowed as I tried to reconcile the warmth of her presence with the chilling void in my memory. After sleeping together, I’d moved back into our bedroom. Didn’t seem like there was any point in keeping separate rooms. I’d also hoped it might make me remember things faster.

“You okay?” Ridley asked, her smile faltering slightly. “You’ve got that brooding look again.”

I sighed, setting down my mug. “Just… trying to remember. It’s all jumbled up in here.” I tapped my temple.

Ridley’s expression softened, and she rested her hand on my chest, right over my heart. “It’ll come back to you. I promise. And I’ll be right here, every step of the way.”

I covered her small hand with mine, the fit so perfect it felt like we were destined to be together. “I know, darlin’. I just wish I could remember everything now. It’s like looking at a photograph with half the image missing.”

“Well,” Ridley said, a playful glimmer in her eyes, “maybe I can jog your memory a little.” She leaned in, her lips teasing mine.

My body responded instinctively, arms tightening around her waist as I leaned down, the scent of her intoxicating me. Just as our lips were about to meet, a sudden crash from outside the house shattered the intimate moment.

“What the hell was that?” I growled, my protective instincts kicking in.

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