Page 96 of Sweet Poison

Thirty-One

MERRY MADDEN

Willow

“Wrapped in love, just like a Christmas present under the tree.” — W

Isettle back into the desk chair, phone in hand, and lean closer to the microscope, adjusting the knobs until the fungi samples come into sharp relief. Their vibrant colors swirl beneath the lens, each detail reminds me of the Amazon’s hidden wonders.

I hear my mom’s voice on the other end of the line, happy and comforting, as we catch up. “I’m so glad you had a wonderful Christmas, baby girl,” she says, her tone light, full of love.

I smile, leaning back in my chair. “I missed you all, though,” I admit, my voice soft with longing.

“We missed you too, Angel Girl,” she replies, her voice thick with affection. “But we’ll see each other in a couple of days! I can’t wait to hug you, my baby.”

The ache in my chest tightens as I picture her, as I picture all of them. “I can’t wait to hug you too, mom.”

“Just a little longer,” she says, the words full of promise. “Love you, sweetheart.”

“Love you, too,” I reply, my heart aching in the best way.

We hang up with a soft click, and for a moment, I sit there with the phone still in my hand, savoring the feeling of hearing my mom’s voice.

As much as I’m enjoying my time here in paradise—Madden by my side, and the enchanting beauty ofSão Paulosurrounding me—I can’t help but miss my family terribly. I miss the way we laugh together, my father’s hugs, and my mom’s comfort and warmth. I miss everything.

With a deep breath, I push the feeling aside and return to my notes. I grab my pen, and the sharp scratch of it against paper fills the room. My eyes flick back to the fungi, and a spark of excitement ignites within me. While inspecting the samples closer, I notice a new pattern in their spores, something that could be significant. “Ohh…you guys are magnificent." I murmur to myself, my pulse quickening a I scribble down the observation in my notes.

This could be groundbreaking to science.

I lean in closer to the microscope, my eyes tracing the structure of the sample. The noise of the resort fades away as I lose myself in my work. Time seems to stretch, the only sound in the room is the steady rhythm of my pen and the occasional rustle of the papers on the desk. As much as I love nature and immersing myself in green, I also enjoy the quiet while I work.

That is, until a soft sound breaks through my concentration. A subtle cough, just loud enough to make me glance up.

I start, caught off guard, and my breath catches when I see Madden standing in the door of the makeshift tent. His gaze is locked onto me with such intensity that it sends a flutter ofbutterflies to my stomach, and my heart does a few thousand flips. His presence feels almost too large for the space.

He leans casually against the doorframe, tattooed arms crossed and a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The sunlight from the open tent spills in behind him, casting a warm glow around him, making him look almost otherworldly. He looks larger than life—magnetic and untouchable.

For a moment, I forget how to breathe. The tent, my work, the world outside—all of it fades away, and there’s only him. I can’t help but smile back, my cheeks warming under his steady, searching gaze. The tension between us is strong and undeniable.

The smile on his face spreads, and I find myself unable to look away from it. His full, red lips remind me of the things the man’s done to my body, each perfect memory making my pulse quicken even more. My gaze drifts down his face, then to his broad shoulders and the way his dark gray shirt stretches over his hard chest. My cheeks flush as I realize I’m starting.

“Fairy,” he says, his voice low and smooth, a playful tone that always makes my pulse quicken. “Come spend the day with me?”

I blink, momentarily flustered. “I–I can’t. I need to work on this,” I reply, motioning to the fungi samples spread out on the table in front of me.

“What are you working on?” he asks, stepping closer.

“It’s boring.” I laugh a bit self-conscious.

“Nothing you do is boring to me,” he says, his voice tender. He walks over to the chair beside me and sits down. “Tell me what you’re doing.”

I glance at the microscope, then back at Madden. “I was… just examining these,” I reply, motioning to the microscope. “They’re really fascinating. I think these ones have the potential to do something big. The research has taken another turn that we weren't expecting.”

Madden leans in closer, peering at the sample with mild interest. “You always find a way to make science sound less tedious,” he says, his eyes sparkling with that familiar mischief that makes him almost boyish and that always leaves me weak in the knees.

I blush a little under his gaze, feeling suddenly shy. “Science is awesome, Grinch. It also has a lot to teach us.”

“Yeah, baby,” he replies, smiling softly.

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