Page 85 of Beautiful Venom

He narrows his eyes. “Surely you didn’t think you could beg me to fuck you and then walk away as if nothing happened?”

“I was drugged. It doesn’t count.”

He takes a sip of his coffee. “It does for me.”

“So…what are we?”

“What do you want us to be?”

“A partnership?”

“We’re not a business.”

I frown and nibble on my pancake. “Then what? Fuck buddies?”

“If that’s what you want, all you had to do was ask.”

“I don’twantthat. You’re the one who seemed to lead me toward that conclusion.”

“You have any objections?”

“Too many to count. Most importantly, I don’t even know you.”

“You will with time. For instance, I don’t appreciate you flirting with other men at my game.”

“I wasn’tflirting.”

“I have my doubts.”

“I still know next to nothing about you.”

“There’s no need for a résumé if we’re fucking.”

I release a long sigh and drop the pancake to the plate. “Why would you want that type of relationship with me?”

“I don’t want it per se, but it seems that staking a claim is the only way to ensure that no one will dare to touch my things.”

“I’m not athing.”

“Notathing.Mything.”

“Well, your staking a claim or not didn’t stop what happened last night.”

His jaw clenches. “It won’t happen again.”

“Let’s say I agree. And then what? You’d ditch me once you’re bored?”

“Possibly.”

“Wow. And they say romance is dead.”

“I don’t intend to romance you, Dahlia. I don’t do that. So if you’re looking for soft love confessions, a box of chocolates, and a bouquet of flowers, walk out right now. But if you prefer rough games and primal impact play, we might be able to work something out.”

My throat dries up and a loud voice inside me tells me to run.

As fast as possible.

But I remain rooted in place.

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