“Of course, I am,” she scoffs and stretches. “Good sore.”
 
 I reach for a bottle of water on the nearby counter. “Drink,” I say gently. “You might still be lightheaded from the drugs.”
 
 “Oh, the irony. Drugging a DEA agent.” She drinks, watching me with that dark storm behind her eyes.
 
 I freeze. “You still consider yourself an agent?”
 
 She stops drinking. Wiping her mouth, she says, “Did I say that?”
 
 I smile. “See? Lightheaded.”
 
 She finishes the water, and we just stare at each other. We’re both naked, her breasts heaving and red from me fucking her into the velvet covering. My cock hangs thick between my legs, wet and satisfied.
 
 Then her eyes shift, and I think she’s going to take off, even though I have her clothes. Instead, she drinks and keeps silent. But I know those eyes.
 
 I’ve killed men for less than what she’s done. And yet, I’m so hooked and gone for this woman.
 
 “More?” I ask, taking the empty bottle from her.
 
 “Please.”
 
 I turn to grab another one, and that’s when I feel it.
 
 Thesting.
 
 My gaze snaps up, and I spin around to see her pointing the dart gun at me. She must’ve palmed it from the counter the moment I let my guard down.
 
 “Fuck—” I stumble back, clutching my neck as the sedative hits. My vision blurs, the world tilting.
 
 “I’m sorry.” She slides off the table, slow and steady like a goddamn angel with blood on her wings. “You shot me with this thing so you wouldn’t hurt me to tie me up. I appreciate that. I’m returning the favor so I don’t hurt you when I try to leave.”
 
 My knees hit the floor, but I’m not angry. Not really. Ishouldbe. But all I can do is laugh.
 
 “You’re right,” I choke up at what I’m about to say. “Go. The front entrance isn’t guarded.”
 
 Her eyes flare at that.
 
 “Thank you.” She bends down and kisses me. “Let’s call this one a draw.”
 
 “I will win eventually, Venom,” I scrape out of my throat, my voice already fading. “I’ll just chase you again.”
 
 “I know,” she says, sobs clogging her throat.
 
 The last thing I see is her naked body standing over me as she eases me down so I don’t collapse and break my fucking teeth.
 
 “You can kill me, Venom.”
 
 “I know.” She brushes her lips across my face. “But I won’t.”
 
 “Will someone kill you?”
 
 She wipes tears from her eyes. “I don’t know. I guess I have to find out.”
 
 As the sedative drags me under, the only thing rushing through my brain is that she’s the only woman who could bring me to my knees. Literally and figuratively. And I want her to do it again.
 
 And again.
 
 CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR