Page 24 of Renascence

“Yes, well, friends don’t talk to each other like that.”

There’s a pause before he replies, “Friends. Right. I’m gonna let you get back to your pussy-ass hero. Later, Emily.”

Disappointment rattles my body. I don’t want him to hang up, but I’m not exactly offering engaging conversation, am I? I want to keep talking to him, only with a change of topic.

“Sure. Later.”

I return my phone to its place on the nightstand and try to get back into my book. It’s simply not the same after what just happened in real life. I put it aside and end up tossing and turning for God knows how long. My mind is frazzled. Venom has me fucked up and I have no clue how to deal with it. He’s so ingrained in my thoughts, I think I hear his bike pull up. Don’t ask me how I even know how to differentiate the sound of his bike from any other.

I fluff my pillow, change positions for the umpteenth time, and try to fall asleep. My ears perk up when Uncle Jeff’s voice floats into my room.

Who the hell is he talking to?

CHAPTER 5

***Venom***

“Come on in, son,” Jeff greets me, stepping aside so I can enter.

“Thanks, Jeff.”

Our business could have easily waited until morning, but I need something to keep me occupied tonight. Numbers. They’ve kept me calm since I was a kid. Over the years, I’ve found other things that help, but nothing like those numbers. I love the structure, the set rules, the logic, the reliability. Numbers are constant. They don’t change because you want them to. That’s why I’m here at Jeff’s door, close to midnight.

Maybe I was hoping to see Emily, too.

Fuck, while she was reading to me, all I could imagine was sinking into her. When she told me about Kurt hitting on her, I visualized putting my fist through his teeth, but Emily was right. She’s not mine. If she wanted to go out with him, that’s her prerogative. Hell, he’d probably be better for her. He can offer all the things I can’t. Maybe I’ll tell him to try again once I’m done with her.

Jeff leads me to the dining room, offering me a seat. I drop down into one of the chairs, listening for a sign that Emily’s around. The Christmas decorations are a new addition for Jeff, and certainly Emily’s doing.

“Let me get those papers for you.”

“I’ll wait here,” I tell him.

“Uncle Jeff? Did you say something?”

Emily’s curious voice precedes her walking into the room. The moment she does, my dick twitches.

Fuck. Me.

She’s wearing one of those silky nighties, the tops of her breasts peeking out of the V neckline. It’s clinging to her body, outlining her curves to perfection. If her uncle wasn’t here, I’d throw her down on the table and fuck her until neither of us could walk.

Her eyes land on me and she gasps, immediately trying to cover herself with her hands.

“Sorry! I didn’t know you had company.”

She starts to back away, but Jeff waves her forward. “Come in, Emily. You can keep Venom occupied while I find what he needs.”

What I need is standing at the door, staring at me like a deer caught in the headlights. Jeff leaves the room, not giving her a chance to say no. She takes a deep breath, pulling up the bodice of the nightie as she takes the chair across from me.

“Hi, Em.”

“Hello.”

I can’t help it. My gaze falls back to her breasts. It only makes her increase her efforts to hide them.

“Why do you always do that? I was enjoying the view.”

“Why doyoualways do that?” she counters.