Page 52 of Viper
I remember my shirt on her pillow, something she isn’t aware I know about and my mouth parts.
Fuck, I know Raya decided not to pack it so I couldn’t see it, not realizing I already saw it but by the looks of things my girl needs it.
“Come take a seat,” I murmur, planning to grab it for next week and she gives me a tired smile, and I gently wrap my arm around her waist, helping her sit, while Venom watches her closely.
“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” he asks as she sits down and I sit on the table right in front of her, gripping her hands, needing to touch her, to feel her warmth beneath mine.
She was so fucking cold when I found her in her shower.
“Okay,” she whispers, and he replies, “Good, you look like you’ve gained some weight as well.”
I smile as Lake twitches her nose and replies, “You know you should never tell a woman she looks like she’s gained weight, especially a pregnant one at that, it’s very dangerous, Venom.”
I chuckle as I bring her hands to my mouth, kissing them.
Fuck, she has a little spark back…
“True, but with you…” His words trail off, and she sighs and admits, “Their cinnamon buns are to die for, okay, and I’m craving them every day.”
Well, I know what I’m bringing her next week.
“Have you had any other cravings?” I ask quietly, feeling out of the loop with her pregnancy.
Her cheeks heat, and I raise a brow, and she sighs, then relents, “Fine, your cologne…”
I grin as Venom snorts, and without a single thought, I stand while pulling on her hands, forcing her up to her feet, confusing her as she gives me a funny look but I ignore it and take her seat, then pull her back down on my lap, making her gasp and look at me with wide eyes.
Ignoring the look, I pull her closer to me and seeing what I’m doing, she quickly presses her face into the crook of my neck and inhales before her whole body relaxes, and fuck me, so does mine as I hold her close to me.
I press my lips against her head and close my eyes for a moment, enjoying this moment before Lake asks, “Did you draw the short straw to come with Jaylen?”
My body tingles with the use of my legal name, sounding so fucking sweet coming out of her mouth, and Venom clears his throat, making her giggle a little, a sound I fucking missed.
“Fine,” he groans, “What is it that Raya is keeping from me, from everyone? And what is her connection with the Hyenas?”
I look at him to see him looking at my girl intently, and I swallow hard, not knowing if she’ll tell him, you know, girl code and all that.
“What is it you want to know?” she asks, “Because there is only so much I will tell you, I won’t break her trust.”
He tilts his head and nods with respect and asks, “What can you tell me?”
I can hear the smirk in her voice as she says, “That she has been madly in love with you since she was like eight years old and that her sleeping with you was probably something she had always wanted.”
“What?” He chokes with shock, and I chuckle.
“Why do you think she was always weird whenever you were around, brother?” I say, and he glares at me and snaps, “You knew and didn’t tell me!”
“Everyone knew and everyone tried to tell you, but you refused to listen. Instead, you had it in your head she was off because she was using Ives,” I remind him, and he scowls.
“Venom,” Lake says, gaining his attention, “the more you treated her like crap because her family had money, the more you pushed her away. There is so much you don’t know about her, about her family, and I can’t tell you because I won’t break her trust, but what I will tell you is if you are expecting a baby with someone else, she’ll want nothing to do with you.”
Ah fuck, Raya told the girls…
His jaw ticks as he looks down and mutters, “I don’t even know if there even is a baby yet.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she whispers, “She’s pulled back and it would take a lot more than a message from me, the woman who has distanced herself from her, to get her to talk to you.”
He sighs as he looks at her and reminds her, “It wasn’t your fault, sweetheart, you have a lot going on, and not one of those girls questioned your distance like they should have.”
