Page 11 of Renascence

“I’ll wait.”

“Really, you don’t need to—”

“Emily,” he cuts me off, tone stern. “I’ll wait.”

“Fine.” I roll my eyes, giving him a wide berth as I pass him on my way to the showers. If he wants to sit there and wait, that’s his problem.

Usually there’s no one here at this time of night; it’s why I choose to come near closing. I like my solitude. For the last week, I’ve mostly had the gym all to myself and I’ve loved it. Nowheshows up. I figured I’d run into him sometime, whether here or the pet store… or anywhere, really. It’s a small town, after all.

A part of me longed to see him, if only for him to look at me like he wants to rip my clothes off. A man hasn’t looked at me like that in a long time and well, I liked the way he did it. The other part of me hoped I’d imagined it, prayed I’d daydreamed the entire scenario. Nothing good can come of it.

After a quick shower and change, I find Venom waiting for me by the front desk. He’s talking to Kurt, a conversation that ends the moment they become aware of my presence.

“Ready?” Venom asks.

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go.”

He places his hand at the small of my back, and even through my clothes, his heat warms my skin.

“See you tomorrow, Emily.” Kurt waves.

“Bye, Kurt.”

Venom pushes the glass door open, allowing me to exit ahead of him.

“So, you sticking around?” he asks.

“I like it here,” I reply with a shrug. “It could probably become home, but I haven’t made any decisions yet.”

“I know Jeff would love having you around. He’s usually an ornery motherfucker, but that’s changed since you’ve been here.”

“Uncle Jeff loves me,” I say in my best spoiled brat voice, smiling at the man next to me.

Venom chuckles. “Can’t argue with that.”

We enter the parking lot, and I’m a little disappointed to see the truck come into view. As much as I know I should stay away from him, I like being in his presence. I open the door of the old truck, but as I turn to thank Venom, the look in his eyes stops me.

“What’s your deal?” he asks, brows furrowed in confusion.

“What do you mean?” I lean on the truck, waiting for his answer.

He takes a step closer, caging me in with his arms. My breath gets caught in my throat, heart beating so fast, and so loudly, he can probably hear it.

“You want me. I know you do. The question is why are you fighting it?”

“Why doyouwantme?”

His eyes slowly slide down my body before meeting mine again. I can’t stop the shiver that gaze induces.

“Don’t tell me you’re that clueless, Emily.”

Yeah, right, ’cause I’msohot. Not. “I just met you. I don’t jump into bed with men I don’t know.”

“Okay.” He drops his arms, shoving his hands into his pockets. “What do you need to know?”

“Excuse me?”