Page 84 of Sweet Touch of Venom

I can look for a room for her, so we don’t have that temptation again. Technically, me. I sure as fuck know she hates me all over again.

Which is good because we have a mission to plan.Thatshould be my focus.

Even though the unworldly twist in my gut tells me otherwise.

I hurry out of the shower and dress. When I step out of the apartment my phone vibrates. I grab it without looking at the incoming contact.

Cruz

Have you thought about helping me?

We need your help.

I’ve been thinking a lot. Of mom and just everything. Just call me. Please.

I let out an exasperated sigh, locking my phone back and heading downstairs. Him bringing up our mother is low. Even for him. He’s never wanted to talk about her so the why the fuck now?

I ball my hands into a fist as I walk past a few students, trying to forget about his bullshit. But some stopped me to badger me about the winter dance that they practically begged me for months ago. It’s a pain in my neck, but I can’t get upset, they want to feel like regular students. A few others question me about a fencing lesson or curriculum, and even complain about a teacher who’s being too hard on them. I only remind them this will help them survive this lifestyle. Once you choose to step foot in this building, you choose to change your way of thinking. We are here to train and give them a new meaning to life, a purpose. The one thing that people search for years to find. I never imagined this would be my future, being the headmaster for an entire organization. But I wouldn’t have wanted anything other than that.

Nevertheless, they are not trapped here. Everyone has the option to stay and go as they please. But almost all the kids who come stay for good, only visiting their families for holidays or weekends. They choose safety, endurance, and emotional security over anything.

After finally getting away from the students, I bust through the door of the facility, everyone working and gathering the new kidnapping cases. My eyes automatically search and land on Anita. As if my mind knew what to do without me thinking of it. My throat constricts, ceasing my breath from flowing to my lungs. The irritation I felt earlier because of Cruz vanishes.

Fuck.

She sits on Bedford’s desk, legs crossed, looking at pictures of what, I assume, is Bedford, his boyfriend, and their dog. Mymind is on autopilot as I skim down her full body, soaking in what she wears. And it’s fucking sexy.

She wears black denim jeans with a lace, long-sleeve corset shirt that’s stitched with black roses on it. She fastened a thigh holster to hold her gun and dagger, and she donned ankle-high black boots.

My teeth grind together, the pulse in my balls shriveling. She knew what the fuck she was doing when she wore that. A reason to get me hot and weak at the knees. To send a blatant message on what I’m missing.

That I’ll never have her.

And to end it with it all. That thick, long, luscious hair. I’m tempted to go over there and just inhale it again. She’s my new favorite scent and I need another sniff.

Yes, she’s been gone for a week, and I missed the fuck out of her the entire time. It was miserable not having her here. I even went as far as searching for a pair of her thongs and found a sexy red pair in her draw. I laid down on her bed and jerked off until I came all on all over the pocket where her pussy rests. I put the little surprise back in her draw in case she ever came back.

I walk slowly over, licking the drool that nearly spilled out and also not rushing the distance because I know once I do, things will go back to being tense and the air thicker than cement. She grins slightly, a genuine, beautiful smile watching the photo. She points to the pictures leaning on Bedford. Who looks at it and laughs, tossing his head back. It spreads wider as she places her hand on her chest.

I narrow in, relishing in her presence; because her smile could brighten the darkest room. I let out a breath to get my lungs pumping again.

“So precious.” I hear her say as I’m walking up. Of course, she’s aware of my approach. She looks up and it instantly drops.That’s a punch directly to my stomach. I can’t help the scorching jealousy burning in me.

I want to slam Bedford’s head into the computer.

No, no.

I have to remind myself it wasn’t his fault; it’s my own mistake, my own shit.

He doesn’t even realize he experienced something so rare.

“Anita.”

She raises a brow, her face showing no emotion, no reaction from my presence. That fucking hurts more than a knife to my chest.

“Headman.” She continues staring into me, leaning back, and placing her palms flat on his table. Her gaze fiddled at the surface of the black hole between us. She subjects me to the same cold torture, which crushes my ego even more as if someone ripped it away, threw it to the ground, and shot at it with a machine gun. I glare at her.

Mal and Boone come through the door before I can say something.

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