Page 37 of Craving Venom (The Venomous Beauty Trilogy #1)

I lean forward and turn on the tap, letting the cold water rush over my fingers before splashing it onto my face. The shock of it stings but it does nothing to wash away the feeling of him.

I grip the edge of the sink tighter, breathing deep. “He’s not here,” I whisper to myself. “You’re just imagining things.”

I finish drying my face and walk out of the washroom. I don’t even get three steps before a hand clamps over my mouth. My back slams against a solid body and an arm locks around me, pinning me in place.

Fuck.

I thrash, kicking back, but the grip only tightens. My scream dies in my throat, muffled against the palm pressing over my lips.

My mind shatters into a thousand frantic thoughts, one crashing into the other.

Am I being kidnapped?

No, fuck, am I being murdered?

But I don’t think anyone’s stupid enough to kill me in a college corridor, and that alone sparks the will to fight back. I try to jerk my elbow back into my assailant’s ribs, but he dodges it easily, forcing me tighter against him.

“Shh. Calm down. It’s me.”

Recognition settles into my muscle memory, stilling me just enough for a breath of false relief to slip through my lips.

My skin crawls, my stomach knots so hard I feel like I might vomit. It’s the feeling of standing at the edge of a cliff, wind roaring in my ears, knowing if I slip, I’ll never hit the ground, I’ll just keep falling.

This isn’t real. This can’t be real.

I nod. I don’t know why, but I do. Maybe to get him to let go.

And he does.

The second his hand drops, I scream, a ripping sound that scrapes up my throat like barbed wire.

Zane chuckles. “That’s not very nice, good girl.”

His hand is reaching for me again, about to shut me up but I bite. I sink my teeth into his palm so hard I taste blood. I should be disgusted. I should be fucking horrified.

But I’m not.

I like it.

The way his body stiffens, the way his breath hitches, the way he groans like I just did something filthy instead of trying to maim him.

And that?

That makes me sick.

“I’m going to let you go.” He drags his lips against the shell of my ear.

“But if you so much as make a squeak, I’ll have my cock shoved so deep down your throat, you won’t be able to scream.

And then, good girl, I’ll drag you somewhere dark, somewhere no one will hear you choke, and show you exactly why you should’ve kept your mouth shut. ”

I glare up at him, but I give a single, begrudging nod. Not like I have a fucking choice. The second his hands are off me, I whirl, shoving both palms against his chest. He doesn’t budge, but I don’t care. It felt good.

So I shove him again.

His lips curl. “Are we pushing now? Thought we were biting.”

“Stay the fuck away from me,” I snap, glaring up at him.

Nothing.

Fucking prick.

With a frustrated huff, I spin on my heel and storm down the hallway. The moment I do, I hear the soft, measured sound of his footsteps behind me.

“Are you seriously following me right now?” I snap, whirling around.

He stops, lazily shoving his hands into his pockets. “Seems that way.”

“No,” I snap. “No. You don’t get to sneak around, show up where I am, put your hands on me, and expect me to be okay with it.”

“And why not?”

“Because I said no, you fucking asshole.”

“Huh.”

“What?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before.”

I scoff. “What, ‘no’? Fuck off, Zane. Everyone hears ‘no’.”

“Not me.” His smirk deepens. “How will I ever know what it really means if no one’s ever said it to me?”

“How about this?” I say through clenched teeth. “ No . No, you psycho. No, I don’t want to see you. No, I don’t want you near me. No, I don’t give a fuck about whatever sick little game you think you’re playing. NO.”

“Interesting,” he murmurs. “You say it like you mean it.”

“I do mean it,” I snap.

Zane steps closer, his presence pressing against me like a physical force. “Then why,” he breathes, “do you look like you want to hit me again?”

He steps in, backing me against the lockers before I even register that I’m moving.

The cold metal presses against my spine, but all I feel is his body heat, his scent, the slow, deliberate way he leans in, cutting off the air in the space around me.

His eyes lock onto mine, pinning me harder than his hands ever could.

Then he lifts his arms and presses both hands against the lockers on either side of my head, caging me in completely.

The metal rattles under his palms, a subtle reminder of just how trapped I am.

My lashes flutter as I try to keep my gaze steady, but it’s useless. My ribs are expanding in shallow little movements that do nothing to pull in air. My fingers curl slightly against the locker, forcing myself not to fidget.

“Stop looking at me with those eyes.”

“What eyes?” I dare but my fingers tremble where they grip the edges of the locker behind me.

“The eyes that are begging me to fuck you.”

I don’t respond.

I can’t.

Because his lips are too close. If I say something, if I so much as part my lips, I might do something stupid. Like kiss him.

His lips barely ghost over mine. “I could fuck you senseless in the middle of the day,” he murmurs, each word sinking under my skin like a slow-acting drug, “and you’d let me, wouldn’t you?”

I swallow hard, trying to force out a response, but nothing comes.

“Because you want me to fuck you.”

His lips skim from the corner of my mouth to my jaw. My entire body locks up, every muscle wound so tight it’s a miracle I don’t snap in half.

“But I won’t,” he hums, his lips just shy of brushing against my pulse. “Because you haven’t earned it yet.”

Something snaps inside me. My hands press against his chest, ready to shove him away but before I can move, his teeth sink into my neck.

My scream dies in my throat, swallowed by the sheer agony of it. It’s not a bite meant to tease, it’s a punishment that burns straight down to my bones.

I try to shove at his chest, but he’s already pressed too close.

My nails dig into his arms as I thrash, but his grip on my waist tightens, pressing so hard into my skin I’m sure it’ll leave bruises behind.

“Zane—” The sound that rips from me is strangled, it’s more from pain than anger.

He doesn’t stop.

Doesn’t let go.

He latches on like a leech, digging his teeth deeper. My breath comes in short, choked bursts, a tear slips down my cheek, not from fear or helplessness, but from frustration.

Because no matter how hard I fight, how much I push, he’s stronger.

No matter how much I tell myself I hate this, my thighs are pressing together of their own accord.

I throw my full weight against him, but it only makes him chuckle. His mouth finally lifts from my skin, and I gasp, gulping in air like I’ve just broken the surface of an ocean.

Zane tips his head back to admire his work. His thumb drags over the fresh bite.

“I hope you liked it just as much as I did.”

I reach up, pressing my fingers to the bite, as if I can somehow soothe the sting, erase the feeling of his teeth still lingering in my flesh. My touch barely ghosts over it before a sharp ache flares beneath my fingertips, making me hiss.

Zane watches me and he looks satisfied. Then, just as effortlessly as he backed me into the lockers, he steps away, dragging his hoodie up over his head, shadowing his face once more.

He shoves his hands into his pockets, turning on his heel and sauntering down the hallway. A low, faint whistle drifts back to me.

The asshole wanted to punish me for biting him, for daring to fight back, but I don’t regret it, not even for a second. If anything, I hope the wound on his hand stings like hell, a reminder that I didn’t go down easy.

I force my fingers to stop shaking before I push off the lockers and start walking. I need to get the hell out of here.

But just as I turn the corner, I see Tria walking straight toward me.

Shit .

Her gaze isn’t on me yet, so I pivot, ready to slip away before she notices.

“Faith!”

Fuck.

I turn back around, forcing the most normal expression I can muster onto my face.

Tria strides up, eyes sharp as she scans me. “What the fuck was that?”

“What was what?” I deflect, subtly fixing my hair, shifting the strands to cover the evidence on my neck.

Tria squints at me. “Why did you run out of the class like that?”

“I just had a bit of a headache, needed some fresh air.” I shrug.

I hurriedly brush my hair over the red mark, but it’s useless. The nasty bite stretches all the way down to my chest, making it impossible to fully hide.

Tria doesn’t buy my bullshit. Before I can stop her, she reaches out and moves my hair aside. “Headache, huh?” Her eyes narrow as she studies the bite. “You look like you’re in pain.”

I immediately fix my hair back, covering the evidence before she can get a closer look. “Oh, this?” I force a dry laugh, waving it off. “Just a bug bite.”

Tria stops in front of me with one brow arched so high it’s practically hitting the ceiling. “A bug bite?” She gives me a slow once-over. “Faith, that looks like it could be from a friggin’ pterodactyl.”

I let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. “Okay, maybe not a bug. Something else, then.”

Tria shakes her head, clearly not buying a single word coming out of my mouth. “You better tell me what really happened, Faith. And don’t even think about brushing it off. That mark looks painful.”

“Fine, you got me. It’s not a bug bite. I…” I pause, searching for something. “I got bit by a dog.”

“A dog? Seriously? How?”

“I was walking around the grounds, and this stray came out of nowhere and nipped me. Nothing serious, just a little mark.”

“Aw, poor thing. But you should still clean it properly. Dog bites can get infected.”

“Yeah, I will. Thanks for looking out for me.”

She gives me a knowing look. “Just remember, next time you decide to tangle with a dog, make sure it’s not one with a taste for human flesh.”

I chuckle, even though the words hit a little too close to reality. “Got it, I’ll be more careful.”

Tria lets it go, slipping into an easy grin. “Are you going to the game? Trevor’s playing, after all.”

I knew she’d bring that up.

I groan, dragging a hand down my face. “I don’t know,” I mutter, already dreading this conversation. “I’m kind of tired. Just want to catch up on sleep.”

Tria gasps, clutching her chest. “Come on, Faith! You can’t bail on me now. Xaden’s playing, and I don’t want to go alone.”

I roll my eyes at her dramatics. “You’ll survive, Tria. Besides, why do I have to go just because Xaden is playing?”

Before she can answer, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

I pull it out, squinting at the message.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: Dog bite? You really don’t know how to lie, good girl.

Of fucking course it’s him.

A slow, annoyed breath escapes through my nose as I type out a reply.

Well, you should be grateful I didn’t call you a blobfish. Which, to be fair, you kinda resemble.

Tria nudges my arm, peering at my phone. “Who are you texting?”

I slip it back into my pocket. “Nobody important,” I lie.

“Oh, come on. Is he that mysterious guy you’re pretending you don’t like?”

I shoot her a pointed look. “Trust me, it’s not worth your attention.”

Tria pouts, but she doesn’t push. Instead excitement creeps back into her eyes. “Alright, back to the game. You are coming, whether you like it or not. And I’ve got a brilliant idea to make it even more fun.”

I arch a brow, not sure if I like where this is going. “And that would be?”

Her grin turns wicked. “We raid Brit’s stash of jerseys. You know she hoards that shit from the players.”

I groan, shaking my head. “You are ridiculous.”

Tria beams. “But you love me.”

“Debatable.”

“Okay, rude,” she huffs, but she’s laughing.

I roll my eyes, but a small smile tugs at my lips. “Fine. We’ll go bug Brit for some jerseys.”

Tria claps her hands together. “Yes! This is going to be so much fun, Faith. You won’t regret it.”

As she rambles on about Xaden and the upcoming game, something cold settles in the back of my mind.

Maybe this game is my chance to break free from whatever this is, my opportunity to finally sever the twisted connection between me and Zane. Yet the thought doesn’t leave easily—it nags at me, lingering longer than it should, refusing to let go.

Do I really want him to leave me the fuck alone?

Yes, Faith. Yes, you want exactly that.