Sweet Venom (Crazy in Love #1)

by Kirsty-Anne Still

  “Do you still trust me?” he says, noticing my sudden stiffness.

  “Always,” I breathe, making sure I meet his eyes. “That never changed.”

  He nods, and gradually wraps his fingers around my hand, turning me gently on the spot. He forces me to face the wall, and I brace myself against his next move. Slowly, his fingers touch my scar, and while I close my eyes, it’s the first time I’ve let anyone touch my scar without asking permission first. Grief builds like bile, but Lawson’s touch is cathartic.

  “I’ll kill the man who did this,” he tells me, his body flush against mine, the feel of his penis pressing against my inner thigh. “Every man that even dare think of touchin’ you will have to run scared.”

  “Lawson,” I say, lost in the touch of his fingers against my ribs. “You can’t promise that.”

  “I can,” he defies. “I will. If it’s the last thing I do on earth, then I will.” He kisses into my lip, uncaring of the water. “I will make men fear me for this.”

  “You can’t,” I breathe.

  “Shh … believe me, I can,” he reiterates himself, this time his fingers run free of my scar, racing down the small of my back, over my ass and between my legs until I feel his fingers enter me. Involuntarily, my head flies back as the pleasure that bursts through me is death-defying.

  It’s been so long since I felt him toy with my body like this.

  One long, unforgiving year.

  “I know you always like that,” he says, using his fingers to push in and out of me. “But I know how you like it better.”

  Without warning, he removes his fingers, takes my hand and he spins me once more. Lawson slams me against the tiled wall; I gasp as the air rushes my lungs and I stare up at him. The greed in his eyes is the same greed heating my veins. His fingers trail down my face, his eyes boring into mine as he watches me become undone at his will. I reach up, allowing my nails to dig into his shoulders as I pull him close enough to kiss. He works my body as I nip at his wet skin, but as my lips drag unwilling from his neck, I spot Ashley.

  She looks hurt, but I just smirk at her.

  “It’s not midnight yet,” I remind her, winking. “There’s room for three.”

  Lawson withdraws, leaving me needy and wet so he can look over at her.

  “She’s rights,” he agrees, pushing the door open again. “I have two hands.”

  The excitement he elicits in me is beyond my expectations. I keep any oath I take with anyone – I promised a truce until midnight, I’m keeping a truce until the clock strikes the golden hour. Jealousy can reign fresh in the morning – tonight, I want Lawson to see he can have both. Clearly, Ashley agrees as I observe her stripping, tossing her clothes onto the floor with mine. She climbs in, eager and timid all at once. Her slim figure holds her perky tits, and I reach for her hand. I drag her under the shower’s rays, and there’s a moment of awkwardness.

  “Ashley and I have a truce,” I start to say, looking up at Lawson. “One that doesn’t end until midnight ... I guess our friendship is your own personal gain for a few hours.”

  I watch a slow, playful smile start to grow on his lips.

  I reach up, forcing him to look at me. “I think you could reap the rewards of it before all hell breaks loose.”

  “Because it will,” she finalizes, giving me an all-knowing look.

  “So,” I start, my fingers tracing the faint scars left on his chest from past fights. “What will it be, Mr. Matthews,” I seductively say and look over his shoulder at Ashley. “The blond, the brunette, or both?”

  His eyes flick between us, and he reaches behind him. He pulls Ashley around until she’s beside me, both our bodies flat against the wall, waiting on him.

  “Both,” he growls and reacts.

  His hand cups me, and I swear I forget to breathe. As I feel his fingers push their way between my legs, I struggle to keep myself from unraveling completely. I lay my hands flat against the wall, preventing my fingers from touching him and I watch him as he looks between us both.

  I’ve seen many shades of wickedness on Lawson over the years – many I’ve shared – but this one, the one he’s getting lost in entirely, is one that makes me quiver.

  “You’re both so fuckin’ wet,” he muses, the humor lifting his voice. “So damn fuckin’ wet.”

  I hear the gasp that comes from Ashley as he thrust his fingers into me again and I know he’s playing us both, pushing us to an orgasm and I swear I’m nearing that edge.

  And just as I teeter on that very edge, he withdraws his hand, leaving my body craving the end of the pleasure.

  I open my eyes, looking into the massive grin he has. The fucking bastard.

  “Let’s take this to the bedroom,” he growls at us both, shutting the water off.

  I always knew Lawson was greedy with sex when he got it, but this is a totally new side to him. I could be jealous, but I know I have no right to allow my heart to be hurt, right now. So, I swallow my pride and prepare myself for the fun we’re about to have.

  He sits on the bed, his blond and brunette at the end of the bed. This is the only time I will stand as her equal. Once morning breaks, all of the feelings I’ve gathered for her will be forgotten. By morning, Lawson is the only thing that will matter to me, and I will make sure she knows that.

  As I’m well aware she’ll do to me.

  Nerves start to bubble, but I push them aside as Ashley nudges me and I make my move. I climb onto the bottom of the bed, crawling up the sheets, Lawson watching me prowl. The bed dips, Ashley follows, and so does Lawson’s attention.

  He wants us both; I can see that.

  I’ve had to share him, never had to deal with this sort of predicament, but the slow burn to make him focus on me more rips through me like hell’s fire. I want him to see me, but in the same light, I want one night of calm. Greedily, I want one night with no fighting, no drama, no listening to the quaking grief living deep inside.

  I just want to be the girl that has a threesome and really fucking enjoys it.

  I want to be normal just until the clocks ring in a new day.

  So, I indulge. I let my fantasies become a reality; I let myself fall for the foolish act. Tonight, I’m going to let myself become completely undone, allow myself to be worn down to my rawest and be unleashed.

  Falling forward, I kiss Lawson while Ashley kisses down his chest, her hand wrapped around his cock, pounding him, forcing him to come unbound. I allow her fun, knowing I’d never let her feel him fill her first. She might have had him before the game changed, but not tonight.

  “Sit up,” he tells me, and I obey. “Face her,” he orders, again I obey. “Suck me off,” he tells Ashley, and he tugs me around until his arm can curl around my waist, his hand pushing between my legs. “Open them wider,” he says over my shoulder.

  His fingers curl around my pussy, threading between my lips to find my opening. I release a pant as his long fingers penetrate me and my entire body shifts, wanting him to press deeper. I rub against him, letting him bury his fingers into me as his thumbs starts to toy with my clit. My head flies back, and I can feel myself building toward the beauty of an orgasm as my back arches.

  He has more control here than he did in the shower, and he’s working it harder than ever.

  I know he comes because his fingers go rigid inside me, pressing just a little further inside of me. It takes all of my willpower as I fall forward, shuddering against my staccato breathing, feeling myself clenching around his fingers.

  He waits – with bated breath – for me to settle and for Ashley to calm before he moves his hands from between my legs and snakes it around my waist.

  “Now …” he says, clenching his arm around me. “I want to see your tits bounce, Darling.”

  His use of my pet name does little to make me fight him. He always used that name when we were caught in the moment when it was just him and me, and I can truly believe it’s just him and me – regardless of sharing this time with
Ashley as well.

  Just because my world melts away, doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten her any less.

  Listening to his command, I move, climbing onto him, his cock slipping into me with ease and I feel myself stretch to his size. I hunch forward, forgetting just how good he used to feel in me. I draw my nails down his chest, allowing them to roll over the contours of his abs and light dusting of scars. His large hands come to my ass, his fingers digging into me as he watches me bounce on his length.

  I pay attention to Ashley who sits and watches. I act, leaning over toward her and I draw Ashley closer, her lips meeting mine as I ride Lawson. All the while he watches us both, his hands gripping my thighs as I push him toward the verge of ecstasy.

  The urge gets too much, and I want to him deeper and harder, so I rock heavier, forcing him inside of me, feeling him stretching me, indulging in the euphoric rapture that has descended my mind, body, and soul. All past sins are gone as the blissful haze takes over. Nothing else matters.

  Not until the moment I feel myself become unbidden and his body shakes, and he explodes in me. I rest, slowly rocking, allowing myself to live in the seventh heaven of this pleasure. As I settle, I climb off him, my legs still shaking. I gaze at him, still feeling my insides quiver, longing to feel his entire cock inside me all over again.

  “Lick it off,” he tells me, nodding to his erection. “I want you to taste how fuckin’ sweet you are, Eden.”

  I grin, turning my head I meet Ashley’s eyes and then look down at his penis. Licking my lips, I move onto my knees, not wasting time to take him whole. It’s been a long time since I got to pleasure him in such a way. I curl my tongue around his shaft, making sure I taste every last remnant of me on him. My right hand rests on his thigh, just short of his balls and I fight the urge to go savage on him like I once would.

  But the need is too much, and I wrap my hand around them both, applying pressure as I suck and lick along the entire length of his erection. He groans, and while I feel Ashley move slightly, I grind my teeth along his penis until I’m at the head and I suck hard before pulling away completely.

  I lick my lips as I draw my eyes to him, giving him a wicked vixen grin.

  “Now, you,” he commands Ashley, grinning at her.

  “Ride him hard,” I coerce, winking at her to be bolder than she is.

  While she assumes the position I just did, I play with Lawson’s craving and I run a hand over Ashley’s stomach, moving up onto I can grab her boob. I tease her nipple as I kiss her all over again. I show her my full attention even as Lawson grabs my thigh. I continue to kiss her, consuming her in this sensual moment. When I do open my eyes, I look to my left, catching Lawson watching us, but every so often his eyes drop, gazing at the tattoo of the orchid.

  I finally draw myself away, she as breathless as me.

  “What was that?” he asks, looking between us. “One to remember?”

  “Of course,” I say, falling beside him and kiss his chest. I gaze up at Ashley as she sits poised on his cock, her lips bruised from my kiss. “The games not over until we’ve had equal orgasms.”

  Lawson chuckles. “Damn fuckin’ straight!” he exclaims, reaching for her hips, forcing her to ride him harder. “Go to cloud nine, Ashley. You know it’s worth it.”

  She laughs, shaking her head as she starts to roll her hips, picking up a slow rhythm and gradually builds the momentum. I notice how her eyes never leave Lawson; I’m well and truly forgotten at this moment. She spent so long being in my shadow; now she’s showing him she can play just as rough as I can. Unlike when I was riding him. I go to leave, but Lawson’s arm snakes around me, pulling me close, unwilling to let me leave.

  I rest my head back against him and listen to the grunt that rips through him, telling me he’s just cum. Ashley slumps a little, spent as her orgasm climaxes and dwindles. Lawson takes her hands, pulls her from him and allows her to curl into his other side.

  “Shame life can’t be like that all the fuckin’ time,” he says, kissing her forehead before kissing mine.

  My heart pangs when his lips leave my skin.

  What I’d have given for one more second.

  I watch him as they both sleep.

  The calm throughout the apartment is blissful. There’s no carnage, no havoc, just sheer silence as every demon we ever met sleeps peacefully.

  I move my attention to Lawson. He looks like he’s never had to feel his heartbreak. In slumber, he’s so innocent, so untouched, like his heart was never tainted.

  But I know otherwise.

  He was once the devil I loved. The one I sinned with. But he would never recognize the demon he once craved. He would never love me if he knew.

  He would never love this little monster.

  But I had to tell him. He had to know the absolute truths of me coming home because they didn’t just concern me. They changed the course of his life all over again.

  So, slowly, I lower my lips to his chest, rousing him with the kiss.

  “Lawson,” I whisper, my fingers tracing his chest. “I need you to wake up, Handsome.”

  “Eden,” he murmurs sleepily.

  “Shh, don’t wake her,” I say, looking over at Ashley. “We need to talk.”

  “About what?”

  “Langdon,” I whisper and watch him wake up immediately. I twist, sitting up on my elbows. “Lawson,” I start but look away as I find it hard to tell him the truth.

  “Hey,” he mutters, lifting a hand to push my head up. “What is it?”

  “He,” I start again but stop, telling myself to be brave. “He ordered the attack that night.” I can sense his rage, know he’s about to lose his mind. “Please, tell me you’ll be careful,” I shush him, trying to force him to think of something else.

  I watch his beautiful brow furrow.

  “Is that why you were so worried before I went to meet him?” he asks, thinking back on tonight. “You said you didn’t trust him … had I known I wouldn’t have met with him.”

  “You had to,” I admit lamely. “I know how important it was … and it wasn’t until just before I cut into the dance that I realized he had anything to do with the attack. I thought I did, but I never had proof.”

  “What did he say?” he asks, watching me closely.

  “He commented on my scar,” I say, remembering how his cold fingers touched me moments before he spoke. “Told me how his men disobeyed and his orders were to aim a little higher.”

  I close my eyes, horrified at the thought of being scarred worse than I am.

  “Hey,” Lawson’s soft whisper comes at me. His hand comes to my face, gentle and caring. “He got you once … I won’t let him get you again.”

  “We’re an unfinished job,” I murmur, alerting him of the ways of The Firm. Fear weakens me, and I can’t help myself for finding a moment of total weakness in this midnight hour. “I couldn’t bear if anythin’ happened to you.”

  “You don’t have to worry yourself,” he tells me, comforting me with empty promises. “I always wanted Langdon to be knocked down a few pegs … now he’s got a death warrant. He’s a dead man.”

  “You can’t kill him,” I jest, mirthlessly. “You know it doesn’t work like that.”

  “This time it does,” he counters, taking my hand. “The Firm is dead.”

  I furrow my brow, allowing the dread and doubt to feed into my thoughts. “If he can do what he did, Lawson, what else can he do?”

  “I don’t care,” he tells me, unable to let me win this. “We’re stronger now.”

  “Are we?” I ask, doubting the fact.

  “Of course, we are,” he states, looking confident in the fact. “We have grit now … we have reason.”

  He doesn’t have to tell me what those reasons are or how we got that grit. He’s right.

  “Now come back to bed.”

  And I listen, but only because for one more night I just want to feel like the girl who didn’t lose the guy.

  “And the
re was me thinkin’ meetin’ with the enemy was bad enough.”

  The sound of Leo’s voice paired with Lawson jumping up in bed jolt me awake. There at the foot of the bed is Lawson’s father, looking upon us all with absolute contempt. I have to resist the urge to laugh, and when I catch sight of Ashley, she’s clearly the same.

  “You all disgrace me,” he says and looks down at me, realizing I have no sheet over me. “Get some clothes on and meet me in the kitchen,” Leo says, tossing Lawson’s shirt at me disdainfully.

  He walks from the room, and I listen to the sound of his disappearing footsteps. I look to Lawson, catching the worrisome look Ashley has as we all sit unable to react straight away.

  “You need to change your locks,” I say, getting up, putting on Lawson’s shirt and go on the hunt for my panties.

  “I did,” Lawson says, climbing down the bed to find his pants. “That’s the worryin’ part.”

  “Does he let himself in often?” Ashley asks, following me to the bathroom to collect our clothes. “Because I’m pretty sure he’s breaking so many federal laws.”

  “You’ll come to learn pretty soon that government laws don’t apply to the likes of Leo Matthews.” I grin at her, still unwilling to recognize that our truce is completely over. “He’s a law unto himself.”

  I leave the bathroom, unwilling to put any more clothes on than this and head out to the kitchen. Lawson is already there, asking his father why he thought it was sane to come to his apartment at four in the morning.

  “I knew you’d be up to no good anytime I came for a visit,” Leo admonishes curtly. “But plans are happenin’, and you’re unreachable at the best of times … so I thought I’d pay a visit while I can.”

  I can’t help myself as I listen to him try and be the almighty leader of The Firm. I sit on the stool directly next to the knife set, casually playing with the handle of the largest blade.

  “Stay away from the knives, little girl,” Leo warns, clearly catching what I was doing.