Page 161 of Chalk Outline

I feel like fire and electricity bounce across my chest, from side to side—trapped, wired, raging, and ready to burst out.

I whisper, “Your smile is enough to ruin me.”

Her eyes flash wide—desire quick to darken them.

I drop my cigarette on the ground and press my boot on it before crouching down until my face is just above hers. My fingers thread through her hair, tugging gently until her head tilts back, exposing her neck to me.

I bite her collarbone, and she instinctively grabs my shirt, twisting it. Her fingernails dig into my skin, leaving me with little reminders of her.

I nibble on a spot until it reddens and a beautiful bruise blooms before me. My tongue runs over it. I kiss the spot and finish by licking her neck up to her jaw.

Her soft moans morph to desperation.

A growl slips out, and I bite the air next to her ear as she squirms. Her sensual sounds are like a drug—so addictive that I’ll never stop craving her. I need to be near her. Taste her. Leave my scent on her skin and fuck her until we both collapse.

“Don’t freak out, but I have a little surprise,” I say as my lips tease hers. The slithering on my back nearly reaches my shoulder, and when the snake’s head pops up in front of her, Winona’s expression turns to stone.

“Snake,” she mumbles past parted lips.

“It’s harmless.”

“I think I’m going to faint.”

“You’re not going to faint. We’re going to heal you.”

“We?” she questions, her mortified expression unchanged.

“Mona and I,” I reply as I stretch my arm to the side, and the baby snake crawls over it. “She’s Braxton’s pet snake. He gave her to me for today.”

“When did you see Braxton?”

“He came here to help me with something. You’ll meet them soon.” I grin. “I just want you all to myself for now.”

“Reeve, I can’t,” she says in a small voice, burying her face in her palms.

I bring my free hand above hers. Sparks ignite when my warm fingers brush her delicate skin. “Hey... I’m not going to do anything you don’t like. It stays on me for now until you’re ready.”

Her breathing slows beneath my touch. “Reeve…”

“Want to give me your hand?” I ask, waiting for her to make the first move. It’s her choice, not mine. And I wouldn’t force her to do something she doesn’t want. But I will encourage her to try.

“Okay,” she finally takes my hand, still covering her other eye. She dares to peek at the friendly snake coiled around my arm. “Mona, if you bite me, Reeve will hang you from a tree and make you an example of why no one should hurt me.”

I chuckle at her adorable pout.

“Damn right I will, but I think this little snake won’t hurt you. She might help you overcome your fear through a fun experience instead of a circus nightmare.”

“She can strangle me,” Winona points out, her eyebrows knitted together.

I let my thumb draw circles on her wrists while she still holds my hand tight enough to cut off my blood circulation. “Not strangle, choke a little. Braxton trained her to do that. She’s a good girl, right, Mona?”

The snake hisses.

“I’m your good girl, not the snake,” she scowls.

“Are you jealous?”

“She’s a snake.”