House of Venom

Touches

AARON DAVIS

"I can't just walk past these!"

Damaris's shout cuts through the silence of the room like a knife, and for a moment, I'm startled, unsure of what's happening. But then I see her slump into the fluffy brown armchair in front of the fireplace, and I can tell that she's exhausted; Walter is curled up into a ball at her feet, seeking comfort from this new human.

"It feels like I'm on a cloud!"

"A cloud would've been cheaper."

The sound of our laughter fills the room as I make my way to the bar, popping open a bottle of red wine and pouring it into two sparkling crystal glasses. The deep, rich scent of the wine swirls around me, and I catch my reflection in the shining glass for a moment, pausing to wonder.

What am I doing here, with her of all people? Kai had warned me about people like her and told me to avoid the cops at all costs. And yet, here I am, pouring her a glass of wine like some kind of savior.

As she moves, there's a certain magnetic quality to her that I can't help but be drawn towards. It's like there's an invisible force field around her that's pulling me closer, making me want to trust her even though I know I shouldn't.

And then there are those thighs. Those delicious, juicy thighs seem to ignite a fire deep within me, a fire that's been burning for far too long. I can feel myself getting hard just thinking about them, and I have to swallow hard to push those thoughts away.

With a deep breath, I try to shake off the lustful thoughts that threaten to consume me. Turning away from the bar, I make my way toward her, both of the crystal glasses clutched in my hands. As I approach, she looks up at me, her expression wary and uncertain.

As she takes the glass from me, I can see the wariness in her eyes, the faint frown creasing her brow. It's clear that she's not sure if she can trust me, and I can hardly blame her. Taking a deep breath, I take a sip of her wine and then hand the glass back to her, hoping to show her that I'm not a threat.

"Better?"

For a moment, she hesitates, her eyes locked on mine as if trying to read my intentions. And then, slowly, she lifts the glass to her lips, her gaze never leaving mine.

"You can never be too careful."

"It's not interesting to live if you're always careful."

I slump into an armchair next to her, feeling every muscle of my body relax as I listen to the crackling of the fireplace.

"What's it like? To be on the wrong side of the law?"

"What makes you think I'm the one on the wrong side of the law?"

As I watch her take a sip of the wine, her eyes never leaving mine, I can feel a smirk starting to play at the corners of my lips. There's something about her, something that draws me in and ignites a spark within me. Despite the wariness in her gaze, I can't help but be in awe of her beauty, the way the light dances across her skin, and the way her eyes shine with an inner fire.

"It has its own pros and cons like everything does."

"Such as?"

"Hiding, I guess. But when you're alone like I am, hiding isn't a hard job to do. But the actions that I need to take in order to succeed require some more practice and planning."

"Succeed. Succeed in what?"

"That is something I would like to keep to myself."

As I sip my wine, I can feel the intensity of her gaze on me, like a dark veil that's draped over her features, hiding her emotions from me. Not a single muscle in her face moves, but her eyes speak volumes, telling me everything I need to know.