Page 122 of Lovely Venom

“That won’t be enough,” I murmur.

“Hmm.” He scrapes a hand over his face, undoubtedly hiding his amusement. “A hot shower?”

“No.” I sigh.

“What about this?” He reaches for my hand and presses it against his chest.

I let a few moments pass like I’m really taking the time to consider it before I concede.

“I guess that will work.”

“Come here then.”

I’m grateful he doesn’t make me say it because as silly as it may be, needing someone for anything feels unbearably uncomfortable. Yet, somehow, when I nestle back into the space he provides for me, the only thing I feel is safe.

“I hate you for doing this to me,” I whisper against him.

“I know.” He drags his fingers over my back in a familiar pattern, as if he’s tracing the outline of something there. “But I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Is that your way of claiming ownership of me?”

“Call it whatever you want, as long as you know you’re mine.”

Those words etch themselves deep inside me, bringing too many emotions to the surface. It’s impossible to sort through them right now, so I don’t even try.

As I close my eyes and settle in for the night, the idea of belonging here doesn’t bother me nearly as much as I think it should.

And in his arms, sleep swiftly carries me away.

I wake up feeling too cold, and when I open my eyes to find the space beside me empty, my stomach sinks.

Naturally, my mind offers up an endless buffet of possibilities.

He’s decided I’m too much work.

He’s finally come to his senses and realized I’m a hot mess.

And worst of all, he’s changed his mind…about Jolie.

Those all seem like plausible scenarios until I hear the voices down the hall.

It takes me a minute to register that it’s Cristian and Angelo, but it’s not hard to piece together what they’re discussing.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Angelo bites out.

“Bastien needs to make a decision. We made our position clear, and dragging this out won’t change what we have to offer him.”

“Well, he made his decision.” Angelo’s voice sharpens. “And you just handed this deal to Ares on a silver fucking platter.”

“Bastien will come to his senses once he realizes how insane Ares is. If he doesn’t, I’ll figure something else out.”

“There’s nothing to figure out,” Angelo says. “It’s over.”

“There are other ways to expand.”

“Not like this. You just gave Ares the monopoly on the European market. And for what? You know you can’t trust her.”

A long, tense silence follows, and it speaks volumes.