Page 77 of Beautiful Venom
Hot. Too hot.
And it’s not the right type of heat.
I clench my jaw as I slip my arms under her, lifting her effortlessly. Her head lolls against my chest and her body falls into me as if her place has always been here.
In my arms.
What a ridiculous thought.
And yet…
Her soft breaths land against my neck, shallow and too quiet.
Dahlia has never been quiet, so this is strange, to say the least.
The faint smell of jasmine rips through my nostrils, filling me with her scent. Her skin is damp, flushed, burning up beneath my touch. I hold her tighter, watching the way she folds into me, her weight fragile in my arms.
They tried to break her. To touch what’s fucking mine.
The more her body curls into me, desperate for something solid, something safe, the hotter the fire inside me ignites.
Her fingers twitch against my chest, seeking an anchor. And the fact that she thinks of me as one—me—breaks through the fury muddying my head.
Dahlia is strong. Stronger than she knows. But at seeing her like this—broken, trembling, clinging to me for dear life—an unfamiliar feeling rushes through me.
An ache.
An urge to protect her in a way I’ve never protected anyone.
And that’s dangerous.
No. It’slethal.
Because not only will it affect my plans, but it’ll also knock her off the chessboard as a useless pawn.
I should be cold, pull away, and maintain that distance I’ve carefully crafted between us.
Maybe call someone. Let them be the one to offer help while I retreat to the shadows.
But I’m locked in place.
Unable to ignore her soft, quivering body pressed into me, her heat like a brand.
I grit my teeth as I hold her tighter, hardening my jaw at the feel of her frantic heartbeat fluttering against me.
I convince myself that the way my fingers are digging into her thighs and arms means nothing.
It’s only to keep her from falling apart.
To later shove her back into the neat box I’ve created for her.
As I carry her out, Jude steps in front of me, his massive body blocking the door.
His face is set in hard lines, his eyes devoid of warmth.
It’s no secret that he would rather not be here cleaning up after some lower-class Vencor members and wasting his time.
“You know what to do, Jude. Make them spit out what their plan was. I’ll deal with Isabella afterward.”
