Page 50 of Poison Touch (Monarch Vipers #1)

Fuck me to hell. That’s the part where I’m not sure where to draw the line anymore.

I’m allowing Ledger Hunt to slither his way under my skin like a fucking snake.

It doesn’t matter how much I try to fight against it because fuck if it doesn’t feel all warm and fuzzy for now.

But it’s the bite that’s coming that scares the shit out of me.

“I’ll get a ride home from Eden or Bryce.” I spin the hoop in my eyebrow. It’s a habit I used to do more frequently.

He nods, and I’m grateful he doesn’t try to pull his macho bullshit, insisting on taking me home.

I’m not sure if we should talk about Saturday and what it means or leave it alone. I want to know what’s going through his head. I want to know what the fuck is going through my head and try to make some sense of it.

One confusing thought keeps circling in my mind. I might not know where I stand with him or even where I want to stand, but I need to know how deeply he’s involved with Venom and the illegal fights.

Pulling the reins on my thoughts, I reach for the door handle.

Edge presses the lock button. “Listen, I don’t know what the fuck is happening here.” As always, he knows exactly where my thoughts are. “I know you have a shitload of secrets that you’re not ready to share, but I have to tell you that it pisses me off how bad I fucking want you.”

There’s a long silence after his admission.

He runs his hand through his hair. It’s like the words he was only thinking decided to free themselves, and now he’s not quite sure what to do with them.

The radio is no longer playing. The heat in the car is rising too fast with the ignition shut off.

My blood begins to pound through my veins as my heart wants to beat out of my chest.

“I’m not sure what to say to all that.” Another long pause passes before I continue. “I mean, I don’t know what or if there is anything between us?—”

“Are you fucking kidding me!” he cuts me off.

Needing to diffuse his anger without giving him more to feel heated about, I place my hand over his.

“Listen, I have no idea what I want. I’ve lost a lot in the last couple of months.

My dad. My home. My mom is off somewhere playing house.

And most of my shit is in boxes in some storage unit.

The only things I know and have for sure right now are my motorcycle, my generous uncle, the dojo, and my best friend, Luca, the guy you saw me with in the dress shop.

Those are the staples in my life right now.

I mean, I have no idea about you and Brielle.

On again, off again. The way she touches you, she thinks you’re hers.

Hell, maybe you are. I have no fucking idea. ”

And then there are the million reasons why we can’t continue down this dangerous path.

“What else?” he pushes.

I hate the fact that he doesn’t deny being Brielle’s, but I continue with new vigor.

“Like you. I hate the way you make me feel. I’m not used to feeling like I’m subordinate or weak or vulnerable.

It’s not in my nature to feel helpless.” With all my energy spent explaining, I crash.

In a hushed voice, I admit, “With you, I do. I feel all of those things—like I’m at your mercy. ”

His jaw ticks with anger. What the hell does he have to be so mad about? Now, I’m the one getting pissed.

“You never denied that you and Brielle are an item.” Jealousy is not a thing I’ve ever known.

But with him, I want to peel the skin off Brielle’s face when I see her touch him, which is the last thing I have the right to feel.

The worst part is that she knows it and so does he.

No matter how hard I try to conceal those feelings in front of her and even him, I know they see through my mask of indifference.

I’ve never been that great of an actress.

Hell, I even failed drama class in ninth grade.

Pretending has never been one of my strong suits.

He looks at me. “I shouldn’t have to deny or confirm anything with her. I thought I made how I feel about you pretty obvious.”

I don’t know what to say to that. My emotions are jostling around like a beach ball at a pool party. I reach for the door handle again.

“Ninja, I haven’t touched her since you walked in on us. And even then, it was you I imagined I was fucking, not her.”

Fuck! None of this was supposed to happen. No feelings. No touching. And especially no heat blossoming low in my core as he confesses shit like this.

My hand rests on the cool metal. I tilt my head down so he can’t read my face.

I close my eyes and try to erase how they looked together.

It was in his eyes that day that he already told me everything I should know.

The image and the feeling that I wished I were the one with him that day hit me like a boulder.

He grabs my wrist and pulls me to him. “Stop fucking denying this.”

He’s anything but gentle as his mouth slams against mine. The want and need for him override every rational thought. His tongue sweeps over my lips, and he forces his way through the tiny slit, taking possession and all of my control with it.

He pulls back, both of us breathing heavily. “Just so you know, Ninja, I’m done ignoring you. In front of others, I’ll respect your request. But when we’re alone, you’re mine.” He bites my bottom lip, dragging it through his teeth, then licks the tender flesh. “Mine,” he repeats.

My breath catches in my throat. Deep inside me, an unfamiliar spark ignites with his possessive claim over me. It should piss me off, but it does the exact opposite.

Mine. His claim over me doesn’t escape my mind the entire day. You’re mine. You’re mine. You’re mine . It’s on repeat, reverberating against my skull. Concentration is not a very good friend today.Thankfully, Edge gave me more space than I assumed he would after his declaration.

The relief when my final class is over is substantial. I head to the parking lot toward Eden’s Cadillac. While fumbling with my jacket, I don’t notice Josh until he’s right in front of me.

“A word, please.” His tone suggests it’s more of a command than a pleasant request.

I lower my voice to a growl. “I heard you didn’t do as I told you.”

“Like I would go to prison for those sluts wanting to be fucked. They should be thanking me. I was nice enough to give it to them—and good, I might add.” A sick slash of satisfaction settles over his mouth.

His pride and ego are clearly running the show.

His self-righteous confidence makes me want to throw my gloves down right here.

“You keep telling yourself those fucked-up lies. Because it’s those lies that are going to have you begging on your knees for forgiveness.”

“Yeah, right,” he says. Laughing, he throws up his hands. “And there’s not a damn thing you can do to make that happen.”

I take a step closer to him, then lean in.

“You should know, the other night was just a taste of what I could do to you. I could bring so much pain down on your ass that you may never walk again, or worse, you’d never be able to get your fucking dick up again.

” I tap my finger against my lips as he snarls.

Grinning, I add, “Hmmm, yeah, that might not be a bad idea. One less rapist in the world sounds good.”

He tries to take a step back, but I grab his wrist. “Get your hands off me, or I’ll sue you. You know my dad?—”

“Is a piece of shit like you, yeah, so I’ve heard. It seems you guys like twinning it. You’re both dick-less and think women are yours to do whatever you want. I’m here to remind you that they’re not!”

He jerks his hand away. “You can’t prove anything,” he spits.

“Josh, listen carefully. I know what you intended to do to me, what you were planning. You thought you knew exactly what I wanted, and you were going to be the one who gave it to me nice and good. So there’s that, my word against yours.

But this is the part you’ll want to pay close attention to.

” I grab him again, digging my nails into his forearm.

Wetness pools under my fingers. He tries to pull away.

I tighten my hold as I loop my boot around the back of his leg, planting it at the heel of his loafer.

“Not only could I kick your ass into tomorrow, but there’s shit on you now—a video of you in action.

And I think that alone will be enough to dig up every shred of evidence your daddy buried to keep his sorry-ass son out of prison.

Then your ass would really be in a sling before you even have a chance to get your dick up. ”

His face turns a few shades lighter with that little detail. I drop his wrist. Blood is smeared across his skin and my fingers.

I look at my hand in disgust. “I’m getting tired of having your blood on me.” I wipe my hand down the front of his white shirt. Stunned, he looks at his arm, then at his shirt. The idiot’s eyes widen when he sees the blood. “This is the part when you say, ‘Okay, I’ll go make things right.’”

He growls with rage as he storms off. He knows I’ve got him by the balls. This time, he can’t run.

Eden comes up next to me. “What the hell was that all about?” She unlocks the door and climbs into her car, slamming the heavy door behind her.

I climb into the passenger side. “Josh is being difficult. I told him to turn himself in, and he was an asshole about it.” I shrug. “So I had to up my game. I can’t let him get away with what he tried to do to me or what he’s already done to others or will do in the future.”

“You’re a hero.” She turns the key. The engine roars to life.

I scoff. “Yeah, don’t go that far.”

“You are!” she argues.

She might retract that statement and her friendship if she only knew what I plan.