Page 126 of Sweet Venom

And me? Just like last time, I stayed back. Silent. Watching. Making sure everything ran the way it should and making sure no one even thought about hurting her in any way.

Because if they did, they wouldn’t get the chance to regret it.

I’m her sword and her shield in every way.

Another sweet laugh slipped from her lips and hit me like a knife straight to the heart.

Fuck, it hurt. In the best possible way.

And still, my eyes never left her.

She wore a long jean skirt with a thigh-high slit that revealed more skin than I was entirely comfortable with and judging by the way a few fucks couldn’t stop looking, I wasn’t the only one who noticed. The black turtleneck sweater clung just right, not only hiding the love bites I’d left on her collarbone, and tits but also matching me like we’d planned it. We didn’t.

Her long blue hair was swept up into a half-ponytail, with two strands left loose to frame her face perfectly, like she’d stepped out of my wildest dreams and fantasy.

She did her makeup differently today. More dramatic. Smoky eyes that draw you in, and a soft nude lip that made her mouth look even fuller, morefuckablethan usual. She didn’t just look beautiful, fuck she looked like she was mine.

But I could also feel the subtle tension in her shoulders, the way she kept glancing at me as if she was looking for reassurance. I offered her a few smiles so she knew I was there and everything was going to be okay. She had no reason to be anxious. I was always there for her, even when she didn’t see me.

Always.

She tried to hide how nervous she was but it didn’t work with me. I’d always been good at noticing the smallest shit, shit people tried to hide, but with Poe? It was different. She didn’t need to hide anything from me and even if she did, it wouldn’t work because I can see right through her.

Every part.

I leaned against the table, watching her interact with the readers. My arms were crossed, my expression a permanent scowl, but my heart was full of her— of my Poetry.

She caught my gaze as she signed the last book for an older woman, and I saw her lips quirk up into a smile, her eyes softening. “What?” she teased, raising an eyebrow. “You know you look like a demon from hell when you look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

She pointed at my face. “Like that. Like you’re going to bite someone’s head off if they get to close.” she joked.

I flashed her a shit-eating grin. “I’d rather bite other things.”

“Shhh.” Pink bloomed in her cheeks as she looked around her. “Don’t be a perv.”

“Don’t get shy on me now, baby.”

She chuckled, shaking her head, and it made my heart squeeze, watching her so carefree. Yes, she had a little social anxiety and yes, she doubted herself at times but goddamn was she trying her best to not let that stop her. I was proud. Real fucking proud.

She continued enjoying her moment with her readers and time seemed to fly by. It always did when I was watching her do something that made her heart happy.

And once the last of the readers had left and the event was winding down, we stepped outside so she could take a break. I looked around for a place I could take her so she could eat. There were a few restaurants close by and a bakery too. I turned away for only a second to check what else was nearby, a brief lapse of focus, but that was all it took.

Everything happened to fucking fast.

Poe’s scream shook me to my core.

“Azariel!”

A terrified, panicked sound that came from behind me, and it sent a jolt of pure adrenaline through my veins.

I spun around, panic gripping me as I saw her, a large man with a black hoodie on was towering over her. He was holding a metal pole, and he was trying to drag her away, her small bag in his hand. Before I could even process what the fuck was happening, Poe was thrown violently to the floor, the sound of her body slamming against the pavement making my blood run cold.

Motherfucker.

I saw red.

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