Page 56 of Lovely Venom

His hesitation gives me pause, but instead of shutting down like I normally would, I choose to brave the landmine of uncertainty.

“I want one night with you. I want the full experience.”

A harsh exhalation filters through the speaker. “You don’t know what you’re asking of me.”

It’s a loaded response, and it doesn’t feel very good. But what did I expect? He deserved more than what I gave him in the end. I was too cowardly to admit how much he destabilized me. So I flipped a switch and pretended nothing had ever happened between us.

“You never told me you weren’t okay with the way things ended,” I murmur.

“Would it have mattered?” he asks flatly. “You panicked and ran. I gave you time because you weren’t ready, but you made your choice.”

His observation stings, but the truth usually does. And though there are a lot of things I’d like to say, they won’t change anything.

“It’s probably best we don’t go back down that path,” I agree, even though the words ring hollow. “It was a bad idea.”

An uncomfortable silence follows, stretching on for so long, I start to wonder if he hung up. Then, finally, he releases a heavy breath.

“One night.”

“What?”

“Saturday night at Sanctum,” he tells me. “I’ll text you the time.”

Nervous anticipation blooms in my chest, warring with the raw exposure of our conversation. But before I can overthink it, he issues one final command.

“Now get your vibrator out. I’m not done with you yet.”

11

CHANTEL

The smell of fresh coffee stirs me from my sleep, and I roll over with a groan.

I didn’t get nearly enough rest last night, but I have no regrets.

Bran put me through it, ordering me around and making me come well into the early morning hours. It was exactly what I needed, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I passed out without the suffocating weight of fear on my chest.

Though I’m not sure I can attribute that to the marathon session with Bran, or the man currently down the hall.

I grab my phone to check the time and notice I have a text from Cristian. Or at least, that’s who I assume it is, since it’s a number I don’t recognize.

Come out here when you wake up. I need to go over a few things with you.

I sigh at his demand, tempted to ignore it entirely, but I suspect that will only backfire on me. He didn’t show me how the alarm system works yesterday, and it’s a safe bet he’ll be leaving for work soon.

I sit up with a grimace, surprised by how sore I am. I think the last time I had that many orgasms was when Bran was giving them to me himself.

Sex with Marco had been average at best, but I’d gotten used to it. He stopped trying to get me off, insisting I was better at doing it myself. So if I wanted to come, it was up to me. It was always something I had to work at with him, and lately, he’d noticed I really wasn’t that into it. That pissed him off, and when he left for New York, I should have just ended things then.

As I head into the bathroom and slip on my robe, I recognize how empty our time together really was. In retrospect, I can see that he was only ever a distraction, and not even a good one.

Now I just want him to leave me alone so I can forget that entire chapter of my life.

I do a quick clean-up, brushing my teeth and washing my face before I throw my hair up in a messy bun. I consider putting on some mascara, but then I start questioning my motives.

So with more confidence than I feel, I leave my room bare-faced and walk down the hall.

I find Cristian in the kitchen, tapping out a text on his phone.